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Page 382
Just then, a hand grabbed her tightly, pulled her into the other person's arms.
"Hanami?!"
"How was it? Exciting, right?" he said with a smile.
"What the hell? Where am I?" Ai Yin's heart was pounding. Only then did she realize that she had almost fallen and died.
"The roof of the castle tower," Banami said with a smile.
"Huh?!" Upon hearing this unexpected answer, Aine looked more closely and realized that she was indeed standing on the top of that famous historical building in Kyoto.
“You like high places, right? So I thought if I could bring you here, you would definitely be happy,” Banami said softly.
"How did you know...?"
"After all, only idiots and chimneys like tall places (PS: Japanese proverb)."
"Ugh, they're making fun of me!"
However, when she looked down at the entire city of Kyoto from her vantage point, Aine's excitement outweighed her fear of being at such a height.
"That must be Kinkaku-ji, right? It looks so small."
"And there, that's the Kamo River where our inn is located, it's like a little stream."
"That's Kiyomizu-dera Temple, which we're going to tomorrow."
"Hehe, it's a pity I forgot to bring my phone, otherwise it would have been really cool to take a picture."
Or perhaps, it was the sense of security she felt in Hanami's arms that made her forget the fear of falling at any moment.
“Aine,” suddenly, Banami said.
"Huh?!" Aine asked excitedly.
"Raise your head."
Aine listened to Banami's words, raised her head, and then, almost suffocating, looked at the enormous moon in front of her.
It was because I noticed the silvery moon in the courtyard that I was able to realize the difference between the two places when I stood on the roof of the castle tower, a place that no one could reach.
She gently reached out, as if to touch the moon not far away.
"It's strange, it feels like I could reach out and touch it."
It really feels like she's capable of landing on another planet.
"Why, tonight, did you...?"
Ai Yin felt a little embarrassed as she spoke, realizing that she had misunderstood the other person's meaning and had been troubled by it for so long.
If Midorikawa hadn't given her a push, Hanami might have been spending the night in the northwest wind on top of the castle tower.
Thinking about this, Aine couldn't help but want to laugh.
"Didn't I tell you? I'll use all sorts of romantic tricks to make you like me so much that you won't be able to leave me in the end."
After saying that, Banami's hand overlapped Aine's outstretched hand, and their intertwined palms reached out in mid-air as if trying to touch the moon.
"If you want to land on an alien planet, I'll find a way to make your wish come true."
Just like it is now.
Aine felt a lump in her throat; this guy knew exactly how to make her cry.
"Xi, I'm sorry," Ai Yin said, her voice trembling with tears.
"Why are you apologizing to me?" Banami said with a smile.
"I actually doubted that you would accept Midorikawa's confession. I thought you were a womanizer and would accept anyone. I'm such an idiot!" Aine said, seemingly feeling a bit guilty.
Banami paused slightly, then said, "How do you know I'm not a fickle person?"
Aine turned to look at the boy and said, "Midori told me that you asked her a question when you confessed."
"May I call you by your name?"
"Uh, Yu Toyokawa?"
"I see. Thank you for your kind words, Midorikawa-kun, but I cannot accept your confession."
“You are Yu, you are Banami Yu, you are the boy we know, not Toyokawa Yu.”
When she heard Aine shouting excitedly, Hanami was somewhat moved.
Someone once said that when I became rich, everyone around me was a good person.
But at this point, whether the people around me are good or bad is no longer important to me.
Ai Yin thought to herself, therefore not everyone is qualified to enter his heart.
"Sometimes, I can't help but wonder, does Midorikawa-san like me because she likes me as the heir to the Toyokawa family, or because she likes me for who I am?"
I know this might sound arrogant, but this issue is very important to me.
"From beginning to end, all I wanted to pursue was 'the real thing,' that kind of emotion that is untainted by any external factors," said Hanami.
However, this is impossible. As the heir to the Toyokawa family, anyone who looks at him will first and foremost look at his status.
He didn't want to deny Midorikawa's feelings, nor did he think she was materialistic. It's normal for people to admire powerful things, but for him, it no longer mattered.
"So for me, the only people I can like are... you guys," Banami said softly.
For Banami, the girls who have known me since I was just a penniless nobody, who have shared my creations, laughed and cried together, are the most precious things to him, something a thousand times more valuable than his status as the heir to the Toyokawa family.
“Because right now, only you know that I am ‘Hanami Yuuki’,” Hanami said softly.
Even though Banami said "you guys", Aine could feel the weight in her words.
She couldn't help but hug him tightly.
She was such a fool. Why did it take her so long to realize this? Su Shi knew all along that Banami would reject his confession because she already knew that Banami was that kind of person.
As expected, I don't understand him nearly as well as Su Shi did.
The bitterness, guilt, and love in her heart continued to erode the girl's soul.
Among them were sweet nothings from the boy.
"So, while it's true that I want you to be happy, in reality..."
"I am more arrogant than anyone else, and more confident than anyone else that only I can bring you happiness."
"So Chihaya Aine, I will absolutely, positively make you change your mind."
Chapter Forty-Six: The Deepest Affection in Kyoto
Good morning, everyone.
At the bus stop in front of the hotel, Aine, yawning, greeted the three sisters, Red, Green and Blue, somewhat listlessly.
Next, to the surprise of both Hong and Lan, Midorikawa stepped forward and took Aine's hand.
"Anon-chan, you look like you haven't had enough sleep. Did you go on a secret rendezvous with your boyfriend last night?"
Upon hearing what Midorikawa said, the eyes of both the red and blue people immediately lit up.
"Mob!?"
"Anon-chan, you're so bold!"
"How did it go? What stage did it reach last night? Could it be... Aine, are you still the same as before?"
Hearing these gossipy girls' blatant questions, Aine became a little shy. Last night, she had spent a romantic evening with Hanami on the roof of the castle tower, but ended up forgetting to do the important thing. Hanami had to personally take her back to her room.
She only remembered this incident afterward.
It's really strange, boys should really enjoy doing that kind of thing, right?
Is it because she lacks feminine charm?
But didn't Banami say that she was older than Mutsu?
For a moment, Ai Yin became conflicted again.
"Hey, hey, hey, don't ignore us and keep reminiscing about last night!" Midorikawa gently poked Aine's cheek.
Ai Yin thought to herself, "Last night I was whispering sweet nothings to your sweetheart in the highest place in Kyoto, enjoying the breeze."
Thinking about it this way, there's even a slight sense of immorality.
"No way, you're all talking nonsense. I just couldn't sleep last night because I was so excited, since we're going to Kiyomizu-dera Temple today."
"Haha, I think I heard a joke. It's like everyone's been to Kiyomizu-dera Temple," Hong teased.
As a result, Lan asked with some suspicion, "Hey, Midorikawa, when did you and Aine become so close?"
The two girls looked at each other and laughed, saying, "It's a secret, I'm not telling you."
"Ugh, damn it, stop getting closer to each other on your own!" Hong couldn't help but shout.
However, Midorikawa seemed to have thought of something soon and said, "By the way, where is Toyokawa-kun?"
She looked around.
Lan teased, "Could it be that you're too excited to sleep, like Ai Yin?"
"Don't talk nonsense. Toyokawa-san has been to all sorts of places. Unlike Aine, a country girl, she wouldn't be unable to sleep after seeing Kiyomizu-dera Temple," Midorikawa-san said.
"Ugh, that's so mean!" Ai Yin puffed out her cheeks, but quickly realized a flaw in her argument.
If when Banami comes out later, he also looks listless, then... won't Midorikawa suspect something?
After all, this is just too suspicious.
Just then, Hong said in a low voice, "Actually, when I went to the restroom this morning, I heard the homeroom teacher say that Toyokawa had something to take care of back to Tokyo and is no longer here."
Aine's eyes widened slightly. Banami was... no longer here?
Why didn't he tell me last night?
Didn't he say he wanted to change his mind during his trip to Kyoto?
Suddenly, Ai-yin's previously fulfilled heart felt empty and she felt extremely lost.
"As expected of the heir to the Toyokawa family, he's completely different from us students," Lan said in surprise.
"By the way, will we be able to see Aine's secret boyfriend who sent her flowers today?"
"Aiyin?"
"Aiyin?"
After being called twice, Aine finally looked up: "Huh? What's wrong?"
What are you spacing out about?
At this moment, Aine was no longer in the mood for laughter and conversation. All she wanted to do was figure out why Banami had suddenly gone back to Tokyo.
But the next moment, a familiar warmth and scent approached from behind Ai-yin, gently embracing the girl from behind.
"Are you looking for me?" He said this in Aine's ear.
Aine turned around in shock and found that Banami had casually put her arm around Aine's shoulder and let it hang down in front of her, smiling as she looked at the three sisters, Red, Green and Blue.
At this moment, Minato's pink hair was almost out of control. The first question that popped into her mind was, "Didn't you go back to Tokyo?"
Panic ensued. "You're being so affectionate with me like this, aren't you exposing our relationship? You idiot!"
Do you know what you're doing? Are you really awake?
Still in front of Midorikawa!
Oh no, Midorikawa will definitely break off all contact with her now, and Aine might even imagine things like school bullying.
Just as Aine was about to panic, she suddenly heard Midorikawa shout in a cheerful tone, "Could you be Aine's secret boyfriend in Kyoto?"
"Huh?!" Why does Midorikawa seem to not recognize Hanami?
"My buddy?!"
"Wow, they actually came to us on their own initiative!"
Moreover, even the two girls, Hong and Lan, had almost the same reaction as Midorikawa.
"Haha, it seems that Aine has told you a lot about me. Actually, I'm not from Kyoto, I'm from Kumamoto, but I study here in Kyoto."
Let me introduce myself. My name is Hachiman Yuuki, and I'm Aine's boyfriend.
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