This barbecue was undoubtedly a very enjoyable experience.
The members who still had work to do in the afternoon left first, and the rest continued eating until almost two o'clock. After eating a barbecue, I can't say how deep the relationship became, but at least the stranger between the first- and second-generation students The feeling was washed away a lot.
Coupled with Baiyun Mountain's contribution, it is foreseeable that the day when the second-generation students will truly integrate will come soon.
After eating, I walked out. The sun was shining brightly and the spring was bright. It would be April soon. The old trees all over the street are sprouting new branches, the tender green is swaying in the wind, the buds are full, and the cherry blossoms are about to bloom.
Spring is a good time to enjoy cherry blossoms~
This thought flashed through many people's minds, and then they smiled and waved goodbye and dispersed.
The afternoon is still very long, and members who have work naturally have to rush to the next place of work. Those who don't have a job either go back to the dormitory, wander around wherever they want, or simply go to the cabin to kill time.
Of course, taking the opportunity to help the second-term students who are about to move into the dormitory is also an option.
...
...
Mai Shiraishi was not among all the choices above.
She looked at the back of someone leaving with her Nanamin, and wanted to say something, or simply ask them to stop. But when he opened his mouth, his mind suddenly went blank. After hesitating for a long time, he still couldn't speak.
He stood there in a daze, feeling heavy and complicated.
As the saying goes, something like what happens once makes it easy, that night, she repeated her old tricks, and this time even a certain Hokkaido girl was fooled into thinking that she was really drunk. But in fact, the girl just slipped out immediately after returning to the dormitory by car. Fortunately, the dormitory was not too far from the cabin, so she did not arrive too late——
——No, rather, it came just in time.
It's a pity, maybe because it came by such a coincidence, it would be better than not coming at all.
Shiraishi Mai finally confirmed that her Nanamin had a relationship with a certain guy that was beyond the ordinary manager and a little idol. However, before she could feel the joy of finally catching someone, she even cheered inwardly. Before I could scream, I suddenly discovered something more important——
That is, Baiyun Mountain may have to leave.
In other words, he is leaving Nogizaka46.
If this news had been heard in the past, Shiraishi Mai would have absolutely scoffed at it and would not believe it at all. She would just regard it as a boring rumor that came from nowhere. But the key point is that this is what she heard and saw with her own ears and her own eyes, and it cannot be faked——
If you think about it carefully, it is indeed the case.
If we say that in the past, he was a manager who also served as an operator. With his own abilities, his status and treatment were much better than those of ordinary staff. He also had a good relationship with everyone, so he was unlikely to leave. But now, his fame has soared after that live, and his status as the only descendant of Sakamoto Ryuichi is even more valuable. Coupled with his ability, it is easy to carve out a world of his own in this circle. !
Moreover, after leaving here, in addition to no longer relying on others and working under others, but becoming the master of one's own affairs, there is another benefit. That is......
Relationship with Nana Min!
As a certain Hokkaido girl said that night, once you leave here, you will no longer be their manager, so it doesn't matter.
The significance is self-evident.
There is even a possibility that Nanamin will graduate with someone leaving, and this is something Shiraishi Mai absolutely cannot accept——
This is why, even though she clearly knew the secret that night, she has been hiding it until now and has yet to muster the courage to speak.
The development of things has far exceeded her original expectations. It is not just a matter of love within the group, but also related to the feelings and destiny of many people. She couldn't imagine what it would be like if Nogizaka lost someone who had unknowingly become someone who was like a talisman in everyone's mind. And now that Nogizaka is booming and its upward momentum is getting stronger and stronger, what kind of blow will it suffer——
And all of this is likely to happen after he really speaks.
Of course the girl doesn't want to see such a scene.
And in addition, although she didn't want to admit it, even she, deep down in her heart, didn't want someone to leave.
Although for some reasons, every time this thought came to her mind, Shiraishi Mai always deliberately ignored it and buried it deeply in her heart. I just told myself like a hypnosis that I was doing it entirely for everyone, the entire team and Nanamin. But every time in the dead of night, those thoughts come out like water plants deeply entangled in the depths of the sea, and they torture themselves over and over again, is this really the case?
The answer seems to be no.
But...even if it is negative, so what?
"Ma Yiyan~ What's wrong with you?"
A call in the ear woke up the girl who was in a daze with a complex expression.
Mai Shiraishi was startled, and quickly looked back, only to find that it was her eldest relative and friend Sayuri Matsumura. She quickly smoothed the hair on her forehead and forced a smile on her face: "No, no, I just thought of something suddenly. "
"Oh~"
Fortunately, the other party didn't seem to notice anything unusual about her. Mai Shiraishi breathed a sigh of relief in her heart, but she couldn't help but look past the girl and towards the full buds on the branches behind her that were about to bloom.
The spring breeze blows, and the heavy branches sway.
'It's spring again. '
Feeling melancholy.
...
...
"Saito-san ~ Saito-san——"
Not long after leaving the barbecue restaurant and just reaching the corner of the street, the cry from behind made the little bird stop.
When I looked back, I saw that it was one of the second-generation students I had just met at the barbecue party.
"Are you... Kitano?"
Xiao Feiniao blinked, thinking about the introduction he had just heard.
"Ah...Hi! It's me-"
Kitano Rinako didn't expect that the girl in front of her actually remembered her name. She immediately brightened up, scratched her head and laughed.
Xiao Asuka rolled his eyes and couldn't guess what the other person was looking for at this time, so he said: "It's not right to call me Saito-san. Apart from me, Yuri and Qian-chan are all called Saito, please call me Asuka."
"A...Asuka-san?"
Kitano Rinako tried cautiously.
"Just call me Asuka." Little Asuka corrected.
"How can that be done!"
Kitano Rinako suddenly jumped up excitedly.
"Why not? Everyone calls me that?"
"But...but Hinako, I am still a junior after all——"
Kitano Hinako explained hesitantly, but heard the other party directly interrupt, saying in one breath: "Then, can I just call you kii-chan first? That's what everyone in the second generation calls you, right-"
"Ah...that's right——"
Kitano Rinako looked hesitant. After gritting her teeth hard, she stamped her feet and said, "But! I still don't want to call Asuka, but...Asha!"
"A shame?!"
Xiao Feiniao was a little surprised for a moment. He didn't expect to hear such an answer.
"When we met before, I heard you call yourself Ashin, kii-chan... I think it's very cute, and the face of Asham is also my favorite, so... so from now on From that moment on, I wanted to make friends with you..."
Kitano Rinako's face turned red. It was obvious that she needed to muster up a lot of courage to say such a thing. Although her voice became weaker and weaker, she still persisted: "...I know that I am still a junior. , but, I really want to be friends with you, A-Shame! It’s not the kind of friendship between seniors and juniors, but a better, closer, true friend! Big family friend!”
"please!"
As he spoke, he bowed vigorously, lowered his head and stretched out a hand, anxiously waiting for the other party's response as if to confess.
friend?
Xiao Feiniao was stunned on the spot, never expecting such a development.
At first, when the other party caught up with her, she thought that the girl named Kitano simply wanted to get to know her. After all, she was a senior and was a little restrained because of this relationship. That's why I took the initiative and asked the other person to call me Asuka, in order to reduce the distance and strangeness.
However this is not the case.
Not just seniors and juniors, not just ordinary friends, but extended relatives and friends who take care of each other and get closer! This is what the girl in front of me expresses shyly but firmly.
It's just that, friends...
Seeing her nervous and shy look, the other hand unconsciously clenching into a fist due to nervousness, Xiao Feiniao felt a layer of warmth gradually rise in her heart, and an unprecedented feeling enveloped her body. .
Speaking of friends, of course I had them when I was in school, but since joining Nogizaka, they have become less and less, and the contact is almost invisible. Everyone in the group is more like sisters than friends. Although there are also Maya Minami and others of the same age, no one has ever expressed such a caring expression like the person in front of them.
It’s just... caring like this is really touching, but showing it is really frustrating——
Well, what a Baga!
Xiao Feiniao watched silently, but the corners of his mouth curled up unconsciously, gradually revealing the white teeth under the corners of his lips, revealing a happy and bright smile.
He gently stepped forward and grabbed the other person's hand.
Kitano Rinako's body was shaken, and she raised her head with surprise on her face, and her eyes were filled with water mist unconsciously.
Just as he was about to say something, he heard Xiao Asuka snort softly and said: "Asham Lin, I didn't say I had promised you. Let me introduce myself again. My name is Saito Asuka, you can call me Asham."
Kitano Hinako quickly wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes and smiled through her tears: "Hinako, my name is Kitano Rinako, you can call me kii-chan!"
The two hands were held tightly together, and the bright smile made the spring scenery more beautiful.
"Please take care of me!"
...
...
The budding cherry blossoms are the same scenery on the path of Nogizaka, and they follow the spring breeze all the way to the dormitory.
The car stopped and moved outside, and all the things were unloaded, but the girl who moved the things seemed to be having a hard time. I don't know if it has something to do with the fact that she looked a little weak, as if she was sick. Her black hair was hanging down, and she looked at her with unconscious pity.
"♡Do you need my help?♡"
A soft and sweet voice suddenly sounded.
Horina looked back in surprise, and saw a girl in a black dress standing there pretty, with a caring and gentle smile on her face.
"You, you are...Hoshino-san——"
Hoshino Minami wrinkled her nose slightly when she heard this, and the freckles on her nose seemed to become cuter because of it. Then she stared at her and muttered: "♡Don't call me Hoshino-san, call me Minami-chan! Everyone is like this Call me! ♡”
"Mi, Minami-chan..."
Hori Mina almost didn't bite her tongue, she looked surprised and quickly waved her hands: "No, no -"
"♡Why not? Everyone is like this——♡"
Hoshino Minami smiled softly: "♡ Minami, I still remember your name, Weiyana, right? From now on, I will call you Weiyana-chan, and you can call me Minami or Minami-chan. Okay, that’s it! ♡”
"Yes, but-"
Hori Wei Na wanted to decline politely, but for a while she couldn't think of any good words. Then she heard the other party ask: "♡Is this box of things heavy? Why didn't you just let them carry it directly? ♡ "
"Ah, this, mainly because I wanted to move it up by myself. I remembered that it should contain some relatively light things, but I didn't expect that I remembered it wrong..."
These words really interrupted the girl's thoughts. Looking at the box of troublesome items, she couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed.
"♡Then let me help you! If you can't do it alone, we can do it together. How about we move up together? ♡"
Hoshino Minami puffed up her cheeks and said proudly: ♡ "Don't look at me like this, Minami, I've been very strong recently~♡"
"Isn't this good?"
“♡It’s okay, come on!♡”
Hoshino Minami was eager to give it a try. The two of them reached out together and pulled the four corners of the box hard, trying to move it to the elevator. However, before it was lifted for two seconds, it suddenly fell to the ground.
"♡Ah...failed~♡"
"It seems that we still overestimated our strength." Hori Weinan panted slightly and said helplessly.
"♡Well... let's wait until Xiaomi and the others come back, or call Baiyun-sang and the others to come and help——♡"
Hoshino Minami said frustratedly, suddenly noticed something and turned around to look: "♡Why are you looking at me all the time?♡"
"No, no..."
After being discovered, Horina's face turned red, and she didn't care so much anymore. She sat on the box to rest, but she saw the girl next to her also sitting down, and the two were very close to each other.
The girl was immediately startled and looked a little embarrassed, but for some reason, she felt faintly excited in her heart.
"♡ Minami, I noticed you just now. Weiyana, you seem to be less fond of talking. You didn't speak much at the party just now. ♡"
Hoshino Minami held his chin with one hand, tilted his head, and asked curiously: "♡Are you worried about something?♡"
"Well...well..."
Hori Weiyang avoided her eyes, always feeling that the tenderness inside wanted to sink her, but she still nodded slightly by mistake.
"♡It turns out there really is~♡"
Hoshino Nan nodded clearly, but did not continue to ask further.
Hori Wei was a little surprised, turned around and said subconsciously: "Don't you want to know?"
"♡ Know? Of course you don't want to know! Things like your heart are like secrets. The less you know, the better. Unless... you are a very good friend, otherwise, it seems that it is not good to talk or listen. ?♡”
Hoshino Minami said, laughed and said: "♡ Weiyang Nai, do you want to be friends with Minami? ♡"
What even the girl didn't expect was that she spoke subconsciously, almost without thinking.
"think."
Hoshino Minami was also a little surprised and looked at her in surprise. However, seeing the other person's shy look after finishing speaking, the surprise on his face immediately subsided and he smiled and said: "♡ Me too. ♡"
"Eh--"
This time it was Horina's turn to be surprised.
"♡ There is no other reason. Minami, I just want to make friends with you, Weiyang. If I have to say one, probably... Weiyang, you look like you are not in good health. At first glance, Make me a little worried.♡”
The girl whispered.
Hori Mina still hadn't come back to her senses. Listening to these words, she felt a different kind of beauty rising in her heart, gradually climbing up and occupying her heart.
She gritted her teeth and was about to say something when the other party suddenly stood up as if about to leave.
Hori Weiona suddenly felt a sense of loss in her heart and opened her mouth, but she didn't know what to say to save her.
However, the next moment, the girl turned around.
"♡Then, let's start from today. Weiyang Nai, you can come to me if you have anything, and you can talk to me if you have any worries or secrets——♡"
Hoshino Minami looked at her with a smile, as if he had completed a proud prank, but the smile in his eyes was pure beauty and joy: "♡ After all, we are already friends! ♡"
"Um!"
Hori Mina's face was startled, but then she also laughed and nodded vigorously happily.
"♡Look, Weiyana, you still look pretty when you smile. Why are you so reserved? It's such a waste——♡"
"No, it's not—"
The girl still wanted to explain, but her hands were grabbed by the other party and she was pulled up. Her bright eyes stared into hers, her voice was as sweet as ever, and her smile was like a flower: "♡ Then, please take care of me, Weiyana~♡"
The girl stared into her eyes, her voice sounding like she was mumbling to herself.
"Well, Mi, Minami-chan——"
...
...
The weather is beautiful as April approaches, and the air seems to be filled with the fragrance of flowers and plants.
Baiyunshan and Nana Hashimoto were walking on the slope, chatting from time to time. I don’t know whether it was due to the feeling of fullness after eating, or because the spring scenery was too beautiful, but their tone was slightly carefree. lazy.
"Baiyun-sang, it feels like...you seem to take good care of the second-generation students?"
Nana Hashimoto suddenly asked.
Baiyunshan turned his head and glanced at her, with a half-smile on his face: "Why, are you jealous?"
"Of course that's not the reason!"
Hashimoto Nana's face turned red, and she angrily denied his statement. She looked up at the scenery of tree branches hanging down by the roadside, and said slowly: "I just feel that the good ones are a bit unusual - "
"How to say?"
"If it's just general care, that's okay. After all, he's a new member, so he still needs some help to take care of him. It's reasonable."
Hashimoto Nana said without thinking: "But, I feel that is not the case. All the arrangements are as if they are compensation, as if I have done something to regret them before! But it is obviously not the case, even if the graduate student system mentioned before It’s unfair, but you denied it and canceled it, right? So, looking at these arrangements, it seems like they are just trying to encourage growth——"
"Compensation..."
Baiyunshan pondered slightly, and after a moment, he sighed and said softly: "Maybe, it's not wrong to regard it as compensation."
Nana Hashimoto rolled her eyes, as if she had thought of something, her eyes were a little complicated: "Have you decided yet?"
Baiyunshan was stunned for a moment, and then realized that the girl obviously thought that she had decided to leave Nogizaka, so she compensated the second-term students who had just been established in advance.
He didn't explain, but smiled, shook his head slightly, and looked up at the sky.
The golden sunshine covered the tops of the branches, and there were only a few white clouds in the blue sky. Unknown birds were bathed in the golden light and flew past with crisp calls and whistling towards the sky.
His eyes seemed to be looking through the branches, through the clouds, through the blue sky, and moving forward in the direction of the bird's flight.
I saw the streets, the dormitories, and the many scenes happening at this moment.
His eyes were deep and generous.
"I read a poem before."
He suddenly spoke and looked at the girl beside him: "It's a very nice poem. It can be used for many things and many people. It is very appropriate."
Hashimoto Nana stared at him slightly, with some curiosity in her eyes.
"Bowl."
Baiyunshan spoke softly.
Then, pulling the girl who had not yet reacted and seemed to be thinking about the meaning of this poem, she laughed and walked from the shadows under the gloomy trees to the sparkling sunshine on the road ahead.
At this point, everything has just begun.
Everyone has expectations. A new era is slowly beginning. The future is just like the path he is taking at the moment, with a golden and bright road in front of him.
There is no unexpected second phase, no gloomy history, and flowers bloom in every corner where the spring breeze blows. Those beautiful things that people talk about and miss will definitely appear. And those painful things that people lamented and lamented have been quietly annihilated and turned into dust, cultivating a flower called the second-stage flower that gradually blooms.
Everyone has a bright future.
(End of Volume 7)
