Chapter 225 Cultural Festival (1)

A breeze mixed with residual warmth blew by, and the last golden light of the setting sun shone on the Otaru Canal, creating golden ripples.

As Fujii Itsuki was carrying the vegetables he bought from the supermarket home, someone patted his shoulder from behind.

"Ashu."

He turned his head to the right.

No one was seen.

I turned to the left and didn't see it either.

"Muzi, you're still trying to play the same trick on me, right?" Fujii Itsuki sighed.

"Do you still remember?" Akai Muzi appeared in front of him.

"I'm not amnesiac. You used to like playing this." Fujii Itsuki glanced at the plastic bags full of her hands. "Are you also going home after buying groceries?"

"It's a rare weekend sale, eggs are half price, so I bought some more."

"I'll help you carry it."

Akai Muzi was stunned for a moment, then smiled, "Ashu~ You are still the same~"

"You mean you don't want to?"

"No, of course I would."

Fujii Itsuki took the plastic bag from her hand and slowed down his pace. Akai Muzi took the opportunity to walk to his side.

The two of them walked towards the bus stop together.

"Tomorrow is the cultural festival, right? By the way, what is your class preparing, Shu?"

"Teahouse, cat teahouse."

".Wait, Tachibana doesn't allow animals into the school, right?"

"So the cats are all pretending."

"What the hell."

"Muppet, I went out yesterday afternoon to rent a puppet costume."

"That's it"

"What about your class?"

"Hey, just a regular cake and cafe."

We chatted along the way. Although Otaru is small and shabby, as a coastal city, the sunset scenery is still quite beautiful.

When passing by a used car market, Fujii Itsuki couldn't help but take a closer look inside.

Akai Muzi noticed his gaze.

"Want to buy one?"

Fujii Itsuki retracted his head and said, "It's still too expensive. An ordinary family car would cost half a year's salary, and an ordinary small car would cost three months. Let's save up some money later."

"I remember you, Shu, had this idea a long time ago, right?"

"After all, it's very inconvenient to always have to wait for the bus when going to and from work. I also have to wait for the bus when I go home to buy groceries, and there are no buses later in the day."

"With your salary, Ah Shu, it's not difficult to buy a family car. You don't have much expenses, and you basically don't smoke recently."

"It's quite difficult to save up." That's all Fujii Itsuki said.

"Oh," Akai Muzi seemed to suddenly remember something and suddenly realized, "That's right, you have been supporting the welfare home."

"I want to buy a car now because the director said I don't need to worry about the welfare home anymore."

".Xinchun's help?"

"Ah."

"Why don't you let Xinchun give you one?" Akai Muzi suddenly teased.

"How can I let her send me off?" Fujii Itsuki quickly shook his head.

Akai Muzi kicked the pebbles under her feet and asked, "How much money do you still need?"

".Muzi?"

"Anyway, I only earn money to eat and drink, I don't need that much, so I'll lend it to you."

Fujii Itsuki stared at her profile.

To be honest, if Muzi borrowed some money, he could indeed buy a car.

You don’t have to buy a second-hand car that someone has driven for five or six years, but a brand new one.

Fujii Itsuki was also quite tempted, after all, it is really troublesome to catch the bus every day.
"Ashu, you really want to buy a car, right? You've been talking about it for so long, but you still haven't made a move."

"I really want to."

"Then buy it."

"I don't have enough money, unless I buy something small, worn out and old."

"Then why don't you ask me to borrow money?" Akai Muzi looked down, "It's better than taking out a loan and spending more money."

They both stopped at the same time, walked to the bus stop, and stood side by side.

The air was silent for a moment.

"No need."

Fujii Itsuki thought about it and refused.

"Is it."

Akai Muzi closed her eyes after hearing this answer.

She was inexplicably quiet for a while, staring at the sunset below her feet.
After a moment she laughed again.

"Ashu, you are still a bit stubborn."

"Yes."

Fujii Itsuki didn't say much, just smiled slightly, and then turned his gaze to the sunset in the distance.

The afterglow reflected on the surface of the canal, creating golden sparkles.

The two stood there in silence until the sound of a bus engine was faintly heard.

Akai Muzi took the plastic bag handed over by Fujii Itsuki and waved to him before getting on the car. "Then I'll leave first. We'll talk tomorrow."

"Okay, be careful on the way back."

Fujii Itsuki raised his hand to say goodbye to her and watched her back disappear behind the car door.

But at the moment the car door closed, he suddenly felt an indescribable loneliness in his heart.

It’s true. I accidentally hurt Muzi’s heart again.

When I returned home with the vegetables, Jiuhuayue came out to greet me almost immediately.

She took the food from his hands, helped him take off his coat and get his clothes.

"Xiaoyue, you don't have to be so enthusiastic."

Jiu Huayue pinched his clothes and puffed up her face, "What? Don't forget our current relationship."

"what relationship?"

"You! Are you teasing me on purpose? We are newlyweds now."

"."

Fujii Itsuki was trying to hold back his laughter.

"Why, you're not happy?"

"With pleasure, of course."

".So perfunctory!" Jiu Huayue punched him lightly.

"Then give me a kiss?"

Jiuhuayue pouted, but still took the initiative to show her own cheek to Fujii Itsuki.

Fujii Itsuki looked at her pink and tender face for a moment, then gave her a small kiss.

"Are you satisfied now?"

"That's pretty much it."

Jiu Huayue was very happy, "Uncle, come in quickly, I have prepared tea and rice, and I am waiting for you to buy groceries and come back to cook!"

Jiuhuayue is very nimble.

After saying that, she packed up the things that Fujii Itsuki bought and ran to the kitchen to cook.

Da da da.

Soon the sound of Jiuhuayue washing and cutting vegetables was heard.

Fujii Itsuki stood in the living room and looked towards the kitchen, and found this scene incredible.

We haven't even gotten married yet, so why does it feel like Jiu Huayue and I are already an old married couple?
"Let me help you—"

"No, no need for your help, uncle. This is my duty."

Fujii Itsuki wanted to help, but she was reluctant.

Said it was her responsibility as a "wife".

Fujii Itsuki was at a loss whether to laugh or cry. How could Xiao Jiuhua be so into the role?

He was touched and felt warm, but when it came to talking about his wife, he still felt awkward.

But if you treat Jiuhuayue as your girlfriend, there is really no problem.

When it was dinner time, Jiuhuayue no longer sat opposite him, but sat next to Fujii Itsuki.

I had to pick up food for him and feed him with chopsticks.

"Uncle, please have some of these oysters."

"Uncle, the mutton soup I made today is delicious!"

"Uncle, you should eat some leeks too."

If you want to talk about enjoyment, it is definitely enjoyable. "Wait, I didn't buy these, where did you get these ingredients?"

"I went out to buy it when you were away."

".What do you want to do?" Fujii Itsuki glanced at the food on the table and realized something was wrong.

"What? What do I want to do? I'm doing this for your own good!" Jiu Huayue's pretty face turned red.

Fujii Itsuki glanced at Xiao Jiuhua's expression again and said, "Should we take a day off?"

"No!" Jiuhuayue spoke word by word.

"Then it's tonight. It's ok to take a rest tonight."

"No!" Jiuhuayue emphasized his tone, emphasizing each word.

"Xiao Yue."

"no way!"

"Why."

"You, you still have the nerve to ask me why. Don't you always say you don't want to, but you still get to continue? You are a hypocrite, uncle!"

"That's not true."

"Hmph, if you continue like this, I will ignore you."

"."

After dinner, Jiu Huayue really did as she said and ignored her.

He even refused to collect the dishes that I used to help collect.

Fujii Itsuki had no choice but to go to her and coax her.

Fortunately, Jiuhuayue was easily persuaded and immediately softened her heart.

".Then tell me how to solve it."

"I'll stay with you for an hour tonight?"

Jiuhuayue glared at him and turned her head away fiercely.

"Two hours?"

"Humph!"

"Three hours?"

"Humph!"

Fujii Itsuki was completely speechless.

"Then I can stay with you all night."

“That’s pretty much it”

*
The weather was getting cooler, and the next day, Fujii Itsuki got up late, which was unusual for him.

If Jiu Huayue hadn't urged him to get up quickly, he would have been late today.

In the car, he was completely listless.

When we arrived at school, as expected, the atmosphere of the cultural festival today was completely different from usual. Every classroom was decorated with colorful flags and ribbons, and at the entrance stood a welcome sign carefully made with a hand-painted board.

The playground is no longer a playground. It is occupied by various snack stalls, second-hand goods and handicraft stalls, and has become a lively open-air market.

The whole school was filled with people from inside and outside the school walking around.

Fujii Itsuki felt that in such a lively atmosphere, he finally felt better.

"Morning, Mr. Fujii."

"morning."

"Morning, Mr. Fujii!"

"morning."

Fujii Itsuki stood at the door of the second-year Class A and noticed that the students coming and going had light steps.

But is it the students' footsteps that are light, or is it my head that is light?

Fujii Itsuki was a little confused and his head was aching, so he rubbed his temples.

"Teacher Fujii."

Hearing the clear and gentle voice, Fujii Itsuki looked up, and sure enough, it was Matsumae Shinharu.

Matsumae Shinharu was standing with Hiiragi Rinka, looking at him with concern.

"Teacher, you don't look very well today." Matsumae Shinchun asked cautiously.

".It should be that the teacher didn't get enough rest last night." Hiiragi Rinka added softly.

The speaker may not mean it, but the listener may take it to heart.

When Matsumae Shinchun heard that the teacher did not sleep well at night, she immediately frowned.

Could it be Xiaoyue?

She was about to ask indirectly when she heard brisk footsteps from the other side. A figure rushed over quickly and hugged Matsumae Shinchun and Hiiragi Rinka with a smile.

"Kokoharu! Rinka! Good morning!!! Good morning to Mr. Itsuki—Teacher Fujii as well!" Chitose Yangkui smiled, but quickly covered her mouth in the middle of her words.

"Good morning."

".Good morning, Chitose."

Fujii Itsuki looked at Chitose, who was smiling and full of energy, with tired eyes, "Why is Chitose so happy today?"

"I just came back from fishing with my father last night! We caught so many fish, so we can make a lot of sushi." Yang Kui Chitose smiled with her eyes curved into crescents, and her red headband swayed with her short hair. "I'll give my fish to you, Mr. Fujii, when we get home today!"

Fujii Itsuki still remembers this incident.

A few days ago
How many days ago?

At any rate, it’s earlier than the day when Jiuhuayue ran out in the rain.

That day, Chitose invited him to go fishing, but he was seasick and refused.

Besides, after the club activities were temporarily stopped, Chitose had nothing to do and could secretly take a leave, but Fujii Jika still had to go to work and supervise the training of the stage play, so he had no time to go.

"Brother Tree?"

"Ok?"

Yang Kui Qiansui's eyes turned and suddenly found that Fujii Shu looked bad, and couldn't help but asked with concern, "Brother Shu, what's wrong with you?"

".Nothing." Fujii Itsuki knew that he looked very bad today.

"Didn't you sleep well last night? Or are you very tired recently?"

".Some of both."

All of them?
So that means all of them?

Satsuki
Matsumae Shinchun, who was listening nearby, clenched her schoolbag in her hands, with a conflicted expression on her face, looking extremely upset.

"Then Brother Shu should pay attention to rest."

Yang Kui Qiansui suddenly remembered something and said happily, "Brother Shu, Brother Shu! I still have some unused deer antlers at home, and they are still sealed. Qiansui can bring them over and give them to Brother Shu. This thing is very refreshing! It can make you feel more energetic every day!"

Deer antlers?

Fujii Itsuki still remembers the last time he ate this thing...
"Ahem, Chitose, this is at school."

"It's okay, it's okay," Yang Kui Chitose looked around quickly, "There's no one around now anyway."

"You have to be careful though. Besides, Rinka is still here."

Yang Kui Chitose pulled Hiiragi Rinka over, put their faces close together, and said with a smile, "Rinka has long known about the relationship between me and Hiiragi~"

"Chitose."

"Alright, alright, you've embarrassed Hitoshige-san."

After finishing this topic, Chitose Yangkui looked left and right at the furnishings in the classroom of Class A, Grade 2.

"By the way, I haven't asked Xinchun about your class's theme yet."

Matsumae Shinchun was thinking about something in her heart, but she came back to her senses when she heard Chitose's voice, "Chaya, cat tea house."

"Cat Tea House?"

"Yes, but a cat in disguise."

"Oh, it's the puppet costumes you see in amusement parks, right?"

"Yes, that's right. But the one the teacher rented yesterday seemed a little too big." Matsumae Shinchun looked at Fujii Itsuki.

"The bigger the better, the cooler it is, that's what the staff said," explained Fujii Itsuki.

"I see."

Afterwards, Chitose was called by Akai Muko to help. Seeing that the time was almost up, Fujii Itsuki took Matsumae Shinharu and Hiiragi Rinka to the equipment room to pick up the cat doll costumes that they had rented yesterday.

Fujii Itsuki searched for a long time.

"If I had known, I should have had someone deliver it to the office yesterday. There are so many things piled up here, all of which are props purchased by other classes."

But as Fujii Itsuki was flipping through the pages, he suddenly heard the sound of an iron door closing.

When he looked back again, only Matsumae Shinharu was left.

Fujii Itsuki didn't care and continued to rummage through the boxes.

"Koharu, where's Rinka?"

"Rinka? Rinka-chan, I told her to get out."

"Why are you calling her out? I can find out right away."

"Because I want to say something to you, Mr. Fujii, alone."

Fujii Itsuki's outstretched hand suddenly froze in mid-air. He sensed something strange, as if the temperature in the room had dropped suddenly, and an inexplicable chill passed through his back.

He suddenly felt uneasy.

No way.
Could it be that Xinchun knew?
(End of this chapter)