November 23, light rain turning to overcast.
Gazing at the rain outside the window reminds me of the day we parted. Clearly knowing your feelings yet unable to respond, I now struggle to understand whether this present emotion is guilt or something else. If we could meet again, with what feelings should I embrace you?
Thoughts growing increasingly chaotic, Ryuseki's pen lingered after that question mark. He had no idea what to write in his diary, or rather, he could not even make sense of the thoughts currently in his mind.
Hesitating for a moment, he thoughtfully watched the rain outside the window, and suddenly a wave of warmth rushed into his heart. Thus he continued writing.
For some reason, I don't deny that her appearance made me feel a sense of familiarity. How should I put it? Meisha is a different kind of girl from you. It seems I really have started to like her. You might get angry hearing this; in many aspects, it's all too unfair to you.
The rain outside the window gradually soaked the windowsill. Although the forecast said the rain would stop, it looked like there was no sign of it clearing up. This city was about to enter early winter, and the rain of early winter was probably just like this. Ryuseki frowned deeply as he stared at the gloomy sky, and that special feeling in his heart grew a fraction stronger. The tip of the pen in his hand slid to the very last line of the diary, and at the end he wrote a baffling sentence.
I so want to protect something!
Closing his diary, Ryuseki lay down on the bed, and something seemed to emerge before his eyes.
"What is it that I protect? Why is there such a strong desire in my heart to protect something, but what on earth is it that I want to protect?"
Just as he was thinking this, the doorbell downstairs rang. Hearing the doorbell, Kouhi also hurriedly came out of the kitchen while wiping his hands, and wearing an apron, he ran quickly to the door and opened it.
"So it's you!"
The person standing at the doorway was Meisha. Her long, straight black hair was tied into a ponytail, her bangs lay neatly across her forehead, and her long sideburns hung by her ears. Her large, expressive brown eyes and smiling lips expressed Meisha's cuteness to the fullest. Although she was wearing a gray long-coat that did not go very well with black, Meisha herself was like a natural clothes hanger, looking very proper no matter what she wore. On the lower half, she also wore a short skirt along with white long-socks and gray snow boots, making her look extraordinarily cute.
"That's right, it's big brother Kouhi! Hee-hee, is Ryuseki in?" Meisha rested her hand on the doorknob, asking with a smile like a little pastry.
"He's in, he's in his own room." Kouhi pointed toward the second floor and closed the door as he asked, "Would you like to stay for a meal later?"
Meisha nodded in response, saying, "Okay!" Then she smilingly headed toward the second floor.
She knocked gently on Ryuseki's bedroom door and asked, "Are you in? I'm coming in, then!"
"Yeah!" Inside the room, he answered softly.
Meisha pushed the door open, put her hands behind her back, and walked into Ryuseki's room acting all stealthy. She looked around at the furnishings in Ryuseki's room, and the expression of a curious little kitten flowing through her eyes was simply adorable. She took light steps, walking cautiously to Ryuseki's side, and asked softly in his ear, "What on earth is wrong with you? Why are you so lacking in spirit? Are you sick?"
Lying on the bed, Ryuseki slowly opened his eyes, looked at Meisha, and asked, "Meisha, am I really that incompetent?"
Asked like this, Meisha showed mostly confusion, for a moment not even knowing how to answer. She had never expected Ryuseki to ask such a thing, so she replied, "No way! Why would you say that? I actually think you're very capable, so don't overthink it!"
Ryuseki choked up, his voice gradually growing lower. He sat up, looked at the wood grain on the floor with a blank gaze, and quietly replied, "Kikka You, big brother, you, Lin Yingbin, Ryuu Mufei—the few of you are people I care about very much, and also the people I want to protect the most. I really, really want to protect you all, I really do."
"Then~ just go protect us! For our sake—" Meisha tilted her head, opened her mouth, and replied with a sweet smile, "Just talking won't get things done, you know!" Meisha's slender finger pointed at Ryuseki's forehead.
Ryuseki was stunned, then suddenly seemed struck by a flash of inspiration. He smiled and replied, "Thank you, Meisha, thank you!"
At that moment, Kouhi shouted from outside the door, "Time to eat!" He walked toward the living room carrying a plate piled high with dishes, set out the bowls and chopsticks, and called out again, "Hey, hey, hey! You two, it's time to eat."
Meisha skipped downstairs, came into the living room, and immediately ran over to butter him up.
"You've really worked hard, big brother Kouhi. Big brother Kouhi has worked hard!"
Kouhi looked at Meisha with a smile, then glanced at Ryuseki behind her.
Only then did Ryuseki come down from the stairs, and having lazed around all day, he looked thoroughly disheveled.
"Bro, what's for dinner today?"
"Just look at yourself!" Kouhi pointed at Ryuseki's hair and said, "Your hair is a complete mess too. Your friend is right here! It's not good of you to be so casual, the other person is a girl after all!"
"What's wrong with this!" Ryuseki randomly grabbed his hair a few times, making his already messy hair even more disheveled. "Let's eat first!" Ryuseki was still somewhat impatient.
Meisha, on the other hand, covered her mouth and smiled gently.
Kouhi wore the sternness befitting an older brother, glaring at Ryuseki with a solemn gaze.
"Wash your hands!"
"Fine, fine, whatever you say!" Ryuseki went to wash his hands with a helpless expression.
"This younger brother is really a handful!" Kouhi pointed at the food on the table and said to Meisha, "You go ahead and eat!"
"You really are a good brother." Meisha sat down at the table. "The dishes you make are so delicious too. Whoever becomes your bride is going to be so lucky."
"You, oh! Honestly, you've got such a sweet tooth! If you think it's good, you can come eat here every day!" Kouhi said to Meisha, "You're welcome here every single day, you know! Besides, Ryuseki wants you to come too, right?"
"Geez! I washed my hands, can I eat now?" Having finished washing his hands, Ryuseki walked over from the sink, first waved his washed hands in front of Kouhi's face, then sat down and buried his head in eating.
The orange spherical pendant lamp on the dining table emitted a soft, amber glow, and the three of them sat right under this light to eat. This feeling was very warm and full of love.
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