"So, I'll go first!"

"Okay, be careful on the road!"

"Okay......

In the morning, Takayuki said goodbye to Shiko in front of the door. Pen @ fun @ pavilion wWw. ｂｉｑUｇE。 ｉｎｆｏ

They eat and live together, sleep in the same room at night, chat and play together in their leisure time, and live together like a couple. However, for Xiaozhi, he just can't rest assured; And for Shiko:

"I'm really happy..."

It's been two weeks since Shiko ran away from home, and luckily she met Takayuki on the first day. That day, she was angry with her family, her father, who had been respected for more than ten years, and her mother, who had been filial for more than ten years......

That day, she couldn't take it anymore!

On that day, she could no longer be submissive!

That day, she finally said "that sentence......

- "I'm not a puppet!" ”

- She has always longed for freedom.

- True freedom.

"What are you talking about?"

Because he's a father...

"What puppet?"

Because she's a mother...

"Are you worthy of us?"

Because they raised me...

"Is it worthy of the hard work we have put in for more than ten years?"

So, I've endured it all the time... I've endured it to this day... Endured until this moment...

— however, she could no longer endure it.

As she herself said, she will never be a ** puppet again!

"Smack!"

It was her silence that drew the slap, and it was the slap that ended everything between her and her family.

"Boom!"

She doesn't regret leaving that home, she doesn't regret everything she did, she doesn't regret the price she paid!

There is no money... There's no place to live... No dreams......

I could only go hungry, walking alone on the street, suffering from cold and hunger in the cold wind.

After leaving home, she should have ......

"Okay, be careful on the road!"

Takayuki will not understand her happiness at the moment, but she can gradually feel that her heart, her vision, her own body - is gradually being warmed by him.

But at the same time, she knew very well that it was all just her own delusion.

"Okay...... I'll be careful......"

She can only watch, she can only look from afar, and watch from afar......

His back.

She is not qualified to be by his side, after all...... She has nothing left......

Even this only place of residence is given by filial piety.

……

"Na, the ...... of filial piety"

During the lunch break, the very rare three of Mizuki, Shinji and Takayuki got together again.

"What's wrong, Mizuki?"

We just got together a few days ago, and now it's not the relationship that we used to be together as often.

“……”

However, there are occasional times when you stumble into a restaurant somewhere like this. When they meet, they sit together like this, eating and chatting at the same time.

"The ...... of Filial Piety"

Watching Takayuki's Mizutsuki gently shake the transparent liquid in the cup.

"Huh?"

"Filial piety, you......"

Taking a sip of water, Mizuki turned her gaze away.

“……”

"It's been three years, what the hell are you waiting for?"

Shui Yue didn't say what to wait for, but everyone present was very clear. It was the gentle and lovely girl who had left the three of them in a different way, and that was the most important person for the two of the three, and that was the one who everyone was waiting for......

She was friends of the trio. A best friend of one of them, a girlfriend of one of them......

Her name is Haruka Suzumiya, and she was a sophomore in high school three years ago, but now she is a patient who has been asleep for a long time. Three years ago, she was in an accident and was seriously injured. After the rescue, although his life was saved, he fell asleep like that!

And just like that, she slept for three whole years......

“……”

And in the past three years, Xiaozhi has been waiting silently.

Takayuki was silent, and he could have replied to Mizuki very easily-"I will wait until she wakes up." However, he did not say that.

In the past three years, there have been so many things that have changed. Gradually, he had to accept that "eternity is just a joke"; Once, he thought that he would not change, even if his appearance had changed, but he was still him, still his former self.

However, this is not the case......

He has changed!

"I think she's going to wake up......"

That was just an empty word to comfort myself!

"After all, she's been keeping me waiting for three years......"

But he was right by mistake.

Perhaps fate was playing tricks on them, and from the sudden addition of a woman to the group of two people, the new member brought her best friend; From the girl who betrayed the trust of her best friend, from the boy who has been hiding his heart, from Haruka Suzumiya finally mustered up the courage to confess to Narumi Takayuki...... Begin......

All...... It's all changed......

"Jingle Bell~"

"Hey, hey! Brother Narumi: Is it? ”

"Ah, it's Xiaoqian! It's amazing that you actually called me! How's it going, and is it still in the same spirit as before? ”

Now too...... It's all changing......

"Well, it's very spiritual! Thank you for your concern! ”

"That's good!"

Actually, when he received the call, Xiaozhi already understood. Xiao Qian would never call him for no reason, from the time she got his number, she had only called once in the past three years!

And calling today means that something must have happened......

"What about that...... Brother Narumi! ”

On the phone, Xiaoqian's voice was both excited and nervous.

"Hmm!"

"Actually, my sister ......"

……

"What's wrong, Takayuki?"

After hanging up the phone, the joy on Takayuki's face instantly froze, he was stupid for a moment, and then gradually hid the smile on his face.

Xiaoqian called and said that Yao woke up! Go see her......"

Xiaozhi lowered his head and said weakly. He stared blankly at his own vague reflection in the glass and let out a strange chuckle.

"Wait a minute, Takayuki!" Let's go see her...... 'What's going on?' ”

"Literally!"

"Hey, filial piety...... You ......"

"You all know that! I can't go to Haruka! I'm not allowed to see Haruka! Three years ago, I was bowed down by my aunt and uncle – 'Please don't come to visit our daughter again.'" ”

Everything is just an excuse!

It's all just because of the determination that I had already made up my mind, but I was shaken after hearing "Sister, she woke up, she wants to see you"!

"Are you stupid, Takayuki? Haruka has woken up, she must be eager to see you now! And yet you ......"

"I won't go to ......"

It's all just an escape......

Takayuki stood up, and he was ready to leave like this.

"Wait!"

"Smack!" "Don't touch me!"

Slapped Shinji's outstretched hand, and Takayuki unconsciously showed an expression of disgust as if he had touched something dirty.

"Ugh!"

The next moment, he came back to his senses. looked at Shinji and Shuiyue, who were stunned, and felt a hint of apology in his heart: "I'm sorry...... Take me to see Haruka! Say hello to her for me...... Just say...... Let's just say I'm busy right now, I'll see her in a few days! ”

At this moment, time is so slow. Someone saw the gaze in Takayuki's pupils, and the look was so dull that she felt suffocated. Looking at the heavy back, looking at the footsteps that were gradually moving away, she stood up and shouted, "Are you really not going to visit Haruka, Xiaozhi?"

“……”

About three meters away from Suigetsu, Takayuki stopped. He closed his eyes and fell silent. After a moment, he opened his eyes and looked down at the ground under his feet, and he sighed softly, "Don't go!"

(At least for now......)

After saying that, he walked up again, with his back to Mizuki and Shinji with his back. This time, he never stopped walking!

"The ...... of Filial Piety"

……

Probably I was wrong!

I finally woke up, but I didn't want to see her!

- I was so eager before.

Clearly......

"I want to see you, Haruka......"

"Open your eyes...... Listen to me...... Talk to me......"

"Don't ......"

"Haruka, Haruka, her...... When she gets better, I'll break up with her! ”

“……”

"Haruka, Haruka, her...... When she gets better, I'll break up with her! ”

“……”

……

……

"I like you! Narumi San, please mingle with me! ”

"Okay, let's get along!"

At that time, a soothing wind blew, perhaps the wind conveyed my words to Haruka; At that time, I felt the pain of the future, and it was the pain that made me say such irresponsible words; At that time, I met Haruka's gaze and read her inner thoughts from her eyes: "I like you!"

It's all my fault, it's me who was naïve.

Then...... If...... No...... Words......

"Damn!"

At two o'clock in the morning, Takayuki opened his eyes. He couldn't sleep, and after leaving Mizuki and Shinji, he went home and took a shower, and then fell asleep upside down, until now. Because he didn't eat dinner, he was awakened from his dream by hunger. For this, he sighed a little helplessly.

Eating, understood by filial piety as an extremely simple act of eating, is a trivial matter with an extremely low priority for him. It's just to fill its stomach so that it doesn't mess with itself. So......

"Cup noodles...... Looks like it was eaten by Shiko! Dumplings...... I don't want to eat it...... Vermicelli...... Not interested! ”

"What to do?"

Takayuki didn't turn on the light, and the room was dark, but he walked casually in the room in slippers and pajamas.

"The shortbread is gone......"

In the dark kitchen, Takayuki crouched down and opened the cabinet, squinting at the items on display inside.

"The sesame cake is gone......

He reached for a not-so-large glass jar and gently twisted the cap to confirm.

"Are you gone with candy too......"

In this environment where he can't see his fingers, he seems to really see it.

"Bang!"

"Forget it, go out and buy it!"

"I don't know if it's still open now, but the former pine forest has moved away......

……

Once, darkness, was what I feared the most.

Mysterious, nothing, nothing to see......

The unknown, which makes me feel uneasy; Restlessness, it makes me feel scared!

Once, I was afraid of the dark, but now I'm my favorite.

In my eyes, it is still mysterious; In my heart, it is still nothing; In the dark, I still "can't see" anything......

It may seem like nothing has changed, but the opposite is true.

Anything else, at least I don't feel uneasy about the unknown anymore.

"It feels so good! Sure enough, no light is good......"

Wearing a black jacket, black casual pants, and a pair of wide slippers under his feet, Xiaozhi walked alone in this dark alley in the dead of night.

From liking (getting used to) life in the dark, Takayuki naturally began to feel disgusted with the light.

Don't turn on the lights at night, walk the alleys at night.

It almost became his subconscious behavior.

But sure enough......

"The glare is so annoying...... If only they all disappeared! ”

"I can't help it!"

At the end of the alley is the illuminated avenue with two pillars on either side of the street. The light shone down from above, shining on Xiaozhi's body, dragging out a long shadow, making people feel indescribably lonely and desolate.

Takayuki walked along the street, looking for the supermarket intentionally or unconsciously, while quietly thinking about Haruka's affairs.

- When Haruka gets better, break up with her.

Three years ago, he said this to Otomu.

- and then just like that.

That's what he decided three years ago.

- I am a human being, I want to live alone, and I will never marry any woman in my life.

Once, he swore to himself.

But now, ......

"But it's just weakness......"

Saying such words, a cold smile appeared on Takayuki's face.

"A total of two thousand and twenty-five dollars!"

After shopping, Takayuki did not rush home, but instead went in the opposite direction to the way home.

Stepping on loud steps, leading heavy plastic bags, immersed in the ocean of memories, looking at the past, familiar music ringing in your ears.

(Even the little memories are gone, I still remember you)

(The gentle eyes at that moment warmed my heart deeply)

(Makes you my favorite person)

"The King of Filial Piety...... I like you! ”

(The boy who walks in the dark, his heart is so fragile, but he brings me hope)

"I've been in love with you since we first met......"

(Holding my hand gently, he listened carefully to me even if it was a small thing)

"I like you, more than anyone else! As long as it is what you say, I believe it; As long as it's for you, I'll do anything; As long as I can stay by your side and be with you, I can endure anything......"

(But I know he doesn't like me)

"Haruka ......"

"So ......"

[I know he doesn't like me, I know he won't like me, I know he won't like me]

"So ......"

[But I confessed to him]

[Because I know]

"So ......"

[Gentle, he won't let the girl cry]

(Taking advantage of his thoughtfulness and taking advantage of his gentleness)

[I am so willful, so ugly]

(Causing such an ending hurts his heart)

([But I really wish I could be with him forever])

"So...... I want rewards! ”

"Huh~ Reward...... Is that ......."

With his hands on the guardrail, he leaned his body on it, looking at the night sky, and Xiaozhi showed a nostalgic look.

"Reward...... Is it? What does Haruka want? ”

"Hmm...... That...... That one...... Filial piety, can you hug me? ”

"Hug you? That one...... Remote! Isn't that too difficult? And, why ...... all of a sudden"

"No~OK...... Is it? ”

"No, it's not impossible......"

"Just ......"

"Brother Narumi?"

In a daze, I heard a familiar and unfamiliar voice, a voice that was crisp and exciting, and it woke me up from my memories.

"It's Brother Narumi, right?"

What catches my eye is a short-haired girl with a hairpin. She was wearing a Bailing High School uniform and carrying a large bag on her right shoulder and walked towards me.

"Akane? It's all this time, do you want to go home? ”

"Hmm...... What about Brother Narumi? It's all this time, what are you doing here dressed up like this? ”

Xiao Qian's eyes are very complicated, probably because Xiaozhi didn't look at Haruka, which made her feel very incomprehensible!

"Just like what you see!"

"What do you mean by 'just as you see it'?"

Hearing Xiaozhi's words, Xiao Qian's tone was a little stiff, and she seemed to be a little angry.

"Take a walk! Scatter ~ step! ”

"Walking? At this time? ”

"yes, no?"

“……”

Xiao Qian was silent, she didn't know what to say.

She doesn't know much about filial piety. Most of them were told by her sister, from before dating three years ago, from the first meeting four years ago......

"Brother Narumi, can I ask you a question?"

Xiao Qian didn't understand, she didn't understand, she wanted to know one thing anyway - why didn't Brother Narumi come to visit her sister who had woken up.

"What's the problem?"

"Why didn't Brother Narumi come to see my sister?"

"Haruka ......"

- Obviously he likes his sister like that.

"Filial piety, can't you come today?"

- Obviously my sister likes you like that like that.

"Why...... Is it? ”

Takayuki turned around and looked at the darkness in the distance, silently thinking about how to answer.

"Yes, didn't I call Brother Narumi during the day? said, 'Sister wants to see you', but only Senior Ping and Senior Sister Suiyue came......"

Xiao Qian put down the satchel in her hand, came to Xiaozhi's side, looked at Xiaozhi's side face, and Xiao Qian repeated again: "Brother Minghai, why don't you come to see my sister?"

"Do you mean ......?"

"I'm hesitating...... I hadn't seen Haruka in three years, and I didn't know what kind of mood I should use to face her. I didn't even know what I was feeling when I woke up......"

"And ......"

"Xiaoqian, you don't know! That day, Haruka didn't have time to know......"

Maybe it's because a person is too tired, or maybe it's because a person has been lonely for a long time, Xiaozhi plans to say everything.

"What do you mean?"

Listening to Xiao Qian's voice full of surprise, Xiaozhi turned his head. Because of the backlight, Xiaoqian couldn't see Xiaozhi's face, but she still stared at Xiaozhi's dark eyes tightly, quietly waiting for his answer.

"Your sister is a very good girl! Well-behaved, cute, attentive, and gentle...... Although she sometimes loves to be coquettish like a child, this just adds to her charm. Almost perfect as a girlfriend! ”

"When I'm with her, I'm happy. Although we have only been dating for a short time, she has made me feel happy! I am grateful to her...... I thought we were going to spend our high school life like this, but I was wrong......"

Speaking of this, Takayuki turned his head away. He squinted, lowered his head, and stared faintly at the calm water under the bridge.

"I shouldn't have met Haruka, I shouldn't have accepted Haruka's confession, and I shouldn't have ...... at that time"

Xiao Qian's eyes widened, and she was shocked by the secret that Takayuki suddenly revealed. Listening to Xiaozhi's words, Xiao Qian couldn't say anything, she just froze there, her mind blank!

"Reward...... Is it? What does Haruka want? ”

"Hmm...... That...... That one...... Filial piety, can you hug me?!"

"Hug you? That one...... Remote! Isn't that too difficult? And, why ...... all of a sudden"

"No~OK...... Is it? ”

"No, it's not impossible......"

"Just ......"

"Just?"

"Haruka? What are you doing here? ”

At that time, I noticed that it was not only Haruka who liked me, but also Shuiyue......

"It's late, Xiaoqian, I'll send you home!"

Consciously alienate Shui Yue, and consciously keep a distance from Haruka.

"No, I'll go home by myself!"

It is unforgivable for a person to like two people at the same time, this is the "rule"!

It is also unforgivable for a person to be liked by two people at the same time, which is also a "rule"!

Although he didn't agree, he chose to accept it.

- It's abnormal, it's unreasonable, it's boring.

people, the "guidelines" that have been set.

People are selfish.

Whether it's filial piety, water moon, Shinji, even Haruka is no exception!

People are hypocrites.

Seek peace of mind by lying to fool others.

How ridiculous is this!

"So, I'll go back......"

In there, especially me......

"Tomorrow...... I'm going to visit Haruka tomorrow morning, and you'll talk to your uncle and aunt when you get home!" Well, goodbye! ”

One day you have to face it, one day you have to solve it, and one day you have to say it to Haruka......

……

Brother Narumi is back!

Dressed in a strange outfit, he walked away step by step with his back to me like that. It made me laugh, but I couldn't.

The extraordinarily abrupt little back under the lamp, the extraordinarily slow and small steps, looked so lonely, and every step was so heavy.

Time slowed down, as if it stood still.

Everything around him seemed to stop, and looking at him in his eyes, his feet moved involuntarily.

Hanging far behind him!

Gradually, it went faster and faster...... Go faster and faster......

But I can't catch up! No matter how fast I walked, the distance between us was never closed.

It's not that I'm not fast enough......

He's so laid-back!

But I couldn't keep up......

Not even the slightest distance can be narrowed!

She stopped and watched as Takayuki turned into the alley, watching him teleporte to the end of the alley and disappear from her vision.

A long time of distraction......

……

"Here, Haruka!"

"Thank you, Prince of Filial Piety!"

"I did this because I wanted to, so don't thank me!"

"Hmm...... It's delicious! ”

"yes, that's good!"

In the bright room, Hyoichi is holding a knife in one hand and an apple in the other hand and feeding Haruka piece by piece. They look like a couple in love, but they just express their love to their beloved unabashedly, which is touching and extremely warm.

"Hehe~"

Xiaozhi can come to visit him, and Haruka is already very satisfied.

"Come, I've brought you some books, you can pass the time when you're bored!"

But......

"Thank you!"

Taking the books, Haruka gently placed them under the pillow at the head of the bed, looking quite cherished.

"You're welcome! Well, I still have something to do, I'll come back to see you later! ”

"The ...... of Filial Piety"

"What's wrong, Haruka? Anything else? If so, just let me know, and I'll find a way to help you out! ”

"Uh...... No, nothing ......."

"yes, see you later!"

"Well, goodbye, Filial Piety!"

No, let's wait!

Haruka put the pillow behind her back, gently opened the book with the black cover, and looked at the contents on the white paper, she gently opened her small mouth.

Turning his head to the windowsill, he glanced at the white bouquet in the small vase, and smiled slightly. Turning her head, taking a deep breath, and quietly glancing at the handwriting on the white paper, she smiled and left tears.

To my favorite girlfriend - Haruka Suzumiya.

"Tick Tick Tick~"

"Thank you, Takayuki!"

"I like you the most......"

……

"Bug, have you encountered anything good? With that disgusting smile all the time! ”

"It's alright!"

"Here, add another milkshake!"

"Okay, here!"

"Hey, you ...... guy"

"Trouble with a cup of enlarged sundaes!"

"This bug ......"

"That...... Waiter...... Trouble to cup up the enlarged sundae! ”

"Damn, I always feel annoying!"

"That's, Miss Waitress......"

"I heard it, I'll be right away!"

Today's cozy dessert was the same as usual.

“LW！”

The beautiful girl who had just entered the door walked straight to a table by the window that happened to be empty, and ordered a glass of LW.

“LW！”

The little girl who followed the beautiful girl and sat across from her also ordered a glass of LW.

"Lovenowish two glasses!"

Occasionally, two people come to the café.,The older girl is called Sprout.,The smaller one is called Tsumiko.。 Sprout is a high school student who has been drinking lovenowish once a year ago and has been coming here about once a month.

"Here, lovenowish two cups, please use it slowly!"

"Thanks!"

At first, it was a person, but now it is ......

"Thanks, big brother!"

Every time, a little girl who was eleven or twelve years old and went to elementary school would follow.

What their relationship is, Takayuki doesn't know, and even their names are what he heard about by chance from Chiwa Hoko.

Quietly staring at the black liquid in the coffee cup, looking at his own face that quietly appeared on the black water, the sprout smiled softly. She laughed so ugly, she laughed so miserable!

But there was no one to comfort her!

"Slush~"

The taste is still the same, but little by little it gets more and more sour, and gradually it gets bitterer and bitterer, so that it is difficult to swallow.

"Slurp ~ Sip ~ Sip ......"

But she still drank it in small sips.

"How's it taste, Tsuko?"

For the first time, Sprout looked at the little girl sitting across from her.

"It's sweet, it's delicious!"

- They are not sisters.

"Really...... Isn't it sweet......"

- Not a friend, either.

"What about the budding?"

"It's sour, it's bitter!"

- not even acquaintances.

"Really? How pathetic! ”

“……”

"But this time we didn't feel like we're in tears!"

"That's right!"

"Let's go, then!"

"Hmm!"

The two got up together and went to pay together, just like when they came, the sprouts were in the front, the children were in the back, and the warm desserts came out one after the other. One to the left and one to the right, each going home.

Without saying goodbye, they are not people who like to say goodbye; There was no talk, none of them liked to talk so much; They didn't go home together, and they weren't that good.

They are all poor people, but they don't deserve to be pitied.

They are like injured wild dogs, they don't want to be sympathized, they just quietly **** their scars.

"It's boring, those two!"

“……”

Takayuki didn't want to say anything about them, so he walked to the nearby table and neatly cleaned up the slightly messy tabletop.

"Hey, worm, talk to you!"

“……”

"Hey, wait a minute......"

After cleaning up the table, Xiaozhi left quickly, not giving the Great Empty Temple any time to entangle.

"Today's Narumi seniors are a little strange!"

"Strange? What's going on? ”

"The ......"

Zhenyu looked embarrassed, as if he was worried and refused to speak up.

"Say it quickly!"

But after seeing that Dakong Temple was angry, she didn't care about anything else, and immediately said the details: "Actually...... During today's lunch shift, I saw Narumi-senpai sitting alone in the lounge in a daze at the LW he brewed himself. ”

"I got closer and found out what he was muttering......"

"Kiyopo...... Moment...... Seems to be a girl's name! ”

"Kiyopo...... Moment? I've heard that he has a girlfriend before, but it doesn't seem like that's the name......"

With his hands on his chin, the Great Empty Temple fell into deep thought......

"What are you doing here?"

"Ah~ah!! Manager!! ”

Behind them was an old man with a kind smile, the manager of the store. He was a kind old man, and even when he saw Ozora Temple and Mayu standing at the table where the guests in the hall were eating openly deserted, he didn't get angry.

It's just that if it continues like this, it may affect the guests' meals, so he walked over and reminded them a little.

"Mayu Ma......"

"Excuse me, I'll go to work right away!"

Without waiting for the Great Empty Temple to finish speaking, Mayu apologized and flew away from the scene.

"Uh......" The Dakong Temple that was left behind was a little unable to react, and was slightly stunned.

"Traitor!" She cursed softly.

"Then I'm going to work too!"

And then very calmly (?) Leaving the store manager's side.

Things like this happen almost every day, but the old man, who is the store manager, doesn't mind. For him, as a waiter, the Great Empty Temple usually does his job well, but only occasionally (?) If it's a small violation, he won't take it to heart.

"Thank you for your hard work, Narumi-kun!"

Whether it's Ayuki Ogoraji, who loves to make trouble, or Mayu Tamano, who is unreliable, or Takayuki Narumi, who is the most powerful......

"No, it's okay!"

In his opinion, they are all just children.

"Mayuki Mayuki, over there!"

"Okay, senior!"

"Mayuki Mayuki, here!"

"Coming soon, senpai."

"Mayu Mayuki ......"

"What the truth is, what are you stealing here, go clean up yourself!"

"Damn, you bug......"

"What do you say? Be louder! ”

"No, nothing! You ...... Let go of me, I'm going back to work! ”

""Hahaha......"

Even if it's nonsense, as long as it doesn't affect the work, as long as the atmosphere in the store can be so warm, then it's no problem!

Thinking so in his heart, the old store manager turned around and looked at the eyes that came out of the kitchen, and the three of them all showed a smile of relief.