The New Year's party ended in a lively atmosphere.

On the way back, Nishino declined the company of Takayama Ikoma and others, and took a night bus to go home.

It was almost two o'clock in the morning. Even so, there were still many pedestrians hanging around in the streets of Tokyo. The neon lights were flashing and it was even more lively than during the day.

We use years to divide periods. The end of the year and the beginning of the year represent the end and the beginning. On the first day of the new year, it seems that everything will usher in a new beginning, including work, relationships, and love. Old things seem to be ruthlessly left behind yesterday.

But this is just a beautiful wish. Nishino knows this truth very well.

This must be the first time since she came to Tokyo that she has taken a night bus alone. The empty carriage and the bustle of the street seem to be two separate worlds.

Nishino sat in the right seat of the last row, leaning his head on the window glass, staring blankly at the street scene outside, letting his thoughts wander, holding his mobile phone in his hand.

Until the end of the party, she did not receive any contact information from the fifth watch.

Where did Wu Geng and Xiao Feiniao go? To say that she didn't care at all was obviously a lie. She was just forcing herself not to think about these things.

On that subway platform, she and Wu Geng had said goodbye countless times, promising to meet again tomorrow and looking forward to their reunion the next day.

At this point in time, the subway has long been suspended. In my memory, the scene of the two waving goodbye seems to have been a long time ago.

Memories are a wonderful thing. Sometimes you will feel lucky to have them, and sometimes you will feel depressed because of them.

When she arrived at the stop, she got off the bus and walked one kilometer around the river bank to Nishino's rented apartment. The evening breeze was blowing, so she could only wrap up her coat and speed up her pace.

When he came to the door, he skillfully took out the key. The moment he opened the door, he was stunned. The light in the living room was on, and there were two pairs of shoes that did not belong to him at the entrance.

"Nana."

Mother and brother came from the living room.

For some reason, the moment she saw her mother, she felt a sore nose and almost shed tears.

"Nanase, you——"

Nishino's mother stopped her brother who wanted to say something. She just looked at her daughter's tired look tenderly and said softly:

"Welcome back. Happy New Year."

Nishino held back tears, nodded heavily, and then threw himself into his mother's arms.

The brother on the side pursed his lips tightly and silently retreated to the living room.

On the table in the living room, next to the cold tea, there is a framed photo of all Nogizaka members. In the photo, Nishino and Gozen are both smiling happily.

——

"I turned off the lights."

At five o'clock in the morning, I looked back at the little bird who had the quilt over his head. After waiting for a long time, he heard an imperceptible "hmm".

What, it made me nervous too. She took a breath and turned off the light in the room with a snap.

Xiao Feiniao's home is located in the suburbs. Late at night, there are scattered lights outside, and the moon is obscured by thick clouds. At five o'clock, he groped for the location of the bed, but accidentally kicked the foot of the bed and screamed in pain.

In the darkness, there was a rustling sound, and the corner of the pajamas was gently pulled.

"Asuka?"

"……here."

So Wu Geng groped his way to bed under the guidance of Asuka.

He gently lifted the quilt and slowly got in, accidentally touching the cold instep of the other person. The little bird immediately curled up.

"Sorry." Wu Geng apologized softly.

"fine……"

The little flying bird's voice was as soft as cotton candy. It was the first time she heard such a docile and shy voice from the little flying bird. It was completely different from the usual teeth and claws. Her heart was shaken violently.

In the bed, if there is a little bird that has just taken a bath, the thin fragrance of shower gel can be emitted from nowhere. If you don't smell it carefully, it will quickly slip away from the tip of your nose.

The temperature of the body, the air temperature, and the gentle breathing in the darkness.

It was completely different from the feeling when I was hiding in my sister's body. Shi Xiao suddenly thought of a movie called "Good Will Hunting" that he and his sister had watched before.

Hiding in her sister's body, Shi Xiao has never been dissatisfied. She looks at the world and everything happening around her through her sister's eyes, as if she is reading a book that is constantly being written. She knows the beauty of love,

She could quote sonnets easily, and she also understood that separation can make people feel discouraged. But she had never experienced any of this.

The subtle emotions when sleeping with her, the breath and warmth in my ears, and the sense of peace of mind cannot be summed up in one sentence.

When Wu Geng and Xi Ye broke up, Shi Xiao did feel the sad emotion, but that was all. She knew it, but she didn't know why.

But at this moment, as the fifth night passed away, she was almost captured by this huge and complex immersion. Now, she was both a little panicked and unavoidably looking forward to it.

After the two people lay down, they were like two dead fish placed on a chopping board, motionless. The single bed was somewhat reluctant to accommodate two people, so it's no wonder that Asuka's mother said to squeeze in.

Their shoulders are close together, as if the rise and fall of the chest when breathing can be transmitted through one side.

In such a deep night, darkness is the best fig leaf. Otherwise, the two of them would have destroyed themselves in embarrassment and nervousness.

"Asuka...have you slept?"

Wu Geng always felt that at this time, she should say something to ease the anxious atmosphere. Otherwise, they would really be able to stay upright until dawn.

"……not yet."

"oh."

In the darkness, Wu Geng blinked and added, "Me too."

"oh."

"..."

It’s over, I have nothing to say. I thought to myself in the evening. In the past, when I saw my sister clumsily responding to the attacks of Nishino and Xiao Feiniao, I always complained in my heart. This is too straightforward. I can do it even if I do it. In the end, I did it.

His true colors were revealed immediately.

Shi Xiao is a little autistic.

"...Hand." The little bird mumbled softly.

"What?" Wugeng didn't hear clearly.

Xiao Feiniao took a breath and said, "I said, it's not impossible to hold hands."

Wu Geng turned her head and looked at Xiao Feiniao. From such a close distance, she could only vaguely see the outline of the other person's face. She guessed that the other person's face must be flushed now.

To be able to make Xiao Feiniao, who is 97% arrogant and arrogant, take the initiative to say this, she must like her sister so much. Shi Xiao thought. Besides, this is not the first time.

I don't know why, but I always feel like my breathing is congested.

She moved her arm slightly, and her fingertips touched the back of Asuka's hand. The two of them subconsciously retracted as if they were electrocuted.

Soon, Little Flying Bird's little finger slowly came over. Wu Geng hesitated, but still went forward.

Under the warm quilt, their hands were held together.

Not long after, at five o'clock, I heard a little bird laughing in the dark.
Chapter completed!