Kyoto Shenyin Love Story

Chapter 409 Decision
Akane Kirino finally drank green plum wine, although only a little.

Zonggu poured her half a glass after deliberation, only two or three sips, but she drank most of it in one sip.

"After drinking this point, there will be no more."

"Got it."

After entering the house for a few minutes, and then returning to the yard, Soya felt that the sky seemed to be getting darker.

Tsukiyomi took his place and was grilling meat.

"is that OK."

"I don't know, I just want to experience it."

Zong Gu watched from the side for a while, and saw that he was roasting well, so he continued.

Wrapped a piece of roasted beef with lettuce, Soya sat on the edge, eating while looking at several people in the yard.

Chao Wuling was staring at Tsukiyomi who was grilling meat, Kirino Akane was using plum wine to seduce Hongzi, and Kyoko was sitting aside, looking at him.

Looking at each other, he patted the empty seat beside him.

"..."

She looked at him, got up and sat down, and the other three girls also glanced this way.

"Don't you like the atmosphere?" He asked in a low voice.

Jingzi glanced at him again, then shook her head, "No."

"I always feel that Jingzi is a little restless."

"Because for me, this place is still a little strange, and anxiety is instinctive."

"Kyoko can come here often or not." Soya said.

She didn't speak, but looked at the red light coming from the grill.

After eating what was in his hand, Sogu got up again and brought over the plate containing the roasted beef, picked up a few juicy lettuce leaves, and handed a piece to her.

Kyoko took it and took a bite, Soya picked up another piece of meat, dipped it in the dipping sauce twice, and ate it himself.

The two quickly finished dividing up the beef, Yuedu roasted some more, and then asked him to do the roasting himself.

"Isn't Tsukuyomi-sama very interested?" Soya went over to take over.

Yuedu glanced at Wuling vaguely, "Being stared at by her all the time, the pressure is a bit high, and it's not easy to grasp the time."

Soya shook his head, and continued to grill the meat.

It didn't take long for the sky to completely darken.

The charcoal in the charcoal stove was burning vigorously, making his face glow red.

Putting the freshly grilled slices of beef on the plate, Akane Kirino came over, wrapped one slice with lettuce leaves, and bit off most of it.

"Well, it's a little hot..."

"Just baked."

"I'm done drinking."

"What."

Soya came to his senses, and glanced at the empty glass that was placed aside, there was not even a drop of plum wine in it.

"As I said just now, it will be gone after drinking."

She nodded, "I know, but Hongzi said she wants to try it too."

"I do not believe."

"Then why don't you ask her?"

She must have discussed it with Hongzi.

Soya didn't bother to ask, but just asked Akane Kirino to drink the juice honestly.

"Hmph...then I'll wash the cups."

She went back to the house, turned around and went to the place where the green plum wine was stored.

Sogu turned his head to watch, and after a while, she ran out again and bumped him with her elbow.

"You are so guarded against me! ... Where did you hide?"

He smiled, "If you can find it, let you drink whatever you want."

"That's what you said."

Akane Kirino turned and went back to the house, looking everywhere for the plum wine he hid.

Hongzi came over, picked up a piece of beef, and dipped it in the seasoning.

"I didn't think it was enough last night, but when there was so much beef that I could eat whatever I wanted, I wanted to eat something else instead."

"Then eat more vegetables."

"I'm eating." She picked up a piece of lettuce and gnawed on it. "Is there anything else I can bake?"

Soya thought for a while, "Eggplant?"

"Okay."

"Then you go to the backyard and pick one yourself. It's already October, and there are not many eggplants left in the vegetable field."

"Um...no. It's so dark in there."

Zongya picked up a piece of raw beef and put it on the grill, "Then I'll go over and pick it, and you look over here."

"Uh-huh."

With the light of the mobile phone, Sogu picked two huge purple eggplants in the vegetable field.

Go back to the kitchen and wash it, remove the root, cut it in half, make a few slashes with a knife, apply oil and seasoning, and let it sit for a few minutes.

While he was waiting, Kirino Akane also found her in the kitchen.

"what are you doing?"

"Marinate it and prepare to roast the eggplant. Do you want to eat it?"

"Okay... No, I need to find green plum wine first."

"Then look for it slowly."

She came over and hugged his arm, "Is there no hint?"

"If you want to be reminded, after you find it, you can only take a sip."

"Humph!"

She shook off his arm and continued looking.

Prepare minced garlic and minced green peppers, and after waiting for a while, Zonggu took the eggplants to the grill and started to roast them.

"It needs to be baked for about ten minutes." He pointed to the seasoning next to it, "Then put these on and bake for a few more minutes."

"Uh-huh."

When the eggplant was almost roasted, Soya took a portion for Kyoko and Asagiri.

"Be careful, it's still hot after baking."

"Ah."

Hongzi went to the house to call Akane Kirino who was still looking around, and it took her a long time to pull her out.

"I don't drink anymore."

She squeezed his shoulder from behind, "I just want to know where Soya hid the plum wine."

"I'll tell you later."

She pressed her hands hard, "I want to know now."

Sogu felt the pain and shrugged his shoulders, "Eat this first."

"I don't eat it... Hey, it smells so good."

Kirino Akane took the plate and sat down between him and Kyoko.

After taking two bites, she licked her lips and said to Jingzi, "When I think about going to school tomorrow, I always feel like I can't enjoy myself."

Kyoko looked at her, then at Soya who was shaking his head next to her, and said, "The school festival has been enough for the past few days."

"Ah...that's right."

Without getting the desired answer from her, Akane Kirino couldn't say anything like "I'm drunk today, and I won't die if I miss work for a day", which was a bit resentful.

Turning her head, she saw Soya winking at Kyoko, she immediately understood, raised her arm and bumped him.

During the fight, she took advantage of the situation and leaned against him.

"..."

Kyoko looked away.

Although such a move was not obvious, Akane Kirino noticed it. She wanted to ignore it, but she couldn't ignore it. She couldn't help shouting, "Sister."

"what?"

"When will senior sister make up her mind?"

Jingzi looked over, and even though she had a premonition, she still asked, "What determination."

Akane Kirino looked at her, "Of course it's about Soya and us."

"..."

Kyoko fell silent for a moment.

"Akane." Soya was a little surprised by her sudden question.

She looked up at him, "Can't you ask now?"

He pursed his lower lip, then looked at Jingzi again, "Jingzi has her plans, so do I..."

"—But I care about it." Kirino Akane couldn't help but say.

She sat up straight, put the roasted tomato she had eaten a few bites aside, and looked at them separately.

"I want to know, what kind of attitude should I use to treat senior sister now."

Akane Kirino turned to Kyoko, "What is your plan, senpai? Will you join 'us', or will you completely sever ties with Soya?"

"I like Soya, Hongzi likes Soya, Suzu likes Soya, and Soya likes us too—it's impossible for him to like only Senpai forever."

"..."

Against the light, Kyoko bit her lip tightly, her face was gloomy.

Looking back at Soya, Akane Kirino lowered her voice and eyes: "I don't want to care about other people's emotions when I'm intimate with my boyfriend..."

Jingzi was silent, Zhao Wuling was eating the roasted eggplant in her hand calmly, Hongzi was a little caught off guard by this sudden change, she stood aside, her eyes wandering back and forth on the three of them.

Yueyue took away a few slices of roasted beef, the eggplant was not his share, and he went back to his room before the atmosphere got worse.

Is it time to make a decision...

Looking at the long shadow under the light, Jingzi's eyes were dull.

She understood that she would have to make a decision sooner or later on this matter, but she was just procrastinating.

Leaving him, or joining them, now there are only two options left, and the future brought by either option is not what she really wants.

The burning eyes fell on her face, which made her feel a little tingling;
All the ambiguity and hesitation hidden in the dark are highlighted under the light, and there is nowhere to hide, and he is ordered to give an answer here and now.

What should I do...

A hand suddenly reached out, grabbed her tightly, and pulled her into a dark corner.

"..."

Being pulled by him, she hid into the darkness as if escaping. For such a brief moment, Jingzi only felt a burst of relief in her heart.

Also only for a moment.

"Feel sorry."

Holding her hand tightly, Soya took a deep breath.

"I didn't intend for Kyoko to make a decision now."

He lowered his head, his eyes quickly adapted to the darkness, and looked at her face.

"No matter what, I will not let go of Kyoko, so I have long been prepared to continue spending time with Kyoko, and sooner or later I will let you accept it. But I ignored their feelings."

"Akane is very concerned, and Hongzi has always been very concerned. They will feel uneasy because of Kyoko's attitude, and they may also worry that I will give up on them for Kyoko."

"so……"

Soya held her face in his hands, "Is Kyoko still unable to agree now?"

"..."

Jingzi looked at him, and finally spoke after a while:
"I don't want to go on like this anymore. Let's stop here, student Fangming, I won't like you any more in the future."

"yes."

She looked at his face, "The Fangming classmate I like may have died in Huangquan. You just have the same face as him."

Zongya looked at her, his eyes dropped, "When Kyoko is lying, there will always be a small habitual movement of her right hand."

She lowered her head subconsciously to look at her right hand.

"—lied to you. Because you lied to me, too."

"..."

"Why do you tell such a lie that can be exposed at the first poke."

"..."

"Is it really possible to go to the end? Jingzi will never be able to let me go in this life."

"It's my business."

"Since she can't let me go, after leaving me, does Jingzi plan to die alone?"

"That's my business, too."

"From the day Jingzi fell in my yard, Jingzi's future has been entangled with me. This is our business."

"..."

Jingzi took a deep breath, and all the sweetness and pain since the acquaintance came to mind.

Soya took another step closer, and lowered his head against her forehead, "Even if I die alone, Kyoko won't be with me."

"I can do fine on my own."

She tilted her head slightly, unwilling to face him head-on, "Life is long, and love is only a part of it, so it may not be impossible to give up."

"Indeed, life is long, and there are still many things worth pursuing. But as a 17-year-old me, I just want to hold on to you. If I let Kyoko go now, I will regret it for the rest of my life."

She looked up at him, "So, in order not to let myself regret it, is Fang Ming going to make me suffer for the rest of my life?"

"Does Kyoko hate me?"

"..."

"Does Kyoko hate them?"

"Do not."

"Kyoko doesn't hate them, but she can't accept living with them, or even becoming a part of them."

She was silent and did not deny it.

He asked again the question that had not been answered yesterday:
"So, what really makes Kyoko feel painful is the expected future where her solitary life is changed and she is forced to adapt to an atmosphere she cannot adapt to?"

She turned her eyes and connected with him, "Isn't this what Fang Ming is forcing me to do?"

Soya supported her shoulders, lowered his body, "What if I say no."

She looked at him without speaking.

"I want to be with Kyoko, but Kyoko doesn't have to be with them. As I said just now, if Kyoko can't adapt to the atmosphere here, she can never come here again. Let me come to you...if you wish so."

"..."

"Kyoko doesn't have to do anything. You don't need to move here, and you don't need to blend in with Akane and Hongko. Except for an additional label of 'Soya Yoshiaki's girlfriend', Kyoko's life will not undergo any unwanted changes. Everything is based on Kyoko's wishes. If Kyoko wants to move out, I will also find another house."

After watching him for a while, Jingzi opened his mouth and said:

"Student Fangming, do you want to start another family with me besides them?"

Soya nodded, "This is the best way I can think of now."

His eyes moved, Kyoko said:

"Since yesterday's question, Fangming has been hinting at me: As long as I live separately from them, nothing else seems to be a problem."

He didn't deny it, "I have tried my best to convince Jingzi. And this is not entirely a hint, it's better to say that I discovered the essence of the problem."

"Substantially...as long as Fangming and I separate from each other, we don't have to worry about it."

He grabbed her shoulder, "I will not be separated from Kyoko, this is the premise of all my considerations."

Dark clouds covered the moon, looking up at the dark night sky, Jingzi took a deep breath and fell into silence again.

Soya just looked at her.

After a while, she lowered her head.

"Sometimes I wonder, does Yoshiaki-san really like me? If she really likes me, why would she throw me into such a problem that I can't handle at all... I'm just a shrine maiden who doesn't even have friends."

Soya pursed his lips, "I'm sorry."

"Student Fangming is always apologizing and always making things difficult for me."

"……sorry."

She shook her head, and it took a while before she spoke again.

"Can student Fangming's idea really come true?"

Feeling relieved suddenly, Sogu held her hand tightly again, "I promise."

"Two families on both sides, can you handle it?"

"Since I have made this choice, this is something I have to face. If I can't handle it, I have to deal with it."

"I always thought you were going to bring trouble to me."

"Will not."

"Yoshikawa-san, do they know your plan?"

"They have no reason to object."

"Will you accompany them more, or accompany me more."

"After all, I live here... I will try my best to come to Kyoko every day."

"If I want you to spend more time with me."

"I'll be with Kyoko."

"Just a little more time."

"I will accompany you..."

"I've been with you all the time."

"...Kyoko won't make it difficult for me like this."

"Fang Ming will be corrupted by desire, and I will be changed by life."

"Then make it difficult for me at that time."

Kyoko closed her eyes, embraced his body, and rested her head on her chest.

"It would be nice if Yoshiaki was the first person he met after wandering in Kinki."

Soya stroked her back.

"It would be fine if I was the one who fell into hell with Fang Ming."

He shook his head.

"If only I were the one who grew up with Fangming..."

He hugged her tightly, "Without these ifs, I still like Jingzi."

She said no more, tears rolled down her eyes.

If there is no if, there is no better choice.

"I want to go back."

"We're only halfway through the barbecue."

"I have eaten a lot just now, and I can't eat any more."

"Then I'll take you back."

Back outside, Kirino Akane, Hongzi and Zhao Wuling all looked at them.

"I'll take Kyoko back," Soya said.

"Eh?"

Akane Kirino was taken aback, "But..."

"You guys go on grilling, be careful. I'll explain when I get back."

"—Is it because of what I said just now, that senior doesn't want to stay any longer?" She stood up and looked at Kyoko.

"No."

Kyoko looked back at her, "I just want to go back to my own place and digest the decisions I made without being disturbed."

"what……"

Akane Kirino looked at Soya again, and he signaled her to feel at ease with his eyes, then went to the backyard and rode his bicycle out.

When she was about to leave, Kyoko looked back at them.

"Thank you for inviting me over for the barbecue."

The three of them didn't speak, and she didn't say anything, she got on the bicycle, embraced Zong Gu, and disappeared into the darkness together with him.

"Sister, is this accepted..."

Akane Kirino looked at the place where the two disappeared, and then at Hongzi.

Hongzi shook her head, with a complicated expression, "I don't know."

"Okay... Soya will take care of it."

"Ah."

Behind the two, Chao Wuling picked up the tongs, and with some difficulty added raw beef to the red-hot grill.

"Ling doesn't seem to care at all."

"Because it doesn't make much sense anymore."

"Again..."

She put down the tongs, "You guys bake."

"Yes...Master Suzu."

Putting away her messy thoughts, Akane Kirino put all her troubles behind her and came over to grill the meat.

Anyway, an omnipotent boyfriend will always solve all problems.

Hongzi stood there for a while, and then came to help.

When the fresh and tender beef was fully roasted, changing color and emitting aroma, Soya also brought Kyoko to the station.

After nightfall, unlike the situation when returning from Kyoto, there are very few passengers on the westbound tram.

"I don't want to go home yet."

"Well, where does Kyoko want to go?"

"Let's go to the shrine."

"Is this time...OK."

In the darkness, the two climbed the long stairs to the shrine.

Walking to the atrium, the clouds opened and the moon was bright. Jingzi stood under the moonlight for a while.

"This is where I belong."

"Hmm." Sogu stood still behind her.

The moonlight was shining, and she took out a silver bunch, which was the key of the Social Affairs Office.

"stay."

(End of this chapter)