Chapter 92: This girl, is she serious?
The sound of the trumpet flows with the movement of the fingertips.

Cumulonimbus clouds filled the sky, presenting a crimson color.

A cool breeze blew on the rooftop. Jiuhuayue took a deep breath, inflated her lungs, and sent the sharp air into her mouth.

The bass switched to the treble, and a beautiful sound came out.

Over and over again, the excitement brought by the music made my head ache, my heart beat faster, and my breath tremble. My mind suddenly became blank, as if it was about to explode, and my consciousness seemed to float forward in the paleness.

Jiuhuayue stopped practicing, sweating profusely.

That’s what practicing trumpet, practicing music, feels like to her.

Playing with all her might was obviously painful, but the resonance brought by the rhythm and music made her feel happy.

For her, playing wind music is more than just a hobby.

It is also a channel for her to express her emotions.

She really likes this kind of feeling, of working hard towards a goal she has set for herself and experiencing the feeling of progress.

Just, why?
After putting down the instrument, will there be a lingering feeling of emptiness in your heart?

The sky at dusk is a mixture of indigo and madder.

Jiu Huayue stood on the podium of the club building, put down the trumpet in her hand, and looked at the parents who were accompanying their children away from the school playground.

She thought that the feeling of emptiness must come from here.

Today is the last day of the trilateral talks.

Although I knew my parents would not come, I still secretly hoped that my father or mother would come to Otaru for me.

I hope they will listen to what I think and expect in my heart.

But as expected, they still won’t come, right?

too long.
I don't know when I started to feel autistic.

It's like I'm disconnected from the world.

Jiuhuayue had a habit when she was in Tokyo. She liked to walk slowly on Shibuya Pedestrian Street.

She doesn't like shopping, but she likes to join the crowd and follow the flow of the crowd as if to eliminate her own sense of existence.

She feels that she feels lonelier when she is hidden among a crowd than when she is alone. Does this prove that loneliness has nothing to do with the population density around her, but only depends on a person's mental state?
No matter how close you are to others or how much you talk to them, if you don't recognize in your heart that they are of the same kind as you, you will not feel nourished.

——However, even if they are of the same kind, most of them cannot achieve that kind of spiritual closeness.

This unique kind of loneliness makes Jiuhuayue somewhat addictive, yet also a bit painful.

Want to chat with people.
Want to be cared about.
Want to be loved
Jiuhuayue closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

She confirmed the time, put the trumpet into its case, put it on her back, went downstairs, and walked towards the classroom of Class 2-A.

It's time for the trilateral talks.

As soon as she walked down the club building and across the playground, she saw a female classmate from the next class in front of her.

She and her father seemed to have just concluded a three-party meeting.

Her father followed her, helping her carry her schoolbag, and together they walked towards the school gate, which was lined with cherry blossoms.

The father and daughter were very close.

Jiuhuayue followed behind.

"If I hadn't come to school once, I wouldn't have known that you've changed so much, Xiao Lian. You've really grown up. What do you want to eat tonight, Xiao Lian?"

"Anything is fine. But, Dad, are you going to cook for me? I don't believe it."

"Hey, don't underestimate your dad!"

The girl is giggling.

"Don't laugh. Otherwise, how do you think your dad managed to win over your mom? She used to love the food I cooked for her. After dating her for a long time, I told her that I wanted us, our child, that is, you, Xiaolian, to always eat the food I cooked. But in recent years, Sapporo's economy has been in recession, and I've been busy working to make money, so I seldom take care of you."

"Dad, you're not feeling guilty, are you?"

"otherwise?"

"Dad, you are working hard to make money!"

"Xiao Lian, taking care of your family and making money are two different things. It is a fact that I spend more energy on energy and take less care of my family."

"Neither my mother nor I have ever blamed you~"

The father laughed and said, "That's why I feel even more guilty, even though I didn't do anything to take care of her."

When Jiu Huayue heard this, she thought: Did her father have similar thoughts?

I'm sorry for not taking care of myself because I was too busy with work.

Even if you just have this idea, it's fine to just say it verbally.

No, he won't have it.

My father never gave me love.

All she has is the glory of being "Nine Flowers" in the past and the desire to constantly pursue this status.

"Please, Xiao Lian! Can you forgive me, your dad?"

"Well, let me ask you first, Dad, did you ask for leave to come to school this time?"

"Yes, I must have asked for leave, otherwise how could I come."

"Why? Why don't you let Mom come?"

"Well the most important reason is definitely to get to know you."

"That's right! Xiao Lian can't forgive you, Dad!"

".I always feel like you are just trying to please me, your dad. How can you forgive me so quickly?"

"What? I'm not mad at you, Dad, but you're still unhappy. So, let's put it this way. I order you to make a fried pork chop dinner for my mom tonight!"

"As ordered!"

"I want a vegetable salad, too!"

"no problem!"

"I want more. Um, Sukiyaki!"

"absolutely okay!"

".Is it too much?"

"It's okay, Xiao Lian, you don't have to worry about me, your dad! Who am I? Your dad!"

The girl covered her mouth and laughed.

The father and daughter drifted further and further apart as they chatted and joked like friends.

Against the backdrop of the setting sun, Jiu Huayue suddenly stopped. She stood there quietly, staring at the backs of the father and daughter in front of her until they disappeared at the end of the school gate.

Jiuhuayue lowered her eyes, then turned around and walked towards the Moon Tower carrying the instrument box in her hand.

*
Ten minutes ago.

Fujii Itsuki sitting in the classroom.

He checked the time. It was six-sixteen.

"Why aren't you coming?"

Because Jiuhuayue had no parents attending the three-party meeting, Fujii Itsuki put her last in the conversation.

He was a little worried about Jiu Huayue, so he called her.

But no one answered.

Fujii Itsuki immediately stood up and prepared to go to the wind band club to find her.

But I didn't expect that as soon as I walked out of the classroom, I saw a tall figure on the playground.

Jiu Huayue stood on the playground. Her black hair was untied, and her sailor suit and pleated skirt swayed gently in the wind. Her back and her long legs were all enveloped by the light of the setting sun.

Fujii Itsuki saw that she had been standing there for a long time.

She kept looking at the couple in front of her. They should be father and daughter.

He is a child from Class D.

Jiuhuayue has been watching them.

Fujii Itsuki couldn't help but sigh.

This child really cares about his parents.

The thin figure under the setting sun is so lonely that it makes people feel distressed.

After the father and daughter left, Jiuhuayue also walked towards the confinement building with her head down.

Seeing this, Fujii Itsuki went back to the classroom and waited.

Three minutes later, Jiuhuayue appeared at the door.

"Teacher Fujii."

"Yeah," Fujii Itsuki nodded and asked, "Why are you more than ten minutes late?"

"."

"What's wrong? Why don't you come in?"

At this moment, Fujii Itsuki noticed that her gaze fell on the seat directly opposite him on the left - this was the parent's seat, which was empty at the moment.

"After all, there's no point."

Jiuhua Yue took a breath, moved her eyes away from the empty seat, and looked at Fujii Itsuki seriously.

"Why is it meaningless? It also makes sense for you to come here and listen to me." Fujii Itsuki retorted.

"I don't really want to hear it. A three-party meeting is nothing more than you, Mr. Fujii, telling my parents about my performance in school, but my parents don't know anything? Who are you going to tell these things to, Mr. Fujii?"

"Then I'll tell you."

"I know that you want to care about me, Mr. Fujii. But you are not my father."

Fujii Itsuki gestured to her to be at ease and asked her to take a seat first.

Fortunately, this child is not as stubborn as before and listens to what I say to her.

"Teacher Fujii."

"It's okay. There are only two of us in the classroom now. There's no need to be so restrained."

"Yeah," Jiuhuayue replied.

Fujii Itsuki could see that she was pretending nothing was wrong.

After all, she also knew that among the 33 girls in the class, she was the only one who had no one to accompany her.

"Before we officially start the trilateral talks, I would like to say something to you as your uncle. Are you willing to listen?"

".Fujii-sensei?"

"First of all, I want to apologize to you. Sorry, Jiuhua."

"." Jiu Huayue was totally unpredictable, "Why is Mr. Fujii apologizing?"

"I'm apologizing to you for persuading you to return to Tokyo."

"No, it's okay. I don't care about that anymore."

Seeing that she accepted his apology, Fujii Itsuki began to explain:

"The fundamental reason why I said those things to you, Jiuhua, was because I thought that doing so would give you a better future. But I ignored your personal wishes and feelings. You have actually grown up and are very good. You have grown all the way to a national-level troupe actor, and you must have your own independent personality. I ignored this point, and I am really sorry."

"No, it's okay. I misunderstood you, uncle. I thought you were speaking for mom and the others, and you just wanted me to go back to Takarazuka and continue to be an actor."

Jiuhuayue organized her words and responded to him seriously.

"I misunderstood you, uncle. I'm sorry for my cold attitude towards you those days."

Apologies are apologies, but even after apologizing to each other, there is still an inexplicable barrier between the two.

This barrier made the atmosphere awkward.

Jiuhuayue doesn't like this feeling.

This created a greater distance between the two than before.
She hated this feeling of distance.

"Nine flowers——"

"Teacher Fujii——"

They both spoke at the same time and stopped at the same time.

Fujii Itsuki smiled, "Jiuhua, you go first."

"Well can I call you Mr. Fujii?"

"Why did you use that address? Even though we are at school, I was talking to you as an uncle just now."

"Because it's more respectful."

Be more respectful?
Fujii Itsuki probably understood and nodded, "Okay."

Jiuhuayue is brewing.

"I have been thinking about my relationship with Mr. Fujii these days. I was really angry at first. Mr. Fujii, whom I trusted very much, actually wanted to force me to go back to Tokyo. Mr. Fujii didn't understand me, even my best friend didn't understand me.
“I was feeling a bit down, so I cried.

"But later, I felt that I had misunderstood Mr. Fujii, and wanted to ask Mr. Fujii about the matter. But at this time, I suddenly heard that Mr. Fujii was moving."

Fujii Itsuki frowned and asked curiously: "Jiuhua, do you know? Where did you hear it?"

Jiuhuayue looked up at him and said, "At school, when I first arrived at the office, I heard you, Mr. Fujii, talking with Chitose inside."

Fujii Tree: "." Jiuhuayue lowered her head again, "When I heard that you were leaving, Teacher Fujii, I suddenly felt very uncomfortable.
"Mr. Fujii took so much care of me. I remember it all.

"The incident with the thief three days ago made me think more deeply. I—"

Jiu Huayue bit her lip, knowing that saying this was very abrupt and presumptuous.

But this is what she really thinks in her heart now.

unwilling.

"Teacher Fujii, could you please not move?"

It turns out that this is what Xiao Jiuhua wanted to say.

"Can Jiuhua give me a reason?"

"reason."

Jiu Huayue was speechless. She found that she seemed to have no reason to keep the uncle.
Uncle doesn't really need me.

Even if he wasn't there with me, Chitose was still there with him.

I have been asking for emotional value from the uncle, and the warmth of his care for me.
It's hard for me to leave this feeling.

"It's a request," the girl said in a low voice, lowering her head.

"ask?"

"Well, I'm asking Mr. Fujii if you can please not move out?"

Fujii Itsuki did not expect that Jiuhua, who usually had a tough personality, would actually bow her head in front of him and say such words to him.

I didn't feel comfortable, I just felt sad.
A poor little thing.

Some pity for her.

Fujii Itsuki did not answer, but remained silent.

When Jiuhuayue realized that Fujii Itsuki had not answered her, she already had the answer in her heart.
A sad feeling flows in my heart.

She felt as if she was unloved.
Just like the seat next to her, which originally belonged to her parents but is empty.

Maybe the uncle is tired of himself too?
She dragged him to watch boring movies, asked him to accompany her and kept asking for things, but she had nothing to give him.
Jiu Huayue lowered her head and saw the setting sun shining into the classroom from outside the school, illuminating her little hands tightly clasped in her pleated skirt.

"Cough cough."

At this moment, Fujii Itsuki suddenly cleared his throat.

Jiu Huayue looked up at the sound and saw Fujii Itsuki with his hands crossed and a serious look on his face. His eyes under his half-frame glasses were also so serious.

Jiuhuayue knew what this looked like.
Teacher Fujii in class.

"Jiuhua's father, would you like to hear about your daughter's performance in school?" he said to the empty seat.

".?"

Just when Jiuhuayue was feeling confused, Fujii Shu stood up, walked to the seat next to her, sat down, and immediately changed his expression to a serious attitude.

Fujii Itsuki nodded to the air and smiled: "Of course, Mr. Fujii, please be sure to tell me. I am very concerned about my daughter's condition."

"."

Jiuhuayue looked at him and went back.

Fujii Itsuki said with a straight face: "Then I will draw a conclusion first. Jiuhua is a bad kid."

Jiuhuayue: “.”

"She was not serious in class and was always distracted. I reminded her several times but she didn't listen. Other students always copied the notes I wrote on the blackboard, but she kept catching up after class.

"She is a loner and rarely interacts with classmates. When get out of class is over, she always takes out her headphones and plugs them into her ears. She either sleeps on the table or looks out the window with her hands on her cheeks.

"It's the same at lunch time. I always go to the cafeteria to eat alone. Oh, and during lunch break I like to go to the library, not to read, but to lie there and listen to music and sleep.

"Sometimes I wonder if this child is really studying in school."

Jiuhuayue lowered her head.

Fujii Itsuki sat next to her again, smiling and apologetically speaking to the air:
"I'm really sorry, Mr. Fujii. I apologize on behalf of my family, Yue!"

Fujii Itsuki went back and became Fujii teacher again:

“Please don’t get me wrong, I’m not criticizing you, Jiuhua’s father. I want to say that although Jiuhua has these little flaws, she is actually a good girl.

"Rather than blaming Jiuhua, I want to know if you, as her father, have given her the proper attention?"

"Sorry, sorry."

Jiu Huayue watched him curiously as he changed his seat and identity.

"Apologizing is useless! Jiuhua's father, you should act like a father and take real actions! You should give her enough attention as a family member. If you can't even care about your own daughter, do you think you are a competent father? Are you qualified?!"

"Sorry, I'm so sorry!" Fujii Itsuki nodded and bowed.

"Jiuhua's father, you should apologize to your daughter!" Fujii Shu said seriously, "You should know that it is often the family environment that causes your child to suffer from autism!"

"Teacher Fujii is right."

Fujii Tree came to Jiuhua Yue and asked her to look at him, with endless apology on his face, "I'm really sorry, what Yue Fujii teacher just said, is it true?"

"."

Jiuhua Yue didn't react for a moment, but after seeing Fujii Itsuki blink, she replied hesitantly, "Yes"

"Is it because I, as a father, didn't care about you that you are absent-minded in school?"

"I guess so."

"Teacher Fujii said you were a bad kid, but as a father, I don't think so. Yue is my proud daughter! She has become a national-level stage actress at a young age. She is not only beautiful, but also very confident!"

Jiu Huayue smiled and said, "Nonsense. My father would never say such things to me."

"Yue, what are you talking about? This is obviously the truth. I love my daughter very much, that is you, Yue."

Jiuhuayue walked towards him, more or less taking on the role of her father.

"Then why didn't you and mom call me during the New Year?"

Fujii Itsuki avoided his gaze with a realistic expression: "This is the truth. I'm sorry, dear, I was busy with work during that time."

“But you didn’t fight.”

"I'm really sorry for not contacting you in time. I now understand that this made you feel hurt, and I'm really sorry. Don't worry, Yue, I value our relationship very much. I just forgot, but I definitely haven't forgotten you."

Jiu Huayue's expression was moved. "Why did you scold me again when I went back to Tokyo that time? And you even threw all the dinner I made for you and mom onto the ground."

"I'm sorry. While I know an apology won't take away the pain my actions have caused, I want you to know that I truly recognize my mistakes and I accept responsibility for them."

"Then can you promise not to make this mistake again? Can you promise to love me in the future?"

"Of course, my Yue, I will try my best to control my emotions and prevent similar situations from happening again."

My month.
Jiuhuayue blushed when she heard this.

But the girl still looked proud: "Okay, I forgive you, and it won't happen again!"

"That's great! Yue, thank you for forgiving dad!"

It was a touching and joyful ending, and the atmosphere was just right. Fujii Itsuki wanted to hug Jiuhuayue, but she pushed him away.

"Hate."

Jiuhuayue was amused by his funny actions.

The girl pouted, her expression looking like both happy and unhappy.

"Uncle, you really have no shame at all!"

"What?" Fujii Itsuki changed back.

"And what's that? My dear dad won't talk to me like that!"

Fujii Shu sat next to Jiuhua Yue and said helplessly: "There is no other way. If you want to show that your feelings are deep enough, you have to use some intimate names."

"Who would call their own daughter 'dear'? Only in pretentious TV shows!"

"is it?"

"that is!"

"So what does your father call you?"

".have no idea."

"do not know?"

"I just don't know. He rarely calls me by my name, not even my nickname. What a conservative and old-fashioned uncle."

"I'm an uncle too, okay? Stop using so many derogatory words."

"Uncle, you are different"

"How am I different?"

"You are a good guy."

As Jiu Huayue spoke, her fingers tangled in front of her skirt again, "A very good person."

"You talk like I've been rejected."

"W-what?! Don't change the subject! You're so annoying! Don't keep talking nonsense like that!"

"Haha."

"But, thank you anyway."

"Ah."

".Thank you for comforting me in this way. I really want you to be my dad."

Fujii Itsuki looked away from her face, smiled and looked at the blackboard and said:
"What are you talking about? I am your good friend, and I am also your designated good friend, Jiuhua."

"Then can you please not leave me?"

Fujii Itsuki knew she was talking about moving.

"alright."

“You seem very reluctant.”

"Jiuhua, you have to know that it is risky for me to live in your house. Besides, I am not stopping being your friend just because I am moving out."

"But. But," Jiu Huayue said anxiously, "Really. The distance will be much greater. I don't want this. I want to see you as soon as I get home."

"Huh? Why?"

"Don't you think it's lonely to go home alone and say 'I'm back' but no one listens? I don't like it."

Fujii Itsuki doesn't like it either.

Sometimes when he came home late, Jiu Huayue would leave some food she cooked for him.

Although the taste is just so-so, it is a dish she cooked with all her heart.

People have been lonely for a long time.

If someone cooks for you sincerely, you will enjoy the meal no matter whether it tastes good or not.
"Uncle, don't leave me."

Fujii Itsuki smiled and said, "You said it like a confession."

Jiu Huayue was angry, "Can you please stop interrupting me! I'm serious."

"Okay, okay, I agree. I agree."

Jiuhuayue is disappointed, "It sounds a bit perfunctory"

"So Jiuhua, what do you want to eat tonight?"

"what?"

"I'll cook for you. That's a sign of sincerity, right?"

Jiuhuayue suddenly remembered the conversation between the father and daughter in the afternoon.

".Tonkatsu rice?"

“You actually want to eat this.”

"is it not OK.?"

"Okay! I'll do it for you. What else do you want?"

Jiu Huayue's face showed joy, "I want vegetable salad too!"

"no problem!"

"I want more. That Sukiyaki pot!"

"Ok, Ok."

"And meat and potatoes stew!"

"Child, have you eaten too much?"

"Can't you?"

What could Fujii Itsuki do? The way this girl begged for help was really something a man could not refuse.

"Okay, okay, I'll do it. I'll do it."

Jiuhuayue was already filled with joy at this time. She sat up straight and a smile appeared on her face uncontrollably.

She suddenly felt shy and whispered, "Thank you, Dad."

After hearing this, Fujii Itsuki was stunned in his seat.
Wait a moment.

This girl, is she serious?
(End of this chapter)