Girl Band, Gravity Capture

Page 63

"Let's have another round, this time we definitely won't lose."

"Then this time, let's start with Lixi."

With extremely smooth and professional movements, Genjiro quickly sorted through the playing cards handed in by the girl, and without being moved by her declaration, he placed them back in front of Shiina Tatsuki.

"The order in which the cards are drawn is the reverse of the previous round."

With these words, the relaxed-looking boy unveiled the curtain for the next round of fighting.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Amidst the intermittent bursts of laughter and moments of silence, the blazing sun, strolling in the blue sky, finally took its place at the very top, continuing to radiate endless light and heat upon the scorched and distorted earth.

The six people inside the car escaped the scorching heat, but they could not ignore the significance of the scene.

"Everyone, it's almost lunchtime."

During a break in the game, Nagasaki Motoyo picked up her phone to check the time, and then gently informed everyone of the fact.

Two or three hours passed, and the six of them couldn't possibly play the same game forever. In the initial game of drawing jokers, the three girls in the back row always lost, while the three in the front row rarely suffered defeats. The boy, in particular, only lost once, due to a combination of extremely bad luck and a slight instance of him letting the other person win.

Then, Yuan Xudou performed a perfect shuffle and an anti-perfect shuffle for them, followed by a series of dazzling flower-cutting magic tricks, leaving everyone amazed.

Feeling the huge skill gap among the group, Shiina Tatsuki, exhausted from losing, suggested changing the game. Initially, they separated the three players in the front and back rows into two groups to play Dou Dizhu (a popular Chinese card game). After a while, they realized it was more fun with skilled members, so they brought the boy back.

Having grown tired of playing poker, Toyokawa Shoko, well-prepared, took out UNO from her luggage.

They had initially thought that, as a noble lady, she would be surprisingly knowledgeable about cards for parties. However, when asked about it, the girl frankly told the five that she had simply looked up information online, asked the housekeeper and maid, and then brought along all the portable games they had mentioned.

"Because, having such a close partner, and a journey that is uniquely ours... this is a first for me in my life."

As she uttered those words, the brilliance in her dazzling, golden eyes almost rivaled the radiance of the sun outside the window.

With her hands clasped in front of her chest, like a nun in devout prayer, the beautiful young woman radiated a pure and sincere glow, devoid of any falsehood.

"So, I want to experience all sorts of things with everyone, and I want to spend this time without any regrets—I want to try every single thing we've never done before together."

"It's not just the cards, but also the upcoming training camp, the experience at the beach, and everything in the future... These ordinary yet incredibly precious experiences are proof that we are a 'community of shared destiny' (desuwa)."

Once again, she blurted out the word "fate," which she always had on her lips.

But now, that word has shed its former vague and mysterious veil, truly and intimately connecting their lives. It is no longer just a verbal connection, but a tangible link that penetrates every aspect of their lives.

It was after she said these words that the group of girls, who truly understood and were moved by the girl's sincere expectations, were able to smile and completely let go of their competitive spirit, simply enjoying their time playing together.

Even when you win, you still feel happy, and when you lose, you still feel frustrated. But those emotions are like dew rolling off a glass. The traces left behind quickly evaporate, leaving only the water droplet itself, which flows into a stream called "memorial".

With this mindset, the passage of time feels much faster.

Before we knew it, it was noon. Everyone took out the food they had brought from their luggage and shared their lunch with each other.

Although this time, due to having too much to bring and being in a rush, Yuan Xudou did not prepare the bento boxes that the girls had tasted once and praised highly, making this lunch a little regrettable.

but--

"Once we get there, we'll have to cook for ourselves."

Her slender, fair neck twitched gently as she elegantly and meticulously chewed and swallowed the food in her mouth. Adhering to solemn etiquette, Toyokawa Shoko picked up a handkerchief to wipe her mouth, then turned her gaze to the two people sitting beside her.

Without a doubt, as the heir to the Toyokawa family business, this girl, who has never lifted a finger at home since childhood, is clearly not capable of handling the burden of feeding six people, despite having received baking and cooking education at school.

Although someone would regularly come to the mansion to replenish freshly prepared ingredients, so that the group wouldn't have to go out to sea to catch fish to fill their stomachs, the process of cooking the ingredients into edible meals was left to them to do themselves.

As far as Toyokawa Shoko knew, only Minamoto no Koto and Nagasaki Motoyo possessed this level of culinary skill among the six. The other four could only assist them with simple tasks like chopping vegetables and serving dishes.

Of the two, it seems that Yuan Xudou's cooking skills are even better... In order to enjoy delicious dishes every day in the future, this matter must be clarified.

After all, being in charge of cooking meant getting up early and taking up some of her playtime. Although both of them were caring and considerate people, the girl still felt a little guilty about simply placing this burden on them.

"It's okay, I can do it."

As expected, the boy didn't care at all and naturally accepted the task.

Having anticipated this, Toyokawa Shoko carefully selected her words, her clear and gentle voice flowing softly.

“But, I don’t think it’s a good idea to put all of this on Xu Dou.”

"...Even if you think so, Xiangzi, there's no one else who can do it."

He responded calmly.

"Besides, it's not just me—Su Shi will help too."

The girl being mentioned smiled slightly and nodded in agreement, her soft fingers subtly resting on the boy's forearm.

The experience of being needed by Yuan Xudou seemed to please her greatly, and her curved eyebrows and eyes shone with joy.

...That's one reason too.

On this one matter, Xu Dou and Su Shi share a unique common ground, leaving the other girls far behind—which is clearly inappropriate!

However, even if she realized this, cooking skills cannot be mastered in a day or two... At best, she can only make some very ordinary stir-fries now, and it is definitely unrealistic for her to catch up with the exquisite skills that the two have developed over the years.

Therefore... we have to use other methods to resolve this situation.

"Well... none of the rest of us know how to cook, which is a fact that can't be helped."

Toyokawa Shoko first sighed as if accepting the fact, but then changed the subject and revealed her true purpose.

"So, Xu Dou, could you come and teach us how to cook?"

"If I could learn even a little bit, I should be able to take on some responsibility—that's what I think."

Chapter Ninety: A Fleeting Dream

Not only Toyokawa Shoko, but the other three girls also showed varying degrees of interest in the proposal.

Mastering the skills to be a good housewife, while also enhancing one's femininity, and even gaining opportunities to impress young men—this is quite an attractive proposition for girls their age who are still full of longing for love and marriage.

Yuan Xudou had no objection. Teaching them some techniques and knowledge in between cooking wasn't a burden for him. If they could really learn a few simple dishes, it would indeed save him and Su Shi some effort.

As for Nagasaki Motoyo's opinion—not to mention that she unconditionally supported the boy's decision, learning to cook is not something that can be mastered overnight.

In the end, most of the work will still be handled by the two of them. The addition of a few others won't affect her and Xu Dou's exclusive territory, so leaving a little room for maneuver is nothing to worry about.

With the matter settled, everyone enjoyed a lunch consisting of various snacks and desserts in a harmonious atmosphere.

During the meal, because this time the people were much closer together than in previous gatherings, Yuan Xudou noticed some interesting things that he hadn't paid much attention to before.

For example, the five girls behaved differently during the meal.

Both Shoko and Sose Kazumi, who both come from the same family, follow elegant and gentle etiquette, exuding the same pleasing nobility and dignity in their every move. However, there are some differences in the details that are consistent with their respective personalities.

If Ye Mu's movements are precise and delicate, whether it's putting food in her mouth, chewing, or swallowing, the timing and range of her actions are almost identical, very standardized. However, because her slightly open, mouth is a tempting sight, revealing her delicate and beautiful face. The girl's overly inflexible seriousness doesn't seem stiff, but rather endearing.

Compared to Mutsumi Wakaba, Shoko Toyokawa's demeanor was far more poised and graceful. Of course, this doesn't mean the young woman was unrefined, acted casually, or didn't strictly adhere to etiquette. Shoko's posture was just as standard and elegant as Mutsumi's, yet she possessed a perfectly blended grace and liveliness, switching effortlessly between vivacity and tranquility without any stiffness.

As for Su Shi, since she did not receive relevant education from a young age, her demeanor was more like that of a gentle and elegant wealthy lady than a noble and dazzling aristocratic young lady, with a soft and approachable temperament.

In particular, Nagasaki Motoyo tried to secretly feed Minamoto Koto several times, much like a virtuous wife who wanted to take care of her lover and interact with him.

There was also Shiina Tatsuki, who, though not elegant, had become much quieter and more composed while eating, having toned down her usual hard and serious demeanor; and Takamatsu Akari, who, like a real little animal, took small bites of the rice ball she held in her hands, and was no longer at all reserved in front of them.

After finishing their meal, the vehicle entered a relatively congested area.

The bumpy ride, the fatigue from being full, and the exhaustion from playing made everyone temporarily lose interest in continuing the game.

After a brief chat, Takamatsu, the first one to give up, tilted his head and quietly lay down on the back of the chair without anyone noticing, falling into a deep sleep with even breathing.

In order not to wake her, everyone subconsciously lowered their voices, allowing a quiet and peaceful atmosphere to spontaneously envelop the car.

Not only that, the group also drew the curtains on the car windows to block out the slightly glaring sunlight and create a peaceful, dim environment.

As we all know, the feeling of sleepiness is contagious. Therefore, starting with Takamatsu, drowsiness naturally spread among everyone.

Even the last girl besides the boy who was still awake, Toyokawa Shoko, couldn't help but cover her mouth and yawn slightly, ending their conversation with "I'm a little sleepy too..." Then she quietly leaned against his arm and closed her bright golden eyes, which were now shrouded in weariness.

In this completely silent environment, where only the even, subtle, and intermittent sound of breathing flows gently.

On the other shoulder, which had also been occupied by Nagasaki Motoyo, Minamoto Touya leaned back in his seat, slowly lowering his eyes and letting the darkness silently engulf him.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

The boy, who usually slept very well, had a rare dream filled with a soft glow.

At first, the dream was a pure white, without distinction between upper and lower parts, wrapping his limbs like fine, soft down.

He calmly, or rather, with little self-awareness, gazed at the boundless white ocean, slowly rising and falling within it.

After a while, something grabbed his wrist.

That's not entirely accurate, because Yuan Xudou didn't actually feel it; he was only aware of it.

Then, the moment his consciousness emerged, his rising thoughts instantly filled the entire dream, and the pure white light world immediately transformed into his familiar single-level apartment in the Roppongi area.

He easily broke free from the halo that enveloped his limbs, and then "salvaged" the thing that was pulling him up.

Silently watching the thing being pulled up, the weight on his wrist did not completely disappear.

So, Yuan Xudou dragged them out one by one and arranged them neatly on the floor.

Only after that "consciousness" completely ended did he rest his chin on his hand, stand up, and look down with a puzzled gaze at "them" who were neatly lined up in a row on the ground.

—I'm dreaming.

Yuan Xudou understood this fact in an instant.

Putting aside all the abnormalities mentioned earlier... the sight of nearly ten girls lying together with their eyes closed, completely naked except for some mysterious white smoke obscuring their private parts, was enough for him to make this judgment.

And then there's Xiangzi, Su Shi, Deng, Mu, and Li Xi... well, let's just leave them at that... even Le Nai, who's practically an acquaintance, he can barely ignore...

Why is Xiangzi's friend, Sanka Hatsuka, also there? And why is the girl he bumped into on the day of the Spring Film performance there?

...These were people he had at least met once... He was certain he had never even seen the pink-haired one, and the two with purple hair, so how could he have dreamed about them?

The reason for their appearance is completely unclear. The only thing they have in common is that they are all beautiful young women with pretty faces.

--is that so?

Leaning back onto the sofa that had appeared out of nowhere, Yuan Xudou pressed his hand against the lower half of his handsome face, a flicker of hesitation crossing his dark, deep pupils as he fell into deep thought.

—Is it because I've reached a certain age and neglected my body's normal needs that I had this dream?

—Could it be that I'm... suppressing my feelings?

—But how come there are completely unfamiliar people appearing in the second part of the story, "The Three Neighbors II"...?

Before the boy, who was frowning and filled with self-doubt, could finish analyzing his own psychology, he suddenly saw the first person he had rescued, Toyokawa Shoko, moving her lips as if she were saying something.

After hesitating for a long time, he got up and walked to the young woman's side, held his breath and listened attentively.

“…Xu Dou…Xu Dou…”

It was as if it were calling out, or urging someone on.

It seemed to come from a very, very far distance, blurry and slow, yet it rang so directly in his ears.

"Get up quickly..."

"If you don't wake up soon, I'm going to—"

Yuan Xudou opened his eyes.

Before he could even process the information coming from his vision, he quickly brought his mind back to its original state.

Then, the boy turned his head and looked at Toyokawa Shoko, who was openly placing her slender fingers on his face, her fingertips circling between his eyes and jaw, while whispering softly close to his profile.

He helplessly raised his hand and pressed his still sleepy eyebrows and eyes.

—It seems like I had a strange dream.

Everything in the dream quickly melts away from the mind upon waking, leaving not even a trace to grasp or recall.

Only a tiny, dust-like feeling lingered in the cracks of my mind.

Shaking his head to stop thinking about these unfounded things, the boy first observed the situation inside the car.

Su Shi, still asleep, was leaning against his arm, and before he knew it, he was embracing her. The three girls in the back seat were also still asleep.