[Comprehensive] living to death

No matter how powerful a person is, there have been times when they were not so powerful.

Even, very weak.

18 years ago, in the countryside of Dicheng, Changzhou.At that time, it was still in the last peace and stability of the old era-even though this peace was only an illusion.In Edo City, a series of disputes have erupted around the issue of the founding of the shogunate, but the rural areas are always slow and slow to the general trend of the world, just like an old scalper flicking by in the field, taking it easy.

It was a small village at the foot of a green hill.The paddy fields are fertile, the forests are lush, and the private schools in the village are full of books.A group of teenagers followed the gentle and elegant teacher to study and practice calligraphy. The silver curly-haired teenager leaned against the classroom with a knife in his hand and fell asleep at the end.

There are no holidays in the country.During the busy season of farming in spring and summer, all the children would go home to help. Only the three teenagers who lived in a private school practiced calligraphy and martial arts with their teachers, and became the most leisurely teenagers in the village.

That year, a little girl in the village who lost her parents set up a kite shop at the entrance of the village and started making kites for sale.

"Are you stupid? Who in this rural area has the money and time to buy kites?"

"However, I can only make kites now."

"This crooked kite... what's your name?"

"Akira."

"Ming? Then I'll call you Xiao Ming. Then Xiao Ming, let's have a kite!"

The three teenagers each carried a bunch of crooked kites back to their private school.

"Hey, Teacher Songyang said that you can live in a private school."

"Ah... thank you! But I still plan to be self-reliant, earn enough living expenses and tuition fees, and then go to private school!"

"Self-reliance and self-improvement are adults' business. Children should eat, drink, play, sleep, go to class, and sleep..."

"Hey Yinshi! Isn't that the case!"

The kite is getting better and better every year.Kites began to come in various shapes, with beautiful characters written on them, and later they were sold in the city, and gradually became a specialty of this rural area.

"Xiao Ming, I heard that you have become a flower in the village."

"Oh, that's why they're blind."

"Sure enough, do you think so too? Ah Yin, let me just say, those who will vote for it must have too little sugar intake, dizzy and dizzy and can't see faces clearly, for example..."

"Shut up silver hour!"

"Aren't you playing tricks on yourself?"

Along with the kite spread came the reputation of the person who made the kite.If it is said that it is a crime to be pregnant, then it is also a crime to be born with a good color but not a good family background.

"Is this the first dude to drive away for you?"

"Ahahaha the weather is so nice today..."

"These samurai and businessmen are all idle and doing nothing. All they think about is concubines. I can't bear to see even Ah Yin with the way X bugs are on their heads."

"Heh, these are the so-called 'sergeant sergeants'. The thought of relying on such people to become the pillars of the country is quite worrying."

"Whatever, Ah Yin, I'm satisfied as long as I have strawberry milk. Xiao Ming, bring me a kite full of strawberry milk!"

"I want meatballs!"

"...Anything is fine."

"No, what Ao Shan wants to say is for Xiao Ming's special signed version of you..."

"Silver time!!"

"Hahahaha... the kids these days are really interesting."

The girl who was tying the kite was three years older than them, and her smile was already charming and radiant at that time.

"I said, Xiao Ming, do you want to learn some swordsmanship too? Although Ah Yin is average to me, he is still considered a village flower anyway. Maybe he still needs self-defense?"

"Oh, oh, this and that, in fact, there is still something to learn from time to time, right..."

"Oh, it's just lazy."

"It's okay, right? For Miss Ming, it's not bad to marry someone who is capable of protecting her in the end."

"I don't want to marry... Well, well, you are right, I decided to start studying hard today and improve every day!"

"By the way, Xiao Ming, one more question, do you mind the next year?"

"Silver time! Shut up!!"

"You really can't get rid of the problem of not telling yourself."

The flames of war in the world will eventually burn all over the world.When the gentle and elegant teacher was kidnapped and sent to prison, the last pure land disappeared overnight, the teenagers sent away their peace and innocence, bid farewell to the place where there are paddy fields, cattle and spring cherry blossoms, and people with beautiful kites are even more beautiful Xiao Ming.

"—I'll come back and find you after the teacher is rescued!"

Just like countless promises during the war, this is also a cry that will never have a chance to be fulfilled. It only exists in the dream of a teenager. In the end, like all bright pasts, it hastily passed by and gave way to a heavier and more important reality.The years of the army are turbulent, and the peers are congenial; the teenagers chase the teacher's back with all their strength, and cry bitterly while hugging the dead body of their companions.Running around, beating countless enemies, drinking and chatting occasionally in free time, and falling asleep together drunk in the warm embrace of Younu.

I have never heard from the old people in my hometown again.

There is no chance to realize it again, and it is also because shortly after the end of the war, the once glorious anti-barbarians were designated as traitors and scattered in haste.During those dreary days, there was a legendary news in Edo City, saying that there was an assassin who pretended to be an oiran Taifu with a beautiful face, but showed his weapon at the banquet in an attempt to assassinate the shogun.

The furious shogunate wrote down the rebellious name stroke by stroke in the bulletin.

——Akira Sugiyama.

Two full weeks had passed by the time they received the news.Everything has happened, and it will never be too late.

"That person... what happened to that person in the end?!"

The assassination failed and he died by arson.

Those pure longings and desires were finally buried in the old world along with their youth, buried under the bones of the dead one after another.

The past is like a dream, and it becomes empty in a blink of an eye.

******

"I see. However, Mr. Sakata must have misunderstood the person." Mingyue smiled and held the teacup, "I am not Akira Sugiyama, and I have never heard of this name. More importantly, don't I look like a youthful sixteen flower age?"

"No no, no matter how you look at it, twenty is okay." Yinshi sucked down a large pack of strawberry milk with all his strength, and plausibly said with his dead fish eyes, "Even if everyone in this animation is sixteen or 26." It doesn’t look much different, but it’s the author’s painstaking efforts to set it up, so we must respect the author’s labor!”

"My setting is Youth Sixteen One Flower."

"Oh—really? Then Ah Yin, I am the sweetheart girl high school student who is forever eighteen. Would you like someone to accompany you to spend this lonely night with Oji-san? Only [-] yen!"

Yinshi squeezed his throat and made a strange sound, then leaned back on the sofa and said unceremoniously: "Okay, since we are not acquaintances, it will be easy to handle. What entrustment do you have for this guest? Before talking, please put The water, electricity, tea service fee and Yinsang’s mental damage fee are all paid off, thank you, Shenghui Wuzhang Fukuzawa Yukichi!”

"Hey, this is already blackmail!" Shinpachi complained, "What if you scare the guests away."

"Really, it's extortion. Yinsang also said that he will pay you wages when he gets the money. It seems..."

Two small moments looked back at Mingyue, with yearning for Fukuzawa Yukichi shining in their eyes.

Mingyue was silent for three seconds. "Okay." She drank the tea in one go and said calmly, "Charge it to my account first."

"Small business does not accept credit. New Baji, Kagura-chan, send this lady who claims not to be Xiaoming out."

"Since that's the case, I won't cause trouble for Mr. Sakata." Mingyue got up and walked out, "After the settlement is settled, I will give you the money owed to your company together with the interest. Thank you for your hospitality today."

"Walk slowly without sending."

The boss of Master House pressed the TV remote control.The old TV screen lit up after flickering, showing the live news screen, and the host with short flaxen hair was broadcasting current news.

——Here is the live report from Yukino!The giant white dog-like alien creature that ravaged Edo recently has fled to the Hibiya Park area in Chiyoda District, and the Shinsengumi patrols on duty are chasing it.It is reported that among the Celestial Planets that have established diplomatic relations with Earth, there is no news of related creatures. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is communicating with various embassies...

The screen is focused on the "alien creature" and the Shinsengumi convoy driving on the sidelines ("Alien dogs that have been sabotaging over there, you have seriously violated the "Oedo Public Security Management Punishment Regulations", and you are now ordered to stop sabotaging immediately , squatting down on the spot with both paws holding the head. Repeat again, stop destroying immediately...").It was a gigantic beast about five meters high, more like a wolf than a dog.But it has two forked horns, one long and one short, on its head, and there are complex patterns burning like lava on its cheeks.As if impatient with the noise from the crowd, its dark golden eyes glanced over, just looking in the direction of the camera; the icy cruelty contained in them is chilling.

"Ah, are you a strange heavenly being again? It's been so hard to join the wild anchor." Yinshi yawned lazily, glanced at the door from the corner of his eye, and immediately had a vitriolic expression again. "Why, why, why are you looking at Yin like this? Are you regretting it? Sure enough, you are regretting it? Okay, okay, as long as you are willing to offer a dozen strawberry milk as an apology, and shout 'Master Yinshi' three times Everything is Xiao Ming's fault', Ah Yin, it's not that I can't consider helping you..."

Mingyue looked delicate.

Kagura chewed vinegar kelp, looked at her, then watched TV, suddenly realized: "Ah! Big white dog!"

"It really looks like this..." Mingyue walked to the TV screen, squatted down and looked carefully, and let out a melancholy sigh, "Why did my dear become like this? But if you look closely, it's still quite cute of?"

She turned her head, pointed to the big dog in the picture that jumped onto the roof and quickly moved away from the camera, and said solemnly: "Hi everyone, let me introduce, this is my husband."

The rest: ...

"Heh, heh heh, heh heh..." The corners of Yinshi's mouth twitched, "It is said that people nowadays raise dogs as their sons, but has it become popular enough to raise them as their husbands? No matter what their sons or husbands are, they are all disgusting. Nicknames are synonymous, right? Anyway, it can’t be the real husband, right? Anyway, it can’t be the kind of impure relationship where you want to sleep together every day, right..."

"No, it's that kind of impure relationship." Mingyue's expression was calm.

Yin Shi Yan Yi face, terrified but still struggling. "Humans, humans and beasts have no future, come back quickly, guest!"

"Oh, this..." Mingyue covered her face shyly, and glanced at the terrified boy in glasses and the thoughtful jealous girl, "Don't make it so clear in front of minors, okay?"

"I'm going to find my husband, see you later."

She walked briskly past the owner of Master House.For some reason, it stopped again.

--Feel sorry.

The man rubbed the fluffy silver curly hair and flicked away a lump of booger. "Speak up what you want to say, otherwise I can't hear Ah Yin clearly. If you can't hear clearly, just pretend you haven't heard it." He paused, "After all, even Xiao Ming back then, Ah Yin couldn't think of anything to apologize for. reason. Even if someone needs to apologize, it shouldn't be her anyway."

"Didn't you hear that?" Mingyue walked to the door, faced the blue sky and white clouds of the city, and said with a smile, "Let's just say it politely for my own weakness."

By the way, she remembered.It turned out that the first world I experienced was here.

She wasn't always given her real name, though most of the time it was.

What kind of person was the little girl called "Sugiyama Akira" back then?Standing in a strange world and looking around, he is apprehensive about everything, and knows nothing about the fate he bears.She knows that she should work hard, but she is still like the most ordinary ordinary person, afraid of suffering, tiredness, pain, and death. She just lives and laughs, and has a kind of blind luck for the future. Also in time.

How could you be so stupid then?There is no sense of crisis, hoping that someone will fall from the sky to save you, and you take it for granted that you are a girl, so of course you don't have to live so hard?

How stupid.

How could it be so weak?Mingyue tried to recall Sugiyama Akira's mood, but she found that no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't remember it anymore.There are always some blurred lights, shadows and outlines left in the past scenes, but the joys and sorrows and struggles of the characters have all been left in the past, like water droplets submerged in the sea, I don’t know which ocean current they have merged into, or they have already evaporated into clouds and rain.

Too many years ago.It happened too soon.

In a sense, that Akira Sugiyama really died long ago in the flames.Trying her best, all she can do is a little bit of trivial things.That was the price she paid for her weakness.

There are only narrow eaves at the entrance of the master house, which cannot cover the glare of the sun.When she looked up, the heat of the sun was on her face, like every time in the past.

Only the sun is still there, and it's still so good.

"Hey!"

The owner of the master house kicked the floor and came over.

"Ah, really, I got it, I got it! It doesn't matter whether it's human or animal, it's all at the request of the guests anyway. As long as there is a reward, we Wanshiwu doesn't care so much. Morality and other things have long been followed by single-digit banks. The passbook numbers are gone forever." He murmured as if complaining.

Mingyue turned her head and met those dead fish eyes.The red-brown eyes are still listless, but when they are serious, they are as clear as when they were children.It is said that people who are too persistent will never grow up, and they will always have the shadow of their childhood in their eyes, which can be seen at a glance.

she smiled.

"I really can only pay on credit first?"

"As long as it's ten times the bank interest rate, it's fine. Remember to calculate according to compound interest!" Yinshi said firmly, "Xinbaji, Kagura-chan, let's go!"

There is no shortage of mountains and rivers around Edo.I bumped into the Shinsengumi on the way, and greeted them calmly.The young policeman seemed to be aware of it, but he met the owner of Wanshiwu and said nothing.

The air in the mountains is fresh, and if you walk a few more steps, you will see a long waterfall; the snow-white water splits the lush forest, which is not a refreshing sight.

The alien creature broadcast on the TV screen was pacing around the waterfall, looking very restless.Suddenly, his ears moved, he raised his head to look over, and immediately roared excitedly, his huge body jumped over swiftly, and went straight to the bright moon.

"Honey, I'm here to pick you up--wow, don't rush, I don't have the strength to pick up...hold...you..."

Before she finished speaking, Mingyue was thrown to the ground by the big dog.The big fluffy dog ​​tried hard to rub against her neck, but its body was too big, so it could only get excited by itself.Mingyue stretched out a hand with difficulty, and comforted him for a long time, and then he was able to crawl out to breathe fresh air.

Okay, so big... It's really a big white dog, it's true... The three people in Wanshiwu blinked and looked at each other.

The big dog lay prone on the ground, and then squinted at several strangers, and flicked its cloud-like tail lazily. "Mingyue, who are these humans?"

"Oh oh oh oh the big dog has spoken!!" The three of them exclaimed at the same time.

Ibaraki made a cross on his forehead and bared his teeth at them.

It's a pity that except for the glasses, no one was scared.The silver-haired dead fish eyes were also arrogantly picking their nostrils.

"I finally found it. Fortunately, I thought about what to do if I got lost, otherwise I really don't know where to find you." Mingyue happily rubbed Ibaraki's cheek with a happy face, "But the furry look is also cute , Ibaraki-chan, do you want to consider becoming like this from time to time?"

Izuku nudged her back. "You can do whatever you like."

Answer very casually.

Mingyue narrowed her eyes and climbed up his back neatly.

"I'm going to stay in the mountains with him for a few days. The three of Wanshiwu, I'm really grateful this time." She waved at them, "I'm sorry for your trouble! I'll come back in a few days and I'll give you a reward. There are also strawberry milk and vinegar kombu and glasses, so don't worry."

——Why mine are glasses! !

"In addition, if you are troubled by supernatural events, you can also ask me! Tried and tested, no refund!"

"A Yin, I don't want to encounter supernatural events!" Yin Shi shuddered and immediately retorted loudly.

Mingyue laughed.

"Forget it, just settle the matter." Yin Shi rubbed the back of his head, "Remember to pay it together with the interest, Miss Guest."

The big monster turned around, carried his girl, and walked towards the mountain.

Gintoki watched their backs, and suddenly put his hands around his mouth like a trumpet, and asked loudly: "Hey—tell me! Does Akira Sugiyama still remember the boy who liked her? Did she ever—resent!"

She didn't look back, she just waved.

"She remembers everyone." Mingyue looked at the sky and said with a slight smile, "But resentment is not as memorable as a kite."

"Silver time, cherish it."

******

One month later, Wanshiwu received a thick letter from Fuze Yuji.In addition, there are three kites.One is full of strawberry milk, one is full of meatballs, and the other is blank.

"Silver Sauce! Have we made it!"

"A lot... a lot of money..."

It was rare for them to eat a barbecue buffet that day, and the night rabbit girl who had a huge appetite happily opened up to eat, and ate two Fukuzawa Yukichi in one go.

It's just that the hot sauce for the barbecue may have been put a little too much, Yin Shi has been pouring strawberry milk, but his eyes are still a little red.

When he went back at night, he thought for a long time, and finally took the three kites outdoors and burned them to ashes one by one.

"Anyway, it's good to survive."