"Hold me tight." As soon as the words fell, Kisaragi Chiyo felt a powerful gust of wind that made it difficult to keep her eyes open, while the sound of whistling wind roared in her ears.
The young man wrapped his arms around Matsuda Jinpei's shoulders and buried his face in the other's chest, only peeking his head out once he was certain they had reached their destination.
The Kawazu cherry blossoms in Izu were just as Matsuda Jinpei had described, blooming in massive, dense clusters. Standing beneath the trees felt like being enveloped in a cloud made of cherry blossoms; looking up, one saw nothing but a sea of blossoms, one after another, cluster upon cluster, with only the clearest glimpses of the azure Izu sky peeking through the gaps in the lush branches.
The riverbed in the middle was neither particularly wide nor particularly deep, the banks on the other side were also planted with dense clusters of Kawazu cherry blossoms. People came and went to view the blossoms; some were in casual clothes, picnicking in groups, while others were couples dressed in Haori and Kimono to take photos.
“If Hara Sho were here too..” Kisaragi Chiyo stopped mid-sentence. Because if Hara Kenji found out that Matsuda had brought him all the way from Hokkaido to Izu—a distance of nearly nine hundred kilometers—just to sneak away, he might make a very pathetic expression.
"He might be very angry.." Matsuda Jinpei slowly finished Kisaragi Chiyo's sentence. Upon hearing a notification chime, he pulled out his phone to take a look. When he saw the sender's contact name, Matsuda's eyebrows twitched slightly.
"No.. I think he already knows." Matsuda Jinpei handed the phone to Kisaragi Chiyo. Messages were popping up on the screen, one after another. Judging by the long string of exclamation marks following the last word, Hara Kenji looked as if he wanted to crawl up from Hell immediately to drag the two escapees from the hospital back.
A huge pile of accusations and condemnations was immediately mixed with a few moans about not wanting to work, Kisaragi Chiyo couldn't help but empathize.
"Aren't you going to check your phone?" Matsuda Jinpei curled his lips into a smirk, giving a meaningful reminder about the phone in Kisaragi's coat pocket that was constantly beeping.
"I don't think I'm mentally prepared yet." Kisaragi Chiyo crouched down dejectedly, resting his chin in both hands as he gazed at the surface of the water. Kawazu cherry blossoms drifted down from above his head, landing on his head and shoulders.
"Didn't you know from the very beginning that there would be consequences like this?" Matsuda Jinpei sat directly on the grass, his hands reaching out to grab Kisaragi Chiyo's shoulders and pulling him backward with force. The young man was pulled by the strength of the movement and fell into Matsuda's arms.
Carpe diem." Matsuda Jinpei lowered his eyes, his fingers brushing against the young man's face. "Since we can't escape that fate in the end, we might as well relax. Isn't that the whole reason we came out here?
You're right." After being stunned for a few seconds, Kisaragi Chiyo commanded as if it were the most natural thing in the world, "So, go buy me some Atami pudding and Atami fish cake.
Matsuda Jinpei: ".."
Hurry up." Kisaragi Chiyo rolled out of Matsuda Jinpei's arms. Ignoring the grass clippings stuck to her coat, she reached out and nudged his shoulder to urge him on. "I came all the way here just for Izu's number one Atami pudding and Atami fish cake!
"And of course, the Kawazu cherry blossoms," the young man added.
"I really can't do anything with you." Matsuda Jinpei stood up reluctantly. He had originally intended to say that the cherry blossom trees were a perfect place for lovers to kiss, but for the sake of the pudding and fish cakes the young man was so obsessed with, Matsuda still pulled out his wallet and walked resignedly toward the pudding and fish cake shop where a long queue was forming not far away.
The weather in Izu was warm, even the breeze carried the comforting scents of grass and sunshine.
Kisaragi Chiyo slowly closed his eyes, feeling flower petals fall softly onto his cheeks. The sound of someone's low voice mingled with the chirping of birds in his ears; everything seemed so peaceful and beautiful.
"You're back?" Kisaragi Chiyo did not open his eyes; he felt someone sit down beside him, hearing the sound of clothing rubbing against the grass.
The person beside him did not speak, but merely used a finger to lightly poke his cheek.
Kisaragi Chiyo suddenly fell silent. He felt a sense of impending dread, because the person who had returned certainly couldn't be Matsuda Jinpei, but if it wasn't Matsuda, then who else could it be?
In truth, he had already found the answer in his heart long ago; it was just that Kisaragi Chiyo did not dare to say it aloud, as if by remaining silent like this, he could delay facing reality for a little while longer.
And that man did not expose Kisaragi Chiyo's ostrich mentality; his fingers continued to fall upon Kisaragi Chiyo's forehead, eyes..
The pads of his fingertips, covered in thin calluses, repeatedly rubbed against her lips, making them appear even more flushed and red. He seemed to find pleasure in it, or perhaps he simply wanted to see how far he could go before Kisaragi Chiyo, who was feigning sleep, would find this teasing torment unbearable and be forced to open her eyes.
As his breath brushed against her face, Kisaragi Chiyo felt her right earlobe being gently pinched, then rubbed and tugged with a slight force, sending a tingling, numbing sensation through her entire body.
“Do I need to kiss you awake, Sleeping Beauty?” Hara Kenji's voice fell against her ear, before Kisaragi Chiyo could even answer, he had already pressed his lips against hers.
Caught completely off guard, he found himself enveloped by the other's breath, with no way to escape. His shoulders were pressed down firmly, his lips and teeth were roughly pried open, a tongue searched through his mouth with arrogance and force, scavenging for saliva and air. The moment any thought of escape was detected, it was met only with an even deeper and more intense kiss.
He felt as if he were about to suffocate; if he truly became the first person to be kissed to death, Kisaragi Chiyo would never be able to show his face to anyone or any spirit again.
"Why are you crying?" The other person's voice sounded somewhat surprised, as a thumb gently brushed past the corner of the eye, tears still overflowed uncontrollably due to the physiological stimulation.
"It was just a kiss." Hara Kenji's voice sounded somewhat helpless and filled with heartache. He took Kisaragi Chiyo's hand, helped him sit up from the grass, used a handkerchief to wipe the tear stains covering his face.
"Just that?" Kisaragi Chiyo opened her eyes and raised her voice slightly, her moist eyes staring at the culprit who had just committed such violence against her. Her lips and the tip of her tongue bore the evidence of his actions, the numbing and stinging sensations still lingering there, on her waist, she didn't even need to think to know there were likely several more ambiguous finger marks.
"You weren't this afraid of pain before." Hara Kenji lowered his eyes, coaxing Kisaragi Chiyo to open his mouth and stick out his tongue so he could perform an examination.
"You'd better make this a proper examination." Kisaragi Chiyo tried to move her body away, but she was quickly pulled back.
"Be careful not to let the people nearby find out what we're doing," Hara Sho whispered into his ear, pulling him back into his embrace.
Although Kisaragi Chiyo knew that ordinary people would subconsciously ignore their presence, being reminded by Hara like this still made him feel a sudden heat rushing to his cheeks.
"This is clearly your fault." Hara Kenji lowered his head and took the young man's lower lip, which he had just bitten, using his tongue to hook around the tip of the youth's tongue and carefully suck on the stinging spot.
"There, there." Hara gazed deeply at Kisaragi Chiyo's slightly reddened eyes and swollen lips. He curved his eyes into a smile and pinched the other's cheek.
Say it quickly, thank you, Doctor Hara.
Kisaragi Chiyo: ".."
Kisaragi Chiyo opened her mouth and left a ring of teeth marks on the finger before the Evil Spirit could pull it back.
Chiyo-chan, you're really too much." Hara rubbed his face against Kisaragi Chiyo's head. "Running off to play with Little Jinpei behind my back, even biting my finger.. I'm so heartbroken I could cry right now.
Kisaragi Chiyo looked at the slender fingers, which didn't even have a single broken piece of skin, silently rolled her eyes.
"I feel like Chiyo-chan has become much more lively lately." Hara smiled as he rested his chin on Kisaragi Chiyo's shoulder, his arms wrapped around her waist.
Is it because I've been too indulgent?
"What do you think?" Kisaragi Chiyo, held in his arms, was too lazy to move. He used Hara as a human cushion, choosing a comfortable position and relaxing his body.
"This just shows how well I raised you." Hara Kenji couldn't help but hum a smug tune again.
Kisaragi Chiyo found his smugness a bit hard to stand, but perhaps it was because the sun had warmed him up, or perhaps it was because Hara's embrace was too comfortable, which made Kisaragi Chiyo feel a bit sleepy and too lazy to argue the point with him.
"I bought both the pudding and the fish cakes." Matsuda Jinpei returned carrying the three servings; he wasn't surprised by Hara Kenji's arrival, as it was quite expected.
"By the way, I bought this for you as well." Matsuda Jinpei pulled a phone charm out of his pocket, which was also a set of three.
It was a quirky little figure with the head of a goldeneye snapper, which, in a sense, could be considered a specialty of Izu.
Kisaragi Chiyo laughed, reached out to take it, hung it directly onto his phone.
"This doesn't suit my aesthetic at all.." Hara Kenji looked at that strangely shaped charm, feeling that the aesthetic quality of this souvenir was on par with Hozuki's snapdragons.
"Objection overruled." Matsuda Jinpei lifted his eyelids to glance at him, kindly helping Hara Sho hang the charm onto his phone.
"Alright.." Seeing Kisaragi Chiyo's satisfied expression, Hara Sho swallowed his protest.
Who said this doesn't count as a couple's charm?
"Then you really know how to comfort yourself," Matsuda Jinpei sneered.
“Cut it out, Little Jinpei.” Hara Kenji took the fish cake that Matsuda handed him and took a huge, aggressive bite; food that didn't cost him a dime tasted even better than usual.
The three of us are in the same boat right now." Hara glanced at the little golden eye snapper character hanging from Matsuda's phone and smiled, "No one should mock anyone else.
"Also," Hara poked Kisaragi Chiyo, who had already started eating pudding, she raised her head in confusion while biting her spoon.
I've booked a room at an inn nearby; let's stay for one night before we head back.
When??" Kisaragi Chiyo blinked her eyes, looking excited yet somewhat hesitant. "And what about the rounds after that?
"Don't worry, I've already spoken with the Doctor." Hara Sho shook his phone, which displayed a reservation interface for a luxury seafood barbecue buffet.
Kisaragi Chiyo and Matsuda Jinpei exchanged a look, one of them scooping a large spoonful of the best pudding filling for Hara, while the other pulled a spicy fish cake from a food wrapper and stuffed it toward him.
“Thinking of bribing me now?” Hara swallowed the pudding, let out a proud huff while taking the fish cake Matsuda handed over, stood up to pat his clothes. He turned to leave with a dashing movement, but the phone in his hand clearly displayed the successful payment and reservation interface for the two of them to see.
"Isn't he being a bit too smug?" Matsuda handed a non-spicy fish cake to Kisaragi Chiyo. The Doctor said it would be best to avoid certain foods for a while, so it was better not to eat anything spicy.
"But I have to admit, he looked really handsome when he was paying," Kisaragi Chiyo said, biting into her fish cake.
Matsuda Jinpei thought about the price he had just caught a glimpse of, nodded sincerely, expressed his agreement with Kisaragi Chiyo's statement.
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Author's Note: Thanks to all the little angels for your support, mwah 030
Chapter 155
Today is a beautiful, sunny day. The temperature is gradually rising, the sky is a vast blue, the distant snow reflects the sunlight. The winter tourism craze in Hokkaido has already subsided; there are hardly any tourists on the streets. Instead, there are more people out walking their dogs, having been cooped up indoors during the recent snowy days.
"It's fine for now." Matsuda Jinpei stood beside him wearing a black overcoat, with a white shirt paired with a black crewneck sweater underneath; a dark green ribbon was tied around the collar of his shirt, making it easy to guess at a glance who had coordinated it for him.
Wait a little longer until the snow on both sides of the street melts, the black sand mixes with the slush into a single mess," Matsuda Jinpei let out a short, huffing laugh. "There was one time before when Hara hadn't done his homework, he dragged me to Hokkaido to play when the snow was melting. As a result, the snow had almost completely melted by then, he was so angry that he wrote a five-hundred-word essay to complain to his family that very night.
"So, have you decided?" Kisaragi Chiyo wore a dark green scarf adorned with tassels; because of his long hair, his eyes were no longer covered, revealing them along with those beautiful heterochromatic eyes and his smooth forehead.
Have you thought about how to tell your family about the wedding?
Once this question was asked, Matsuda Jinpei fell into silence once again.
“By the way, do you want to eat buns?” Matsuda Jinpei changed the subject nonchalantly, pointing toward the Lawson convenience store by the roadside. “I heard someone say yesterday that the Hokkaido-exclusive milk buns are well worth a try.”
Okay." A faint smile appeared on Kisaragi Chiyo's face, after Matsuda dodged her, she chose not to tease him further. "I am indeed a little hungry.
So, the two of them turned their steps away from the station and toward a Lawson convenience store instead.
By the time the two had finished buying their things and arrived at the station, Hara Kenji was chatting with someone else waiting for the train. Upon seeing the figures of Matsuda Jinpei and Kisaragi Chiyo, he immediately stood up with excitement and waved at them.
"Little Jinpei, Chiyo-chan!" Hara Kenji's excited expression was no different from the puppy they had just seen on the street, finally getting a chance to run wild.
"Want a bun?" Kisaragi Chiyo took advantage of Hara's approach to shove a still-warm Milk Bun into his mouth, silencing the mouth that was about to start rambling.
Delicious!" Hara Kenji took a huge bite, after a few chews, his eyes instantly lit up. "The milk flavor is so rich. Is the filling inside the bun a molten pudding? It's so good, I almost want to go steal the recipe.
A miscalculation, Kisaragi Chiyo thought calmly. It seemed even food couldn't suppress his desire to speak. He let out a soft sigh, but the corners of his mouth maintained an upward curve that perhaps even he himself hadn't noticed.
While eating his milk bun, Hara Kenji discussed today's dinner plans with him: "Morofushi Takaaki and Furuya Rei both said they would come.. I also asked the Class Monitor, but it seems the Class Monitor has to work today, so he can only rush over after work. Our dinner is scheduled for the evening, so it won't be an issue!"
That sounds good," Kisaragi Chiyo nodded, having no objections to Hara's arrangements, but after the other finished speaking, she added, "I also invited Mechano-kun.
“Mechano-kun is coming too?” Hara Kenji suddenly went quiet. After a few seconds of silence, he asked cautiously, “Have you already been upfront with Mechano-kun, Chiyo-chan?”
Kisaragi Chiyo: ".."
"No." Kisaragi Chiyo's expression looked somewhat annoyed; rather, she seemed frustrated by how to explain her romantic relationships to her friends.
"Sigh." The three of them, all sharing the same troubles, let out a collective sigh.
“It's fine, things will work themselves out when the time comes.” Hara Kenji patted Kisaragi Chiyo's shoulder to comfort him and said, “If you don't know how to talk to Mechano-kun, then leave it to me.”
"Really?" Kisaragi Chiyo looked at him with raised eyebrows.
"No way.." After being stared at for a few seconds, Hara Kenji covered his face with both hands and let out a whimper, leaning his forehead against the young man's shoulder, his fluffy head rubbing against the crook of his neck.
"I remember Mechano-kun didn't seem to like monsters very much." Matsuda had learned a bit about the Mechano Family from Kisaragi Chiyo, combined with the impression left from their last meeting, he wondered what the reaction would be if the other party found out his best friend was in a relationship with a non-human and was even planning to get married.
Not to mention a wedding for the three of them; he would probably just think his friend was being deceived, wouldn't he?
"As for Mechano-kun, the problem shouldn't be too serious.." Even Kisaragi Chiyo felt a bit guilty saying this, but he felt the situation was at least not as terrible as Matsuda Jinpei and Hara Kenji had imagined. Nozono Shizuka had left a good impression on the two of them, largely thanks to the daily photos of cats and dogs he sent, which had led Nozono Shizuka to say enviously that he would definitely have to capture a cat-related yokai to serve as his Paper Shikigami next time.
"Really? Really?" Hara Kenji couldn't help but mutter incessantly whenever he got nervous; his arms were wrapped around the young man's waist, he nuzzled Kisaragi Chiyo's head repeatedly, like a large, affectionate dog.