Girl Band, Gravity Capture

Page 48

Whether it was the indirect kiss just now, or the caress on her cheek now... a normal boy wouldn't easily do such things. Even though she had specially arranged a romantic candlelight dinner today, wanting to bring the two of them a little closer, the girl knew very well that Yuan Xudou wouldn't be suddenly moved by something like this.

If it weren't for his usual calm demeanor and unique quiet temperament, the girl would almost have suspected that the returning Yuan Xudou had been replaced by Ruoye Mu.

The intimacy she longed for was now right in front of her, but Nagasaki Motoyo, who was used to the boundaries he set for her, dared not reach out and touch him, a feeling so beautiful it seemed unreal.

It was as if she was afraid that if she made even the slightest advance, the little satisfaction she had now would slip through her fingers... She only dared to hold onto the happiness she could grasp, and did not have the courage to ask for more.

"Could it be because Mutsu-chan did something and feels guilty towards me?"

"It's okay, we agreed, didn't we? We won't let something like this happen..."

She blurted out guesses that even she didn't believe, then gave a forgiving smile, trying to ease the somewhat unnatural atmosphere caused by the boy's unusual behavior, in order to calm her own flustered heart.

Ke Yuan Xu Dou remained silent, neither arguing nor admitting anything, but simply gently stroking her cheek.

The growing sense of unease was like a needle piercing her mind.

"Isn't that how it is? Then what exactly happened?"

"No matter what it is, I won't be upset. Tell me?"

"..."

The sense of security that had been dwindling in her heart, which had only gradually grown stronger since she met the boy, was rapidly slipping away as she tried to keep her words gentle.

Nagasaki Motoyo's eyes betrayed her panic, and her understanding smile became unsteady.

Why, why...? Xu Doujun usually doesn't ignore my questions, how could things have turned out like this in just a few hours...?

Feeling unbalanced and insecure, she couldn't help but think about the worst-case scenario.

—In truth, he had long been tired of accommodating his troublesome self. Today's outing with Ruoye Mutsu finally made him decide to distance himself from her. His gentleness just now was merely a final farewell to her…

Even though it was utterly illogical, the mere thought of such a future made her feel as if her breath was being choked by fear, and a suffocating pain spread throughout her body.

"...Please...don't ignore me..."

The fingers gripping the other person's forearm tightened involuntarily.

Nagasaki Motoyo pleaded softly, her voice trembling slightly.

'You know perfectly well that I'm the kind of girl who overthinks and gets depressed when I don't get a response...'

Why don't you reassure me like you usually do? Are you really tired of me...?

"...Don't overthink it."

Having adapted to the darkness even faster than the girl, Gen Xudou was now able to make out the growing fear on Nagasaki Motoyo's face. The intricate shadows concealed the complex expression on his handsome features.

Has my position in her heart reached the point where she feels uneasy if I don't reply to her immediately after just a few words?

His gentle words of comfort dispelled the sadness that was about to engulf the girl's heart.

There's no other reason—I just want to be nice to you.

"Even if it's only for a short while... at least tell me what you want to say now."

"...We're family, aren't we?"

That tenderness was undoubtedly not born of guilt at parting, but rather a genuine desire to help her temporarily release the pent-up emotions she had been carrying, a concern for her well-being.

Despite receiving such warm acceptance, Nagasaki Motoyo felt a surge of bitterness welling up inside her heart, which should have been filled with joy.

"I……"

She didn't shed a tear as she stayed alone at home, waiting for the person she missed to return.

When the boy told her that he "wouldn't only care about her," she didn't burst into tears.

Even when she imagined that the other person was going to abandon her, her sadness only lingered in her heart and did not turn into tears.

The girl, adept at suppressing her negative emotions, hadn't shed a tear for the blows of reality in a long time. Those worries and frustrations, long ago, had been slowly chewed up and swallowed down in the quiet of each lonely night.

Then, on the morning of the next day, after tidying up the mess, she continued to greet the crowds around her with a facade of respectability.

Crying and tears cannot bring the happiness one desires—from the moment she saw that no matter how much her mother pleaded, she could not keep her father from leaving, Nagasaki Motoyo deeply engraved this truth in her heart.

You can only get what you want through your own actions.

Therefore, she would go to great lengths to build a family with Yuan Xudou, preparing all sorts of happiness in life, hoping to slowly enter his heart through her companionship, and would never expect to gain his sympathy and make him accept her existence by crying and sobbing.

No matter how cruel the blow, she will never give up on what she has decided to do.

but……

Genjiro's care and gentleness, however, were like a dull knife that easily cut through the seemingly hardened barrier in Nagasaki Motoyo's heart.

From there, the glistening tears she swallowed night after night flowed out like a torrent until the emptiness in her heart could no longer hold them, overflowing into her gentle blue eyes and welling up from the corners of her eyes.

Like a child who has finally found someone to rely on and is allowed to cry, she couldn't stop the tears from flowing. Warm tears slid down her fair cheeks and seeped into the gaps between her cheeks and palms.

She should be happy inside.

I shouldn't feel any pain.

She clearly didn't want him to see her crying.

At this moment, I should be smiling with joy...

She pursed her lips, tilted her head back, and blinked hard, but she couldn't stop the tears welling up in her eyes.

Tears streamed down her face, their salty taste further amplifying the bitterness in her heart.

In that overwhelming sadness that seemed to come from nowhere, Nagasaki Motoyo, half-crying and half-laughing, spoke her heart, which she had never dared to utter before, in a voice trembling with sobs.

"Xu Dou, I like you..."

"Ok, I know."

Responding to her confession in the gentlest tone, Yuan Xudou gently wiped away the tears that seeped from the corners of her eyes with his other free hand.

But the more he wiped, the more tears rushed out, immersing his palms in a sea of ​​sorrow.

He knew that when people are sad, attempts to comfort them only intensify their feelings of grievance, while ignoring it allows them to adjust their emotions more quickly.

But he still patiently wiped away the tears that appeared again and again.

The so-called "adjusting one's emotions" simply means realizing that no one cares about one's grievances, and having to swallow them back down alone. The sadness is merely suppressed, not completely eliminated. Genjiro Tomo doesn't want that to happen to Nagasaki Motoyo again.

Until the girl's tears dried up, leaving messy marks on her profile.

The girl, who had been clutching his hand like a lifeline, began to sob softly, her suppressed cries turning into low whimpers. All the grievances and anxieties that had welled up from her inner wounds poured out, and once she was back to dealing with them on her own, she looked up at the boy's face in the darkness.

My eyes had finally adjusted to the dim light, but the remaining tears blurred my vision.

Unable to see his expression clearly, Nagasaki Motoyo could only try to open her reddened eyes wide, her azure gaze searching for his figure with an unprecedented vulnerability.

Once those words were spoken... there was no going back.

With a trembling voice, she asked the question weakly.

"...So, what's the response?"

Her response was a heart-wrenching yet frank sigh.

"...I haven't been able to like you as much as you like me."

—Waaah, I feel like crying again.

Although she had known this would be the outcome, she still felt another pang of heartache when Yuan Xudou actually said those words.

The inability to receive equal affection from the person you like... there is nothing more hurtful for a teenage girl.

Nagasaki Motoyo could no longer deceive herself into believing that Minamoto no Koto was actually just like her, wanting things to happen between them.

However, she was also surprised to find that her mood was not as heavy and painful as she had imagined.

because--

"At least, you still like it, right?"

"……Um."

That's enough.

Nagasaki Motoyo gently released the boy's right hand that was stroking her cheek, wiped away the tears that hadn't dried from the corners of her eyes, and looked earnestly at Gen Xudou, who was nodding slightly.

She won't give up because of such a small setback.

Nagasaki Motoyo remembered what Minamoto no Koto had said: this time for her to act cute was limited to a short while tonight.

The girl understood that the other person had brought up this topic so directly, in a rare move, in order to let her vent her pent-up emotions.

Therefore, perhaps by tomorrow, their relationship will return to normal, and none of the current events will ultimately affect his attitude towards her too much.

This is a good thing; at least the happiness and peace of the past will not be disrupted.

But she was unwilling to let it end like this.

“Xu Doujun…I want proof.”

Let me...keep being cute and affectionate.

She cast her hopes into those dark, deep starry eyes.

As a result, ripples appeared in the deep pool.

"...Well, but we can't go too far."

Nagasaki Motoyo revealed a bright smile. Although her face was still wet with tears from her earlier crying, it also added a touch of broken and desolate beauty to her appearance.

As she pondered, she considered the line between what the boy meant by "excessive" and what he meant by "excessive," her gaze lingering on him.

Finally, it stopped on his thin lips.

"...Kissing is not allowed."

Noticing the location locked in by her gaze, which melted like snow, Yuan Xudou frowned in slight annoyance.

"why?"

Actually, she knew it wouldn't be approved there, and she hadn't held out much hope. But out of curiosity, she still asked casually.

Then, unexpectedly, I received a serious answer from him.

"I've realized that I've almost forgotten how to laugh."

"Not until I can smile again."

Because that would be imperfect, and it would be unfair to the feelings the girl had entrusted to him.

The girl paused, realizing the implication in his words, before breaking into a smile she couldn't help but chuckle.

Like a lake overflowing with joy, rippling with clear waves.

"Xu Doujun, aren't you taking this kind of thing too seriously?"

'But I'm the same way.'

Her love grew even stronger, and she looked tenderly into his eyes, asking in a cheerful voice:

"So, is it okay once you smile?"

"We'll see when that time comes..."

"I've got it."

The disappointment that had just settled was instantly washed away. Nagasaki Motoyo stood up, stretched out her hand with great interest, and waved her slender, jade-white fingers in front of him.

Then, she crossed her fingers and placed the pads of her fingers against her moist, full lips.

"Then... that should work, right?"

A slightly muffled sound flowed from between the fingers and lips.

She blinked her bright, ethereal blue eyes slightly, her gaze seemingly filled with joy at having come up with such a brilliant idea.

If there are fingers between you, it's not a real kiss. But it's almost the same as one.

"Please take the initiative and provide me with proof."

"Proof that 'likes me'..."

It was only at times like these that Nagasaki Motoyo, with her peculiar way of thinking, appeared so intelligent.

Faced with her undisguised, expectant gaze, Yuan Xudou showed no intention of refusing again.

The girl played it pretty well, but it was still within his acceptable range.