The sky outside the window was a thin ink blue, and the orange street lights lit up one by one in the distance, illuminating the many students walking home along the Ginkgo Slope.
The closer we get to winter, the daylight hours are shorter than before, and even before six o'clock, the sky is already dark. The time to leave school is approaching, and the sound of sports clubs practicing on the playground has begun to fade away.
Sakakihara held his chin with one hand, tilted his head, and looked at the fading blush on the distant skyline.
The color of dusk, the smell of books, the exchanges between classmates when saying goodbye, the chatter of students passing by in the corridor outside the classroom. These smells and sounds seem to slow down the second hand above the classroom...
"Lejun?"
In a daze, Raku Sakakihara heard the sound and turned around, only to find that Amami Kuruuri had finished handling her student union affairs and returned to the classroom. She was now standing at the door of the classroom.
At this time, there were no other students in the classroom.
Liuli is naturally beautiful, and the little bit of sunset outside the classroom window falls on her face, making her face look extremely gentle.
Tianhai Jiuliuli approached him, smiled and said, "I suddenly discovered that Lejun and Qiyue are very similar."
"What is that?" Sakakihara Raku's eyes fell on the face of the high school girl walking in front of her. The girl's Western-style school uniform was very straight.
"Lejun and Qiyue always like to look out the window intentionally or unintentionally...ah, and yuki does the same too."
"Looking out the window..."
Raku Sakakibara looked back at the sunset that was about to disappear, and then faced Tiankai Kururi again, "It's nothing, I'm just looking at the scenery in a daze. Now that Ruri's work is done, let's go home after finding July in the Literature Department.
.A-Ling’s birthday has just passed, it’s already November, and the New Year is coming soon.”
After he finished speaking, he stood up.
"I don't think so."
"Huh?" Raku Sakakibara packed his schoolbag.
Tianhai Jiuliuli helped pick up his school uniform jacket, "It's the way you always look out the window in a daze."
"This action...is normal."
"Normal is normal, but I have seen Qi Qi like this for more than ten years, so I naturally understand what she is feeling and thinking at this time...Similarly, what is Lejun feeling and thinking now?
I can also tell what he is wearing."
Tianhai Jiuliuli smiled and paused for a moment, then walked forward and reached out to hug him.
...
The sweet fragrance hit her nostrils, and the refreshing fragrance of last night's shower gel came from the girl's slender neck.
Sakakihara Rakudu was stunned for a long time, and it took him a while to react.
"What are you doing... Liuli, hugging me so suddenly."
Tianhai Jiuliuli hugged his neck tightly and said seriously:
"When July was often in a daze, I would hug her directly like this... Every time I saw her looking out the window, I felt that she was so far away from me, and I no longer felt like
She's her sister. Lejun is like this too. She's obviously right by the window, but she seems to be far away from me, as if she's flying far away."
"Liuli, you..."
"A hug will make you feel better, right?"
Liuli's words seemed inexplicable at first.
But Sakakihara Raku felt as if he could feel her meaning and roughly understand her thoughts.
...People who like to look out the window are probably confused inside, right?
There is almost no purpose, and you may even stare at a leaf swaying in the wind for a long time.
why is that?
Sakakihara thought about it carefully. In the past... he liked to finish running, and he liked to sit on a bench on the street in the busy city, sweating profusely after finishing the run...
Then, I quietly watched the flow of people passing by in front of me, quietly waited for the street lights of the night market to turn on, and quietly observed the milk tea shop opposite as the takeaway guys walked in and out one after another...
It feels like... I don't belong to this world, it's vague and ethereal.
"This is the feeling of loneliness, Lejun." Tianhai Jiuliuli said very seriously, "It was like this before July."
Lonely?
Thinking about it carefully, it seems like what Liuli said...this feeling is loneliness.
Looking out the window, looking at the crowd...
If my past self had been sitting on a bench for a long time, and had been alone for most of my life, I would have been looking forward to someone talking to me, right?
"so--"
Tianhai Jiuliuli emphasized, "Qi Qi was always in a daze in the past, so I would always hug her like this to bring her back from the lonely world..."
Sakakihara Raku felt the warmth coming from Amami Kuriuri's body in his arms, and felt something, "It's pretty good..."
"Every time I hug Qiyue like this, Qiyue will sigh and say, 'Sister, you are clinging to me again. Do you really like me so much?'... Although Qiyue sighs and complains again, I can see it.
When I came out, she was really happy that I could talk to her."
Sakakihara Raku can verify this.
Every time she shamelessly touches Qiyue's hand or waist, she always chooses to swat her hand away, acting like she's disgusted, but actually she doesn't hate herself for doing it.
She is a little lonely herself, but she likes the feeling of someone loving her.
"Is the same thing true for Lejun?"
"Of course."
When Tianhai Jiuliuli heard what he said, she strengthened the arm holding his neck, hugged his neck a little harder, and moved her face towards him... At the same time, she spoke softly in her ear, "Then I will do this
Give Lejun a hug and Lejun will feel better."
"...affim."
...
"What trouble did Lejun encounter today?"
After they separated, Sakakibara shook his head and said, "No, it's just that I feel a little emotional when I think that the Chinese New Year is coming soon and the time has moved forward one year."
"...Don't like how time flies too fast? Why don't we go and meet Qiyue and take a simple walk outside the school together?"
"...Anything is fine."
...
During the walk, Liuli seemed very enthusiastic and enthusiastically led the other two people to chat while walking on the street.
Liuli took the lead, and the three of them talked about daily trivial matters, international events, and school gossip. They also talked about the topic of Korean room-temperature superconductivity, which has been quite discussed on YouTube recently.
Liuli thinks that there are really results there and can look forward to it; Qi Qi is completely opposed to it and even dismisses it. She thinks that the guys in Korea are just talking nonsense. This kind of thing will basically appear once every two years.
This time, the Koreans just deceived themselves.
Sakakihara had reservations. Anyway, he didn’t understand this aspect and would not comment.
Then the topic changed from "Is it possible for room temperature superconducting to be successful?" to "If it is successful, the future application direction."
When it comes to this... Qiyue Encyclopedia is indeed the Qiyue Encyclopedia. She can explain the application in detail according to the properties of materials... and then she talks enthusiastically.
Sakakihara Raku thought that she could not let her talk anymore, otherwise he and Liuli would be completely unable to talk, and the meaning of the three of them chatting would be lost, so he quickly stopped.
"July, stop, stop, stop!"
"What? What I said is wrong?"
"No, no, what you said in July is so right, so right."
Tianhai Qimingyue frowned, "Why do I feel like you are mocking me?"
Tianhai Jiuliuli immediately changed the topic, "Ah~! July, July, let's talk about the recently released game. Didn't we try it together over the weekend?"
"Lack of sincerity," Raku Sakakibara commented, "but the gameplay is good."
Tianhai Qimingyue agrees with this point of view, "It is simply a copy of the previous generation's work. It only changes a few small things and puts it on the shelves to pretend to be the second generation. It is a very common method for game manufacturers to cheat money."
...
The three of them chatted while walking along the roadside. They also bought milk tea and takoyaki on the way, and sat on a bench to rest for a while.
Sakakihara Raku didn't even notice that the time had already reached half past seven.
After starting from school, one and a half hours had passed before I knew it.
After eating, he continued to get up, and then stopped at an intersection. Sakakibara took out his mobile phone and took a look at the new messages received on LINE.
Sakakibara Suzu, who had been off work for a long time, sent him an emoticon of a rabbit lying on the floor, foaming at the mouth, and then asked when they would be back. She and Yuki were starving to death at home.
[Going back immediately.]
With such a reply, Sakakibara put away his phone, glanced at the two sisters beside him who were still criticizing the game manufacturer, and a smile appeared on his face unconsciously.
He didn't know why this smile appeared on his face, but probably it was the so-called little fun in daily life.
This girl Liuli... because she was worried that she would be lonely, she took the initiative to chat with Qiyue, and took her to the street to buy snacks without having to pay anything.
After understanding her feelings, there will still be a feeling of warmth in my heart.
*
When I walked home, the time came to eight o'clock in the evening.
Almost as soon as he turned the key and opened the door, Suzu Sakakibara, who was wearing a T-shirt and shorts at home, trotted over.
Her nose was very good, and she immediately smelled the scent of snacks and the creamer scent of milk tea on several people.
The expression that was originally very happy because my brother finally came home suddenly turned into an angry expression, pointing at the three of them:
"Wow! You didn't go home for a long time! You actually sneaked out to eat takoyaki and drink milk tea behind Yuki and I's back! That's too much! And you didn't even bring us any back!"
"We're just going out for a stroll, don't yell." Raku Sakakibara would not be polite to an older girl.
"You——! You are so cruel, Sister Qiyue!"
Sakakibara Suzu came to Nanami Nanami and complained eagerly, "You see, I got off school early today. I left school at three o'clock and got off work at five o'clock. I even took yuki home with me... Then yuki and I were waiting for you at home.
I've been waiting all afternoon and been hungry all afternoon! Brother, forget it if he doesn't feel sorry for us, forget it if he doesn't bring us food when we come back, and yet... he still talks about us so fiercely... Sister Qiyue, tell me, brother
Isn’t it too much..."
"Hey, hey, hey, Aling, don't bring yuki with you when you talk!"
Tianhai Qi Mingyue was thinking about A Ling's appeal very seriously, "Well, it is indeed a bit excessive."
"Then Sister Qiyue, hurry up and take care of her! Sister Liuli has to take care of him too!"
Like a real sister, Nanami Nanami touched Sakakihara Suzu's head lovingly, "Well, good boy, I'll help you take care of him tonight."
"Okay!" Sakakihara Suzu responded with a stiff expression, "Wait a minute... Sister Qiyue, why do you have to wait until night?"
"Only free in the evening."
"...Sister Qiyue, you...are hateful!"
The moment Sakakihara Suzu understood that Sister Qiyue was siding with her brother, she was so angry that she immediately rebelled and went to find Amami Kuruuri.
"Sister Liuli~ You will definitely love me~~"
"Of course," Tianhai Jiuliuli smiled softly, "I can cook whatever Ling wants to eat today."
"Okay, okay, what about my brother?"
"Lejun... tonight, Sister Liuli will help you take care of him tonight."
Sakakihara Suzu understood everything instantly.
"You guys - hum! I'll ignore you now. I'm going back to see Yuki to watch her play the guitar. I'll just take a look~"
...
Suzu made a face and ran away in anger, but the smile on Raku Sakakibara's face did not disappear.
It's really fun to tease her.
But he suddenly realized a problem. Qiyue and Liuli both said to "clean up" themselves at night... Ah Ling, she completely understands what they mean, right?
"Wouldn't this be good?"
Tianhai Jiuliuli asked: "Why is it not so good?"
"Just to let A Ling also know about this kind of thing..."
Tianhai Jiuliuli became dissatisfied and muttered: "It's too late! Who told Lejun to stick with Qiyue every night? Suzuchan is a night owl... In the past, I might have had to cover my head with a pillow every night before I could sleep."
"...The voice is low enough." Raku Sakakihara thought it was quite embarrassing for his own sister to hear such things all the time.
It is impossible to move out, and both A Ling and Yuki have to live with a few people.
How about adding a soundproof board to their room?
Tianhai Qimingyue seemed unconcerned, "My sister-chan has known about it for a long time, so it's not a big deal."
"July... No matter what, it's not good to disturb Suzu-chan's sleep."
"If she listens to it more, she won't be embarrassed. If she wants to sleep, I can give her a noise-canceling headset to keep her quiet. Besides, she asked me how I felt when we were taking a shower before."
"Wait a minute, Ah Ling is still asking you about this in Qiyue?!"
"It's just a girl's curiosity." Tianhai Qimingyue didn't take it seriously.
"How did you answer in July?"
"Answer truthfully."
Sakakihara Raku: "..."
Big heart.
July’s heart is too big!
To be able to talk to Suzu about this kind of thing... When he thinks about his sister smiling "hey hey~" to himself when she thinks of something happening in the future, Raku Sakakihara gets goosebumps all over her body.
Tianhai Qimingyue crossed her arms and said: "Just look at it openly. Everyone knows the relationship between us. Suzuya knows what is going on. There is no need to make such things so secretive and obscure. Let's talk openly.
On the contrary, it’s more natural.”
"Why is it natural?"
"Think about it, sister-chan, how can she not know about it tonight?"
There is some truth to that.
But Sakakibara Raku is worried that Sakakibara Suzu will tease him no matter what happens in the future.
She would definitely say such incomprehensible words as "Brother, I couldn't do it last night~ Even Sister Qiyue couldn't hold it up~ Brother Zayu~ Zayu~~".
Wait...she seems to have already said that.
...
Sakakibara slapped his forehead, suddenly feeling that his status as "elder brother" in this family did not have the dignity that an elder brother should have.
"It's just separated by a wall, Suzu-chan... you're not eavesdropping all the time, right?" Tianhai Jiuliuli suddenly realized something.
Sakakibara looked over and said: "...A Suzu is not that outrageous."
Tianhai Qimingyue acted lightly, "It's normal, it doesn't matter. After all, we have reached this age, just like my sister who is often curious and secretly asks me how I feel."
"How can I..."
"Sister~ don't lie. If you lie, sister will be punished. You can only listen by the bed and watch."
"July, you...! It's too much!"
...Sakakibara Raku was speechless on the sidelines. Is this topic already so open at home?
No, no, we have to change the topic.
"No, no, no! Stop talking about this... let's talk about the New Year. I don't know if it will snow in December this year. If it snows, do you want to go out and have fun or something?"