novellhall 31. You shouldn't decay with me.
31. You shouldn't decay with me.
The dimly lit corridor was bathed in a yellowish glow from the overhead motion-sensor lights. Asahi Yuko lowered her head, hiding her fair and beautiful face.
It looked like a little wildcat huddled in a corner, licking its wounds alone; its pitiful appearance made people feel sorry for it.
[Yuko Asahi (Sad)]
Aoyama Genji realized in an instant that he had misjudged the situation.
Isn't that what you think?
But no matter what, he couldn't just leave Asahi Yuko behind.
"Come in and talk?" Genji Aoyama reached out his hand, breaking the static balance between the two.
"Here's your schoolbag and cake." Asahi Yuko held out her hands, her voice much lower than when they first met that evening, as if veiled by a layer of mist. "I... I won't go in."
Ignoring what she said, Genji Aoyama grabbed her slender wrist and gently pulled her into the entryway.
With a soft "click," the door closed.
Asahi Yuko had one hand held by Aoyama Genji, while her other hand, holding her schoolbag, hung naturally at her sides. She didn't move after entering the room.
His head remained lowered, his gaze fixed diagonally downwards.
Genji Aoyama took the item from Yuko Asahi's hand and casually placed it on the shoe cabinet counter by the door.
"Yuuko must have something she wants to tell me."
The two stood face to face in the entryway. Asahi Yuko looked at the floor, while Aoyama Genji looked at her.
"..." After a brief silence, she shook her head. "No."
Although I couldn't see Yuko Asahi's eyes, I could sense that the aura she exuded was no longer the coldness she had before; rather, it seemed as if she had fallen into a pessimistic and gloomy mood.
"You don't want to talk about it?" Genji Aoyama raised an eyebrow.
Yuko Asahi ignored him.
Tsk.
Why are they all so troublesome?
But it's not a big problem; Genji Aoyama, who is both gentle and patient, has plenty of methods.
"A long time ago, I found a little stray kitten in the yard. It was probably abandoned by its mother. It was very small at the time, but very cute."
Genji Aoyama glanced at Yuko Asahi, noticing the trembling of her shoulders, and continued weaving.
"At first I tried to get close to it, but it hissed at me and gave me a cold shoulder."
"The kitten will only pretend to like me and rub against me when I take out the food. I know it doesn't like me, it just wants the food from my hand."
"The kitten may have been staying with one cat for too long, or it may have had other experiences; it gets easily frightened by the slightest touch."
"I've come up with a solution: provide it with a safe environment and a suitable distance."
"Later, it gradually got used to my presence, and even when there was no food, it would occasionally rub against me and accept my petting."
"But it still doesn't like to meow at me. I think it might not trust me enough."
Yuko Asahi lowered her eyelids and said in a soft voice, "I'm not a little wildcat."
"I'm just saying this to express—"
Genji Aoyama walked up to her, the distance between them less than a foot.
He reached out and placed his long, slender hand with distinct knuckles on her fluffy head, gently stroking it: "I'm very good at petting kittens, and I'm very patient. I can wait for the day when the kitten meows at me on its own initiative."
The girl's raven-black hair was very smooth and felt wonderful to the touch.
Running your hand down the top of her head to the back of her neck, you can feel Yuko Asahi's slender body trembling slightly.
"I told you it's not a kitten."
"Thump—"
Yuko Asahi bumped her forehead against Genji Aoyama's chest with a little force, but it didn't hurt.
"What's the difference between this and a kitten?" Genji Aoyama chuckled. "That kitten used to always bump its head against me too."
"..."
"Silence will not solve the problem."
Genji Aoyama straightened Yuko Asahi's head and looked her in the eye.
Yuko Asahi avoided eye contact, trying to turn her head away, but Genji Aoyama's large hand held her firmly.
All he could say was, "...I don't know what to say."
"How do you feel right now?"
I want to bite you.
"...Okay." Genji Aoyama released his hand.
Yuko Asahi stood on tiptoe, pretending to be fierce, and bit his shoulder, but it didn't hurt.
It's like a well-trained kitten playing with its owner, getting a little impatient, opening its mouth to bite its owner's hand, but controlling the force so as not to hurt its owner.
A few more moments passed.
As the tooth-like sensation from her shoulder disappeared, Asahi Yuko didn't look up, but simply buried her head in his chest.
He felt a damp coolness gradually spreading across his shoulders.
These are Yuko Asahi's tears.
Aoyama Genji remained silent, his gaze fixed on the distorted shadows of the two intertwined on the floor, a feeling of tenderness welling up within him.
The girl's heart was more fragile and delicate than he had imagined.
The facade of strength she's built seems fragile, as if it could crumble at the slightest touch. Even without being touched, she might quietly withdraw into herself, like she's crying silently now.
Genji Aoyama opened his mouth, suddenly feeling an urge to say something, but ultimately swallowed it back.
He reached out again and gently stroked her soft, long hair.
Yuko Asahi has very long hair, reaching her waist, and you can feel the slenderness of her waist as you touch it.
The body's reaction is also quite interesting.
There will be a slight tremor, as if it is not used to it, but it is not a feeling of resistance.
"I'm a lot of trouble."
Yuko Asahi's voice resonated in Genji Aoyama's chest.
"Um."
"Twisted personality, cowardly heart."
"Um."
Genji Aoyama once arrogantly thought that Yuko Asahi was somewhat similar to him in personality, but after getting to know her, he found that this was not the case.
Superficial displays of rudeness, confidence, or frivolity are all illusions, more like armor donned to protect a fragile heart.
"I just keep everything to myself."
"You can try talking to me about it."
Genji Aoyama stopped petting the cat, his tone serious.
Yuko Asahi's head bobbed on his shoulder.
"You don't trust me?"
Yuko Asahi's head bobbed on his shoulder again.
"What is that?" Genji Aoyama asked.
"...You shouldn't like me."
Asahi Yuko buried her head even deeper into his chest when she said those words.
The irrelevant answer made Genji Aoyama pause slightly. He tried to decipher the meaning of the sentence, but could not get any more accurate information.
"Yuuko is undoubtedly a beautiful girl. Isn't it natural for boys to like beautiful girls?"
The air seemed to freeze between them. After a dozen seconds, Yuko Asahi finally spoke slowly:
"Aoyama-kun is intelligent, serious, and focused. He has a bright future and should not be dragged into my dark life and decay with me."
Asahi Yuko spoke this long string very slowly, her body trembling slightly as she spoke, as if instinctively resisting.
"So, that's why you need money?"
Once Asahi Yuko's emotions had calmed down and her body had stopped trembling, Aoyama Genji finally asked the question.
But there was no answer; in the silent air, only soft, even breathing could be heard.
She's asleep.
Genji Aoyama smiled silently.
[Asahi Yuko's revision progress changed]
Please check your progress and claim your reward in time.
As Asahi Yuko sobbed on his shoulder, a system pop-up appeared.
Undoubtedly, the problem has become serious again.