Last night, Uzuki dreamed of Aoi, Amano, and Kaoru again. The three were sitting at their desks in the classroom, laughing and chatting just as they always did, discussing topics only they would share among themselves. Uzuki was excluded, left standing at a distance, watching them blankly.
When she called their names, they turned around and instantly vanished.
She was no longer brooding over past matters; let everything just fade away.
The sunlight at seven in the morning streamed in, waking Tsukiyuki Uzuki. Her laptop was filled with dense text, still unfinished. But she was truly grateful to Gao Sijin; now she too had found a path to live on bravely, even if alone.
In her heart, she still hoped that Gao Sijin could see how she was gradually growing, pat her head, and give her some praise.
After brushing her teeth and washing up, Uzuki changed into a sailor uniform and a short skirt, put on a pair of white over-the-knee socks, and exuded the lively and cheerful aura of a youthful high school girl. She closed her laptop and left her room. She needed to take the train to school before 8:30.
When Uzuki passed by Gao Sijin’s door, she couldn’t help but stop. Her delicate face turned toward the door; this was Gao Sijin’s room.
Not long ago, she was fortunate enough to share a room with Sijin, back when Cousin Rio had not yet returned from overseas.
The days when Sijin doted on her were the happiest moments in Tsukiyuki Uzuki’s life. Even when plagued by supernatural beings and mentally drained, Sijin had always been gentle, tenderly nursing her wounded heart. She wished the door would open and she could see Sijin’s sleepy face.
Alas, the door was closed.
Ever since Cousin Rio brought Sijin home yesterday afternoon, she had locked the door from the inside, as if it was a private sanctuary existing on its own, and Sijin was confined within. Uzuki later heard from the maids that Cousin Rio had returned home pale, as if she had suffered some shock.
Even during dinner yesterday, they showed no sign of wanting to leave the room. The maids knocked and delivered the food inside.
She truly feared that from this day forward, Cousin Rio and Sijin would never leave this room again. If that happened, Uzuki wouldn’t be able to stand a little ways off and quietly gaze at the silhouette of the one she loved.
“Sijin, I’m off to school then…”
Uzuki murmured.
As if standing before Uzuki was not a solid wood door made of pear wood, but Gao Sijin himself.
Just one door apart, Sijin was inside.
Uzuki pressed against the door, faintly catching the scent that was distinctly his seeping from the room. She waited there for about five minutes, and finally gave a bitter smile.
Despite having an endless list of things to talk about, she had spent four hours yesterday writing something that Uzuki felt quite satisfied with, intending to show Gao Sijin this morning, but now she couldn’t even get a glimpse of him.
“Hey, morning!”
A hand gently rested on Uzuki’s shoulder, startling her. She turned her head to see a maid with a single ponytail, dressed in a classic British-style long maid dress, exuding an aura of perfect elegance.
“Sister Yu, good morning.”
“Are you waiting for Sijin? If so, I advise you not to bother. The Young Miss suffered a shock yesterday afternoon, so chances are this door won’t be opened for the next couple of days.”
“Is Cousin Rio okay?” Uzuki’s concerned gaze was utterly sincere, without a trace of falseness.
Yu Qingxue couldn’t help but feel speechless.
Even though Uzuki was also deeply in love with Gao Sijin, even though the one she loved was being freely taken and possessed by her cousin, she still worried about her cousin. It truly left Yu Qingxue unsure what to say.
“Don’t worry, Uzuki. The Young Miss is a hundred times tougher than you think. Let’s go, we’ll have breakfast first, and after that I’ll take you to school.”
“Thank you, Sister Yu.”
Uzuki bowed respectfully and obediently to Yu Qingxue, full of gratitude.
“What’s there to thank? You and the Young Miss both share the Tsukiyuki name, but your personalities couldn’t be more different.”
The two came downstairs. Since Gao Sijin and Tsukiyuki Rio would certainly be spending the day in their room, breakfast wasn’t as sumptuous as usual. But for Uzuki, simply having breakfast was already something to be grateful for. Her past abuse at the hands of her mother meant that before gaining her freedom, she never had the habit of eating breakfast.
“Who would’ve thought Lord Kyoichi would feign illness yesterday, and even designate a different heir,” Morgana remarked over breakfast, bringing up the previous day’s events.
The matter of Tsukiyuki Kyoichi planning to hand the position of Tsukiyuki Patriarch to someone other than Tsukiyuki Rio had already caused an earthquake within the Tsukiyuki Family.
Many family members who had once been loyal to Tsukiyuki Rio were subtly starting to trim their sails. Since yesterday, the phone hadn’t stopped ringing. Those people seemed to be asking after her well-being, but were actually probing the situation. Even the maids were feeling uneasy.
After all, among the maids serving Young Miss Tsukiyuki, many were hoping to use this as a means to advance their own families’ prosperity.
“Morgana, did your Dantès Family ask you to leave Young Miss Tsukiyuki after hearing this news?” Yu Qingxue asked casually.
“My father called me yesterday and hinted at that meaning, but I won’t leave Young Miss Tsukiyuki. I’ve witnessed her capabilities. Even if she doesn’t become the Family Head, her abilities are plain for all to see. Besides, I’ve grown accustomed to serving her.” Morgana’s emerald eyes swept toward Emilia, who sat across from her. “What about you, Emilia?”
“I, too, will continue to serve the Young Miss…” Emilia immediately replied. “Even if she isn’t the future Patriarch of the Tsukiyuki Family, it doesn’t matter. I want to learn from her behavior, her way of doing things. If I can pick up even a little, it will help my family improve in the future.”
“Qingxue, what do you think?” Morgana asked Yu Qingxue in turn.
“Same as you two, I’ll be loyal to the Young Miss.” Yu Qingxue propped her chin on her hand, her teasing gaze making it impossible to tell if she was serious or joking.
“But if the Young Miss doesn’t inherit the position, then who could? Could it be the Young Miss’s mother, Lady Senju?”
“Who knows? Before things are settled, anyone is possible.”
Uzuki kept her head down.
After all, whoever it was had nothing to do with her. She just wanted to stand at a distance and watch Sijin be happy.
“I’m finished. Thank you for the meal.”
Uzuki stood up to help clear the dishes. The maids went on to discuss many curious tales of the Tsukiyuki Family, guessing who the next Patriarch might be. The names were all unfamiliar to Uzuki.
After breakfast, she accompanied Yu Qingxue down to the underground garage, got into the Honda Accord, and they drove toward the high school in Shinjuku Ward.
