Chapter 34 She's back?
Qiansui only had half a day off, and when she was leaving, she insisted on making lunch for herself. After they had eaten together, she left reluctantly.

Fujii Itsuki remembered that it was the same when Chitose came to Kyuuka's house last time.

She really likes herself.

This child... should be said to be this close sister who always gives me rich emotional support behind my back.

Whenever she faces social reality, professional ideals and inner conflicts, she can always motivate herself with unconditional love and a sunny and intimate smile.

Because of her, Fujii Itsuki will also have new ideas and motivation for his future path.

Since I can't let go of this ideal of becoming a teacher, instead of wandering in confusion and self-denial, I might as well face the reality and try to face this ideal again.

Just as I face again what I said to the dean at the beginning - my dream is to become a teacher who can lead everyone forward.

Fujii Itsuki held the cigarette between his index and middle fingers, staring at the place where Chitose had just waved goodbye, preparing to return to his room and close the main door.

However, when he turned around, he caught a glimpse of a white figure out of the corner of his eye.

The snow in Otaru will not stop at the end of the year. For at least these four or five days, the world will be covered in white.

The reason why Fujii Itsuki noticed the white shadow was because he saw a red amulet hanging under the white half-cloak.

The amulet is red with white and a little emerald green in the middle.

It is clearly the image of a white fox holding a jade bracelet.

Isn't this the amulet sold by Matsumae Shrine?

The moment he caught a glimpse of it out of the corner of his eye, Fujii Juxin paid attention.

It was because he noticed this that he subconsciously looked for the pretty figure in the light snow across the distance of the courtyard and the iron fence, following her with his eyes for a while.

Although he couldn't see clearly, the figure gave him a vague feeling that it looked a bit like Matsumae Shinchun.

Combined with the amulet I just caught a glimpse of, it makes me feel even more like her.

What is Xinchun doing here?
Fujii Itsuki stopped walking back to his room, smoked a cigarette, and continued to watch the white figure in the snow outside.

He noticed that the white shadow walked to the location of Jiuhua's mailbox and then stopped.

The other person looked up, stared at Jiuhua's big house for more than ten seconds, and then looked left and right.

She seemed hesitant and a little surprised?

Fujii Itsuki wasn't quite sure, but he certainly got that feeling, because no one would look up and pause for more than ten seconds for no reason.

She had definitely noticed something that concerned her.

Finally, Fujii Itsuki saw that the other party took out a light yellow envelope from her half-cloak and put it into the mailbox of Jiuhua's house.

The moment after delivering the mail to the mailbox, the other party seemed to be relieved, and subconsciously looked at the main entrance of the villa through the big iron gate.

exactly.

She saw Fujii Itsuki standing at the door smoking.

Fujii Itsuki happened to meet her eyes.

The eyes of both parties met in the air through Xiaoxue, and they recognized each other in an instant.

The small teardrop mole on the girl's right eye corner is so beautiful that it cannot be ignored.

It's really spring in my heart.

How did she get here?

When the girl realized that Fujii Itsuki had discovered her, she immediately turned around and fled.

Why is she running?
Hiding from yourself?

Fujii Itsuki quickly threw away his unfinished cigarette and chased after him.

Even though he wasn't quite sure what the current situation was, he couldn't help but care since Matsumae Shinchun was avoiding meeting him.

This child likes to chat with me very much. She would usually contact me in the evening about study problems, but she has never sent me a message in the past few days.

Fujii Itsuki was already very concerned about this, and now seeing Miss Matsumae running away in front of him, he naturally chased after her.

He guessed that something must have happened to Matsumae Shinchun, which was why she was hiding from him.

With the idea that the problem must be solved as soon as possible, Fujii Itsuki chased the girl's white figure for several hundred meters and ran across two streets.

The snow was light, but there was a lot of snow on the streets.

huh-huh-

The girl breathed rapidly, her thin, soft lips slightly opened, and white mist came out.

At an intersection, Matsumae Shinharu was about to be caught up, so anxious that he stepped on the half-melted snow.

The reduced friction brought by the ice surface caused her body to lose balance instantly and fall forward.

'It's over.'

Just when she realized that she couldn't avoid falling, her hand was grabbed from behind.

The girl's body, which was about to fall, froze in mid-air for a moment.

Fujii Itsuki grabbed the girl's slender wrist and pulled her up, and Matsumae Shinchun quickly returned to her normal state.

The girl's posture is elegant and graceful.

But now she was facing Fujii Itsuki, subconsciously avoiding his gaze, with her hands clasped around her stomach somewhat uneasily.

"teacher"

Seeing that it was really her, Fujii Itsuki did not rush to ask her why she ran away, but asked softly:
"You're not hurt, are you?"

Matsumae Shinchun looked up at Fujii Itsuki who was standing under the roadside tree, then quickly lowered his head, remained motionless, and answered softly:

"No, no."

"Did something happen at home?"

"."

The girl remained silent.

"Matsumae?"

Seeing that the girl was hesitant and silent, Fujii Itsuki further guided her:
"Matsumae, I still remember when I was talking to you about your mother, she accidentally said something important. What was that?"

Of course, Matsumae Shinharu would not forget the image of her mother that she had talked about with Fujii Itsuki, so after listening to what Fujii Itsuki said, she immediately blurted out:

“The most important trust between people is communication”

"Are you willing to trust me?"

"Of course, the teacher is a very trustworthy person."

Fujii Itsuki smiled, "If you have anything to say, why don't you just tell me directly?"

Perhaps it was because of her mother, or perhaps it was because Fujii Itsuki didn't speak impatiently, Matsumae Shinchun looked up at the other person and then told him the reason why she ran away:
"I thought the teacher was mad at me."

"Angry with you?" Fujii Itsuki was surprised, "Why would Matsumae think that?"

"Didn't I bring up a very unpleasant topic on the teacher's last day of teaching because of me?"

Fujii Itsuki frowned and thought about it.

By the way, that day was when Matsumae Shinharu took the initiative to ask about my past.

At that time, I recalled my experience in Tokyo and told it to Matsumae Shinharu. As I was talking, I suddenly realized that I was actually avoiding the fact of failure by returning to Otaru, and then I became depressed. The experience I was telling naturally came to an abrupt end.

I see. That's why Ms. Matsumae was worried.

Seeing Fujii Itsuki frowning, Matsumae Shinchun became even more frightened.

"And the teacher hasn't contacted me in the past few days. I know the teacher is angry with me."

Are all girls of this age so sensitive?

Fujii Itsuki relaxed his frown and said with a smile, "Don't misunderstand Matsumae, my expression is not directed at you, but I like to urge myself in my heart when I recall the past, so I frown habitually."

Expression and tone are important criteria for communication.

Matsumae Shinchun secretly noticed the changes in Fujii Itsuki's expression and tone.

"As for what you said about me being in a bad mood that day. Well, that's true, but don't misunderstand me, it wasn't because of you, but because I thought of some bad things about myself, so I suddenly felt depressed." "That's right! The teacher was still upset because of me."

Fujii Itsuki shook his head. "Even if Matsumae didn't ask about my past, I would have realized it sooner or later. Matsumae helped me recall my past in Tokyo and reminded me in advance. This was actually helpful to me."

Matsumae Shinchun looked at him and took a step forward. "Then, teacher—"

"So, it was a misunderstanding."

"Teacher Fujii, are you really not angry with me?"

"How could that be? Matsumae is so smart and polite, why would I get angry over such a small matter? Besides," Fujii Itsuki faced the girl and smiled, "As an adult, it would not be good for me to offend the eldest lady of the Matsumae family, right?"

Matsumae Shinharu was very smart and could tell that Fujii Itsuki was playing a good-natured joke on the Matsumae family.

Although they had not been together for a long time, she understood that Mr. Fujii was not the kind of person who liked to curry favor with worldly dignitaries.

If the teacher was really such a person, he would not have chosen to resign when he was in Tokyo.

"Thank you." Matsumae Shinchun was happy from the bottom of her heart and repeated, "Thank you teacher for talking to me like this."

Fujii Itsuki then explained a few more words and the misunderstanding was resolved.

Matsumae Shinharu turned to face Fujii Itsuki with an apologetic look on her face.

"Teacher, I'm very sorry, I misunderstood you."

"It's okay, just explain it clearly. But why did Matsumae run away when he saw me just now?"

Matsumae Shinchun turned her eyes away, her face still apologetic, "Because I was worried that the teacher didn't want to see me, or that he would be unhappy after seeing me."

Sure enough, girls of this age are so sensitive inside.

The same is probably true for Jiuhuayue and Qiansui.

"Well, how about we just let this matter go?"

"Of course! I'll just follow the teacher's advice."

Matsumae Shinchun bowed her head and saluted, very elegantly and with the demeanor of a noble man.

Not to mention that she herself has a petite figure, with half of her body covered in fluffy white fur, and against the backdrop of the snowy street behind her, she looks like a little snow fox.

"Matsumae is so polite again," Fujii Itsuki laughed, "But it's okay, that's your characteristic. Now that the misunderstanding has been resolved, how about coming to my place for a cup of tea? I remember that you mostly made tea for me at your house, I'm really ashamed of it, this time I can teach you the tea-making technique that your mother taught me."

"real?!"

Matsumae Shinharu immediately looked anxious, but her good upbringing allowed her to quickly calm her expression and blush.

"Teacher, I'm a little anxious again, but thank you very much, Mr. Fujii."

"Thank you, that's not necessary. I'm just repaying a favor. And I really enjoy talking to you about your mother's novels. After all, I haven't found a friend who shares the same interests with me in all these years."

"Thank you for your recognition, teacher." The girl's face turned even redder. "Teacher, me too."

This is natural; the professor's novel is not intended for people of this age group.

It would be strange if Matsumae Shinharu could make friends through her mother's novels.

This also indirectly proves her extraordinary maturity.

"You still say thank you, forget it, let's go, I'll lead the way for you, be careful not to slip."

"Ok!"

When Matsumae Shinharu saw Fujii Itsuki's back after he turned around, she immediately ran forward and chased after him.

The girl followed closely behind him, looking at his back in the snow, and inexplicably recalled the moment when he pulled her to prevent her from falling. She felt a little warm in her heart.

"teacher"

"what happened?"

"Nothing!"

Fujii Itsuki did not ask why the girl behind him suddenly called him, but just said calmly: "Hurry up, it's cold outside, but you still have to be careful not to fall."

"Ah."

"By the way, Songqian came alone? How did you find where I live?"

"Yingbo sent me here. I asked him to pick me up in two hours."

"I see."

*
"Matsumae? Why don't you come in?"

Matsumae Shinchun stood at the gate of Kuka's house, gazing at the large Western-style house left over from the Taisho era. The iron gate was clearly open, but she was reluctant to come in.

"Teacher has always lived here?"

Fujii Itsuki noticed her dull expression when she looked up, "No, no, I'm just renting here temporarily recently."

"Does the teacher know the owner of this house?"

"Not really acquaintances, but the dean knew them in the past. I rented here through the dean's introduction."

Matsumae Shinchun retracted her gaze, a barely perceptible sadness showing on her face, "I understand."

strangeness.

Fujii Itsuki knew that Matsumae would not ask this for no reason. In addition, when Matsumae first came here, he stared at the Kuka family's big villa for a long time.

He remembered correctly that the Matsumae family and the Kuka family had a relationship in history.

If he guessed correctly
"Matsumae."

"Hmm? Yes, teacher."

"Do you know Jiuhuayue?"

Upon hearing this, Matsumae Shinchun's pupils shrank, and he stared at Fujii Itsuki's face and asked quickly:

"Teacher! Teacher, do you know her?"

Miss Matsumae rarely showed surprise, and the only time she did so was when she heard that she was her mother's student.

"I've been renting here, so I'll naturally know something."

"Sure enough. Sure enough," Matsumae Shinchun lowered his head and murmured, "My initial expectation was correct."

"Matsumae?"

"Ah? Sorry, teacher," Matsumae Shinchun responded and raised her head. "I just had an idea when I first came here. I wondered if the teacher knew Yue. Because the fact that the teacher lived here already surprised me."

"."

Fujii Itsuki stared at Matsumae Shinchun's eyes, which were blinking in the snow, and asked:

"Your Matsumae family and the Kuka family are old friends, right?"

"Yes, our two families have always had a connection since the Warring States Period. Yue was also my best friend in the past."

Matsumae Shinharu became sad.

"But one day, the entire Jiuhua family moved to Tokyo. Yue and I were still communicating through letters, but I don't know why. Maybe it was because the distance was too far and writing letters was too troublesome. In less than half a year, we completely lost contact."

This is strange. Song Mae said that he is the best friend, but why have I never heard Jiuhuayue mention Song Mae?

She also said that she didn't have many friends.

"Are you and Jiuhuayue really that close?"

"Of course," Matsumae Shinchun was very sure, "I grew up with her, and it's no exaggeration to say that we were childhood sweethearts. We were the best of playmates, and my father, mother, and Uncle Jiuhua and Aunt Jiuhua were all very happy that we could play so well together. It's just that Yue suddenly moved to Tokyo, and I don't know how she is doing now."

Fujii Itsuki felt even more puzzled. "Didn't she tell you that she went back to Otaru?"

"She went back to Otaru?"

"Yes, it should have been three months ago, almost four months ago. She went back to Otaru at that time."

Matsumae Shinchun was stunned, obviously having no idea that Jiuhuayue had returned.

"how come."

(End of this chapter)