The time that followed was quite fulfilling. He hung out with Katakura playing a PS7 online multiplayer game for a while, then tried out a VR motion game. Snacks like potato chips, crispy rice crusts, and dried squid strips were in abundance.
“Living here, do you feel like you’re about to turn into a total couch potato?” Katakura Hayabusa asked.
“Yeah, I’m almost forgetting what the outside looks like.”
Gao Sijin leaned on the sofa, snuggling with Tsukiyuki Rio who had just come home. The maids brought freshly squeezed juice, sweet and refreshingly cool.
Soon after, Uzuki and Kazue came into the living room from outside. The two had been strolling through the hedge maze, then went to the lakeside and equestrian field.
Now, both were dressed in princess dresses straight out of a fairy tale, carefully dolled up, looking slender and graceful, youthful and lively.
They both smiled happily.
In truth, Gao Sijin had long known that they weren’t inarticulate or naturally socially anxious. They had simply experienced too much malice, and for safety’s sake, they had built a towering city wall in their hearts to keep strangers at bay.
“Uzuki, come here.”
Tsukiyuki Rio beckoned Uzuki over.
“What is it, Cousin?”
“Your transfer has been taken care of. Starting tomorrow, you’ll be attending Haicheng High School in Shinjuku Ward.”
“Then I’ll be your senior, Uzuki,” Katakura Hayabusa gave a hearty laugh. “Make lots of friends at school. If anyone dares bully you, just tell me.”
Uzuki nodded cautiously, though deep down she had no intention of relying on Katakura Hayabusa for everything. She didn’t like troubling others.
Next, she’d be going to a brand-new school, a brand-new class, and meeting a whole new group of classmates. It would be a lie to say she wasn’t scared, yet there was a tiny flicker of anticipation in Uzuki’s heart.
She wanted friends, to confide her worries with girls her age. She also wanted a boyfriend—preferably the same type as Gao Sijin: gentle, caring, with refined features, and a writer to boot.
“Uzuki, be sure to give it your all. This is a fresh start.”
“I’ll do my best, Master!”
The girl, like a small animal one wants to cherish tenderly, felt as if she had gained a little sister—or even a daughter.
Tsukiyuki Rio’s slender hand suddenly pinched Gao Sijin’s cheek, as she agilely straddled him with her pale, strong legs:
“Gao-kun, you always have your eyes on Uzuki. It makes me jealous.”
“Sorry, Rio, I just couldn’t help it…”
“Forget it, I’m not a petty woman.”
Gao Sijin wrapped his arms around Rio’s slender waist and said,
“My dearest Rio, tomorrow morning, let’s take Uzuki to school together, okay?”
“Sure, let’s treat it as practice for when we take our own child to school in the future.”
A child with Tsukiyuki Rio…
Just imagining that scene sent a shiver through Gao Sijin. If he and Rio really had a child of their own, would he still be able to hold onto his resolve to escape?
Fortunately, Rio restrained herself during her fertile periods, and she usually took medication as well. Otherwise, they’d probably have a whole soccer team of kids by now.
“I really want to have a baby with Gao-kun…” Rio licked her lips.
“Rio, you’re only eighteen. Something like that should at least wait until after university.”
“Hehehe, I know, Gao-kun. I’ve been holding back really well. Don’t you think I’m a good girl?”
“You’re such a good girl.”
Gao Sijin gently stroked Rio’s hair, continuing to play the role of her ideal boyfriend.
Katakura Hayabusa covered his nose, took his little sister’s hand, and said,
“Kazue, let’s just go home. There’s an awful stench of lovey-doveyness in here.”
“No, Brother, I don’t smell anything.”
Kazue looked confused, not understanding what her brother meant. In the living room, you could even smell the incense; there was no stench whatsoever.
Katakura Hayabusa glanced at the two lovebirds being all mushy on the sofa and said,
“I say there is, so there is.”
He then stood up, intending to go back to his girlfriend Miyo and complain to her about it.
“Not staying a little longer?” Gao Sijin stood up as he saw Katakura Hayabusa about to leave. “Why not stay for dinner? Someone can drive you back afterwards.”
“I drove myself.”
“I recall you’re not eighteen yet, are you?”
“That’s why I’m driving without a license.”
Katakura Hayabusa said it as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Why were all these people so lax about traffic laws?
Yu Qingxue drove drunk, Katakura Hayabusa drove without a license—each one more reckless than the last.
“Don’t worry, I’m a great driver. Besides, my sister’s in the car. I do follow traffic rules. Not having a license doesn’t mean I can’t drive.” Hayabusa dangled his Honda car keys at Gao Sijin and said, “Later, I’ll finish drawing that character you asked me to earlier. I should be able to get you the line art today, so look forward to it.”
“Thanks for your hard work.”
“No trouble at all. I’m your personal illustrator. The debt I owe for letting me kill Old Man and find my sister can never be repaid in this lifetime. Not to mention the generous pay you give me—I have no excuse not to work hard.”
“Drive safe.”
“Got it.”
Katakura Hayabusa waved coolly and left with his sister. By the way, Hayabusa’s Honda Odyssey was a total cringemobile, plastered with full-color illustrations of the female characters from Gao Sijin’s novel. Just looking at it, you’d peg him as a hardcore weeb.
“See you at school tomorrow, Junior Uzuki. I’ll properly introduce you to my girlfriend, Yajima Miyo. She’s one of the top beauties in school, and she’s a Discipline Committee member—her grades are off the charts too.”
“That sounds amazing. I’m sure I can become friends with Senior Yajima, right?” Uzuki asked.
“Of course. It’s getting late, so we’ll be off.”
“Take care, Senior Katakura. You too, Kazue-chan. Let’s meet again another day.”
Uzuki waved goodbye to the Katakura siblings. They had already exchanged emails, so even when apart, they could chat on Line without feeling lonely.
Starting tomorrow, Kazue would also attend a junior high school. The place that was once dark was now filled with sunlight.
Loneliness would haunt them no more.
Tsukiyuki Uzuki smiled blissfully.
But the happier she smiled, the more miserable her former “friend” became. Once Uzuki completely stepped out of the shadows of her past, it would cease to exist as well.
It stood behind Uzuki, but now she could barely sense its presence. It wanted to embrace her, but she passed right through its form.
“Uzuki, let’s start by reviewing the new textbook.” Gao Sijin rubbed his chin. “I’m a total slacker, but I did get into university on my own merit, and my major is in education. I should be able to give you some help with your studies.”
“Yes, Master!”
Uzuki ran over to Gao Sijin and happily hooked her arm around his.
