Memories are spent day by day, and the memories of Natsume and Mao Asai are also growing up.

The three of them witnessed it all like passers-by...... Naoki Natsume has been holding Mao's sleeping soul in his arms.

Because of the birth of Asai Mao, Aunt Asai resigned and became a full-time mother at home, so Asai Mao lost the qualification to apply for a nursery school.

Time flies, and in a blink of an eye, the little one has grown to three years old, and it is time to go to kindergarten.

Early that morning, after eating, Asai Yue led Asai Mao to the town under the pretext of going out to play.

The town is not far from the village, and it is only a twenty-minute walk away, and if you drive a few intersections, you can also pass a maple forest.

"Mama, where are we going?"

Obviously, Xiao Zhenxu is already tired of walking, if it weren't for the little hand held by Asai Yue, it is estimated that he would have squatted on the ground and said nothing.

Even so, the little one was very upset, and his mouth was pouted, and he walked two steps to make a fuss, and it took them almost an hour to walk from the house to the town.

But Asai Yue didn't look impatient at all, although she was a mother for the first time, but being able to go out with her daughter was still the happiest time in her life.

Asai Yue squatted down and looked at Xiao Mao and gently picked her up.

Three-year-old children already have some weight, and girls are thinner but have more than 20 pounds.

Asai Yue, who had been grinding all the way, picked up her daughter and gasped, she was also a little tired, but the expression on her face was still radiant, so she coaxed her daughter.

"Shall we go and play with Brother Naoki?"

Xiao Mao, who was originally very unhappy, immediately became happy when he heard this: "Go and play with Brother Naoki!" ”

The little rich woman who followed behind the mother and daughter rubbed her calves, pouting and looking younger than Asai Mao, who was not happy.

She hates long journeys more than anything else.

Pampered since she was a child, she is picked up and sent by car wherever she goes, and no matter how bad it is, you can take a subway, Tokyo's subway lines extend in all directions, where will there be a time when you need to rub on the road for an hour?

But this is Hokkaido ten years ago, and it's still a remote countryside, let alone the subway, and even the train route can't cover the whole of Sapporo.

"Hey, how long do we have to get there?"

The little rich woman poked the soft flesh on Naoki Natsume's waist with her fingers: "Your young tame is spoiled by her mother, can you pet me now?" My mom isn't here, and I don't have a mom anymore. ”

The senior sister on the side who heard these words was strangely distressed, and her heart was uncomfortable.

She has both parents and has had a happy family since she was a child.

Ever since she heard that Amamiya Senmi lost her mother not long after she became sensible, she has more sympathy for Amamiya Chizuru in addition to emotional hostility.

Even in terms of feelings, the senior sister, who has never been aggressive, never takes the initiative to attack Amamiya Chizuru, and most of the time it is Amamiya Chizuru who provokes first, and she will give a counterattack.

So the kind senior sister looked at Naoki Natsume, and at this time she hoped that her dear Naoki-kun could give her little bit of love to the elementary school.

Naoki Natsume held the soul of Mako, who had stopped dissipating with one hand, and gently placed the other hand on her head and rubbed it dotingly.

"In the past, you always hid your aunt's affairs in your heart and didn't say anything about it." He comforted Amamiya Chizuru loudly: "Now that you can face this matter calmly, and being able to say it in person shows that you have let go of a lot." ”

"You've worked so hard too!"

Feeling the caress on the top of his head and the comfort that saw through his heart, Amamiya Chizuru felt warm in his heart, enjoying the warmth of his big hands like a kitten, and there was actually a tendency to take the initiative to rub his palms.

It's just that the little rich woman is still arrogant, and she wants to rub it but is afraid of being seen, so the rubbing amplitude is small, which makes Natsume Naoki's palms itch.

"So, how long will it take for us to get there?" Amamiya Chizuru hurriedly changed the topic, for fear that even this little friction would be seen through.

Naoki Natsume was also honest and asked rhetorically, "Where are you going?" You don't tell me where to go, and I can't tell you how long it will take. ”

Mio Izumi was slightly puzzled on the side: "Huh? When we were at Asai's house yesterday, didn't Aunt Asai and Uncle Asai say that they would bring Xiao Asai to kindergarten today? ”

The little rich woman also added: "I also said that I discussed with your parents and sent you to the kindergarten where you studied, and they also took care of each other...... Just two minutes ago, did you forget? ”

A day passed in the dream, and in fact, it was only a few minutes ago in the body sense of the three people.

Naoki Natsume thoughtfully: "Kindergarten! Then the next intersection is here, don't be in a hurry. ”

The little rich woman stared into his eyes, her eyes did not blink, and she was very serious.

Naoki Natsume was a little hairy and a little weak by her, and forced a smile: "What's wrong, is there anything on my face?" ”

"Nope." The little rich woman narrowed her eyes and shook her head.

Then she looked at Mio Izumi again: "Hey, senior sister." ”

"What's wrong?"

"You're going to have to remember everything around here." She pointed to her surroundings, and then to Asai Yue, who was holding Xiao Mao in front of her: "There are also things about their family, which must be remembered without leaving anything behind...... Even if it was written down for him. ”

"It's weird." Mio Izumi was a little puzzled.

Naoki Natsume echoed: "What's wrong with you?" Suddenly say something we don't understand. ”

The little rich woman glanced at him and spread her hands: "Na! Who knows! ”

Turning the corner, there is a wall between the two buildings with colorful sports equipment and slides, and a small courtyard surrounded by tires with various cats and dogs painted on the walls.

The half-exposed tires buried in the ground were also painted in different colors, and at this moment many children were lining up and jumping on the tires, like ducklings stepping on stones to cross the river.

It stands to reason that children like to play with their peers.

But there are also some people who are afraid of life...... For example, Xiao Mao.

Asai Mao was born more introverted, or it may be that Naoki Natsume is the only one of her peers in the village, plus her Naoki brother has always been by her side, which caused Asai Mao to be very afraid of life after leaving Natsume Naoki.

Looking at so many children of the same age playing happily in the kindergarten, she lay tightly in her mother's arms, grasping her clothes with her little hands, and her little face showed a side face, secretly looking at the yard.

"Hello, who are you looking for?"

The teacher who was playing with the children in the kindergarten found Asai Moon standing at the door.

Asai Yue replied: "I told your dean that I will send the child to report today." ”

"I see!" The kindergarten teacher looked at Xiao Zhenxu, who was hiding in his mother's arms, and was very scared: "Child, what's your name?" ”

"Tell the teacher, what's your name?"

Asai Yue put Xiao Mao on the ground, and the kindergarten teacher was also very conscientious, and knelt on one knee to communicate with her: "Don't be afraid, children, tell the teacher your name, right?" ”

"I ...... My name is...... My name is Mao Asai. ”

"Asai children, can you go and play with the children with the teacher?" The teacher gently took Xiao Zhenxu's hand, but she didn't think about it, but she avoided it as if she was running away.

I saw that Xiao Zhenxu hid behind her mother in a small step, hiding behind her legs and shaking her head desperately, she was about to cry.

"Mama, I want to go home!"

The kindergarten teacher looked up at Asai Moon with a question in his eyes.

She has been working in kindergarten for seven or eight years, and she has seen all kinds of children, and there is no shortage of people who are afraid to go to kindergarten.

Especially on the first day, it is good for children to enjoy playing with their peers, but they are also more afraid of being separated from their parents.

The unfamiliar environment can give them the illusion that they have been abandoned.

At this time, the role of teachers is minimal, and more parents need guidance.

"It's best if you can accompany her to familiarize yourself with the environment first."

Asai Yue shook her head lightly, smiled slightly and replied: "I don't have to worry about it, in fact, she has an older brother in your kindergarten, let him accompany my daughter, she will definitely not be afraid." ”

"His name is Naoki Natsume."

"Is Natsume her brother?"

The kindergarten teacher obviously knows Naoki Natsume, and in a large kindergarten like this, the teacher will only be in charge of his own class, and he can only call the names of the children in the same class.

But Naoki Natsume is different.

The whole kindergarten teachers and children know him.

"That's a lot easier!"

Sure enough, the teacher had a relaxed expression on his face after hearing that Naoki Natsume and Mao Asai were neighbors' young tame relationship.

"Wait a minute, I'll call Natsume."

The teacher left, and after a short time, Naoki Natsume trotted out of the building.

He saw Mae hidden behind Aunt Asai at the door.

"Mako!" He ran over waving his hand, and he still had the dye on which he had painted.

Just now he was in a painting class, and the teacher asked him to draw his favorite person.

The back of his hand touched a handful of sweat on his head, making his forehead black as well, but Naoki Natsume looked full of joy, "You're also coming to kindergarten?" ”

"Brother Naoki!"

Xiao Mao rushed out from behind her mother and threw herself into Naoki Natsume's arms.

So Natsume instantly understood what was going on here.

He glanced at the teacher, patted Xiao Zhenxu lightly on the back, and smiled, meaning that it would be good to leave it to him.

"I was just drawing, and the teacher asked me to draw my favorite person, guess who I painted?" He asked Xiao Mao with a slight hint of meaning.

Xiao Zhenxu's originally anxious expression disappeared immediately after he appeared.

She bit her nails with her lips, and just wanted to shake her head, she pointed at herself again: "It's me who drew it?" ”

"Would you like to see it?" Natsume smiled mysteriously and took her hand.

"Hmmm! Want to see it! ”

"Then follow me!"

He took Xiao Mao and ran two steps, making sure that the distance from the classroom door was closer than the door, then looked back at Asai Yue and waved his hand: "Goodbye, Auntie!" I'll take care of Mako, and I'll take her back on the school bus after school! ”

Seeing a boy and a woman enter the classroom door, the kindergarten teacher sighed: "Natsume's children are so sensible, the children in the whole kindergarten like to play with him, and the little girls almost fought for who was his wife when they were at home." Our teacher also liked him very much, and sometimes he could detect unhappiness in life and come to comfort us. ”

"He's not only sensible, he's smart." Asai Yue looked at the classroom they entered, and sighed with emotion: "It is said that three years old is older than seven years old, and he will become a man who stands up to the sky in the future, I don't know which girl will be cheaper." ”

"Me, me, me!"

The little rich woman raised her hand on the side and jumped high: "My golden beetle son-in-law of the Amamiya Chizuru family!" ”

"Hey, smuggler!" The senior sister frowned slightly: "I'm Naoki-kun's real girlfriend, I met him much earlier than you." ”

"Then did you confess? Did you speak? The little rich woman pursed her mouth, tilted her head, and looked unbeaten: "You are cowardly!" What's the use of knowing me a year earlier? You just knew each other ten years ago, what kind of real girlfriend is you if you don't confess? I've confessed it to myself, and although he hasn't agreed yet, I'm already planning a wedding! ”

"It's a little too far ahead." Naoki Natsume gently gave her a small brain collapse, and she didn't make any effort so it didn't hurt.

The little rich woman covered her forehead and pursed her mouth: "If it weren't for your studies, you would be an adult and I would be an adult, why can't you have a wedding?" When NASA Jun was your age, he had already received his certificate! ”

"The essentials are also for me to go with Naoki-kun!" The senior sister protested.

On the other side, Naoki Natsume felt a little happy when he watched the two of them fight with each other, but he looked down at the one in his arms who didn't know when he would wake up, and his mood was a little low.

So he waved his hand resolutely, and cracks appeared again in the dreams around him.

"Kacha, Kacha, Kacha!"

The dream collapsed, and it was another day.

In addition, the two girls who are arguing are no longer strange, and in the past three years since Asai was born, she has experienced such a dream collapse and reconstruction every day.

But this time, the little rich woman who was bullying her senior sister was civilized and polite and not aggressive, but she kept an eye on it.

-----------------

"Hey, stinky boy, I told you not to rummage around my room!" At Asai's house, the young school doctor rushed out of the bedroom and shouted at the kitchen: "Sister, look at him!" ”

"Wouldn't you just lock everything in your room?" From the kitchen came Asai Tsuki's reply, "Then who asked you to draw those shameful things?" ”

Maao Asai, who has grown up to five years old, clasped his hands to his chest and taught his aunt like a little adult: "That's it!" It's you who didn't put things away yourself, so you can't blame Brother Naoki! ”

Nanami Ye laughed angrily, squatted down and pinched his little niece's cheek: "At such a young age, you know how to help him talk to deal with his aunt, and when he grows up, he will marry him, so do you have to go?" ”

Asai Mao blushed when he was said, and waved his hand again and again to deny: "What are you talking about!" Hmph, stinky aunt! Ignore you anymore! ”

With that, she shyly ran away and rushed into the kitchen to find her mother.

Nanami Ye smiled lightly, bullied the little niece in a much better mood, turned his head into the bedroom, leaned against the door to look at this sensible and somewhat sensible little guy.

"Hey, when are you going to see it? Besides, can you read it? ”

Naoki Natsume looked at the line drawings in his hand as if he had been treasured, as if he had opened the door to a new world: "Since it's copying, there must be an original, right?" Where did you buy it from? ”

"You, you, yours, no matter how I say it, you're still an elder, add salutations and honorifics to me, stinky boy."

"Then I'll call you aunt like Mao Xu!"

Xiao Natsume is seven years old at this time, as if he has changed from a young man to a little boy, his originally delicate face is a little handsome, plus his mouth is sweet and coaxing, Nanamiya actually doesn't hate this little boy next door, on the contrary, he likes it a little.

"Auntie~ Good aunt, just tell me where you bought it from, right?"

"At a young age, you inquired about these things, saying that you are a little pervert, and I don't wronged you at all!" Nanami Ye walked over, took the line drawings from his hand, and then pointed his finger on his forehead and poked it fiercely: "You are not allowed to bring bad truth, do you hear?!" ”

"Although you are very beautiful and very good to me, auntie, I will really be angry if you say that about me in the future!" Xiao Natsume said solemnly: "I have true feelings for Mao and regard it as my sister, even if I grow up in the future, I also pay attention to the love of the two." Anyway, I wouldn't have my mind crooked when I was young, it would be as good as a beast. ”

"That sounds like how old you are, if I'm not mistaken, you just had your seventh birthday two days ago, stinky little ghost!"

"Anyway, next time Auntie, you say bad things about me like this, I won't praise you for being beautiful in the future!"

"Heh, the little pervert's mouth is quite sweet!"

Xiao Natsume's words saved the originally somewhat embarrassing atmosphere, Nanami Ye smiled, and rubbed the little guy's head vigorously: "Okay, I know that your feelings for Mao are innocent...... You're too young though! I understand that the little boy is interested in this kind of thing, but you have to wait until you are older. At that time, I'll take you to Akihabara in the big city to see it, okay? ”

Nanamiya narrowed her eyes, and with a wicked smile on her face, she looked like the one with the bad kids.

Japan is still very good at gender education, and children will have a correct understanding of both sexes at a very young age.

So at this time, Nanami Ye just regarded him as a precocious little guy, and didn't suspect anything.

Not only did I not suspect it, but I felt normal...... Because Natsume Naoki has shown amazing talent since he was a child, he learns everything quickly, and he has already begun to learn junior high school knowledge by himself at the age of seven.

People in the village say that the Natsume family has a once-in-a-century genius, and he will be a doctor in the future.

So far, the most promising people in the entire village are the unmarried sister of the Nanami family and the son of the Natsume family.

Xiao Natsume not only didn't show a happy look when he heard this, but was a little worried: "Auntie, you want to go to Tokyo, and Mao doesn't seem to be very happy." She doesn't want to be separated from you. ”

"So what's the solution?"

Nanamiya jumped onto the bed at once, spread out his hands into a "big" figure, and lay on his back looking at the ceiling.

This posture reminded Naoki Natsume of what Sylvia Plath said in "Tulips" [I don't want any flowers, I just want to lie with my palms up, completely empty, how comfortable it is, you definitely don't know how comfortable it is]

"There's nothing in this little mountain village! It's small and crowded, the town's tram only runs once every two hours, the kiosk at the entrance of the village closes at seven o'clock, and there is only one convenience store in the town that can't be opened 24 hours a day because it can't recruit people. Nanami muttered expressionlessly and in a low voice, "There is no bookstore, no dentist, no one wants to marry, young people can't stay at all, and even I have to spend a whole day to buy paintbrushes in Sapporo!" ”

"That's why I want to go to the big city, I see." Xiao Natsume also jumped on the bed and lay side by side with her aunt, palms facing up, looking at the ceiling: "Understand, understand!" ”

The freedom mentioned in "Tulip" is really very comfortable!

He turned his head to look at the wind chimes hanging outside the window, whether they turned into wind chimes or the wind that blew through them, in short, he understood Nanamiya's reluctance to spend the rest of his life in the small mountain village.

"Little boy understands a fart!" Nanamiya smiled and hugged him into his arms: "You don't understand me!" ”

Natsume wiped her nose to prevent the nosebleeds from coming out, thinking that I actually understood very well.

In my previous life, I lived by myself in a big city, and if I wanted to watch a movie on the weekend, I could go out in my clothes even in the early hours of the morning, and the shopping malls outside were still brightly lit and the bar street was very lively.

Although I haven't been to Tokyo in this life, it's a city that never sleeps because the saying "Japan is only divided into Tokyo and the countryside", so if you think about it compared to here, it's no wonder that Nanamiya wants to go out.

The origin of everything still comes from a short journey before -

Not long ago, she and her classmates went to Tokyo.

Since that time, she has been fascinated by the big city, and even told her sister's family about the idea at a meal.

Asai Yue is a little worried that her sister will go out to work alone, she has been in the countryside of Hokkaido since she was born, and she has not actually seen much of the world.

But when she is an older sister, she won't stop her sister, but Xiao Zhenxu heard that it would be difficult for her aunt to go to a far away place and it would be difficult to meet her in the future, so she cried and cried and didn't let her go.

But......

Xiao Natsume actually knows that people who know the blue of the sky will no longer be willing to watch the sky at the bottom of the well.

So Nanami Night will go to the big city, this thing is doomed.

"Don't worry!"

Xiao Natsume enjoys the warmth, since she got cheap, of course she has to sell a good job: "Xiao Zhenxu's side, I'll appease her emotions, although I may hate you when I was a child, but when I grow up and be sensible, she will understand her aunt who secretly ran away when she was a child and looked very beautiful This yearning for the big city is the mood!" ”

"Heh, I understand women so well, I don't know how many people I will harm and how many girls' hearts will be broken when I grow up?"

"I'm only single-minded about Mako!"

This sentence was said in a loud voice, as if it was meant to be said to Xiao Mao who was playing outside.

So of course, it is also listened to by the surrounding [spectators].

Naoki's soul in Naoki's arms suddenly moved.

Standing on the sidelines and watching things, he was suddenly stunned, and he was overjoyed.

"Mao, Mao!"

There was still no answer, but the touch of the soul just now was definitely not an illusion.

Such a painful renunciation is useful!

Every time I experience a new illusion, for Naoki Natsume, it is a memory from scratch.

Regarding the events of Mao when he was a child, the memories in his mind became shorter and shorter.

Mao is doing addition and he is doing subtraction, these memories that should be unforgettable are ruthlessly shattered by him.

Isn't it just to save the girl you love in your arms?

The importance of memories varies from person to person, but Naoki Natsume is sure that memories are not as important as the people who create them together!

The senior sister watched from the sidelines, no matter how stupid she was, she should have seen some clues.

So she couldn't bear it.

turned his head to look for Amamiya Chizuru, but found that she wasn't looking at all and didn't know where she had gone.

Thinking about the cleverness of the elementary school girl, it is estimated that she would have seen it a long time ago, so she couldn't bear to look at it and ran away early, right?

So Mio Izumi turned her head and looked everywhere for the whereabouts of Amamiya Chizuru, there was no in the living room, there was no room in the house, and when she went out, she saw her standing on the side of the vine in the yard and didn't know what she was looking at.

There was originally a vine in this yard.

Naoki Natsume knew about it, because it was Mao who had said it.

Mio Izumi also knew about it, and when she came to the school doctor this morning to watch the fireworks, the school doctor was still sleeping, and she woke up for a while and talked to her about it.

Now Amamiya Chizuru also knows, because she is standing under the vine.

"What are you doing?" Mio Izumi asked.

Amamiya Chizuru turned to look at her when he heard the voice: "Why don't you continue to watch?" ”

Mio Izumi lowered her eyebrows, pursed her lips and thought for a long time, and replied, "I can't bear it." ”

After that, she raised her head and looked at Amamiya Chizuru: "What about you, why don't you look inside?" Isn't it also unbearable? ”

"Who's as sentimental as you?" Amamiya Chizuru shook his head: "You will go back and watch it later, at least we have to have someone to witness the whole process." ”

"What do you mean?"

"Look!"

Amamiya reached out and plucked the closest grape leaf to the trunk—the only one she could barely pick with her feet crossed.

Under Mio Izumi's gaze, she twisted the stem of the leaf with her index finger and thumb, and with a gentle pinch, the grape leaf actually shattered out of thin air.

It is like a dead leaf that has lost its moisture in autumn and winter, and it is like a delicate glass grape leaf falling to the ground.

Anyway, it's so broken.

Then Amamiya Chizuru beckoned to Mio Izumi and motioned for her to come over, with something to whisper.

He whispered softly in Mio Izumi's ear for a long time, and Mio's eyes grew bigger and bigger, blinking with big eyes, full of surprise and incredulity.

"That's it, so you go back quickly." Amamiya Chizuru paused, and then said, "I'll take a turn later and go back." ”

Mio Izumi restrained her surprised expression, and her eyes were full of relief and tenderness.

She looked at Amamiya Chizuru and said, "Sure enough, you are a very kind person!" ”

It doesn't matter if you don't say it, as soon as she said this, Amamiya Chizuru stomped her feet and was very angry, "Did you deliberately find fault?" You're going to have to talk about it every few days...... I just don't want to be said by you! ”

"But what you just said does make me admire." Mio Izumi said sincerely: "I can't think of that layer at all, and even if I do, I'm afraid I don't have the courage." ”

"Cut, who is rare!" Amamiya Chizuru raised his head and looked around: "I'm too lazy to know about people's sweet past!" ”

Izumi Mio smiled slightly, knowing that she was arrogant again: "Okay, I'll go back first!" I'll be watching it with my eyes wide open for the rest of the day! ”

When I went back to the living room, I just heard Asai Yue in the kitchen shouting to Natsume: "Naoki ~ What should I do next?" ”

"I'm coming, Auntie!"

Natsume's smoke ran from her aunt's bedroom to the kitchen, and she was playing in the living room like a fart, and whenever Brother Naoki appeared in sight, she would definitely follow to see what was going on.

"I'm going to see it too, I'm going to see it too!"

Mio Izumi was a little curious, and also followed up with the kitchen.

I saw little Natsume Naoki stepping on a chair and actually teaching Asai Yue how to cook!

"Hot dry noodles should do this...... First this and then again. ”

Asai Moon was holding Asai Mae on the side and was watching very seriously.

On the one hand, he was surprised that Naoki Natsume, who was only seven years old, could actually cook Chinese food, and on the other hand, he said to the daughter in his arms: "Mao-chan, look at how powerful Brother Naoki is!" Do you also learn to do well? Later, you can make it for Brother Naoki. ”

"Good!" Asai Mao lay in her mother's arms, raising her little hands and cheering.

Mio Izumi was also watching from the other side, and the more she looked, the more familiar it felt.

"How is it exactly the same as when I went to school on YouTube?" The senior sister's small eyes were full of big doubts: "Could it be that that youtuber is actually Naoki-kun?!" ”

"Did I learn Naoki-kun's favorite Chinese food with Naoki-kun?"

The senior sister thought it was incredible and wanted to ask, but this kind of thing was so embarrassing.

Forget it, still don't ask.

She covered her shy face and escaped from the kitchen.

I thought I learned to cook for my beloved boy, but in the end I still learned from him, which really shamed my desire and self-confidence to be a qualified wife!

-----------------

Time flies, and in the blink of an eye, it is another three years.

To Naoki, this long-lasting dream was like an uncertain prophet's future.

From the first day, from the first time he met Asai Mao when he was two years old in his dream, he already knew everything that happened after that, but he just lived it all over again.

But with him shattering his previous memories little by little, every day that passed was one less day, until the last day came, Naoki Natsume stood at the entrance of the elementary school in the evening, looking melancholy.

Because he can't see tomorrow, and he can't remember yesterday.

After today, the memory of Mao is only the day when the maid came to the door in the spring of his sophomore year.

I can't remember everything before today.

Looking at the eight-year-old Mao Asai who was standing at the entrance of the elementary school and waiting quietly, Naoki Natsume only felt strange.

For him today, the only memory related to Shino when he was a child is today.

"Hey, Asai-san!" At dusk, a few little girls came out of the school: "Are you waiting for your parents?" ”

Asai Mao is already very cute, and the eight-year-old girl is smart, and anyone who sees it will like it.

In the class, there are many boys who are sought after...... It's just that the little kid doesn't understand what liking is, and in order to attract the girl's attention, he does something that is very annoying in the eyes of the girl.

Asai Mao has this feeling, whether it's the same age or an older senior, one counts as one, it's so naïve.

It's not even a tenth of Naoki's brother...... No, not even one percent!

She tugged at the schoolbag strap with both hands and looked at the girls in the same class: "I'm waiting for my brother to come home from school." ”

So the girls suddenly realized, poking and poking one by one, very envious: "Your brother is Naoki Natsume, who is in the upper grade!" ”

"I have time on the weekend, do you want to come to my house with your brother! I have a lot of dolls at home! ”

"They don't like dolls," said one girl, "I have Ultraman toys at home, does your brother like Ultraman?" I still have CDs at home! ”

Asai Mao snorted proudly, "Brother Naoki is not so naïve!" He just likes to play games, especially complicated computer games! ”

"Huh?"

"I also like to play computer games, enter your name on the website, click on it and you can play!"

"It's not that simple, Brother Naoki plays games that need to be downloaded, but it's complicated!" Asai Mao said that he was as proud as Brother Naoki was actually a very powerful hacker: "That's why he's not interested in going to your house to play, I'm really sorry!" ”

Hmph, how can you succeed!

Brother Naoki, as long as he has me, it's enough!

After a few conversations with my classmates, my parents picked them up, and the lower grades always had to leave school in the morning for more than ten minutes in the morning.

Gradually, more and more students came out of the school, and the familiar voice was mixed with the hustle and bustle, and it was immediately heard by Asai Mao.

"Natsume, you must play in the football match next week against the next class! You're the fastest in our class! ”

"Yes, Natsume, you have to play in the football game, please! Also, can I lend you the comic book that my dad just bought for me? ”

"Natsume Natsume, are you free for the weekend? Let's go to the arcade, shall we? We wouldn't dare to go without you. ”

Ten-year-old Naoki Natsume is surrounded by a group of children of the same age, like the core of the small group.

He listened to the words of the classmates around him, and just responded with a shallow smile: "I will play the football game, forget about the video game city on the weekend, I promised my sister to bring her to the town to play." ”

"Huh...... Take it with you! ”

"Oh, that's not going to work." Naoki Natsume shook his head and refused, but he didn't say why.

The students talked to each other and parted ways at the school gate.

"Brother Naoki!"

Mao ran over with a small schoolbag on his back and threw himself into his arms at once.

"How long have you waited?" He rubbed Mako's little head, full of pampering.

"Ten minutes!" Mao Su-chan said proudly.

She never needs to take anything into account in front of this big brother next door who has spoiled herself since she was a child.

Small details such as dating and saying that she had just arrived no matter how long she waited, she didn't need to worry about them!

Anyway, no matter what, Brother Naoki's feelings for her won't change!

Maybe this is the one who is favored, and there is no fear.

"Is there a place you want to go or anything you want to eat before you go home?" Naoki Natsume asked, taking Maao Asai's small hand.

This is already the daily life of the two of them, after all, it is the younger sister she has raised since she was a child, and Naoki Natsume's pocket money and time saved on weekdays are hers.

Normally, Asai would take him around for a few minutes before going home, to grab a snack or beg him to accompany him to the park.

But today she shook her head unexpectedly: "No, I have to go home early today!" Dad said he would drive me and Mom to the city to watch a movie, and we said yes! ”

Naoki Natsume, who was following behind the two children, the older and the younger, frowned when he heard this, and his face was a little painful.

He pursed his lips, how he wanted to rush up and stop her, tell her not to go, not to Sapporo tonight.

But reason told him that it was all predestined, that the dream could not be changed, it was just an objective fact.

And even if you change the dream, it won't help, it doesn't make any sense.

The time soon came to the middle of the night, and after Xiao Natsume wrote his homework in the bedroom, he turned on the computer after eating and played a game, and when it was late at night, he lay down and fell asleep.

Naoki Natsume looked at himself in a deep sleep and thought to himself, what would he dream of in his dreams?

But no matter what you dream, your dream should be over.

"Bang bang bang!"

In the middle of the night, Naoki Natsume was woken up by a sharp knock on the door.

Reiko Natsume pushed open the door and told him with anxiety and sadness on her face.

Something happened to the Asai family.

Then came the crying family members in the hospital, the encounter in the morgue, the powerlessness of the sky falling and the beginning of that madness-

In the second half of the night, the sky will be bright.

The Natsume family suddenly visits the Miyaji, who lives alone in Teinayama Okunomiya.

Ten years ago, Miyaji-sama was not old, and his expression was dignified and solemn, and when he saw a ten-year-old boy carrying the body of a little girl in the snowy night, he actually refused.

He said that people cannot be resurrected from the dead.

Naoki Natsume said I wanted to try.

What kind of eyes are they?

It moved the Lord of the Palace, and also made the Palace Division become an old Palace, and it took ten years.

There was a flickering blue flame in those eyes.

So in the shocked and indescribable gaze of the palace division, with the help of the power of Okunomiya, who passed through the torii gate and already belonged to the underworld in Shintoism, Naoki Natsume forcibly extracted the damaged soul in Asai Mao's body.

A red glow detached from his body, and out of thin air, he molded flesh and bones, and according to the corpse of Mako, who had lost his life, he reshaped a new life that was intact and lacked only a soul.

Having lost his health, vitality, and physical strength, he was like a broken rag doll, bleeding from all parts of his body, and every heavy cough would bring up a piece of bloody phlegm and spit on the ground.

Even so, he didn't stop.

Immediately after that, a blue fluorescent light peeled off from his body, and it was his memory of Mao.

The blue glow repairs the soul that is about to disappear, and finally the soul returns to the body.

A ten-year-old child accomplishes the feat of creating life in front of Miyaji, who has pursued Shinto for half his life!

But everything has a price, and he forcibly stripped his life and memories of his body, causing problems in his body, and two other white and green fluorescents escaped.

When Asai Mao opened his eyes again, the first thing he saw was Naoki Natsume, who was lying on the ground and was seriously injured, and the second was his own body.

Brother Naoki stroked her with a bloody palm, and gently said that if you want to live well from now on and regain your life, the name Nanami Mao is also very good.

This scene made Amamiya Chizuru and Mio Izumi, who were watching from the sidelines, fall into shock and incredulity.

Their shock was no less than that of the palace priest who subverted the three views.

Only Naoki Natsume has a flat complexion?

?,The eyes have been looking at the soul of the true thread who is being held in his arms。

"This is the last time." He muttered softly.

As long as you start to shatter the memories of this last night, theoretically, Mao will return.

In the same way, I will completely forget what happened when I was a child, and everything about Mao starts on the banks of the Kanda River in the beginning of spring.

"Kacha!"

He waved his hand without hesitation.

The surrounding scene is shattered, whether it is Miyaji with a shocked face, or Natsume who is lying on the ground and passed out in Natsume's arms, or Nanami Mae who is crying pear blossoms with rain.

The dream disappeared, and everything around them turned into a blank nothingness, and the three of them stood in the middle, unable to distinguish between up and down, as if they were floating and sinking.

The last fragment of memory turned into dust and melted into Mao's soul, and she became indistinguishable from a real person.

Mao's soul finally opened his eyes, and his eyes changed from confusion to clarity.

She lifted her lips lightly, as if she wanted to say something to Naoki Natsume, but then disappeared into his arms.

"What's wrong, what's going on, what's going on now?" Looking at the memories of Amamiya Chizuru in the past ten years, he has already begun to worry about the life and death of this childhood sweetheart.

Naoki Natsume rubbed his temples: "Mao went out of my dream, whether it succeeded or not, I don't know until I get out." ”

The little rich woman looked at his painful appearance and asked tentatively, "Do you remember what happened to her?" ”

"Who's?" Naoki Natsume took a deep breath and looked up at her, "Really?" ”

The little rich woman nodded, "What happened to you and her when you were a child?" ”

"I can't remember." Naoki Natsume shook his head: "It stands to reason that I knew her when I was a child, but I can't remember this part of the memory anymore. My heart was empty, but my subconscious told me that it would be fine. ”

Amamiya Chizuru glanced at Mio Izumi, who nodded, thinking that it was exactly what you guessed.

Amamiya Senabu is really smart.

"Come here, Miss Ben has a gift for you." Amamiya Chizuru hooked her finger at Naoki Natsume, she was about to move, but she looked at Mio Izumi, who didn't make any preemptive moves, and waved her hand irritably: "That's it, I'll give it to you for the first time!" Just think of it as ...... It's like your first two dreams were always protecting me! ”

Mio Izumi was stunned for a moment, and then showed a sincere smile.

"Then you're welcome!"

She took a step forward in the white void and came to Naoki Natsume, gently cupped his face, and kissed him with a look!

Naoki Natsume's eyes widened, and intermittent memories flooded into his mind!

Mio Izumi kissed him for a moment, let go of him, and smiled slightly: "The thing is returned to the original owner." ”

Without waiting for Naoki Natsume to react, Amamiya Chizuru pointed to his lips in disgust: "Wipe it!" ”

His mind was dazed at this time, and he subconsciously wiped the corners of his mouth.

So the little rich woman also stood on tiptoe, grabbed him by the collar and pulled down his head, and kissed him too!

More memories flooded into his mind.

This is a memory that two people have witnessed first-hand in the ten years they have spent in a dream.

About him and Mao Asai.

"Although there are some omissions, the memories of those days or two are harmless!" The little rich woman pinched her waist and said, "Even if you are a normal person, you can't remember everything that happened every day for ten years, right?" So the two of us help you remember this, and I think that's enough! ”

Naoki Natsume looked at them in a daze.

"You two gave me the memories of what you witnessed?" He asked, "After leaving the dream, you will completely forget everything you have seen here, which is equivalent to wasting so much time with me in vain." ”

Mio Izumi lowered her eyebrows and smiled a little bitterly: "This is a testimony of the love between Naoki-kun and Miss Asai, but the thing is just returned to its original owner." ”

The little rich woman also nodded in agreement, pretending to be disgusting: "Who wants to remember the daily life of you and her affection!" Phew! Besides, you and I didn't know each other when we were kids...... Well, I don't know in reality, so I shouldn't have known about this memory in the first place. ”

She spread her hands and behaved very generously: "Just when I spent money to watch a bad movie, and now I spend money to dig out the memory of this bad movie out of my head, it's worth the money." ”

Naoki Natsume's expression slowly returned to normal, and then turned to gratitude.

"Thank you, Chizuru and Senpai...... Thank you! ”

"Meaning, it's disgusting!" The little rich woman shook her head: "Wake up quickly!" Then I'll completely forget about your two disgusting routines! ”

Naoki Natsume couldn't wait a little at this time, and nodded: "Okay, let's talk about the rest when we see Mao!" ”

He snapped his fingers.

This time he himself shattered to pieces.

-----------------

When I opened my eyes, it was a strange ceiling.

The unpleasant smell of disinfectant in the air made him know where he was in an instant.

"Go and inform the doctor and family, he's awake!"

Surrounded by the shouts of nurses, Naoki Natsume turned over and sat up, finding that there was a hanging bottle tied to the back of his hand, and there were various instruments around him to detect heartbeat and various indices.

After a while, a large group of doctors rushed in, followed by many familiar faces—

Nanami Night, Mom and Dad, who was supported by the palace secretary, the old palace secretary who seemed to be ten years old, and even Izumi Yuki and Amamiya were close to the horse.

"You're awake." In the noise of the doctor, Nanami Ye came to the hospital bed to communicate with him.

"Am I in the hospital?" Naoki Natsume frowned and thought for a moment, then he knew what was going on: "How long did we sleep?" ”

"You've slept for five days," Nanami Ye looked at him with some distress, "I've lost a lot of weight." ”

"Where's Mako? What about Mako? ”

He became nervous, and the heartbeat rate on the instrument next to him became faster, and the doctors immediately began to give instructions in a hurry.

"Don't irritate the patient!"

"Go tell the anesthesiologist to prescribe sedation!"

The room became more panicked, and in the end, it was Amamiya Konma who drank the doctor and blasted them all out.

Naoki Natsume looked at Amamiya Konma and Izumi Yugui, and thought of the fact that five days had passed since he and his senior sister and the little rich woman in the dream, and his heart was suddenly full of shame.

If they hadn't been in danger with them, they wouldn't have been sent to the hospital.

"Uncle, I ......"

"Alright, no need to say it." Amamiya Konma shook his head: "That night, Chizuru actually sent me a text message saying something that might happen, so I don't blame you anyway, it's her own decision...... The current situation is much stronger than what she told me in the text message. ”

Naoki Natsume's brows jumped when he heard this.

Did she confess her last words in the text message?

However, before going to bed, she actually reacted to what might happen, and sent a text message to Uncle Amamiya, I have to say that the little rich woman's thinking speed is fast.

Izumi Yuki also spoke, "Although Mio didn't tell me anything about this child, she is not a reckless person...... If there's anything, let's talk about it when she wakes up! ”

Just then, there was a knock at the door.

Immediately afterwards, a figure that haunted Naoki Natsume pushed the door and walked in.

It's a real thing!

Naoki Natsume quickly pinched the back of his hand.

It's not a dream.

Mao is back!

It's just that her mental state is not very good, and the dark circles under her eyes are a little heavy.

Nanami Ye turned his head to look at her: "Why did you come here, didn't you just sleep for two hours?" You've been up all night for two days. ”

Asai Mao shook his head: "Didn't you hear that someone yelled to see me as soon as they woke up?" ”

Amamiya and Izumi Yuki glanced at each other, and got up one after another: "Let's go next door first, something calls us." ”

Nanami Ye and the two palace priests also understood and left under the pretext.

So only Maao Asai and Naoki Natsume were left in the room.

She walked to the edge of the bed and sat down, gently caressed his cheek with her palm, and said, "It's really not good to just infuse nutrient solution without eating, looking at your thin appearance, it seems like you'll die in the next second." ”

Yes.

Warm.

It is the warmth of the palm of a living person!

During the ten years he had spent in his dreams, he had put his face on Mao's face countless times, and all he felt was nothingness and coldness.

At this moment, just the temperature of his palm made him feel that all his previous efforts were worth it!

His nose was sore, but he still couldn't hold back his tears.

The palm of his hand was tightly clasped and her hand was pressed against her face, "I did it...... I did it......"

"yes, you saved me again." Asai Mao said with a gentle look in his eyes, "But for your current memory, it should be the first time, right?" I'm sorry for making you forget me twice. ”

"You don't have to tell me you're sorry." Naoki Natsume shook his head, wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes and smiled, and reached out to stroke her face: "Your appearance is not much better, I heard from my aunt that you haven't slept for two days?" ”

"Not very sleepy, you need someone to accompany you at night...... Wait, Auntie? ”

She was stunned.

Naoki Natsume was still smiling at her, and he didn't explain anything, but all the meaning was in the smile of this reunion after a long absence.

So Asai Masao's eyes also flashed with tears.

That's nice.

She thought.

"So you remember." She leaned forward and hugged him gently: "Brother Naoki, I'm so scared, I thought that when I woke up, I would only remember the eight years I spent with you." ”

Naoki Natsume stroked her back and whispered, "You have to thank Chizuru and Senpai for this, thanks to them...... When they wake up, say thank you. ”

"Hmm."

Asai Mao replied softly, closed his eyes, and enjoyed the hug that seemed so extravagant now after spending life and death.

Death is not the loss of life, but the departure of time.

I went up the river with time, just for the reunion of memories.

For you, and for me.

There was once a question that plagued the world:

If one day you disappear, how do I prove that you came?

Naoki Natsume gave the most perfect answer-

Re-walk the path we have walked together, and I will find you at the end of the road.

As the two of them reunited after a long absence, another unknown good or bad news came from next door.

Amamiya Chizuru and Izumi Mio haven't woken up yet.

-----------------

In the empty void, there is no up and down, no left and right.

Amamiya Chizuru stood inside, turning her head to look at Mio Izumi.

"What's the matter with you, why don't you want to wake up?"

Mio Izumi also turned her head to look at her: "What about you, why are you still here?" ”

Amamiya Chizuru thought about it and decided to tell the truth: "This may be my last chance to meet my mother...... In addition, I have something that I am particularly concerned about to verify. ”

The scene of Naoki Natsume's rescue on the last night, the white fluorescence that escaped from his body, Amamiya Chizuru always felt a little familiar.

Her instincts told her that this might be the only chance in her life to figure out what was going on.