After nine o'clock in the evening.

When Xia Jing sat at his desk in a daze at the homework that showed no signs of progress, his mobile phone rang.

Just hearing the ringtone of the incoming call, Xia Jing was so frightened that his heart almost stopped.

When this song is set to be dedicated to a specific group, it means that the call is from Ye Yaguan's people.

“……”

Xia Jing held his breath and looked through the LCD screen to see who called.

In fact, whether to take it or not made Xia Jing very confused.

I don't want to talk to her. I was afraid to hear her. Even what her intention was in making this call, Xia Jing didn't want to imagine.

Just turn off the power so you can avoid facing it and ignore it.

- What should I do?

Xia Jing hesitated for about fifteen seconds, but the bell still rang non-stop, and there was no sign of quieting down. So Xia Jing picked up his mobile phone and pressed the call button tremblingly.

Even "Hey?" Such a simple greeting, Xia Jing couldn't say it.

On the other end of the microphone, the voice came first.

"Summer view?"

I don't know if it's anger or if it's a more negative and gloomy emotion. At least I could tell it wasn't a voice in a good mood—Yasuno asked in a tone of voice.

「…… Hmm."

Xia Jing squeezed out his voice and replied, but he couldn't say anything else.

What kind of greetings such as "what are you doing with me" or "what happened next", he can't say even if he is killed. Because Anye's family was almost killed by Xia Jing.

After Xia Jing's brief response, Anye on the other end of the phone seemed to take a deep breath.

After a pause, she asked straightforwardly, "Senior Sister Lanyang went to see you today, right?"

"Hmm."

Is it because of this incident that she will suddenly call today?

Xia Jing thought to himself: It seems that An Ye should have called me to scold me. If I could just hang up like that, I don't know how easy it would be. Of course, I am not qualified to hang up. Even if Anno did kill me, I couldn't blame anyone else.

Ahhh

It's just that there can't be that kind of cheap atonement in the world.

Yasuno opened his mouth and said, "Senior Sister Lanyang, she has been crying since she came back."

「…… Did she cry?"

"She just kept crying and saying she wasn't useful."

From that understatement tone, it was elusive to feel any emotion.

As if he was just explaining what had happened, there was no inhibition or frustration.

"So I comforted her, it's not Senior Sister Lanyang's problem."

Xia Jing had no room to interject.

It feels like the other party doesn't seem to expect any response from Xia Jing.

It's as if he's just trying to pretend to be calm and say what he wants to say and what he should say.

Even so, the excitement in his tone slowly increased bit by bit.

"And then I told her that I think we're all useless...... Even if the person who went to find you today was Ye Ya, the ending would not change. Because we are all members of the deer tribe, we are the most direct cause of your current position. You feel guilty about us. So, no matter what we say, you won't listen.'"

"No, I ......."

Negative words blurt out involuntarily.

『…… Me.'"

However, Anno interrupted Natsujing's words and suddenly reversed his breath.

From the original suppression that stifled feelings, it has been transformed into a gentle atmosphere.

"No matter what decision you make, Xia Jing, I have no opinion. After all, I don't have the right to guide you on what to do, and I can't dictate your life. Even if you decide that you don't want to see us again, I don't think so."

No, it's not.

It's not just about gentleness.

"But...... But, Natsujing.'"

Tenderness began to quietly rise sharp spikes.

"My parents...... Mom and Dad are dead.'

In the midst of the spikes and sobs, there is also grief.

"I don't blame you. I don't want to say that to a friend like you. But—you know, Natsujing, if you just cocoon yourself like that, I won't forgive you, absolutely not. That doesn't mean I'm going to take revenge on you, but...... Even if we never meet again in this life...... I will never forgive you.'"

It's like a gentle knife.

"Anno ......."

"Turn on the power."

Anno sniffed and changed his voice again.

"That's all I can say. If that doesn't work, I don't think it's helpful to say more.'"

- Turn on the power?

Xia Jing didn't have time to ask what that meant.

The phone was hung up without warning, and Xia Jing barely said anything from beginning to end. This one-sided conversation ended without interaction, leaving only silence that spread throughout the room.

Even so, Xia Jing didn't even have the room to feel the silence in his heart.

He had forgotten about breathing, and the noise of agitation buzzed in his head. Xia Jing didn't realize that it was actually the sound of blood circulation in the body, but just gritted his teeth.

What a joke, he cursed secretly.

Is it Anno who is swearing? Or yourself? Or is it some kind of human destiny or fate, a power that human wisdom cannot grasp?

"Really...... I see."

Turn on the power.

Actually, there is no such thing as "I didn't have time to ask the meaning". That's just another excuse to avoid facing reality.

......

I don't know how long I've been frozen in front of my desk.

For a moment, Xia Jing slowly moved his fingers and arms in a chaotic mood that he couldn't tell whether he was nervous or scared.

Pain attacks Natsushi.

Evasion will never be allowed and will not be pardoned.

- Even if you're dead.

Xia Jing turned the lock of the locked drawer on the top of the desk and pulled it open.

inside the drawer.

There was a good thing that was overwhelmed by diaries and other valuables, as if it were in eternal rest, heavily protected, and well stored.

Xia Jing took out Fang Yuan's mobile phone.

As soon as the mobile phone, which has not been turned on for more than two months, turns on, a large number of missed calls and voicemail notifications immediately pour out on the screen. Calls to this mobile phone are almost always a phone number registered in the phone book in the name of "home".

The second most common number is "Mom". And then there's 'Daddy'. There's also a number that hasn't been logged in - presumably a vigilante.

Xia Jing couldn't help but want to look away.

He recalled the image of his parents making crazy phone calls when his sister disappeared. I still remember that I didn't dial it once, and it just passed. But I haven't heard of any place to find my sister's lost phone. I don't know if my parents have helped my sister cancel that number.

On Fang Yuan's mobile phone screen, you can also see an antenna icon showing the receiving status.

This means that the account has not been closed yet.

So now when Xia Jing turns on to check, it is very likely that there will be a call in. But Xia Jing couldn't care so much, and he didn't open the voice message to listen to the content, because he felt that it was a corner where he could not be offended.

Fang Yuan's parents are still alive. They are alive and believe that Fang Yuan is still alive in the world. If you listen to a voice message without permission, it is like trampling their expectations and wishes under their feet.

Xia Jing ignored the call history and opened the mailbox first.

Begin with the oldest letter.

Almost all the text messages in the mailbox are sent by pears.

Most of the content is gossip.

For example, I don't know how to solve today's homework, can I help record TV programs, etc.

Judging from the date, they were all text messages sent nearly three years ago, and it turned out that it had been three years.

Just seeing the date, Xia Jing was out of breath.

Memories of my junior high school days come back to mind.

Ogami, who always has a smile on his face, is Fang Yuan, who is not at all conspicuous. Maybe the two of them got along with each other, so that they got a similar sense of security from it, maybe Xia Jing thought to himself.

Xia Jing roughly flipped through the text messages, and suddenly stopped moving.

The date is August three years ago.

The title of the text message is "Re: Summary of the operation to bring Xia Jing and Fang Yuan closer".

My heart slammed.

Xia Jing looked at the contents. Start with the first letter from the sender's tail.

The so-called battle is that Pear asks Fang Yuan to go to the library, waiting for the arrival of Xia Jing, who goes to the library with the team to solve the summer vacation homework, and creates a scene of chance encounter. After the ambush is successful, intercept Xia Jing, and the three of them go to drink tea or something together.

The technique is quite clumsy, and it feels like a simple plan that even elementary school students can come up with.

However, Xia Jing didn't remember that they had practiced this battle. Because──

A few days apart.

Fang Yuan sent a text message to Pear.

The title is 'What's wrong with you?' , which reads, "Overslept?" I'm running out of time."

The next one is titled "Please get in touch", and the text only briefly says "I'm worried".

That's right.

I'm afraid it's - before the battle can be carried out, the incident of the disappearance of the pear will be exposed first.

Since that day, Pear has never sent a single text message. On the contrary, the text messages sent by Fang Yuan to Lizi skyrocketed to dozens in one go, and it is conceivable that she must have made phone calls again and again.

My heart ached.

The pain began to pulsate vigorously as the heartbeat began.

It's just that Xia Jing can only feel heartache and sadness at this stage.

About a year after Lizi's disappearance, the mailing box of Fang Yuan's mobile phone changed.

There are a lot of outgoing text messages that don't have a set recipient.

That series of contents, I can't send it even if I want to—no, it's a text message that I know I can't send but still typed out.

The first unsent text message was titled 'How are you?'

Give the pears.

How are you doing?

I'm about to take the high school entrance exam.

Although the days without pears are lonely and uncomfortable, I will try my best.

I was very serious about preparing for the exam. I hope I can be admitted to the same high school as that person.

Xia Jing immediately understood the meaning.

This is an update report.

A text message written to her by Ashbara, who believes that the pear is safe.

If memory serves, Riko's phone was found on the side of the road and malfunctioned a few days after she went missing. Even so, Fang Yuan still believes that one day she will contact her. There will be a regular report every week.

Xia Jing opens the next newsletter. The title was "I got in!"

Give the pears. I was admitted to a private high school... That person seems to have been admitted too.

I'm so happy to be able to go to the same high school again in the spring.

Frankly, it would be better if the pears could be together......

But I want to quit the habit of mourning and crying.

Because I want to be stronger before the pear returns.

At least, you have to be strong enough to dare to talk to Xia Jing.

Otherwise, when the pear returns, I'll cause you trouble again.

If you can see Xia Jing's classmates, I don't know how good it would be. Pear, you have to pray for me, too.

This wish shouldn't be greedy, right?

The view in front of you...... It became a blur. As if a force was pushing him, Xia Jing flipped through the newsletter in order.

After reading several newsletters in quick succession, one was titled "Great!" The text message caught his eye.

Today, Xia Jing took the initiative to talk to me.

He came to borrow my homework.

But I think my handwriting is so ugly that I can't see people at all. I was so nervous that I didn't hesitate for anything he said.

I didn't dare look him in the eye. Xia Jing, I'm sorry.

But I'm really happy.

It's satisfying to be in the same classroom like this, and then to have a few conversations once in a while.

Although Pears may say that this is too easy to satisfy......

However, I was so happy all day today.

But, but, but.

The frequent appearance of "but" in the text messages means that although she is not satisfied with her actions, on the other hand, she has a positive attitude towards her feelings.

This is the strong will she has always lacked confidence in interpersonal relationships.

Soon, the date of the text message came to summer, and then autumn went to winter, and a year passed.

Fang Yuan reported the situation to Lizi in detail.

The sesame little things of everyday life.

The worry of not being able to make friends.

Suddenly, a senior I didn't know confessed to myself.

It actually takes a lot of courage to refuse to confess.

There was only one thing she hadn't written in.

The incident that happened because of the refusal of the senior's confession - Fang Yuan didn't mention it at all.

Is it being reckless? Or is it because you don't want to worry Pear?

However, her recent reports begin to slowly take on a gloomy air from around early winter. The number of words has also been reduced, and there is a trend of increasing in abstract text messages such as "I had a good day today" and "I'm so bored this week". As if trying her best to hide the fact that she was being bullied, even those who watched felt heartache for her.

However, among these inconsequential contents, only mentioning a certain topic Fang Yuan will become a common rap.

That was the period when I started talking to Xia Jing frequently.

- He borrowed my homework from me.

- He asked me how I was doing.

- He said good morning to me today.

It's all trivial.

Even Xia Jing himself has long forgotten all these things.

However, she would rather report these inconsequential things to Pears than mention the bitter fact that she was being bullied. It's as if these little things are all she has.

It's as if I'm proudly saying to Pear, "I'm fearless when I have this."

「……」

The tearful eyes blur the field of vision.

It is already difficult to read word by word, and a breath is stuck in the heart, and even breathing is not normal and smooth.

"She's ...... How's that?"

Xia Jing couldn't cry, and he didn't even notice that he was sobbing and choking.

The words are full of sincere and dedicated feelings.