[Shaoyin] like a short-lived epiphyllum

"Himiya-sama, you must not go any further."

"why?"

Hearing that it was Barnacle Nakamiya who entered Imamari, Prince Xiuzi was very happy to see her.It has been a long time since I saw her, and I heard that she has been living in the Tuyumen Hall with illnesses, but now that she is back, she can't go one step further.Because the female officials are afraid that the disease in the middle palace will be transmitted to Prince Xiuzi.

but……

It's meaningless if you can't see it. This thing hasn't been returned to her yet.

Holding the white bead tightly in his hand, Xiuzi took advantage of the maids' inattention and trotted to a small attic closer to the place where the barnacles lived.But when he heard the voice from the side, he froze for a moment and then walked over there.That voice was very familiar, it was a voice I had heard before, it was the one who called Zhong Gong as Zhang Zi.

Witnessing the boy flustered by the commotion of the maids approaching, she blinked and grabbed his arm.

"here."

She believed him.

Because he had saved her, so believe it.

Because I know Nakamiya very well, I believe it.

So if you come, you can relieve Zhonggong's pain, right?

The maids holding candles palely opened the door of the side room.

"Himiya-sama, are you here?"

Using a lamp, I saw that Xiuzi was squatting by the latticed door with the moonlight shining through.

"Ah, Himemiya-sama."

"You're fine."

"We thought you were hiding in the closet, but there was no one there, and we were worried."

Seeing the maids expressing their joy for his safety, Xiuzi nodded slightly.

"sorry."

"It's okay. Your mother is still worried. Let's take you home."

"Wait a minute. Right away."

Xiuzi ran to the cabinet in the room, took out the dolls in the cabinet, and after the maids left, he blinked at the tents beside the cabinet, smiled and said something, put something on the ground and walked out of the room.The door should have been left open on purpose, and there was still a gap in the paper door.

Chang Hao, who was wearing a night cloak, walked out of the room cautiously after there was no movement outside the door.

The girl said, it would be great if you can cure Zhonggong's illness.

The girl said, because I believe in you, don't let me down.

He looked at the white bead in his hand, wondering what he was thinking.However, he jumped down from the crossing hall and ran towards the nearest wall, but his sneaky footsteps suddenly stopped.

"Are you all right?"

Chang Hao took a deep breath and hid under the corridor of the nearest side house.The light from the lattice door and the curtain illuminated the corridor, and he crept up the corridor, pausing at the junction of the wall and the lattice door to peer inside.

It was Xue Ling's voice, and he knew it clearly.

"Hmm...it's been...a lot."

When Chang Hao heard the voice he missed every day, he covered his mouth tremblingly and opened his eyes wide.Compared with the last time, the voice was much weaker, and together with the weak cocking sound, he clutched the cloak tightly, suppressing the feelings that had always been there.

Zhang Zi opened his blurry eyes, staring blankly at Xue Ling who was sitting beside him.Obviously just now the whole body seemed to be filled with lead and could not move, but at the moment it felt a little relieved and much better.

"The monster has been repelled, it must be Changhao."

Zhang Zi, who was short of breath, heard Xue Ling's words, his eyes trembled, his bloodless lips were slightly parted, as if he wanted to say something.Xue Ling looked at Zhang Zi like this distressedly, and used the towel beside her to help her sweaty forehead, and poured some of her spiritual power along the way.

"…I am okay……"

The incoherent words stung Chang Hao's eardrums, and he blinked his eyes desperately in order not to let anything flow out.

"...Because...he...is protecting...I...no...is it..."

Because I have him protecting me, I am at ease, so I will not be afraid.

Xue Ling nodded, tightly clutching the sleeve in her hand.No matter what happens, Chang Hao will protect Zhang Zi, no matter what time the first thing he thinks of is always you.

"...And...Miss Zhangzi...cause of...cursing...cannot let her...replace...I am...today...inside..."

"Ok, I know."

"...So...Miss Akiko..."

The words came to an end, Xue Ling looked at Zhang Zi who had passed out, and she changed the towel again.Looking at the place where the spiritual power fluctuated extremely, she knew that the boy was there just now, listening to their conversation there.

Now that you have heard it, persuade the child and come back to pick her up.

The cloak covered Chang Hao's face, which made the demon king who was standing beside him a little bit unbearable.

Because of him, Zhangzi has a curse left by a foreign demon. Without an onmyoji around, the curse will make Zhangzi feel painful again, and that is why she wants him to protect Zhangzi.Chang Hao's whole body trembled, his eyes were filled with anger, his lower lip was bitten, and his mouth was full of bloody smell.

——Why don't you look at me more!Obviously I look so much like her!Why can't you leave me a place in your heart...!

Different, no matter how similar they look, they are still different.Zhang Zi is Zhang Zi, Zhang Zi is not Zhang Zi, he clearly distinguishes this point, so he got angry at that girl that night.If the Demon Lord and Tianyi hadn't stopped him, he was afraid...

He was so afraid that he would have such a posture at that time, he was so afraid that his reason would collapse.

"...I want to defeat Rakshasa."

Rescue the girl as soon as possible, and free Zhang Zi from the pain.

>>>

——It is not necessarily only the curse cast by Tianhu that can be lifted by Tianzhu.

Before the girl left, Kong Huan looked at the determined face and she didn't know what to say.Subconsciously told her that the curse on Miss Zhangzi could be removed, even if it was a curse cast by a foreign demon.

But the girl just paused, raised her head and looked directly at her and said with a smile.

——Even so, if it is Changhao's choice, then I... also hope so.

That smile was like a clear sky, slightly shaking her distrust of human beings.

She left, and not long after that, Jingxia also left.

I don't know whether you will still smile so warmly in front of me when we parted this time and the next time we meet.

Kong Huan drank sake and looked into the distance, she didn't want to stop Jingxia, nor would she interfere with Ling Shou's affairs.She knew from the very beginning that he, who was only close to Jingxia, just wanted her to look him squarely.Because as Tianhu's strongest dzi, she must think of her clansmen.

It must have been a strategy because I didn't want those eyes to look at others.

Until now, I want you to call me by my name, call me by my real name.Obviously I hate you so much and love you so much.

Tears flowed across the cheeks, and the illusory thoughts seemed to be conveyed to that place.By the dark and deep river, the official of Hades looked at the golden dzi bead in his hand, closed his eyes full of guilt, kissed the faintly glowing dzi bead gently, and said Out of the name that has been echoing in my mind.

sorry……

I love you……

>>>

I am still--

There is no way to fall in love with you.

The young man who came back at night held a white dzi and said to her. After hesitating for a few minutes, he still couldn't make a decision, but bowed deeply to her.

—Sorry, it was my fault to get mad at you.But no matter how similar you are to her, it is still different to me, so I treat you as just a friend.

She knew at that moment that the orb in his hand might be able to remove the cursed fetish on her body.She smiled bitterly, and her tears could no longer flow out. After he got angry with her that night, she had finished crying.I heard from Tianyi that Zhang Zi is also cursed, and it is also a curse that cannot be removed in his life.

So he gave her the chance.

Imanori, where I set foot for the first time, was frighteningly deserted.Although there were several maids in the west room prepared for the central palace, they were all asleep by the spell cast by the girl.

"Then, let's take Miss Zhangzi home first."

Tianyi, who came along with him, looked at the weakly breathing girl in his arms with a sad face, and asked Princess Suzaku to carry her back after saying this, Suzaku did not refuse or showed dissatisfaction, and was very worried and cautious Take over that delicate body.

"Well, please."

Chang Hao nodded in agreement, his face full of anxiety.

Putting on the twelve singles she hadn't worn for a while, she stared at Changhao in the corridor, she hoped that he could turn around to look at her at this moment, but he didn't... He still stared at the night sky.

Caressing his chest, Zhang Zi really felt the pain as if his heart had been cut.

He stared at the sky so earnestly, thinking——

But it is no longer her.

"Chang Hao..."

Thinking of her like this, she still couldn't help calling his name.

Chang Hao turned his head when he heard the words, looked at Zhang Zi who was a bit haggard, tried to use the gentlest tone of his own, and treated her with the smile she had always liked.

"Akiko."

Zhang Zi exhaled, but fortunately, he still called her name.

"This is the last time I'll call you that."

Zhang Zi held her breath when she heard this sentence, the intense emotion made her feel extremely uncomfortable as if something was blocking her chest.

Would he not call her by her name again?

Zhang Zi fell to his knees powerlessly.

"What's wrong? Is there something wrong?"

Seeing Changhao's flustered expression, Zhangzi showed an expression that was about to cry.

"It hurts..."

"Where is the injury?"

Zhang Zi desperately shook his head.No, that's not the case.

The generals who saw this scene looked at each other and left the scene.On the other hand, Xue Ling sighed helplessly, picked up the Demon Lord on the ground, turned around and walked away, only he could solve this problem, it was something he had to solve.

Chang Hao looked at the generals who left one after another, as well as the demon king and Xue Ling. He seemed to have noticed something, but he couldn't find a suitable sentence to say it.The silence of the two made the deserted atmosphere even more embarrassing. Zhang Zi looked at Chang Hao who was at a loss, and took a few deep breaths.

"...You said you would protect me, but who did you promise?"

"That is……"

Seeing that Changhao hesitated for a long time but did not give an answer, Zhangzi continued to ask.

"Is it because of the agreement with Miss Zhangzi that you are willing to protect me?"

"...Not only that, but this is also one of the reasons."

Seeing Changhao's frank answer, her shoulders trembled violently.She knew it, she knew it that night, there was no need to ask.Miss Zhang Zi and Chang Hao are childhood sweethearts. I heard from Mrs. Lu Shu that the two have been close since they were young, so she...

Seeing Zhangzi lowering his head and biting his lower lip tightly, Changhao knew that it would not be good for anyone if he stayed like this, so he saluted and jumped down from the corridor.

"Then can you...continue calling my name?"

——If I marry someone else in the future, Changhao, you will still call me by my name, right?

At that time, the girl asked him who was sitting in the courtyard while holding the things sent by the priest.

Chang Hao stopped in his tracks, clenched his fists and shook his head firmly.

"You are the emperor's wife now, Empress Zhonggong. I can't easily call your name in the future."

——…I will shout, no matter whose wife you become, I will still shout your name and call you.

"So... please don't say that again."

"Chang Hao, I..."

"Please do not joke."

"not me……"

"Nakamiya!"

He doesn't even call his name.

Zhang Zi, who was interrupted by Chang Haotong's rude tone as rare as yesterday, held his breath and tugged on the railing.Her fingertips turned pale from exertion, and she finally cried out in grief.

"If I met you first, would you still... like me first!"

There was a more terrifying silence than before.I don't know when it started to rain. It was still a drizzle at first, and then it became heavier and heavier.Chang Hao raised his head silently, letting the rain drop on his face.

If it was her who met first.

Will you like her?

...I will.

Just like that dream, he watched himself hurt Zhang Zi helplessly, Zhang Zi lowered his head and cried and hurt his eyes, how much he wanted to cross that barrier and come to her side.Comfort her not to cry, not to show such a sad expression again.

"Won't."

He shook his head firmly.It was because he saw that scene, so no, no matter who he met first, he would always fall in love with that girl, who showed him a warm smile like the sun.

"...May I ask you a question?"

"...if I can answer."

His momentary pause just now made her feel that this was enough.

But the figure of Wu Luan who refused to look back no matter what made her very uncomfortable, because it was for her own sake.Obviously he could pretend he didn't hear, but he didn't do that. The past few months of getting along with each other made Zhang Zi familiar with Chang Hao's temperament.He was always like this, honest with everyone.

"Miss Zhang Zi, what kind of person is...?"

The half-sisters of the same year looked very similar, even if Zhang Zi entered the palace instead of Zhang Zi, they were never suspected.But what's the difference?soul?Heart?Or the stars?Or is it different everywhere, that's why... I don't like her?

After hearing this question, Chang Hao narrowed his eyes, and many scenes shuttled back and forth in his mind.The kid from Kibune when he was young, the girl who smiled beside him in Abe House.The girl who welcomed him back home with a smile, the girl who forgot him but still believed in him, the girl who protected him when he came out of the clouds, and the warmth of her hugging him in the alien world created by the strange monk. '

"She's very gentle...very, warm...very strong..."

No matter how sad, cowardly, or decadent she is, she can always find out immediately.The sachet she gave him always helped him a lot, even in that distant place, when he was so painful that he didn't know how to face the white monster, she used her warm heart to soothe that cold body.

My heart really hurts.On that terrible night, the night when he first knew she had vision, she kept crying and apologizing as if she knew it before losing her memory the next day.And every time you cry, it's always about him, so he's not good and always makes you cry.

"...But it's...a very fragile, fragile person who makes people feel distressed."

Letting the raindrops hit his body, Chang Hao closed his eyes and raised the corners of his lips.That smile was so pampering, a smile that had never appeared in front of her eyes, Zhang Zi tightly held the light red amulet in his arms.

"I've always been saved by her gentleness...so warm...I longed for her strength...loved her fragility...ever since I was a child..."

The voice that always encouraged him who was frustrated, seemed to be half-heard even now.The rain was getting heavier and heavier, and Zhang Zi, who was kneeling in the corridor, just watched his back quietly, the hand that was clenched was gradually losing strength, and tears ran across her cheeks silently.

"It's her."

Even if what happened in that dream is real, it is definitely not now, so no matter how many assumptions Zhang Zi makes, it is useless.

Zhangzi also knew that no matter how much he fantasized, it was an impossible wish to realize.Zhang Zi looked at his drenched back, she let go of the hand holding the amulet and smiled wryly.

"Let's go... let's go, go back... to her..."

Hearing what Zhangzi said, Changhao turned around and saluted her, and disappeared into the rain.Zhang Zi leaned against the high fence and fell down until he could no longer see the figure.

"..."

From the very beginning... that young man protected her because of the promise, because he didn't want anyone in the family to get hurt, Zhang Zi's promise, so he came to fulfill it.So, is the amulet on her body the protection that the child entrusted to him?

The uncontrollable sobs were buried in the patter of rain.

After taking a deep look at Zhang Zi, Xue Ling remembered that her mother had shown this expression before, so she closed her eyes and turned around not to see her disappearing into the night.

>>>

"I dreamed..."

Chang Hao, who heard Zhang Zi's weak voice, immediately sat on the side of her couch worried.

Tianyi, Suzaku, and Xuanwu who were guarding Zhangzi should all be hidden by the side, but he couldn't feel their aura now.

"...As if you asked me not long ago, if I married someone else, you said you would still call me by my name."

After hearing this, Chang Hao was stunned for a moment and looked at her wanting to cry and laugh at the same time.

"Well, I will always call your name, this is a promise."

"...Hmm. But... I'm sorry, Masahiro, for hurting you so much again."

Chang Hao shook his head, holding Zhang Zi's cold hand.He could have used dzi beads to eliminate the curse on Zhang Zi, and gave Zhang Zi supplementary medicine to suppress the pain.But selfishly, he didn't do that.

"You can recover after a good rest. But... this year's fireflies may... be invisible. That's right..."

"nothing."

Chang Hao's words were interrupted by the weak Zhang Zi with a loud voice, and then Zhang Zi kept coughing, which made Chang Hao a little flustered. He looked at Zhang Zi shaking his head and giving him the warmest smile just like that time.

"It was my fault to hide you, so... it's okay. I still have... next year, right?"

Zhang Zi's smile all the time is his treasure, the most important treasure he carefully guards.For some reason, the circles under his eyes started to heat up. He was distressed but happy at the same time.

"Chang Hao..."

For some reason, the eye circles were a little hot, Chang Hao nodded silently with a teary smile on his face.

"I... have been praying all the time, you called my name with that voice."

In the deep palace, what I want to hear every night.

It is you who use this voice to call my name.

The author has something to say: The Tianhu chapter is officially over!

As everyone wished, did not enter the palace

Although I knew this from the beginning hahaha