Zongman: Unknowingly trapped in the hatchet

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The cherry pink balls swayed gently in the wind.

Against the wind.

The girl's resounding low cry was clearly conveyed to Yang Noi.

And it's not just Yang Nai.

"Yuigahama Yui...right?"

Looking at Yui standing in front of Yukino, Yangno smiled inexplicably and asked curiously:

"Then...can you tell me what this sister, Yukino, is like?"

"call--"

After taking a deep breath, Yui seemed to be trying her best to adjust her emotions.

“Xiaoxue is unexpectedly clumsy sometimes.

I would be so anxious because I wanted to touch a kitten after school. No matter how I called it, it didn't respond. In the end, I finally made a cat house for it, but found out it was someone else's stray cat.

She also always likes to show off and likes to handle unnecessary tasks by herself. "

"But.

It is this clumsy Xiaoxue that I like the most!! "

"Yui..."

Xueno's eyes were complicated.

The raised hand inexplicably remained suspended in mid-air.

and so.

Yuigahama Yui continued to speak.

Even though her face had already turned red.

“The first time I made cookies properly, it was Xiaoxue who taught me.

I was obviously so stupid that I failed to do it well after several attempts. In the end, I even wanted to give up and attributed my failure to my lack of talent.

But I clearly didn't even make the most basic effort.

Even though I am like this, Xiaoxue never blamed me or gave up on me.

Until the end, Xiaoxue had been teaching me patiently...

If it weren’t for Xiaoxue, I probably would never have known how to make good cookies in my life, nor would I have known that cooking by myself can be such a joyful thing.

This is how she has always taken care of me and indulged me.

In my heart, she will always be so shining and so brave.

So...So...

Even if you are Xiaoxue's sister, I won't allow you to say this about Xiaoxue!! "

Tears sparkled in the afterglow.

The cherry blossoms dance in the cold wind.

For Yukino.

This is the scene that comes into view.

"Ah...didn't expect that this is the image of Yukino in your mind?

It was beyond my expectation...

So, you seem to understand her better than me, her sister?"

Yang Nai's mouth corners raised as if she had met a fun toy.

"At the very least...I won't talk about Xiaoxue like you did."

Biting her thin lips tightly, Yui looked straight into Haruno's eyes, which were smiling but unexpectedly oppressive.

"Really? But from what you just said, it seems to me that you are just taking advantage of my Yukino."

"never……"

Yui's explanation was quickly interrupted by Yang No, and her eyes gradually became sharp, flashing with cold light.

"No, you're not. But aren't you just using your friendship with Yukino to get her to help you master cooking techniques faster?

Because you know better than anyone that although Yukino looks aloof, she is actually more naive than anyone else when you get to know her.

It's like a blank piece of paper that allows people to freely paint it with their own color.

It is because you discovered this that you approached her and became friends with her.

What I said, wasn’t it right?

Yang No just stood there quietly, her tone as calm and matter-of-fact as always, with a faint smile on her lips.

But even so, Yui's body trembled slightly involuntarily.

Until now.

Only then did she realize what Yukino had just experienced.

Although the person in front of them was only a few years older than them, the aura that he had cultivated since childhood was unexpectedly astonishing.

The pressure was like a mountain, making it hard for Yui to breathe. Even the words of rebuttal remained at the corner of her lips and she couldn't utter a word.

"I……"

"enough."

It was Yukino who spoke.

She grabbed Yui's hand, interrupting their conversation.

No.

It would be more appropriate to say it was a confrontation.

Yui looked at Yukino worriedly.

"You've done enough. There's no need to sacrifice so much for me..."

"Xiaoxue..."

Yukino just shook her head gently and managed a smile that was uglier than crying.

broken.

sad.

It's so heartbreaking.

even so.

Yukino still wanted to face her with a smile - that silly girl who always stuck to her even though she already had someone she liked.

Yukino averted her gaze and the smile disappeared.

It's like getting lost in a sunset glow.

?

The sunset in winter is cold.

The only thing I can give is light.

Once you stop.

The cold wind coming from the north will penetrate into everyone's internal organs.

Until the person is so cold that his face turns red.

The soul of a frozen person is numb.

But it may not end there.

That must be the reason.

We can't stop until we reach the end.

Whether hesitant or not.

Confused or not.

Whether scared or not.

You must not stop.

?

"My...friends shouldn't be involved in our affairs, right?"

Today it is today.

Yukino still didn't know what she desired.

Her bright and clear eyes still revealed confusion, but they were also covered with a color called [determination].

Looking at Xueno, who was completely different from before, Yangno suddenly fell silent.

"I won't drag your friend into this for no reason. It's your friend who took the initiative to stand in front of me.

Well, if I were to back off when faced with something like this, I probably wouldn’t be recognized as a friend by you.”

At this point, Yang Nai glanced at Su Qing vaguely.

“But no matter what, what has been decided cannot be changed.

Or do you want to try to... rebel? Like during your rebellious period in middle school?

Come to think of it, I have never seen what Yukino is like when she is rebellious since she was a child.

I really want to see it.”

Yang Noi's smile was still as malicious, but compared to the beginning, there was a hint of expectation in it.

"Ms. Yukinoshita Haruno, are you going to continue making trouble?"

Su Qing took a few steps forward, protected the two of them behind him, turned around and smiled at Yui with relief.

Except for [Passion] and [Purity].

The cherry blossoms finally blossomed with petals called "Courage".

Hikigaya's fleeting illusion was actually correct.

Su Qing indeed considered Yui, Yukino and the others as friends.

It's just that he is too mature psychologically, which makes his attitude towards these people more than just friends.

He seems to be playing a role similar to that of an older brother, but it is more than just an older brother.

He has been watching.

Even if it sounds a bit funny.

But the seeds need to germinate on their own before they can break through the soil.

No matter how good a variety is, it needs to go through wind and rain before it can truly bloom and bear fruit.

Su Qing could not participate in their past, and their future was vague and illusory.

and so.

Su Qing could only accompany them for a while.

A road called [now].

Maybe tomorrow Su Qing will pass through their world.

and so.

What Su Qing needs to do is not to clear all obstacles for them, but to provide the flowers with the sunlight, air and water they need to survive.

What he can do,

It's waiting.

It's expectation.

It's prayer.

as well as...

Shelter them when they encounter overwhelming storms.

……