Chapter 224 Clarification
Matsumae Shinharu stood beside the flower bed, looking up at the sky, her eyes seemed to penetrate the white clouds.

Fujii Itsuki looked at her from the side, the sunlight gently sprinkled on her cheeks, reflecting a faint halo. Her long eyelashes cast a delicate shadow on her amber eyes, and her fair skin was faintly visible in the shadows of the trees.

The girl had rosy red lips and teeth, and she stood straight. The sailor suit she wore highlighted her slender waist.

Just by looking at her like this, you can feel her youthful beauty.

Fujii Itsuki walked over with the water he had just bought.

"Xiao Yue will be here later. How about we take advantage of today's rest and go to the aquarium?"

"Teacher" Matsumae Shinchun still did not take his eyes away from the sky.

Fujii Itsuki smiled slightly, handed over the water, and asked softly, "What are you thinking about?"

Xinchun lowered her head to take the water, held it in her hands, and said softly, "I wonder how much of what people pursue is out of their true inner desires, and how much is just what others expect of themselves?"

"Why did you suddenly think of this?"

"It was a sudden thought."

"Well," Fujii Itsuki pondered for a moment, then said, "In fact, there is no need to worry too much about whether what you pursue is from your heart or external influences. In life, it is inevitable that you will be influenced by the eyes of others and the social environment. Humans are social animals, and it is normal to be influenced by the environment. The key is not the motivation for pursuit, but whether you can accept the choice you have made calmly."

Matsumae Shinchun was slightly startled, and then she looked back. When she looked at Fujii Itsuki, a hint of emotion flashed in her eyes. She whispered:

"What the teacher said is true. People are indeed shaped by the external environment, and these influences have made me who I am today. Although I don't like the restrictions at home, it is these rules that have made me who I am today and made me what the teacher sees me as."

There was a hint of helplessness and relief in the girl's tone.

Fujii Itsuki didn't know what she was thinking at this moment, because she said these words because of some memories.

But he was already very relieved that Xinchun could think this way.

Xinchun is accepting herself.

"Where do we go next?"

Jiuhuayue came over and interrupted their thoughts.

"As we just agreed, Otaru Aquarium."

Jiuhuayue glanced at Fujii Itsuki and asked, "Why did you suddenly think of going to the aquarium?"

"You want me to tell the truth?"

"of course."

"I want to take you two to play together and improve your relationship."

"Oh, is that so." Jiuhuayue responded indifferently, with a hint of elusive emotion in her tone.

Jiuhuayue just said this.

There was no rebuttal, and no acceptance.

In fact, Xinchun has already shown some signs of being willing to accept Jiuhuayue, but Jiuhuayue is mostly disgusted.

Fujii Itsuki was quite surprised by her answer.

The three of them walked out of the park and boarded a Maybach driven by Sakura Nagayama, heading to the Otaru Aquarium in the Shukutsu area.

Otaru Aquarium has a history of more than 60 years. After many repairs and renovations, although the appearance is a little old, it still attracts many tourists due to its geographical location close to the sea and rich exhibition projects, especially the daily open-air sea lion show.

After entering the aquarium, Fujii Itsuki took the initiative to introduce the fish in the tank to the two.

The ones floating in the water looking leisurely are Arctic cod, which swim slowly to save energy; the ones hiding under the rocks are Hokkaido black bass; the ugliest one is the Bering wolffish; the halibut with stripes on its body appears quiet and majestic.

"shark."

Matsumae Shinchun was listening carefully to Fujii Itsuki's introduction when she suddenly saw Jiuhuayue with her hands on the glass of the aquarium.

Fujii Itsuki also looked over and said, "This is a mako shark."

In fact, Matsumae Shinchun has been thinking about how to talk to Jiuhuayue smoothly so that the relationship between them will not be so awkward.

Only then did she suddenly remember that Jiu Huayue had always liked sharks.

By the way, Xiaoyue also said that I was the one who accompanied her to the aquarium for the first time.

After touring the aquarium, the next step is the sea lion and dolphin show.

Matsumae Xinchun deliberately sat with Jiuhuayue, and she noticed that Jiuhuayue's eyes were always full of curiosity.

It was exactly the same look they had when they first went to the aquarium as children.

The dolphin leaped up, and her body followed it unconsciously.

After the dolphin show, it was the sea lion show. However, after the sea lion show, Jiuhuayue suddenly looked unhappy, and Matsumae Shinchun asked her what was wrong with concern.

Jiuhuayue sighed, "There are sea lion shows and dolphin shows, why is there no great white shark show!"

Fujii Itsuki was almost amused by this and couldn't help but complain: "Raise a great white shark over ten meters long to eat the lucky audience at any time?"

"If I'm going to eat someone, I'll definitely eat the unfaithful scumbag first!"

"Where have I betrayed you?"

"Hmph, don't think that Xinchun and I don't know what your intention is in wanting us to reconcile."

Jiuhuayue muttered, and Fujii Itsuki had no way to refute it.

Next we went to see the white-browed penguins and harbor seals.

In fact, girls just like this kind of cute animals. Fujii Itsuki almost cried out when she saw Jiuhuayue patting her belly when she saw the harbor seal. Matsumae Shinchun liked penguins more and said that the way they walked was very funny.

Although the Otaru Aquarium is small, it still took more than two hours to walk around, stop, touch the seals, and feed fish to the penguins, sea lions, and seals.

Fujii Itsuki felt that the two were happy.

There was no quarrel or argument throughout the whole process.

When Matsumae Shinchun went to the bathroom, Jiuhuayue suddenly looked at the sea and spoke:

"The first time I went to an aquarium when I was a kid, Xinchun and I went together."

Fujii Itsuki was slightly stunned. "Are you reminiscing about the past?"

"After all, it was my first time there, how could I not remember it? Since then, you've been the only one who took me to the aquarium. It's been almost ten years since then. Back then, Xinchun was my best friend."

Jiuhuayue's voice came lightly in the sea breeze.

Her eyes were looking far away at the sea horizon, her long black hair fluttering in the wind.

"Uncle, most of the time I really don't want to quarrel with Xinchun. But every time, I subconsciously think that Xinchun has taken away everything from me, my life, my father. I even envy her for having a perfect family. As the eldest daughter of the Matsumae family, she doesn't need to do anything. She just needs to live peacefully and she can get everything that I can't get."

Jiu Huayue's voice suddenly became low, "Last time she kissed you, it was because I had confessed to you so many times and was rejected. I took the initiative to kiss you more than once, but you were unwilling to accept me. Why can Xinchun get everything by kissing you?
"After Xinchun got close to you, did all my efforts in practicing the trumpet every day go to waste? Was everything I did to become dazzling in your eyes also useless?
“I really couldn’t accept this, so I fought with Xinchun.

Jiu Huayue suddenly lowered her head and said softly, "I'm sorry about what happened last night."

".Why are you apologizing now?"

"This is the only way I can stay by your side. Although I took the initiative to do this, I have to admit that it's wrong."

Fujii Itsuki could only sigh, "It's good that you know this is wrong."

"So, I want to ask you again, uncle. Will you be responsible for me? If not..."

"You will leave quietly, right?" Fujii Itsuki continued.

"."

"If you leave, where are you going?" asked Fujii Itsuki.

"Uncle, are you worried about me? If you ask me to answer, I can only say that I don't know. Maybe I will just buy a ticket and sleep on the train. I will get off wherever I sleep, eat some local delicacies, then get on the train again and sleep again, and repeat this process."

“What if the money runs out?”

“If it’s all spent, it’s all spent.”

Jiuhuayue spread her arms, and the sea breeze blew, lifting her hair and the scarf of her sailor uniform. She smiled at the sea and said.

"Once it's all spent, it's over. After all, when you first met me, I had already figured it out. I can't live alone. I always need something to sustain my reason for existence."

"Xiaoyue, can't you be a little more yourself?"

"So what do you think I want?"

"."

This time it was Fujii Itsuki who was silent. "I will definitely take responsibility."

"Sincere?"

"Sincere."

"Then I believe you."

The girl smiled and gave him her little finger.

Fujii Itsuki glanced at her little finger, then looked at her: "Pink? Why are you still so childish?"

"Only children are serious! And I am the most serious one!" Jiu Huayue smiled.

Fujii Itsuki couldn't help but feel a little dazed. Perhaps it was the sunset reflected on the sea, or perhaps it was her smile that was too beautiful, Fujii Itsuki felt that she was as dazzling as the heroine in a movie or TV series.

She was glowing all over, and looked so special and beautiful from the hero's perspective.

Fujii Itsuki immediately stretched out his little finger and hooked it with hers. After holding hands, they pressed their thumbs together.

"tonight."

"What? Come again? No, no, no." Fujii Itsuki shook his head repeatedly.

"What? Why are you so annoying? You're so ungrateful after getting an advantage!"

“Who is so greedy?”

Later, Matsumae Shinharu came back, and the three of them went to the restaurant in the aquarium to eat something, which marked the end of today's itinerary.

"Uncle, why don't you get off the bus and go home first." Jiu Huayue suddenly suggested before getting on the bus.

"Why?" Fujii Itsuki wondered.

"I'm going to Xinchun's house."

".What's the matter?"

"Nothing, just chatting." She said lightly.

"……Fine."

Fujii Itsuki did not ask any more questions. After getting off the car, Jiuhuayue and Matsumae Xinchun drove to the Matsumae family.

After Nagayama Sakura drove away, Jiuhuayue looked at Matsumae Shinchun in front of her who had something to say to her.

"Okay, Xinchun, just tell me what you want to say. I have to go back and make dinner."

Matsumae Shinchun didn't say anything, but turned around, silently took out a small shark model, and then slowly opened his hands in front of Jiuhuayue.

Jiu Huayue took a look at it and did not take it immediately.

"Xinchun, do you mean you want to make peace with me? Even now, the conflict between us is simply irreconcilable."

"I do not know."

Matsumae Shinchun answered, spreading her hands while keeping her eyes on her, "But I think things between Xiaoyue and I shouldn't be too cold."

"The conflict is still there, but you're giving gifts to your opponent?"

"She's a rival, but Xiaoyue is also my childhood sweetheart."

"So, you're saying that even though we're at odds with each other, we're still friends?"

"Yes."

"This relationship is really strange."

Jiuhuayue said this, and after hesitating for a moment, she finally accepted the little shark that Matsumae Xinchun gave her.

"Although I accepted your gift, Xinchun, I have no intention of giving it up."

"Xiaoyue, me too."

"You still think you can beat me?"

"nature."

“So confident.”

"Confidence is the basis for being better than you, Xiaoyue. If you don't even have this little confidence, Xinchun will feel that it's better for you to give up as soon as possible."

Jiuhuayue stared at her for a while.

Matsumae Shinharu is serious.

Then she gave herself this gift
Jiuhuayue looked down at the little shark in her hand, and a complex emotion flashed through her heart.

Oh, why did I suddenly have the idea of ​​making Xinchun the third party?

Am I pitying her?

Or can I really feel her sincerity?
She tightened her palms, held the gift, and slowly walked to Matsumae Shinchun. As they passed by, she whispered, "I have no problem with what you said. As long as you can accept the fact that you have lost."

"Defeat? What does that mean?" Matsumae Shinchun looked confused.

"Literally." Jiu Huayue didn't explain any more and waved without looking back. "Okay, I should go back now. See you tomorrow."

Defeat?

Looking at Jiuhuayue's figure gradually walking away in the setting sun, Matsumae Xinchun felt that his anxiety was growing stronger.

What exactly is this?
intuition?

Matsumae Shinchun closed her eyes and tried to think.

She tried hard to remember everything that happened today.

Xiaoyue and her teacher slept in the same room last night.

There was no bed on the floor in the room, so Xiaoyue and the teacher obviously slept together.

When I was talking to Xiaoyue on the phone, her voice was a little breathless.

In addition, she saw Xiaoyue put a piece of white cloth in her backpack, and then the teacher gave her some extra money when she checked out.

Finally, here is Xiaoyue's walking posture today
will not
No way?
No, Xiaoyue—

Matsumae Shinharu couldn't believe it.

She even couldn't believe the intuition that had accompanied her all day.

But the next moment, she felt her heart beating faster.

The anxiety disorder came back again.

Matsumae Shinchun hurried back to her room to take medicine. After she felt better, she picked up her cell phone and found Fujii Itsuki's contact information.

Staring at the phone screen for a long time.

The girl suddenly felt that she shouldn't ask the teacher about this kind of thing.
If I ask directly, wouldn’t the teacher be very embarrassed?
If I wrongly accuse the teacher, won’t a rift called “suspicion” appear between me and the teacher?

So she found Jiu Huayue’s Line in the corner of her contacts, typed, and asked her the questions she wanted to ask.

"Xiao Yue, when you said you were defeated, what did you mean?"

After waiting for about five minutes, Jiuhuayue replied.

[Are you sure you want to know?]
Matsumae Shinchun's anxiety grew stronger, but she still typed out a reply, "OK."

The message sent this time showed [Read] for a full three minutes.

Matsumae Shinchun felt that every second was torture.

Then, Jiuhuayue’s message popped up.

[I think Xinchun, you have already guessed it, and I came here to ask you just to confirm the answer.]
[You gave me a gift this afternoon, and I felt embarrassed to keep it a secret from you after you asked. Yes, that’s right, the uncle and I have already——]
Matsumae Shinchun's fingers froze on the screen, as if time had frozen at that moment.

She read Jiuhuayue's words over and over again, and her heart seemed to be blocked by something heavy and she couldn't breathe.

Anxiety came over her again, and she gripped the phone tightly, her knuckles turning white from the force.

The thoughts in her heart were intertwined with reluctance, confusion and loss. She tried to calm herself down and told herself to be rational, but the painful thought in her mind continued to echo - Jiu Huayue and the teacher had a relationship that went beyond the limit.

Xiaoyue, you!!!

(End of this chapter)