Chapter 41

After leaving the Shogi Club stall.

Xia Xia Xia Mujun and Saionji Nanase browsed a few more clubs at will and experienced them, time passed quietly, and in the blink of an eye, it was past four o'clock.

Xia Xia Xia Mujun looked at the sky:

"It's about time, I have to prepare to go back to the coffee shop to work."

Saionji Nanase, who was originally full of interest, was stunned upon hearing this, and couldn't help but take out her mobile phone to confirm the time, the bright smile on her face fading slightly, revealing a depression she hadn't even noticed herself.

"Ah... it's really not early." She quickly adjusted her mood and raised a smile again, "I should go home too, shall we go out of the school gate together?"

"Mm."

The two returned to the classroom to take their schoolbags and stepped onto the familiar cherry blossom path side by side.

Japan, as an island nation, always has sunset coming particularly early.

Although it was only four o'clock in the afternoon, the sunset had already dyed the clouds on the horizon into magnificent gold and red, and the afterglow gently spread down.

On the cherry blossom path, pink and white petals bathed in the twilight, as if plated with a layer of exquisite thin gold.

The two of them just strolled on the path filled with falling flowers.

The club stalls that were bustling at noon had now been withdrawn for the most part, leaving only sporadic students still playing and chatting.

From the baseball field on the left side of the path came the crisp and powerful sound of hitting the ball and the energetic training shouts of the team members.

In contrast, from the open windows of the teaching building on the right, the melodious practice pieces of the orchestra flowed out faintly.

Different sounds intertwined together, forming a harmonious and vibrant picture of youth.

Xia Xia Xia Mujun felt this tranquility in the noise, his mood relaxed, and he sighed secretly in his heart: these high school students are really youthful!

However, in the eyes of other students passing by, weren't this man and woman strolling under the cherry blossom rain also the most moving part of their youth scenery?

People can never simultaneously possess youth and the true feeling of youth.

This scene and this situation are the best footnote for this saying.

"Xia Xia Xia Mujun! Wait for me—!"

A voice full of energy suddenly broke this tranquility.

The two turned their heads upon hearing the sound.

They saw Fujiwara Aoi trotting toward them, her healthy wheat-colored skin shining in the sunset.

The white school uniform shirt rose and fell gently with her running.

Human vision is instinctively drawn to moving objects—it is an irresistible instinct.

Natsume Chikage’s gaze also inevitably lingered for a brief moment on those slightly rising contours.

He quickly looked away; after all, Fujiwara Aoi was a colleague and classmate, and it would be awkward if he were caught.

Just as he withdrew his gaze, he happened to meet the lively eyes of Saionji Nanase.

"What's wrong?" Natsume Chikage asked.

Saionji Nanase was slightly startled, her large eyes blinking; she seemed somewhat confused herself as to why she had looked at Natsume Chikage.

She shook her head gently and smiled:

"No, it's nothing."

At this moment, Fujiwara Aoi had already run up to them, panting, and stopped; her chest was still heaving slightly from her rapid breathing.

She looked up, her gaze meeting Natsume Chikage’s directly, and pouted:

"Natsume-kun, didn't you say you'd wait for me to go back to the cafe together? Why did you leave on your own?"

Natsume Chikage shook his phone:

"I sent a message saying I'd wait for you at the subway station."

Fujiwara Aoi was stunned and hurriedly took out her phone to check; sure enough, she saw the message.

She scratched her head in embarrassment and gave a silly laugh:

"Ahahaha, you're right!"

After saying this, her gaze shifted to Saionji Nanase, who was standing beside Natsume Chikage.

The girl before her was about 1.6 meters tall with smooth, shoulder-length hair; a strand on the left side was intricately braided into a plait with a pink hairband.

Her large eyes were lively and bright, and her fair face exuded a cute aura.

The school uniform looked exceptionally well-fitted and attractive on her, and her temperament far surpassed that of an ordinary girl—it was a faint elegance born from a wealthy upbringing, blended with a natural, carefree charm.

It was just that she was covered in various small prizes and trinkets won from club games, which looked colorful and somewhat out of place with her overall aura.

Watching Saionji Nanase and Natsume Chikage standing together, a subtle emotion inexplicably welled up in Fujiwara Aoi’s heart, and she couldn't help but feel suspicious about their relationship.

She asked as if casually:

"Natsume-kun, who is this?"

Natsume Chikage introduced them:

"This is my classmate—Saionji Nanase."

"And this is my colleague from the cafe—Fujiwara Aoi. Like us, she is in the first year of high school."

Saionji Nanase bowed slightly in a polite manner:

"Nice to meet you, I'm Saionji Nanase."

Fujiwara Aoi hurriedly returned the greeting:

"Hello, hello, I'm Fujiwara Aoi."

But she couldn't suppress her urge to probe, and asked with a feigned casual smile:

"Why are you two leaving school together? Is Saionji-san planning to work at our cafe too?"

Natsume Chikage shook his head:

"No, we were just heading out of school in the same direction."

Saionji Nanase added with a slightly airheaded smile, explaining earnestly:

"Yeah! We just visited a lot of club booths together, but it's getting late, so we decided to leave."

Fujiwara Aoi instantly turned to stone, her voice trembling slightly:

"You... you two... visited a lot of club booths together?"

Saionji Nanase nodded vigorously, her eyes sparkling and her smile radiant:

"Yeah! It was really interesting!"

Fujiwara Aoi’s mouth twitched imperceptibly, and she forced a laugh:

"I-I see... I thought when you said you wanted to find a club you liked, Natsume-kun, you were going alone... So it was with Saionji-san..."

Natsume Chikage explained:

"That was the plan at first."

"Saionji-san also said she didn't know which club to choose, and since we sit next to each other, we just visited them together."

Fujiwara Aoi’s eyes lit up, and her expression instantly cleared:

"Oh! So that's how it is!"

"That's true, going alone is a bit boring; it's much better with two people!"

She immediately followed up:

"Did you find any clubs you like?"

Saionji Nanase scratched her cheek, looking a bit troubled:

"The clubs are all quite interesting... but I don't feel like joining any of them in particular."

Fujiwara Aoi looked at Natsume Chikage:

"And you?"

Natsume Chikage shrugged:

"I have a part-time job, so I'm looking for a club with fewer activities."

"But the school seems to value clubs quite a bit, and most of them have long activity hours... so I haven't found a suitable one yet."

Fujiwara Aoi had a sudden realization and asked:

"I see... so you've already visited all the clubs today?"

"Not yet." Saionji Nanase interjected, looking a bit embarrassed; she subconsciously touched a garland hanging around her neck. "I spent a long time playing small games at some of the booths... otherwise, we could have visited more."

She turned to Natsume Chikage, "Natsume-kun, do you want to continue looking at other clubs after school tomorrow?"

Fujiwara Aoi was stunned for a moment, then reacted quickly and blurted out:

"I'll come too! I don't have any club activities tomorrow!"

"And I know seniors in different clubs; I can show you around!"