After Ichigo left, Yulong laid a tablecloth on the concrete floor beside the railing. I had nothing to do for a while. As long as her mind was free, a certain boy who liked to look at the sky would run out of her memory. It had been like this since she started dreaming of him. Imitating that person, I looked into the sky.
The cotton-like curling clouds extended into the blue sky like smoke, like a winding white staircase, disappearing in the dazzling light in the distance. What was above the clouds? Even though he had once flown high into the blue sky with the wind, he was still so far away from the sky.
What would be ahead? I'm guessing it's Nothingness. I can only guess, because no one has ever come back to tell us after arriving at the Final Lands. The eternal blank with no way out, the so-called death, I think it is such a thing.
After the two of them sat down on the edge of the roof where they could see the scenery in the distance, Yu Long went straight to the point.
"Ling Yuanjun, did you also have a relative who passed away?”
Oh, oh, so this was the first question. This was really rare for Yu Long, who liked to beat around the bush. I think he wanted to finish before Ichigo and the others came out to mess things up.
I smiled vaguely. I wanted to brush it off, but Yulong, who had a clear mind, was much more experienced than Ichigo, who was easy to fool. I sighed softly when I saw him unconsciously lean forward and clench his fists slightly. He was slightly nervous, but he didn't allow me to fool him.
"Ishida-kun, the Chinese poem you mentioned was titled 'Ge Sheng', right?”
Yu Long nodded silently. " After a hundred years of summer and winter nights..." He recited the last part of the poem in a voice that sounded very alluring and slightly nasal to me. Then I said that his dead grandfather had taught him this.
Yu Long's grandfather, Ishida Flux Master, was also his master. As a Miejue Master, his spirit power was powerful. As an elder, he was also very gentle and loving. He taught and took care of Yu Long on behalf of his father, who had " disappeared " for many years.
"There's only one thing I can't agree with. Master always wants to fight alongside the Grim Reaper…The ideology of the Extermination Master and the Grim Reaper is completely different, and they can't tolerate each other! But he suffered a lot and still couldn't wake up…in the end…until he was killed by the Grim Reaper…"
Yu Long was so angry that he couldn't catch his breath. After a pause, he concluded in a decisive tone,""A Miejue is a Miejue. He doesn't need to join forces with anyone, especially the Death God, who is his mortal enemy!”
" It's different…" I looked up at the sky. "Those who killed your clansmen are different from Ichigo and the others. There were all kinds of people in the Death God, and some of them could fight side by side with the Annihilator.”
He had already tried fighting alongside Ichigo. Even if they could not understand each other, in order to defeat the enemy in front of them, they naturally became companions.
" Someone who can fight alongside me…" Yu Long's expression softened. His porcelain-like face flashed with a warm luster under the sun, and his eyes that looked up at the sky shone with the same light."Before I met Ayawa-kun, I never thought that there would be someone like you among the Grim Reaper.”
I laughed bitterly. This time…he's getting further and further away…He should hate me, but seeing how defenseless he was against me, the words stuck in his throat couldn't come out.
I didn't want to see Yulong's pained expression. Yes, I was running away…Although I knew that the longer I told him, the greater the damage it would cause him, but…I was afraid that after he was hurt, he would close his heart to everyone. So before that, I had to make him accept more companions in his heart. That way, even if I turned from a friend to his enemy, there would always be someone by his side.
With Ichigo's special traits, it should not be a problem for the two of them to become companions. Actually, these two boys with the same awkward personality would make a good partner. I smiled as I brushed aside the small calculations in my heart and brought the topic back to the "death" that Yulong wanted to talk to me.
" Although technology has advanced a lot, human emotions haven't changed much in the depths of their hearts. This poem was written two thousand years ago, or even more than two thousand years ago-it was an ancient poem from a long time ago. However, we can empathize with the feelings of the person who wrote this poem. I think even without knowledge and upbringing, anyone can understand.”
I repeated it softly,"Summer and winter nights, after a hundred years... Long summer and long winter nights, here you sleep. After a hundred years, I will also sleep beside you-wait for that day to come with peace of mind... Is that what you mean?”
As he was savoring this poem that described the parting of life and death,'There is nothing to be sad about parting in life and death.'Ichigo smiled warmly at me.
Just as I was wondering if I was daydreaming, the entire world was enveloped in a blinding light.
The leaves clustered around them looked especially bright under the sun. The weeds grew tall and dense, and the sun above them shone crazily on them. It was summer then.
When he walked out of the royal court, he stood side by side with me. We were surrounded by layers of people, as if we were enemies with the entire world. Both of them looked tired, but their eyes were bright and strong, which was the complete opposite of their physical condition. They held hands tightly.
Ichigo lowered his head and said,'Even if I die here, you don't have to grieve for me. Unlike those people, every second of my life is determined by my heart. I live without regret.'It was as if he was saying his last words.
" If you die, I'll go immediately.”I finally said.
'I'll wait for you.' Ichigo smiled dreamily." So don't come too early. Even if I'm not here, we'll always be together.'
The illusion disappeared in an instant.
When I came back to my senses, I was once again surrounded by the slightly cold air of spring. Yu Long's voice became clear again.
"Probably because the person you like is dead.”Yu Long smiled bitterly." Ling Yuanjun, Master's expression when he recited this poem is exactly the same as yours…" When his grandfather was still alive, he couldn't do anything for him. Now that he was dead, it was even more futile to do anything. " He must be very disappointed in me…"
Unable to give up everything for revenge, and unable to not hate, he was just a dabbler.
Something leaked out from Yu Long's suppressed eyes.
Such a deep color must contain various meanings. Death, hatred, self-blame, and the desire for power.
He had suppressed all of this in his heart for a long time.
Then, he was suddenly triggered by the word 'death'…
Yu Long might no longer be able to withstand all of this on his own.
I temporarily put aside the doubts that were growing like weeds in my heart and covered his hand.
"Not half-baked. Didn't Ishida follow his own aesthetics and walk to this day firmly?”
Yu Long raised his head in shock and looked at me. His eyes were wide open, and wrinkles appeared on his forehead. His hand shrank back as if he had been electrocuted, but I firmly grabbed it.
"Try and see how…just like your master, try to accept people who are different from you. Although the mark of hatred would not disappear and would be difficult to erase, perhaps after you broaden your horizons, you will find a more trustworthy way to survive.”
Yu Long looked at me without moving, his eyes shining with a certain light. I smiled gently. Hatred and death, I had experienced them all. I understood his feelings very well. I think the reason why Yulong and Ichigo are so close in nature is because they have experienced the same thing.
Another boy, who had also experienced the death of his loved one and was suffering from hatred, was arguing with Lucia as he walked up to the rooftop.
" Hey, you guys-" Ichigo looked at the scene in front of him in shock.
Although he had already let go of Yulong's hand, his face was flushed red, and he didn't know where to put his hands and feet. Ichigo narrowed his eyes in confusion and teased,"Don't tell me you just finished your confession?”
"Eh?" Lucia's big round eyes lit up with gossip. She was like a cat that had smelled a fish. She eagerly went up to Yu Long and bombarded him with a long string of words. Their statuses were too far apart. Don't be delusional, kid. But don't be discouraged. Teacher was such a perfect person. It was enough for you to bathe in her holy light. By the way, was your confession accepted?
Did I spoil her too much?
Just as he was reflecting on himself, the chopsticks in Yu Long's hand snapped. His patience seemed to have reached its limit, and he burst out the moment he broke the chopsticks.
While Yulong and Ichigo were fighting on the rooftop, Lucia was screaming and jumping around, laughing at Ichigo and cheering him on. However, seeing them having so much fun, I thought as I leisurely ate my bento," It's not like " we don't get to know each other without fighting " or " fighting is kinship, scolding is love "-it's really a good start.
After school in the afternoon, Ichigo walked out of the school gate with a few OK band-aids on his face. His fierce aura made everyone avoid him. Thus, amidst the crowd, Ichigo's five-meter radius was like a strange uninhabited island.
Ichigo was still thinking about the fight at noon." You look skinny and weak…but you're not weak. You're shockingly fast, and you're so cunning…" Ichigo mumbled as he glared at me. "What happened all of a sudden?"”
"Are you that kid's teacher? That fighting style was exactly the same as yours.”Ichigo frowned at me.
"It's too lame to vent your anger."
"What did you say…!"
While I was casually dealing with Ichigo's irascible behavior, a heavy stone weighed down on my heart.
In the illusion that he saw at noon…that kind of warm smile that could not have appeared on Ichigo's face, that kind of words that Ichigo would not have said. He even saw Wang Ting on the screen…It would be more accurate to say that it was Shiwa-kun, but Shiwa-kun…
" Summer Winter Night, after a hundred years…"
It was only now that I realized that everything had gone wrong.
Ichigo heard me whispering and leaned over to listen."Hmm? What did you say?" My thoughts were completely detached from the bickering with Ichigo, so I ignored him.
" The person I liked died…" After reading Yu Long's interpretation over and over again, I felt that this was more and more in line with the grief brought about by these two poems. It was not just the grief of losing a father, but the person I liked!
" Lucia-" I wanted to ask about Shina-kun, but I was afraid of the answer and hesitated. Just as Lucia was confused, Ichigo's voice rang out in a low voice.""You mean, someone of yours died?”
Lucia's face turned pale as if she was frightened.
At that moment, I felt like I was falling into a dark abyss.
Instinctively, she was shouting," Don't ask." However, his rationality was screaming," You better get to the bottom of this!"
"Lucia, let me ask you, do you know someone named Shiba, whose name is probably related to Hitomi?”
Lucia froze in the middle of the road, her bag falling to the ground. I reached out to pull her, but she seemed to be completely unable to move. I sighed and apologized to her for choosing a terrible place to talk. Let's go home, okay? At this moment, she suddenly shook off my hand and disappeared like a rabbit.
"Hitomi-" Ichigo patted me on the shoulder."You remember now?"
I shook my head dejectedly and bent over to pick up Lucia's bag.
"What did I say then?"
Ichigo gulped at my question. After hesitating for a while, he scratched his head in frustration."Ahhh, I really can't stand it. This kind of nagging isn't like me at all! I've decided!" Ichigo inexplicably said to me in a heroic manner,"Let me tell you-"
However, that was the end of the conversation. Lucia's bag suddenly vibrated and beeped. She took out her phone and saw the mission target on the screen: " 2.7 kilometers northwest.”
Ichigo and I hurried to the place where Hoshi appeared.
What exactly did he say at that time…
The answer was still a mystery.
After ending the battle with a neat kasaya, Ichigo was dissatisfied with me standing by and watching. He said that I could complete the mission just by standing and watching. How could there be such a good thing in the world? The part-time job of acting as the Death God itself didn't even have a salary, so why did I have to squeeze him?
"Can I treat you to a meal?"
The setting sun dyed the street in front of me bronze. On the way home, I casually responded to Ichigo's resentment.
Ichigo showed interest when he heard that I was going to treat him, but then he shook his head. I thought about it. He definitely wants to go home for dinner since he values his family very much.
"Then…I'll pay you personally?”
"Why don't we exchange it for a precious game disc…Speaking of which, how did you get the hidden version of the winning eleven players?”
"It's almost the midterms. Your game console should be sealed.”
" Hehe…" Ichigo laughed proudly."You don't have to worry about that. Just watch, I'll definitely surprise you!”
I'll definitely score higher than you! When I heard Ichigo's passionate words, my first reaction was: "Can you do it?"
"Of course! I'm very confident in my studies!”
"The more I listen, the more unreliable I feel…"
I stopped walking when I reached Shinozaki Hospital.
Ichigo, this thing…" He threw the amulet that he had been holding in his hand all the way to him."Keep it well."
Ichigo quickly caught the orange amulet with both hands."This?"
"It's the protective talisman of Empyrean God Evelyn." I lied.
"Oh, oh! "God of studies…Hey, if you don't have confidence in me…" Ichigo's expression was filled with fighting spirit."You will definitely get an unexpected score!”
I hope it can protect you, Ichigo.
Looking at his back as he left, I silently thought that it was time to part for now.
Lucia's inexplicable attitude towards me was largely due to her concern for Ichigo. I have no intention of being her stumbling block. Therefore, I'd better stay as far away from Ichigo as possible.
"Aayohara!" However, the person who had left and returned appeared in front of me, panting. Before he could recover from his shock, he saw the brocade bag swaying in front of my eyes: "I forgot to say, thank you!"
After pressing my head with his palm, Ichigo waved his hand."Hurry up and go home. Hurry up and stop dawdling!”Seeing that I didn't move, he pressed his hands on my shoulders and turned me around. Then, he pushed me on his back, as if he would only enter the house after I left.
In the orange setting sun, heads of the same color, orange brocade bags-that was the last thing I saw before I turned around. With an indescribable palpitation, I walked on the street helplessly.
Half a month ago, I didn't know Ichigo, nor did I know anything about this street. Half a month later, I had walked through every street here with him. When every blade of grass and tree in Kurazacho was recorded into the database in my mind, he firmly occupied a certain position in my heart.
Two hundred years of my life was compressed into half a month, and I experienced it all over again. Did I make a mistake during this process? Whose past and whose present was that? Who is in my heart? What died? As for those who survived?
This book comes from：m.funovel.com。