Volume 44: Chapter Chapter When Toyokawa Shoko takes the initiative, what should Nagasaki Suyo do...
Separated from Takamatsu Lighthouse on the overpass.
On the way to the station, Toyokawa Shoko put the cell phone to her ear, listening to his clear voice no longer disturbed by the evening breeze.
——After the matter was over, Ming Hai did not hang up the phone.
The reason is also very simple:
"Since I've already called, why not just let me take you home. I'm worried about you walking alone at night."
Toyokawa Shoko was indeed somewhat touched at the moment, but when she thought of the message he had sent that afternoon, she couldn't help but reply angrily:
"Then why don't you turn off the gas at home first and then come and take me home in person? Do you think I can be assured just by talking to you remotely?"
As soon as she said it, she regretted it.
I was thinking before that no matter how immature I was, I would never act like a little girl and make trouble for him unreasonably...
As a result, she did this kind of childish and arrogant behavior twice today.
One time was in front of the coffee shop, and the other time is now.
Perhaps despite her noble upbringing, this is the true nature of Toyokawa Shoko, who is both weak and willful?
"Of course I'm worried."
However, after knowing her true nature, he did not hang up the phone in disappointment because of the gap.
He even sounded quite happy.
"Please forgive me this time, Miss Xiangzi. Next time there is such a segment, I will find a place to hide and come out after you guys disperse."
Toyokawa Shoko was stunned for a moment, but couldn't help laughing. Facing the no longer cold evening breeze, she said in a brisk voice:
"Why don't you just come out? Why are you hiding? Are you afraid of being discovered?"
"No, I'm just afraid that the other members will think you're a little princess who needs a knight to accompany her home."
Toyokawa Shoko tilted her head slightly: "Huh? Why a knight? Have you passed the motorcycle license exam?"
"…The focus is over there, Princess Xiangzi."
"Stupid Narukai-kun, stop giving me more nicknames!"
This is the first time I called someone an idiot, and the first time I used such rude words.
But she smiled very happily, as if some invisible constraints had been quietly untied. She no longer habitually carefully considered her words and actions, nor did she feel ashamed of her impoliteness.
...After all, even with her being like this, there are still people who will never leave her.
'It's really nice to be able to chat with you like this.'
Toyokawa Shoko spoke silently, blending the warmth in her chest into her voice, and walked alone safely in the night with flickering lights.
-
"But to be honest, I'm really not good at encouraging others."
Ming Hai sighed, lying flat on the sofa, letting the phone lean on his shoulder, staring at the high white ceiling above.
The night is dark outside the window, and all the sounds are heard above the tall buildings. No one can even hear the voice of the idiot shouting on the balcony that he wants to become a human being.
He said weakly:
"Next time something like this happens, just let me go directly... maybe slipping a few candies will be more efficient than my long speech."
"How could that be?" Toyokawa Shoko was puzzled. "Whether it was that afternoon or just now on the overpass, you said it very well! In the end, we were both encouraged by you. Why do you think so?"
"Didn't you hear that I almost got caught? I was only acting as a caring big brother for a few minutes and I almost couldn't continue pretending. How can this be considered good at it?"
Ming Hai's face was full of helplessness: "What I said that afternoon was just because I didn't want to see you continue to be sentimental, so I bit the bullet and was sincere for once... I feel awkward thinking about it afterwards."
"I didn't even see you today, and then I saw you suddenly send me a message like 'Takamatsu-san can't sing, I hope we can encourage her together'. I thought for a long time before I could barely come up with a set of words and personality to deal with it... Even if the effect is really good, it's only because you cooperated well and Takamatsu-san was easily persuaded. It has nothing to do with whether I am good at encouragement or not."
"You can hear it, right? Those self-righteous remarks, the condescending understanding and analysis, are so insincere."
There was a brief silence in the microphone, and the sound of the train passing over the tracks suddenly became obvious.
After a moment, she seemed to chuckle, and her soft breath tickled her ears.
"Don't tell these things to anyone else...especially Takamatsu-san."
Ming Hai curled his lips: "Don't worry, I don't want to do useless work."
"Well, that's what I said, but you should also know that I can tell which parts of your heart are sincere, right?"
As if she was in a good mood, Toyokawa Shoko said in a cheerful tone, with a hint of teasing: "Your goal was obviously just to make Deng-san scream, but you didn't choose to do it directly. Instead, you first laid out a lot of "insincere" encouragement, and then tried your best to help her untie the knot... Minghai-kun, your sincerity seems to be a bit too awkward."
"Who do you think did this?" Narumi immediately fought back when he noticed that Miss Xiangzi was trying to tease him. "You asked me to do this, and Takamatsu-san was the lead singer you chose - isn't it natural that you want to do your best?"
"No~"
She didn't expect that he would attack her by surprise. Toyokawa Shoko was caught off guard and whimpered, like a kitten whose itch was tickled.
——It’s a pity that I didn’t see her shy look on the phone.
Ming Hai raised the corner of his mouth and sighed deliberately: "After all, if I hadn't made an agreement with you, I wouldn't have learned how to encourage others. Whether it's sincere or awkward, it's all because of you. You, the culprit, actually dared to tease me..."
"ok, ok, I got it!"
Toyokawa Shoko quickly called for a stop. If there were someone nearby, they would probably rush over with their faces flushed and cover their mouths.
"I won't say it. Don't always be like this... it's embarrassing to speak frankly!"
"Will it? I think it's fine." He acted as if he was a winner and was at ease.
"I'm not as thick-skinned as you. You said it so directly, it's like a confession... I'm not mentally prepared yet." After mumbling a few unclear words, Toyokawa Shoko quickly changed the subject stiffly, "Let's stop with Deng-san! Since she is willing to continue trying, all we have to do next is to slowly train her courage and singing skills!"
Ming Hai had no intention of pursuing her further and continued to lie lazily on the sofa.
"Come on, tell me if you need any help."
"Well, I will still ask you for help without hesitation, just like today."
"Come here on horseback."
The atmosphere finally changed from a faint ambiguity to the relaxed and natural rhythm at the beginning.
However, before they could chat for a few words, Miss Xiangzi suddenly lowered her voice and said to him in a gentle tone:
"Oh, I almost forgot~"
"Mr. Narumi, I'm really surprised that you and Mr. Suyo know each other."
"And she told me that not only are you guys very close, but you even went to pick out a bass together last night? Right after we...parted."
Suddenly she chuckled, and her voice was like snowflakes falling on the treetops, cold and elegant.
Ming Hai subconsciously sat up straight, feeling an ice knife in front of his neck, slender yet full of danger.
I quickly turned up the air conditioner by two degrees, and then I felt better.
"Please don't get me wrong, I don't mean to get to the bottom of this. Even if we did that yesterday afternoon, we are still just friends. I can't ask you anything as your girlfriend."
"but."
She didn't seem to notice what she said, but was agitated by the remaining irritability at that time, so after a short and plain explanation, she spoke in a full and powerful tone:
"I'm curious as to what your relationship is... starting with the robber incident, could you explain it to me in detail, Narumi-kun?"
-
ten minutes later.
"I see. It's not easy for Sushi-san either..."
"Hopefully we can all become her good friends in the end."
Teacher Xiaoxiang, who has returned to normal, is filled with emotion. Sympathy and tenderness are the best interpretation of these words.
As for that gravity? The darkness? The irritability?
——Through Ming Hai's detailed explanation without any lies, she has already separated herself from the unconscious self at that time.
I simply asked Ming Hai and simply accepted his explanation - that was all.
Toyokawa Shoko added sincerely, "Since you live so close, you should take good care of her, Narumi-kun."
After taking a few sips of Coke to moisten his dry lips, Ming Hai slowly exhaled with a helpless look on his face.
"I'm already doing that... For example, I deliberately replied to that message because I was considering her feelings."
Is he the kind of coward who would choose to flee in front of the Shura Field?
This is absolutely impossible!
If Ming Hai hadn't been afraid that Su Shi would be in a bad mood and affect the band's subsequent practice, he would have handled it the same way as before.
With Shoko Toyokawa around, how can we treat everyone equally?
"Well, I misunderstood you. I'm sorry." The girl smiled bitterly, with apology and guilt towards him, "That's true. How could someone as gentle as Ming Haijun do something like that kind of playboy..."
Ming Hai said confidently: "That's right, please correct the impression of me in your mind immediately."
"I've corrected it a long time ago. The impression now is perfect."
Along with a voice that sounded like comforting a child, the sound of an iron door being pushed open also reached my ears.
Ming Hai knew that this "going home to chat" would probably have to be temporarily suspended.
As his white moonlight who has not yet died, he has become accustomed to ending the topic by himself and hanging up the phone first in order not to bring psychological burden to girls.
"You're home, right? I should take a shower, so let's talk about this for now."
"Ah, wait!"
Before she finished her words, she heard her shout this hurriedly.
A moment of silence followed, and it seemed that even the faint sound of the wind had stopped, leaving only the girl's breathing rising and falling like her heartbeat.
Ming Hai was not in a hurry, but leaned back in his chair, waiting for her to speak silently.
It didn't take too long.
"...Do you remember the two aquarium tickets the saleslady gave you yesterday?"
As if she had finally mustered up the courage, Toyokawa Shoko spoke to him in a soft, slow and clear voice.
"I still remember." Ming Hai answered softly, as if it was a night talk between ears, "Do you want to go? This weekend..."
"No, please let me do it."
She unexpectedly took over the voice firmly, no longer a little girl who liked to act like a spoiled child, but took out the dignity and pride that a noble girl should have, and asked uprightly:
"Narumi-kun, are you free this weekend?"
Ming Hai was stunned for a moment, then subconsciously answered seriously: "Yes, what's the matter?"
"I want to invite you to the aquarium."
"it is good."
"The time is 11 . There is a food court in the museum, so we can have lunch there."
"It's a very detailed investigation."
"After we finish watching the dolphin show this afternoon, do you want to go somewhere else to play together?"
"Then it's up to you to arrange."
"Leave it to me, I won't let you down!"
As if she had accepted a mission, she made her promise to him solemnly.
After a brief pause, he couldn't help laughing out loud.
“Puchi…Hahaha, I didn’t expect that asking someone out to play would require so much courage.”
Ming Hai couldn't help but laugh: "You sound super nervous, like you're deciding some important life event. It's just like going out for fun."
"Because I was really nervous~" Toyokawa Shoko couldn't help but sigh, "It's completely different from texting. If it was face to face, I might not have the courage to do it."
"Hey, don't underestimate our Miss Xiangzi."
"You are the one. Please don't look up to me. The person you are chatting with is just an ordinary Toyokawa Shoko!"
Toyokawa Shoko hummed twice, using a smug tone to hide her shyness.
