Xiaolian fell asleep as soon as the bus back to Mizawa Village started.
I slept until I changed trains and didn't wake up when I got home.
Finally, the three men carried her directly home, with Toru Watanabe carrying her, and handed her over to her mother.
"Archer, thank you for your help today." Xiaolian breathed evenly in her mother's arms.
"Xiao Lian is my sister, there's nothing wrong with that." Watanabe Toru said.
After returning home and having dinner, the two young ladies went back to the second floor to take a shower.
"Xiaotetsu," Watanabe said, "Tomorrow morning the village will make rice cakes, you can go there."
"Okay." Watanabe Toru sat down in the kotatsu, "Mom, what's up?"
"It's the supermarket where I work part-time. Someone suddenly quit. I have to be in charge of two shifts now."
Watanabe Eda usually works in the fields. During the slack season, she and several other women from the village go to a distant town to find part-time jobs.
"It's too hard, why don't you quit?" Watanabe Toru said, "My tuition and living expenses in Tokyo are enough by working part-time. You can take a rest if you have nothing to do. You don't have to work so hard."
"You're going to use the money to support the family after you quit your job?" Watanabe Eida rolled his eyes at his son.
"No problem." Watanabe Toru said with a smile.
"You are so young, don't live off others." Watanabe warned.
"Living off a gigolo? Mom, you look down on your son. I have 1 billion yen in a Tokyo bank."
"Xiao Che."
"Hmm?" Toru Watanabe took a tangerine from the basket on the table.
"Now that things have come to this, I should tell you." Watanabe sighed, "Actually, I eloped with your father. My hometown is very rich. They saw you on TV and suddenly contacted me to ask you to come back."
"Really?!" He stopped peeling the orange.
"Of course it's true."
"Dad?" Toru Watanabe turned his head and looked at his father who was calculating his annual income.
"Your grandparents have been buried in the ground for many years." Father Watanabe said without raising his head, "If such a good thing really happened, would it be your turn? When you were born, I took you to your mother's house to kneel down and admit my fault."
"In fact, I have another life experience..."
Before Watanabe's mother finished speaking, Watanabe's father interrupted her:
"I told you to watch less TV dramas. You are so old, and you are still dreaming. Archer, when your mother was young, she insisted that I learn how to propose and ride a motorcycle like in TV dramas..."
Watanabe pinched her husband's arm hard and asked:
"Watanabe Tsuneo, how much money did you make this year?"
Father Watanabe, a man who transports goods and does farm work every day, shrank back and muttered quietly:
“It’s still counting.”
"Mom," Watanabe Toru stuffed an orange slice into his mouth, "Don't worry, wait until Miki and I get married and take over the Kujo family's property, and then you will be the eloped eldest daughter."
"Che." Miss Kujo was standing at the door of the living room, "Come out for a moment."
"Oh." Toru Watanabe put down the orange and stood up from the kotatsu.
Watanabe's mother watched her son walk out of the living room with concern. Watanabe's father also looked up and watched him go, muttering to himself while still counting the bills.
Toru Watanabe followed Kujo Miki upstairs and into her room.
"You are very ambitious."
"It's just a joke, to cheer up my parents, don't take it seriously."
Kujo Miki turned around and said, "So, marrying me is also a joke?"
"Everything is easy to talk about. Don't joke about marriage. I will definitely marry Kujo Miki in the future. I will never leave her in this life, and I will never allow her to leave me. The two of us are like entangled together..."
Toru Watanabe noticed that there was a hint of contemptuous smile on the corner of Kujo Miki's mouth.
He understood.
He stopped talking nonsense.
He pulled Kujo Miki into his arms, hugged her slender waist tightly, let the two of them stick together, and kissed her lips.
Miki Kujo closed her eyes lightly, hooked her hands around Watanabe Toru's neck, and kissed him back passionately.
After the two separated, they panted and talked in each other's ears.
"It tastes like oranges." Kujo Miki sighed with satisfaction.
"Is it delicious?" asked Toru Watanabe.
“It’s not tasty.”
“I think it tastes good.”
"Is the orange delicious?" Kujo Miki's voice suddenly became hoarse, full of irresistible magic. "Or is my sister delicious?"
"Of course—"
…
Finally, Kujo Miki sighed heavily.
"What's wrong?" Watanabe Toru's voice at this time was full of charm that could touch any girl's heart.
In addition to her body, Miki Kujo also felt itchy in her heart, but also very comfortable.
Almost every time, she would immerse herself in this mysterious atmosphere, but not this time.
"no."
"Why?" Watanabe Toru asked puzzledly.
"This is my sister's punishment for bad kids." Kujo Miki said with a smile.
She was smiling now, still arrogant but with a hint of mischief, revealing an unprecedented intimacy.
Feeling her heart gradually approaching, Toru Watanabe no longer cared about anything else.
"Meiji, my Meiji, I love you so much." He couldn't help but kiss her.
As a result, Kujo Miki covered his mouth with her other hand.
"Is this not possible?" Watanabe Toru asked in confusion, and then he understood when he saw her expression of rejection.
He teased, "Do you still dislike yourself?"
Kujo Miki glared at him and pushed him away.
"Qingye is almost done washing, hurry up and get out of here."
"I'll come see you tonight?"
"Look at what you have accomplished. Stop thinking about this kind of thing all day long." Miki Kujo scolded.
"People who have experienced comfort once will have confidence." Toru Watanabe put on his pants.
"Do you want to die?"
"In no mood."
"Then get out of here quickly, Miss."
"Okay, sister."
"…Don't use this name normally."
"Are you shy?"
"I just think you're disgusting."
Miki Kujo was tidying up her clothes with her back to him, and only the books on the bookshelf could tell whether she was shy or not.
When Toru Watanabe returned to the living room, Watanabe, who was worried all the time, immediately asked him:
"What's wrong?"
"It's okay." Watanabe Toru said easily.
"Are you okay? Your hair is all messed up. Did you get into a fight?"
Watanabe Toru touched his hair and said, "I was taught a lesson."
"Are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?"
"It's really nothing. I won't say anything more. I'm going to take a shower. I have to go make rice cakes early tomorrow." Watanabe Toru walked out of the living room.
On the second floor, Qingye Rin wiped her hair and walked back to her room.
The window was open and the night wind blew in. She was afraid of the cold and immediately hunched her shoulders.
"Why open the window?" She asked in a questioning tone.
Miki Kujo ignored her and walked out of the room with her change of clothes.
As they passed each other, she said, as if talking to herself, "How pitiful."
Qingye Rin noticed her gaze and followed her gaze, and saw the chest of her blue pajamas.
"Childish." She slammed the window shut.
◇
The curtains were illuminated by the sunlight and turned into a transparent white. There was still a hint of coldness in the air, and Qingye Rin woke up.
Beside her, Kujo Miki was sleeping soundly.
After getting used to the pillow, she should have slept a little longer during her free time according to her usual habit, but for some reason these past two days, her body was always full of energy and she had an urge to move more.
She changed her clothes quietly, washed up, and walked slowly downstairs.
Toru Watanabe was changing his shoes at the entrance.
"Are you getting up late today?" She thought Watanabe Toru was going to deliver newspapers.
"No," Toru Watanabe replied, "Every family in the village will get a share of rice cakes, but they also have to contribute."
"Making rice cakes?"
"Well, it's rare in Tokyo, right? Now only the countryside has this kind of activity." Watanabe Toru changed his shoes and stood up. "I'll bring you some freshly made rice cakes later. They're delicious."
"Wait a minute." Qing Ye Lin stroked his chin and pondered for a while, "Can I go with you?"
"It's a mess there, full of people, are you sure you want to go?"
"I believe you are the odd one out in Mizawa Village." Kiyono Rin came over to change her shoes.
"What do you mean? I'm too smart? I went to Tokyo to make a name for myself?"
"Watanabe-san, I thought you were somewhat aware of your own perversion, but it seems you are even more shameless than I thought."
"I'm a pervert and shameless... Am I that bad?"
Qingye Rin changed her shoes and stood up, her lovely face showing a little surprise:
"Oh, you don't think these are the only two things you have bad things about, do you?"
"besides?"
"Like lying, being lustful, and liking to peek at my legs..."
Watanabe Toru opened the door, and Miss Kiyono said as she walked out of the Watanabe family without any hesitation.
After walking through the spacious vestibule, down the ramp and onto the road, Miss Kiyono ended her speech with "Watanabe-san, except for me, you are hopeless," ending her criticism of Watanabe Toru for being "bad".
"You are really good at speaking." Watanabe Toru said admiringly.
"I was shocked, too." Qing Ye Lin let out a sigh, "I didn't expect you to talk for so long."
"Why are you traveling so much lately?"
"Probably." A happy smile appeared on Qingye Rin's face. "Watanabe-san, I can scold you for a longer time from now on. Are you happy?"
"...That's enough. Don't assume I'm a masochist without permission!"
"Masochism is a personal hobby and has nothing to do with morality. I don't have any discrimination, so I won't hate you."
"Why does it have to be based on the premise that 'I don't want to be annoying to you'?"
"Do you want me to hate you?"
"It doesn't matter."
"That's a lie, Watanabe-san," Kiyono Rin said, covering her mouth elegantly, "Come on, don't really become an uncivilized ape."
"Is this really something that can be solved by just trying harder?"
"Of course not. Falling in love with me is everyone's innate instinct, just as natural as a baby crying."
I always feel like I've heard her say something similar, in that distant sunny summer.
"Why aren't you talking? Do you agree?" Qingye Rin asked curiously.
"No, your narcissism just now reminded me of events in countless summers." Toru Watanabe replied.
"It's not narcissism, it's the truth." Qing Ye Lin emphasized the key point and asked, "What did you remember?"
"Natsuki Kiyono-san's legs without stockings, ah, I really want to see them again..."
"Shut up."
"As you wish."
As they were talking, the two came to the front yard of a house.
The small place was already full of people.
The man was wearing a haori and a scarf on his head, looking ready to get started.
The woman was making sweet tea, watching over the steamer, and chatting happily;
The only few minors in the village surrounded Xiaolian, seemingly listening to her story about going to the beach yesterday.
"Archer, here you come!" Uncle Honma called out.
"Good morning!" Watanabe Toru responded loudly.
"Archer, I heard that you got the best grades in the country? You will definitely be able to enter the University of Tokyo in the future, right?" asked the person next to Uncle Honma.
In the eyes of many Japanese people, students from the University of Tokyo are like gods.
"Of course!" Watanabe Toru replied, "Not only do I want to get into the University of Tokyo, I also want to be the prime minister!"
"Good boy, you are ambitious. When you become prime minister, remember to take care of the village. It would be best if you could give them agricultural machines for free!" said another person.
"We also need to repair the road and replace it with cement!" the fourth person made a request.
“And agricultural subsidies, please give me more!”
"No problem!" Watanabe Toru promised.
Then, he whispered in Qingye Rin's ear: "Can the Prime Minister do this?"
Qingye Rin rolled her eyes at the beautiful boy who was standing very close to her: "You should first ask yourself if you can become the prime minister."
"This kind of thing can be easily done by just adding more energy, right?"
"What on earth gives you such great confidence?" Qingye Rin put his hands on his temples and sighed helplessly.
"Sweet tea, you two." Lingzi came over with tea, looking like she would fall asleep at any moment.
"Thank you." Qingye Rin picked up a cup, held it with both hands, blew away the hot white steam, and took a sip.
Watanabe Tetsuya took a cup: "Sister Lingzi, haven't you started yet?"
Lingzi glanced at the steamer: "The glutinous rice has just been put in, it will take a while."
After saying that, she yawned, said, "No, I have to go back to the house and sleep for a while," and turned and went into the house.
The two people stood there, not knowing what to do for a moment.
"Do you want to go for a walk?" asked Toru Watanabe.
"You've made your decision." Qingye Rin was a little uncomfortable with the noisy crowd around her.
After drinking their sweet tea, they left the front yard and came to the riverbank not far away.
There is a persimmon tree growing on the withered grass. The leaves have disappeared, and there are only orange persimmons on the bare branches.
The riverside was covered with tall, yellow reeds, and on the windless morning, the catkins were swaying slightly.
"Do you know what this river is called?" Toru Watanabe asked, pointing to the river behind the reeds.
Kiyono Rin thought for a moment: "Misawamura...Misawa?"
"Even I have to admit that you are smart."
"What else?"
"what else?"
"You know very well."
"Okay, I admit that you are the most beautiful woman in the world." Watanabe Toru used slightly vulgar words, implying that he was forced.
Qingye Rin brushed the long hair off her shoulders, looking a little proud.
"Can these persimmons be eaten?" she asked curiously, looking at the persimmon tree.
"They're ripe, of course they can be eaten." Toru Watanabe looked at the persimmon tree.
The two of them stood side by side, staring at the persimmon tree, which only had persimmons left, for a long time.
"Do you want to try it?" Toru Watanabe turned his head and looked at Rin Kiyono.
"The trunk of this persimmon tree is bare. Without certain climbing skills, I'm afraid there's no way to climb up." After studying the trunk, Qingye Rin looked at Watanabe Toru, "Can you climb trees?"
"Not all country folks can climb trees, and I don't want to get my clothes dirty and get scolded by my mom when I get home."
"I really want to see you being scolded by your aunt." Qingye Rin said with a smile.
"I have an idea." Toru Watanabe said, looking at the persimmon tree.
"Um?"
"Squat down and I'll sit on your shoulders."
Qingye Rin looked at Watanabe Toru in astonishment. She never expected him to say this.
"Just kidding, don't take it seriously. How about you sit on my shoulders?" asked Toru Watanabe.
Qingye Rin recovered from her surprise and sighed, "I didn't want to eat that much, I was more curious."
Watanabe Toru walked to the persimmon tree, held onto the trunk and squatted down: "Come on."
Qing Ye Lin said helplessly: "I already said no need, I..."
"Ah, persimmons! I want to eat persimmons!" Xiaolian ran over, "Ache, are you picking persimmons? I want to eat some too."
"Ask your sister Rin." said Toru Watanabe who was squatting.
"Sister Rin," Xiaolian looked up at Qingye Rin with an innocent face, "Can we just eat one?"
Kiyono Rin was being stared at by her, and then looked at the squatting back of Watanabe Toru.
"Oh." She sighed, "Okay."
She walked over, studied how to sit, then put her hands on Watanabe Toru's head and placed her feet on his shoulders.
"Don't move, or you know the consequences." Qingye Rin's voice was cold and even sounded scary.
"I swear." Toru Watanabe pretended not to notice her shyness.
He stood up slowly.
Qingye Rin felt her vision being raised. The reeds that had blocked her view just now became shorter, and she could even see the people on the slope preparing to make rice cakes.
A very novel experience.
"We want the reddest persimmon!"
Xiaolian's words brought her back to her senses.
"Watanabe-san, please move to the left."
"Okay." Watanabe Toru held her ankle firmly and moved two steps to the left. "Is that enough?"
"Move again...Okay."
The persimmons were picked very quickly, but unfortunately, the scene of 'the girl clamping the boy's head with her legs' did not happen.
Kiyono Rin just has poor physical strength, but she is very good at sports skills.
The three of them started eating by the river.
The ripe persimmons are sweet, and the flesh can be sucked into your mouth with a gentle suck.
"So sweet!" After Xiaolian took the first bite, the edges of her mouth had turned yellow.
"Yeah, it's really sweet." Qingye Rin agreed. She ate it very elegantly.
The white face and small cherry-colored lips looked very innocent, which attracted Watanabe Toru's attention and he couldn't take his eyes off her.
Qingye Rin raised her head and saw that Watanabe Toru had not eaten and was staring at her.
Qing Ye Lin subconsciously worried that there was fruit pulp on her mouth, and asked: "What are you looking at?"
"nothing."
"explain."
"I'm wondering when I'm going to marry you."
"Lie." Qingye Rin frowned.
Watanabe Toru couldn't even say such a thing if it wasn't a lie.
"Well, I was thinking of something a little bit filthy."
"What is it?"
"Are you sure you want to know?"
"Tell me about it."
"I want to kiss you on the mouth."
"It's unbelievable, a little bit obscene, I thought it was just to hug me."
"..." Watanabe Toru said, "Kiyono-san, you are too pure. I am really thinking about marrying you now, especially the scene at night when you were so shy that you covered your face with your arms."
Hearing him say this, Qingye Rin subconsciously imagined that scene in her mind.
"Tōru Watanabe, please put away your dirty thoughts," she gave a cold warning.
"Sorry, I can't help myself. It's all because R-san is so cute. I almost thought of a name for the child."
"What's the child's name?" Qing Ye Lin took a deep breath and tried to put her hair behind her ears, but she was holding a persimmon in her hand. "It's unbelievable, but the dirty thoughts I mentioned are not just these."
"What else?"
"What you want to do is to belong to both me and Kujo-san at the same time..." Having said that, she wanted to pull up her hair again, but she couldn't.
She looked at Toru Watanabe and continued, "Is this what you wanted to do after thinking about it for so long?"
"What I want to do? Make you two friends again."
"That's enough." Qing Ye Lin said in a tone that he was too lazy to say anything more, "Can you hide your thoughts from me? If you blink, I know what you are thinking."
...That makes a lot of sense.
If it weren't for the system, Watanabe Toru would have been thoroughly studied by Kiyono Rin.
What else can Toru Watanabe say?
"That's what you say."
"Give up, it's impossible. Don't hold on to unrealistic fantasies all day long."
"Persimmons are very sweet." Watanabe Toru held up a ripe persimmon in his palm, "Although the process of picking is troublesome."
"Then you should try it."
"I'll try. But again, my goal is to make you two friends again."