Episode 6: Gloomy

Several more days passed before Ryuseki's friend came to see him.

"Ryuseki, Ryuseki." A familiar voice called from outside the door.

When the door opened, he walked straight in.

"Is Ryuseki here?"

"Ryuseki's been alone in his room. He hasn't been doing well lately. You're his best friend, so go check on him." Kouhi said with a smile.

"So that's why I came!" Lin Yingbin said with a grin.

"Because of that incident, he's been in a bad mood these past few days. You can take him out for a walk and help him clear his head." Kouhi closed the door and headed for the kitchen, reminding him as he went, "Stay for dinner later. I'll make something for you!"

"Okay!" Lin Yingbin headed toward Ryuseki's room.

Kouhi was Ryuseki's older brother. He always put Ryuseki first and cared for him like a parent would. Branded a genius from childhood, he had given up the smooth path that lay before him out of fear that it would leave a shadow on Ryuseki's heart. He was remarkably gentle, thoughtful, polite, and refined.

Lin Yingbin entered Ryuseki's room. The moment he pushed open the door, a wave of heat hit him.

"Your room is so hot. Can you even stand it? Aren't you afraid of getting heatstroke without the AC on?"

"Hot? Oh!" Ryuseki sat in a chair by the window and turned mechanically to look at Lin Yingbin. "You're here." His voice was hoarse and low. In Lin Yingbin's words, he looked like he'd been dead for seven days and buried for eight—utterly lifeless and thoroughly dejected.

Lin Yingbin was Ryuseki's classmate and his best friend. The two had grown up playing together, and Lin Yingbin seemed more mature than Ryuseki. Whenever they were together, he always played the role of strategist. With his drooping eyes, he could sometimes be quite hard to understand.

"How did you end up like this?" Lin Yingbin walked over to Ryuseki. "You..."

Before he could finish, Ryuseki cut him off. He pointed at the bouquet in the vase on the table. "Look, they've all withered!"

Lin Yingbin glanced at the flowers on the table. They were in a vase filled to the brim with water, yet they had still died. Only the last petal hung alone from the receptacle.

"Heh." Lin Yingbin chuckled to himself. "Since when did you become so poetic, kid?"

"Ugh..." Ryuseki let out a disappointed sigh.

"It's summer, okay? Don't be so lifeless. You look like you've been dead for seven days and buried for eight."

Ryuseki's eyes grew slightly moist. "But she..."

"She passed away. We're all sad too. But seeing you like this makes it even harder for us."

"Stop talking. You don't understand how I feel right now. I killed her."

Lin Yingbin was instantly at a loss for words. He didn't know how to respond to Ryuseki and could only look at him silently.

At that moment, rain clouds blanketed the sky, turning it dark and oppressive.

The sky was tightly covered by drifting black clouds, and the air grew increasingly stifling. The cicadas cried more urgently, and a breeze gradually began to rise.

"I really don't understand. But Ryuseki, do you know? I'm so jealous of you. You have such a wonderful brother, and Kikka You, who grew up with you." Lin Yingbin watched the weather change outside the window. He didn't know what he could say to move Ryuseki, nor did he even know what he was saying. He knew his words weren't convincing, but he still intended to keep going.

Ryuseki did not respond. With moist eyes, he stared at the lone remaining petal in the vase.