Chapter 20: The Confession Cherry Blossom Tree!

The school's backyard.

The afternoon sun shone through layers of cherry blossom petals, casting dappled light and shadows on the bluestone path.

A gentle breeze blew, carrying a faint floral scent, rolling up petals of pink and white, like silent, fine snow, dancing in the warm spring sun.

When Xia Xia Xia Mujun stepped into the backyard with his bento, many students were already occupying stone benches or grass under the trees in twos and threes, enjoying their first lunch of the school year.

He scanned the area, looking for a quiet corner.

Suddenly, his gaze was firmly captured by the center of the backyard—

A huge cherry blossom tree stood majestically, its branches spreading out like a canopy, its scale far exceeding the cherry trees in other corners of the campus; it was clearly an ancient tree of many years.

What was even more astonishing was that this cherry blossom tree was emitting a warm and intense strange light that only he could see!

[Confession Cherry Blossom Tree]

[Quality: Blue]

[Effect: None]

[Description: Under the cherry blossom tree, that is the youth I once lost...]

[Synthesis condition: Requires at least three pieces of the same type of equipment!]

Such a big cherry blossom tree... is also special equipment?

And it actually has no effect?

This was the first time he had encountered equipment with no effect.

Xia Xia Xia Mujun’s pupils constricted, and he held his breath in disbelief.

He couldn't help but walk closer, reaching out to gently stroke the rough and ancient trunk.

[Since you have not yet obtained ownership, you cannot register this equipment!]

Xia Xia Xia Mujun wasn't surprised by this. ===== CHAPTER 41 =====

This cherry blossom tree had been in the school for so long; no matter how you looked at it, it couldn't be ownerless.

Since this cherry blossom tree was in the school, it meant that to obtain it, he must have the school's consent?

But then another problem arose.

Such a large cherry blossom tree had probably existed in the school for a long time; the school couldn't just give it to him for no reason.

Was he supposed to buy the whole school to obtain it?

Were there any other ways...

Just as Xia Xia Xia Mujun was deep in thought, a woman's voice suddenly came from behind him.

"Xia Xia Xia Mujun, why are you here?"

A woman's voice came from behind.

Xia Xia Xia Mujun turned around.

He saw his homeroom teacher, Sakai Shion, carrying a simple and elegant bento bag, standing in the rain of falling petals.

She was still wearing that crisp women's suit, her long legs wrapped in black stockings, her face wearing its usual meticulous expression.

"I wanted to find a quiet place to eat lunch," Xia Xia Xia Mujun explained truthfully.

"I see." Sakai Shion nodded slightly, her gaze sweeping over the noisy backyard, "Today is the first day of school, a good time to integrate into the group and make new friends. I actually suggest you interact more with your classmates."

"But since you're already here... we'll talk about that later."

"I know a place with a nice view where I occasionally go to eat. Shall we go together?"

Xia Xia Xia Mujun looked back at the huge, immovable cherry blossom tree.

He knew that this special equipment definitely couldn't be obtained in a short time.

As for it being taken by someone else, that was completely impossible.

After all, this cherry blossom tree had been here for so long; it clearly had special significance to the school.

Since that was the case, he didn't need to be anxious; he could slowly think of a way over the three years he was attending school.

As for the place Sakai Shion suggested, he felt it wouldn't hurt to go.

Anyway, he hadn't found a good place to eat lunch yet.

He withdrew his gaze and nodded: "Mm."

Sakai Shion led him around several flower beds to a secluded bench in the backyard.

Here, the view was wide; the bench faced the huge cherry blossom tree in the center of the backyard, and one could take in the scattered teaching buildings and the students eating lunch in groups of three or five.

A refreshing spring breeze carrying the sweet scent of cherry blossoms brushed past, blowing away the slight heat of the afternoon.

Xia Xia Xia Mujun sat down, feeling the rare tranquility and openness, and couldn't help but sigh: "The scenery here is really nice."

"You think so too, right?" Sakai Shion sat down beside him.

When her gaze turned toward the cherry blossom-filled scenery, the meticulous expression on her face seemed to soften slightly, and the line of her tightly pressed lips relaxed.

She didn't say anything more and quietly opened her bento box.

Xia Xia Xia Mujun also took out his bento.

The two sat quietly on the bench, watching the scenery and enjoying their lunch.

While eating.

Xia Xia Xia Mujun thought that since the teacher was here, it was a good opportunity to ask about the cherry blossom tree.

"Sakai-sensei, how long has this cherry blossom tree in the backyard been planted?"

"Are you curious because you heard the rumors about this cherry blossom tree?"

"Rumors? What are those?"

Sakai Shion was silent for a moment, clearly hearing that Xia Xia Xia Mujun didn't know about this, but she still explained it.

"This cherry blossom tree was planted when the school was first established; it's been almost a hundred years since the school was founded.

Because this cherry blossom tree has existed for so long and looks beautiful, many students confess to the people they like under it.

Rumor has it that after a successful confession, the lovers will grow old together.

But in the end, this is just a rumor. Whether anyone actually grows old together with their lover, who knows."

Sakai Shion shook her head; as someone who believed in science, she clearly didn't believe in such rumors.

"I see..." Although Xia Xia Xia Mujun replied this way, his expression was a bit strange.

Because the cherry blossom tree had no effect.

Which meant those were all just rumors...

"This cherry blossom tree is managed by the school, right?" Xia Xia Xia Mujun asked.

"Of course." Sakai Shion nodded slightly.

Xia Xia Xia Mujun fell into deep thought.

And Sakai Shion didn't say anything more, nor did she think too much about it.

She just considered this chat as idle chatter after a meal.

After finishing lunch.

Sakai Shion knew she was a teacher and it wasn't appropriate to stay in one place with a male student for too long; if noticed, it could easily lead to gossip.

Even though she usually rested here quietly after lunch, today clearly wasn't appropriate.

Thinking of this.

She packed up her bento, and the meticulous expression returned to her face.

"I have things to take care of. Remember to pay attention to class time and don't linger here too long."

"Mm."

Hearing the reply, Sakai Shion nodded slightly and left without looking back.

After watching the teacher leave, Xia Xia Xia Mujun didn't rush to go.

Instead, he took his phone out of his pocket and started writing here, intending to finish that novel as soon as possible. ===== CHAPTER 42 =====