Chapter 57, Summer Vacation Ends

The last day of summer vacation.

8 month 29 day,
There were violent storms, lightning and thunder, and the sky was covered with endless dark clouds, which were gray and thick, like a dream.

Utsunomiya Shuo closed the curtains and prepared to take a nap.

But when he huddled in his bed, a rainstorm as if the world was about to end came pouring in. The bean-sized raindrops hit the glass like a hail of bullets.

Has God finally decided to destroy this corrupt world?

It is said that the Neon God has not yet awakened.

"Zhuo~Have you packed your clothes? We have to go back to school tomorrow."

There were two knocks on the door and my mother pushed it open.

"Yeah." Zhuo responded.

"Oh my, haven't you slept enough after the holiday?" Sa Chiko had her usual smile on her face.

“It’s easy to feel sleepy in the summer.”

"But you also slept during winter and spring breaks."

“Spring makes you sleepy, summer makes you tired, autumn makes you sleepy, and winter makes you hibernate.”

“Is this your own setting?”

“That’s what the experts say.”

"Well," Sa Chieko also knew what kind of person her son was, so she stopped asking: "Although it is raining heavily now, it shouldn't last long. We will be back to school tomorrow. Are you looking forward to it?"

“Will anyone look forward to going to school?”

"Oh~~ It's hard to say," Sa Chiko smiled and held her face: "When my mother was in love, she was looking forward to school starting early every day~"

"Oh~ I get it." Zhuo was still listless and covered his face with the quilt.

Sa Qianzi pulled the quilt and pulled his head out from under it, then Zhuo looked at his mother helplessly.

"Really?" Sa Chiko pinched his face as if it was a toy.

Zhuo remained silent.

Seeing that he didn't say anything, Sa Chizi smiled like a little fox who stole eggs: "Who took such good care of my baby son? It made my mother compete with him all summer, but it seems to be useless."

Zhuo: “…” I was wondering why the food was so extra rich during this month, and I thought Sa Qianzi’s maternal love had finally been awakened.

"...Really not." Zhuo said without any joy or sadness.

"Is that so?" Sa Chiko retracted her hand, carefully looked at her son's expression, clapped her hands and stood up: "If you often stay up late, you should eat more vegetables and fruits. Do you want to bring some with you when you go back? If you can't finish it, you can give it to your neighbors as a gift."

Not everyone has neighbors.

Zhuo Xin thought.

"I see," he said.

Sachiko knew that Utsunomiya Shuo was lazy and didn't like socializing, and had been like this since childhood, but she never dissuaded him, but just accompanied him in her own way.

Just like it is now.

Humans are social animals. Even if you like someone, you still need someone to talk to occasionally.

"Speaking of which, Zhuo," Sa Qianzi stopped again, as if she remembered something: "A new neighbor has moved into town, and his daughter is about the same age as you~"

"Ow~"

"Don't stay at home all day. Go out for a walk more often. It's good for your physical and mental health."

"Connected?"

"Why don't you go make some friends? Your father is counting on you to carry on the family line."

Utsunomiya Shuo: “…”

Zhuo glanced out the window.

"mom."

"What's the matter."

"If you go out in this weather, your son will be washed away to Siberia by the flood, where he will have to grow potatoes day and night for a living."

"You can take shelter from the rain at your neighbor's house." Sa Chiko said with a smile.

This is your purpose, Zhuo thought.

Does your son seem like he’s never going to get married?
Strange, why is it "marry"?
"I understand." Utsunomiya Shuo said quietly as he looked out the window at the heavy rain that showed no signs of stopping.

"wash,"

Sa Chiko's voice suddenly became soft, and then there was no follow-up, as if she was waiting for Utsunomiya Shuo's response.

It was raining heavily outside the window, and the rainwater gathered into puddles. The falling raindrops were like cold bullets, making bang bang bang sounds on the ground and windows.

"What's wrong?" Utsunomiya Shuo turned his head to look at his mother. "You are very important to me." Utsunomiya Sachiko suddenly said in a gentle tone, "So don't deny yourself. Mom and Dad love you."

wash:"……"

"...So corny, and...when did I ever deny myself?"

"Why don't you meet girls?"

"……Not interested in."

"The neighbor's kids are so cute~"

"Being interested in someone's appearance is called desire."

"Oh my! So Zhuo has already thought about getting married?" Sha Qianzi covered her mouth in surprise.

"mom--"

"I'm here."

"Sleepy."

“…You just want your mother to go out.” Sa Chiko said helplessly.

"A little."

After hearing Utsunomiya Shuo's frank reply, Sa Chiko sighed quietly:
"Then let's stop here for today. School starts tomorrow. When you get to Tokyo, remember to walk around more. It doesn't matter where you go. It's okay if you don't like socializing. Don't stay at home all day. But remember to go out early and go home early."

"Would it be more appropriate to say these things tomorrow?"

"Then I'll say it again tomorrow?"

"Yeah, that's okay."

When Sha Qianzi was about to walk out the door, she suddenly turned back.

"By the way, Zhuo, if a girl pursues you, remember to reject her in time if you don't like her. I don't want my son to become a bad boy."

"Don't worry, I'm not pursuing you at all." Zhuo said confidently.

"Really? You don't look like your father at all." Sa Qianzi held her forehead with her hand.

"Then shouldn't you reflect on yourself?" Zhuo muttered softly.

"What are you talking about!?" Sa Chizi put her hands on her hips, pretending to be angry.

The next second, he broke down again, smiled and waved his hand: "See you tomorrow, son."

"See you tomorrow."

...

...

The next day, August 8th.

The last day of summer vacation.

Oh, there is a 31st in August, but we have to report to school on the 31st, so it means the school has started, but there will be no formal classes.

So today is indeed the last day.

Utsunomiya Shuo woke up very early today, probably because he slept too much.

Get up, brush your teeth, and wash up.

Sachiko was preparing breakfast in the kitchen early in the morning while her father was sitting on the sofa watching TV.

Zhuo walked around the sofa and went to the corridor, opened the sliding door, held the toothbrush in his hand to clean his mouth, and looked at the city outside where the rain had stopped.

There was already obvious accumulation of water on the ground, and vehicles were driving slowly to prevent water from splashing onto passers-by.

Just as the mother had guessed, the dark clouds dissipated and the warm sunlight came again.

Because it rained, the air is much fresher.

People were walking back and forth on the street, wearing raincoats and rain boots, stepping on puddles and splashing water. But the puddles returned to their original shape in just a few seconds, reflecting the street surface like a mirror.

He stared at the street in a daze.

...

...

Tokyo,

The top floor of a tall building.

The blonde girl stood in front of the huge floor-to-ceiling window, looking down at the busy street.

The girl had a blank expression on her face, and there was no ripple in her aquamarine eyes. She just stared at the puddle of water at the corner of the street in a trance.

(End of this chapter)