[Comprehensive] shadow of light

On the white envelope, Ninomiya Mizuki's handwriting reads - from Ninomiya Saki.

The handwritten letter from a year and a half ago appeared vividly in front of Zao Ji's eyes, and she was in a trance for a moment. It felt as if time and space were staggered, and there was a trace of illusion.

Her fingers touched Ruixi's handwriting, and she couldn't help stroking it back and forth twice, as if she could feel the strength of his writing through the back of the paper, handsome and strong.

There is a red wax seal on the seal, which is printed with Ruixi's own seal.Carefully breaking it apart, Zao Ji took out three stacks of letter paper from inside, the corners were slightly yellowed due to long-term storage.

Carefully flipping through the letter paper, the writing in black pen appeared in front of my eyes.

The faint smell of paper and the smell of ink overlapped, as if they were cut off from the gloomy sunlight, Erzao couldn't feel the flow of time at this moment.

Early age:

Seeing words is like seeing people.

I'm sorry that I have to go back to the United States suddenly during the winter vacation. I can't spend Christmas and New Year with you.I'm not used to it when I just came to high school. We used to spend Christmas and New Year together every year.

I remembered that when you were 13 years old, you didn't want to play on New Year's Day. That winter was very cold, and you ran away from home when it was snowing heavily.Then you simply lost your way and hid in the park to avoid the snow. I made an agreement with you. Even if my mother doesn't come to you, I will come to you and I will always be with you.

Rishi.

Inside another small box is a pearl brooch in the shape of Mikimoto snowflakes. The shape is very unique, but it has been neglected for more than a year.Although Ruixi didn't mention this brooch at all in the letter, she already knew that it was bought by Ruixi with the money she earned. This brooch has a different meaning from the gift she usually buys with a credit card.

Ninomiya had never worked part-time in the early days, nor had he ever earned a penny. In the same way, Ruixi was the same.Breast needles are not a high-priced luxury item for them, but for Rui Xi who earns money to buy them, it may be completely different.Zaoji didn't know how much effort Ruixi put in for this, because Ruixi didn't tell her, she wouldn't know. For Ruixi, he only hoped that Zaoji could receive a favorite New Year's gift, that's all.

She played with it for a while, and her eyes softened unconsciously, which was the way she would like it.Zao Ji put away the brooch and put the letter into the envelope with trembling hands, and it took a long time to put it in.Zao Ji propped her head up, showing a wry smile, what kept coming back to her mind was the content of Rui Xixin.It was as if the little matches sold by the little match girl struck the matches at the corner of the street. After a fleeting warmth, they went out and could only be repeated again and again.

I will always be with you...

Saki let out a soft sigh.

big liar.

The people around him are all big liars.

The tea in the teacup lost its heat and gradually stopped steaming.The light in the study was still on, the orange light always gave people a very warm feeling, Zao Ji fell asleep lying on the table.The warm lighting seems to smooth the wrinkles between her brows, and she can have a good dream tonight.

It's been a long time since I dreamed of my childhood.

What was said in the letter was an agreement between Ruixi and herself.

A few years ago, in the piano room.

The palm of the hand was slapped on the keys, making a loud and irregular sound. The 13-year-old Zaoji closed the lid heavily and jumped off the chair. His round face, which was still a little baby fat, became more round and white. Clean, like a freshly baked bun.

Inside the glass mantle of the fireplace, the flames danced, burning with them the annoyance of early age.

"Mom is too much, why do I still have to practice the piano at Christmas!" She paced back and forth angrily, and stepped on the carpet hard. Fortunately, the wool carpet is thick, otherwise the pain must be due to her wearing small leather shoes feet.

"Practice, practice, practice! I don't like piano at all. Is it so important to play a piece in front of everyone during the New Year? So what if you don't play the piano well, it's so embarrassing..."

The face was swallowed on the way, and as the door of the piano room opened, Zao Ji reflexively took two steps back.After being in a hurry, he stood obediently and lowered his head silently.

Ninomiya Shiori came in.

She was wearing a beige suit from the new season, and her hair was in big waves and curls, which were carefully styled, as was the makeup on her face.In Ninomiya Saki's impression, her mother was never in a panic. Even if the heel of her high-heeled shoes broke at a banquet, she never saw her raise her eyebrows. She just left the scene calmly and told the maid Send me another pair of shoes.

"Zao Ji." The voice was soft, but a little cold, "How are you practicing?"

"It's not bad, the third paragraph is still a little unfamiliar..."

"Then don't step up your practice, time is running out." Ninomiya Shiori said lightly, but her commanding tone imperceptibly put a lot of pressure on Saki, and the hands beside her quietly squeezed the corners of her clothes.

"Okay, Mom." Zao Ji answered obediently with his head down.

Seeing her daughter's lowered forehead, Ninomiya Shiori frowned slightly, and her dissatisfaction rose higher and higher.

A pair of twins, the elder brother is excellent in all aspects, and the younger sister is more and more like a...

...like a piece of crap.

It's completely different from when I was young, it might be better to say that this child is more like her father.

Ninomiya Shiori sighed imperceptibly, this kind of thing can't be done by her own efforts, because she can't love Ninomiya Saki at all.

There is no way to arouse the slightest soft emotion in myself.

Unwilling to stay in the piano room for a while, Ninomiya Shiori left.After she left, Zao Ji lay on the piano cover and buried his face in his arms.

At this time, a hand was stroking Zao Ji's head, and the owner of the hand asked, "What's wrong?"

It was Rishi's voice.

Zaoji turned his face sideways and said, "Ruixi...I don't think my mother loves me at all."

"Why did you come up with this idea again?" Ruixi asked.

"It's better to say that this kind of thinking has never disappeared."

Not only will it not disappear, but it will become stronger and stronger.

"Zaoji..." Ruixi, who was the same age as Zaoji, squatted down, looked at Zaoji from bottom to top, and gently stroked the side of Zaoji's face with one hand, "But I love you very much, isn't it enough?"

Zaoji held Ruixi's hand and said, "Ruixi, I suddenly have a plan!"

"Ok?"

"On New Year's Day, I'm going to run away from home! My mother will definitely come out to find me in a panic when she finds out. If... If she doesn't find out that I'm missing, remember to remind her for me."

The last half of the sentence was uttered by the girl crisply. Although Ruixi smiled and responded, the other hand quietly clenched into a fist.

On New Year's Day, Zao Ji successfully ran away from home.

Hiding in the park not far from the shrine, listening to the various lively sounds of people worshiping the shrine.

It was getting darker and darker, and finally only a few passers-by were seen hurrying past the park.

It was snowing all over the sky that day, Zao Ji was dressed in red, because it was conspicuous, and he was wearing thick clothes on purpose, but he couldn't withstand the cold, and finally Zao Ji hid under the stairs of the slide to avoid the wind and snow.

She brought a watch, and the second hand moved one frame at a time. Zao Ji will never forget the feeling of waiting from morning to dark, and finally late at night.

The north wind rolled the snowflakes and danced wildly in the air.

His hands and feet were completely frozen, and his whole body was shaking uncontrollably behind the slide.

There will be a grand banquet at home today, many people will come, and they will play until late...

Listening to the sound of the revolving clock, echoing in my ears, looking at the heavy snow in the sky under the silver light, Zao Ji felt a sense of despair for the first time in my heart.

——Shiori Ninomiya did not come.

At this time, the brakes of the car sounded, and the footsteps were quick and getting closer. Zao Ji suddenly raised his head, and saw Ruixi running towards her stepping on the snow with one deep foot and one shallow foot.

"Huh, huh——" he supported his knees, panting, Ruixi wiped the sweat from his forehead, then he stretched out a hand to her, and said, "Zaoji, I'm here to take you home."

Zaoji stared at him blankly.

He stood up abruptly, but his feet were numb.She rushed towards Rui Xi abruptly, threw him down in the snow all of a sudden, Zao Ji's numb arms wrapped around his neck, and cried out loudly.

Rui Xi patted her on the back again and again.

The boy who was the same age as the early Ji, his shoulders were still thin and his arms were thin, but they were very powerful.The young man looked at the dark night sky covered with snow with firm eyes.

"If Zao Ji lacks a lot of love, then I will fill it with a lot of love. I will always be with you, and we will not be separated."

"Really?" Zao Ji sniffed and asked.

"Ah." The boy's voice was extremely firm, "Really, because we are twins. The person I love the most in my life can only be Saki Ninomiya."

"Pull the hook."

"Well, pull the hook. A liar will take a thousand needles." Ruixi responded gently.

……

The swearing oath seems to travel through time and space, echoing in my ears.Erqian rubbed his eyes and looked around blankly.

This is in the study of the Kanagawa apartment.

Things a few years ago are like faded old pictures, if you don't think about it, you won't think about it.Early Ninomiya felt a little nostalgic. After Ruixi's death, the memories seemed to be deliberately sealed, and there were very few chances to open them.

I have to say that I used to be pretty...

Probably stupid is a good adjective.

Erzao can hardly recall how cold that winter was, but she really understood two things.

The first thing, even if you don't want to believe it, some parents really don't love their children, not at all, not at all.

The second thing, the person who vowed to be with her all the time, is a big liar.

... But even if he is a great liar, he is still the liar she loves the most in this world.