I really don't want to be reborn.

Even if he had a girlfriend, he probably still would, because his sister's existence is irreplaceable by anyone else. He's a total siscon.

Lost in thought, I felt someone tug at my sleeve.

Shino looked at her with displeasure: "What are you thinking about? You're ignoring me."

"Uh, sorry."

"Could you also check that zodiac sign for me..."

Shino hesitated, looking awkward, but then suddenly offered the black cat a fish head as if to curry favor: "Check it out."

"No, what exactly do you want to investigate?"

"It's the one from before."

that?

The little black cat noticed her strange expression and was somewhat moved: "Are you talking about the previous astrological love analysis?"

With a serious expression, the little girl-like Shino said, "It's feelings, not love."

"Okay, okay, so who do you want to find out about?"

"Leo and Leo."

"..."

The black cat froze in its motion as it reached for the phone.

Mom!

Of all the people present, only Sinon and Kyosuke Kousaka are Leos, so what are you planning to do, sister-in-law?

Amidst the conversation of the others, the little black cat cautiously showed the phone screen to Shino.

Be careful!

This couple is cheerful and kind, quite content with themselves, and has the courage to face any difficulties without ever resorting to escapism.

However, your relationship can easily lose its chance due to each other's carelessness, so you need to take good care of it!

Shi nodded and focused intently on his meal.

Her posture remained upright, and she ate in silence, meticulously finishing every single grain. Her short, pale blue hair and facial features combined to create an incredibly beautiful, cold, and hard profile.

She's very pretty, and might even be prettier than her sister in the future.

In addition to her unique, aloof, and sophisticated temperament, she will probably blossom into a youthful charm that is completely different from her sister's in another year or two.

Black Cat was certain that this was a beautiful and lovely girl.

At the same time, she was pretty sure that this guy had a crush on Kyosuke Kousaka.

Kuroko could understand that feeling, because for her, Kirino, unrequited love was the most bitter, humble, arduous, and yet happiest thing.

That's probably why Shino doesn't care much about her clothes and makeup.

I don't want you to know me.

I hope you'll see me by chance, right after I've washed my hair, wearing my prettiest dress, and with my makeup done—remember, it's by chance, not something I dressed up specifically for you.

Unfortunately.

The more I like you, the less I want to show it to you.

…………

"It's a pity Kirino didn't come today."

"You should be glad she didn't come to your birthday party, otherwise you wouldn't have eaten cake at noon, but had it smeared on your face."

It is now approaching dusk.

The two guests who came to the meeting had already left. In Kasumigaoka Utaha's private study, Kousaka Kyosuke looked up and closed his book: "My sister can be quite a character when she's happy. She's capable of fighting with cakes."

Did you call her?

"Hmm... I usually call her at night, when she should have just finished her morning run."

Kasumigaoka Utaha gazed calmly at the scenery outside the window. As dusk approached, fine snowflakes began to fall. "Kirino, she's had a tough time too."

Kyosuke stared at her, lost in thought.

It seemed to be around four in the morning when I saw the crabapple blossoms still awake.

It is winter snow now, not the twilight of autumn, not the scorching sun of midsummer, nor the crabapple blossoms of spring.

Now, only light snow is falling from the sky, and she is so beautiful and so attentive.

Do you see that tree outside?

Not far from the window stood a small tree with all its leaves gone. Kasumigaoka Utaha sighed softly, "This is new. There used to be an old tree there that was over ten years old, but it died the year before last."

"You used 'passed away' to describe the death of a plant?"

"Yes, it's been with me for over ten years."

A less-than-pleasant smile appeared on the girl's lips: "When I realized it was going to die, I was surprised to find that I had grown so big and so tall that the marks on the tree used to measure my height were long gone."

Kyosuke Kosaka quietly sat down next to her.

"Kosaka."

"Kosaka is here."

She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear: "What I want to say is that time really flies by. It slips away before you know it, especially when you're in your teens or twenties. It always goes by so fast, and it's also so wonderful."

Kyosuke Kosaka held her slightly cold hand: "The best years are actually the most painful."

"I think it's wonderful."

"You'll only realize how wonderful it was when you look back on it many years from now."

Kasumigaoka Utaha pondered for a moment, then shook her head.

She disagreed with this view: "That's being dramatic."

One thing is true: time is much faster than bullets.

They nestled together quietly, unlike other young couples who were inseparable, or those who were described by their horoscopes as having a passionate, fiery relationship. Now they sat quietly in the study, watching the snow fall on the trees outside.

Passion, indifference, irritability, gentleness, hypocrisy—all these emotions become overwhelming at this moment.

"This tree will grow taller this summer."

"Ah."

They were observing the question of whether the trees were old or new.

It acknowledges the beauty of the old branches and leaves, and also rejoices in the vitality and greenery brought by the new shoots.

New and old, past and present, are not in opposition; they dialectically interact throughout the course of time, ultimately finding their way to beauty. (Note)

As evening drew closer, the snow outside the window gradually transformed into feather shapes, falling distinctly black and white onto the tree branches and trunks.

Are you sleeping here tonight?

"Yes, it was agreed upon a long time ago."

They were talking about their first time, so seriously, they really did seem very serious.

Kasumigaoka Utaha wrinkled her nose, looking quite cute: "What do you do when your boyfriend, who's in heat, goes home if you don't give him a way to release his desires?"

He's starting to get sarcastic.

She nuzzled her head against Kyosuke's neck: "Are you just going to watch me go home pitifully and steal my sister's underwear from her room to end my own life?"

"That's self-flying! What kind of nonsense is this self-destruction?!"

After making a sarcastic remark, Kousaka Kyosuke immediately retorted, "Besides, I never did anything strange with Kirino's underwear."

"Don't be so sensitive, I know this is normal."

"Normal my ass!"

He pulled her into a tight embrace before her sharp tongue could escalate, and kissed her earlobe.

Kasumigaoka trembled sensitively and fell silent, naturally unable to unleash her sharp tongue.

She gradually felt unwell, as if every cell in her body was an exploding star.

"I haven't folded any origami cranes yet."

She spoke very softly, like a meow or a purr, sounding like a kitten that had just been fed and stroked eight hundred times.

Kyosuke didn't give her a chance to escape: "Today is a bit special. We don't have enough origami cranes, so we need to fold more hearts."

When Shi Nai pushed open the door, he saw them embracing and kissing so passionately that they forgot themselves.

Silently lowering her head, she placed the newly purchased medicine and condoms on the table without a word, then immediately left, gently closing the door behind her.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Note: Quoted from Chien Chen's "The Person in My Eyes"

Chapter Eight: The paulownia tree ages overnight, I hear your zither on the river.

Sex is a rather serious topic.

Compared to China, which has been conservative throughout history and readily resorts to criminalizing "pornography," the atmosphere abroad is clearly more open.

This openness is not about desires, but about topics.

Great writers and poets can use this as a topic for discussion, extending it to the levels of "human nature" and "life".

Unsurprisingly, many traditional literary giants and poets held a negative attitude towards this.

The true meaning of love lies in the spirit, not in lust—this is from Leo Tolstoy of Russia.

The growth of lust does not necessarily mean the depth of love—this was the name of Mushanokōji Saneatsu, a Japanese scholar.

Seeking love through physical union is a foolish fantasy—this is from Tagore of India.

Sexual love is perhaps the most unreliable of all forms of love—this is the opinion of American humanist philosopher Erich Fromm.

Of course, many Americans hold a positive or even affirmative attitude. For example, Nathaniel Briden said, "Sex is an expression of love; it strongly expresses our love for life, ourselves, and our partners."