Chapter 84 Why don't you be my dad for a day?
It rained heavily.

Fujii Itsuki sat on the edge of the bed, drinking the caramel macchiato that he had just ground that morning. He looked through the door and windows at the square pavilion outside that had been inherited from the Taisho period.

Taisho period
When talking about the Taisho era, Fujii Itsuki first thought of three literary works he had read.

"The Setting Sun" by Osamu Dazai, "The Weaver Girl" by Junichiro Tanizaki, and "The Dancing Girl of Izu" by Yasunari Kawabata.

These three works have one thing in common, which is that they all reflect the conflict and interweaving between new ideas and traditional culture during the Taisho period.

To put it simply, in that new era, some people are conservative while others embrace the new.

In that era, it was normal for parents to not understand their children's thoughts.

The same is true in modern times.
He just received a call from Mrs. Jiuhua.

On the phone, Mrs. Jiuhua asked for my help. She wanted me, as a teacher, to persuade Jiuhua to go back to Tokyo.

Mrs. Jiuhua said that this was for her daughter's future.

In March, Jiuhuayue went to Tokyo.

In fact, long before March, she was already a formal actor of the Takarazuka Revue and had performed in many musicals.

In March, she performed on stage for the first time as the leading male role in the monthly group in the play "The Red Rose of Samarkand".

"The Red Rose of Samarkand" is the first performance of the queen Yuki Amami as a newcomer.

Yuki Amami also has an extraordinary status in the Takarazuka Revue.

Although Yuki Amami only played a small guard in this drama at that time.

But through this incident, we can see how much importance Jiuhua holds in Takarazuka.

Mrs. Kuka hinted in every way that the teachers at the Takarazuka Revue were training her to be the TOP of the new era.

Fujii Itsuki lit a cigarette skillfully and exhaled towards the ceiling.

If he were still a student, he would have said that future is not important and that all he needs to do is to find a job that he can keep.

But now that he has become an adult, he realizes how difficult it is for adults in society.

Money is hard to make and good jobs are hard to find.

After finding a job, I actually just went to and from get off work repeatedly every day, and went in and out of the small and ordinary rental house repeatedly.

This kind of life where one can have enough to eat and still have a little extra money to spend is indeed a wonderful life for people in poor areas.

But this kind of life also has its own pain.

Just like rich people have rich people’s worries.

That is the boredom and loss of purpose brought by the unchanging routine. Repetitive work and hard-to-get qualifications will make people lose the motivation to move forward, and it is easy to become a spinning gear and doubt themselves.

More importantly, lack of social interaction.

The vast majority of days are spent alone, which brings mental stress every night.

Emptiness, loneliness, numbness.
I feel like I'm in a daze every day.

This is why most young people of this era suffer from some degree of depression.

but.
The identity of Jiuhuayue as an actor of the Takarazuka Revue is different.

Her mother emphasized to her more than once on the phone her unique appearance and her talent in the troupe's performances.

As long as she keeps going down this path, with her beauty, she will have a 90% chance of success, if not 100%.

She will be famous and become well-known in society.

Young people with depression, like the one I just mentioned, may also regard her as a spiritual symbol because of her beauty and grace.

She will become the center of attention.

Even when she got off the plane, there would be a large group of people waiting for her at the gate, holding up signs with her name on them, adoring her passionately and crazily.

Then it would be impossible for her to be unpopular.

In other words, as long as Jiuhuayue keeps going, she will definitely be able to solve the thing she hates most - "loneliness".

He didn't want to get involved in this matter.

But this involves Jiuhua's future and what she hopes for in her heart.

Doesn’t Jiuhua dislike being alone?

Then why don't you just persuade her to continue along the same path?
Fujii Itsuki put out his cigarette and turned his gaze away from the heavy rain.

He turned on his cell phone, checked the time, got up, and walked out of the bedroom on the first floor.

The lobby on the first floor of Jiuhua's house is very spacious. Fujii Itsuki came to the living room and found several open textbooks and an open musical instrument case on the coffee table.

Apparently, Jiuhua started studying as soon as she got up.

The TV was on and the weather forecast was reporting heavy rain in Hokkaido.

But what about Jiuhua?
Where is Jiuhua?
Fujii Itsuki moved a little closer and found Jiuhuayue lying on the sofa, taking a short rest with her eyes closed.

It is no exaggeration to describe the sight of Jiuhuayue resting on the sofa as absolutely beautiful.

This girl is just so beautiful.

There was no need to turn on the heating in April, and there was a brick fireplace next to the living room of Jiuhua's house, the kind of fireplace commonly used in European families in the Middle Ages.

Strangely enough, the fireplace, which had never been used before, was now burning with wood.

Jiuhua's face was very red and she was wearing very thick clothes. Even though she had her eyes closed, she still looked a bit listless.

Fujii Itsuki frowned and reached out to touch her forehead.

So hot.

Jiuhuayue on the sofa opened her eyes at this time.

"Got a cold?"

“No, no.” Jiu Huayue barely propped herself up, with the pillow that Fujii Itsuki gave her last night in her arms.

"Then take your temperature first."

"No, no need." Jiu Huayue avoided her gaze.

"You look like you have a fever."

"Really? No need. I just burned my face by the fire."

"It's already April, why are you still roasting a fire?"

"Because. Because it has a great atmosphere."

"You barely have the energy to speak."

"It's just that I slept too late last night and wasn't fully awake yet." Jiu Huayue quickly forced a smile at Fujii Shu, but when she saw him looking at her, she quickly lowered her head.

Fujii Itsuki also noticed the exercise books and trumpet on the coffee table.

It was a little after 10 o'clock at this time, which meant that after Jiuhua got up, even though she was sick, she still insisted on doing her homework and practicing her musical instrument.

I really don't know what this girl is holding on to.

If you are sick, wouldn't it be better to have a good rest?

"You really don't have a cold?"

".No."

Fujii Itsuki laughed, "Then I will give you two choices now, Jiuhua."

Jiuhuayue looked up at him.

"First, I'll strip you naked and put a thermometer under your arm.

"Second, take the thermometer and measure your temperature yourself."

"Don't you dare take off my clothes!"

"Who says I don't dare?"

"You just don't dare!"

"When you first met me, didn't you know I was a pervert? In fact, I woke up after you fell asleep last night and secretly touched you for a while."

"You're lying." Jiu Huayue's face turned even redder, and she didn't dare to look at him.

"Will you measure it?"

"No."

"Jiuhua!" Fujii Itsuki said in a serious tone.

"I don't want it. I just don't want it."

Jiu Huayue pulled the quilt and covered her face directly.

“I don’t have a cold.”

The voices that answered were all muffled.

This kid.
What a childish temper.

He is soft-hearted and does not respond to harsh treatment.

This may have something to do with her tough personality.

Otherwise, she wouldn't have stood up for herself that day just because of a few rumors.

"Jiuhua." Fujii Itsuki sat on the sofa, next to her.

"Uncle, what are you doing?"

"Why don't you dare see me?"

"."

"Did you lust for my body last night and secretly kissed my lips while I was sleeping?"

"Pervert! Pervert! Who would do this?" Jiu Huayue became anxious in an instant.

Fujii Itsuki reached out and pulled away the quilt that was covering Jiuhuayue's cheek.

The weak figure of the girl, with slightly messy hair, flushed cheeks and evasive eyes, immediately appeared in front of him.

The girl's purple eyes, which were facing him, trembled and shone.

"Jiuhua? Are you sure?" Fujii Itsuki smiled faintly.

"I-I didn't!"

Jiu Huayue quickly pulled the quilt up again to cover her cheeks.

After all, this girl is a tall girl over 1.7 meters tall.

She is usually very graceful and generous.

How come he's like a junior high school student?
"Jiuhua." he called.

“.”Jiuhuayue did not respond.

"Jiuhua." he called again.

"." "Jiuhua~If you don't answer, I'll come in."

He lowered his head and shouted again to Jiuhuayue under the quilt.

Perhaps because she realized that the distance was too close, Jiu Huayue was really scared and responded weakly: "Uncle, don't come in."

"Then take your temperature quickly."

".I do not want."

Why not?

There's no benefit for her to drag on with her illness, right?

But then, Fujii Itsuki figured it out.

"Jiuhua, I actually like you."

“.Huh?!” Jiuhuayue opened the quilt.

"No, I should say I love you."

"Why? Uncle, what weird things are you talking about?"

"Look, Jiuhua, you are so cute and beautiful. Although her personality seems bad at first glance, as long as you get to know her more, you will understand that she is a good girl. I am deeply attracted to you, Jiuhua."

"."

Jiu Huayue knew that his tone was completely joking.

Although we are friends, this joke is a bit too much.

How can he say that he likes himself and loves himself?
When she heard the first words.
My heart skipped a beat and was pounding.

But unexpectedly, unexpectedly.
Too much, very much.

Jiuhuayue was a little sulky, so she took the initiative to stick her head out.

“Oh, it’s out.”

"Uncle——"

"Why? Miss me?"

"Really annoying!"

"You don't want to take your temperature, so I have to say something you like and call you out, right?"

"Who, who said I liked these words!"

"You don't like it? Then why did you come out?"

“I hate it.”

Jiu Huayue held the quilt with both hands, covered her chin, and turned her red and hot face away, "Because... it's not true at all, it's fake. Just like when my dad said he loved me."

Fujii Itsuki had already taken the thermometer over by this time, "Doesn't your father love you?"

"It's fake. He just wanted me to go back to Tokyo. He didn't even call me during the Chinese New Year. He was just busy with his work. And he asked me to practice in that shabby place.
"Not yet, not yet, uncle, you're nice to me."

"Of course not," Fujii Itsuki answered casually, "I watch movies with you, listen to music with you, and occasionally play guitar for you. Where else can you find a friend as good as me?
"But don't belittle your father too much. Maybe he doesn't know how to express love."

Jiuhua Yue caught a glimpse of Fujii Itsuki who was taking a thermometer from the box out of the corner of her eye, and noticed his serious expression.

"Or. Or"

"What else?"

"How about you be my dad for a day?"

".?" Fujii Itsuki went to see her with a thermometer.

".Just pretend I didn't say anything."

Fujii Itsuki thought this girl was so cute.

Does she lack fatherly love?

She actually wanted me to be her father for a day.

No, if you think about it carefully, it’s probably because her family is too strict with her, which leads to her lack of love, and then she said “I want to be loved” last night.

Fujii Itsuki sensed the emotions hidden behind her words and felt a little sympathetic.

This feeling of difficulty in feeling loved by parents.

"Isn't that what I am doing?"

"No way."

"Didn't I ask you to take your temperature? So Jiuhua, do you want to take it?"

".Uncle, please forget what I just said."

"So, Jiuhua, do you want to measure it?"

"."

"Jiuhua, do you want me to call you 'Xiaoyue' or 'Yue'? Do you really want me to be your dad?"

"No! No!"

Jiuhuayue reacted violently and was extremely embarrassed. After a "wuuuu" sound, she turned her face away and compromised.

"I, I'll measure."

"Isn't that right?"

While letting Jiuhua measure her own temperature, Fujii Itsuki kept nagging her, "Jiuhua, you said you are my friend, can't I care about your health?"

"."

"You were so reluctant to take your temperature just now. Was it because you didn't want me to know that you had a cold and didn't want to trouble me to take care of you, so you did this?"

"Uncle, do you know everything?"

"It's not hard to guess your little thoughts."

Fujii Itsuki took the thermometer she had measured - 39.1°.

"I do have a slight fever. Have you had breakfast?"

“Not yet.”

"It's not a good idea to rest on the sofa. You're still wearing clothes and wrapped in a blanket while you're warming yourself by the fireplace. That's a bit too much. It's not good to be too hot. Go back to bed and rest."

Jiu Huayue did not respond and still looked like she didn't want to trouble him too much.

This girl.
Fujii Itsuki had no choice but to reach out his hand to her.

"Uncle, what are you going to do?"

"Take you to rest, what to do."

I don’t know if it was because she listened to me or because she had no strength due to her cold, the girl didn’t put up much resistance.

Fujii Itsuki reached his hands around her legs and back and picked her up from the sofa.

"Ah?! Um, uncle you——"

This feeling of insecurity of being suddenly up in the air made Jiu Huayue subconsciously want to grab something, and she ended up hugging someone's neck.

Jiuhuayue's legs were tightly together, and she could feel his hands wrapped around her knees.

Jiu Huayue was stunned for several seconds, and then she realized that she was being held by him. The girl was extremely embarrassed.

hate
irritating.
"By the way, can I go upstairs?"

"No, no. You are not allowed to go to my room."

"Then why don't you go to my room to rest? Anyway, you can't lie on the sofa anymore. You probably got caught in the rain last night and slept on the sofa, which is why you got a fever. I shouldn't have let you sleep on the sofa last night."

"."

"Not answering means consent."

“.”Jiuhuayue remained silent.

Fujii Itsuki carried her back to his room and put her on his bed.

I was just about to ask her if she didn’t mind the quilt she had used to cover herself with.

She simply pulled the quilt over herself.

Jiu Huayue glared at him, feeling ashamed and angry:
"Uncle! You are so annoying!"

"how?"

"Who allowed you to hug me?"

Fujii Itsuki sighed, "Didn't you say you wanted me to be your father for a day?"

"."

"Feeling guilty?"

"I, I was just kidding."

"Okay, I'll go get you some food. What do you want to eat?"

"."

"Jiuhua, be obedient."

".Have some porridge."

Fujii Itsuki nodded, "Okay, of course I'll repay you for the porridge you made for me before. I'll make you a bowl of lean meat porridge. I have something else to say to you later."

After saying this, Fujii Itsuki left the bedroom. He pulled the door shut with a click.

Jiu Huayue huddled in his bed, covered with his quilt, staring at the place where he disappeared.

Uncle is really annoying.
The girl thought to herself, blushing as she lowered her head, and her nose accidentally touched the quilt he had slept on.
Jiuhuayue breathed, and her face seemed to become even redder.

He actually picked himself up just now, how infuriating!

He also joked that he liked himself and loved himself.

Don’t you know that you attach great importance to this aspect?
You're kidding me
Hate Fujii!

Hate uncle!

Hate, hate, hate!

But I still don't seem to hate him.

What would the lean meat porridge he made taste like?

Will it be as delicious as the meat and potato stew he made?
If I feel unwell, will he chat with me all day?
I really want to hear him play guitar
I think the uncles who play guitar and violin are super handsome.

Maybe it's because the uncle's smile looks so gentle.
Although he is annoying and a bit bad, I don't seem to hate the smell of him at all.
The smell of uncle.
Jiu Huayue buried her red cheeks in his quilt.

Why don’t I make him some strawberry scrambled eggs after his cold is cured?

The uncle seems to like eating.
(End of this chapter)