Chapter 601

The campus of Waseda University at night is filled with a joyful atmosphere. Students walk among colorful banners and various small stalls, bustling as if it were a temple fair.

Under the soft light of the landscape lamps, the cherry blossoms on campus have an extra layer of warmth, washing away the sorrowful and aesthetic connotations.

In the dim light, people have to walk very close to recognize each other. Naoki Nagayama and Kaede Nagayama, a pair of cousins who are quite famous, walked through the crowd, yet not a single person recognized them, just like a pair of ordinary university students.

"So this is what the university cherry blossom festival is like~" Kaede Nagayama picked up takoyaki with a long bamboo skewer, complaining while eating, "It's about the same as the temple fair at Kiyomizu-dera. I thought it would be a bit more high-end."

"High-end?" Naoki Nagayama was also eating taiyaki. "Any event like a carnival, temple fair, or festival mostly can't escape eating, drinking, and playing... There are only so many types of snacks, at most a few more local specialties; the main thing is the entertainment, which changes according to the theme~"

"So, the main thing is still to see what the theme performance is today, right?"

"Kaede-niisan, aren't we here to watch Tsuruko's performance?" Naoki Nagayama gestured to the large bag in his hand. "I even prepared the cheering props..."

Seeing this, a look of disgust appeared on Kaede Nagayama's face. "Wait a minute, are we really going to do this? I just feel like it's too socially suicidal!"

"Of course... this is a gift specially prepared for Tsuruko!"

A smile appeared on Naoki Nagayama's face~

The scope of the cherry blossom season activities includes the stadium and the roads outside. As the organizers of the cherry blossom festival, the student council officers of Waseda University are making final checks in the backstage area of the central stage.

"Is the host ready?"

"Hai!"

"The theme play for the performance?"

"Preparation complete!"

"Prizes for the interactive mini-games?"

"No problem!"

"Students participating in the shamisen competition?"

"All have arrived!"

"The folk performance group?"

Tsuruko and a group of team members who had already changed into their performance costumes hurriedly replied: "Hai, preparation complete!"

Seeing that it was almost time to go on stage, Tsuruko Nagayama, whose face was painted like a geisha, was still a bit nervous. What if the performance goes poorly? What if everyone in the audience is watching? What if her voice cracks?

However... anyway, with such thick powder on her face, no one should be able to recognize her!

"Tsuruko-chan, ganbatte!" Her good friend Junshui Ishii came to cheer her on. "Iwai-san, Jin Tian-san, and I will be cheering for you!"

"... You saying that makes me even more nervous!"

At this moment, the students outside had already begun to slowly gather toward the central stage. Relying on the fact that they were of similar age, Naoki Nagayama and Kaede Nagayama blended in like a drop of water merging into a lake~

It was just that occasionally, someone looking at Kaede Nagayama would exclaim about which fitness club member had come over; those muscle blocks were really well-trained~

Taiyang Iwai and Dalu Jin Tian were also squeezing through the crowd. Today, they were going to stand in the front row to watch their good friend perform!

Yes, still good friends... Ever since Dalu Jin Tian learned about Tsuruko Nagayama's background as a yakuza heiress last time, he had never had the courage to confess~

The two of them clearly had feelings for each other, which even dragged Taiyang Iwai and Tsuruko's best friend Junshui Ishii into not being together... Good friends have to be single dogs together!

"Jin Tian! You must seize the opportunity today! This is the final moment of the cherry blossom festival!" Taiyang Iwai finally reached the front row, pulled Dalu Jin Tian over, adjusted his glasses, and said.

"Hai, I'm already prepared. Even if she is the heiress of the Yamaguchi-gumi, I must express my feelings to Tsuruko!" Dalu Jin Tian nodded solemnly. "I have already... for Tsuruko-chan..."

"Hai hai, no need to tell me, you've said it many times in the dorm!"

Taiyang Iwai and Dalu Jin Tian are currently living in a shared room, and every night they hear Dalu Jin Tian's muttering.

"Say everything you've been holding back in your heart to Tsuruko tonight!"

"Hai! Just tonight! I must tell Tsuruko!"

Just at this moment, a voice suddenly interjected from the side: "Tell Tsuruko what?"

"Hm? That, of course, is..." Dalu Jin Tian thought it was Taiyang Iwai. Just as he was about to turn his head, he realized Taiyang Iwai was in another direction. "Iwai? Did you just speak?"

"No?" Taiyang Iwai turned his head in confusion, and then his expression suddenly began to change.

Dalu Jin Tian saw Taiyang Iwai looking behind him and instantly realized something. Then, his shoulder sank, and he discovered a strong, powerful hand pressing on his shoulder, accompanied by a low voice:

"Speak, what are you going to tell Tsuruko?"

Slowly turning around, the strong figure of Kaede Nagayama appeared before his eyes. The face, which was not originally fierce, seemed full of oppressive force on such a physique.

"... Kaede... niisan?" Dalu Jin Tian had a very deep impression of this person.

"?" Kaede Nagayama took a close look before reacting. "Oh, so it's you. Tsuruko's senior... called... what was it again?"

"Dalu Jin Tian..." Then, a very quiet voice added from the side, "Taiyang Iwai..."

"Haha, right, it's you two!" Kaede Nagayama laughed. "You're also here to cheer for Tsuruko! Were you just saying words of encouragement for Tsuruko?"

"... Hai!"

The two nodded repeatedly, trembling. No matter what they were originally going to say, it didn't matter anymore; they were just here to say words of encouragement!

On the other side, Naoki Nagayama wiped his face; it was simply too painful to watch. That guy was supposed to be confessing, right!

He even had flowers in his hand!

Just at this moment, Kaede Nagayama patted Naoki Nagayama on the shoulder: "This is Tsuruko's older brother, Naoki Nagayama."

The real brother-in-law! Dalu Jin Tian hurriedly bowed and greeted: "Nice to meet you, I am Dalu Jin Tian..."

Naoki Nagayama could only nod: "Nice to meet you, I am Naoki Nagayama..."

Seeing this handsome face, the two university students finally realized that this guy was Naoki Nagayama!

A living celebrity!

Tsuruko had mentioned him before!

Suddenly, a wave of excitement~

The performance gradually began, there were more and more people in the center of the event, and stage lights and fireworks were set off.

"Welcome everyone to the cherry blossom festival..." The host on stage began the opening remarks, which were nothing more than who organized the event, who sponsored it, and thanking so-and-so. "Next, let us enjoy the theme play, Cherry Blossoms Gradually Falling~"

Japan's theatrical culture is very rich; the Takarazuka Revue is very famous, and even many actors come from theater troupes. The drama club of Waseda University is naturally very professional, and the original love story, under the students' interpretation, really looked like the real thing~

When the performance ended, it naturally drew a round of enthusiastic applause.

After the interstitial mini-games and interactions, it was the official shamisen competition. Representatives from several colleges performed on stage one after another, and ultimately, the live audience had to vote~

However, most shamisen performances lean toward sadness and mono no aware, making the lively atmosphere much quieter.

Finally, it was time for the folk performance...

Tsuruko backstage took a deep breath and slowly walked onto the stage. In front of her was a sea of people~

As the music started, the classic Japanese folk song "Sakura" was sung from Tsuruko Nagayama's throat:

"Sakura, sakura..."

An ethereal and eerie sound rang out from the stage. A layer of goosebumps instantly rose on Naoki Nagayama's neck... This folk song is poisonous; how can it be so terrifying!

Naoki Nagayama felt like he had misheard; otherwise, why did it feel like a terrifying ghost in the middle of the night was calling for a soul! It seemed like the next moment it would take him on a shortcut to the underworld!

Looking around, other university students seemed to be immersed in this voice... as if they saw the cherry blossoms of heaven in the ethereal voice!

Sure enough, he is different from them!

Shaking his head, rubbing the skin on his arm to smooth out the goosebumps, Naoki Nagayama took out the specially prepared gift from the bag he was carrying...

Tsuruko, you actually used a ghostly tune to scare me. If you are heartless, then don't blame me for being unrighteous!

He poked Kaede-niisan's arm, signaling him to pick up a corner of the gift.

Kaede Nagayama's mouth twitched, very much wanting to refuse, but under the threat of his cousin's gaze, he picked it up unwillingly... However, seeing the two people next to him, his expression relaxed:

"You two... come over and help me~"

"Nani?"

"These are cheering items. Come, help me hold this, and help lift it up together in a moment!"

"Ah, hai!" The two guys didn't dare to refuse.

When the song was finished, enthusiastic applause instantly erupted from the audience. Although it sounded eerie, this folk song still has a high popularity in the island nation, and Tsuruko's voice was ethereal and melodious, performing it very excellently.

Tsuruko Nagayama bowed and thanked on stage, then waved happily, feeling that the hard rehearsals during this period had finally paid off!

In the sea of people below, most faces were unclear, but those few in the front row were all acquaintances!

Dalu Jin Tian, Taiyang Iwai, and next to them is Kaede-niisan?! He also came! And her own brother, sure enough, he came to cheer her on!

Wait, what did they take out?

Eh? Does it look like a banner? Why is it so big?

Why is it so colorful?

Chotto matte, why does it look like a photo?

Is that... my photo?

"Pop! Pop!" Two fireworks were set off, shifting people's attention over.

The huge cheering item was unfurled. On it were photos Tsuruko Nagayama had taken before. He had used his camera to help take many of them. That was back in high school, wearing a kimono, very green~

Naoki Nagayama specially found a photo studio to print Tsuruko's photos~

A super-giant one was pasted on the banner, and then flowers were pasted around the photo~

Next to it, he also used a highlighter to write "Tsuruko is the most beautiful!" "Tsuruko sings the best!"~

In the front row, using fluorescent materials, and setting off fireworks... This huge cheering item, once lifted, instantly attracted the attention of everyone in the audience!

"Ohoho~ Not bad!" "Creative!" "That's the person performing! Her name is Tsuruko!" "Amazing! In every sense!"

The buzzing discussion in the audience suddenly grew louder, accompanied by quite a bit of laughter.

Tsuruko on stage felt a mix of emotions at this time: a bit surprised, a bit angry, a bit shy, and a bit inexplicably... excited?!

Sure enough, it's a good gift!

"Tsuruko-san, those must be your friends!" The host came over with a smile to smooth things over. "What a rare sentiment!"

"... Hehehe, yes~" Tsuruko tried hard to remain calm!

"How could they think of such a method?!"

"Hehe, I'd like to ask too~"

"Oh, then let us interview them!" The host, not fearing a big scene, walked toward the group, wanting to hand over the microphone. "These friends, please..."

But at this very moment, the host discovered that two of them had quickly retreated, leaving two confused guys looking left and right.

"Uh... then this student, what is your name?"

"Dalu Jin Tian..."

Perspective shifts to the audience.

"Naoki, you're really something!" Kaede Nagayama put down the fireworks and said with a wicked smile, "You actually dragged me into doing bad things!"

"Kaede-niisan also dragged two helpers, didn't you~" Naoki Nagayama looked at the two people struggling to hold up the photo banner and laughed. "They're going to be beaten up by Tsuruko, right!"

"Hahaha, that's none of my business!"

Just as the discussion in the audience became more and more heated, Naoki Nagayama saw the host walking toward this side and hurriedly grabbed Kaede Nagayama:

"Kaede-niisan, quick, flash!"

"Eh?"

"Don't you want to be recognized by the students?"

Although the two of them wouldn't be discovered while blending into the crowd, once the spotlight hits, it's hard to say. The Suzuran overlord and the playboy Naoki still have a certain reputation among young people! It would be troublesome if they were recognized... It might even cause an accident!

"Ah, right..." Kaede Nagayama hurriedly handed all the banners to Dalu Jin Tian. "I'll leave this to you!"

Then, immediately relying on his physical advantage, he squeezed into the crowd with Naoki Nagayama.

"Eh? What do you mean leave it to us?"

Dalu Jin Tian was a bit confused, but just at this moment, the host's microphone was handed over.

"This student, what is your name?"

The mischievous lighting technician also shone the spotlight from the stage over at this time, creating a high-brightness area.

A white blur made Dalu Jin Tian a bit dizzy, and the gazes of the people around him made him even more nervous: "Dalu Jin Tian..."

"Ah, Jin Tian-kun, are you a friend of Tsuruko-san?"

"Hai..." Dalu Jin Tian felt his whole body tense up, and he could almost hear the thumping sound of his heart in his ears.

"Haha, a lot of thought went into this cheering, right!" The host asked again with a smile.

"Uh..."

Dalu Jin Tian was a bit tongue-tied. This was prepared by the brother-in-law... but the two of them ran away, and their identities were hard to explain... Just like that, Dalu Jin Tian's face became redder and redder, and his head even felt a wave of dizziness.

"Haha, it seems our young man is a bit shy." The host said kindly. "Then let's do this. Borrowing the microphone in front of you, is there anything you want to say to Tsuruko?"

He originally wanted to let Dalu Jin Tian say some cheering slogans or something. This is a common behavior for an idol's fan guard, calling out for their idol in front of the camera.

Dalu Jin Tian's brain was already in a mess at this time. He opened his mouth but didn't make any sound.

The host encouraged: "Daijoubu, say it out loud!"

The buzzing sound in the audience was so loud, the spotlight was so bright, the banner in his hand felt quite heavy, and the microphone in front of him gave him huge pressure...

Dalu Jin Tian looked up in a daze and suddenly saw Tsuruko Nagayama on stage. Although her face was painted with thick white makeup, it couldn't hide those eyes, which were as bright as the stars in the sky...

Seeing no reaction, the host said again: "This student..."

"Suki..." A light sentence.

The host didn't hear clearly: "Student, what did you say?"

Courage from nowhere made Dalu Jin Tian grab the microphone in front of him, take a deep breath, and say it out loud:

"Tsuruko-chan! Watashi wa anata ga suki desu (I like you)!!!!!"

The plaza was quiet for a moment, then with a roar, the sound exploded!!!

"Ohoho!" "Haha~" "Got it!" "Amazing! Amazing in every sense!" "Go for it, young man!"

The boys began to applaud one after another, and some lively guys began to whistle. Even the girls laughed out loud... It was a noisy scene, making the end of the entire cherry blossom festival incomparably lively.

Tsuruko on stage was tense all over, suddenly stunned there, not knowing what to do~

At this time, Kaede Nagayama and Naoki Nagayama, who had just squeezed out of the crowd, also heard the loud confession coming from the speakers.

Kaede Nagayama was stunned for a moment, then instantly felt a wave of inexplicable emotions. The cabbage at home had been gnawed by someone!!!

Clenching his fists, he wanted to walk toward that guy from before, to let him know well what an iron fist from Tsuruko's brother is!

But Naoki Nagayama stopped him:

"Kaede-niisan, forget it, forget it~ It's not worth it, not worth it!"

"Naoki, that's your sister, your own sister!" Kaede Nagayama opened his eyes wide.

"Even one's own sister has a time to get married!" Naoki Nagayama sighed. "Tsuruko clearly has quite a good impression of that guy~"

"Good impression? When? Where did you see that?!"

If she didn't have a good impression, would she specifically ask me for tickets to the performance? And take him along? And get to know you, Kaede-niisan?

"In short, trust me~" Naoki Nagayama said. "Let her handle the affairs of young people herself!"

"... Naoki, you're clearly only twenty years old! Don't pretend to have the tone of an adult!"

Naoki Nagayama pulled Kaede Nagayama's arm and walked toward the outside...

"It's just... I didn't expect my cheering gift to actually become a boost for that guy..." Thinking of this, he felt unwilling in his heart. "When that guy comes to visit formally, I must make things difficult for him."

"Wait, what if they break up?"

Kaede Nagayama heard this and revealed a fierce smile: "No one can dump my Tsuruko! Anyone who has this idea, I will definitely make him go to Tokyo Bay to calm down well!"

At this time, Dalu Jin Tian, whose blood had rushed to his head, instantly felt a chill down his spine~

He looked up at Tsuruko on stage...

Tsuruko's eyes were looking right over...