Anime Crossover: There are a lot of beautiful girls who like me.

In fact, if Kitagawa Yu hadn't happened to see it when he went to school this morning, he wouldn't have known that the apartment next door with the 'Shiina' sign was home to Shiina Mahiru, the 'angel next door'.

"Huh? Is Kitagawa... singing?"

The charm of music lies in the fact that even if you don't speak the same language, you can still convey your feelings to the listener and touch them with your emotions through music.

So even though they are two people with completely different personalities and experiences, at this moment, Narumi Sena, like Shiina Mahiru, was infected by the warm and vibrant singing voice. She couldn't help but recall the scene of Kitagawa Yu 'saving the damsel in distress' on the platform that afternoon. She felt as if she were soaking in a hot spring, and a smile involuntarily appeared on her slightly upturned lips. Her physical fatigue seemed to dissipate a lot at once.

"Kitagawa-kun is indeed a sunny, cheerful, brave, and kind person~" Narumi Sena couldn't help but think to herself.

To be honest, this is why Kitagawa Yu doesn't have mind-reading abilities and can't hear what Narumi Sena and Shiina Mahiru are thinking at this moment.

Otherwise, he would definitely be speechless.

After all, as a seasoned otaku, aside from the undeniable fact that he's 'handsome,' he doesn't see himself having anything to do with 'sunny,' 'cheerful,' 'brave,' or 'kind'...

Well, he can be partly described as 'brave,' since he's genuinely not afraid of fighting.

After being reborn into this world, he embraced joyful education and completely let himself go.

He goes to school at 8:30 in the morning and gets out at 3:00 in the afternoon. His homework is also very light, which gives him plenty of time.

He learned everything from elementary school to middle school, including karate, judo, kendo, archery, and even the ancient martial art passed down by the abbot of Shuzenji Temple, Okita Sawa's father. It was said to have been passed down from the Heian period and had a history of over a thousand years, and was said to be powerful enough to kill gods and monsters.

In his first year of junior high school, he was able to easily defeat five delinquent high school students who wanted to steal his pocket money without sustaining a scratch, becoming a legend on campus at the time.

In addition, he also plays basketball, after all, "Slam Dunk" was one of his favorite works.

However, in terms of personality, he feels that he is quite 'introverted' or even 'cold'.

As for chatting and laughing with Anna Hanami at the entrance ceremony... just kidding, she was one of his favorite wives in his past life!

It's perfectly normal for him to have that kind of smile when he suddenly meets someone after sixteen years, given his excitement.

However, it seems that Narumi Sena and Shiina Mahiru, who have only known him for a short time, are not the only ones who think he is sunny, cheerful, brave, and kind.

Even Miyamoto Motokazu, who had been in the same class as him since first grade, and Sakai Kazuna, who had been in the same class as him since fourth grade, seemed to think so.

The salty sea breeze stirred the curtains, and the bright moonlight filled the room.

Just as Kitagawa Yu was helping Tsukimi Eiko experience the charm of music and emerge from her dark past.

Kazuna Sakai, who was also saved by Yu Kitagawa, is now playing the same melody alone in the room where they used to practice together.

Because her mother was a pianist, she loved the piano from a young age and started learning it when she was in elementary school.

Although she was somewhat introverted and withdrawn at school and had few friends because she spent all her time practicing the piano, she did not dislike this kind of life.

Later, around the time he was in fourth grade, Kitagawa Yuya suddenly became her mother's student and began learning piano with her.

Although at the beginning, she actually disliked Kitagawa Yu a little because she was shy and not used to it, and she reduced the time she spent practicing piano.

But for some reason, she soon grew to love the piano even more than before, and began practicing it more often.

Until that summer when I was in my third year of junior high school, my mother, who had always been in poor health, was suddenly diagnosed with a terminal illness.

According to the doctor, if my mother rests and cooperates with the treatment, she can have another year.

However, despite her strong objections, her mother simply said that she was not used to lying in a hospital bed, so she continued to practice the piano and compose music as usual.

At that time, for the first time in her life, she began to hate the piano, and even wanted to smash it.

His relationship with his mother also fell into a cold war.

Without Kitagawa Yu's intervention, she might never have reconciled with her mother until the day she passed away, and her aversion to the piano would have continued forever after her mother's departure.

But then Kitagawa Yu walked up to her, pressed down on her shoulders as she tried to escape, and told her that the song her mother wanted to complete even if it meant burning her life was the deepest expression of her love.

Even if she could hold on for another year, what then? Her mother, who had a terminal illness, would eventually leave her.

And when the day comes that her mother leaves her, she will still be incredibly sad and heartbroken.

That's why her mother, worried and reluctant to let her go, chose to transform all her love into this piece of music, so that this love can stay with her forever...

This wasn't some difficult-to-understand principle, but at that time, she could only listen to Kitagawa Yu's words.

At that moment, with Kitagawa Yu's guidance, she understood her mother's intentions and finally resolved her misunderstandings and resentment towards her mother.

While reconciling with her mother, she also rediscovered her love for the piano.

And that seed, which had been buried deep in my heart for who knows how long, also took root and sprouted at that moment.

Especially after her mother's death, every time Kitagawa Yu played "Sunflower" to comfort her, it was like a ray of sunshine and a pot of clear spring watering that tender green sprout, urging it to grow strong.

By the time she finally realized it, the tender green sprout had already transformed into a sunflower embracing the sunlight, blooming brilliantly in her heart.

Unfortunately, even until Kitagawa Yu left, she still couldn't express her feelings.

Because she knew that even if Kitagawa Yu had chosen to leave, he still had Okita Sawa in his heart and wouldn't allow her to squeeze in.

So... I'll keep waiting... until there's enough space in your heart... enough to make room for a tiny me... As for now... let this song keep me company in your place...

Chapter 20 Chikuwa and Bento

Sakai Kazusa involuntarily closed her eyes, her slender, pale fingers dancing merrily across the black piano keys like tiny sprites.

In the heartwarming melody, the figure in my mind seemed to be sitting right beside her, looking at her with a slight tilt of his head, listening attentively to her piano playing, just like every time they practiced together in the past.

Unfortunately, in a relationship, passively waiting is often the least desirable approach.

Most of the time, waiting only leads to regretful missed opportunities.

Just like the relationship between "Loser No. 2" Shao Shio Lemon and Ayano Mitsuki, they had liked each other for many years, but one was slow and the other was timid, both waiting for the other to speak first. In the end, because Asagumo Chihaya, the proactive "fish-stealing cat", made the first move, they could only regretfully miss each other.

"Oh ho ho, Kitagawa-kun!"

"Oh ho ho, Shao Shio-kun."

In the bright classroom in the early morning, I saw Shao Shio Lemon, whose skin was even darker than Hakamada Sosuke's due to track and field practice, but who seemed to have the ability to absorb sunlight and looked full of energy. He greeted me and sat down in front of me.

Kitagawa Yu suddenly felt that if given the chance, he could help her and Ayano Mitsuki.

After all, it's the most heartbreaking thing that two people who like each other can't end up together due to unforeseen circumstances.

"What is Sawa doing right now?"

Does she ever think of me?

"Or... will I fall for another boy like in anime?"

It has to be said that people who have just broken up are always the most likely to be reminded of their ex because of their unstable emotions.

Thinking of the story of roasted salt lemon and Ayano Mitsuki, Kitagawa Yu couldn't help but picture Okita Sawa in his mind, and his previously good mood suddenly plummeted.

But as they say, kind-hearted boys are usually lucky.

Just then, a bamboo wheel wrapped in a transparent plastic bag suddenly appeared within 30 centimeters of his eyes, and began to rattle loudly, instantly interrupting his random thoughts and waking him up with a start.

"Here, this is for you, consider it a return gift for the chocolates from yesterday~"

A distinctive voice, full of energy but somewhat indistinct, rang out simultaneously.

This made Kitagawa Yu look up in the direction of that arm, and he couldn't help but smile.

Soon, a head of slightly casual dark blue hair came into his view, followed by a fair and delicate face, which was currently chewing on a bamboo wheel in its other hand with its cheeks puffed out.

"Then I'm not welcome~"

Kitagawa Yu reached out and took the chikuwa, asking curiously, "Didn't you have breakfast?"

Chikuwa is a food made primarily of fish paste, mixed with flour, eggs, and seasonings, then wrapped on bamboo skewers and grilled.

In a horizontal comparison, it's like the status of ham sausage in the food world; it can be eaten as a snack or used as an ingredient.

But the problem is, it's only a little past eight o'clock!

Normally, people should have just eaten breakfast not long ago, right?

"I've had breakfast!"

Anna seemed to sense what he was thinking. While munching on her chikuwa, she muttered, "But who says you can't eat snacks right after breakfast? Don't you know every girl has a second stomach, just for snacks?"

"But I remember that sentence said something like 'dessert'?"

“It’s the same!” Yana said, putting one hand on her hip and looking at him with an expression that seemed to say he was an idiot. “Isn’t dessert a type of snack?”

"Forehead......"

Kitagawa Yu was speechless for a moment, and then couldn't help but burst into laughter.

"Ohayo, Kitagawa-kun."

At this moment, Hakamada Sosuke, who was standing to the side, either found a chance to interject or had just overcome his resentment, also took the initiative to greet Kitagawa Yu.

Although Hakamada Sosuke has fallen in love with Himegami Karen at first sight, this obviously does not stop him from going to school with Hanami Anna, so the two of them still came together this morning.

"Ohayo, Hakamada-kun."

Kitagawa Yu turned his head and smiled politely at Hakamada Sosuke. When he noticed the faint hint of frustration and resentment in Hakamada Sosuke's eyes, he almost couldn't stop smiling.

Fortunately, at that moment, a pair of huge, bouncing Devil Fruits appeared in his sight.

Along with her came Karen Himegami's voice, which was equally energetic, but for some reason, sounded somewhat naive.

"Hey, yo~"

It took less than 0.1 seconds.

Hakamada Sosuke, who had been feeling a bit down and resentful, immediately pulled off a dramatic face-changing act. He abruptly turned around and looked at Himegami Karen, his polite smile instantly transforming into a genuine and radiant one.

Unfortunately... with his roguish yet handsome face, he always gives off the vibe of a delinquent boy eyeing a sweet girl.

Sure enough, upon seeing his smile, Himegami Karen instinctively paused and subconsciously took a detour away from him.

This struck Hakamada Sosuke, who was just about to greet him, like a bolt of lightning, shattering his heart into pieces.

As for Anzu Hachimi, who was initially indignant about his rapid change of expression, she almost spat out the chikuwa in her mouth with a "pfft".

"Luckily, chikuwa isn't cola; it's flat..."

Kitagawa Yu, who was sitting opposite Yanami Anina, secretly breathed a sigh of relief and felt extremely fortunate.

"Ohayo, Himegami-kun."

Just as Kitagawa Yu greeted Himemiya Karen, Himemiya Karen had already 'circled' Hakamada Sosuke and quickened her pace to her seat.

She then put her schoolbag on her desk and ran to Kitagawa Yu's desk, placing her two little hands on it and looking intently at him.