Yuki is home.

Yuki is home.

The picture represented by the above words flashed back countless times in Sakakihara's heart.

Watch her pack her clothes with my own eyes. Watching Sakura help her tidy up the room in the end, she didn't take anything, even the white cat doll that she usually likes the most, and left the house directly

Even if she knew that she was leaving, she realized that her heart was empty, but as long as she looked back and saw that there were still July and Liuli behind her, she couldn't say anything.

The reason is because he didn't have a reason to keep her.

As Grandpa said, keeping her will only make her miserable by her side, and since there is no way to accept her, the only way to do it is to let her go.

Kaz. Kaz.

The sneakers rubbed against the gymnasium floor.

Call. Call.

Breathing becomes short and rapid due to strenuous exercise.

Sweating profusely, Fujino Yoshiyuki was in control of the basketball he had just gotten in his hands, and again and again, extremely reluctantly, he crossed the impregnable defense, and when he saw that the opportunity was in front of him, he was blocked when he shot, so he turned his head to look at the other members in mid-air.

"Sakakibara ——!"

The basketball immediately flew out like a sharp arrow, and passed to a place farther than the three-point line.

Sakakihara catches the ball with a blank face.

- Boom, hiss.

Staring at the basket in the distance, he jumped.

His posture is agile and swift, like a cheetah pounced before a hunt. The body blooms in an elegant arc in the air.

The two players around him who were in charge of defense rushed forward to stop his shot, but it was in vain, he had already stretched his arms and jumped.

- Phew.

The ball jerked off his fingers and flew towards the basket.

The whistling echoed through the gymnasium, teammates held their breath, rival players looked desperate, and onlookers raised their chins, all nervously watching the ball's trajectory. At this moment, it was as if time had frozen—a second had become incredibly long.

- Bang Dong. Boom.

As the basketball jumps lightly on the floor, a loud whistle symbolizing the end of the game echoes through the empty stadium.

After a few seconds of blank time, the stadium erupted in shouts and applause.

“Yes！ Yes！ Well done, Sakakibara! Awesome! The ultra-long-distance three-point shot, do you know that this ball makes the other side stunned! ”

The game was officially over, and after the other enthusiastic teammates had left Sakakihara with a smile, Fujino walked over and said this with a loud laugh while enthusiastically wrapping his arms around Sakakihara's neck.

Sakakihara Le pushed away in disgust, "Okay, okay, you lean on me with the same sweat smell as those guys, if you don't spray some perfume when you go back, you will be disgusted by your childhood sweetheart." ”

"I know, I know, Sakakihara, you guys like to walk with girls, right, how can the smell of sweat on a boy's body be as attractive as the fragrance on a beautiful girl's delicate body."

Fujino's stinky appearance, if he hadn't seen him hand him a bottle of mineral water, Sakakihara Le would have given him a roll of his eyes.

Sit in the lounge area and take a big sip of cool water.

Sakakihara glanced at the sky outside the gymnasium, gray. It's still a rainy day.

Countless raindrops meander up and down the transparent skylight of the gymnasium, bringing a bit of cold air.

"That's right."

"What?" Sakakihara Raku's gaze withdrew from the sky and looked at Fujino Yoshiyuki beside him.

"Today, why didn't Tianhai-san come to see you play?"

“.”

This sentence directly made Sakakihara Le stunned in place.

The Tianhai classmate he is talking about is not referring to July or Liuli, but the snow of Tianhai who went on a business trip in July last time and came to find himself to go home together.

Sakakihara has been playing a few friendly basketball games with other classes in the afternoon club time.

And since that day, Yuki has had the habit of watching her play.

Not only Sakakihara Le, but even Fujino Yoshiyuki remembered the snow of the sky and sea that would sit alone in the last row of the basketball court every day, silently watching him play, and waiting for him to go home together.

Available now. That seat

Sakakihara subconsciously looked at the opposite audience, the last row, the one on the far right.

In the past, people would sit there and look at themselves every day, but now they are empty.

"Sakakibara?" Fujino sensed that something was wrong with Sakakihara in the past few seconds, and saw that his expression also changed from calm to smiling.

"It's nothing," Sakakihara said with a smile, holding a bottle of mineral water in his hand, "It's just. She's just going home. ”

What do you mean? Didn't Tianhai live in your house? Fujino Yoshiyuki tried to ask, but he lost his usual state of joking and became serious, "Anyway, why haven't I seen her in class in the past few days, and I'm sick again?" ”

She won't come to play with us anymore, her dad will take her home, and she won't come back to school."

“.” Fujino Yoshiyuki opened his mouth and hesitated for a long time, "Transfer, transfer?" ”

"Hmm," Sakakihara replied silently, nodding in response, "That's pretty much it." ”

Fujino saw that something was wrong with Sakakihara Raku, and listened to the sound of cold rain coming from outside the gymnasium, perhaps sensing that he was not in a good mood, put his hands on his knees, followed his mood, looked up at the sky and said:

"Haha. That's a shame. To be honest, Sakakihara, I think Amami-san, I faintly like you, and I've been watching you play. Although you are dating another Tianhai classmate, haha. I can't respond, right, but she's gone suddenly, and she must still be a little uncomfortable."

“.”

Fujino's emotion made Sakakihara smell the gloomy atmosphere of the rainy season.

The air and cool breeze blowing outside the gymnasium seemed to have a rotten smell of mold and moss.

"Sakakihara, your sister is here."

Sakakibara followed Fujino's reminder and looked towards the entrance of the gymnasium, only to find Sakakihara Suzu standing there.

Wearing the school's uniform of Western style and pleated skirt, the difference is that she wears a beret on top of her head.

Ah Ling has always been outstanding in school.

Just standing at the door of the gymnasium, she has the temperament of a star idol, which will unconsciously attract people to see her.

Sakakihara also looked at her like this.

It's just that she seems to be a little unhappy and anxious, puffing out her face and looking at herself.

As soon as he found out that he was really playing basketball here, Suzu Sakakihara immediately strode away, like a big soldier walking in a line, menacing.

But there's a bit of pretended cuteness.

Fujino, this guy is very real, and when he saw that Sakakihara Suzu was here to find fault with her brother, he left behind the sentence "I'll still play here tomorrow", and then he slipped away decisively.

As soon as Sakakihara turned around, he found that this guy had already lifted his schoolbag and was about to go home, and at the same time saluted himself, and he suddenly felt speechless.

This guy.

Sakakihara Le didn't have time to complain that this guy actually slipped away like this, and the big star idol in the school, Sakakihara Suzu, walked in front of him.

Suzu Sakakihara crossed her hands on her hips and looked very angry.

"Did you drive Yuki away!"

“.” Sakakihara did not speak.

The old man said that he only came to pick up Yuki on Saturday.

But the day after tomorrow, last night, Thursday, he picked up Yuki.

It's just that Sakakihara Suzu didn't go home last night.,Work overtime and stay in a hotel.,I just learned the message that Yuki sent her on her phone that she was leaving.。

So-Ah Ling, who hurried back to campus for class today, came over in a hurry because she suddenly ran away with a good girlfriend.

Sakakihara stared at the half-drunk mineral water bottle in his hand and replied:

"I'm not going to kick her away."

"Then how did Yuki go back to Tianhai's house! I only found out yesterday! I can't practice well. ”

There are many reasons."

Sakakihara Suzu didn't understand, "What do you mean?" What are the many reasons for this? Isn't it just because of grandpa, but also because of my brother that you let her go.? ”

Sakakihara did not look up, but stared at the spinning mineral water bottle in his hand and replied:

"Yuki went back to Tianhai's house, and grandpa was just one of the factors. It's not like you don't know the fact that she likes me. Do you think I can accept her? ”

Sakakihara Suzu listened, was stunned, thought for a moment, hesitated for a moment, squatted down, sat down next to him, and replied, "Definitely not." You have July and Ruri behind you. ”

"It's because I still have the relationship between July and Ruri. So it's impossible to accept Yuki, so do you think it's good that I keep her around? ”

“.”

Suzu Sakakihara, who was wearing a beret, lowered her face and was quiet.

If you want to say that the person who can best understand this feeling and mood, she must have one.

So of course she could understand what the old brother meant.

This is indeed the case - long pain is better than short pain, and letting Yuki go home is the best choice for several people.

Can.

Even so.

Suzu Sakakihara still doesn't want Yuki to leave, because after getting along for so long, she understands so many things.

She knows exactly what kind of feelings Yuki has for someone.

What a kind of longing and expectation.

This emotion, this feeling, made her find a complete resemblance to herself in Yuki.

Suzu Sakakihara understands deeply.

Yuki, must not want to leave someone's side.

Even if you don't get anything, just watch from afar.

"Something is wrong."

"Something is wrong." Sakakihara looked at Suzu Sakakihara with a puffed face.

Sakakihara Suzu frowned and replied to him with a pout, "Even if it is what you say, Yuki definitely doesn't want to go home!" There must be other reasons why Yuki was forced to go home! Did you deliberately hurt her and then let her go back with her grandfather? ”

"Haven't I been keeping Yuki these days?"

"And then? Why give up! ”

"Suzu, I said it just now, because I can't find a reason to keep Yuki. As grandpa said, letting Yuki go back is a good choice for everyone. July and Ruri can't refute this, and they know in their hearts that although they have a considerable amount of affection and intimacy with Yuki, they have never been able to accept her feelings for me. ”

Not happy. Not happy at all.

Yuki went back and wasn't happy at all.

Sakakihara Suzu didn't speak, and her expression darkened, and she had been hovering in her heart with an uncomfortable mood.

She kept thinking about .yuki going home.

Yuki is home.

In the future, the two of them can no longer eat together, sleep together, and chat together every day

Even if you can chat with her through the software, but when she leaves, she leaves.

This distanced was strange to Suzu Sakakihara.

Huh.

At the same time, she also understood, can she blame her brother for this?

Not at all.

They are all well-founded, and they can't find a point to argue with them.

Suzu Sakakihara suddenly looked at Sakakihara's familiar side face. A feeling, an idea, came from her heart.

In fact, even if I have been understanding my identity recently.

Even if you are really an orphan.

He will definitely be unacceptable because of Qijiu.

Just like yuki.

dislike

I hate this feeling.

On the one hand, I hate someone's scumbag behavior, and on the other hand, I vaguely hope that he can put this scumbag behavior on his own.

This contradiction, this feeling that the two ideas are at odds with each other, makes Sakakihara very uncomfortable.

No, it really doesn't.

She didn't like it at all.

Not at all.

"I'm going to call the snow back!" Suzu Sakakihara suddenly got up.

"What?" Sakakihara turned his head to look at Suzu Sakakihara.

"I'm going to talk to Grandpa and get Yuki back."

"Don't try to convince grandpa, I, July, and Ruri can't find any reason for Yuki to stay, and Yuki she didn't force her grandfather to go back, but she asked to go back."

"Hmph, I don't believe it! I'll go find the snow tomorrow! You come too! ”

"What am I going to do?"

"I don't care, you have to come too!"

“.”

*

School is dismissed in the afternoon.

Sakakihara Raku went home with an umbrella, and went home with July and Ruri.

With the two of them by their side, they can complain and talk to each other if they have nothing to do, and to be honest, they don't feel lonely.

It's just that when Sakakihara Raku changes his shoes in the hallway, he still subconsciously looks at the corners of the corridor.

In general, as long as you come back by yourself, Yuki is at home.

She would put her hands in the corner, poke out a little head, and sneak a look at herself.

But now look at that place - it's empty, there's nothing

Sakakihara lowered his head and looked at the slippers he had just put on, and realized again in his heart the concept of the fact that "Yuki has returned home".

"Feeling reluctant?"

It was Tianhai Qi Mingyue who spoke, and she reached out to take the vegetables that Sakakihara Le had bought in the supermarket in the afternoon.

"Of course, not in July?"

"Of course I have it, and my sister has it too."

Tianhai Qi Mingyue said this, and Tianhai Jiuliuli was on the side, and he was silent for a moment.

"We used to come back together, and Yuki would say 'welcome home' in the hallway, right?"

Sakakihara Raku: "That's right"

Tianhai Jiu Ruri seemed to remember something again, and muttered, "Am I alone, when I go home late, Yuki will also say, 'Sister Ruri is back'. ”

Sakakihara Le suddenly laughed and said, "Didn't Yuki call Liuli you Xiaojiu before?" ”

"Lejun! That was how it was before," Tianhai Jiu Ruri said angrily, "Since the last time I was in Hawaii, I brought Yuki for several days, she would call me Sister Ruri." ”

"yes, there's such a thing," Sakakihara looked at the seven bright moons of the sky again, "July also brought yuki for a few days, right?" ”

Tianhai Qi Mingyue responded with silence, "Obedient is very obedient, but I always like to be hungry, last time I took a few kilometers in the middle of the night to buy her a fried ice cream." I don't like to sleep at night, so I have to talk to me. ”

“.”

The three suddenly fell silent.

Because they all realize that Yuki has left.

To talk about these things again is nothing more than reminiscing about the past.

And these things only make people feel uncomfortable when they look back.

Because if you want to say that the person who really drove Yuki away from this family, it was actually the three of them themselves.

No one spoke again.

Sakakihara saw that the atmosphere was like this, and he didn't have the feeling of happy communication in the past.

After saying, "I'll go and prepare the meal for the evening," I went to the kitchen with the dishes I bought in the afternoon.

*

Today's dish was very neatly cooked.

Because there is one less person to watch.

She always likes to say "I want to eat" when she cooks herself, and then Sakakihara has to put down what she is doing and feed her mouth a small piece of ingredients that are still being prepared.

I guess I was still nostalgic in my heart.

When Sakakihara is cooking, he also looks at the cabinet bar in the open kitchen, and wants to see if Yuki is still lying on it, waiting for his meal to be ready.

"Le." - She always likes to call her name so briefly, and then look at herself with that simple and kind gaze.

Dinner was just eaten with Qijiu.

Suzu still has to go to work, because now she is half an idol, and she has to record and practice the songs of the animation OP and ED.

The meal was also eaten quietly.

Hardly anyone spoke, chatted.

An atmosphere like this, which lasts until all the homework is written.

"Now that Yuki is gone, then my brother will move back to the previous room, and now that room is too small for you to even fit a desk."

Tianhai Qimingyue suggested this, and Sakakihara didn't say anything.

It's just that when I was about to push open the door of Yuki's room, I hesitated, and I never chose to push it open.

By the next day.

That is, Saturday.

Suzu, this guy took a day off and said he was going to find Yuki.

She tried to pull Sakaki Hara Leya over together, but she couldn't move it, and said angrily, "I'll go by myself!" After that, he immediately went out.

However, it wasn't until noon, four hours later, that Suzu Sakakihara went home disappointed.

"How?"

"No. I can't even see Yuki's face. ”

"You're being shut out?"

"That's not true, Sakura is still very enthusiastic, but when I said I wanted to see Yuki, Sakura always used Grandpa's words to persuade me that Yuki wouldn't let anyone else visit now, and come back later."

It must be like this that Zhixue was called home, taking into account her mood. Grandpa certainly wouldn't let any of us meet her, lest she want to come back. ”

Sakakihara Suzu was dissatisfied, "I won't give up anyway!" I'll go every day from now on! I'll see Yuki someday! ”

However.

Whether it's the second day, the third day, the fourth day, the fifth day

A week, two weeks, and even early June

Suzu Sakakihara didn't even get to see the snow of the sky.

"Ahh No, dude! Yuki didn't even reply to me with the line! I've been replying to a sentence or two once in a while. ”

Ah Ling said in such a hurry, it was hard to imagine that she was an idol who usually shines on the stage.

"Probably because you were restricted by your grandfather, you have been running for so many days in the Tianhai family, what are you thinking, grandpa knows it."

"What then?"

"There is no way."

"Yuki can't be in trouble, right? Recently, I went to Tianhai's house, and Sakura didn't talk about Yuki's situation. ”

"I don't know."

Sakakihara Le answered sparsely and indifferently on the surface, but in his heart he suddenly remembered that Yuki was sick, and in Hawaii, the doctor had told her not to have any mental stimulation.

Is it possible that Zhixue's condition has begun to recur again?

(End of chapter)