The sunny boy in Cardcaptor Sakura

Chapter 667 IF Path: I Like Xia

Note: The "if" line represents a story that is possible but will never happen.

"Tomoyo, I think... I've fallen for Natsu-san."

The early winter wind carried a chill, but it couldn't dampen the students' energy. Amidst the unique clamor of physical education class, the boys were conducting long-distance running tests on the track.

The girls gathered in twos and threes at the edge of the playground, whispering among themselves or watching the figures on the track with curiosity and smiles.

Sakura buried her slightly flushed cheeks deep in her bent arms, but her gaze seemed to be drawn by invisible threads, occasionally raising her head to look at the most dazzling figure on the track.

The figure ran with such unrestrained and vigorous posture, each step seemingly carried by the wind, making it impossible to ignore.

Looking at the boy's infectious, warm smile, the girl's heart skipped a beat and then began to pound even harder, her cheeks flushing even more.

Listening to Sakura's shy confession, Tomoyo's gentle smile faltered slightly. She didn't even realize that she suddenly felt a little flustered.

"You like... Natsu-kun? Sakura, don't you like Tsukishiro-nii?"

"that……"

When her best friend pointed it out so bluntly, Sakura couldn't help but lower her head again, explaining with a hint of shyness in her voice.

"I do like Yukito-san, but I think I've discovered that my liking for him isn't that kind of liking, but rather a kind of liking that's more like liking a family member."

"I can sense that the feelings I have for Yukito are different from the feelings I have for Natsu. My feelings for Natsu are much stronger, much stronger..."

Sakura couldn't express her feelings, but Tomoyo clearly understood what Sakura meant. She pursed her lips, turned to look at the figure on the track, and asked while suppressing her emotions.

"When...did you start liking him?"

When?

Sakura cupped her cheeks in her hands and looked at the figure on the track, recalling, "It must have been when I captured the Phantom Card. Natsu-kun let me see my deceased mother and let me talk to her."

"At that moment, besides gratitude, I felt something else, and then came the time when I subdued the Thunder Card."

At this point, Sakura chuckled somewhat embarrassedly: "Back then, Li rejected me, saying I was an unqualified magician, but Xia told me seriously that I didn't need to apologize to anyone else."

“I am the real Cardcaptor Sakura. He told me not to fall into self-doubt. He never doubted me and always recognized my identity.”

Sakura reminisces about her past experiences, recalling the figures that have accompanied her through so many moments since she opened the Clow Book.

"Because Xia has always encouraged me, accompanied me, and helped me, I have been able to successfully capture so many Clow Cards and persevere."

"Hehe~ It's a little embarrassing to say, but luckily I have Xia to rely on, which is why I was able to collect most of the Clow Cards so easily."

Sensing the sincerity in Sakura's words, Tomoyo smiled with a complicated expression: "Yes, he has always been so gentle, and he has protected me so many times."

Sakura also came to her senses at this moment, and looked at Xia Yu, who had once again won the race and was laughing heartily at the finish line.

She blushed slightly and muttered, "I don't know when it started, but I gradually began to pay attention to Xia. When I came to my senses, I realized that I had fallen for him."

"Is that so..." Tomoyo also looked at the figure laughing heartily.

Yes, she didn't know when it started, but she gradually began to pay attention to him. By the time she came to her senses, he had already taken up a place in her heart.

When did she start paying attention to him?

It seems like it was during that extracurricular activity at the beach. Although she always presented herself as an outgoing and cheerful person to others, she would occasionally reveal a lonely side.

Because of that unintentional alienation and estrangement, that loneliness that seemed to exist outside of everyone else, she gradually became curious and puzzled.

Although she never found out where that loneliness came from, at some point, that figure had already entered her heart.

It turns out that being curious about someone is the beginning of liking them.

but why……

Tomoyo looked at Sakura beside her and saw the same adoration in Sakura's eyes, but that adoration wasn't directed at her; it was directed at the person Sakura liked.

Although her heart was throbbing slightly, Tomoyo managed to control her expression. For her, the greatest happiness was seeing the person she loved find happiness.

Even if the person you like doesn't like you back, whether it's her or him.

"Hey, you two, wasn't I dazzling just now? Did I shine like the sun in the sky? Hahahaha—!"

A distinctive laugh came from afar, and even without looking up, Sakura and Tomoyo knew who was approaching.

As Xia Yu walked over after finishing the long-distance running test, Sakura subconsciously smiled. Tomoyo, who had also subconsciously smiled, noticed Sakura's smile, paused slightly, and her smile suddenly became more complicated.

"Xia, congratulations on winning first place again!" Xiaoying stepped forward to congratulate her.

Xia Yu chuckled upon hearing this, "Always first place, an inescapable eternal destiny."

"I'll try my best to finish first later."

"Then I'll be really looking forward to it. As a mage, you definitely need to have a good physique. I'll cheer you on."

"Ok!"

Sakura nodded happily. With Xia's expectations in mind, she was determined to do her best to win first place.

"Tomoyo, you have to do your best too!"

Xia Yu gave Zhi Shi a thumbs up. Zhi Shi was slightly taken aback, then smiled and nodded, "Thank you for your encouragement, Xia-kun. I will."

Not far away, Li Xiaolang watched the three people chatting harmoniously and hesitated whether he should also go over and chat for a bit.

Before he could finish his hesitation, a figure suddenly pounced over and grabbed him by the neck.

"Little Wolf, congratulations on winning second place! You looked just as handsome while running!"

"Oh, um..."

Li Meiling's sudden appearance startled him slightly, but he quickly calmed down and simply nodded.

Seeing that Li Xiaolang was somewhat silent, Li Meiling followed his gaze and then saw Xia Yu and the other two.

"Little Wolf, there's no need to compare yourself to that guy. He's just a savage. There's no point in comparing yourself to him." Thinking that Li Xiaolang was a little unhappy because he couldn't outrun Xia Yu, Li Meiling immediately comforted him.

"Um……"

Li Xiaolang remained silent. He wasn't unhappy because he couldn't outrun Xia Yu, but if asked to give a reason, he couldn't provide one.

Beep——!
Suddenly, the whistle blew, signaling the start of the girls' long-distance running test.

Upon hearing the whistle, Li Meiling immediately chattered, "Little Wolf, I'm going for a run! Cheer me on!"

"Ah."

Li Xiaolang nodded, watched Meiling leave, then turned to look at Xiaoying heading towards the track. After a few seconds, he looked away.

Why am I feeling a bit irritable?
……

In early winter, the chilly weather couldn't dampen the festive spirit; Christmas was just around the corner.

Although the holiday hasn't arrived yet, Christmas decorations have already been hung up in every household, and even the surrounding shops have long since hung up sparkling bells and ribbons.

Early morning, on my way to school.

Sakura and Tomoyo, whom I met by chance on the street, were walking together toward school.

Looking at the Christmas decorations around her, Sakura asked Tomoyo shyly, "Tomoyo, do you think Natsu will say yes if I invite him to the amusement park for Christmas?"

"I think Xia will definitely agree."

Tomoyo smiled slightly: "Sakura is so cute, and Natsumi likes you so much, he'll definitely say yes." "Hmm...like me and all that..."

Sakura blushed and muttered, "Don't say such embarrassing things, Tomoyo. Natsu-san likes me... It's so embarrassing."

"Sakura, there's absolutely no need to be shy. This is a conclusion I've drawn from my observations."

Tomoyo looked at the shy Sakura and smiled, "I'm sure Natsumi likes you just as much as I like you."

However, his affection was purer and simpler than mine.

Tomoyo silently replied to the question, and Sakura, upon hearing this, exclaimed with delight, "Really? Tomoyo!"

"Yeah, it's true."

Tomoyo smiled slightly, but there was a hint of disappointment in her smile. She should be happy for Sakura, so why did she feel a little sad?

However, Sakura failed to notice the subtle emotion hidden beneath Tomoyo's smile. She simply exclaimed joyfully, "Great! I've decided! I'll definitely invite Natsu out for Christmas. Thank you for your encouragement, Tomoyo!"

"Okay, Sakura, good luck!"

Daylight flew by, and soon night fell.

Kinomoto House, Sakura's Bedroom.

Sitting at her desk, Xiao Ke held a fork and happily ate the strawberry cake in front of her, each bite filled with deep satisfaction.

Sakura was sitting on her bed like a duck, staring at the pink phone in front of her, feeling extremely nervous.

She wanted to call Xia Yu and invite him to the amusement park on Christmas Day, but her nervousness and shyness prevented her from making up her mind.

"Ouch~"

On the desk, Xiao Ke, not satisfied with eating with a fork, suddenly lifted the cake above her head with overwhelming force and stuffed it into her mouth.

After swallowing the cake in one gulp, Xiao Ke let out a satisfied burp and wiped her mouth.

At this moment, Sakura still couldn't make up her mind to press the call button.

"Hmm..."

After thinking for a long time, she picked up the phone, twisted and turned on the bed, stared intently at the dial button, her fingertips hovering over it.

She could easily dial the number with just a little force, but there seemed to be an invisible barrier between her fingers and the buttons, making it impossible for her to press them.

"Go ahead and make the call... it's just one phone call..."

The soft murmur seemed to be a way of encouraging herself, tinged with a hint of joyful anticipation. The call connected, she mustered her courage to extend an invitation, he readily accepted, and then…

Then comes the joyful amusement park date, the scenery from the Ferris wheel, and being alone with someone you like... Just thinking about it makes my cheeks flush and feel hot.

"Sakura, haven't you made the call yet?"

“Ugh!?”

The sudden sound startled Sakura. She looked up at Kero, whose mouth still had cake crumbs on it, and said helplessly, "Don't scare me like that, Kero."

"Didn't you just dial a number? You hung up even though it didn't ring."

"Well……"

"Don't hesitate, just try again."

Before Sakura could react, Kero flew to her and pressed the call button for her.

"Heave-ho—redial!"

"Huh!?"

The redial startled Xiaoying, her heart nearly leaping out of her throat. The excessive tension combined with the sudden fright caused her hand to tremble, and the phone slipped from her fingers like a hot potato.

pat-

The phone fell to the ground, but fortunately, the phone was of good quality and the battery was not knocked out.

Staring at the fallen phone, Xiao Ke and Xiao Ying froze in disbelief. Then Xiao Ying snapped out of it and glared at Xiao Ke with displeasure: "Xiao Ke, really!"

Xiao Ke quickly reached out to block him, and said with a smile, "Oh, you're welcome."

Click!

The phone that had fallen to the ground was answered, and a voice came from it.

"I've only given this number to two people. Let me guess, are you Tomoyo?"

Upon hearing Xia Yu's voice coming from the phone, Xiao Ying quickly grabbed the phone, her knuckles turning slightly white from the force, as if she could draw some courage from it.

"That...that...was me..."

"Sakura??"

Xia Yu's surprised voice came from the phone, as if he couldn't believe it.

"Wait, why are you calling me at this hour? Could it be that the Clow Cards have reappeared? Where are they?"

"No, it's not."

Although she knew the other person couldn't see her, Sakura quickly shook her head. The light from inside the room shone on her troubled face, and her long eyelashes trembled anxiously.

She could even feel the thin layer of sweat on her palms until Xia Yu's reply startled her from her shy and nervous state.

"Not Clow Cards? What is it then? Are you calling because you can't sleep at night and want me to tell you a bedtime story?"

"Well……"

Upon hearing this joking remark, Sakura involuntarily curled up, her toes twitching nervously, and an unconscious whimper escaped her throat, carrying the unique coquettishness of a young girl.

"I... I wanted to ask if you have any plans for Christmas Day. If not, would you like to go to the amusement park together?"

"amusement park?"

"Hmm, Chiharu gave me the prize she won in the riddle contest last time. It's an amusement park ticket. Want to go together?"

"Together? You're inviting me?"

Although her expression was invisible, the genuine confusion still emanated from the phone; Sakura could even imagine the surprise on Xia Yu's face.

After a few seconds of silence, Sakura, somewhat disappointed at not receiving a response, said, "N-no, is that not okay?"

"Um, let me confirm again, Sakura, are you sure you're inviting me? I am Xia Yu, your classmate."

"what?"

Completely baffled as to why Xia Yu was asking this question, Sakura uttered a small sound of confusion, but she quickly nodded and said, "Yes, that's right, it's you, Xia Yu."

"..."

A few more seconds passed before Xia Yu's voice finally came through the phone.

"Well... alright, if you're not mistaken, then it's fine."

"really?"

Hearing this, Sakura exclaimed with delight, "Great! It's a promise then! We'll go to the amusement park together for Christmas!"

(End of this chapter)