Was this how she came to be during the period after her father's death many years ago?
A man is sitting here, watching the sun being swallowed up by the mountains, reading the book in his hand, and using words to soothe the hardship in his heart. The only family members at home are my mother, who leaves early and comes home late due to work, and rarely sees each other on weekdays, and my younger brother, who is still young and immature and is not old enough to be independent.
There's not even anyone to talk to.
Maybe, after all, I definitely have friends in school and in life, but how could Hashimoto Nanami, who is so proud and stubborn, be willing to show her weakness in front of others?
She is someone who can't help but laugh even when she sheds tears...
Leaning against the tree trunk, sitting on the grass and letting the fiery red maple leaves blow everywhere in the wind. When you look at these scenery alone, you must secretly miss your father in your heart, right?
On the snow, looking up at the stars in the sky, hugging my knees and quietly watching the passing cars from one end to the other in the dark field, I must have missed my carefree self at that time, right?
It's just that I've never told anyone.
These emotions and memories are buried as deeply as the snow beneath our feet.
until today.
Unknowingly, the sound of reading in his ears gradually faded away. When Baiyunshan came back to his senses, he noticed that the girl had not known when to lie down together.
Just lying on the snow next to him.
"Uh...what's wrong?"
At such a close distance, when he turned his head, he could see the girl's delicate profile and snow-white skin. Baiyunshan felt his heartbeat speed up inexplicably, and he was cautious.
"What?"
Hashimoto Nana asked back.
"I mean...why don't you read it?"
"Reading requires an audience, Baiyun Sang."
"..."
"Are you sure you were listening just now?"
"..."
"Sorry, I was a little distracted just now."
Baiyunshan looked ashamed.
"I know."
Hashimoto Nana nodded slightly. I don't know if it was an illusion. Baiyunshan always felt that there was a smile on the corner of the girl's mouth at this time: "But I just want to take a rest."
I don’t know if it’s the truth or a lie, but it should be the truth.
"Then let's rest together."
Neither of them spoke.
The sound of wind in the ears weakened, but the subtle breathing became clearly audible, as if it was rising and falling violently with the heartbeat, and even the smell of each other could be smelled.
Just lying on the snow and doing nothing, just looking up at the starry sky in Hokkaido's winter night, Baiyun Mountain was already satisfied.
I’m so satisfied that it doesn’t matter even if I gradually fall asleep——
"When I was little, I thought about sleeping here until dawn——"
Hashimoto Nanami interrupted his fantasy first and said calmly: "In the end, my mother couldn't find me at home at night, so she came here and gave me a severe lesson."
"hehe--"
Baiyunshan couldn't help but laugh out loud. He was not only interested in the fact that the calm and mature Hashimoto Nanami had such a naughty and miserable experience back then, but also the Hashimoto who looked gentle and quiet. Madam, I am surprised that she has such a tough side.
"Do not laugh."
The girl whispered.
"Okay, okay -"
That's what they say, but the less you laugh, the funnier it is.
"Do not laugh!"
There was already a hint of embarrassment in his tone.
"good."
Baiyunshan could only shut up.
The air was silent again.
"Actually, it doesn't matter if you smile..."
The girl's tone became a little embarrassed again.
Baiyunshan just shook his head. After such an interruption, most people would not want to laugh even if they could.
However, knowing that the girl was concerned about his feelings, Baiyunshan didn't care about it. Instead, his heart warmed, and he gently stretched out his hand and grabbed the wrist of the girl on the snow next to him.
Well, it feels good.
It's just a little cold.
After stuffing them into his coat pocket, Baiyunshan nodded with peace of mind.
Hashimoto Nana didn't say anything. Since everyone was lying down and the viewing angle was limited, he couldn't see whether the girl was blushing. But the feeling conveyed from the fingertips told him that he was very calm. Calm and cozy.
So does he.
"Isn't the ramen delicious?"
Nana Hashimoto whispered.
"Um."
"Not only is school at night not scary at all, but it actually makes me feel very nostalgic."
"Um."
"Let's go for a walk by the river together. Listening to the gurgling water, I feel like my soul has been purified."
"Um."
"Yelling at the snowy peaks and doing the same plot as in the movie, I have never thought about it before."
"Um."
“Lying down and looking at the night view down the hillside, I feel like I’ll never get tired of it.”
"Um."
"Just lying like this, lying on the snow, is already very satisfying."
"Um."
...
Hashimoto Nana finally smiled, and Baiyunshan could be absolutely sure this time, because he heard the girl's voice when she laughed softly.
Right next to your ears.
With heat.
It sounds particularly nice.
Then the girl sighed.
"That's all."
"Um?"
"This is the only reward I can give Baiyun Sang."
Hashimoto Nana looked up at the stars calmly: "My past school experiences, memories of running by the river, my favorite ramen, this hillside where I like to go when I am alone, and this book about Norwegian forests, this is what I think about Baiyun-sang, your love is the highest reward I can give—"
The words were frank and calm.
Even to the point of being overwhelmed.
Baiyunshan turned his head to look at her in astonishment, with surprise hidden in his eyes.
"Of course, there is actually something else, but you refused at the time——"
Having said this, Hashimoto Nana looked at him with a smile, looking a little strange.
"Uh hehe..."
Of course Baiyunshan could only laugh.
But he has no regrets.
On that night, he rejected something, not because he didn't care or didn't like it, but because he cared more about other things, which were far more important than his personal momentary pleasure.
As he himself has repeated many times——
He doesn't want the girl to regret it.
Thinking of this, Baiyunshan's expression softened.
Because in this way, he also understood the girl's behavior tonight, or in other words, since he woke up and overheard the conversation between himself and Mrs. Hashimoto, and since she was willing to tell him stories about her past during the day, he had already thought about it. Is the process done tonight?
For Hashimoto Nana Mirai, everything Baiyunshan did made her feel complicated. She was touched by the other party without asking for anything in return, but at the same time she felt deeply conflicted and heavy about this relationship.
Because she couldn't convince herself to let go, and this would inevitably lead to disappointment. She could only repay the other party with a feeling of gratitude and guilt, and accumulated it bit by bit——
This is what happened today.
"Is it too little?"
Nana Hashimoto frowned slightly again, feeling a little unsure.
"Won't."
Baiyunshan's reply was very soft, but powerful.
"Doesn't that feel a bit casual? Just say it so lightly -"
"It's heavy."
"Is it?"
"yes."
"It would be great."
Hashimoto Nana breathed a sigh of relief.
Baiyunshan suddenly felt that the hand he was holding in his coat pocket tightened a little, and the strength coming from his fingertips made him clearly feel nervous.
Afterwards, there was an upright confession.
"Bai Yunsang, I like you."
Ah...ah~ That's a straight shot. I have always taken the initiative to say this before, but I didn't expect that this time it was Nanamin's turn to say it——
What a surprise.
But also very happy.
"Thanks."
"do you like me?"
"like."
"How much do you like it?"
Girls seem to like asking this question, just like before.
But this is not a problem for Baiyun Mountain.
"I like you a little more than you like me."
"What a cunning answer."
"Cunning?"
"Very cunning."
"Feel sorry."
"It doesn't matter."
"how about you?"
"I don't know. It's probably similar to what was written in the book I gave you. It's like a bear who likes spring."
"You're so lazy, you're no worse than me."
...
They are all conversations that are like gossip.
But if I keep talking like this, it seems like I will never stop, and I can keep talking until the end of time.
Until that sentence appeared.
Nana Hashimoto took a deep breath and looked at the starry sky with a sentimental look on her face.
"I'm just sorry. If this happens, I won't be able to go back with you, Baiyun-san—"
