Alice in the Land of Steam

Chapter 885 Do you feel this way sometimes?
After much persuasion from her friends, Xino finally picked up the racket and stepped onto the school court again after two years. Her tall figure stood there, as unshakable as a straight flagpole. This scene made those who still had impressions of the past in their minds feel dazed, as if they had returned to the past, to the time when they first entered the campus and still had longing and enthusiasm for everything.

However, this coaching match was not played against the newcomers. After all, Leila just wanted them to learn something from Shino, not to make them lose confidence, so she chose to play in person and compete with Shino as the alternate president. Both of them played at a high level and presented a wonderful match to everyone present. When the match was halfway through, Shino waved his hand to stop the match as usual, and smiled and admitted that he hadn't played wind flower ball for a long time and his physical strength was a little bit behind.

Of course, this was just an excuse she made. Anyone with a discerning eye could see that she was in full control from beginning to end. She completely suppressed Leila in both the situation and the score. If the game went to the end, there would be no need to think about who would win or lose.

"It's still the same as before, Shino."

Sweating Leila shook hands with Xino across the net. There was no suppressed frustration on her face. Instead, she sighed. Only Xino's old friends knew the double meaning of this sentence. On the one hand, it meant that Xino's tennis skills were still as good as before and had not regressed because of the past two years. On the other hand, it referred to her character, which was still so humble and low-key, and she had never had the idea of ​​being competitive.

Xinuo replied with a smile: "It's just a coaching match, there's no need to be so serious."

"But the newcomers don't seem to think so." Leila teased, "They all want to see more of you, the legendary senior."

The members of the club who gathered at the side of the court and watched the entire game felt like they had not had enough, and regretted that the game could not be played to the end. The strength of both sides was unimaginably strong for them now. Senior Leila was very strong, which they had experienced personally, so they were not surprised; however, the rumored senior Xinuo was able to suppress their future president, and it seemed that she had not even used her full strength. She was indeed one of the two best people selected from hundreds of thousands of college students in the entire Western Continent.

Senior Leila only started working hard for a place in the championship this year. If senior Xino had not dropped out of school, would she have already become famous in the main competition?
If senior Xinuo continues on this path, her name should be among the popular contestants competing with "Caesar" Gulide, "Moon Goddess" Diana, and "Genius" Gloria, right?

What a pity! Why did she drop out of school in the first place?
I heard that her mother is Ms. Mistian, the only legendary player in the history of the tournament. Is this a talent that is passed down from generation to generation?
But besides talent, hard work is also important, right? If I work hard enough, will I be able to catch up with or even surpass her level one day?

Leila, who was still happy, did not notice that Xino said "there is a chance" instead of "there is time".

——Ah, you asked me what I thought? Of course I want to participate in the competition with you!

So dazzling.

——If one day, I can stand on the podium with someone and experience the happiest moment of my life, I really hope that person is you, Xinuo.

She turned around and glanced at the excited newcomers on the sidelines of the court, and a trace of loneliness flashed in the depths of her eyes. Dreams are the path of persistence. Although these newcomers have just started, at least they have not reached the moment of giving up, which means that there are still many possibilities waiting to be discovered in them, and those who have given up are not qualified to be called legends.

Many times, the premonition of the future is confirmed at a certain moment that no one knows.

——Because, we all have the same dream, right?

Xinuo closed her eyes, then slowly opened them. She smiled and shook her head: "He is just a champion of the college championship, not a legend. I think if there really is a legend, it should appear among them, right?"

——The so-called dream is a fleeting light. If you keep looking back and forth, you will not be able to catch that light. So, Xinuo, don't think about other things, don't think about why you participate in the competition, don't think about what will happen if you fail, and don't even worry about what everyone including your mother thinks. Just tell me, do you like the wind flower ball?

It is so dazzling that people dare not look directly at it.

Similar thoughts kept flashing through their minds. Their young faces were filled with undisguised excitement, agitation, longing or yearning. The dreams of young people were always brighter than the sunshine in midsummer. If you stare at it for too long, your eyes will be burned. This feeling of radiating light all the time always reminded Xinuo of someone.

Xino retracted his gaze, smiled and nodded to Leila: "If there is a chance, I will definitely do it."

Leila didn't see the look in Xino's eyes, so she thought it was Xino's encouragement to the newcomers, so she said happily: "Then you must come to school more often in the future and help us guide the newcomers with potential."

——I can’t hide my love for this kind of thing.

……

……

After the training match, everyone stayed at Sumiya University for a while, mainly because Xino introduced new friends to old friends. The scene looked a bit weird, but fortunately there was no classic scene of jealousy. After learning that Xino's new friends would also participate in the selection, they also warmly invited Alice to participate in the training together - Alice's wind flower ball level was not very good, but she was quite funny. She quickly got familiar with the members of the ball club with her ability to make friends, and even made those newcomers who didn't know the reason believe that her strength was actually very strong, even at the same level as Xino, but she just had to participate in the selection because of bad luck, which made Ling Ge and others look at each other in bewilderment, and Xino was also at a loss whether to laugh or cry.

In the evening, Saint Xia Liya finally persuaded Alice, who was having a lot of fun, to come back. On the other hand, Xino made an appointment with old friends for the next meeting, and promised to come to watch their game after the selection competition began. Then he waved goodbye to them and left Sumiya University. The setting sun dyed the sky into a magnificent dusk. A large group of flying birds flew across the city skyline in a V-shape. The sun that was about to sink was cut into pieces by the shadows of the buildings. Looking up, you can see a giant banner with the words "The 81st Yamit Cup Championship is about to be held grandly" fluttering on the tallest bell tower in the city. Among the people flowing on the street, one or two vague discussions were heard from time to time: "...'Caesar' Gulide Det accepted an interview with reporters and made sharp comments on the players in the main competition. He bluntly said that 'Moon Goddess' Diana and 'Heavy Gunner' Gray were the biggest opponents. 'Genius' Gloria was young but not strong enough. She participated in the competition just to accumulate experience and should be excluded from the ranks of championship contenders first..."

"You're being looked down upon." Alice also heard the comments. She poked the person involved in the incident with her elbow and said with some gloating, "Why don't you hold a press conference or something? I'll speak for you and curse Caesar?"

Gloria knew that this guy was just trying to show off, so she rolled her eyes and ignored her.

There were giant banners flying in the sky, posters of the players hanging on tall buildings, and discussions on the streets. Even children of seven or eight years old were excitedly discussing the contenders for the championship trophy, arguing for the players they supported... During the championship, the city seemed to have entered a warm and flamboyant atmosphere. No matter what the topic was, it would eventually return to the game.

Twenty years ago, an unknown female player pushed this atmosphere to a climax with one incredible match after another, which could even be described as a frenzy; eighteen years later, her daughter became famous under the sky of Fontainebleau in the capital, as if to declare to the world that she did not live up to the blood flowing in her body. However, the two people who came one after another also disappeared from the audience's sight one after another, as if their appearance was just to create a legend, and after a moment of shining, they disappeared like a shooting star.

Today, do the people in this city who are excitedly discussing tomorrow's game still remember those two similar meteors?
Xino suddenly stopped and looked forward, so the people behind her also stopped and looked in the direction she was looking at. At a glance, they saw a pure white knight statue standing in the solemn square. He held a gun in one hand and led his beloved warhorse in the other hand. His resolute eyes looked at the distant horizon, as if he was about to rush to the next important battlefield. The people who were blessed by him came and went under the ten-meter-high statue, talking and laughing, but no one was willing to raise their heads and look at the statue for a moment, as if they were already accustomed to his existence.

Because it is something we are used to, we don't need to pay special attention to it.

Lingge then realized that they had arrived at the famous May Republic Square in Sumya City. The statue in front of him was one of the ancestors of the Godafu family, the famous White Knight Hiberton.

I didn’t pass by here when I went to Sumya University before. It seems that Xino deliberately took a detour, but why?

When he was wondering, Xinuo, who had his back to the crowd, suddenly said, "Leila should have mentioned my past to you, right?"

Ling Ge was stunned for a moment. Before he could think of how to answer, the girl shook her head. Her snow-white ponytail swayed gently in the sunset. "I don't mean to blame you. Leila has never been a person who can hide her thoughts. There are some things she can't tell me, but she can just confide in you, people she just met. I know she actually cares about me, so I'm not very angry, just a little...emotional."

Feelings?

Ling Ge showed a thoughtful look. He turned his head and saw that the three people, including Saint Xia Liya, had all retreated to the back. They kept giving him eye hints, asking him to go up and pick up what Xinuo was saying. He was speechless for a moment, but he didn't say anything. He just asked, "What are you lamenting about?"

"Maybe I'm just a very cold person." Xino laughed at himself.

indifferent?

The three girls behind him all opened their eyes wide, with an expression of disbelief on their faces. It was fine if others said she was cold, but why did Xinuo say that? No matter how you look at it, she is a perfect girl, right? Even if Claire's incident happened, it had nothing to do with her. If her friend deliberately concealed her illness, could she have predicted it?

Only two people showed no surprise. One was Ling Ge, and the other was Bai Ye. She sneered in Gloria's mind: "This is a very normal thing. What are you surprised about, little fool Gloria? After changing identities so many times, haven't you seen through human nature once? I think this guy named Xinuo is pretty good. At least he can be honest with himself, unlike some people, humph!"

Someone? Who?

Gloria blinked blankly, but didn't dare to ask more questions, for fear that Bai Ye would call her a fool again.

Linger asked, "Is it because of Miss Leila?"

"Partly." Xino nodded and admitted: "Leila used to be a very low self-esteem person. She had no confidence in everything she did and didn't even dare to ask for help from others. I just encouraged her when she was hesitating whether to join the ball club, and she regarded me as her best friend. But as a friend, I don't even know her dream of joining a professional club. Does this mean that I have never thought about getting to know her? Not only her, but also Vincent, Phyllis, George, the former president and those seniors who have graduated. They are all very good to me. That kind of kindness is pure friendship, not based on my identity or grades. But the better they treat me, the more panic I feel. I often feel that I am unworthy, and sometimes even think - how nice it would be if they didn't become friends with me, just like... like that."

A name came out of her mouth without a sound, but everyone knew what the name was. For a moment, they looked at each other, not knowing how to comfort her. Linger's eyes flickered, and suddenly he said, "Are you trying to blame yourself for Miss Claire's tragedy?"

This is the only reasonable explanation, but it seems absurd. If Xinuo really thinks this way in his heart, then it is not just a matter of self-blame and guilt, but perhaps it is already a sign of mental illness.

The girl faced the statue and fell silent. People were still coming and going in the square. The night was gradually submerged, and at the same time, it was illuminated by the light of street lamps. After this silent atmosphere lasted for several minutes, Xinuo slowly spoke, but he did not answer Lingge's question, but gave him a piece of advice: "Please wait patiently, Mr. Lingge, and everyone else."

"I think, at least after the tournament is over... I will give you a satisfactory answer."

　Give me some meow
　　
　
(End of this chapter)