[Net King] Pilgrim

On Saturday night, Machida finished a homemade curry rice in the apartment. While reading a book, Janice called and said that she was on her way back from the city center and could be downstairs in about 15 minutes.

In the afternoon, Janice and a few classmates went to the city center to chat for a meal, just in time to come back before going to the bar at night.

Once Machida returned to his room, he changed his clothes, washed his face, and put on a thin layer of cream.She only learned makeup when she was in high school, and she had to face it face-to-face for various performances in school, and finally found a vacation to learn art with Kuriyama Yusui.

She took a woolen coat from the cabinet, and when she turned around, she didn't pay attention and bumped into the edge of the table.

With a soft "snap", the standing photo frame snapped onto the table.

She hurriedly stretched out her hand to straighten it up, and the warm yellow light sprinkled on the glass frame, mixing with the sunlight between the shadows of the trees in the photo.

Machida leaned over slightly, stroked the photo, his eyes softened suddenly.

In more than a year, she will graduate and return to Japan.A few days ago, Fuji Zhouzhu was still talking to her on the phone about the Christmas party of the seniors of the tennis club. When she heard him say that everyone's work and life were gradually getting on the right track, she couldn't help but feel a sense of certainty in her heart. feel.

However, the same as the previous gatherings, Echizen Ryoma did not attend. He has been busy with his studies and training and cannot return to Japan for the time being. He may not be able to attend the gatherings of his seniors until after graduation.

Machida will know this because when he contacted Fuji Shusuke a few times, he would mention Echizen Ryoma to her. Although he didn't say much, he always mentioned that Echizen was very good.

She put the photo frame away, turned off the lights and went out.

At seven o'clock, the sky was so dark that it was hard to tell whether it was cloudy or sunny, the temperature was a little low, and the quiet residential street was filled with thin fog.

As soon as Machida stood by the side of the street, he saw Janice waving at her across the road within a few minutes.

The bar the two went to was not far from where they lived, and it was very popular in the West End.The bar has a lot of history. It was transformed from a church, and every brick and tile on the wall retains the original appearance of the church.

The open-air seats outside the bar are surrounded by a small circle of flower beds. Machida noticed that he stepped up a few steps. When he was about to enter the door, he didn't expect to be bumped by someone who walked out quickly, and he almost lost his footing. .

"Oh I'm sorry! are you okay?" The man stopped after taking a few steps forward in inertia, and hurriedly turned around to apologize.

As soon as Machida stood firm, he saw that the man was holding up his mobile phone, and waved his hand to indicate that it was okay.

Janice checked her back and forth anxiously, "Are you all right?"

"It's okay, don't worry."

"...Are you Japanese?" Xu Shi asked suddenly when he heard the conversation.

They froze for a moment and turned their heads to look over.

It was a boy of similar age, with blond hair and a pair of sunglasses on his head. It was definitely not an oriental appearance.

Machida was a little surprised because he speaks fluent Japanese.

She was about to speak, but saw the boy hesitantly approaching her a few steps, frowning slightly, and staring at her face, "We...have we met somewhere? You look familiar."

"..."

He was still speaking Japanese, as if he believed that she was also Japanese, and the next second he said to himself, "It's not such a coincidence..."

The boy in front of him looked quite serious, he didn't look like he was just joking and flirting with him out of boredom, but Machida Kazu really didn't want to use polite words like "maybe he has a public face" to deal with such a situation.

Fortunately, the boy was still on the phone, and the person on the other end seemed to have just connected. He called a few times but no one answered, and he was a little impatient.

While reassuring that he didn’t have half-hearted intentions, the boy apologized to them and turned away from the receiver, “I’m at the bar now, I’ll find you later... If I don’t drag him out, he’ll smother himself to death..." He Turning around and walking to the corner, "I just finished my work, and I will take him to the airport later..."

Janice: "...When he opened his mouth, he was completely Japanese."

Machida couldn't deny it, looked at the boy again, smiled, "Let's go."

When the two entered the bar, there were only counter seats, and they sat down next to each other, forgetting the episode that happened at the door just now.

A waiter in front of the counter was an alumnus of the Student Union and was working part-time. He greeted the two of them with a smile and asked what they wanted to drink. Janice directly ordered a cup of bitter stout with coffee and cream.

Machida put his coat on his back, thought for a while, and ordered a small glass of kiwi-flavored fruit wine.In fact, she seldom drinks alcohol. To protect her throat, she usually drinks soda when she comes to the bar with friends, and she doesn't drink at all during performances.

Janice knew her habits, and asked, "Can I drink?"

"It doesn't matter if you drink less, or you will be boring alone."

The two drank wine, listened to the band playing, and chatted from the just-concluded Christmas trip to the upcoming Glasgow Film Festival in recent months. Janice's study and life experience is richer than Machida's. She knows four languages, has traveled to many places, and always maintains curiosity about the world, with a pure and gentle heart.

The friendship they met in a foreign country, such a fate is really rare, and both of them cherish it very much.

Halfway through the chat, the alumni waiter came over and asked Machida with a smile if he wanted to sing on stage.

It was sung during student union activities, in an off-campus bar?She wasn't ready for that.

Just as she was about to resign, Janice at the side was so excited that she shook her shoulders, "It's so rare, I want to hear it!"

There are also students from the student union in the band on stage, and they enthusiastically shouted directly across the crowd: "Hajime! Comeon!"

The bar counter became the focus in an instant.

Machida was almost pushed off the bar chair by Janice, so he jumped off, straightened his clothes, and asked, "What do you want to hear?" Picking up the glass, the ice cubes hit the glass wall, and the taste was cold and sweet.

Janice thought about it, "Just... the very emotional song you hummed before..." Then I remembered, "DreamaLittleDream."

After thinking about it, Machida put down his wine glass, "Success."

Walking to the stage, a few familiar classmates whistled and brought out several waves of applause from the audience.The drummer handed over a guitar, she smiled and shook her head slightly, quietly retracted her right hand into her cuff, took the microphone in the other hand and sat directly on the high chair in the center of the stage.

The atmosphere in the arena is relaxed and dimly lit.Machida held the microphone and said a few opening remarks. She still has some stage experience. In addition to such an informal occasion, she did not consciously relax, "...dream littledream, hopeyouenjoy."

The audience gradually became quiet, and the band accompaniment driven by the sound of the piano flowed slowly.

The soft drumbeat, the leisurely singing voice and the pure blues, and the improvisation of the keyboard player make the whole song a little more brisk, without too much modification, and it makes people feel full and comfortable.

When he sang the line "Justhold meet and tell me you'll missme", Machida couldn't help but think that Janice is really good at picking songs.Such a sweet song made her sing a bit sadly.

Janice in that room was sitting by the bar with her legs crossed, looking at the people on the stage and admiring her.

A white sweater with a bit of retro style, paired with a pair of jeans and a pair of loafers.The hair was tied loosely, some broken hair fell on the forehead, and there was a layer of bean paste red on the lips, which was low-key but brightened.

Whether it's the song or the people, they all stand out under the overflowing stage lights.

The music was just right at the end, and the applause rang out. After thanking the audience, Machida did not forget to turn around and thank the band for playing, before jumping off the stage in two or three steps.

Back at the bar, what was waiting for her was Janice's teasing, "Singing so devotedly, who are you thinking about when you sing this song?"

As soon as Machida picked up the wine glass, propped his elbows on the stage, and took a sip, "Those who think about it."

Janice's mouth was wider than an egg, and she became interested in an instant. Just about to gossip, she suddenly heard a childish voice behind her: "Excuseme."

When the two heard the voice, they turned their heads and saw a bouquet of flower branches first, and then a little blond girl, who was not as tall as the bar, standing behind them with a smile.

Just wondering, the little girl directly handed the bouquet to Machida, showing two cute canine teeth.

The two were stunned.

Machida was a little puzzled, but he also got up, took a step out of the bar, and squatted in front of the girl.

"Isthisforme? (Is this for me?)"

The girl nodded and raised the flower branch in front of her, "It's fromananonymous fan. (An anonymous fan gave you)"

Machida was slightly surprised, hesitantly reached out to take the flowers, and heard the girl say, "I really like your song. (I like your song very much)"

"Thank you!" She smiled brightly, "and please send my thanks to that person. (Thank you, and please thank that person for me)"

The girl smiled and ran away, and Machida sat back on the high stool with a bunch of flower branches.

It is not particularly exaggerated, it is wrapped in beautiful cellophane, and a very delicate bunch is held in the hand.

Janice immediately moved closer, even more impatient than the person involved, "What is it?"

"Stars all over the sky." It is only visible under the light of the bar counter, the slender flower stalks, white and light red petals, as elegant as a flower umbrella.

Machida blinked slowly, sniffing carefully, there was still a light fragrance.

Janice sighed with a smile, looked at her sideways with her head propped on her hands, and thought for a while, "Do you know what the flower language of the stars is?"

Machida turned his head and motioned for her to continue.

Janice paused as she tapped her finger on the table, with a half-smile, "I miss you."

Machida smiled, "I just found out today that the flower language of the baby's breath is this."

"I don't know if your fans have studied it." Janice shrugged, picked up her glass with a smile, and took a sip.Thinking of the topic just now, he narrowed his eyes, "...couldn't it be from the person you were just thinking about?"

"No." Knowing that she was joking, she also had a serious tone.

"Why not?"

Machida fell silent for a moment, lowered his eyes, and his eyes fell on the flower branches a little out of focus.

Because they are separated by mountains and seas, and there is no reason.He had no reason to give it to her.

She chose to study abroad in order to become excellent in her own field and get closer to him, but sometimes, she felt that the distance between them seemed to be getting farther and farther.

A piece of orange light fell from above the bar, reflected on the open cellophane, haloing into scattered spots of light.

She didn't answer, she shook her head slightly in a daze, raised her hand and stroked the petals, "...let's go back."

After returning from the bar, the second week ushered in the start of school.

It's the New Year, and Machida Kazu's class schedule is full as usual, and the student's mailbox is even receiving emails from the school and department every three days, most of which are notifications of recent on-campus and off-campus activities.

The student union's mail was lying in the mailbox early, announcing the routine activities of the first week of school, and there was a small social gathering at seven o'clock on Thursday night.When Machida reported his name, he was rushing to change classrooms to go to class.

It's a busy Thursday.

At the end of the last class in the afternoon, Machida came out of the school theatre, with a lot of English lines in class still lingering in his head.

Back at the apartment, Janice was baking biscuits in the kitchen. Her major hadn’t started yet, and she had nothing to do in the past two days to start making desserts. Machida felt as if he had entered a bakery every day when he opened the door.

After taking a shower, I changed into clothes and went to the kitchen, just in time for the biscuits to be baked.

Machida Kazu consciously reached out and took two pieces into his mouth. It didn't take long to take them out of the oven, and they still tasted hot.

Janice took off her baking mitts, saw someone putting cookies into her mouth without a break, and laughed at her, "If you want to eat it later, make it yourself."

"I can't do this well." After finishing speaking, he ate another piece, slurring his speech, "It's so ugly that people lose their appetite just by looking at it."

"Is it so exaggerated."

Machida wiped the biscuit crumbs from the corner of his mouth with a tissue, but didn't answer.

Anyway, he was disgusted by people.

Janice threw the baking tools into the sink, "Oh, by the way, I had lunch with friends and heard a breaking news."

Machida Kazu was helping to box the biscuits, "What an explosion."

"Do you know Echizen Ryoma?"

"……Um."

"He's coming to our school to study, this semester."

... roaring all around.