Under the dark gaze of Washikashi Forge, Ryo Hoshino trembled and finished everyone's balls - except for Ushijima Wakari's.

Joke! Is that ball a human being able to catch?!

Ryo Hoshino looked at the ball that flew again, shook off his sore hand, and looked at Wakori Ushijima on the opposite side with resentment. Fortunately, by this time, all the people who practiced the ball had ended, and the eagle craftsman forged him mercifully let him go: "It's okay, come down." ”

Without waiting for Ryo Hoshino to be happy, he immediately said, "-Tomorrow to continue." ”

Okay, tomorrow. - Wait, tomorrow?! Tomorrow you have to pick up this ball that you want to smash your hand off?!

The eagle craftsman pretended not to see the shocked eyes of the silver-haired boy and asked the others to assemble and line up. So when Hanhe Jiang Yong trotted over, what he saw was Hoshino Liang, who had lost his color as if he had not been colored.

Hanhejiang: "!! "Hoshino! What's wrong with you, Hoshino! Cheer up!

"Next, according to the group we gave, we will do 2v2 training in groups of four."

No, no, he can't give in. Just get through these hours!

Ryo Hoshino stood strongly, and then the next second-

"Hey, Hoshino, you need to pass the ball well!" The five-colorist patted him on the shoulder clearly.

Hoshino looked at him expressionlessly.

How are you？ How old are you？ Isn't there a little haunted by you, kid?

Then, after playing a game of 2v2, looking at the five-color worker who was so excited that he could come to five more rounds, Ryo Hoshino felt his rapid breathing and heartbeat, and silently wiped off his sweat, wanting to cry without tears.

He just wanted to touch a fish, why was it so hard?

When the sky is full of red clouds and the birds return to their nests, the training of the volleyball club comes to an end. Of course, most people will choose to stay and continue practicing, but Ryo Hoshino, who is like an arrow, can't stay anymore. He looked at the clock pointing to half past six, grabbed his bag and rushed out of the gymnasium.

Eagle Craftsman looked at the boy who disappeared as soon as he disbanded, and sharpened his back molars.

One day, you kid will come back with all the less practice!

On the other side, Ryo Hoshino, who had no idea of the old man's sinister thoughts, stepped on the food to the convenience store, he hurriedly put down his bag and started working, and then worked until nine o'clock as usual.

"Xiao Liang." Shibasaki Katsu stopped Ryo Hoshino, who was about to leave, "I'm going to go back this weekend, do you want to come along?" ”

Hoshino Ryoshi was silent for a moment and nodded: "Okay." ”

"Okay, then I'll talk to Dean Yumi, and we'll go back together when the time comes."

Ryo Hoshino returned home, with a rare silence. Without saying a word, he cooked Coke, then sat down at his desk and began to write today's homework.

Shibasaki Katsunori said that Dean Yumi was the director of the welfare home where he used to stay, and that was a gentle lady who helped him a lot, and she also helped to contact the convenience store job. It's not that he doesn't want to go back, it's just that he ......

A heavy object suddenly jumped onto his thigh, and his already sore thigh was instantly stimulated.

Ryo Hoshino looked at the cat on his lap expressionlessly.

A few seconds later, I only heard a "meow", and I didn't know how many human-cat wars had started again.

*

"Hoshino! A teacher is looking for you! ”

Ryo Hoshino, who was sleeping with his head down, barely raised his head, opened his eyes in a daze, and then instantly woke up when he saw the eagle craftsman forging outside.

Ryo Hoshino: "......" super, the soul almost scared me away :)

Although it is his precious time to catch up on sleep, it is the boss who pays the salary! Ryo Hoshino propped himself up and walked outside.

Washmaster Forge took the man to a quieter corner, and then quietly watched the boy without speaking.

Ryo Hoshino was furious when he saw it, and said cautiously, "...... How did you get here? ”

Eagle Craftsman looked at him faintly, "I remember when we made an agreement yesterday, we said that [during the ministry work, you should seriously participate in training], right?" ”

"Huh?"

"Was your attitude yesterday a serious training look?"

Ryo Hoshino, Ryo Hoshino has bitterness and can't say. Although he wanted to touch the fish, didn't he finish it all in the end!

"Since we have made an agreement, then we are now in the relationship of Party A and Party B. If you didn't do what was agreed, I could have stopped paying, do you understand? ”

Hoshino Ryo widened his eyes: "!! "No, you can still play like this??" But we didn't sign a contract either......" The volume gradually decreased in the other party's sight.

"I didn't sign a contract, but I did have to fulfill it. It's only been a month, so do you have the same attitude when you worked at a convenience store? ”

Although the eagle craftsman forged a bit of a serious point, the truth is indeed the truth.

Hoshino Ryo was silent for a while: "You're right...... But my level is really not high, I can only say that I try to keep up with the training. ”

"All I want is your attitude."

Ryo Hoshino nodded: "I see." ”

The two ended their conversation, and Ryo Hoshino said goodbye and left. The old man looked at his back, his eyes flashing.

You kid, see if I still hold you?

*

At four o'clock in the afternoon, Ryo Hoshino and the two appeared at the gymnasium on time. After the two of them stood in the line, within a few minutes, the eagle craftsman forged them to start running laps to warm up.

Ryo Hoshino followed the team with a vigorous pace, completely different from yesterday's numbness.

That's right! Today's Ryo Hoshino is no longer the Ryo Hoshino of the past! He has evolved into the ultimate form, Worker Hoshino!

I don't know if he completely relaxed his mentality, after the warm-up, he didn't have the fatigue of yesterday, but felt that the muscles of his body were mobilized. So much so that the back of the wall cushion ball, catching, 2v2 practice are like a tiger with wings, and even the ball of Ushijima Wakari is picked up, although the pass is not perfect, but it finally ended this nightmare.

"Ugh!" The five-color worker dunked a straight ball and won a victory. As soon as I wanted to clench my fists and cheer, a sentence came from next door: "Five colors!" Don't rest! Fast! Next! "Today's GDP is not yet complete!

Looking at Ryo Hoshino, who was above him, the five-color worker slowly put out a question mark: ? Is there something wrong with you?

The advisor looked at the refreshed Ryo Hoshino and asked Washmaster Forge in surprise, "Coach Washshare, what did you tell Hoshino?" Why is he so ...... all of a sudden? So attentive? ”

Eaglesmith Forge snorted. What is the joy of capitalist exploitation, he can be regarded as feeling.

So, a day's work passed in Ryo Hoshino's hard work. Of course, he didn't stay to do extra practice today, and he ran wildly again to catch up with the next field.

After that, Ryo Hoshino, who was standing in the convenience store for a short break, sighed: Ah, what a fulfilling part-time job.

"By the way, Xiaoliang, I've already told Dean Yumi, I'll pick you up at your house on Saturday morning, and then go over together, how about it?" Katsu Shibasaki asked.

Hoshino Liang, who thought of this, paused: "Well, okay, I'm sorry for you." ”

Shibasaki Katsunori waved his hand.

*

For the next two days, Ryo Hoshino spent this fulfilling life. In this way, on Saturday, Shibasaki Katsu arrived early at the downstairs of Ryo Hoshino's house as he said. After more than an hour's drive, the destination arrived.

Ryo Hoshino got out of the car and looked up.

Inside the walls of the fence that says "Chanyang Children's Welfare Center" is an old-fashioned building that looks old. Still, it didn't look discouraged. The exterior walls of the building are painted with a warm yellow paint, and various patterns are painted on them, some of which look crooked and strange, but they are inexplicably warm.

It was still familiar to him.

"Xiao Liang, what are you looking at?" Shibasaki Katsu, who had parked the car, walked over and grabbed him and walked inside, "The children shouldn't be in class yet, let's go in and have a look." ”

They came early, and the children were still exercising in the yard. The first to spot them was a boy who had quietly wandered.

The child shouted in surprise, "It's Brother Hoshino and Uncle Shibasaki!" ”

Everyone looked at this shout in unison.

"Hey, Zhiwu, how many times have you said you want to call me brother!" Shibasaki Katsu, who was only in his early 30s, clenched his fists and pretended to be angry.

The boy named Zhiwu stuck out his tongue and grimaced.

The children chattered around and the voices came one after another. Ryo Hoshino squatted down, touched his head here, patted his shoulder there, and expertly responded to each child's question.

The woman with the looked at it with a smile for a while, and then clapped her hands: "Okay, okay, Brother Hoshino and Brother Shibasaki are going to find the dean first, let's come back quickly and finish the morning exercise." ”

"Huh-" The children looked disappointed.

"Listen to Keiko-sensei." Hoshino Ryo soothed, "Brother will come to play with you again." ”

"Okay!" The children obediently stood back.

The two walked into the house. The dean's office was in the innermost part of the third floor, and Katsu Shibasaki knocked on the door.

"Please come in."

Shibasaki Katsunori pushed the door open, and Ryo Hoshino hesitated for a moment before walking in behind the other party.

At the desk sat a short-haired woman, who looked no more than fifty years old, dressed in a light-colored blouse, a pair of black-rimmed glasses, and a gentle expression. When she saw them come in, the woman stood up with bent eyes: "Come so early, sit down, I'll pour you water." ”

"Hey, Dean Yumi, I'll come—" Shibasaki Katsunori had just spoken, and someone stepped forward faster than him. Hoshino took the kettle in her hand without saying a word, carefully avoiding her hand to prevent her from getting hot.

Yumi Hanno smiled: "Thank you, Xiaoliang." ”

Hoshino Ryo paused, and said "no" in a muffled voice.

After the three of them sat down, Shibasaki Katsunori chatted with Yumi Hano about the current situation, and Ryo Hoshino sat on the side and listened silently without speaking. Shibasaki Katsuno suddenly coughed twice: "I'm sorry, I'll go out and smoke a cigarette." Xiao Liang, you can talk to the dean for a while! ”

With that, he quickly slipped out, leaving only Ryo Hoshino with a stunned face and Yumi Hanano with a smile on her face.

Hoshino Ryo wanted to speak and stopped.

Yumi Hanno didn't care about his awkwardness, but asked softly, "School has started recently, right?" How's it going at school? ”

“…… OK. ”

"Really? That's good. Shibasaki told me before, you went to the store late in the past two days, nothing happened, right? ”

"It's fine."

Yumi Hanano didn't ask anything more, it seemed that it was enough to know how he was doing. She thoughtfully changed the subject and talked about some of the children in the courtyard, but Ryo Hoshino was even more restless.

Finally, he cautiously spoke, "Don't you ask me what I'm going to do?" ”

"If you don't want to tell me, I won't ask." Yumi Hanno looked at him gently, her eyes as tolerant as ever.

But obviously he had a big fight with her before.

Yumi Hano is a gentle person who rarely gets angry in front of children. Growing up, the two of them have only quarreled twice. One was because he insisted on giving up volleyball, and the other was because he gave up the opportunity to study at a key high school outside the county.

If the former is just a few accusations, the latter is really angry.

Ryo Hoshino has never been able to forget the scene at that time. He happily showed her Shiratorizawa's escort notice, but she looked at the admission letter of the key high school that he threw away on the table with a calm face, and asked him why.

That school is the school he has loved since he was a child, and when he was in elementary school, he told Yumi Hakino many times that he wanted to go to this school. But the scholarship at this school is not high, and it is outside the prefecture, which means that he not only has to pay for tuition, but also needs to be funded by Yumi Hanano for his daily living expenses. He didn't want to, so he chose Shiratorizawa, who had tuition-free admission and a generous scholarship, and Shiratorizawa's deviation value was not low.

He felt that this was the best choice, and he kept holding a breath in his heart, refusing to bow his head.

So the two broke out and broke up, and they haven't communicated since.

Ryo Hoshino didn't feel that his choice was wrong, but he was guilty that his words were too ugly at the time. But Yumi Hanno is acting like this at the moment, and he feels uncomfortable again.

"Xiao Liang, I was too anxious before. I shouldn't question your choice, because you must have thought about it for a long time. I know Shiratorizawa is also a good school, but I just ......" the woman paused, "I just think, it's too unfair to you." You're as good as everyone else, but because of ......"

Her voice was a little choked, and Ryo Hoshino panicked suddenly: "You, don't cry—" He quickly pulled out a handkerchief from his body and handed it to the other party.

Yumi Hanno lowered her head and shook her head helplessly: "Obviously, I have been teaching you not to compare with others, but I have not been able to do it, which really makes you see the joke." ”

Hoshino retorted in a sullen voice: "No." ”

Yumi Hanno smiled. When she first took over the orphanage, Ryo Hoshino was only 6 years old, but he seemed to be the older brother of some of the children around her. He has been precocious since he was a child, excellent and sensible, and he never wants to trouble her, but he helps her a lot.

"Xiao Liang, I apologize to you for what I said before, are you willing to forgive me?" The woman said earnestly.

Ryo Hoshino was silent for a moment: "...... I'm also at fault, I'm sorry, Aunt Yumi. ”

Yumi Hanno shook her head slightly: "You have always been a determined person, no matter where you are, you can keep moving towards the future of your choice. I am the one who should have believed in you the most, but I didn't. ”

What Ryo Hoshino said to her was undeniable. He didn't think he had anything to praise, he just wanted to live and compensate those who had helped him on that basis.

"Don't think about it so much." To put it bluntly, this incident was originally a momentary brain fever between two people, and it is impossible to completely say who is wrong. Hoshino Ryo didn't want her to think about it anymore, so he comforted her and said, "I'm good in Shiratorizawa, and I've joined the club." ”

Yumi Hanno was really diverted: "Really? What is the club? ”

"Uh," Ryo Hoshino choked and slurred, "Volleyball—"

"Really!" The woman's eyes lit up, and she quickly gushed, "I heard that Shiratorizawa's volleyball team is very good, will the training be very strict?" Can I still work at a convenience store? Do you want me to talk to Shibasaki for you? ”

Ryo Hoshino patiently replied: "It's very powerful, and the training is good." I can still work, but I'm a little rushed. If I have any questions, I will discuss them with Mr. Shibasaki, so don't worry. ”

After these words, the atmosphere suddenly eased. The two looked at each other for a few seconds before speaking.

"Welcome home, Xiaoliang."

"I'm sorry, I didn't come back to see you in this time."

Both of them were stunned, and then laughed.

"Oh, looks like I came back just in time, huh?" Shibasaki Katsunori's slightly mocking voice sounded.

"What? Finished smoking? I've never heard of you smoking before. ”

"Gee, isn't that a special case."

The three of them chatted for a while, and Yumi Hanano looked up at the bell and stood up: "It's time to teach the children, let's go." ”

The room on the first floor near the staircase is a classroom for the children. Yumi Hanano walked in with a book, and the children were already waiting inside. Ryo Hoshino and the others slipped in quietly through the back door and sat at the back.

"Yumi's mother! What are we going to learn today! Zhiwu raised his hand and asked excitedly.

"Today we're going to learn a poem."

With a smile on the corner of the woman's mouth, she turned a page of the book, and a gentle voice sounded in the classroom:

"To the bright side,

Even a leaf,

Reach out to the sun, too. ”

She lowered her head and recited poetry, and the children in the audience held their heads and looked at her with admiration.

"To the bright side,

Even if the wings are scorched,

Fly to the place where the lights are flickering, too. ”

The silver-haired boy stood quietly at the back of the classroom. The woman suddenly looked up and met his gaze.

She said:

"To the bright side,

Even if it's just a spacious......"

Ryo Hoshino spoke softly and said at the same time as her: "--I also want to run to the place where the sun shines." ”

The woman looked at the children in the audience and asked with a smile, "Do you like this poem?" ”

"Like—"

"Does anyone want to read it?"

"Me!"

"I'm coming!"

The children scrambled to raise their hands.

"Then let's read it together, how about it?"

The two people behind the classroom quietly left, and they didn't go far when the childish child's voice came through the window.

"To the bright side—"

Children habitually prolong the last note, but read their unique flavors. Ryo Hoshino stood at the door, outside the door, the sun was shining brightly, and there were no clouds.

Katsu Shibasaki brought two brushes from the corner.

It is a tradition in their courtyard, and everyone who leaves leaves their mark on the wall, which symbolizes where they came from and their hearts will never be separated no matter where they go.

"Come on, what are you going to draw this time?" Shibasaki Katsu thought about it for a moment and quickly put pen to paper.

Ryo Hoshino walked to a familiar corner where a crooked volleyball was drawn.

Because Shibasaki had to rush back to open the store, the two left without waiting for the children to get out of class.

"Hey, by the way, what did you draw?"

Hoshino was cool but didn't say a word, Shibasaki didn't ask much, and skipped the topic.

The car gradually drove away from the old building, and in the corner of the building's façade, next to the crooked volleyball, a lifelike white bird was drawn. It seemed that in the next second, it was about to shake off its wings and fly into the clear blue sky with the wind.