Chapter 18 third quarter

The room I stayed tonight looked very similar to a normal house. The three-square-meter room was covered with a light brown carpet, and the one-and-a-half-square-meter room was covered with poplar rice. The quilts for two are already there. "The beds are moved in only when the patients move in, so there are no one now. Depending on the condition of the patient, sometimes ordinary beds are inconvenient to take care of. Is it okay to make the bed?" "Well, no problem." Think about it, since I graduated from high school and traveled, I haven’t slept on tatami for a long time.There was a small tea table in the three-ping room, with an ashtray on it.I haven't smoked for a long time, and I suddenly wanted to smoke a cigarette. I sat down and took out a cigarette from my breast pocket.Qianzhi had already sat down.

"I'm sorry that the inside is very simple. I will bring you tea later. I should have prepared it earlier, but I forgot all about it. If you need other drinks, there are vending machines in the lobby. If you want to drink For beer, you can talk to Ogihara, who is the person in charge of the kitchen you just met. Because alcoholic beverages are not free to buy here, they are all managed by the staff.” Mariko explained briefly, “Then I’ll get the tea first, and I’ll be here in half an hour Come pick up Chiori again." After speaking, he turned and left. I nodded to thank her, and Chiori, who was sitting beside me, waved her goodbye vigorously.

I held the cigarette in one hand and rested the other on the back of my head.I sighed inexplicably, and slowly exhaled a puff of smoke.Feeling a little tired, but also a little comfortable.I was fascinated to recall the series of things that happened after I arrived. I rarely stayed before the performance, and it was the first time I heard so many things in the condolence performance. Chiori glanced at the surrounding scenery in amazement.There is actually nothing to watch here, no TV or telephone, it seems that this place was not used as a guest room in the first place, so there are no extra equipment!The whole room was empty, it looked like the apartment before moving in.

"Qianzhi, what's the matter with you? It's rare!" "Ah?" The eyes that were looking around stopped suddenly, and Chiori showed a weird smile, as if to say that although she was very happy, she couldn't understand my words, so she didn't know what kind of expression to face me. "Why are you so close to—that sister?" "Sister." The smile on Qianzhi's face deepened. I couldn't help but want to blurt out "I really don't understand her", but I swallowed it back and snuffed out the cigarette. Although I like to let Qianzhi play the piano everywhere, I am a man of few words, especially after that incident, I cherish words like gold.So no matter where I go, I follow the instructions of the other party.Therefore, my attitude here remains unchanged.Generally, I only socialize with the other party for two or three hours at most, and the other party only socializes with me for a while, which is already the limit.So far, most of the interview places we have visited are like this, perhaps because of this, Chiori has a sense of distance from the general.

From the reception room to here, I calculated that almost 70% of the time I only heard the voice of Mariko.I thought to myself, did she say she wouldn’t be tired after so long?Then I lit a second cigarette, but not only Mariko, but also Fujimoto and Mirai also had an indescribable unique aura... "Sister, together. Chiori, the same." "what?" Chiori seemed to want to convey something, but she clasped her hands on her knees with a very recognizable expression.Judging from her words, it seems that she and Mariko have some things in common—it means that they are both girls!But Chiori never said that she was the same as my mother.Perhaps this self-awareness came suddenly, but I still don't understand.First of all, the age gap between Chiori and Mariko is too big, so I was very confused and couldn't understand what Chiori wanted to express, and I didn't know what to do for a while.

"Same, sister, same." Chiori kept repeating this sentence. At this time, there was a knock on the door, "I'm going in, can I?" It's Mariko, holding a tray in her right hand and an electric thermos in her left. "Ah, I'm so sorry!" I got up and took the thermos from her hand. "The plug is over there." I looked in the direction of her finger, and there were two side-by-side sockets on the wall by the window. "I took Sencha and some black tea bags. If you need creamer or lemon slices, please tell the kitchen. Ogiwara should still be in the kitchen."

"Can't he rest yet?" "Yeah, he'll be there until breakfast is ready tomorrow. I'd normally be there to help out at this time, but today he said he'd prepare it himself, so I accepted his offer. I'll make you a cup of sencha ?" "Then I will trouble you." Hearing what she said, I replied politely. After plugging in the power supply, the red boiling light of the thermos bottle was only on for a moment, and then switched to the heat preservation light.I watched Mariko scoop out some tea leaves from the tea pot and put them into the teapot, thinking, I don’t know if she brought it with hot water.

"Same, sister, same." Qianzhi yelled again, her voice was a little louder than before. "Yes, we are all girls." Mariko replied nonchalantly. The bright green tea is poured into the cup from the spout of the teapot, "Okay, please drink." "Thank you, then I'll be polite." Seeing that we ignored her, Chiori immediately showed a dissatisfied expression. "Together, Chiori, the same. Sister, the same." "What's the matter? Chiori. Oh, you want some tea too, don't you?" Although she heard Mariko's words, Chiori still shook her head violently.

"She's been saying these few words since just now, and I don't know what they mean. It's really a headache." I couldn't help but look at Mariko with a wry smile, and her expression gradually became complicated at some point. "Kisaragi, you should spend a lot of time with Chiori! Do you understand Chiori's thinking?" I nodded yes. "Even so, you still don't understand? Well, that's really tricky. Chiori also seems serious." This time Chiori nodded desperately. "However, in this way, I am even more confused-Qianzhi, what's wrong with you? What are you doing with me? Are you taking a bath?"

"Together." Probably unable to bear it any longer, Chiori leaned against Mariko and took her hand, "Qianori, respect Dad, I like it. Sister, I like it." "I know this. That's why I asked why you are so clingy to her. After asking, she became like this and kept talking non-stop." "Is that so? But it's really a great honor for me that you put me together with your favorite father." She shook Chiori's hand and said. "No, no." We looked at Chiori's face at the same time. "Sister, respect dad, like it. Chiori, the same."

Mariko showed a surprised expression, and stopped shaking her hand.She stared straight at Chiori, and Chiori was smiling all over her face. I watched the expressions of the two of them.Mariko smacked her tongue, a smile of "I really don't care about you" appeared on her face, she stroked her neck with the other hand, and looked at me a little shyly. "I originally planned to never say it, and you don't remember me. What's more, it was a long time ago-I really lost to you, how would you know-Senior Kisaragi, I am a high school junior Do you still remember the juniors who were in the same club as you in the light music troupe? I played the trumpet, so I can’t remember at all? That’s what your expression said. Oh! It’s really annoying. And, I’m in When the senior graduated, he got a second button, so you still don't remember?" She pursed her lips deliberately, but her eyes were full of smiles. I don't know what expression I use to face her now.I remember being caught by the school girls to take the second button when I graduated.But I can't remember the other person's face at all.Besides, to be honest, I didn't look at the other person's appearance carefully at that time.Students in the same grade probably still have a little memory. If it is a different school year, to be honest, I really have no memory at all.And what she said suddenly couldn't be put together with the face in front of me. Seeing my reaction, Mariko dropped her shoulders exaggeratedly, and said in a low voice, "That's why I didn't want to say it. It's so boring, really... I had to muster up a lot of courage to go to my senior. , and I also made up my mind to get the second button, and I must catch the seniors earlier than anyone else. I have been trying my best to deduce the actions of the graduates in the sand table in my head from the day before, which caused me to hardly sleep all night. Graduation On the day of the ceremony, my heart was pounding and beating non-stop, and I couldn’t even make a sound when I was about to sing "Li Ge". Everyone said that my face was so ugly, and they kept asking me if I was not feeling well. Of course, how could I pass out from anemia at that time? I was trying desperately to hold myself, and when I walked into the hallway of the third grade, the female graduates kept staring at me, making me tense and stiff. That's how I got the second button of the senior. I am It was the first time in my life that I was so nervous, and the number of times I was so nervous after that is completely rare. For me, that time was the most important action in my life, but now it has become like this, so disgusting, really." With a puff, which was completely different from the content of the words, she said to Qianzhi with a smile on her face, "Qianzhi, your father is so ruthless." Then she reached out to tickle Qianzhi's stomach, and Qianzhi squeaked happily. "I'm such an idiot! When you decided to accept the invitation, you've been nervous all the time. Alas, I'm overwhelmed with joy and excitement when I meet you again after eleven years. Although I was wearing kitchen clothes when we met, It’s impossible to wear a high school uniform here, and the uniform has been thrown away a long time ago, but my face shape hasn’t changed much. Now I don’t wear makeup like I did back then, and my name hasn’t changed. I thought maybe you would If you find something, at least you will have a feeling of familiarity. "However, you didn't even show any hesitation, and you told me that we met for the first time. Alas, what a short and illusory expectation. I can only think so. It turned out to be just a dream. I'm so disappointed " At this point, Mariko snorted from her nose, but her expression was very gentle, "However, human memory is like this. It is an impressive thing to me, but others may not take it seriously at all, like Such things are very common. So, I don't mean to blame you, please understand this. Then, let me say hello to you again—long time no see, senior. Thank you for giving me the button. I Was going to tell you in vengeance that the buttons were thrown away with the uniform, but honestly, I've kept them very well. Because it's celebrity stuff, and it might be worth a lot someday! Ah! Of course, It is impossible for Keisuke Kisaragi to gather the world's attention, remembering all beings like us." "Sorry." "You don't need to apologize to me. You see, the tea is cold. They made it for you. So I said, if you have time to apologize to me, it would be better to drink tea quickly. Although it is not noble and good tea, it is I brewed it carefully, the tea is full of pig's head Kisaragi, and Keisuke Kisaragi, a big idiot, and many other emotions, this taste is extremely delicious." I listened to her laughing and cursing at me as I brought the tea to my mouth. The taste was a bit bitter, but it felt a little sweet, "I haven't seen it for eleven years." "Yeah, I haven't seen you for eleven years." Mariko raised her left hand and scratched her head. Suddenly, I vaguely remembered that there seemed to be a school girl in the music room who often made such movements. "So, the truth is, I really wanted to see Kisaragi-senpai so I invited you here, but Fujimoto didn't know it at all, please keep it a secret. The future knows, and Ogiwara also knows. Alas, it's because there is no entertainment here, so as long as there is a little thing Everyone was buzzing with excitement. But—although I'm disappointed that you don't remember me, but you look more energetic than I imagined, which made me feel relieved. In fact, before seeing that report, I I’ve forgotten all about you long ago, so we’re in the same boat. Because I learned about that from the report, I want to ask——are you really unable to play the piano anymore?” "It's not that I can't play it at all, it's just that I can't play it in front of people. So, that button must be worthless." "That's two different things. But is it true? But I, oh, sorry, can't tell." I couldn't figure out what she was trying to say. When I was about to ask, she looked at her watch and suddenly yelled, "Oh! I'm confused again. I'm sorry. It's too late if I don't hurry to take a shower, Qianzhi Can you prepare it right away? There are soap and shampoo there, and I can borrow her towels, as long as you are ready to change clothes." "Then I'll prepare right away, and it won't take three minutes." "In that case, let's go together! She can go directly to my room." "Then please." "Chiori, go take a bath with my sister." "Well, take a bath." Chiori happily got up and pestered her, and I hurriedly took out Chiori's change of clothes from the luggage bag and handed them to Mariko. "Then Chiori will be handed over to me for safekeeping." After finishing speaking, Mariko suddenly shouted, "Ah, that's right." Then she told me the location of the big bathhouse. "It's not troublesome to help Qianzhi take a bath, but when you rinse her hair, you must remember to tell her first, otherwise if the shampoo gets into her eyes, she will cry loudly and make a lot of noise, please excuse me. "I confessed. Walking towards the door, Mariko stood still suddenly, and Chiori who walked behind her without warning almost bumped into her back. "Well, um, if I have caused your displeasure, I would like to apologize to you first. But if I don't say it, I will be too bored. Probably because I have developed this habit of thinking, um, it's a bit uncomfortable. Good to say, but I want to tell you that I think you are much better now than before. I can’t tell you exactly what is good. Although we rarely have a chance to talk, I just feel that way. Really I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said these words to you suddenly and out of nowhere— "Well, actually, I'm a little envious of Qianzhi. Oh, forget it, let's not talk about it. Please rest assured, I will not threaten you with Qianzhi as a hostage, I will return her to you clean. Yes Yes, it will take me a long time to take a shower, so I will bring Chiori back later, so you can take your time and take a good bath! See you later." Chiori looked at her who said these words incredulously.What exactly Chiori understood, what she was amazed at, I can't imagine at all.The conclusion is that apart from me, Chiori has other people who are interested, and they are people I don't know, so I always feel a little bit interesting. Thinking about this kind of thing alone in a strange place, I suddenly felt the exhaustion on my shoulders come back.Maybe it's because I've been grabbing the steering wheel after noon!Anyway, no matter what, I also went to take a good bath, so I smoked another cigarette while getting ready. The room where Mariko and Chiori were not present was eerily silent, and the hiss of burning tobacco could be heard clearly.