After a certain point in time, the small countryside town on the shore of Lake Biwa seemed to have been suddenly pressed and silent.
Sitting in the izakaya, I could no longer hear the noise on the streets outside.
By eleven o'clock in the evening, there were not many customers left in the store.
"Be careful on the road."
After seeing off Kang Gang's regular customers, after most of the night's busy schedule, Kirino Keiko stretched out and poured herself a glass of ice water after returning to the bar.
"Zonggu, come here."
Sonoya came to the bar and said, "Miss Keiko."
"The guest has almost gone, so let's get here today. Thank you for your hard work."
"OK."
"Also, the thing I said before is fine." Kirino Keiko put down the water cup, "I can find someone to come tomorrow."
Zong Gu was stunned for a moment, then realized that what she was talking about installing an air conditioner.
"I understand." He nodded, and then asked again: "Does Miss Qingzi know anyone?"
"Of course, the son of Suzumura family made this. When he was drinking in the store some time ago, he asked me if I would like to change some new air conditioners here... I will call him tomorrow morning.
”
People who know each other can save a lot of trouble in all aspects.
"Okay. I'll pay then."
Kirino Keiko suddenly laughed.
"What, Sogou plans to take the air conditioner away when he moves away in the future?"
"No...I mean, this is because of the extra expenses that I have spent when I live there, so there is no need to let Miss Keiko bear it."
"The person who wants to bear the money is my husband."
"This is the same thing..."
Kirino Keiko just waved her hand, "No need."
"Hongxing and I had this plan a few years ago, but we didn't stay there for a long time and we didn't really take action. In summer, we occasionally have relatives coming to live, and we complain that there is no air conditioner. Now Akane always lives in
That's the best time there."
Soya stopped saying more, "I understand."
"Anyway, just leave this to us." Kirino Keiko picked up the water cup and took a sip, "In addition, there is one more thing."
Zong Gu listened attentively.
She put down her cup, "Does Soya have any girls you like now?"
“…”
He was silent for a few seconds and nodded again soon.
Kirino Keiko looked at him: "Does Akane include?"
Zong Gu was silent again.
She would ask this, probably because she had already seen something.
"Including." He replied.
"Which can Akane rank in Sonogu's heart?"
This question is even harder to answer, and Kirino Keiko didn't expect to get his answer now.
"Forget it, I can understand that Zong Gu doesn't want to say it now, or feel it's hard to answer." She leaned against the bar, "But, this question will be answered one day."
Zong Gu nodded.
Kirino Keiko picked up the water cup and drank it sipped in one bite. After a while, she continued: "My daughter is a little slow and a little playful, but I always think she has a great chance of winning.
…”
She sighed and looked at a customer in the store who had settled the bill early but had not left for a long time.
"Kyoko, that's the name."
"Yes."
"Now, she ranks first in Zonggu's heart?"
Zong Gu nodded again without hesitation.
Kirino Keiko looked at the witch who was as quiet as withered there, "She seems to be one year older than Akane, and she is the same age as Soya."
"Yes."
"But the breasts are smaller than Xi's. Boys should care a lot about this, right?"
“…”
Zong Gu didn't say anything.
"Compared with Akane, it's just two extremes." Kirino Kyoko looked at Kyoko for a while, "If my daughter could be half mature as her, I would wake up in my dreams."
"But if I really want to choose between these two personalities, I still like my daughter's personality."
"Because of this personality, Akane grew up watching Miss Keiko," said Soya.
"Yes. Don't you think it's cute?"
“Very cute.”
"It's natural to like this kind of cute girl."
"Yes."
Kirino Keiko looked at him, "Then choose Akane."
Zong Gu stopped talking again.
She didn't think that she could change his mind in just a few words, "Or, Sonoya prefers mature types?"
"Like is determined by a combination of many factors. Character is important, but it is only part of it."
"What I said is the same... Although it's the same as not."
Kirino Keiko pondered, and suddenly asked after half a minute, "Is that child from Yoshikawa's family the same?"
"……Yes."
She had a premonition, and then asked a question that she already knew the answer, "And there is a bell?"
"Yes."
“Confinement…”
"No." Soya immediately denied.
She nodded and felt a little relieved.
After pondering for a moment, Kirino Keiko suddenly remembered that it was getting late.
"Ah, sorry, I've been delayed for so long if I'm not careful... Let's do it today, thank you for your hard work."
Zong Gu nodded and breathed a sigh of relief.
She then said, "Akane please send it back to Zogu."
Zong Gu was stunned, "But..."
Kyoko is waiting here just to go back with him.
"It's okay." Kirino Kyoko glanced at her daughter who had changed her clothes, "Songya can send Miss Guanyuan home with Akane first, and then come back together."
"But there is only one bicycle."
Kirino Keiko smiled at him, "Akane's bicycle is here."
“…”
Akane Kirino also came over at this time, looked at her mother, and then looked at Sonoya.
"Is Zonggu going back?"
"Um."
"Oh. Bye."
She only knew that he was going to send Kyoko home.
Although she was not very happy, she had to stay in the store and wait until her parents close the store before going back with them.
"Akane and Soya send Miss Guanyuan back together." Kirino Keiko said, "After you come back, you can sleep wherever you want."
Akane Kirino was stunned, "Eh?"
"Don't Akane's bicycle need to be changed? Dad brought the car here yesterday and is now in the back."
"real?"
"You go and see it yourself."
Akane Kirino jumped on the spot, turned around and passed.
Kirino Keiko looked at Soya again and was very frank: "This is my selfish intention as a mother. Soya will not blame me, right?"
He shook his head silently.
"No matter which girl Soya chose in the end, I just hope you can make Akane... less sad."
Perhaps because she drank a few more drinks with the regular customer who had just left and talked about the two children, she felt that she was a little sentimental tonight.
"Hongyu and I both like Sonoya very much. Sonoya really likes it. Sonoya is smart, serious and gentle. We often think, it would be great if you were our child. If there is anyone else in this world except my husband, who can do this?
Let me entrust Ai to him with confidence, then it's only Sonya." Kirino Kyoko paused, "I don't mean Sonya can only choose Ai, although I expected that even in the end, Sonya couldn't follow
Akane comes together, and I also hope that Soya can stay here as a child of the Kirino family... and treat this place as your home."
Zong Gu pursed his lips tightly, his eyes drooped on the table, and his chest was a little dull.
This expectation was too beautiful, but it made him feel heavy.
"I'm not as good as Miss Keiko imagined."
“Isn’t it good enough?”
Kirino Keiko just thought it was just chatting with him, and she had no more purpose.
"It may be a bit offensive to say this, but I think it is already a miracle that Zong Gu grew up in an environment like a child welfare home and could grow to this way he is now."
"No, I still have a lot of childishness and selfishness."
"Isn't this normal? No one is perfect." Kirino Keiko laughed, "After all, Soya is just a seventeen-year-old child."
Zong Gu looked aside and couldn't speak.
"Sorry, I've really said too much." Kirino Keiko stood up and patted him on the shoulder, "Don't think it's hard for me to deal with it, and it will affect my favorability for Akane."
"Won't……"
"Go back."
"OK."
After changing out of the uniform in the store, Soya walked out of the changing room, and Kyoko was waiting outside.
"Sorry, I've kept you waiting for a long time."
"No." She shook her head, "I'm going to stay here."
The two looked at each other and smiled.
After saying goodbye to Kirino and his wife, he walked out of the Izakaya. Kirino Akane had already boarded her bicycle and was waiting outside.
After looking at her, Kyoko quickly understood the situation and said nothing.
"Songgu and I will take my senior sister back together." Akane Kirino said.
"Thanks."
Taking the back seat of Soya's bicycle, Kyoko held his waist and took a breath, "Okay."
"Um."
Zong Gu pedaled his foot and stepped on the pedal. The starting bicycle shook slightly and soon became stable.
Akane Kirino quickly followed.
The street lights are bright and the streets are empty, so you can't see a moving car.
"Tungno."
"What?"
"Do you know the way to Kyoko's house?"
"I..." Kyoko was about to say that she knew the way, but Soya quickly pinched her hand.
"Maybe you know?" Akane Kirino thought for a while, "Follow this road, turn and turn and then you'll be there."
“This is too abstract.”
She smiled, "Then I'll lead the way."
"Please give me your word."
After pedaling for a few times, Akane Kirino rode in front.
Soya held Kyoko's hand with one hand and held Kyoko's hand again.
“…”
She sighed softly, then moved forward and hugged his waist.
"I originally planned to come to find Kyoko at night, but I couldn't get away."
"You didn't send me a message."
"Because I want to give Kyoko a surprise."
Kyoko closed her eyes with her head against his back.
“It’s almost the same now.”
Soya looked at the street lights in front of him and Akane Kirino's back, "Kyoko's parents will be back in two days."
"Yeah, the day after tomorrow."
"I'll come to you tomorrow."
“…Do you want to stay overnight?”
“Is it convenient?”
She turned her head, "I don't know."
"Then let's talk about it tomorrow."
"Um."
After riding for a while, when he arrived at the intersection, Akane Kirino shouted: "It's going to be a turn."
"knew--"
The two slowed down together, Akane Kirino turned around, and Soya stopped by the side of the road.
“Um…”
After kissing for more than half a minute, Kyoko gently pushed his chest.
Perhaps it was her illusion that after a few days of separation, he seemed to be more aggressive than before.
But she didn't resist.
After they parted, she came up again and kissed him on the lips.
"Let's go."
"Um."
As Soya started, Akane Kirino came back from the front and looked around with her head.
"What's wrong? I haven't been following for a long time."
"There was some minor problem with the bicycle. It's okay."
"I thought Zong Gu was lost."
"I'm not a fool."
"Who knows?" Akane Kirino snorted lightly, and did not stop. She skillfully turned around in a small circle, turned the direction in the middle of the road, and continued to move forward.
"I changed my new chain and it feels easier to ride."
"Is it that obvious?"
"Yes, I always felt like I was stumbled before, but I won't."
“Golden and refreshed.”
"That's right! Huan Ran·Yi·Xin—"
Zong Gu followed behind, keeping a distance of three or four meters from the pink bicycle in front.
Kyoko leaned forward, looking at the backward street lights and the quiet street scene, listening to his heartbeat.
"Does Fangming have any worries?"
"Why do you ask that?"
"When I was in the izakaya just now, Yoshiaki looked very shaken."
Zong Gu was silent for a moment, "It's almost the same."
If you pause the trampling, the wheels will not stop rotating, and the spokes will not be visible when flying.
"Miss Keiko wants me to be with Kirino."
“…”
"Even if she didn't choose Kirino, she hoped that I could stay at Kirino's house in the future and regard it as my second home after leaving the children's welfare home."
After a while, Kyoko's seemingly vague response came later, "Is that true?"
"Feel sorry."
Holding her waist, she closed her eyes again, "Why do you want to apologize?"
“I’m sorry in every aspect.”
Kyoko turned her head and rubbed her cheek against his back, "Is it so embarrassing?"
"It's very difficult... I've had more headlines recently."
She smiled briefly.
"Can it be solved?"
"It will always be solved...it's just that I can't satisfy everyone."
She pinched the flesh on his waist, "This kind of answer is too cunning."
"Feel sorry."
Looking up at the starry sky above his head, Kyoko sighed silently and then hugged him tighter.
"You have to turn left in front." Akane Kirino reminded.
"Um."
After riding along the way, I took a few turns and crossed several long streets. After more than half an hour, the three of them finally arrived at Guanyuan's house.
It was a bit difficult for Akane Kirino to take no one to ride on her continuously. When she stopped, Soya sweated a lot on her face and body.
"Come in and rest for a while. Just park your bike here."
"Okay." This was the first time that Akane Kirino came to Guanyuan's house, "I'm disturbing..."
Kyoko brought two people a wet towel to wipe their sweat.
"What do you want to drink."
"Just just water." Zong Gu wiped the sweat beads on his forehead.
Akane Kirino nodded, "So too."
Kyoko went to the kitchen to pour water, and she looked around again.
"What's wrong?" asked Zong Gu.
Akane Kirino came over and whispered: "I want to go to the bathroom..."
He pointed casually, "Over there."
"Oh." She took two steps and turned back, "Does Soya come here often?"
Zong Gu didn't look at her and wiped his neck again.
"Occasionally."
Kyoko quickly came out with a water cup, "Student Kirino?"
"Senior sister...I want to borrow some of the bathroom."
"Please. over there."
"OK."
Akane Kirino walked into the bathroom, Kyoko put down the water cup and sat down next to Soya.
“It’s already late.”
He put down the towel, "I can't let her ride back alone."
"I mean, Kirino can stay."
Zong Gu thought about it, but shook his head.
"I'll come here early tomorrow."
Kyoko nodded, said nothing more, and picked up the water cup to him.
After drinking a glass of water, resting for a while, the night was dark and the two of them were about to go back.
"Goodbye, Guan Yuan's senior sister."
"goodbye."
Zong Gu rode his bicycle, "See you tomorrow."
Kyoko nodded, "Good night."
"Good night."
When he went back, Zong Gu rode in front and walked another way.
"Can you go back here?"
"Well. There is a narrow path ahead, you can only walk or ride a bicycle, but you can walk a lot less."
Akane Kirino followed and walked with him, "Soya just said that she didn't know the way."
"I just think Kirino should be more familiar with it."
"I don't know the path you mentioned."
"I heard it by chance."
It was almost midnight, and the road was even more deserted, as if only they were left.
After riding for a while, Akane Kirino couldn't help but start to scream.
"Can't ride anymore..."
"Then I won't wait for you."
"no!"
She developed some strength again and rode to the front of Zonggu in an instant, but she was unable to succeed.
"Songgu..."
"Um."
"Did you bring a rope?"
"Do you want me to drag you back?"
“Yes.”
"It's a pity that there is no rope."
Akane Kirino began to look around the roadside.
"Don't have any bad ideas."
Zong Gu felt that he was slow enough, so he slowed down a little further in order not to leave her behind.
"Or throw the bike here and I'll take you back."
"No. This is my favorite bike."
"You just have this bike."
"So you can't leave it behind."
Without pursuing speed, he was riding while resting. Akane Kirino's physical strength slowly recovered. Although he still couldn't ride too fast, he could at least keep up with Soya.
"Why should my senior sister stay and wait for Zonggu?"
"I haven't seen each other for several days."
"We haven't seen each other for several days."
"Didn't you stay together all the time in the afternoon?"
She rode a little faster, "Soya will still go to the shrine tomorrow?"
"Of course. This is my job."
"Then I'll go with you."
“…”
Zong Gu glanced at her, "It's very boring."
"But being alone is even more boring."
He looked forward.
"I really hope Hongzi can come back soon..."
Despite walking the shorter path, because they didn't ride fast, it took about half an hour to return to the old Kirino house.
"I'm going to live here tonight."
"Well. I don't have the strength to send you if you want to go back."
"Then I want to go back."
"Stop making trouble."
He left hot water at Wuling, and the two went to take a shower one after another. Zong Gu was exhausted and soaked for a while before coming out of the bathroom.
When he went back to his room to rest, he lay down for a while and suddenly sniffed.
“…”
The pillows and bedding were filled with the smell of Akane Kirino everywhere.