After listening to Touko's narration, Shinji's heart was a mix of complex emotions, difficult to untangle.
There was a sense of relief, a kind of inexplicable sorrow, a lingering pity from past lives to the present, and of course, a genuine admiration for her.
He reached into Touko's coat pocket, pulled out a pack of cigarettes, and took one out, only for her to snatch it back.
"You're not 16 yet, don't smoke."
"Just pretend you didn't see it this ti. I suddenly really want one. One cigarette won't hurt."
Shinji took out another, casually drawing a fla rune.
"How about you join ? After all, I helped you get so much Dragon Smoke, and I don't even know what it tastes like."
"People who haven't smoked should avoid this kind; you might not like it."
Touko said, leaning towards the fla rune, taking a casual drag, and exhaling a puff of nicotine-laced smoke.
"No worries, there's always a first ti."
Shinji mimicked her, finally succeeding after several tries, but ended up coughing hard from the strong smoke.
"I told you, you're not used to it."
"This is exactly what I wanted to feel, cough cough..."
Coughing, he continued taking big drags. Touko had never seen anyone smoke like this before; it wasn't out of bravado but seed more like venting.
"Can't understand this..."
"Nothing change.?"
"Heh, true, you've always been strange."
And so, the two began puffing away together.
After finishing the cigarette, Shinji felt much calr.
"What happened next?"
"After that, Akiha publicly announced that Makihisa had died of illness, took over as the head of the family, and handled Makihisa's funeral. After the rites, Akiha, as the new head, changed the family operations, moved out all non-direct relatives, and either dismissed or let so servants leave with the relatives. In the end, as you can see, the huge house now only has Akiha, and the two maids Kohaku and Hisui left, plus , the tutor who refuses to leave."
At this point, Toukopaused deliberately, keeping Shinji in suspense.
"Aren't you going to ask why I refuse to leave?"
"No," Shinji shook his head, "The surface reasons are obvious. Makihisa entrusted you before he died, Akiha asked you, or perhaps she offered you an irresistible reward, or maybe it's to repair Miss Katou. But the core reason is just one: you find it interesting and don't want to leave. Am I right?"
"Right, not a single mistake."
A trace of helplessness reflected in OTouko's glasses, as Shinji had completely seen through her.
"The Tohno family has many mbers, and Akiha is only fifteen. Making such decisions right after taking over would inevitably cause a backlash. In fact, during this period, Akiha has been dealing with the relatives' accusations daily, with so extremists even trying to kill her and seize the head position. I've also been attacked several tis, forcing to have the not fully repaired Katou stand guard at night."
"I see, so that's why Akiha ca so quickly last night. In that case, she should be given more compensation—though how to compensate depends on what those three ladies think. What do you think?"
"Akiha didn't say anything after Makihisa's death, and still kept Kohaku by her side, which says enough. Kohaku hasn't continued her revenge plan, but she hasn't completely let go either; she's sowhat wavering. As for Hisui, she's the hardest to deal with. Her heart has been closed off for too long. I've tried various thods, even using suggestion magic, but nothing has worked well. Maybe only when Kohaku truly lets go, will she let go too."
"I see, so the overall direction is good, but progress is slow, and it's currently at a stalemate."
"That's one way to put it."
"How about introducing an external force to break the deadlock?"
Shinji, with one hand on his chin and the other raising a finger, pointed outside, this gesture giving her an idea.
"External Force? You an Shiki?"
"Yeah, regardless of Shiki's true background, his current identity is as the eldest son of the Tohno family. Moreover—Mikiya told —he doesn't lack attachnt to the Tohno family and has often ntioned mories of playing with his sister and others."
Shinji lied again. Mikiya had never said anything about this, but all he needed was a convincing reason, so his information wouldn't seem too abrupt.
"This suggestion..."
Touko also held her chin, pondering, "Has a certain feasibility. No, it should be said that at this stage, it's the most suitable plan. I don't know what Shiki thinks, but I can be sure that Akiha's attachnt to Shiki is no less than Sakura's to you. As for Kohaku and Hisui, let think, they probably care about him as much as Fujino and Kirie do about you. Thinking this way, you indeed bear a heavy burden."
"Uh, we were talking about Shiki, how did this switch to ?"
"Nothing, just lanting how like attracts like—you, Shiki, and Mikiya. Fate is truly a mysterious thing."
"It is very mysterious. I am grateful for fate, for letting et so many people important to , and for letting et you."
Shinji straightened up, making a very earnest pose, as sincere as he could look. Unfortunately, Touko wasn't so naive little girl. Although her eyes briefly changed, she ultimately knocked him on the forehead.
"Say those words again when you grow taller, at least taller than ."
"Don't worry, it won't take many years before I surpass you. How I see you now, is how you'll see in the future."
"So confident?"
"Absolutely confident. Justeaze can testify."
"Oh~"
Touko's voice rose as she lightly pushed her glasses, "Looks like sothing interesting happened during your travel this ti."
"Yes, unforgettable for a lifeti. I'll discuss with Justeaze how much to say."
"Discuss with Justeaze? Hmm."
Although Shinji believed he acted normally, he felt Touko's gaze wasn't quite right. Still, he wasn't a greenhorn.
"So things really can't be said, too many ties, just like this."
This sentence wasn't spoken aloud but imprinted directly into her consciousness.
"This is!!! You—"
"I've stepped into this realm too. Do I now qualify to walk alongside a future immortal like you? But be careful not to be left behind by , seems like the soul isn't such a mysterious domain."
"You, you little rascal—"
Even soone as mature and wise as Touko couldn't stay calm, "Get out, I don't want to see you right now."
"Then I'll go discuss the compensation with Miss Akiha. Bye."
"Hurry up and go, you little rascal!"
Perhaps influenced by Shinji's will, Touko felt a bit dazed, the figure in her vision no longer seed so small.
"Seems like he has grown a lot, shouldn't keep waiting too long, right?"
Three years? Five years? Or ten years?
By then, she shouldn't be old yet.
PS: Touko is forever Seventeen.
Reviews
All reviews (0)