Chapter 92: Fool!

【Xiyuanji Qilai: Natsume-kun, didn't I tell you when we were going back that I'd pull you into the group? I'll pull you in now.】

【Natsume Chikage: Then I'll trouble you.】

【Xiyuanji Qilai: Okay.】

Soon, the phone vibrated, and the screen lit up, showing the notification of being pulled into the class group chat.

He tapped his finger lightly to enter the group interface and found that even though it was late at night, the group was unexpectedly active, and many students were still chatting warmly.

Natsume Chikage replied simply to a few welcome greetings and then stopped speaking in the group, keeping silent.

And the students in the chat group were still chatting about various things, and chat information kept jumping to the top of the screen.

Natsume Chikage thought for a moment and chose to set the class group to silent mode.

After all, he had to type, and having the screen jump to the top was also annoying.

As for group messages, he would look when the homeroom teacher @everyone; there was no need to look at other times.

At this time, a new message popped up in the private chat window with Xiyuanji Qilai again.

【Xiyuanji Qilai: Natsume-kun, your complexion seemed not very good in class today, are you really okay?】

【Natsume Chikage: I'm fine, thanks for your concern.】

【Xiyuanji Qilai: (*^▽^*) That's good. But Natsume-kun, why aren't you resting so late? Did you just finish your part-time job?】

【Natsume Chikage: That's not it, I got off work at ten. I just stopped by to eat a late-night snack, and after washing up and tidying up when I got back, it was this time before I knew it.】

【Xiyuanji Qilai: So that's how it is... Then I won't disturb your rest anymore, good night, Natsume-kun.】

【Natsume Chikage: Good night.】

Ending the conversation with Xiyuanji Qilai, he turned to click on the message sent by teacher Sakai Shion after eight o'clock.

【Sakai Shion: Remember to send me a copy of the photos or videos of the scene after you arrive at the tournament venue tomorrow.】

【Natsume Chikage: Mm, okay.】

At this moment, Sakai Shion, who was still focused on preparing lessons at her desk, heard a slight notification sound from her phone.

She picked up her phone and glanced at it, saw Natsume Chikage's concise reply, and noticed that the time displayed at the top of the screen was past eleven o'clock.

Not asleep yet so late?

Could this Natsume Chikage be staying up late playing games?

She sighed helplessly.

She didn't reply again, turned her phone face down on the desktop in silent mode, and refocused her attention on the lesson plan in front of her.

Seeing that teacher Sakai didn't reply again, Natsume Chikage put away his phone, skillfully clicked on the document app, and continued to type focusedly in the quiet night.

The next morning, the sun was just beginning to rise.

The platform was filled with the cold air unique to the morning.

Natsume Chikage and Natsume Ruri, as usual, were wearing neat and clean school uniforms, waiting side-by-side for the train to arrive.

Natsume Ruri was also like yesterday, gently hugging her brother's waist from behind, pressing her cheek against his back, eyes closed, looking sleepy and dependent.

"Didn't you go to sleep earlier than me last night? Why are you still looking like you haven't woken up today?" Natsume Chikage tilted his head slightly and asked softly.

Natsume Ruri said groggily: "Ruri is still growing, I always feel like I haven't slept enough."

"I see..." Natsume Chikage was silent for a moment.

Indeed, his sister was in a critical period of growth and development, and her need for nutrition and rest was great.

Her current height wasn't outstanding, and if her nutrition couldn't keep up, I'm afraid she would really be a little bean sprout forever.

He secretly calculated in his heart that within the scope of his economic conditions, he must try his best to let his sister eat better.

As for the money problem, he already had a preliminary plan.

As long as he could win at least three consecutive games in this shogi tournament, his basic living expenses for next month would be stable.

Plus the salary that the cafe was about to issue, supporting him until the novel's manuscript fee arrived shouldn't be a problem.

So during this time, there was no need to be overly frugal in terms of diet.

At this time, accompanied by the rhythmic vibration of the tracks, the train slowly entered the platform.

This was the line his sister needed to take to school.

Watching the train stop steadily, Natsume Chikage fell into deep thought.

His destination today was the venue of the "Newcomer Shogi Tournament," which was actually on the line his sister took to school.

But he absolutely couldn't get on now; he had to wait for the next one!

The reason was simple: he absolutely couldn't let his sister know that he had secretly spent twenty thousand yen to sign up for this tournament! Otherwise, his sister would absolutely explode instantly!

This was by no means alarmist.

Natsume Ruri had already calculated every income and expenditure in the family clearly.

According to her meticulous plan, as long as they saved strictly, the rent would be just enough when the cafe's salary arrived.

As for the subsequent food, clothing, and daily expenses, she had also made plans to tighten her belt and barely survive.

If she knew that he had "squandered" such a "huge sum of money," he would definitely be scolded to pieces!

If he explained that he went to play shogi to make money?

His sister would absolutely not believe it!

In Ruri's cognition, he didn't know shogi at all, and rushing to participate would be no different from giving money to the organizer for nothing.

Therefore, before he had actually won a few games and held the prize money firmly in his hands, Natsume Chikage made up his mind to strictly keep this secret.

Otherwise, it would only make the already tight family atmosphere even more tense.

Don't look at his sister who was usually as obedient as a gentle little cat; once she got angry, the power was comparable to a volcanic eruption, and the hardest thing to deal with was—extremely, extremely hard to coax!

Unless it was a last resort, Natsume Chikage didn't want to touch this "minefield."

He checked the time on his phone.

It was just past seven o'clock, and the tournament wouldn't start until nine.

It took about half an hour to get there by train, so there was plenty of time.

The train door opened with a "hiss."

"Brother, then Ruri is going first." Natsume Ruri waved at him.

Natsume Chikage also raised his hand to respond: "Mm, be careful on the road, call me immediately if anything happens."

"I know, you hurry over too, your train is coming." Natsume Ruri stood on tiptoe and pointed to another train slowly entering the station behind him.

Natsume Chikage was stunned and looked back.

That was indeed the train he took to school on weekdays.

But he didn't need to take it today.

But to make the act convincing, he could only pretend to get on the train and walk slowly toward that platform.

"Okay, then I'm going too."

"Mm-hmm!"

Under his sister's gaze, Natsume Chikage walked to the opposite platform, stood still, and pretended to wait patiently.

Since the train his sister took arrived first, it also left first.

Before long, the door closed, and the train carrying his sister slowly accelerated and disappeared at the end of the track.

Watching the train go away, Natsume Chikage breathed a sigh of relief—finally, he didn't have to really take that train to school to act.

And the train heading in the direction of his "school" was also parked on the platform in front of him at this moment.

Natsume Chikage naturally didn't get on; he prepared to turn back and head to the platform he had just been at.