At the beginning of the new year, everything is renewed, but it is not until the first week of the new year is about to pass that the sun really shows its face.
The sunshine makes the snow on the roadside white and translucent, making it dazzling.
Naruse squinted his eyes and walked all the way to Morimi Furuhon shop, but felt that it was a little dark inside.
After getting used to it for a while, he looked over at the counter and saw Mori Miki sitting there, and was inevitably a little disappointed.
He didn't say anything, and nodded normally when Mori Jianshu looked up, and then wandered among the bookshelves.
After choosing for a moment, he took two books and went to the front desk to check out.
"Chunhai has been reading faster and faster recently."
"It's okay, mainly because I haven't found any books that I can read more than once recently."
Drop——
"Nine hundred yen. Let Kazuha recommend some books to you."
Naruse smiled, "Next time..."
Mori Jianshu raised his chin behind him.
He turned around, and the bookstore owner's daughter appeared at the door with squinted eyes, and her eyes quickly stayed on him.
"Good morning."
She walked over and Morimiki stepped out of the counter and returned inside.
"Good morning."
The last time the two met was on the day they went to the shrine together for their first pilgrimage more than half a week ago.
Walking into the counter, Morimi glanced at the book on the table, "Yours?"
"Yeah."
"Have you paid?"
"Yeah."
"Look at the receipt."
Naruse handed over a banknote.
"..."
She glanced at him sideways and lowered her head to find change.
"Sisters Hikari and Yue went to Morioka today."
"Really?"
Morimi took out a hundred-yuan coin and handed it to him, "Didn't you read the messages in the group?"
"I didn't pay attention." Naruse took the change and said, "Did you just give it?"
"Yeah."
"Why did you just go today?"
"It seems that some relatives have come to the house these days."
Morimi pushed up his glasses, looked at him, and mentioned another thing, "I heard that Haixing has been staying at your house these days?"
"..."
Naruse pursed his lower lip, and then couldn't help but sigh.
He came here today, besides buying books, he mainly wanted to tell her about this matter.
"She hasn't moved in yet, but she's almost there. Except for going back to bed at night, she stays at my house almost all day long, eating and drinking from me, without giving me a penny!"
Morimi laughed, "Is this the point?"
Of course not.
What makes him even more troublesome is that there is a bomb around him that will explode at an unknown time, and he always uses Song Qianqiu's words as a shield, and he can't get rid of it no matter what.
After laughing, Morimi also asked about the aspects he cared about.
"Why did the starfish suddenly act like this?"
"Before my mother went to Tokyo, I asked her to come to my house more often," Naruse said.
She thought for a moment, "Isn't this a polite comment?"
"My mother probably meant it...I just didn't expect that she didn't take this sentence as a courtesy."
"Did you really not expect that?"
Morimi sat down at the counter, held his chin with one hand, and looked up at him, "Can't you see the reason at a glance?"
"..."
Naruse pursed his lower lip, "The reason is not important, what is more important now is how to solve it."
She tilted her head, "So you came to discuss it with me?"
He raised the book in his hand and said, "I came to discuss with you by the way."
"...Hmph."
Morimi lay down and stared at the side for a while, suddenly feeling a little emotional.
"I didn't expect Haixing to be so positive even after being rejected..."
Naruse took a deep breath and said nothing.
She looked over again, "She has been staying at your house these days. Did Shangzi say anything?"
"What can Shangzi say?"
"That's right. After all, although we have been living together for a long time, she is not a real girlfriend after all."
"..."
Naruse said nothing.
Mori Jian suddenly fell silent and looked aside, not knowing what he was thinking.
"If Morimi can't do anything, I'll go back first." Naruse picked up the book and said.
"Who said no."
She looked back and said, "There are many ways. For example, if you agree to date Haixing, she will be obedient."
"Is this the way?"
"Then..."
Naruse thought she would ask him to date Naoko next, but she pondered for a while, then put her head on her palms, "There is no other way."
"Perhaps Morimi can call her back, spend more time with her, and cultivate her interest in reading."
She glanced at him and sneered.
"Are you here again? You have to deal with your own affairs."
Naruse hasn’t given up yet, “There are no exams now.”
"Then what's in it for me?"
"After solving her problem, I will have more time to read, and I will be able to provide more consumption in your store."
"Come on, how much can you spend? You don't look at this, you don't look at that, you are picky."
"Well... you and Haixing will also become closer."
She smiled, breathed softly, and lowered her gaze.
"In this case, I should try my best to help her match..."
"Going back."
Morimi raised his head and saw that he had already turned around and walked out with the book in hand.
"Coward..."
She lay down again, but it was already difficult to put a smile on her face.
"It took a lot of effort to get to where we are now... Are we going to make it so bad that we can no longer be friends?"
On the other side, Naruse left the bookstore and returned home soon.
As soon as the door was opened, the two people on the sofa looked over at the same time.
"Welcome back." Shangzi greeted, and Haixing looked at him and nodded.
He closed the door and sat down on the sofa.
Because Shangzi is always here, he basically stays downstairs during the day.
Although there is now another starfish in the family, it does not have much impact on the two people's apparent life rhythm - because she basically doesn't speak much except for crying out that she is hungry.
Naruse reads a book or watches TV, Naoko watches TV and occasionally does some simple needlework, and Haixing keeps holding her mobile phone. The three of them have been getting along in this state for half a week.
Time slowly reached noon, Shangzi put down what he was holding and got up to prepare lunch.
Naruse did not go directly to help, but glanced at Haixing, "When are you going back?"
She held her cell phone and huddled in the corner of the sofa, "I'll go back after dinner."
"I'm asking when you plan to end this life of eating and drinking in other people's homes."
"...Auntie said I can treat this place as my own home."
Naruse stared at her for a while.
"Didn't Mr. Seiichiro say anything?"
She looked at him and crawled over, "Dad wants me to get along well with you..."
Naruse stood up immediately, dropped the book and went to help in the kitchen.
"..."
Starfish curled her lips.
Leaning on the sofa, she stroked the instep of her feet, and her face slowly showed a bit of confusion.
He made a decision with a flash of heat in his head. She has been coming here to "harass" him for the past few days. Apart from making him more disgusted, is there any other meaning...
The two of us worked together and lunch was ready in no time.
After placing the dishes and chopsticks on the table, Naruse suddenly said: "Should we calculate the meal cost with her?"
Shangzi smiled but did not comment.
"Starfish, it's time to eat."
"Coming."
After lunch, Starfish didn’t eat and drink for free after all, he still helped wash the dishes.
The afternoon is no different from the morning or even the past few days - there is nothing to do during the winter vacation.
After dinner in the evening, it was finally time for Haixing to go home, and Naruse sent her back.
After sending her to the door of the hotel, he looked at the street lights not far away.
The brief sunny spell only lasted until the afternoon, with white snow rustling under the street lights.