"Xiaoichi, let's go first!" Xiao Asuka and Takayama dragged Ikuta and Matsumura and waved towards Oda and Hashimoto.
"Well, see you tomorrow!" Oda waved to the noisy group of five, then turned around and caught up with Hashimoto.
Soon after the Huangpu River poured into the Yangtze River, the water in the Yangtze River poured into the East China Sea and the Yellow Sea; the Yangtze River Estuary is like a button connecting the two sea areas, the Yellow Sea and the East China Sea, which are close together.
The wind blowing from the water is usually cool and pleasant. The slightly moist breath hits the faces of Oda and Hashimoto, but it makes the cheeks that were just slightly rosy from the hairy crabs drop a little temperature.
It is now close to midnight, and the crowds walking along the Bund have basically dispersed. Only two or three young couples are left, still clinging to each other, retaining the last bit of warmth from each other.
"How was this trip?" Oda habitually held the familiar, somewhat cold hand.
"It's good." Hashimoto also habitually held the hand that was always slightly warmer than his own. "I always feel that time flies so fast, and everyone seems to have grown up all of a sudden."
"Yes, when we can't see them, they have grown to a height that we can't imagine." Oda could understand the meaning of Hashimoto's words, "But although many things have changed, many things still remain the same.
changing."
"It is true that there are many things that will not change." Hashimoto muttered, staring at the lampposts nearby, "After passing this entrance, the first one, the second one, right here." Hashimoto muttered in a low voice,
Then he squeezed Oda's palm gently with his hand.
Oda turned his head and looked at Hashimoto.
"Xiaoichi, do you still remember this place?" Hashimoto let go of Oda's hand, thought for a while, then took two steps, chose a place to stand, and then spread his hands and asked Oda
.
"Where is this?" Oda looked at Hashimoto, unable to recall it for a moment.
The streetlights shone diagonally, making Hashimoto's shadow somewhat elongated; half of his body was hidden in the darkness, as if he was whispering something.
A similar scene suddenly appeared in Oda's mind. Two years ago, it seemed that it was here that Oda told Hashimoto his intention to graduate; and a year ago, it seemed that it was also in the same place, where he had graduated from Nogizaka.
After graduating, Oda expressed his love to Hashimoto.
Oda himself also found it strange why every time he came to Shanghai, he and Hashimoto would come to the Bund to walk around and chat, and then always make an important decision under the same street lamp.
"Xiaoichi, didn't you ask me yesterday why I chose to graduate?" Hashimoto put his hands behind his back and turned half a circle. His slightly open skirt looked particularly beautiful under the light.
"Yes." Oda looked at his lover in front of him and nodded.
"On the one hand, it may be due to physical reasons." Hashimoto showed a slight smile on his face, "On the other hand, it may be because I am worried about affecting you, Xiaoichi."
"I like you, Xiaoshi. I've probably known this for a long time, but I've never dared to face my heart."
"I've actually always been afraid that my abnormal emotions would be discovered by you, Xiaoshi. It wasn't until that time, when we were chatting, that you accidentally said that you also liked me. Only then did I realize that we
In fact, it is a two-way secret love between two people."
"When I first learned about this, I was actually very happy, but then came an even stronger fear."
"The fact that a member of the well-known idol group TOP came out as gay is a hurt for both Nogizaka and you, Koichi. I don't have to be an idol, and I don't have to read the negative information; but you, Koichi
You are young, Nogizaka is still young, you all have a bright future that you can strive for."
"So I chose to escape, because after knowing that you like me, Xiaoshi, I have always felt that there is a feather tickling my heart, making my love for you, Xiaoshi, even stronger."
"Actually, in 2018, when I heard that you wanted to graduate, although it was quite selfish, my first thought was not pity but happiness. Not only am I happy that you graduated, but I am also happy that you chose the option of retiring after graduation.
.Because this way, the two of us can be together openly."
"Then one year later, after you graduated, I don't know whether it was intentional or unintentional, but you chose this place to express your love to me again."
"This seems to be the beginning of the long-distance love race that the two of us have been preparing for for eight years." Hashimoto tilted her head with a smile, tears already oozing out of the corners of her eyes, "In this year, I
It can be said that every moment I spend with you, Xiaoshi, is very happy for me."
"So, many things have changed, but many things have stayed the same. I have always loved you, Xiaoichi." After saying what he had been thinking, Hashimoto still stood under the light, as if waiting for Oda's call.
Answer - Just like when the girl was standing in the middle of the stage filled with green light, and the spotlight was shining on her.
Oda touched the pocket of his coat and could barely make out a square shape from its outline. For some unknown reason, after getting up and washing up this morning, Oda somehow managed to remove it from the dark side of his camera bag.
I took out this box that I had hidden for a long time.
If there is a most suitable time, it would probably be now.
Oda knelt down on one knee.
Big tears fell on the ground, causing beautiful little splashes of water.
——
If the names of Oda City and Hashimoto Nanami were not written together when the rooms were allocated.
If Oda Shinichi had chosen to accept Nishino's first confession.
If Oda had not overcome the obstacles in his heart and was still averse to love between women.
If Oda had made one different choice along the way.
Then, an ending like today would probably not exist anymore.
Oda and Hashimoto may still be close friends who can express their feelings to each other, but it is almost impossible to cross the red line that transcends friendship.
Whether this relationship is correct or not, from an objective perspective, Oda doesn't know the answer.
But feelings are different from other things and cannot be judged by pure rational thinking - this is something that the rational Oda struggled with for a long time before he determined.
Oda knew that for him now, being able to stay with the lady named Hashimoto Nanami was the happiest thing in his life.