It is as if you can feel the flow of the wind.

Clear blue skies.

Fleeting thin clouds.

"—Since you can't fly, let's use it."

However, Zhou Lang responded like this.

That's what my grandfather used to say.

"My grandfather said that if you don't have wings, you can just walk. We have a pair of hands and a pair of feet, and we can find a way to climb even if we climb - that's what Grandpa said. Well, of course, it must be convenient if you have wings, but if you really want to talk about it, wouldn't it be even more powerful to load a rocket directly on your back-"

Zhou Lang grinned at her.

"Even if you don't know what lies ahead of you, you must not be cowardly, once you are cowardly, you will be cornered, anyway, you will know if you go on, stupid! That's what Grandpa said. ”

"What do you mean?"

Lin Xiaoya stretched out her hand to catch the long hair flying in the wind.

"Well, rush to the target and go ahead - that's pretty much what it means, right?" Zhou Lang shrugged his shoulders and said casually.

"Is that what your grandfather said?"

"No, that's what Wood said!"

Both laughed at the same time.

For some reason, I suddenly felt fortunate that Lin Xiaoya was here.

The question of why she came with her is no longer important.

She's already here anyway.

At this time, Zhou Lang was in a peaceful atmosphere, and suddenly felt a strange gaze.

His eyes rolled and he looked around.

"What's wrong?" Seeing his expression change instantly, Lin Xiaoya asked worriedly.

"No...... It's nothing ......."

Zhou Lang said this, his eyes still looking around.

Immediately—he saw the boy and girl standing in the row next to them on the tram at a short distance. For a moment, the pair of figures shook dimly like a mirage.

There seems to be something in the depths of Ji Yiyi, which flashes in his mind.

- What was that?

He pressed into the memory box in his head, but received no response.

But there was indeed a slight sound in the depths of memory.

- Suzu.

The voice......

Is it a wind chime?

"—Zhou Lang, what's wrong with you?"

"Huh?"

Hearing Lin Xiaoya's voice, he came back to his senses.

Look again, the pair of boys and girls are gone.

Did he walk away while he was deep in thought?

I can't feel that sight anymore.

What's going on, what the hell is going on, this strange feeling-

Do you want me to know something?

What is that, what is competition?

- Grandpa, will you tell me?

As always, come and tell me.

It doesn't matter if you don't understand it.

It doesn't matter if it's boring.

It doesn't matter if it's a lie to me.

Anything, come and talk to me.

Grandfather......

Zhou Lang's expression was clouded, he lowered his head and didn't speak, Lin Xiaoya couldn't know what he was thinking.

However, it must be a memory related to my grandfather.

She was speechless for a moment, unable to find anything to say to him.

Very unwilling and unbearable.

She suppressed her feelings, tried to squeeze out a smile and said—

"Zhou Lang, it's time for us to get back on the train, right?"

Hearing what she said, Zhou Lang nodded.

The two returned to the tram, and after a while, the tram finally started running.

The big-eyed boy, and the red-haired girl in the hat, were no longer in their seats and disappeared.

- Suzu......

- I can't wait, I seem to be about to find out, but I don't.

- Really? I think he'd already found out.

- Even though we haven't spoken to those two people yet?

- Even if he doesn't talk through words, he will feel something in his heart, because this is the story of "their".

In the last part of the journey, I changed from the train to the bus, and finally arrived at the destination, and it was already time for the sun to set.

The purple sky, reflecting the red leaves in the mountains, is so beautiful that the two of them can't help but be fascinated by it.

It's a very rural place, a veritable countryside.

The countryside is quite vast, surrounded by mountains.

The two got off near the bus stop, and of course there was nothing.

It is even more remote and desolate than the station where the train was suspended due to the fire.

The road in front of you seems to be just paved with asphalt ridges, and of course, there are no lighting equipment such as street lights.

"Before the sun goes down, we'll have to find a way to find a place where it's populated."

After Zhou Lang finished speaking, the two walked for about ten minutes.

Quack - Quack -

There were birds calling, but there was not even a single figure in sight.

No one passed by.

There are residents along the way, but the houses are quite far from each other.

Noise problems in neighbors are commonplace in buildings or apartments in the city, but in this village there should be no such problems at all.

"Ugh—it looks like I can't go home today—"

Zhou Lang blurted out this sentence, and Lin Xiaoya immediately reacted-

"Homecoming? Were you going to go back and forth that day?"

"No, it's just that there's still you."

"I'm here, so what?"

"Huh?"

"It's nothing, it's a big deal, just find a place to sleep."

What do you mean by nothing! He vomited excitedly.

Zhou Lang had hoped that at least she would have to go home first.

The word "camping" came out of her mouth, and she didn't even think about it.

"Y-Are you serious? Sleeping on the streets?" Zhou Lang asked her.

"Hmm."

Sure enough, Lin Xiaoya nodded very simply.

Uh-huh!

"Sleeping in the wilderness...... Please, you—"

"Then let me ask you, Zhou Lang, why did you bring a sleeping bag?"

"That's, that's because, because I want to say it's just me...... Besides, there's only one sleeping bag, right?" After saying this, Zhou Lang finally realized that the situation was serious.

Something is wrong!

It's impossible for two people to squeeze a sleeping bag together!

It should be said - it doesn't work at all!

"Anyway, let's go find a place to stay - anyway, I was going to sleep outside, so I didn't have any money for accommodation......

At this time-

"I have some money on me, and I only went to the bank yesterday to get it." Lin Xiaoya said decisively.

"Really—no puppet is the squad leader! But, but...... Where are you going to find accommodation, is there a hotel or something like this in this village?"

"Didn't ——? you?"

"Do you think there will be?"

The two looked around slowly.

Mountain, mountain, mountain, and then, mountain.

- It doesn't seem to be ~~~~~!

Not right-

「……… Yes, yes."

Something miraculous - yes, really.

Alone, built not far ahead.

At first glance, it looks like a fairly old house, but it does have a sign that reads "Guesthouse Radish Mash Inn".

When you look closer, you can see that it is not just an old house, but a very nostalgic building.

Why it was named "Radish Mad Hotel", the two of them don't know, but thank God for it.

The moment when I was feeling glad -

"-Huh? Excuse me...... Bed & Breakfast, Dinner & ...... One night, five hundred?"

Zhou Lang and Lin Xiaoya couldn't help but repeat in unison what the hostel lady said.

The proprietress is a gray-haired, dignified and elegant old man.

Dressed in lilac clothes, it blends in with the atmosphere of the hostel.

That being said,

"So, two rooms are ......."

"No, we don't have two rooms, there is only one room here, and we only accept guests with reservations, and it just so happens that the guests who have made reservations have canceled today, and the two of them seem to be very annoyed, so they are particularly exceptional."

Regarding Lin Xiaoya's question, the proprietress explained with a smile.

It seems that this hostel is a family-style guesthouse that has rapidly increased in popularity due to the rural boom that has prevailed in recent years.

Therefore, the main customers are retired elderly women or office workers who are tired of the hustle and bustle.

In addition, the whole hostel is taken care of by the hostess alone, and usually only accepts a group of guests with reservations, so the accommodation fee is also a little higher.

$500 a night.

For junior high school students, this is a considerable amount of money.

And there is only one room.

"So, then, what are we going to do—how—"

Zhou Lang was about to ask what to do, but Lin Xiaoya said, "Okay, since that's the case, then I'll trouble you."

Then the housing registration procedure will begin in a brisk manner.

Zhou Lang peeked at the information she wrote from the side, and found that the ages were all messy.

She took off her glasses and tried to appear calm, pretending to be an adult.

And said to the proprietress -

"We are brother and sister, and we came to visit my grandfather in the countryside, and we got lost to get here."

The proprietress seemed to believe in her life completely, and without the slightest suspicion of the two, she let the two stay in.

All of this is thanks to Lin Xiaoya's blessing, thanks to her always having a face that "I am already twenty years old, and my words and deeds are generous and calm.

In fact, with her glasses off and wearing civilian clothes, she does look quite mature, like an adult.

It's hard to imagine, before I walked into the hotel just now-

"Does it matter, are you really sure? Don't we look like little children? Is it really okay?"

The guy who kept asking him with trepidation would be the same person in front of him.

Well, he really deserves to be a squad leader, a brave man who has experienced a hundred battles.

Or rather, girls are amazing.

To spend a night with a boy, you can make such a decisive decision......

Hmm—I felt ...... all of a sudden. I seem to be relieved, so that's fine.

Or am I not treated as a man at all?

Am I a complete safe card?

Unexpectedly, naturally harmless?

Do even your teeth sparkle when you smile?

…… No, it's impossible...... It's outrageous, and I feel disgusting just by imagining myself......

At this time, Zhou Lang, whose mood was heavier than his luggage, did not notice a thing.

Why does Lin Xiaoya carry so much cash on her?

Why do I have to go to the bank to collect it the day before I attend the school tuition camp?

Girls are really ...... How bold it is! - It's a pity that Zhou Lang is only nervous at the moment, and he is simple-minded, it is impossible for him to understand.

"The bathrooms are shared by men and women." The proprietress said.

In this non-group homestay, there is only one bathroom. Therefore –

"Absolutely, absolutely, no peeping, this boy!"

Lin Xiaoya said this sentence with a warning tone, and walked towards the bathroom with a smile.

According to the hostess, there is also an open-air bath attached to the bathroom.

「…… Dew point...... Uh, no, it's open-air...... Hmm......"

Even if he thinks that he can't, Zhou Lang is just like Lin Xiaoya heard that he is an able-bodied teenager in adolescence after all. Since there is still an open-air bath, wouldn't it be nice to divide the bathroom into two - all these complaints are gone at this moment.

All sorts of reveries come and go in the mind, come and go, and then resurface.

In the spacious Japanese-style room, Zhou Lang sat inexplicably upright.

Veryly, blushing and heartbeating.

Very, depressed and distressed.

Very, undeserved reverie.

Very, undesirable impulses.

It's very annoying~

"-Uh-ah-ah! No, no! If this continues, it will definitely go down!"

Zhou Lang stood up suddenly in a panic and walked out of the room to blow the night breeze.

It's a remote corner with a garden outside the room.

A garden that has been very well cared for and has a very elegant landscape.

Just looking at the scenery in the garden will calm your mind.

It was as if the soul was healed.

It seems to be able to understand why people come to the countryside in search of peace of mind.

I met Mr. Che, the stationmaster, and the proprietress today.

Everyone is leisurely and unhurried, which is very different from those urban people who seem to be pushed on their backs and don't know what to do in a hurry.

Even though we are in the same country, the speed of time flow seems to be completely different.

At this moment, the students in the class are crowded in the place arranged by the school, working hard.

By the way, speaking of which, although I think I have explained everything to the school and my family, I shouldn't have shown my feet, right?

Lin Xiaoya also said that there is no problem, but is it really no problem?

Then again, did she say it was okay?

I don't know if it's affected by the laid-back air of this land. It's hard to concentrate, and it doesn't seem to be very good in my head. And so—

"Ugh...... Never mind...... It doesn't matter, it's useless to think about it now."

Zhou Lang relaxed himself and blended into the atmosphere of the countryside, and at this time, something suddenly came into view.

"That's ...... Those two people?"

On the main corridor leading to the main house, the pair of big-eyed boys and red-haired girls that they had seen on the tram and the beach appeared before.

The two of them lay on the floor, not knowing what they were doing.

Why, are they here?

Why, I am so mindful of their presence?

One of the answers seems to be hidden in my memory, but I can't think of it.

Obviously, I was just a little bit close to thinking about it.

Zhou Lang narrowed his eyes and focused his gaze.

The two were fingering something rolling on the floor.

Every time you play it, it makes a snapping sound.

It's playing marbles.

Very retro game.

By the way, I remember before, grandpa once said.

He used to play a lot when he was young, so he also taught Zhou Lang how to play.

And, that boy, the way he played with the middle fingers of both hands - the same way ...... grandpa played?

…… ...... with Grandpa Same......?

At this time, the young man who was originally lying on his stomach stood up and turned his head to face Zhou Lang.

Then, with a slight smile.

Is it because you're happy to win marbles that you're smiling? Or is it responding to the question in Zhou Lang's heart......

Zhou Lang shook his head.

Grandpa is no longer there, and he deeply feels that he is lonely.

I would actually see the shadow of my grandfather in such a young child......

What are you doing?

Zhou Lang turned his back to the boy and girl, and prepared to walk back to the room.

happened to meet Lin Xiaoya from the bath.

The heart was pounding.

Lin Xiaoya was wearing a hostel bathrobe.

I had just taken a shower, and my cheeks were flushed.

Slightly damp hair with moisture.

The long hair is pulled up, and the back of the neck can be clearly seen.

The childhood sweetheart, who should have been used to seeing it for a long time, looks particularly bright and moving in the moonlight.

"What's wrong, Zhou Lang?"

"Huh?"

Suddenly making eye contact with her, Zhou Lang woke up from his previous reverie.

In a panic, he walked briskly into the guest room.

Lin Xiaoya's face was inexplicable, and she put her glasses back on.

The night completely took over the world.

The sound of insects chirping softly comes to the ears, and it feels very comfortable.

The air is cool, making it the perfect place to rest your tired body.

It's just that it is impossible for Zhou Lang to sleep.