Chapter 155 Birthday Party (2)

"Every time I sense that I'm about to get hurt, Brother Shu will appear with a bang and help me drive away those bad guys!"

"How do you describe a 'thump'?"

Listening to her good friend's childish words, Hiiragi Rinka covered her mouth and smiled knowingly.

She held the cake plate and turned to Yang Kui Chitose who was sitting on the bench, and couldn't help but comment:

"It feels like Chitose is telling a fairy tale every time she talks about Mr. Fujii."

"Because the tree itself is very dreamy."

Yang Kui Chitose rested her hands on her sides and looked up at the moon.

The girl in the black dress swung her legs back and forth in front of the bench.

The moonlight illuminated her smiling face.

What Rinka Hiiragi saw from the side was a dreamy scene like a fairy tale.

What a nice view
"It must be hard for Rinka to imagine, being abandoned and then picked up, being bullied and then being protected, and every time you are sad, there is always someone in front of you to block the wind and rain and protect everything for you."

"Well it's hard to imagine."

"So, I love Brother Tree."

Hiiragi Rinka answered, and at this moment she noticed that Chitose's face illuminated by the moonlight was truly beautiful.

The girl thought that this might be the reason why Xiaoyue liked Teacher Fujii.

He will appear around like an older brother.

Teacher Fujii gave Xiaoyue the confidence she never had before, and gave her the encouragement and support she never had before.

It was Mr. Fujii who made Xiaoyue experience love and life.
Every time she was alone with Xiaoyue and heard Xiaoyue talking about Teacher Fujii, Rinka Hiiragi felt this way.

Now it seems that Chitose is the same.

No.
It should be said that Mr. Fujii's consistent attitude made everyone feel warm.

How beautiful.

Seeing her good friend so happy, Hiiragi Rinka curled her hands over her heart and couldn't help but feel happy too.

"Rinka, you are my good friend, just like Kokoroharu-chan, so I am going to tell you a secret now."

"C-can I?" Hiiragi Rinka clenched her hands.

"Of course! Put your ear close to me."

Hiiragi Rinka then leaned her head closer to her good friend.

Yang Kui Chitose moved closer to her, put her hand over her good friend's ear, and whispered her secret:

"I like Brother Tree very much."

"Ah."

"I really like that."

"Uh-huh."

"So, Brother Shu and I can be lovers for the rest of our lives, and we can be boyfriend and girlfriend after graduation."

"."

"Rinka?"

"."

"Rinka? I'm not going to scare you by saying this, am I? Yes, it's a little shocking, but Brother Shu did promise me this."

Brother Tree.
恋人
graduation
Boyfriend
Chitose's words were spoken quietly, but they were like a bolt from the blue, going straight into Hiiragi Rinka's mind.

She...she didn't hear it wrong?

Could it be that Chitose-chan also——

"Chi, Chitose, could it be that—"

"Ah! Rinka! Look, Kokoharu-chan is here!"

Just when Rinka Hiiragi was about to ask more questions, Chitose Haruki suddenly became excited. She quickly pointed in a direction, interrupting Rinka before she could even ask.

Chitose also likes Mr. Fujii?

Same as Xiaoyue. Not like, but love
Hiiragi Rinka was enthusiastically helped up by Yang Kui Chitose.

The banquet was very lively with the arrival of Matsumae Shinharu, and no one at the banquet was not paying attention to the little princess of the Matsumae family.

But Rinka Hiiragi was still in shock, immersed in the thunderbolt of what Chitose had just said.

If what Chitose said is true
She will become a lover with Mr. Fujii in the future.
Then. Then. Then what about Xiaoyue?
Xiaoyue, she likes Teacher Fujii!

The two of them won’t fight each other in the future, right?

How could this be possible? How could this be possible?

"Chitose." Rinka Hiiragi pulled Chitose Yangkui's arm.

"Ah! Rinka, look! Kokoharu-chan is dressed up so beautifully today. She looks like a real princess in this dress!"

"Chi, Chitose." Hiiragi Rinka tugged at her hand.

"Huh? What's wrong?" Yang Kui Chitose turned around in excitement. She noticed that Hiiragi Rinka looked a little strange. "Are you feeling unwell? Did you eat too much cake just now?"

"."

"Rinka?"

'Rinka, you are my good friend.'

"Rinka, I like Mr. Fujii."

'I! Jiuhuayue! I like our class teacher Fujii the most!'

The scenes from the Jade Fox Ceremony were still flashing in his mind, and Jiuhuayue's eyes reflecting the lights of the ceremony seemed to appear before his eyes again.

This made Hiiragi Rinka lower her head instantly and replied in a low voice:
"No, it's nothing."

*
Fujii Itsuki admitted that he was shocked when the child Matsumae Shinharu appeared.

It wasn't just the girl's beauty that shocked me.

There is also a girl whose appearance is 99% similar to that of the professor.
Be it her eyebrows, movements, smiles, or the most unique teardrop mole under her right eye, she is exactly the same.

At this moment, Fujii Itsuki thought that the professor had come back to life.

So much so that the voice of Akai Muzi calling him beside him became ethereal, as if coming from a distant and ethereal place.
“Trees, trees, trees.”

"."

"Tree!"

"Muzi?"

"Ashu, why have you been in a daze since just now? Are you staring at that girl Matsumae?"

"Of course not. I just—"

Fujii Itsuki's eyes were always on Matsumae Shinharu's face, and she was filled with anxiety at the moment.

He was so anxious that he couldn't even tell why.
Maybe it's a pity?

Fujii Itsuki guessed so.

I regret that I was not with the professor when he passed away, and I regret that he was alone when he passed away.
When the professor's body was taken to the hospital.

The first person to visit her was not her family, but herself.
When the professor was dressed by the undertaker and the coffin was closed with a silver lotus in his hand, I thought of the professor who had taken good care of me in the past, who remembered what kind of tea I liked to drink, gave me money to buy clothes and rent a house, and now he was gone.
Tears were about to well up in Fujii Itsuki's eyes.

Seeing the professor again at this moment.

I just feel like I have a lot to say to her.

Fujii Itsuki looked at Matsumae Shinharu who was surrounded by all eyes, and she walked towards the center of the banquet stage. The host of the birthday party was already waiting there, ready to liven up the atmosphere.

Fujii Itsuki finally recovered from his reluctance to part and answered Akai Muko beside him:

"I just thought of someone."

"Who?" Akai Muko couldn't help but glance at Matsumae Shinchun who was surrounded by flowers.

"I remember I talked to you about the teacher I met when I first entered Kyoto University, Chikoto Fujinomiya."

".She looks very similar to the Matsumae girl?"

"Professor Fujinomiya's real name is Chikoto Matsumae, and Kokoharu is the professor's daughter."

".?"

Akai Muko looked at the flower-filled stage again. On the stage, Matsumae Shinharu was wearing a white dress, jeweled earrings, and a smile on her face, sparkling. The host was beside her, saying some lines to cheer her on and liven up the atmosphere.

When she turned around, Akai Muzi noticed Fujii Itsuki's gaze again. In the past, she often heard Fujii Itsuki talking about the professor's current look.
Akai Muzi seemed to understand something.

"You go over there."

"Hmm? Past what?"

"Since you miss the professor so much, Shu, she must be a very important person to you. Talking to this kid Matsumae and then dancing with him may make up for the regret in your heart."

Fujii Itsuki heard this and shook his head:
"What are you talking about?"

"You're not going?" Akai Muzi was a little surprised.

"A professor is always a professor, and Xinchun is always Xinchun. No matter how much Xinchun resembles her mother, she can only be herself. The professor in my mind should not be replaced by a child like Xinchun."

"Ashu, you bastard."

"Very upright, right?"

Akai Muzi suddenly laughed, "Sometimes I feel like you are the you of the past, and sometimes I don't feel like you are the you of the past."

"Hmm? When have I ever been dishonest?"

"On the day of the school trip, when you hugged Matsumae late at night."

".Everyone said it was a misunderstanding."

*
The birthday party didn't officially begin until Matsumae Shinharu entered.

The little princess of the Matsumae family really acted like a princess. She stood on the stage and constantly received various gifts and applause and cheers from people from all walks of life.

She also smiled gracefully and thanked everyone for coming. She hoped that everyone could have a good time at the party.

"Actually, this birthday dance is actually a social event held by the Matsumae family."

"What does it mean?"

Since the dance was about to start, Chitose went to find Teacher Fujii, so Rinka Hiiragi had to stay with her parents.

My father is a senior manager of the company, and the shareholders of his company are from the Matsumae family. As a result, my father brought my mother to this banquet.

"My boss told me that this birthday party is partly to celebrate the little princess of the Matsumae family, and partly because the little princess has reached the age to get engaged."

"That, that doesn't mean."

"Yes," Hiiragi's father swirled the red wine and explained to his daughter, "The Matsumae family intends to recruit a good son-in-law. After blowing out the birthday candles that symbolize her 17th birthday, the little princess will sit in the center of the stage. During this time, countless young people from all walks of life will come forward to greet her and kiss her hands. If the little princess chooses to extend her hand, it means the choice of the Matsumae family."

".Isn't it Kokoharu-chan's own choice?"

"No."

"But, but Xinchun-chan, she just turned 17. How could her family treat her like this?"

"This is a big family," Hiiragi's father touched his daughter's head and replied with a smile, "Don't worry, I won't make it difficult for you. But Rinka, don't spread the matter of the 'hand kiss'. Those who know about it will know, and those who don't know shouldn't know.

"Of course, everyone knows that the Matsumae family wants to recruit a son-in-law for this birthday party. That's no problem, just say whatever you want.

"Ah, if your father were twenty years younger, he would also want to go on stage--"

"Hmm?" Mother Hiiragi's eyes immediately turned to her husband.

Hiiragi's father smiled bitterly and held out his hands to block, "It's just a joke, it's just a joke."

"."

Rinka Hiiragi remembers that Chitose and Satsuki both liked Sensei Fujii.

"Then, what if another girl and I fall in love with the same person?"

"What should I do? Dad will help you get him!"

Hiiragi Rinka seemed to be thinking about something, and then asked weakly, "But what if I don't want to hurt the other person, and I still like that person?"

"This"

"What if I don't mind living with the other person?"

Hiiragi's father had a bitter look on his face, "Then Dad still supports you, Rinka! As long as you are happy, Rinka."

Hiiragi's mother immediately stabbed her husband with a knife, "What are you talking about! How can a man who plays with two women at the same time be a good man? Can you trust Rinka to the other man?"

"Yeah"

Hiiragi Rinka fell into deep thought again.

She was thinking about how to give everyone a happy ending. As she was thinking, she felt powerless and saw that Yang Kui Chitose seemed to be sitting idle on the other side, so she sent a line message to her good friend:

"Chitose knows what Kokoharu-chan is going to face today, right?"

Yang Kui Chitose quickly picked up the text message on the other end and replied:
[What's going on?]
Rinka Hiiragi tells Chitose Haruki about the "birthday son-in-law selection" event.

Chitose Yangkui expressed great shock.

"What do you think, Qian Qiansui?"

[Xinchun-chan is so miserable! She was forced to marry by the family behind her at such a young age. At first, I was surprised that Xinchun-chan lived in such a beautiful place. Now I know what Shu-ge said, "It's just an appearance." ]
"I think so."

As Hiiragi Rinka was replying to her good friend, her father suddenly said:
"Rinka, Rinka, look, it's starting to start."

Rinka Hiiragi can't do anything about her father's childish personality of loving to watch the fun.

But she was also very concerned about Matsumae Shinchun at this time.

Xinchun-chan is my good friend.

Rinka Hiiragi cast her gaze towards where Matsumae Shinharu was sitting. She recognized the people next to her: Sakura Nagayama, the housekeeper of the Matsumae family, and Shinharu's aunt, the Omiya.

When the candles are blown out, the guests' gifts and congratulations also end.

The violin began to play Chopin's music.

Under this voice as soft as the night, many people began to come forward to greet Matsumae Shinharu.

It can be seen that Xinchun's family education and etiquette are much more solemn than ordinary people.
But what Rinka Hiiragi sees now is also the heavy pressure that Kokoro-chan faces under the control of her family.

"This is the eldest daughter of a rich family." Hiiragi's father exclaimed.

There were many people coming to this banquet.

Many young men who looked rich and handsome, whom Rinka Hiiragi didn't know, came forward one by one to greet the little princess of the Matsumae family.

But Matsumae Shinchun never took the initiative to extend her hand, and always faced those people politely.

When Rinka Hiiragi saw this, she couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

Does this mean that the Matsumae family doesn’t have anyone they like right now?
Xinchun-chan, at least now you don't have to be forced to get engaged to someone else?
What a fortune in misfortune.

Rinka Hiiragi looked at Chitose Haruki on the other side.

Chitose, who was wearing a black dress, had picked up a lobster and started eating it happily.

Looks like he's in a pretty good mood.

Even my father was puzzled.

"You don't even like the young master of the Takagi family who came from Tokyo? What the hell is the Matsumae family doing?"

Hiiragi’s mother: “Maybe they didn’t plan to determine the target this time.”

This further confirmed Rinka Hiiragi's thoughts - there was no one in the Matsumae family that she liked.

Hiiragi Rinka patted her chest and felt relieved.

She took the crab her father had peeled for her and was about to eat it when she noticed that Teacher Fujii came up to her and greeted her.

Mr. Fujii should be one of the people who is unaware of this, right?

After all, as my father just said, only those who are very rich and powerful know this unspoken rule.

Just as Hiiragi Rinka was thinking this and putting the crab meat into her mouth with chopsticks, she saw Matsumae Shinharu extending the back of her hand to Mr. Fujii.

But Mr. Fujii seemed to be completely unaware of it.

After being reminded by Aunt Xinchun that this was a "kissing hand gift", he symbolically took Xinchun's hand and kissed her from a distance.

Aunt Xinchun smiled with satisfaction.

It was this smile that stunned Hiiragi Rinka, her parents beside her, and many people in the distance.
Only a few people, such as some elders of the Matsumae family and a few distinguished guests from afar, did not show any shock.

"No, no way?"

Rinka Hiiragi put down her chopsticks immediately and wiped her eyes quickly, but what she saw was still the scene of Teacher Fujii kissing the back of her hand from a distance.

"What's going on?! Rinka, Rinka, that's your homeroom teacher!"

Rinka Hiiragi had no time to answer her father, she quickly looked at Chitose Haruki on the other side.

As for the current Chitose Yang Aoi, she was staring blankly at the position where Matsumae Shinharu was.

Kang dang
Even the half-eaten lobster in her hand fell to the ground along with the knife and fork.

(End of this chapter)