Chapter 26 Welcome home
"Welcome back, Brother Shu!!"

The short-haired girl with her hair tied at the side suddenly moved forward. Fujii Itsuki was caught off guard and was knocked into her arms, forcing him to stagger back a step.

It really hurts.

"Chitose——"

"Hey, I definitely didn't mean to scare Brother Shu just now!"

"It was intentional, wasn't it?"

Yang Kui Chitose was rubbing against his arms, and suddenly stopped. She spread her hands and asked, "Brother Shu, why do you smell like a fox?"

"You mean the scent? It's a lucky charm."

"Peace charm?"

Fujii Itsuki took out his key chain and showed her the amulet that Matsumae had given her.

Yang Kui Qiansui saw the little snow fox holding the jade bracelet and noticed that it was a handmade item. It was definitely given by a girl. "Who gave it to Brother Shu?"

"It's the student I told you about before."

".Brother Shu.! You are so lucky in love!"

"What kind of luck is this? People thought I taught well, so they gave it to me out of courtesy."

Fujii Itsuki took back the key chain and hung it on his belt. He reached out and touched her head to calm her jealous thoughts.

"Alright, alright, Chitose, tell me why you are here first."

"Brother Shu said it as if he didn't like my presence."

It was only then that Fujii Itsuki smelled the scent of food coming from the house.

Looking at Qiansui's attire again, she was still wearing an apron, and the metal object in her hand was not a weapon, but a spatula.
This girl was cooking and waiting for me to come home. She probably saw me coming in from the security camera, so she ran out to greet me.
My heart softened in an instant.

"I didn't mean that. I'm just curious as to why you're at Jiuhua's house."

Chitose Yang Kui stood on tiptoe, tilted her head to the right, her short hair and side-tied headband swayed, and her smiling face reappeared in Fujii Itsuki's sight.

She obviously didn't care and said what she just said deliberately.

"My father gave me a day off today, so I came to play with Brother Shu. But I forgot that Brother Shu was a tutor. So I had to play at Jiuhua's house for a day."

Fujii Itsuki looked up, but didn't see Jiuhuayue.

"She's upstairs. She said she has her own things to do. I don't want to disturb her."

"Have you established a good relationship with her?"

"We get along pretty well! Although Jiuhua is quite cold, that's not a problem. She even invited me to stay for lunch."

What a surprise! Jiuhua is quite resistant to strangers, but she can get along well with Chitose, whom she doesn’t know very well?

Or maybe it's just that girls of the same age just sympathize with each other.

"That's pretty good."

"Brother Shu, the meal that Jiuhua prepared for lunch was really delicious~ There were five full dishes~"

He just cooked five full dishes for Jiuhua in the morning, and she definitely couldn't finish them all.

So, what Chitose meant by lunchtime dishes is -

Fujii Itsuki laughed, "Next time, next time, next time I will definitely make it for you, Chitose."

"Next time"

"Then now, it's ok. It's dinner time now. I'll make an extra dish for you."

Yang Kui Chitose put down her hand, turned around and said:

"Don't bother Brother Shu this time. I've prepared dinner. What I care about is why you came back so late as a tutor and why you didn't check the message I sent you."

"Because the workload is quite heavy. I didn't read the message because my computer ran out of battery. I was using it the whole time and was thinking of going home to charge it."

"Why do you still accept this job when the workload is so heavy?"

"There's a lot of money, it's that simple."

"OK then"

"I'm sorry to have made you wait for me at home for so long, Chitose, and to have troubled you to prepare the meal in advance."

Upon hearing Fujii Itsuki's thanks, Yang Kui Chitose immediately smiled like a little sun, "It's just a small matter! Let's not say these useless words, Brother Itsuki, come and eat quickly, you must be hungry so late at night."

Then Fujii Itsuki was led by the girl to the living room.

She also said that there were not many ingredients that morning and the food she cooked was not good. She went to the supermarket on purpose this afternoon, saying that she wanted to let Brother Shu taste the cooking of Yangkui's family.

It should be said that the girl has worthy of inheriting her adoptive father's cooking skills and is the next generation chef of the Yangkui family. There are five dishes and one soup on the table, and just from the appearance, they are all very neat and have the flavor of a restaurant.

It smells really nice too.

The girl didn't even let me get the food, just let me sit down.

"Brother Shu, I prepared some extra food for you."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome, you're welcome."

Fujii Itsuki sat at the dining table, looked at the large table full of dishes, then looked at her running to the rice cooker to get rice with such enthusiasm. He couldn't help but think that Chitose was too family-oriented. He didn't know who would have the chance to date this girl in the future.

That kid really got it cheap.

Come to think of it, if Chitose really brought a young boyfriend to meet me one day, and happily introduced him to me, saying "Brother Shu, this is XX, my new boyfriend", I would indeed feel reluctant as if I were seeing my daughter getting married.

"By the way, have you finished eating the four dishes and one soup I made this morning?"

"Brother Shu, you haven't done much to begin with."

its not right.
Fujii Itsuki remembered that he cooked quite a lot, at least enough for two people for three meals.

He left a lot when he left in the morning.

"Won't Jiuhua eat together?"

"Ah, well, I'll go call Jiuhua-san down to eat."

"Well, go ahead. She used to eat at this time. I'll wait for you. Be careful not to go upstairs. That girl doesn't like others to go up there."

"I know this."

Fujii Itsuki originally thought that Jiuhuayue would reject Chitose at first, but unexpectedly, Chitose called her a few times at the stairs and used his classmate relationship, and she went downstairs.

She still looked a little unfamiliar with the two of them, but Qiansui didn't care. He pulled her to the dining table and sat her down. He also served her food and placed the bowl and chopsticks in front of her.

——In Fujii Itsuki's opinion, Chitose spent the whole day with Kuka and they got along pretty well?

While eating, it was obvious that Jiuhuayue really liked the dishes cooked by Qiansui.

As he ate bowl after bowl, Qiansui was stunned. He held his chopsticks and said, "Is it so delicious?"

Jiuhuayue took the initiative to stay to do the dishes in the evening, but Fujii Itsuki could see that she didn't know how to wash the dishes and her speed was too slow. Perhaps this young lady had been pampered since childhood and had never done such housework, so he let her go back upstairs to rest.

"Nine flowers."

"Ok?"

Before going upstairs, Fujii Itsuki called her at the stairs.

"You and Chitose got along well today, didn't you?"

"good."

"What do you think Chitose?"

"How is it?" Jiuhuayue had a strange expression.

"You two have spent the day together today, right? I mean, what do you think of her impression of you?"

"Very good." The girl's answer was very concise.

"Qi Sui said you don't have many friends at school. I think you and Chi Sui get along pretty well. Why don't you try to be friends with her?"

Jiuhuayue stood on the steps at the entrance of the stairs and glanced at Yang Kui Chitose who was still busy washing dishes in the open kitchen.

Seeing her hesitation, Fujii Itsuki smiled faintly and added:
"I know it may be a bit abrupt to say this directly, but in a period of life, friends play a very important role and are an indispensable part. Support, sharing, understanding and listening, if you really have a classmate who can be called a friend, the happiness of life will be greatly increased. As for Chitose, I have watched her grow up since she was a child and know that she is a good child. If you want to try to find someone who understands and agrees with you, Chitose is a good choice."

Jiuhuayue blinked her purple eyes.

"What's wrong?" "Nothing," the girl shook her head again, and suddenly noticed the keychain on his belt. That amulet seemed to concern her very much, "I just feel that you suddenly fit your identity as a teacher, uncle."

Upon hearing this, Fujii Itsuki shook his head and responded, "Only before."

"Can you show me your amulet?"

"Amulet? Why are you and Chitose both interested in this thing?" Fujii Itsuki took the keychain from his belt and handed it to her.

After Jiuhuayue took it, she looked at the amulet for a long time.

"Who gave it to you?"

"A student, his last name is Matsumae."

"."

Fujii Itsuki saw that she was silent for a long time and asked, "Do you like it?"

Jiuhuayue shook her head and handed it back to him, then turned around and held the escalator in the stairwell, leaving only the slender girl's back to Fujii Itsuki.

"What do you think about becoming friends with Chitose?" Fujii Itsuki asked upwards again.

Jiuhuayue stopped.

"Thank you, I'll consider it." The voice came from behind her.

"That's good."

"Also, thank you for this morning. The food you cooked is delicious."

The girl paused in the middle of saying this, and her voice became inexplicably lower and slower.

Fujii Itsuki wasn't sure if she was ashamed to admit that the food she cooked was delicious. After saying this, she ran upstairs faster.

He looked towards where the girl disappeared.

This child is quite polite.

Just not very candid.

When I returned to the kitchen, Chitose had already washed almost half of the dishes.

"What did Brother Shu talk about with Jiuhua just now?"

Fujii Itsuki took the bowl she had washed the first time and rinsed it with cold water, "Chitose, aren't you and she both studying at Tachibana North? I told Jiuhua that if she doesn't have many friends, she might as well come to you to be friends."

"Brother Aishu recommended me to her."

"You don't want to? Don't you like making friends? Besides, Jiuhua can play the guitar, and you've loved music since you were a child. You can communicate with her."

"It's not that I don't want to. In fact, today, besides wanting to see Brother Shu, I also want to make friends with Jiuhua."

It turned out to be the case.

No wonder Jiuhua didn't resist the proposal I made to her too much. It turned out that Chitose had told her about it in the morning.

"What a surprise. But Chitose, aren't you afraid that she will take away your position in school?"

"A little bit, but I'm not afraid of her! After all, Brother Shu also said that if I dress up a little, I will be more beautiful than her!" Yang Kui Chitose raised her chin and closed her eyes.

"Chitose, you don't have to be so competitive." Seeing her confident and proud look, Fujii Itsuki wanted to touch her head again. "Sometimes if you are too strong, you will only get hurt."

"That won't do! And didn't Brother Shu find anything today?"

Chitose Yang Aoi turned her face slightly towards him, and her light eyeliner, cute profile, and the red side-tied short hair were particularly eye-catching.

She also blinked her right eye twice, as if she was deliberately giving him a hint.

"Of course! My Chitose not only put on eyeliner today, but also put on some very light lipstick. She looks especially beautiful."

"Really?"

"Well, apart from her somewhat vulgar makeup skills, Chitose is still very cute as a girl."

"Brother Shu, that's too much! How can you praise someone like that?"

Seeing Chitose staring at him, looking depressed and a little angry, Fujii Itsuki thought she was very cute, so he stopped teasing her, "Okay, I lied to you Chitose, your makeup is very good, when did you learn it?"

"It's been a while since I started learning this." Yang Kui Chitose still cared about it. When she washed the dishes, she wiped the dishes twice and looked at him. "Is it really good-looking?"

This time, Fujii Itsuki nodded seriously, "It looks good. I really like this kind of light makeup. It's just an embellishment, not a distraction."

"That's good"

You can see that Chitose was very happy inside after being praised.

"The main reason is that you are good-looking, Chitose. Your face shape alone is very cute, and your short hair tied on the side makes you look energetic and eye-catching. From the perspective of others, you are a little sun that can leave a deep impression on people at first sight."

"Brother Tree"

"what happened?"

“You’re really good at praising people.”

"Are you happy?"

"I'm happy." Yang Kui Chitose lowered her head and slowly washed the dishes. "Actually, when I graduated from junior high school, I considered going to the high school where Brother Shu went."

"I remember you told me about this last year, but you didn't come because the hot spring shop was too far away, right?"

"Well, after all, I still have to help with the hot spring shop, and my father's legs are not good. Tachibana is also a very good school. Brother Shu, do you still remember when you wanted to leave Otaru to go to Kyoto to study at university?"

Fujii Itsuki stared at the shining porcelain bowl in his hand, recalled the past scenes, and smiled:
"Of course I remember. At that time, Chitose, you were very reluctant to let me go. You hid at home and cried until my train was about to leave. Then you ran over to see me off with tears streaming down your face. When the train started, you chased after me while shouting to me, 'Brother Shu, keep up the good work in Kyoto!' Such encouraging words?"

"Brother Shu still remembers these."

"How could I not remember? Everyone who came to see me off at the orphanage was still smiling behind me," Fujii Itsuki recalled, sighing, "It's a pity that the children at that time are no longer in the orphanage. They have gone their separate ways for seven or eight years. Among those who came to see me off, apart from the director, Chitose is the only one who is still in Otaru."

"Well, it's just me and Brother Shu. That's why when I was in high school in Tachibana Kita, I was determined to get into Tokyo in the future."

"To see me?"

"Ok!"

"Just to see me?"

"Isn't it okay?"

"."

Fujii Itsuki read a special feeling in the determined eyes of Yang Kui Chitose, a feeling he often saw in the past when the two were still living in the orphanage.

Especially when I share a snack with her and gain her intimacy and closeness.

The emotion called "dependence"
"Of course, this is your freedom, Chitose. But as your brother, I still have to give you some advice. Don't plan your entire life just for one person."

"Yeah, I understand. But Brother Shu, what I want to say is that I was already moving forward with the thought that I still wouldn't be able to visit Brother Shu for three years, but I didn't expect Brother Shu to suddenly return to Otaru. For me, this is a huge surprise, so I'm really really really really really happy that Brother Shu can come back."

Fujii Itsuki smiled, "What does Chitose really want to say to me?"

"Brother Shu, welcome home."

Fujii Itsuki was speechless for a long time.

No other words were needed, he felt that just these words from the thousand-year-old girl were enough.

Based on this one sentence alone, for me, Otaru is really much better than Tokyo.

In the following time, whether she was washing dishes or Fujii Itsuki sending the girl home, it was obvious that she was happier to more than one degree.

On the bus, she kept smiling and waving goodbye to me.

Fujii Itsuki saw this and felt that no matter how windy and snowy the night was, her smile could always melt the ice.

Having a sister who is like a little sun is indeed a very happy thing.

Fujii Itsuki withdrew his gaze and walked back along the snow-covered street.

Because of Qiansui, he more or less felt his presence in this world.

He is a person who has a goal in everything he does.

Losing your goal is like losing your sense of direction. You don’t know why you should move forward, and you will also lose your sense of existence in this world.

And Qiansui can make him feel the meaning of his existence in this world to a great extent.

To be cared about, to be concerned about, to be concerned about and even to be loved.

It is precisely because of the positive emotions brought by Qiansui that I don't fall into the quagmire of confusion.
Well, I now have some motivation to live a good life.

(End of this chapter)