Manga Born to Be King

　　"Let's just say don't worry. Look, look at this concrete wall. It's actually gray, well, although ordinary concrete walls are gray. Red or blue is scary. Haha, it's okay!"

　　Last June, Chiwa could no longer practice kendo because of a truck accident.Yes, exactly that size of a red truck.She used to get weak legs just seeing a truck on the street, so now it's a lot better.

　　But she couldn't completely forget.

　　"That...that, Akatsuki?"

　　Chiwa twisted and turned her eyes to look up at Nangong Xiao.

　　"Maintaining this posture, that, may cause all kinds of misunderstandings?"

　　"what?"

　　At this time, Nangong Xiao woke up.He and Chiwa were close to each other's bodies, and their faces were close to each other... It's just like the pose before kissing, right?Was that the reason why the driver snickered just now?

　　He hurriedly pulled away from his body, but Qianhe wrapped his arms around his back and formally embraced Nangong Xiao.

　　"Hey, Chiwa."

　　"If you are seen by your girlfriend at this time, you will die."

　　From the sound of her voice, she didn't look like a prank, Chiwa was serious.

　　"I like it, Xiao..."

　　"Why now?"

　　"Did you say it yesterday? I'm going to tell all the 'likes' that have been hidden for nine years."

　　In the state of being hugged by Qianhe, Nangong Xiao was very troubled about where to put his hands.It was stupid to stay in the air, but hugging her turned into acceptance.Qianhe hugged Nangong Xiao tightly and repeated "I like it..." several times, always feeling like she was about to be brainwashed!

　　Just when Nangong Xiao didn't know what to do and was at a loss, the "background music when equipped with a cursed weapon" in a certain RPG came out.

　　The source is the pocket of Nangong Xiao's pants.

　　"Xiao's phone?"

　　"Ah, yeah, it looks like a text message."

　　Speaking of the object set to be the sound of this text message——

　　【From】oraoraxxxx.mail.ne.jp

　　【Subject】Hey——Dora cat——

　　[Internal text] When you hear what you like about Akatsuki, are you fascinated?

　　I thought it would not be tracked, but it seems not.Zhen Liang's intuition is very sensitive, and there are often text messages that seem to be seen with his own eyes, even to a level that makes Nangong Xiao wonder if he is using a stand-in.

　　"The text message just now was Xia Chuan?"

　　"Yes."

　　"I see. Then take a picture of us hugging each other and pass it to her?"

　　"Are you trying to kill me!?"

　　"I lied to you, I was just joking."

　　Qianhe left Nangong Xiao with a smile, and started walking forward without saying a word.

　　"I really don't have a clue about you..."

　　Passing through the school gate, they were greeted by a bust of the first-generation principal.

　　"Hi, Yoyo! How are you?"

　　"Does it matter if we go in?"

　　"It's okay, I contacted the teacher in advance."

　　It means she has something to do with the teacher?

　　"You should almost tell me, what are you doing here?"

　　However, Qianhe ignored Nangong Xiao and said, "You'll know right away", just stared at the dazzling playground.Under the merciless sunlight, the softball club and baseball club practiced with their hands tied, because the infield of the baseball club was the outfield of the softball club, which was often seen in school.

　　"But I remember that the softball club is about to collapse, right?"

　　"We only had four in the third grade and three in the second."

　　Nangong Xiao recalled that Qianhe was often called to be a helper because of the insufficient number of participants.Everyone said that if the third graders were removed, it would be difficult for the club to survive.

　　In order not to disturb others' practice, the two walked on the edge of the playground.The ball hit by the softball club rolls over the boundary of the outfield.

　　The outfielder who came to chase the ball waved and yelled, "Sorry — um."

　　"Hey-"

　　Chiwa caught the ground ball neatly, and threw her wrist back gracefully.Maybe the shot was so beautiful that the outfielder kept his eyes wide open and stood still.Nangong Xiao just thought so, but did not expect—

　　"Excuse me, are you Harusaki Chiwa-senpai?"

　　"what?"

　　"Sure enough! It's me! Look!"

　　The outfielder took off his lowered visor and smiled slightly, revealing his tanned face.

　　"Ah—isn't this Aman! Long time no see—!

　　Appears to be an acquaintance.

　　"A first-year student joined, right? Great! Shouldn't Ah Man be the captain?"

　　"Yes! It's all thanks to Chiwa-senpai..."

　　The other softball players also gathered, screaming and cheering one after another.

　　"Ah—! Harusaki-senpai!"

　　"This senior is that legendary helper?"

　　"I've wanted to see you before! It's my pleasure!"

　　Qianhe was crowded around by them, "this", "legend", "honor", powerful compliments appeared one after another.

　　The first grader with long hair in three braids said excitedly, "I started playing softball because I admired Chiwa-senpai!"

　　"But I wasn't an official softball player before..."

　　"Even so, it doesn't matter! When I saw you hit three consecutive home runs in the preliminaries of the county competition, I immediately thought that girls can do this too. I'm really touched!"

　　Chiwa shyly bowed her head to the sparkling-eyed first-year student, scratching her nose.Because they chatted happily, Nangong Xiao quietly left the scene.

　　Nangong Xiao put the shoes on the shoe cabinet and put on the slippers for visitors to enter.He didn't wear a uniform or anything like a permit, and it could be troublesome to run into a teacher he doesn't know.

　　On the shiny polished floor, the members in armor were fighting fiercely with bamboo knives, apparently practicing.However--

　　"Look, you only hit with your hands! You don't need to exert any effort on the hand you hold, so use a little more waist strength to hit! Kendo depends on your waist strength!"

　　In the dojo where fierce shouts were intertwined, a particularly energetic voice sounded.Someone stayed for a moment next to the first-year freshman wearing the new armor, and taught the basic movements.The professor is Chiwa.

　　"Look carefully in the front mirror and pay attention to your posture. Use your head and body to imitate the demonstration I just did!"

　　Chiwa put on a serious expression that was rarely shown in front of Nangong Xiao's eyes, and gave advice while being a thug—it seemed that he had completely returned to Chiwa before.

　　Nangong Xiao coughed and cleared his throat to calm down and sort out what happened today.Chiwa draws a line from her past and moves forward.

　　In this case, Nangong Xiao had to answer clearly.

　　"Hey, Chiwa."

　　"Ah."

　　"Nangongxiao is Xia Chuan Zhenliang's boyfriend."

　　"……I know."

　　"So Nangong Xiao can't respond to your wishes, at least in the three years of high school."

　　Qianhe looked up at him incredulously: "You and Xia Chuan have only been dating for these three years?"

　　"No one can tell what will happen in the future, right?"

　　"I see!"

　　Qianhe let go of Nangong Xiao's arm and gently jumped onto the dividing strip between the trail and the driveway.

　　"I know very well that Xiao does not plan to break up with Xia Chuan. But "no one can tell what will happen in the future", which means that you may also break up with your girlfriend tomorrow, right?"

　　..., really positive thinking.

　　"That's right."

　　"Then there is only one thing to do!"

　　She stretched out her raised index finger towards Nangong Xiao.

　　"I will do my best in the club activities of the girls' club and become a cute and popular girl who is more attractive than Xia Chuan - grab Akatsuki and show it to everyone."

　　"...This seems to be no different from before."

　　"Yes?"

　　Chiwa snickered.The boat goes straight to the bridge, so to speak.It seems that there is still a long, long way to go before liberation from the Shura Field.

　　"In that case, I have something to say."

　　"what?"

　　Nangong Xiao looked away from Qianhe and looked up at the western sky dyed orange:

　　"Well, you can come and have a meal occasionally."

　　"..."

　　Chiwa murmured, "Xiao, aren't you lonely?"

　　"I'm worried about your nutritional status and gastrointestinal health!"

　　"..."

　　Qianhe's fluttering headband changed direction and hugged Nangong Xiao from the front.

　　"Xiao, love you, love you! Love you!"

　　If only this time could last forever. .