Chapter 353 It doesn’t matter if the direction is wrong

As November arrives, along with the cold wind blowing in from the Northern Alps, it’s time for the annual school trip.

"You can use today's class meeting to discuss." At the podium, Koizumi Aona, wearing a teacher's uniform, talked about the relevant arrangements.

When wearing a skirt suit, you look smart and capable, and people dare not joke with you casually;

Wearing a yukata, on the night before the first snow in Hakodate, she was innocent and cute, and as shy as a little girl hiding in an adult's legs.

This is the teacher admired by everyone, and this is his woman - even though he knows it's a bad taste, Toru Watanabe still has this sense of superiority.

After the morning class meeting, everyone in the classroom was talking about where to go for this year's school trip.

"Meiji, is there any place you want to go?" Toru Watanabe sat backwards, with his hands folded on the back of the chair and his chin resting on his arms.

"Hokkaido."

"I just came back from Hokkaido."

"So I want to go." Kujo Miki said with a smile, "Especially Hakodate, I want to see the night view."

"Let's go eat roast lamb while we're coming down from the mountain." Qingye Rin took out a hardcover book from the drawer.

"After eating roast lamb, we still need to go to some garden to enjoy the night maple leaves." Kujo Miki continued.

"Xiangxue Garden." Qingye Rin opened the book.

"Yes, 'Xiangxue Garden'." Kujo Miki snapped her slender fingers.

"..." Toru Watanabe looked at the two people who were singing the same tune.

He picked up Kujo Miki's mechanical pencil and pressed it one by one, saying:

"It's the season for maple viewing in Tokyo, but Hokkaido is already covered in snow. Where can we see the maple leaves? I'm afraid that Kosetsu-en Garden will only have bare branches left."

"We have to go to Hokkaido too." Kujo Miki smiled and teased Watanabe Toru.

"Let's go to Hakone." Watanabe Toru put down his pen and held her hand. "Take a hot spring bath and go boating on Lake Ashi, which is dyed red by maple leaves."

"Maple leaves can't dye Lake Ashi red." Kiyono Rin reminded.

After a brief pause, she continued, "However, in the cooler autumn, there are fewer clouds and visibility is higher, which is a good time to see Mount Fuji."

"Mount Fuji!" Watanabe Tetsu clasped his hands together, "I like Mount Fuji. I like Mount Fuji the most. I love Mount Fuji very much."

"Isn't your favorite the Yangzhou fried rice from Takamatsu in Shikoku?" asked Qingno Rin in surprise.

This woman with a good memory is so bad.

"I like Yangzhou fried rice, which has nothing to do with Takamatsu City in Shikoku." After explaining, Watanabe Toru held Kujo Miki's right hand again, which was really adorable, "Let's go see Mount Fuji!"

"You can see Mount Fuji in Tokyo." Miki Kujo supported her head with her left hand and spoke in a casual tone.

"For example, 'Roppongi' and 'Meguro Station'." Doraemon said.

"You even know this?" Watanabe Toru looked at her in surprise.

“That’s common sense.”

This is not part of Toru Watanabe's common sense.

"Why don't you want to go to Hokkaido? Are you afraid of making those two people sad?" asked Miki Kujo.

"It has nothing to do with that." Watanabe Toru explained, "It's just that I just went to Hokkaido, and now it's a bit boring to go again."

"It depends on your performance." Kujo Miki was ambiguous, but she had already agreed in her heart.

The last class in the afternoon is English class.

"Class test, students in the front row, please pass the test papers to the back." Koizumi Aona handed the freshly printed test paper to the first student in each group.

The classroom was quiet, with only the rustling sound of pens running across test papers.

Aona Koizumi walked around and checked on the students' answers.

When he walked to Toru Watanabe, he stopped and looked for a while.

"I LOVE YOU" written by Toru Watanabe.

A hint of doubt flashed across Koizumi Aona's elegant brows, and she couldn't help but bend down slightly.

She had already done the test, so there was no need to write this sentence.

"Koizumi, I LOVE YOU" Toru Watanabe wrote again.

Koizumi, the romanization of Koizumi.

Koizumi Aona pursed her lips, lowered her head and smiled, then pretended to be serious and tapped Watanabe Toru's desk with her fingers, asking him to answer the questions seriously, and then walked away happily.

After school, Watanabe Toru and the other two went to the Human Observation Department together.

The water had just been boiled and I hadn't even taken a sip of the hot tea when there was a knock on the door.

"Go forward." Qingye Rin said directly without putting down the teacup.

"Excuse me." Tamamo Yoshimi and Ikki Aoi walked in.

The purpose of the two people coming to the Human Observation Department was to ask what they had not done well this year - in the national competition in October, the wind orchestra only won the silver medal.

The third-year students, represented by Hayami Kaoru, quit the club in tears.

Tamamo Yoshimi successfully took the position of the head of the wind band, and Ikki Aoi also became the deputy head.

"Memorize the music and practice more. There is no other way." This was the advice given by Qingno Rin, exactly the same as when she personally coached the wind orchestra in her first year.

"The training time is obviously the same as last year." Ikki Aoi asked puzzledly.

"The same time doesn't mean the same level of effort." Tamamo Yoshimi said thoughtfully, "Last year, Seino-san checked every day, and we didn't dare to slack off. This year, there is no such pressure."

"Is there anything else?" Qingye Rin was not interested in the affairs of the wind orchestra and just wanted to calm down and read.

"It's okay, it's okay, sorry to bother you."

Before leaving, Tamamo Haomi glared at Watanabe Toru, but unfortunately Watanabe Toru couldn't understand her eyes at all, nor did he bother to guess or think about it.

After the club activities - reading, playing games - ended, Toru Watanabe did not take the bus to Jimbocho with Miki Kujo, but walked to Yotsuya Station with Rin Kiyono to catch the train.

"I'll bring the frog and the pig tomorrow," he said.

Qingye Rin nodded, and the two fell into silence.

Watanabe Toru had a lot to say to her, but he didn't know where to start.

Qingye Rin seemed to have something to say to him, but neither of them opened their mouths.

This is the first time that we have experienced such torment in our relationship, but this torment is like a stage-frightened writer who has to go on stage tomorrow to give a speech after winning the Nobel Prize in Literature.

As long as he is with Kiyono Rin, even if it is torture, it is a happy torture - Watanabe Toru really wants to know whether Kiyono Rin thinks so too.

The beech trees on both sides of the road have entered the leaf-shedding period.

As long as they can survive this winter, they will continue to sprout and grow leaves when the south wind blows next year.

The two stood behind the yellow line, waiting for the tram they were about to take.

Watanabe Toru was going to Shinano-machi, which was west of Yotsuya Station; Kiyono Rin was going to Kioi-machi, which was east of Yotsuya Station.

If he hadn't gone to Ochanomizu that night, he probably wouldn't have moved out and would have continued living in the rental house where the balcony was so small that no one could stand.

Through the window, you can see the lights of Kiyono Rin.

Occasionally when I go to a convenience store late at night, I’ll run into her in casual clothes, maybe even wearing headphones.

"What songs are you listening to recently?" asked Toru Watanabe.

"Why are you asking this suddenly?" Qingye Rin tilted her head in confusion.

"I remembered meeting you late at night before and you were wearing headphones, so I wanted to ask."

"You're thinking about that night when you went to my apartment with Hanada-senpai and saw my underwear, right?"

"I didn't think about it at first, but now that you mentioned it, I have to think about it." Toru Watanabe looked up and down at Kiyono Rin.

Black school uniform, white shirt, pleated skirt, slim figure, dignified temperament, there is a unique charm.

"What are you looking at?" Qingye Rin crossed her arms over her chest, her voice so cold that it made people suspect that this was the boarding point for the Snowpiercer.

"Ms. Kiyono, why are you so perfect?" Toru Watanabe was very puzzled.

"Do you think I'm Meiji? Can I fool you with nice words?" Qingye Lin smiled coldly, "You will only make me more angry."

"I'm telling the truth. The proportions of your body are so perfect that even in a group of people, everyone, including me, can tell you apart from others at first sight. You have a unique temperament."

"I like people who are at fault for their mistakes."

"You're so cute when you're angry and unhappy."

"You kept praising me for being cute. You used this trick at the National Wind Music Competition last year. I will never be fooled by you in the same way twice." Qingye Rin hugged her elbows and looked more calm.

"Kiyono-san, you're so funny."

"Are you mocking me?"

"It's interesting in a positive sense," said Toru Watanabe. "In fact, the reason why a boy falls in love with a girl is very simple. Eating face to face, watching the girl eat slowly and gracefully, he suddenly falls in love with her - such a thing definitely exists."

"Why do you like me? Interesting?"

"Your legs are long and round, without a single flaw."

Qing Ye Lin nodded in understanding: "He is such a superficial person."

"Your eyes are just the right size, clear and cold. Sometimes when you smile, they draw people in like a magnet."

"What metaphor? Don't dirty my eyes."

"Your hair always reminds me of the lead powder of a mechanical pencil, dark and shiny."

"Lead powder?" Qingye Rin asked, "I don't hate it, but I don't like it either."

"Your ten fingers are considered beautiful by everyone who sees them."

"Are you going to praise me from head to toe?"

"Your voice is like the sound of nature sent down from heaven, ethereal and pure. Even if you scold me, I feel comfortable in my heart."

"Um."

"She has a slim figure, beautiful facial features, and her clothes are simple yet classy."

"Thank you." Qingye Rin said sarcastically.

"Even the word 'thank you' sounded so nice."

"..." Qing Ye Lin finally gave up, put his hand on his forehead, and said as if he couldn't do anything to him, "How obsessed are you with me?"

"If I had ice cream in my hand, I would smear it on my face."

"Your metaphors are getting weirder lately."

"So many compliments in one breath, I can't wrap my head around it." Watanabe Toru laughed.

"Change it."

"I can eat three bowls of rice just for one strand of your hair."

"It's not Polyjuice Potion. You can't turn into me after taking it."

The departure bell rang in the station, and the Marunouchi Line, which had passed through Akasaka-Mitsuke Station, was about to depart.

The pleasant conversation just now was squeezed out of the platform by the ringing of the bell.

After a moment of silence, Qing Ye Lin looked at Watanabe Toru with a slight smile on his face and said, "I'm leaving."

"Um."

"Anything else you want to say?"

"See you tomorrow?"

"...See you tomorrow." Kiyono Rin walked towards the train car, her long hair blown backwards.

"Yotsuya, platform 1, Marunouchi Line, bound for Akasaka-Mitsuke Station."

The voice of the female station announcer came from the radio.

Kiyono Rin stood near the train door and looked at Watanabe Toru who was still on the platform.

She waved gently.

Toru Watanabe didn't wave, he walked in before the tram door closed.

"What are you doing here?" Qingye Rin frowned at him.

"Because you asked me 'Is there anything else to say?', I chose to come up." Toru Watanabe grabbed the handle on the roof.

"Anything else you want to say?"

“I haven’t thought about it yet.”

"Where do you want to go?"

"I haven't thought about it yet." After a pause, Watanabe Toru continued, "Anyway, I'll follow you first and ensure you get home safely before I think about the rest."

"Following?"

"I thought you were going to say elope."

"Get off at Akasaka-Mitsuke Station. There's a river on the way to my apartment. Let's jump in together?"

"That was a suicide for love, wasn't it?"

"What I mean is..." The train started moving, and Kiyono Rin, who had not been holding the handrail, couldn't control her body and swayed, falling backwards.

Although they wouldn't turn upside down, Toru Watanabe still put his arm around her waist and held her in his arms.

The train clanged towards Akasaka-Mitsuke Station.

"...Idiot, how long do you want to hold me?"

"Idiot." Watanabe Toru smelled the fragrance of her hair, "How can someone who follows you give up this opportunity on his own initiative?"

"You're the idiot. Admit you were following me?"

"You're the idiot. I won't admit it. I'm just remembering the agreement we made by the Uji River - no matter what kind of river you fall into, I'll jump in and save you."

"We are all idiots." Qingye Rin rested her forehead on Watanabe Toru's chest, her hands gently grasping his open school uniform.

"Why are you coming closer?" asked Toru Watanabe.

"Because you remembered the past, I decided to take a step towards the future."

The train was running fast, and a certain impulse in Watanabe Toru's heart became stronger and stronger.

When this impulse ran from the bottom of his heart to his mouth, he opened his mouth:

“Qingye…”

"Next stop, Akasaka-mitsuke, Akasaka-mitsuke."

"So fast?!" Watanabe Toru swallowed his words in his throat.

"You are so used to going to Shinano-machi that you have forgotten that this train ride only takes four minutes?" Kiyono Rin said with a smile.

"…I should have known to walk earlier."

"I won't lean on your arms when we walk." Qingye Rin said in a voice that 'was not intended for Watanabe Toru to hear', then left his arms and stood up straight.

Watanabe Toru stared at her.

The slender body lines and smooth movements can be said to be the artistic beauty of women.

"Well, Kiyono-san is the epitome of feminine beauty, the embodiment of beauty."

"Do you want to continue?" asked Qingye Rin.

"Okay, let's go all the way to the terminal. Where is the terminal?" Toru Watanabe reached out his hand towards her tight waist.

"When I say continue, I mean the matter of 'praising me'." Qing Ye Lin waved his hand away, "The final stop is Ikebukuro Station in Toshima Ward. You go by yourself."

"OK."

The train arrived at the station, Kiyono Rin got off, and Watanabe Toru stayed inside.

"Are you really going to Ikebukuro Station?" she asked in surprise.

"Before I came to Tokyo, I heard that Ikebukuro, Yotsuya, and Harajuku are the places with the most fashionable and cute girls, and I've always wanted to go and see them."

Qingye Rin nodded and said nothing.

Toru Watanabe left by train.

"I'm almost in Ikebukuro. I'm going to check out the area today. Let's go shopping here together on Saturday? Let's find cute girls together?"

"..."

"You don't want to?"

"Shopping is fine, I'm just curious how you got to Ikebukuro."

"What's the meaning?"

"The final stop is Ikebukuro, but you got on the wrong train."

"???", "Where should I go now?"

「Ogikubo Station, Suginami-ku, Tokyo」

"Okay, okay, it's Suginami District again."

"Have you been to Suginami?"