Dong Yeyue Had a Good Dream

I think I understand now.

Tianshan Xun looked like she was trying to think—if not for the lost look in her eyes.

Right now, I was teaching her some key points that might appear in exams.

Compared to my serious teaching, she was like a fish out of water, slowly dying under the scorching sun.

[Ugh—Xiao Xun, do you really understand?]

Tilting my head, I looked at her as if doubting her.

Though honestly, it was just our usual playful banter.

[Yeah… I think… I kind of get it. I feel it very strongly. Xiaoyue is telling me I’ve already learned it.]

She really trusts her intuition.

Should I say—no wonder everyone calls her an idiot?

[Then—let me give you a question.]

[Eh—]

She tensed up instantly, but soon nodded firmly.

[Okay, go ahead, Xiaoyue.]

I was a bit surprised she chose to face it head-on.

Though… it didn’t really matter to me.

[I’ll give you a very, very difficult question.]

[Uwaa—Xiaoyue, you’re so cruel!]

[Hehe.]

[Hehe.]

[Ding-ding—]

[Class is starting. This period is Tooyama-sensei’s Japanese class.]

[Dong Yeyue, read this passage.]

Yes, teacher—

Grasping hope always makes people happy. Especially when one is beyond saving—if hope appears before their eyes, their hands will instinctively reach out to embrace it.

I know very well that such hope won’t change much, nor will it alter the outcome.

But—

Even just a little, during the process, one can still feel that happiness—

[Alright, sit down. Students, the final result may not change—]

The late spring breeze was always cool, blending with the gradually warming weather into a rather pleasant scene.

[Meya, are you really okay?]

Uenozuki asked with concern, and I also looked at her worriedly.

[I’m fine.]

Shimizu Meya answered confidently.

Before PE even started, she was already doing her usual training—

[I even bought these specially.]

She lifted her sports pants, revealing weights made of small metal blocks tied to her calves.

It was a training method once mentioned by Aoiwadera’s servant.

However, because it carried risks—like abnormal gait, muscle imbalance, and joint damage—it was only briefly mentioned.

After all, the purpose of exercise is to keep the body healthy. If it harms the body, it defeats the purpose.

Yet Shimizu Meya was doing exactly that.

Isn’t she pushing herself too hard?

Perhaps—

I glanced at Uenozuki.

It was the people around her that made her choose such extreme training.

From recent observations, it was quite obvious what she was thinking.

She was an easy-to-read person.

Hey—

[Meya, be careful.]

But Uenozuki didn’t notice anything at all.

Maybe the saying “those involved can’t see clearly, but outsiders can” applies here.

When would this not-so-healthy friendship break?

Honestly… I was curious.

Though I didn’t wish for it to happen.

After all, they conveniently distracted me during PE class. If something went wrong, it might cause trouble.

Still, I had no control over how things would unfold.

[Daily training, begin.]

With Aoiwadera’s whistle, meaningless physical exhaustion began.

I just hoped I could endure it.

I didn’t want to end up in the infirmary again due to low blood sugar.

[Dong…]

After the long morning, lunchtime always felt comforting—especially when Ichijou Rikou brought me food.

[Thank you so much, Ichijou.]

[—I’ve said this many times, but thanks like that only need to be said once.]

[Hmm—]

I opened the lid, my gaze stopping on the rather rich dishes.

[I’ve also said this many times—if I don’t thank you, I’ll feel bad. And it prevents me from taking it for granted.]

[After all, I’m already a terrible person. If I become shameless too, you’d definitely start to dislike me, right?]

[That won’t happen. I won’t dislike you.]

Ichijou shook his head.

[And you wouldn’t do something like that either.]

[And I don’t believe you’re a terrible person.]

You really trust me, Ichijou.

Even though you already know how rotten I am inside.

But—

Maybe I felt happy. I narrowed my eyes slightly and smiled as I slowly ate.

The midday sunlight seemed softer somehow—less harsh, more gentle.

The wind blew, swaying the cherry tree branches.

Under such weather, I yawned.

Probably because of the exhaustion from PE and the nutrients from lunch.

[Dong…]

He noticed.

[Why not take a nap here?]

[Hmm—]

[Don’t worry. I’ll wake you up later.]

It sounded like a good idea.

And I trusted Ichijou completely.

So—

I fell asleep.

[Sleep well, Xiaoyue.]

The weather is really nice today, Shiko.

Yeah, it’s nice that the whole family can go on an outing. Thank you for making time, Shino.

Sorry for being away so long.

It’s fine, this is enough.

Laughter drifted in the breeze.

Ah… the weather really is nice.

Hehe.

I laughed.

Dong… Dong…

I could hear him calling me.

In this comfortable moment, I could feel him watching over me.

Just let me sleep a bit longer…

I frowned slightly, murmuring in dissatisfaction.

Dong, if you don’t wake up, class will start.

I finally opened my eyes and saw Ichijou smiling helplessly.

I woke up a little.

Thanks, Ichijou.

It’s nothing. I promised.

Hehe.

I stretched lightly, feeling a long-lost sense of ease.

By the way, you were smiling gently in your sleep.

Because I had a dream.

That must’ve been a good dream.

Mm-hmm. Alright, Ichijou, time to go back to class.

See you this afternoon.

Don’t be late. I even asked the shop manager for time off.

Mm-hmm, I know.

And just like that, we parted.

For some reason, I felt very energetic in the afternoon classes—probably because of the nap.

Anyway—

Amazing, Xiaoyue! Your teaching is incredible—I can actually understand the lesson now!

Without my guidance, Xiao Xun exists in a quantum state between studying and not studying.

I see… that’s great.

I narrowed my eyes—perhaps happy, perhaps not.

Club activities began.

Just like before, two people read excerpts from the book to attract buyers.

But—

Tianshan Xun followed my suggestion and assigned me to distributing Yueji instead.

Meanwhile, Nishimura Noriyuki and Ichijou Rikou performed a dialogue.

What are you trying to do?!

You don’t need to worry about me.

How could I not care, Seiko?!

Then tell me—are you secretly dating someone else?!

Yes, I am. But that doesn’t mean I don’t care about you!

Reading—

You are both the most important people in my life. I can’t lose either of you.

What are you saying?

[So I can’t let go of either of you.]

Ichijou delivered the lines with emotion.

[Seiko, you represent my past—the memories we share. Yururi represents the future—the promise of what’s to come.]

[Only when past and future intertwine can there be a present. Only then can we reach happiness.]

[Seiko—]

You are both my wings!

The dialogue ended abruptly.

Some people were dissatisfied.

[What a scumbag.]

[Just admit you want two-timing.]

Even so, they bought the book—just to criticize the character.

Ichijou, playing the scumbag role, could only smile bitterly.

[It actually suits you, Ichijou.]

I said on the way to the kendo club.

[After all, you’ll have five girls’ hearts in the future.]

[—Is the song good?]

He avoided the topic.

But—

[Yeah.]

Just like yesterday, he was defeated again by Amano Sora in a single move.

A move we had never seen before—clean, precise, aimed at vital points.

Perhaps our guess was right.

The classical style called Risshin-ryu was Amano Sora’s true strength.

Now, the only option was to find a suitable kendo coach.

I learned through Keiko that my neighbor, Mr. Fujimiya, knew swordsmanship.

He also seemed to belong to a lineage passed down from samurai.

He was the best candidate I could find.

Since this was a troublesome request, I brought gifts and visited him humbly.

[Yes… so could we trouble you, Mr. Fujimiya?]

[Hoho, that’s no problem, but—]

He looked curious.

[That guy with classical swordsmanship—is he interested in you, Xiaoyue? So Rikou wants to defeat him fairly with a sword?]

As expected… he misunderstood things.

I had anticipated this.

Ichijou couldn’t lie, so I answered instead.

[Yes, Ichijou does intend to defeat him. Otherwise, this situation can’t be resolved.]

Facing his teasing smile, I remained calm.

[Hoho, youth is wonderful. But—I don’t have time recently, and I haven’t practiced in a long time. I’m not up to it anymore.]

[Eh—]

[But I can introduce someone to you. He’s much stronger than me.]

[His name is Harada Sukeya. You can call him Harada-sensei.]