Someone had tossed a piece of notepaper onto my desk. I scanned the faces of my classmates, but found nothing amiss.
The paper was colored, typically used for folding love letters.
“‘Love letters are usually written by boys to girls, so could it be… someone likes Chenxi but is too shy to confess?’
As if I’d stumbled upon a monumental secret, I glanced at Chenxi. She seemed oblivious to my scrutiny.
I hastily tore open the letter. A single, short sentence was inscribed within, and it shattered my initial assumptions.
“‘Wait for me behind the girls’ dormitory wall after class… Jiu!'”
“‘This is for me?'”
I paused, bewildered, before confirming it was indeed addressed to me. My name was clearly written on it, an undeniable invitation to a private meeting where something delicate needed to be said.
‘Could it be Chenxi? She was currently drawing a horse, and I couldn’t discern anything from her expression. As for why she’d ask to meet behind the girls’ dorm, it must be for privacy!’
I held no expectations of a confession, but my curiosity was piqued by the identity of the sender.
After class, I first went to the restroom. After washing my hands, I ambled toward the girls’ dormitory. The break after the second period was half an hour long, providing me with ample time.
At that moment, there was no one within thirty meters of the girls’ dormitory. Still, I remained on edge, constantly glancing behind me. Should a teacher pass by and see me lurking suspiciously, I was certain to be caught and interrogated.
Fortunately, the journey proceeded smoothly. I followed the dormitory wall to the rear. This area was a drainage ditch, barely wide enough for one person, and entirely composed of yellow earth.
I walked along the wall, rounded the corner, and saw a small girl, delicate as a porcelain doll, standing three meters away. She was dressed in a school uniform that was far too large for her, reaching down to her knees.
“‘Yamashita Izumi? You… you’re the one who asked me to come? If there’s something, you could have just told me in the classroom; there was no need to come all this way.'”
I was utterly perplexed, having no prior recollection of her. After arriving at school, I had only noticed her on the first day, perceiving her as simply petite and adorably shy.
“‘Uh, that… Jiu…'”
Yamashita Izumi met Jiu’s clear gaze, then shyly lowered her head. Her left hand clutched her right, all her carefully prepared words scattered, leaving her unsure how to begin.
“‘Izumi-san, why are you holding a fruit knife? That’s far too dangerous.'”
Seeing Yamashita Izumi was quite a shock, and I hadn’t expected her to be carrying a fruit knife. Perhaps it was for self-defense; after all, a school is a vast place with all sorts of people, and one never knows when they might encounter trouble.
At this thought, my confusion instantly vanished. Of course, I wasn’t afraid. She was so cute that, with the knife and oversized uniform, she looked more like she was on her way to a comic convention.
“‘N-nothing at all.'” Yamashita Izumi hid the ten-centimeter fruit knife behind her back, her face a mask of panic.
“‘You don’t need to worry; I’m not a loli enthusiast. I won’t hurt you.'” In such a secluded spot, if Yamashita Izumi were to encounter a pervert, the consequences would be unimaginable.
“‘Um, Jiu-san, d-do you still remember what our relationship used to be?'”
Yamashita Izumi bit her lip, lifting her head to stare directly into Jiu’s eyes. Her face cycled from white to pink, then to red, finally settling into a deep purplish-red.
“‘The past? I’m sorry, I’ve forgotten everything from the past. If I’ve ever wronged you, please forgive me! We can still be classmates and friends.'” I forced a smile and extended my hand.
“‘You… you don’t remember me? Not at all? Jiu-san, you’ve forgotten me? Unforgivable, unforgivable! I… I’ll…'” Yamashita Izumi’s voice grew increasingly shrill, her breathing becoming rapid, and her small chest heaved. The shyness vanished from her face, replaced by a look of fierce resolve, as if Jiu had committed an act that angered both gods and men.
Yamashita Izumi’s hand, previously hidden behind her back, now came forward to her chest, the knife in her grip pointing at Jiu. Her eyes were filled with humiliation, tears swirling within them.
“‘I…'”
“‘Izumi-san, please calm down. I truly don’t remember you, or even my parents or my sister. Perhaps I unintentionally hurt you in the past. But those things can be discussed. Please, put the knife down, just put it down.'” I advanced towards Yamashita Izumi step by step, ready to snatch the knife before she could lose control.
Jiu!
Yamashita Izumi was heartbroken. Jiu’s reaction wounded her deeply. Before his amnesia, he had clearly been her boyfriend, her private possession. Why, why had he forgotten? Was Jiu merely pretending, trying to escape their relationship?
Just as my hand was a fist’s distance from the knife, Yamashita Izumi suddenly leaped backward, increasing our separation, and pressed the knife against her own throat.
“‘Don’t come closer, don’t come closer! If you take another step, I’ll kill myself.'”
“‘Izumi… alright, alright, I won’t come closer, I won’t. Please don’t do anything rash!'” I retreated two steps. The situation was dire. Any unusual move from me would likely startle her. If she, in a fit of pique, actually stabbed herself in the neck, Izumi-san would be gone.
I had to soothe her emotions and understand the cause of her impulsiveness before I could save her.
“‘What is your relationship with Chenxi? Don’t lie to me.'”
I saw Yamashita Izumi’s wrist twitch, the blade grazing her neck. Her skin was broken, and a thin line of blood emerged.
I understood now, finally understood. Yamashita Izumi’s every word expressed her deep concern for me. She cared intensely about my perception of her, and my forgetting her had provoked this extreme reaction. Her asking about my relationship with Chenxi clearly indicated her affection for me; a girl wouldn’t inquire about a boy’s affairs if she didn’t like him.
‘Yamashita Izumi likes me?’ This conclusion still felt a bit uncertain. ‘Am I being too narcissistic?’ But I had no time to hesitate. I feared that even a slightly wrong answer would result in Yamashita Izumi plunging the knife into her carotid artery.
Therefore, at this moment, I only needed to clarify my relationship with Chenxi and express my care for Izumi-san to save her.
I feigned a sigh of relief, forcing a smile. With narrowed eyes, I chuckled, “‘So, Izumi-san, this is what it’s about. Chenxi and I are just ordinary deskmates. Aside from being in the same place during class, I have no other interactions with her. Izumi-san, actually, actually I’ve liked you for a very… long time.'”
Indeed, as I spoke these words, Yamashita Izumi’s eyes widened. Tears streamed down her cheeks, and the dagger at her throat was lowered. I had to seize this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to disarm her.
Jiu! Yamashita Izumi softly called out my name. Despite her tear-streaked face, she smiled.
“‘I like Izumi-san; please go out with me!'” I spread my arms and walked over, taking the dagger from her hand and tossing it over the courtyard wall. One arm wrapped around her back, the other cupped her bottom.
Because Yamashita Izumi was so small, I couldn’t hold her like a peer, which made my embrace appear somewhat lecherous.
“‘When… when did you start liking me?'” Yamashita Izumi’s slender arms clung tightly to Jiu’s back, pressing her frail body against his to draw the maximum warmth.
“‘Speaking of time, it wasn’t when we first met in the classroom. It was when I was in my mother’s womb; I already liked Izumi-san then.'” Even a three-year-old wouldn’t believe such a claim. However, my sister had taught me this morning that when dealing with girls in love, you should flatter them, and the more illogical the compliment, the more they adore it.
Feeling Yamashita Izumi’s small head nuzzle against my neck, I knew my sister hadn’t lied. Unexpectedly, her advice had saved a girl in a critical moment.
“‘I don’t believe it, I don’t believe it! Men are all big liars; they only deceive girls. You’re definitely lying to me, aren’t you!'” Yamashita Izumi’s face flushed again due to Jiu’s words, her heart brimming with sweetness. She harbored some doubt about his statement, but seeing Jiu’s innocent smile, she chose to believe. She gently pounded his chest with her small fists, convinced that everything Jiu said was true.