Jinguji Kiyohime stood under the eaves, quietly watching the heavy rain that still continued.
Izumi Toru stood behind her, looking at her graceful back in trance.
Ji Yue Uehara hid in the corner, staring at them without blinking.
This is Igarashi Mika's request.
In order to prevent a girl from suddenly becoming interested, she took her lover to play chase in the rain again.
Suddenly, Jinguji Kiyohime called out: "Izumi-kun."
"Um."
"The rain hasn't stopped yet."
"Um."
"So, can you stay?"
The girl turned around, and Izumi Toru saw the hope in her eyes.
He held her hands and said, "Thunder God's short song is more than just the first half."
Jinguji Kiyohime looked at him blankly, the tenderness in her eyes became even stronger.
"If I were more than ten years younger and heard this sentence, I would have fallen in love with Izumi-kun immediately."
Igarashi Shizuri's voice sounded from behind him.
Izumi Toru turned around and looked at the Igarashi mother and daughter, whose faces were similar, either like a peony or a snow lotus, with a flash of surprise in their eyes.
"It seems that my charm is not enough."
Igarashi Shizuri was stunned for a moment, and immediately understood what Izumi Toru's words meant.
A smile appeared on her lips.
"Then, Izumi-kun, you have to work hard."
Izumi Tetsu bowed his head.
"I always hear Qingji praising Izumi-kun for his excellent calligraphy. Would you like to give me a copy?"
"If you don't mind it."
Igarashi Shizuri glanced at her daughter, suddenly approached Izumi Toru, and whispered in his ear: "I want to take a good look at Mikaya's words of praise."
"Then I should write more," he said, showing a shy smile, "otherwise, I won't be worthy of Igarashi-san's praise."
Because they were very close, even if the two of them spoke in lowered voices, Igarashi Mika still heard them.
She gave him a cold look and said nothing.
Go to the study room first.
Jinguji Kiyohime wanted to keep up, but found that her friend was walking faster and faster.
"Royal flower."
Igarashi Mika slowed down her pace.
Jinguji Kiyohime ran two steps to catch up with her, then waved his hand to Izumi Toru behind him and said: "Come on, I will grind the ink for you."
Hearing what Jinguji Kiyohime said, Igarashi Shizuri was surprised.
"It seems that I need to pay more attention to Izumi-kun's handwriting."
"Um?"
"Qingji herself couldn't bear to use the inkstone she got from a collector a few years ago."
"...Isn't it very expensive?"
Igarashi Shizuri chuckled.
"It's not particularly precious."
Izumi Tetsu understood immediately.
In other words, it is not particularly precious, which means it is very precious.
Even the Igarashi family thinks it is precious. How many zeros should be added after this?
And aren’t such treasures generally used for collection?
Just take it out for me to use?
Thinking of this, he couldn't help but muttered: "Suddenly I feel a little stressed."
"Just [some]?"
"[Some] this level is just right. It's just right for [following one's heart without going beyond the rules]."
Seeing the confidence shining in Izumi Toru's eyes, Shizuri Igarashi was even more looking forward to it.
When he came to the study room, Izumi Toru looked at Jinguji Kiyohime who was studying ink for him, and his breathing became lighter.
He didn't make a sound and walked to her side quietly.
Igarashi Mika made room for him and stood with her mother.
"Royal flower."
"Um."
"Although Izumi-kun is a bit carefree, with your ability, it should be fine, right?" Igarashi Shizuri turned her head and asked in a tone of inquiry, but in fact, affirmation.
Igarashi Mika did not answer immediately.
She quietly looked at Jinguji Seihime's gesture of practicing ink, her pupils dilated, as if she was remembering something.
Jinguji Kiyohime finished studying the ink and finally stopped.
Looking at Izumi Toru beside her, she asked with a little anticipation: "Izumi-kun, what are you writing today?"
"How about "Preface to the Lanting Collection"?"
Jinguji Kiyohime's heart skipped a beat.
Her expression was happy at first, then became a little angry.
The girl pouted and looked at Izumi Tetsu without saying a word.
"What's wrong?"
"Izumi-kun, I asked you to write to me before, but you always refused. This time I wrote to Aunt Jingli... Could it be that..."
As she spoke, she suddenly covered her mouth in surprise.
Izumi Toru looked at her helplessly.
"Where are you thinking about this expression?"
Jinguji Kiyohime also knew that she was overthinking it.
Because of Igarashi Mika, Izumi Toru didn't know how to do it and didn't dare to have other thoughts.
She stuck out her tongue and said in a very low voice: "I thought that because Izumi-kun couldn't make Ohana change his mind, he focused on his similar appearance to Ohana..."
Boom!
Izumi Toru hit her forehead with a little force.
"It hurts." The girl covered her forehead and screamed.
"I didn't write before because I was not in good condition. Now that I'm in good condition and you took out your beloved inkstone, I decided to go all out. Since it makes Qingji unhappy, I won't write."
"No! Izumi-kun... just write, just write." Jinguji Kiyohime quickly grabbed the corner of his clothes and shook him twice.
I wanted to continue teasing a few words, but the girl's melodious pleading voice seemed to penetrate into my bones, which made Izumi Toru unable to say any words of rejection at all.
"I was just teasing you. How could I not write it if I promised others?"
"I know."
"Huh? Then you still..."
"It's okay to act like a spoiled brat occasionally, right?"
The girl winked at him, looking very cute.
After looking at her for a while, Izumi Toru took a deep breath.
"It's about to begin."
"Um."
Jinguji Kiyohime let go of her clothes and stood beside her.
Izumi Toru picked up the pen with a solemn expression.
At this time, Igarashi Mika turned his head and said to his mother: "He and Kiyohime are a perfect match."
"I think it would be a better match for you."
Igarashi Mika shook his head: "I will never grind ink for him, and vice versa is almost the same."
Shizuri Igarashi said no more.
Time passed by minute by minute, and the entire study became so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.
After writing "Preface to the Lanting Collection", Izumi Toru's body suddenly shook.
Jinguji Kiyohime panicked and quickly supported him without caring about appreciating his handwriting.
"Izumi-kun?!"
"It's okay, I'm just a little tired."
At this time, Igarashi and his daughter came up.
Igarashi Mika frowned and said: "Are you okay? If your physical fitness is not good, don't force yourself to challenge this difficulty. Have you forgotten..."
She suddenly glanced at Miyadera Kiyohime, and then fell silent.
Forgot something?
Jinguji Kiyohime was a little curious, but she didn't ask.
Prying into Izumi-kun and Mika's secrets will only make them sad again.
Izumi Toru frowned when he heard Igarashi Mika say that his physical fitness was poor, "Don't underestimate my physical strength, I'm strong."
Igarashi Mika's brows furrowed even more.
She raised her right hand and said, "I only use one hand. I want to go to the training ground to prove it?"
Izumi Tetsu coughed twice unnaturally and said quickly: How about you read my handwriting?"
Igarashi gave him a blank look and was too lazy to pay attention to him.
Lowering her head and looking at his words, she was stunned.
This is a level of calligraphy that Izumi Toru has never shown in front of her.
I obviously thought that he was just a little better than me.
This is no longer a high school student, no, it is already a level that ordinary people can achieve.
【Just a little bit, you can surpass me】
[I have to be a little bit stronger than you]
[Only in this field, no matter what time, I will be a little better than you]
Her outstanding memory reminded her of what Izumi Tetsu once said to her.
Will you always show that you are just a little bit better than me?
She guessed the answer.
She had new doubts.
Really, only calligraphy is better?
Igarashi Shizuri originally thought that Izumi Toru's calligraphy was only one or two levels higher than her daughter's, but now she saw that it was impossible for her daughter to win.
Moreover, how do you read this word...
"Izumi-kun." She suddenly shouted.
"exist."
"Where is the original version?"
Izumi Toru did not answer, but asked: "Are you satisfied with this word?"
Knowing that he didn't want to answer, Igarashi Shizuri didn't ask further.
Because now she is in trouble.
At this time, Jinguji Kiyohime looked at her with an expression that was about to cry.
"Qingji, what's wrong with you?"
Jinguji Kiyohime glanced sideways at the words on the desk, then looked at her without saying anything, but her eyes became increasingly moist.
Igarashi Shizuri guessed what she wanted.
"Qingji, do you want it?"
Jinguji Kiyohime shook her head and said: "This, this is given to you by Mr. Izumi..."
But her eyes still glanced at the book table from time to time.
The girl's tearful expression because of her reluctance was too pitiful, which made Igarashi Mika couldn't help but shout: "Mother..."
Shizuri Igarashi wanted to show off to her friends, but when she saw the normally well-behaved and quiet Jinguji Seihime showing such an expression, she gave up her thoughts.
If it was really taken away, Qing Ji would probably cry.
Seeing the joy in her eyes, Igarashi Shizuri realized that she had been deceived.
But once she spoke, she didn't want to take it back.
Stretching out his hand and gently scratching her nose as a punishment, Igarashi Shizuri said: "Then, you have to ask your Izumi-kun to give me another one in the future."
Hearing these words, Jinguji Kiyohime turned around and showed Izumi Tooru a smile that could charm all living beings.