November Snow (Part 1)

November 23rd, Weather: Light rain turning to overcast.

'Looking at the rain outside reminds me of the day we parted. I knew your feelings, but I couldn't reciprocate. I can't even understand my own feelings now, whether it's guilt or something else. If I could see you again, what kind of feelings would I have?'

Ryuseki's thoughts grew more chaotic, his pen hovering after the question mark. He didn't know what to write in his diary, or rather, he couldn't even make sense of his own thoughts.

After hesitating for a moment, he looked thoughtfully at the rain outside, and a sudden warmth filled his heart. He then continued writing.

'I don't know why, but I don't deny that her appearance makes me feel very close. How should I put it, Meisha is a different kind of girl than you. I think I've really fallen for her. You might get angry if I say this, and it's too unfair to you in many ways.'

The rain outside gradually soaked the windowsill. Although the forecast said the rain would stop, there was no sign of it ceasing. This city was about to enter early winter, and early winter rain was probably like this. Ryuseki frowned, gazing at the gray sky, the special feeling in his heart growing a little stronger. The tip of his pen slid to the last line of the diary, and he wrote a nonsensical sentence at the end.

'I really want to protect something!'

Closing the diary, Ryuseki lay down on his bed, something seeming to appear before his eyes.

"What do I protect? Why do I have this strong desire to protect something, but what exactly is it that I want to protect?"

As he was thinking this, the doorbell rang downstairs. Hearing the doorbell, Kouhi hurried out of the kitchen, wiping his hands, and quickly ran to the door to open it, wearing an apron.

"It's you!"

The person standing at the door was Meisha. Her long, straight black hair was tied into a ponytail, her bangs neatly falling above her eyebrows, and her long sideburns brushed her ears. Her large, watery brown eyes and smiling lips perfectly captured Meisha's cuteness. Although she was wearing a gray long shirt that didn't quite match her black hair, Meisha herself was like a natural clothes hanger, looking very elegant no matter what she wore. She also wore a short skirt, white long socks, and gray snow boots on her lower half, looking incredibly cute.

"Yes, it's Kouhi-niichan! Heehee, is Ryuseki here?" Meisha's hand rested on the doorknob, and she asked with a smile as sweet as a dessert.

"Yes, he's in his room." Kouhi pointed upstairs and asked as he closed the door, "Do you want to stay for dinner later?"

Meisha nodded and replied, "Okay!" Then she skipped upstairs with a smile.

She gently knocked on Ryuseki's door and asked, "Are you there? I'm coming in!"

"Mhm!" he replied softly from inside the room.

Meisha pushed open the door, put her hands behind her back, and tiptoed into Ryuseki's room. She looked around at the furnishings with the curious expression of a kitten, which was incredibly cute. She moved softly and carefully walked up to Ryuseki, then whispered in his ear, "What's wrong with you? Why are you so listless? Are you sick?"

Ryuseki, lying on the bed, slowly opened his eyes and asked Meisha, "Meisha, am I really useless?"

Meisha looked more confused by the question, not knowing how to answer for a moment. She hadn't expected Ryuseki to ask that at all, so she replied, "No! Why would you say that? I think you're very capable. Don't overthink it!"

Ryuseki choked up, his voice gradually lowering. He sat up, looking at the wooden grain on the floor with a vacant gaze, and quietly replied, "Kikka You, Brother, you, Lin Yingbin, Ryuu Mufei – you are all people I care about deeply, the people I want to protect the most. I really, really want to protect you all, truly."

"Then~ go protect them! For us..." Meisha tilted her head, her mouth opening into a sweet smile as she replied, "Just saying it won't make it happen!" Meisha's slender finger pointed to Ryuseki's forehead.

Ryuseki froze for a moment, then it was as if a light bulb went off. He smiled and replied, "Thank you, Meisha, thank you!"

At that moment, Kouhi called from outside the door, "Dinner's ready!" He carried a plate full of food to the living room, set the bowls and chopsticks, and then called out, "Hey, hey, hey! You two, it's time to eat."

Meisha skipped downstairs to the living room and immediately went to flatter him.

"You worked hard, Kouhi-niichan. Kouhi-niichan, you worked hard!"

Kouhi smiled at Meisha, then looked at Ryuseki behind her.

Ryuseki finally came down the stairs, looking disheveled from staying in all day.

"Brother, what's for dinner today?"

"Look at yourself!" Kouhi pointed at Ryuseki's hair and said, "Your hair is all messy. Your friend is here! It's not good to be so casual, she's a girl!"

"What's the big deal!" Ryuseki ran his hand through his hair haphazardly, making the already messy hair even more disheveled. "Let's eat first!" Ryuseki was a bit impatient.

Meisha, standing nearby, covered her mouth and giggled.

Kouhi, with the sternness of an older brother, glared at Ryuseki.

"Wash your hands!"

"Alright, alright, I'll do as you say!" Ryuseki said with a helpless expression and went to wash his hands.

"This brother really makes me worry!" Kouhi said to Meisha, pointing at the food on the table, "You eat first!"

"You're such a good brother," Meisha said as she sat down at the table. "Your cooking is so delicious too. Whoever marries you will be truly lucky."

"You! Honestly, you have such a sweet mouth! If you think it's delicious, you can come eat every day!" Kouhi said to Meisha, "You're always welcome here! And Ryuseki probably wants you to come too!"

"Sigh! I've washed my hands, can we eat now!" Ryuseki walked over from the sink after washing his hands, first waved his washed hands in front of Kouhi's eyes, then sat down and buried his head in eating.

The orange spherical pendant light above the dining table cast a soft, orange-yellow glow. The three of them sat under the light, eating. The feeling was warm and full of love.