Chapter 590

【Akita Sana: That's true... Xia Xia Xia Mujun, you have to work, study shogi, take care of your sister, and so on.】

【Xia Xia Xia Mujun: That's about it.】

【Akita Sana: By the way... I haven't finished playing those few games left at your house! Can I still come over to your house to play when I have time? It won't bother you, will it?】

【Xia Xia Xia Mujun: Of course you can, you're welcome anytime. My sister also quite likes you coming over, she says it's livelier with more people at home.】

【Akita Sana: (?ò?ó?) Really? That's great! Then I'll come over when I have time later.】

【Xia Xia Xia Mujun: Mm-hmm, just let me know before you come.】

【Akita Sana: (?-ω?`) Okay! Then good night, Xia Xia Xia Mujun! Get some rest early!】

【Xia Xia Xia Mujun: Good night.】

After replying to Akita Sana, Xia Xia Xia Mujun exited the chat interface, swiped up with his finger, and clicked on the message sent by Yukimura Suzune.

The message time showed it was around nine o'clock in the evening.

【Yukimura Suzune: Xia Xia Xia Mujun, is your sister Ruri at home after school these days?】

Xia Xia Xia Mujun replied.

【Xia Xia Xia Mujun: Yes, except for today when she went out to play with classmates, she usually goes straight home after school. Are you planning to find time to tutor her?】

The message was also replied to very quickly, Yukimura Suzune didn't seem to be asleep yet either.

【Yukimura Suzune: Yes. Our school's monthly exam is coming up soon, I estimate the time at your Sacred Heart Academy is about the same. I was thinking of helping her consolidate a bit in advance. Just asking about the situation first.】

【Yukimura Suzune: Let me ask first, is she still obsessed with drawing manga lately? Is her study time guaranteed?】

【Xia Xia Xia Mujun: Mm. Lately, she and Reisa have been obsessed with drawing, often getting together to discuss storyboards and plots. As for her studies, compared to a while ago, the time invested has indeed been a bit less.】

【Xia Xia Xia Mujun: I'm her brother, some things are hard to bring up. So I actually hope you can help me say something, let them balance it out a bit, and focus more on their studies. After all, advancing to the next level is still very important.】

【Yukimura Suzune: (*￣—￣*) Mm, understood. Leave it to me. I'll find a time to go over and "have a good talk" with her. It's also time to check her recent schoolwork.】

【Xia Xia Xia Mujun: Okay, sorry to trouble you.】

Finally.

Xia Xia Xia Mujun clicked on the message sent by Konoe Hitomi.

【Konoe Hitomi: Tomorrow morning, the young lady will come to find you.】

【Xia Xia Xia Mujun: ?】

【Konoe Hitomi: Why the question mark, is it very surprising?】

【Xia Xia Xia Mujun: Of course it's surprising, saying she's coming over out of the blue.】

【Konoe Hitomi: When we were at the Furukawa house before, didn't we already say it, how is it out of the blue?】

【Xia Xia Xia Mujun: ...So what is she coming over for this time? Don't tell me it's something you can't say again?】

【Konoe Hitomi: That's not it.】

【Xia Xia Xia Mujun: It's actually not?】

【Konoe Hitomi: Didn't expect that, did you.】

【Xia Xia Xia Mujun: ...So what is it?】

【Konoe Hitomi: Just want you to draw, same as last time.】

【Xia Xia Xia Mujun: Just draw? Why does it have to be me, can't others do it?】

【Konoe Hitomi: No, only you can.】

【Xia Xia Xia Mujun: Why only I can?】

【Konoe Hitomi: I don't know either. That's how it is, I'm going to sleep, good night.】

【Xia Xia Xia Mujun: ...Good night.】

Xia Xia Xia Mujun looked at the last two words on the screen, paused for a few seconds, and then sent a reply.

Xia Xia Xia Mujun looked at the phone screen in his hand that had already gone dark, the faint fluorescence reflecting on his face, showing his slightly puzzled and thoughtful expression.

Subsequently, he just shook his head, as if to shake off those unclear thoughts for the time being.

He connected the phone to the charging cable, watching the indicator light up with a faint red glow.

Then, he lay back on the pillow, pulled up the quilt, closed his eyes, and fell into a deep sleep.

The next day.

Xia Xia Xia Mujun, who had just returned from exercising, had already finished washing up and changed into a neat and crisp school uniform.

He stood in the living room-cum-bedroom area, his gaze looking softly toward the floor bedding.

Natsume Ruri was still sound asleep on the bed, lying on her side, her fine soft hair spread out on the pillow, her breathing even and long.

Xia Xia Xia Mujun looked up again at the simple clock on the wall.

Noticed that it was only a little past six.

Actually, it was still quite early, there was still a distance to the time he usually woke his sister up.

So he didn't rush to wake up his sleepy sister, intending to let her sleep a little longer, and it wouldn't be too late to wake her up after the alarm clock rang naturally later.

After all, his sister was in a critical period of growth and development, and sufficient sleep was very important for her.

And just as he was sitting at the small low table moved from their old home, picking up a shoujo manga he had half-read last night, intending to flip through a few pages to pass this early morning time.

The phone on the table suddenly vibrated with a "buzz," and the screen lit up.

Xia Xia Xia Mujun clicked on the message to see, the sender was "Konoe Hitomi."

He was stunned instantly, his finger hovering over the screen for a moment before he answered the call.

From the other end of the phone came Konoe Hitomi's unique, cold voice that lacked ups and downs but was exceptionally clear, drilling directly into his ears through the receiver.

【Konoe Hitomi: I'm at the door.】

Only four words, concise and comprehensive, as if stating an established fact.

Xia Xia Xia Mujun was stunned, not even having time to ask another question, the call had already been hung up by the other party cleanly, leaving only a busy signal in the receiver.

After hanging up, he stood up immediately, walked to the entrance in a few steps, turned the door lock, and opened the door.

What came into view was indeed the figure of Konoe Hitomi who was just about to raise her hand to press the doorbell.

Konoe Hitomi looked at Xia Xia Xia Mujun in front of her, and on that face that was always like an exquisite porcelain doll and lacked expression, a rare and extremely subtle wavering appeared at this moment, her long and dense eyelashes trembling imperceptibly.

Always felt that he was a bit different today compared to before...

After a long silence, she said softly:

"Since you've come out, that's fine."

"Bring your schoolbag too, you won't have time to come back to get it later."

Xia Xia Xia Mujun was indeed stunned by Konoe Hitomi who suddenly appeared at his door.

Because he hadn't expected that the "morning" mentioned in Konoe Hitomi's message last night would be such an early morning, just after dawn.

Looking at the person in front of him, Xia Xia Xia Mujun knew that the original plan for this morning was probably impossible to carry out.

Since that was the case, Xia Xia Xia Mujun didn't ask much, just nodded and said, his tone calm.

"Mm, wait for me a moment."

Soon.

Xia Xia Xia Mujun turned back into the room, picked up the schoolbag he had packed last night, gently closed the door, and walked out.

Konoe Hitomi didn't speak, just turned around silently and walked in front, her school uniform skirt swaying gently with her steps, her pace light and steady.

And after Xia Xia Xia Mujun locked the door carefully, he followed, keeping a distance of one or two steps from her, asking as he walked, his tone carrying a hint of inquiry.

"Why come over so early?"

Konoe Hitomi explained without looking back, her voice appearing exceptionally clear in the quiet atmosphere of the early morning.

"Because the young lady only has a little free time during this period."

Xia Xia Xia Mujun fell slightly silent.

Soon.

He followed Konoe Hitomi to the side of a relatively quiet street near the apartment.

A black luxury car with smooth lines and a mirror-like paint finish was parked here, appearing low-key and luxurious in the faint light of the early morning.

Konoe Hitomi didn't say much, just reached out, opened the rear door steadily, and then turned to the side, making a clear and standard "please" gesture, signaling Xia Xia Xia Mujun to go in.

Xia Xia Xia Mujun looked in the direction of her hand.

Through the open door, he could see Midou Orihime sitting steadily on the other side of the back seat.

Midou Orihime's eyes were still eerie and deep.