Volume 2 Chapter 98 Familiar yet Unfamiliar

  Qingmu Xiangxi was very surprised that Liu Lian'er had actually gotten her phone number and called her.

  In the Ice Emperor's coffee shop, Lin Xiang was stirring his coffee, looking puzzled as he raised his eyes to look at Liu Lian'er across from him. "Liu, you've come to find me at the Ice Emperor's place, is there something on your mind?"

  It's really surprising that Ryūsen Ryō would take the initiative to come to another school to find a girl.

  "Hmm. Yukimura's been hospitalized......" Ryuusei said calmly, but it made Kiriya Ayumu pause for a moment, and the image of Yukimura in his hospital gown flashed through her mind, she let out a sigh, "What is it that you want me to do, Ryuusei?"

  It's a bit far-fetched to say that he came all this way just to let her take a look at him, they're just acquaintances after all.

  "He's been reading all the Chinese books you've read recently..." Liu Lian'er said after a moment of silence.

  "What's next?"

  Ryūsenji fell silent again, he found that as long as it involved this girl, all his data could not be analyzed. Why did Yukimura suddenly pay attention to this girl? No, it would be better to say that he was walking through the path that this girl had walked, and Yukimura was doing these things unconsciously without being able to perceive himself.

  Yanagi Ryōji still remembers the books that Kōmura asked Yanagi to buy for him, which were the ones that Kōmura had read. Of course, what Kōmura had read was all through Yanagi's knowledge. The tennis club members seemed to be quite curious about Kōmura, and every time they asked him to reveal new information about Kōmura, he would smile naturally, seemingly nonchalant, but his eyes would occasionally flash with a gleam of capturing information, and then he would unconsciously do what Kōmura had done...

  Why, Ryūsenji doesn't understand, he can't analyze it. It's not that he hasn't thought about taking Kōmura's unusual behavior as actions that would be taken if he liked Tamae, but he just feels strange! What's strange about it, he can't say either!

  Moreover, Ryū Renji still remembered that when Yukimura was reading those Chinese books with Kōmei, he would unconsciously mutter to himself, "It's truly familiar yet strange..."

  His feelings in his heart became even stranger, especially since Yukimura seemed to have no unusual expressions when he first saw Kiriya Aoi, so how did he reveal his hidden emotions after she turned around and left?

  What's even more frustrating for Liu Lian'er is that there seemed to be a clue before that could have solved all these puzzles, but he didn't catch it in time and now can't find it again.

  "...". Akane Satomi, sitting across from Ryūjin II, looked at his slightly furrowed brow and was taken aback. Does this military strategist also have troubles that disturb him?

  "Ryū-kun......?" Akane Mito couldn't help but softly call out to Ryō Ryūjin, who had fallen into thought.

  "......" Ryūrenji came back to his senses at the sound of her voice, clenched his fist and coughed once, "Sorry about that, Katsuragi-san, but can you enlighten me?"

  Qingmu Xiang looked at him and opened her book after he finished speaking. Some black lines had appeared, was this guy here to interview her?

  "Kōboku-san...... when you first met Yukimura, did you have any special feelings?" asked Ryūsenji, grasping his brush.

  "......" What's this supposed to be?

  Liu Lian'er: "......" Not backing down, she wants to grasp this girl's idea.

  "...He's a person worthy of my admiration," said Akane Kotonoha, her tone tinged with a hint of helplessness and a sense of disorientation that even she herself was unaware of, a fleeting feeling of uncertainty that flashed through the depths of her heart.

  "Is that all?" Ryu Renji asked, unwilling to give up. This feeling alone made it impossible for him to analyze.

  "Hmm, that's all......" Akane Kogami's answer seemed quite firm, and Ryūji could not get anything more out of her.

  "Doesn't Kaito have some free time to go see him?" said Ryūsen.

  She looked at him and nodded slightly, unable to deny that she was also worried about the slender boy. Although she knew he would eventually recover, she knew he would suffer greatly in the process.

  "Thanks to you, Akane-san, I think Kōmu will be in a better mood...". Ryūsen's words left Akane speechless. She had only met him once, and yet he had such a big influence on her. However, she didn't refute him, and could only feel that Kōmu's teammates really cared about him, even entrusting someone like her, who was barely an acquaintance, to look after him, hoping he would get back on his feet.

  Akane didn't want to drag things out either, so after Ryūji left, she decided to go to the hospital and see that boy.

  But the weather changed again, just as Akane Mochida and Masaki Okazaki, even Akane Yanagi said they wanted to go to the hospital to visit a friend while buying flowers, it started raining heavily.

  It was still afternoon, the sky was dark and oppressive, with flashes of lightning from time to time. Lin Xiang couldn't help but look up at the sky, the power of nature was so shocking, yet it couldn't break through the tunnel of time and space, what else could be feared.

  There were hardly any people on the street, and even cars were scarce. She stood at the entrance of the flower shop, watching the thunderstorm outside. She worried that others would still call her in such a situation, which was very dangerous, so she turned off her phone.

  Kazuki Rei appeared beside Kazuki Akane, holding an umbrella to keep the steam off her. "Miss, let's go inside first, it's not possible to go anywhere at this time."

  Ling Yu could only helplessly go into the flower shop to wait for the rain to stop, while Zheng Yi, who couldn't find her after turning off his phone, almost jumped in anger and called the hospital, but it seemed she hadn't arrived yet. He could only give up in frustration. Probably hiding from the rain... Alas, she wasn't that foolish, she wouldn't venture out in such heavy rain, truly worrying is chaotic.

  It wasn't until much later that the rain outside stopped, and Lin Xiangruo stood up at the door, the eaves of the roof dripping with water, which fell into her palm when she cupped her hands, the cool mist seeming to transmit from her palms to her heart, just one drop, as if it could wash away all the dust in her heart.

  This was something she especially liked doing in her past life when it rained.

  In a certain ward of Tokyo General Hospital, a slender yet tall figure stood by the window, making the same movement to catch the falling raindrop. The raindrop in his palm reflected his face, and he saw that his complexion was somewhat pale, but those eyes were still full of elegance, yet with a hint of melancholy and confusion.

  So familiar...

  It seems like this kind of thing has been done tens of thousands of times, and it's become second nature. I thought they were all my own habits, but why is it that everything feels like a habit of following her after she appeared?

  Ryūsen didn't know that Kōmura wasn't unaware, but even if he was aware, he couldn't understand his own behavior, and in the end, he still did it unconsciously.

  Akane looked at the rain stopping, then walked towards the hospital. The hospital was not far from the flower shop, so it wasn't necessary to take a taxi. However, there was a lot of accumulated water on the ground, and Akane didn't want her to walk in the puddles. At this time, a figure riding a bicycle rushed over, "Burning!! Kawamura Sushi!!"

  Uh!

  Akane's eyes widened in surprise as Kawamura Takaaki zoomed past, delivering sushi, then suddenly zoomed back and stopped in front of her. "Burning! Akane-san! It really is you! I thought I was seeing things! Let me take you wherever you want to go! There's a lot of water on the ground!"

  Holding the tennis racket, Kawamura Takashi was not silly at all, and could be said to be a man of great presence. Looking at the rainwater on the ground, he instinctively didn't want this girl to step in the puddle. Well, although his bicycle wasn't as impressive as a luxury car, but this girl wouldn't look down on him.

  "Kawamura-kun, aren't you going to deliver the sushi?" asked Akagi Ayaka with a blink.

  "It's nothing! A big man like you can't even wait for sushi?" said Kobayashi Takashi with a disbelieving tone.

  But how did you know that the person waiting for your sushi would definitely be a big man?

  "And I'm fast, won't delay! Burning! Get on the bus! Hifumi-san!" said Kawamura Takashi with eyes blazing and full of energy.

  “…Well, thank you, Kawamura-kun. I need to go to Tokyo General Hospital…” Akagi Natsumi also didn't hesitate and got in the car. Kawamura's speed of delivering sushi was indeed very fast, and the hospital was close by, so it wouldn't take up too much of his time.

  Kakashi Hatake, who had been quietly hiding in the shadows, watched as Kakashi Tsurugi got on the bus and couldn't help but put his arm around Kawauchi Ryo's waist, causing him to furrow his brow.

  Kawamura Takashi's speed was quite fast, and if Akagi Ayaka wasn't holding onto his waist, she would definitely be thrown off the car. That was also an unavoidable thing.

  Kawamura Takashi skillfully rode the bicycle, splashing water on both sides without getting a single drop on Akane Hoshi's clothes, and delivered her safely to the hospital. Kawamura wasn't stupid; this girl was obviously visiting someone in the hospital, holding a bouquet of flowers - she wasn't there for herself. After saying goodbye to her with a flourish, he continued delivering sushi on his bicycle.

  Hospitals are originally quiet places, except for the unavoidable sounds made by working staff and the worried behaviors of family members, no one would make noise here.

  Akane asked the staff at the service desk about Yukimura's hospital room and then went off to find it.

  While hospitalized, Qing Shui Liang Si dreams of being alone with Xing Cun, but Xing Cun rejects her every time! It makes her so angry that she's about to explode, yet she can't do anything. She can only stand outside Xing Cun's hospital room, fuming with rage. Da Pang Ni had brought over some supplements for her to eat after school, but Qing Shui Liang Si doesn't even want to touch them. "Take these things away from me!"

  Qingshui Liangsi couldn't bear it anymore and shouted at Dapan Niuniu, but Dapan Niuniu didn't back down. Qingshui Liangsi finally realized how annoying a thick-skinned person could be! But she wouldn't admit that she was also thick-skinned!

  Qingshui Liangsi returned to her ward with a huff, slamming the door shut behind her. Dahuan also followed her in and closed the door. Instantly, the sound of things being smashed could be heard. These sounds were also overheard by Xiumu Xiangfu, who had just arrived. However, she didn't know that it was Qingshui Liangsi inside, so she only slightly furrowed her brow. How can someone recover in peace with such a ruckus-maker living next to them? Hopefully the patient will calm down soon.

  "Knock knock knock", although Lin Mu's hand paused for a moment, he still knocked on the door.

  "Quiet, Kiyomizu. I want some peace and quiet, don't come bother me." Sugimura was annoyed time and again, his calm facade on the verge of cracking. That shameless woman, he hadn't intended to mind her at first, but she just wouldn't leave him be? He had come to Tokyo General Hospital to avoid those annoying women who would use any excuse to bother him, and to recover in peace. The medical care here was good, and the environment was nice too. But why did he have to run into such a woman? He was truly at his wit's end.

  "...It's me, Yukimura-kun" A faint voice came from outside, although Yukimura had only heard it that one time they met, he remembered it very clearly, it was that girl!

  Kōmura's eyes flashed with complexity.

  How did she end up coming…… Could it be that one of his teammates had leaked the news of his hospitalization to her? He wasn't very willing to let her see him in this weak state, especially with a strange and intense feeling of rejection welling up inside him.

  "Kazuki-san, I'm tired and want to rest. You can go back now..." The words came from inside the door, something that Kazuki Sayaka had not expected at all. She was actually being turned away at the door.

  She gazed at the bouquet in her hand, silent for a moment before speaking, "......Alright, you get some rest"

  She wasn't a person who didn't know when to quit, so if he didn't want to see her, there was nothing she could do. She placed the flowers on one side of the door and turned to leave. The hospital corridor wasn't very long, and as she turned the corner to leave, the door to that room opened, and he, wearing a green and white striped hospital gown, watched as the last flash of golden hair disappeared from view without any substantial dispersal. He looked down at the flowers on one side with his eyes cast downward, and his slender hand picked them up, taking steps forward...

  The faint figure in front of him gradually blurred in his eyes, and he seemed to see a figure like a fairy in an ink painting, so vague, deep in his memory, disturbing his emotions, but not letting him be clear. Holding the flowers she gave him, looking at her back, walking on the road she walked, gazing at her figure getting farther and farther away, the distance was gradually pulling apart, but he still didn't stop his footsteps, still treading on the place where she had stepped, until she completely disappeared from his line of sight, only then did he suddenly realize, everything seemed like a dream, as if he could never get close to her...

  The world after the rain was very cool, especially with that figure coming back and forth. Yukimura gripped Hana's hand tightly and hastily turned around to leave, but heard Katsuragi Akane's voice, "Yukimura-kun doesn't want to see me that much?"

  Akane Akatsuki couldn't help but admit that she was shocked this time. She remembered that the hospital wasn't far from there, and "Kouen" was right there, so she went to buy a steaming bowl of congee. She thought that even if Kouen didn't see her, she could still deliver the congee to his hospital room door, and he would eat at least some of it. She believed that this slender young man probably hadn't been taking good care of himself. But unexpectedly, when she turned back, she saw him quietly following behind her, lingering for a long time, and wanting to escape when he saw her - was she really that terrifying?

  "No!" Kōmura hastily blurted out. He didn't mean it that way, but he had already been misunderstood and could only hasten to explain.

  Could he explain that strange feeling in his heart? Even if he said it, he wouldn't believe it himself, and the girl might think he was physically ill and mentally ill.

  Looking at his flustered expression, Akane also didn't think of refuting him, "I bought some hot congee, have a sip..."

  Koumura looked at the packed porridge in her hand, nodded, and took it over. As he saw her turn to leave, he wanted to pull her back, but with one hand holding flowers and the other holding porridge, both of which were gifts from her, he couldn't just drop them. He could only speak up, "Katsuragi-san, can you stay with me for a while?"

  Koumura said this and even he himself felt embarrassed, previously rejecting others at the door, now wanting them to accompany him, really thinking that others would come when called and leave when waved?

  So he was prepared to be rejected by her, but she didn't show any awkwardness or hesitation, and simply agreed to the patient's request, his mood wasn't ordinary relaxed.

  Actually, Akane Hino was somewhat familiar with this young man. This proud person naturally didn't want others to see his weak side, so her behavior wasn't hard to understand, and she wasn't angry.

  In the ward, Yukimura watched her use a small bowl to help him with his porridge, and he became dizzy again. Deep down in his heart, there was always something stirring, wanting to break out, but it didn't work.

  "The porridge isn't very hot, you can drink it directly..." Akagi Kaoru said as she placed the small bowl in his palm.

  ...but Yukimura just held the small bowl and didn't make any other move.

  "......" She blinked her eyes, why was this?

  "...you didn't help me pick the dishes" This one sentence from Yukimura, a subconscious remark, instantly startled Kaito Akira, and for an instant, his eyes lost their calmness. However, he quickly forced himself to calm down. He wryly smiled at the thought that had flashed through his mind just now. How could it be? Maybe Yukimura has the same habit as him.

  Koumura avoided her azure eyes, gazing down at the porridge in his small bowl. He knew that his quirk had struck again, ever since this girl appeared he would exhibit strange behavior, originally thinking himself to be quite normal.

  Qin Mu picked up a disposable chopstick from one side, clamped some home-cooked dishes into his porridge, "Clamp well, eat..."

  "Hmm..." Looking at Sachi's face, which was bright and cheerful for a moment, Akane's eyes became sour, she quickly looked out the window, holding back the tears in her eyes.

  "Was it the wind that brought her thoughts to his side? Otherwise, why would it be like this..."

  Akane looked at the book on the table, but didn't make any move. Koumura, who had finished his porridge and wanted to go out for some fresh air, hadn't even opened his mouth when Akane seemed to know what he was thinking, took his coat from beside him, and put it over his shoulders, as it was windy and rainy outside, her hand stiffened a little while putting it on.

  It seems like everything is a matter of course, so familiar, yet so strange.

  Xu Mu let go of her hand, blinked, and the two went out together to get some fresh air. Nothing needed to be said, yet they knew each other's thoughts, even though they were equally complicated at this moment.

  A cool breeze blew in, and Akane felt a slight chill on her back as a warm breath enveloped her. It was Yukimura who had given her his jacket. In the dim light, she seemed to see a very familiar figure...