Chapter 261 Flowers and Night, Mother and Daughter
There will be no club activities on the day of the ball skills competition.
With two minutes left before school was over, Miki Kujo, who was killing time in the classroom, received a call from her mother.
"Baby, come and stay with me tonight." Kujo's mother's voice was bright and cheerful.
"No."
"You don't have work today, why don't you come and accompany your mother?" After a short pause, Kujo's mother's voice became meaningful and continued, "Watanabe-kun is going to your place?"
Miki Kujo looked at Toru Watanabe with a questioning look.
This is a question you ask even though you already know the answer.
During the day, she told Watanabe Toru that "it's okay tonight", meaning that she wanted him to go to her place.
This kind of thing cannot be exposed in person. Facing Kujo Miki's eyes, Watanabe Toru nodded, indicating that he wanted to go.
He really wanted to go.
Every day, every day, hug Meiji three times - this sentence comes from the heart.
"He said he wanted to come to my place." Miki Kujo said to the person on the other end of the phone.
A teasing laugh came from the phone: "Then let Watanabe-kun come along, I haven't seen him for a long time."
"He said he doesn't want to see you." Kujo Miki answered without hesitation.
Watanabe Toru: “…”
"Really?"
"Really." Kujo Miki said with a smile.
"Then I must meet him and let him know how to respect his mother."
Toru Watanabe snatched the phone from Miki Kujo.
"Auntie Kujo, don't listen to what Meiji says. I was just thinking of visiting you."
"Really?" The voice of Kujo's mother was touching.
"It's true." Watanabe Toru assured.
"That's good. I thought you had forgotten me. We spent a happy Christmas together."
“I forgot Jesus, and I can’t forget you on Christmas Day.”
Mother Kujo smiled like a girl, and said with a smile:
"I don't believe it. Everything the boy said is false."
"It's absolutely true. How could I lie to you? I only say sweet words to Meiji. I respect you from the bottom of my heart."
"Well, Watanabe-kun, tell me, who is prettier, me or Miki?"
"What? Crepes? You want to eat crepes? Okay, I'll bring them to you. That's it. See you later. Bye~"
After hanging up the phone, Watanabe Toru returned the phone to Kujo Miki, shook his head as if he didn't want this to happen again and said:
"Can't stand your mother."
"You're quite good at fooling people." Kujo Miki sneered, "Do you usually fool me like this?"
"Occasionally, but most of the time I tell the truth."
"The vast majority?" Without even taking her cell phone, Kujo Miki reached out and twisted Watanabe Toru's ear.
"Wait, even once in a while? It hurts. I will never do that again!"
"Don't dare? I think you are trying to fool me with this sentence!"
"Meiji, you are so smart! Hiss——"
After school, the two went to the big house where Kujo's mother lived.
As soon as she got off the car, Kujo Miki went straight to take a shower, so Watanabe Toru had to go to meet Kujo's mother alone.
Walking through the winding wooden corridor, you can see the nine mothers dressed as flower growers in the garden.
He changed his shoes, walked down the corridor and stepped onto the neat path in the courtyard.
The courtyard is like a secret world of trees and flowers. When you are in it, you can't hear the hustle and bustle of Tokyo, only the birds singing in the trees.
Among these trees and flowers, Watanabe Toru only recognized hydrangeas, roses, gardenias, and the lavender that bloomed in sunny places and had a pleasant fragrance.
And these are just a small corner of the courtyard.
The two servants following Kujo's mother bowed to Watanabe Toru who was approaching.
"Master Watanabe."
Watanabe Toru nodded to them without saying anything, just standing there watching Kujo's mother plant the saplings in the soil.
It was May, and it was still bright at four in the afternoon.
At that time, lingering in Watanabe Toru's nose was a refreshing smell, and he didn't know which flower's fragrance it was.
After burying the soil around the roots of the sapling, Mother Jiujo stood up.
"The crimson rose of Germany." She turned around and said to Toru Watanabe.
"When will it bloom?" Toru Watanabe looked at the sapling.
“I plan to have it bloom in the fall.”
Watanabe Toru nodded.
Roses that bloom in late spring and early summer will of course bloom in autumn. What Kujo's mother said is very meaningful, as if there is a desire to command everything.
Because of Kujo Miki, Toru Watanabe no longer dislikes women with this kind of personality.
"Watanabe-kun, do you know Rose?" Kujo's mother stretched out her hand, and the servant took the thing from her.
"I know nothing about flowers."
"The roses in autumn are more fragrant, more charming and more graceful than the roses in spring."
"Really? Not only are there differences in varieties, but also in seasons?" Toru Watanabe asked curiously.
Without answering his question, Mother Jiujo, who had planted a patch of crimson roses, remained full of energy.
"Which do you prefer, autumn roses or spring roses?" she said:
"I haven't noticed the roses in autumn. But if I have to say, I like seasonal things, whether it's seasonal vegetables or seasonal flowers."
"Yingji, I remember that you and Xiaolin have the same birthday?"
"Then I like the flowers in August." Watanabe Toru changed his words.
It is May, which is three months older than August.
Kujo's mother laughed and said, "It's almost June, and I just happened to remember your and Xiaolin's birthdays. Why did you deliberately explain?"
"Did Miki grow up here?" Toru Watanabe looked around and changed the subject.
"When she was a child, this was the secret garden where she and Xiaolin played hide-and-seek and house." Kujo's mother walked along the path, and Watanabe Toru followed behind her one step behind.
The two maids fell further away.
"Look at this trellis." said Kujo's mother.
When Toru Watanabe looked over, he saw that the wisteria flowers had withered and long bean branches were hanging from the wisteria trellis.
"There used to be a swing here. Meiji and Xiaolin once played rock-paper-scissors to decide who would push the swing. Meiji was unlucky and never won. When I went over, she was crying while pushing the swing."
"Pushing the swing while crying ?" Watanabe Toru was stunned for a moment, then couldn't help laughing, "I really want to see Miki at that time, she must have been very cute."
"My daughter, of course she is cute," said Kujo's mother.
"My girlfriend must be cute," Toru Watanabe agreed.
"Watanabe-kun," Kujo's mother turned around, "If I had been born twenty years later, I would have fallen in love with you as well."
"They are all sons-in-law of the Kujo family. To me, there is no difference. Please continue to tell me about Miki's childhood. I want to know more."
"Do you see this piece of alfalfa?"
It was simply a small hillside, covered with green grass and small lavender flowers.
"Alfalfa? I thought they were pea sprouts."
"They look a bit alike." Mother Kujo said with a smile, "Meiji and Xiaolin often run around here. Xiaolin is weak and is always left behind by Meiji."
"Did you practice on a swing?" Watanabe Toru laughed.
"Hahaha." Kujo's mother couldn't help laughing, "Watanabe-kun, you are very good at coaxing girls. No wonder Miki loves you so much."
"We love each other deeply. Qing Ye Lin is always left behind, what about the rest?"
"I couldn't catch up, so I had to cry. The two had a big fight. Before leaving, Xiao Lin got angry and said she would never come again. As a result, the two of them stayed together to catch butterflies the next day."
"All about Kiyono Rin?" asked Toru Watanabe.
Hearing this question, the smile on Kujo's mother's face faded.
"Those two kids' childhoods were only happy when they were together. Whether they were crying while pushing the swing or being left behind, they always made up."
Having said this, she paused, turned around and said to Watanabe Toru:
"Kiyono's mother asked you to help Rinji... give up her insistence on not lying. I agree with this. If she can give up, she and Miki may be able to become friends again. Miki has given too much for this family, she shouldn't even have friends."
"I'm already trying to make them friends again, but I won't go any further than that."
"Is it unnecessary?" asked Kujo's mother.
"For example, deliberately asking them out to play, or letting them be alone. I hope to let things take their own course and respect their own opinions. If it works, it works. If it doesn't, it doesn't."
"I understand your thoughts, but that won't lead to any progress. Kiyono's mother and I put the two of them in the same school and let them play together during holidays, but we haven't achieved anything so far."
“No gain, no gain.”
Watanabe Toru's indifferent answer surprised Kujo's mother. She was stunned for a moment and then laughed.
"I really can't underestimate you, Watanabe-kun."
"Isn't it better to be capable? I'm the son-in-law of the Kujo family."
"What are you doing over there?" Kujo Miki's voice came from the other side of the house.
The two men looked over and saw her standing on the corridor in loose home clothes, like a newlywed wife.
"Go back, my daughter is jealous."
"She is quite jealous."
"I want to file a complaint."
"Please let me go."
Toru Watanabe and Kujo's mother changed their shoes and went up to the corridor.
"What did you talk about?" Miki Kujo asked Toru Watanabe.
"If I was born twenty years later, Watanabe-kun would have married me," replied Kujo's mother.
Miki Kujo looked at Toru Watanabe.
"I refused," Watanabe said. "I told your mother, 'Even if you were born 20 years later, I would still marry your sister Miki.'"
"How annoying! Do I look younger than Miki?" Mother Kujo held her face with both hands, as if feeling its vibrant elasticity.
"After all, he was born twenty years later. Now, um... twelve years old?"
"That's too small." Kujo's mother couldn't help laughing, "Well, after planting the flowers, I laughed again. I'm going to take a bath now."
Kujo Miki watched her mother leave, then turned her gaze to Watanabe Toru: "What did you talk about?"
"Things about your childhood." Toru Watanabe pulled her into his arms.
Miki Kujo had just finished taking a bath, her snow-white skin was faintly red, like the color of roses in the garden, and her eyes, which contained a hint of contempt and indifference, were fascinating.
"What exactly?" she asked casually.
Watanabe Toru hadn't taken a shower yet and had participated in a ball competition during the day. Kujo Miki smelled it but didn't smell any sweat.
"You said you never won the rock-paper-scissors game, so you kept crying while pushing the swing."
"Any ideas?"
"Kiyono Rin is so ruthless and heartless. By the way, how about we go for revenge next Monday? Or play rock-paper-scissors. If you lose, you have to run around the playground."
"You run for me."
"She won't agree to this, will she?"
"You're going to school tomorrow?"
"About the wind band."
In the corridor, the two hugged each other.
Watanabe Toru whispered in Kujo Miki's ear, and Kujo Miki leaned lazily in Watanabe Toru's arms, and the two looked at the twilight in the sky.
After dinner, Toru Watanabe went to take a shower, using Miki Kujo's bathroom.
When he thought of the lingering scent of Kujo Miki here, Watanabe Toru felt more relaxed while taking a bath.
After taking a bath, I changed into a thin, soft, and expensive yukata and walked in the lighted corridor.
In the atrium garden, in the dim light, there were beautiful figures walking around. They were Kujo Miki and her mother.
Watanabe Toru simply stood in the corridor, looking at them and at the night sky.
The moonlight was bright, cotton-like white clouds were moving slowly, and the wind was slightly cool in early May.
Mother Kujo and Miki Kujo came back with a bunch of flower branches cut.
"You're still playing with flowers at this age?" Watanabe Toru laughed.
"Do you know how to arrange flowers?" Kujo Miki let him take all the branches in her hand.
"Country people don't understand, sister, teach me."
Kujo's mother was originally looking at the flower branch in her hand. When she heard what Watanabe Toru said, she looked at the two of them.
"You two are having a lot of fun."
"He said that everything is worth trying." Kujo Miki looked at Watanabe Toru, "He tried kimonos, school uniforms, dresses, and all kinds of postures..."
"Hey, hey, can we discuss this topic?!"
After entering the house, the mother and daughter knelt in front of the low table and discussed the techniques of flower arrangement.
Toru Watanabe asked for a vase, picked up the branches they didn't want, and arranged the flowers according to his feelings and preferences.
Miki Kujo saw this and would occasionally give him some advice.
“If the branches are too long, they can be broken, and if they are loose, they can be tied into knots.”
"You are using a low-profile vessel, so consider it more from a bird's-eye view and from the front and side."
At this time, she spoke softly, as if she was afraid of waking up the baby in the cradle, leaving a soft aftertaste in Watanabe Toru's heart.
The arranged flowers were placed in the main room, including a work by Tetsuji Watanabe that had the branches tied in a knot.
"Play chess? Or have someone set off fireworks and eat something? Or watch a movie?" Kujo's mother suggested enthusiastically.
Kujo Miki yawned gracefully: "No, I'm sleepy."
"Then let Watanabe-kun play chess with me, and you go to sleep." There was a teasing look in Kujo's mother's eyes.
"You ask him." Kujo Miki stood up and left the table, "I'm going to take a shower first."
After she left, Toru Watanabe said to Kujo's mother, "You can only play one game."
"No." Kujo's mother smiled gracefully, "You can only go if you win."
The expression on her face when she said 'no' was especially like that of Kujo Miki.
"Then I can only let you see the full strength of Kamikawa Ryuoh." Watanabe Toru sat upright.
"oh?"
Thirty minutes later.
"Auntie Kujo, I give up!"
"I'm thinking about chess, shh ...
"Mom, dear mother, I was wrong, please let me go!"
In Go, a game can last from sunrise to sunset. If it drags on, he won’t be able to finish before dawn.
"Young people are just impatient and can't control themselves." Mother Jiujo held a white chess piece and looked at the chessboard, "Go ahead."
"Good night, mother."
After Watanabe Toru left, Kujo's mother looked at the chessboard for a long time and finally sighed.
The current situation seems to be undecided, but she really doesn't know where to make her move. The only outcomes she can think of are that she loses.
"Meiji, don't be fooled."
◇
Toru Watanabe walked in the winding corridor, and his heart was burning with excitement when he thought of Kujo Miki waiting for him in the room, and he was looking forward to entering the bridal chamber.
Various insects in the courtyard are chirping, playing the music of reproduction.
When he walked into the bedroom, Miki Kujo had already taken a shower and was waiting for him in a yukata.
She was lying on the bed watching the flat-screen TV. The neckline of her bathrobe was wide open, revealing her entire shoulders, with a hint of white visible.
When she heard Toru Watanabe's footsteps, she didn't even raise her head, and said as if she was chatting with her husband who had just returned from playing cards:
"Win?"
"Lost." Toru Watanabe walked over and knelt on the soft edge of the bed.
He reached out and lifted up the snow-white thighs of Miki Kujo that were exposed from her yukata, and gently placed his lips on them.
"Lost?" Miki Kujo's eyes fell on the tablet.
"Go, your mother hasn't made a move for a long time." The hot breath mixed in Watanabe Toru's words hit Kujo Miki's bare legs.
It was itchy, so Miki Kujo raised her legs and pressed her smooth and tender soles against Toru Watanabe's lips as he teased her.
This is a real foot kiss.
There is a faint scent of just-taken bath on it.
Toru Watanabe took her feet away, and because her legs were raised, a large area of Kujo Miki's yukata was exposed.
Toru Watanabe ran his hands along the curve from her ankle to her thigh, pressing his body lightly against hers.
Miki Kujo was still looking at the tablet.
"Miji." Toru Watanabe kissed her snow-white swan neck, revealing her shoulders under her yukata and her curvy collarbone.
Because she was itchy, Miki Kujo freed one hand to hold his head to prevent him from kissing her lips.
But Toru Watanabe's hands were free.
When the hand touched the place it wanted to touch, that delicate, beautiful and inviolable face frowned slightly, and then relaxed with relief.
"What are you looking at?" Watanabe Toru was no longer in a hurry. He rested his head on her heaving chest and looked at the flat screen together.
"Information, um~"
"What information?"
"The company's, hurry up."
Speed up your hands.
"Kiss me."
Toru Watanabe raised his upper body, raised his head, bit Kujo Miki's delicate upper lip, and tasted it wildly.
Miki Kujo dropped the tablet and put her arms around Toru Watanabe's neck.
…
When her cheek was touched, Kujo Miki's eyelashes fluttered like butterfly wings and she slowly opened her eyes.
"What do you want for your birthday?" She stroked Watanabe Toru's face obsessively, staring into his eyes as if she wanted to see through his soul.
"Our one-year anniversary is closer than your birthday. What do you want?"
"You actually remember it?"
"May 29th." Watanabe Toru said, "What do you want, my beautiful girl?"
"All of you."
The moonlight leaking in from the window illuminated the overlapping outlines of the two people.
