Chapter 202 Planting the Seeds

"In 1024 AD, in the middle of the Heian period, political power in Japan was concentrated in the Fujiwara family. Society was relatively stable, but conflicts between local lords occasionally occurred—"

The history teacher frowned, stopped writing with chalk, and turned to face the classroom.

"Huh? Why are you all lying down?"

"Teacher, the weather is too hot."

"Yes, yes. We have training this afternoon, and then the sports festival will be next week. Teacher, please let us lie down for a while."

The history teacher shook his head.

"It's OK at other times, but not now. This is the final exam. If you don't remember it, you will fail the Japanese history final exam. Everyone, listen carefully. It's best to take notes. Do you hear me?"

"understood"

The answers were in twos and threes.

"louder please."

"understood!"

"I still have some energy. I'll continue writing. You guys take your notes."

"Yes"

"Ok?"

"Yes!"

The girls in Class 2A answered in unison.

Hiiragi Rinka always keeps her full attention
"The year 1024 AD was an important milestone. In this year, the Matsumae clan, an important samurai family in northern Japan, ahem, the ancestors of Mr. Matsumae, encountered an unprecedented siege.

"The enemy was strong, and the resources of the Matsumae family were gradually depleted. They were in danger of being completely defeated during the siege. At the most critical moment, the head of the Jiuhua clan, a wealthy businessman in the central region, decided to lend a helping hand. They used their huge trade network to quickly mobilize a large amount of available resources in the surrounding area and urgently sent them to the Matsumae family's city to help them overcome the difficulties.

"After the Matsumae family successfully defended the city, the head of the Matsumae family was deeply grateful for the support of the Kuka family. In order to express gratitude and consolidate the relationship between the two families, the Matsumae family reached an alliance agreement with the Kuka family. The Matsumae family promised to protect the Kuka family politically and militarily, while the Kuka family continued to serve as the Matsumae family's royal merchant to ensure its supply of materials.

“In addition, the two families decided to further consolidate their alliance through marriage, and Kyuuka Munehisa married his daughter to Matsumae Yoshiteru’s eldest son.

"Also, because merchants had a low status in ancient times, even though the Matsumae family invited the Kuka clan to enter the city many times, the Kuka clan always only wanted to stand at the city gate. When Kuka Munehisa saw his daughter off, he also stopped at the city gate.

"This is the 'city agreement' that Songqian and Jiuhua have passed down to this day."

As I finished this lecture, the bell for the end of get out of class rang.

The history teacher had no choice but to give up and end the get out of class. After writing some necessary knowledge points on the blackboard, he left the classroom.

After Jiuhuayue and Matsumae Xinchun walked out of the classroom, the classmates around them started chatting.

"Matsumae-san and Kuka-san signed up for the 3,000-meter track and field race at the same time?"

"What?! That's great!"

"Anna-chan is probably feeling lucky that she won't be picked~"

"Of course~"

"The monitor usually treats you well, how dare you say such things."

"It's okay. Anyway, after the class monitor signed up for the 3,000-meter race, Jiuhua also signed up immediately. What's going on?"

"Can't you see that? They have a good relationship!"

"That's right, after all, it's 'Matsumae' and 'Kyuuka', 'a promise under the city'!"

Hiiragi Rinka sat in the corner of the classroom, head down and silent.

The classmates also talked about the families behind the two.

In everyone's eyes, Matsumae and Kuka are good friends.

In the eyes of history teachers, it is true. In the eyes of historians, it is true too.

But Rinka Hiiragi knew that this was wrong.

Kokoharu told her in person that the Kuka family and the Matsumae family had severed their ties, but neither family had announced it to the public.

People outside still feel that the "Agreement under the City" is still going on.

But what about reality.

'Matsumae' severed ties with 'Kyuka'.

The relationship between Xinchun and Xiaoyue became fragmented, just like the families behind them.

They signed up for the same competition.
How to do?
Hiiragi Rinka lowered her head, feeling extremely guilty.

If I hadn't helped them reconcile, this fight wouldn't have lasted so long.

Even my favorite candy no longer tastes sweet.

She didn't know what to do.
After spending the afternoon classes in a daze, Rinka Hiiragi sat alone in the classroom for a long time. Hearing the sounds of training outside the window, she got up and walked to the classroom window and looked at the playground.

At this glance, he happened to see Matsumae Shinchun and Jiuhuayue.

On the playground, the two kept running and chasing each other.

One circle, two circles, three circles.
500 meters, 700 meters, 1,500 meters
The more Hiiragi Rinka looked at it, the more worried she became.

She saw that the two of them fainted at the same time because they couldn't hold on any longer, and then were taken to the school infirmary by Teacher Fujii at the same time. They couldn't stand at all.

She hurried to the infirmary.

"It's Rinka. Xiaoyue can't wake up for the time being after the drip. Teacher Fujii went to the bathroom temporarily and will be back soon. Come in and sit down."

"Feel sorry."

"Apologize for what?"

"It was me who made Xiaoyue and Xinchun-chan reconcile in the beginning. If I hadn't done that—"

Matsumae Shinchun just shook his head.

"Xinchun-chan, now you and Xiaoyue."

"Rinka still wants us to reconcile?"

"Um"

Hiiragi Rinka nodded bravely, then lowered her head in confusion, "Everyone, everyone is a very good person, we should be happy, just like we did when we climbed the mountain together that day, we should be happy together."

"I'm sorry, Rinka," Matsumae Shinchun seemed not to want to talk about it and took the initiative to avoid looking at him, "Now Xiaoyue and I are in a competitive relationship."

".Is there really no hope?"

"Not at the moment. If there was, I wouldn't have taken the initiative to tell Xiaoyue about it. Lying is even worse. I feel I have an obligation to express my thoughts to Xiaoyue."

".Then why is Xinchun.Fujii teacher?"

"I can only tell you, Rinka, that Mr. Fujii is hope to me."

"."

"Rinka, we're still good friends, right?"

"Yeah," Hiiragi Rinka nodded weakly.

"I hope Rinka won't tell anyone about this, as it will cause trouble to Mr. Fujii and bring uncertainty to his work.

"Rinka, I have never felt the proper affection from my blood relatives. Just know this."

After saying these words, Matsumae Shinchun seemed tired.

Hiiragi Rinka noticed this and bowed to say goodbye.

After school.

On the way home, her heart was always entangled in the relationship between the two.

The more she thought about it, the more guilty she felt.

[How can we make the two of them reconcile?]
When taking a shower, when lying in bed at night, and when eating in the morning.

She was thinking about this question.

Xiaoyue really needs Mr. Fujii, and Xinchun also needs Mr. Fujii.

How can we reconcile the two without hurting each other?
Rinka Hiiragi closed her eyes and thought for a long, long time.

".Teacher Fujii, I know it's a bit abrupt for me to say this. But. But, I've thought a lot these days. Please date Xinchun and Xiaoyue at the same time!"

Fujii Itsuki: “.”

"So, Hiiragi-san came here alone to talk to me about this?"

"Um"

"why?"

"Because Xiaoyue and Xinchun both need you" "But isn't it ridiculous to say this?"

"." Hiiragi Rinka was very ashamed.

Fujii Itsuki knew that she wanted the two of them to reconcile as soon as possible, so she spoke more seriously:

"This matter has little to do with you, Rinka, so don't worry too much."

"But, Mr. Fujii, it was during that tea party that I made the two of them reconcile. If they hadn't reconciled, I don't think Xiaoyue and Xinchun would be like this now."

Fujii Itsuki shook his head, "It's just like going back to the beginning of the school year."

Hiiragi Rinka: “.”

"Okay, okay, I know you said that in a moment of haste, Rinka. I'll just pretend I didn't hear it."

".Sorry, Mr. Fujii, I was abrupt."

"Yeah, it's okay. Of course, I also want their relationship to be reconciled. After all, they are sisters in the real sense. Xinchun's mother is Jiuhua's biological aunt."

"What?!" Hiiragi Rinka opened her mouth wide.

"Sorry! The teacher seems to have said something that shouldn't have been said. Hiiragi-san, just pretend you didn't hear it. If you don't have anything else to say, the teacher will leave first."

After Fujii Itsuki finished speaking, Hiiragi Rinka nodded at him blankly in surprise.

He smiled and left later, but the girl was still in shock.

Xinchun and Xiaoyue are indeed blood-related sisters, right?

Fujii Itsuki withdrew his gaze.

He walked down the corridor, looking through the mottled leaves toward the blue sky.

Rinka is a good friend of them all, and has always hoped that they would have a harmonious relationship.

I just took the initiative to tell Rinka about our relationship, hoping that she can play a role in the solution I come up with next.

If everything goes well, Xiaoyue and Xinchun's relationship will at least become closer.

The rest is Qiansui's side.

Fujii Itsuki was in a good mood and walked quickly towards the infirmary.

The first day of the sports festival ended with Jiuhuayue and Matsumae Xinchun tied for third place, while the other students in the class didn't win any awards.

When they gathered in the afternoon, everyone looked so sad that Fujii Itsuki felt distressed. He quickly told everyone that everything was okay, which made everyone feel better.

Of course, the price of getting third place is that Jiuhuayue and Matsumae Xinchun are overdrawn and cannot even participate in tomorrow's kendo competition.

Fujii Itsuki felt that they would not be able to rest well if he was with any of them, so he went to Chitose's house to sleep for the night.

The next day, the sports festival continued in full swing.

Xinchun, Xiao Jiuhua and the others no longer have any competitions, and all they have left is the kendo club training.

The other students were having a basketball game, so Fujii Itsuki went to watch it. However, he was dunked on by a girl from the opposite class, and the basketball bounced up and hit the right side of his face.

The other party ran over and bowed repeatedly to apologize. How could Fujii Itsuki not bother with a little girl? He just said it was okay and ended the matter.

Jiuhuayue's depression went somewhere unknown. After training, Matsumae Shinchun said that she forgot to bring medicine for anxiety disorder from home, so Fujii Itsuki had to take her to the infirmary to get the medicine.

"Hmm? Is Teacher Gong Hui not here?"

With a click.
Fujii Itsuki turned around with the medicine he had just found in his hand, and saw Matsumae Shinchun locking the door of the infirmary with a blushing face.

"Xinchun, you..."

"Teacher, please give Xinchun the medicine first."

There's no way to refuse.

Fujii Itsuki prepared warm water for her, mixed the dosage of the pills, and prepared to hand them to her.

"Teacher, feed me"

"Hey you?"

"Hmm." The girl said with a light nasal tone.

"It's just one or two pills."

"I want the teacher to feed me."

There's nothing I can do. Hello.

Fujii Itsuki picked up two small pills with his hands. Matsumae Shinchun's face turned red. When he picked up the pills, she opened her mouth and stuck out her pink tongue.

Xinchun's tongue.
Cough
The pill was placed in the girl's mouth, and Fujii Itsuki watched her drink it with warm water.

After a few minutes.

"Are you feeling better?"

"Um"

"Has the relapse been severe recently?"

"That's not true."

When Xinchun looked at him, those eyes with teardrop moles seemed to be lowered, yet raised, full of affection.

She was so adorable at this moment.

Fujii Itsuki felt so warm in his heart that he couldn't help but touch her face and lips.

The girl held his hands with both of her own, smiled gently, and asked:

"Teacher, do you think Xinchun is cute?"

"Of course."

"Since when did you start to feel that way?"

"I had a vague feeling when we first met."

"What's your impression?"

"What a polite child, and what a ladylike demeanor."

Perhaps because she was happy to be praised, Matsumae Shinchun held his fingers and licked them briskly, then looked at him with a smile.

Fujii Itsuki's heart was moved, and he couldn't help but praise her again: ".Cute."

At this moment, Matsumae Xinchun suddenly froze. She seemed to have discovered something. She gently reached out her hand to push aside a few strands of wet hair on the side of his face, and put her fingers on his cheek. "It doesn't hurt, does it?"

".I was accidentally hit while watching a basketball game just now, but I'm fine."

Even though he said he was fine, the girl still found some iodine and a Band-Aid, wiped and disinfected it for him, and then gently put it on him.

When Matsumae Shinchun was about to withdraw his hand, he grabbed the girl's wrist.

The girl's arms are so thin and small.

Fujii Itsuki couldn't help but move his eyes down to the girl's green and plump collar.

Matsumae Shinchun was also a little shy, "Is it a hug or?"

"Goodbye."

"Wasn't the teacher drunk that day?" Matsumae Shinchun's tone revealed doubt, but her movements did not stop. Fujii Itsuki even thought she did it on purpose.

"I basically remembered it the next day." He wanted to move his eyes away, but he couldn't move his eyes away from the girl's snow-white shoulders.

".How does the teacher feel?"

"It's very, very, very shameful, nothing else."

"Then now"

it's beautiful.
Fujii Itsuki couldn't help but admire him, and because of the awkwardness, he turned his head away.

"It's very different now. I can't tell what it is. Xinchun, please don't do it now."

"It's okay, just draw the curtains."

Matsumae Shinchun took the initiative to reach out and touch Fujii Itsuki's cheek again. It was this touch, this move, and this gentle gaze that basically broke down his psychological defenses.

"Teacher, you can act as coquettishly as you want in Xinchun. No one will blame you."

"Is it?"

"Of course."

Fujii Itsuki closed his eyes and felt the girl hugging his head. His heart also sank into her tenderness.

(End of this chapter)