Chapter 388: 150. I’m back_4
"But how can we like each other when we’re the same gender?" Yukino Ritsuko asked with a very serious expression.
"Being the same doesn’t matter, I don’t mind either... Besides, true love is between the same gender..."
Hearing her complaints, Yukino Ritsuko turned around, smiling and patting her head, "Alright, alright, I’ll listen to you. But don’t always speak badly of him, he’s really a good person."
"Not good at all, there’s no one worse than him in the world! Hate! I hate him! Sister Yukino... Wake up, that person is too powerful, you can’t control him. Even if he likes you, you can only be his lover... Always being manipulated by him, besotted to the point of losing your mind, the women who shamelessly want to cling to him all have bad endings! Ah, I don’t mean that Sister Yukino is shameless, but that’s just how it is..."
The more Kitagawa Ryoko spoke, the more agitated she became.
Unable to contain her emotions, she suddenly stood up, waving her arms like a little hen, circling around Yukino Ritsuko and chattering non-stop.
"Sister Yukino, you also need to understand humans more. Women liking women is very common, there are plenty in the world. When I leave the conference hall in the future, I’ll move to live with Sister Yukino, and you can also like Ryoko. Ryoko is so pretty and cute, can do housework and earn money. I promise to take good care of you..."
"No." Yukino Ritsuko gently shook her head.
"Ah, Sister Yukino..." Kitagawa Ryoko threw a tantrum, jumping up and down next to Yukino Ritsuko.
"If you keep making noise, I’ll make you jump for an hour without rest!" Yukino Ritsuko laughed, poking her forehead with her finger.
"I’m serious! Not joking, live with Ryoko! Sister Yukino, I’m really serious..." Kitagawa Ryoko kept repeating, but Yukino Ritsuko dismissed her antics as childish mischief until Kitagawa Ryoko couldn’t help but mumble, "Sister Yukino, what will I do if you really marry him..." Then she continued her antics.
Time passed quickly, and the sunlight dimmed.
The small birds gathered in groups returning to their nests, chirping as they flew over the treetops.
Leaving the Furukawa Conference Hall, Kitagawa Ryoko insisted on following Yukino Ritsuko to sleep over at her place for the night. The two took the train back to Asakusa, walking back to the bakery.
From afar on the sparsely trafficked road, one could see the small green lights of a convenience store.
Yukino Ritsuko walked slowly, listening to the rhythmic sound of her sandals, while at the end of the straight alley, the street lamps glowed with a hazy orange light.
"Here we go again..." She rubbed her forehead.
"Good evening, Yukino." Takeuchi Akira greeted at the shop entrance.
"Do you need something?" Yukino Ritsuko shielded Kitagawa Ryoko behind her, staring at him from a few meters away.
A dark shirt, no tie, with evenly broad shoulders, his hair combed to one side covering the scar on the corner of his eye. The first impression he gave was like a neatly groomed short-haired dog.
"Nothing, just happened to pass by." Takeuchi Akira said warmly, "You just came back from the conference hall, right."
"What do you mean?"
Takeuchi Akira looked at Yukino Ritsuko’s outfit with a meaningful gaze, "You’re dressed so formally. It’s the attire you only wear when going to the conference hall. Normally, you wear casual clothes."
"...There’s nothing to say about this!" Yukino Ritsuko immediately felt embarrassed, her cheeks becoming even redder.
This Ghost Clan is really annoying!
What does it matter what I wear? Can’t you have some self-awareness?
"I think it all looks great." Takeuchi Akira said kindly, seemingly trying to bridge the distance, "Whether in casual clothes or formal attire, Yukino is always so charming. Speaking of which, Yukino, you enjoy peace and quiet, love music and dance, and have an extraordinary talent in these areas. What’s more rare is that among all the other girls from the conference hall, the scholarly air you possess isn’t pretentious... How should I put it, in my heart, you’re a truly serene woman, and when I’m with you, there’s always a sense of tranquility. I can feel this unique aura and understand your distinctive thoughts..."
"Hey, hey, what a disgusting man from nowhere." Kitagawa Ryoko peeked her head out from behind, glaring at him fiercely, "If you’re looking for a confidant, please go to Yoshiwara or Kabukicho. For less than 10,000 yen, you can find one, and if it’s not enough, you can keep adding money. Stop pretending to be deep and nauseating people here!"
Yukino Ritsuko tugged at the girl, "Ryoko."
"It’s fine, the kid is still young." Takeuchi Akira smiled elegantly and said lightly, "I came over tonight to invite you to go to Nagano Prefecture with me. The Mountain God Festival is about to start, and I’ll be attending. How about going together? I can protect you on the way."
"No need." Yukino Ritsuko shook her head gently, her expression fully displaying her distance.
"Well, it’s mainly for your safety." Takeuchi Akira walked up and said in front of her, "The Mountain God Festival is a chaotic event with all sorts of gods and monsters attending. You’re simple-minded, and I’m afraid you’ll be bullied. Just like that Fujiwara guy, you were deceived by him for so long, I don’t want to see such things happen again."
As he spoke, he reached out his hand, trying to hold Yukino Ritsuko’s hand.
Yukino Ritsuko stepped back and then slapped his face with a backhand.
"Please respect yourself."
Coolly leaving these words, Yukino Ritsuko took Kitagawa Ryoko back to the bakery.
"You’ll regret this..." Takeuchi Akira stood quietly, watching as the shop door closed, then turned and left the small alley, meeting Yayako waiting over there, to discuss their plan for the Mountain God Festival.