death of hope

Chapter 982 "Psionic Storm" (57) The Actor's Self-Cultivation
The first immigrants to Shin-Sapporo were of Asian descent, islanders from the Orient.

The first colonists, aboard ancient interstellar mining ships, risked the failure of space warping to traverse the dark and boundless expanse of space, but thankfully escaped unharmed.
Landing on this wild, undeveloped planet, transforming the environment, building habitats—it took generations of effort.
A century later, the pioneers' blood and sweat were not in vain.
New Sapporo has already become one of the wealthiest colonial cities in the Terra Federation, serving as the financial center of the entire sector.

This dazzling metropolis, reeking of money, attracts ship after ship of Terran immigrants of different races and ethnicities, both legal and illegal.

On the streets of Shin-Sapporo, you can even see merchants and mercenaries from alien races; pointy-eared Elven people eating burritos; green-skinned orcs smoking Cuban cigars; and long-tailed lizardmen spending the night in internet cafes. Shin-Sapporo's trend towards diversity seems unstoppable.

However, the essence and soul of this city remain the cultural symbols of its pioneers and early colonists.

In Z, members of parliament, politicians, brokers, and powerful families of Japanese descent controlled the New Sapporo Governor's Office and City Hall.
Economically, giant corporations like Sakura Corporation, representing the old aristocratic capitalist forces of the East, secretly controlled every aspect of the colonies.

The diversification of Shin-Sapporo will ultimately not erode the city's foundation.
The Amaterasu Shrine stands out starkly in the bustling city center, with sushi shops, takoyaki stalls, pachinko parlors, and even local gangsters who like to wear clattering wooden clogs and carry samurai swords to show off their power.

In such a colonial city with its Japanese influences, cherry blossom viewing is naturally a refined pastime.
However, there are thresholds to enjoying flowers, and not everyone can afford it.

·
Lower City District, St. Sakura High School

Despite having "cherry blossom" in its name, there wasn't a single pink cherry tree to be found on campus, not even a single dead one.
Public schools cannot afford gardeners, so what should be flowerbeds are bare with only yellow soil. The only green vegetation is wasabi and foxtail grass sprouting from the cracks in the paving stones, making it extremely shabby.

Late March and early April is the best time to view cherry blossoms.

Shin-Sapporo's Upper Ward: A magnificent, castle-like private school.
Stylish young men and women picnicked in a lush cherry blossom grove, the falling petals turning the entire cobblestone path a refreshing cherry pink.

Such an elegant and beautiful scene could only be admired with envy by the teachers and students of St. Sakura Academy;
“I vaguely remember…every year around this time, my brother would sneak over the fence with a folding saw blade and enter the private school in the upper town.”
They brought me back branches covered in cherry blossoms; they were absolutely beautiful. I love putting the petals in my textbooks as bookmarks.

As the car passed a private school in the upper part of the city, Yuna Jinguji gazed out the window, lost in thought.
"Once, my brother was caught climbing over the school wall by the security guard. He tripped and fell flat on his face while running away. When he came back, he kept apologizing to me, saying that he would definitely steal cherry blossoms the next day... It was really heartbreaking..."

My brother was willing to risk his life for me... I miss him...

"I miss him too. Longjun is my good buddy~"

Li Ang wrapped his arms around Yuna's slender waist and softly comforted her with a lie:

"Your brother got into trouble and was sentenced to a few years in prison. Family visits aren't allowed. He should be almost out of prison by the time we graduate from university. We'll go pick him up from prison and treat him to a nice meal at a restaurant, okay?"

"Yes! Definitely!" Yuna believed her boyfriend's words wholeheartedly, her eyes filled with hope, her mind filled with the scene of embracing her brother and reuniting with her family.

·
Looking at the lost in thought Yuna, Li Ang secretly breathed a sigh of relief, thinking to himself:

(I have to keep the news of Jinguji Ryūshun's death a secret. If she finds out, she'll be heartbroken and go crazy. Then her psychic energy will completely go out of control and explode, and Project Zero... my future will be ruined...)
"It's so unfair... My brother's just a juvenile delinquent, why is it so strict? We can't even see each other, not even make a phone call..." Yuna complained. "Ugh, you don't understand. That kid Ryūjūn committed a serious offense, offending some big shot. You should be grateful he didn't get life imprisonment!"

Yuna sighed, "Sigh, my brother is good in every way... except he's too impulsive..."

"Ahem, let's not talk about that anymore. It's a holiday, let's talk about something happy, okay?"

Li Ang coughed lightly and changed the subject:
"Want to go see the cherry blossoms?"

"Should I climb over the wall to peek... No, what if I get caught by security? It'll give me a bad record and affect my college entrance exams..."

"Ugh, Yuna-san is such a coward~"

Yuna covered her mouth and smiled; "Haha, my brother used to say that too..."

In fact, given Li Ang's current high salary, coupled with the virtually unlimited operating funds and reimbursement allowances given to him by Dr. Joseph,

Let alone enjoying cherry blossoms, they could afford to rent out the entire most luxurious botanical garden in Shin-Sapporo and hire an artist to hold a concert on the spot.

But Leon Vilnius had read "An Actor Prepares," and he knew exactly how to play this role well.
·
According to the company's database, Jinguji Yuna was just a delicate and sickly girl from the slums.

However, like his older brother Longjun, he carries an innate arrogance and toughness in his DNA.
She could easily have climbed the social ladder by attaching herself to Yamagami Tetsuya, the son of a yakuza boss, moving into a mansion and enrolling in an expensive private school.

However, all the information in the database indicates that before being taken away by the research institute, Yuna had been living a poor life in the downtown area.

She ate only bland food, lived in a low-rent apartment, and refused all financial assistance from her boyfriend.
Therefore, Li Ang had to follow the example set by Yamagami Tetsuya back then.
To keep the other person in a familiar environment, so that Yuna, who is gradually regaining her memories, will not see through the deception.

·
The proud and reserved nature of the Jinguji siblings, and their unyielding spirit of 'not accepting charity,' also earned Li Ang's admiration.

I can't help but yearn for the romantic love story between that gangster's son and the slum girl from back then:

(Yuna, Yuna...

In this materialistic world...where can you find a girl as good as you...?

I really envy Tetsuya Yamagami...)