Lonely Rock: Love Songs Dedicated to the Stars

"Don't stand here, let's go."

Xingge left after she finished speaking.

"Ah, oh."

Yuma quickly followed her.

'It seems pretty much the same as usual.' Yuuma looked at Hoshika's outfit, but he didn't notice anything different.

The two followed the crowd to a small shrine. In Yuzuru's memory, this was the first time he had come here with anyone other than Yuuki. Perhaps his parents had brought him here before, but he didn't remember.

They followed the people in front of them into the room, and then lined up to ring the bell.

Yuma tossed a five-yen coin into the box and then rang the bell.

The procedure for bowing and making a wish seems to involve bowing deeply twice, clapping twice, putting your hands together to make your wish, and finally bowing deeply once more. At least that's how the people in front of them were doing it, although it might be different in different places. Yuzhen and Xingge noticed that some people in front of them weren't strictly following this procedure, so they were more casual about it too.

I hope that my family and Xingge's family will all enjoy good health in the new year.

Yuzhen clasped her hands together and silently recited her wish.

I hope my family and Yuma's family are healthy.

Xingge also made a wish in her heart.

After making their wishes, the two came down, since there were still people queuing behind them.

"Senior, do you want to try your luck with a fortune stick?" Yuzhen pointed to the fortune stick stall next to them. "Let's give it a try and see what our fortune will be like in the new year."

"Then let's give it a try."

The two went to the stall, each paid to draw a fortune stick once, and then found the shrine maiden to interpret the results.

"My fortune slip is very auspicious, that's great!"

Yuzhen drew the "Great Fortune" card, which contained a lot of information, but in essence, it was just one sentence: Love will make great progress, you will be in good health, and you will achieve success in your studies and career.

Yuma has always been selective in what she believes; she believes the good things and dismisses the bad things as nonsense.

"Mine is Xiao Ji."

Hoshika's luck wasn't as good as Yuuma's; she only had a minor stroke of luck.

Yuzhen looked at her fortune slip, which roughly meant that she would achieve the results she wanted in a certain area, but she might have minor conflicts with her family and friends.

"A little bit of luck is fine, as long as it's not ominous or anything." Yuzhen handed the fortune slip back to Xingge. "Besides, these things aren't necessarily accurate, so don't worry about them too much."

Xingge thought about it and felt that what Youzhen said seemed to make sense. She folded the note up, put it in her pocket, and didn't think about it anymore.

“Actually, the fortune I drew last year was extremely unlucky.” Yuzhen pulled Xingge to sit down on the bench next to her. “It said that I would miss out on love in my life because of hesitation in my heart.”

"Is that really what they said?"

Xingge turned to look at him after hearing what he said.

“That’s right. But I didn’t hang that fortune on the tree to ward off bad luck.” Yuma grabbed her icy hand. “I did hesitate for a moment the day you confessed your feelings to me, but I didn’t want to miss out on you, so I confessed to you.”

Yuzhen held Xingge's hand. Her hands had been a little cold because she hadn't put them in her pockets, but Yuzhen had warmed them up for her.

"I overcame the so-called destined bad luck written on it to come to your side, senior."

Looking into Xingge's eyes, Youzhen felt that his love with Xingge must be the love that the fortune slip said would last his whole life, and he had absolutely no intention of letting go now.

"Senior's fortune slip is only slightly auspicious, much better than mine. If you think those bad things will come true, then I'll stand by you and fight against fate again, and I'll show you how I can win."

"What are you saying! It sounds so childish."

Xingge pulled her hand back and put it in her pocket.

"Who asked you for help? Don't underestimate me."

"Senior, you're blushing."

"It's because it's too cold outside."

"Yes, yes, you're right, senior."

Yuma's tone sounded like he was teasing a child, but Ijichi Seika was no longer in the mood to refute him.

As fireworks exploded in the sky, the people who came to pay their respects realized that the new year had arrived.

Happy New Year, Senior Xingge.

"Happy New Year."

……

"What? You want to borrow my homework to copy?"

Yuma was woken up early in the morning by the sound of her phone ringing.

The person on the phone was Ichiji Hoshika. It seemed she hadn't done her homework yet and wanted to borrow Yuuma's to copy. Yuuma glanced at the date on his phone: January 6th.

"Senior, do you mean school starts tomorrow but you haven't started your homework yet?"

Yuzhen listened helplessly to Xingge's urgent attempt to save face for herself; it seemed he wouldn't be able to stay idle today.

Chapter 37 Valentine's Day

Although it has been more than a month since school started, Kenzaki Yuuma still misses the lazy life of winter break from time to time.

Yuzhen's alarm on his phone went off. He reached out to turn it off, then climbed out of his warm bed and got dressed.

As usual, he first checked the time on his phone: February 14th. Yuzhen felt the date looked familiar. Then he checked the weather forecast, and unsurprisingly, it was still cold.

When he went into the bathroom, Yuuki was already washing up.

"Good morning."

"Good morning."

After exchanging greetings, Yuzhen was still dazed. He picked up his toothbrush and started brushing his teeth.

After washing his face with cold water, Yuzhen felt a little more awake. He felt someone tug at his clothes, and when he looked down, it was his mother.

"Mom? Is something the matter?"

"Do you two remember what day it is today?"

Upon hearing their mother's question, Yuzhen and Yuxing exchanged a glance, and then they both simultaneously took out their phones to check the date.

"February 14th, it feels like a familiar date, but I can't remember it."

Yuma felt like she remembered, but she couldn't recall it at all.

"It's Valentine's Day, you idiot."

Upon hearing Yuuki's words, the words "Valentine's Day" finally reappeared in Yuuma's mind.

"I remember now." Yuzhen scratched her head. "Mom, you don't need to say anything more. My older brother and I will be staying out tonight."

The two brothers usually don't go home for Valentine's Day. After school, they take the money their parents give them and go out to play, then stay in a hotel for the night. Yuzhen is used to this, so he doesn't react much when Valentine's Day is mentioned.

Seeing how considerate the two were, Kenzaki Yuriko smiled and nodded, then slipped some money to each of them before leaving.

"I'm working on a project with my group today, so I'll probably be staying in the dorm tonight." Yuuki put the money in her pocket and patted Yuuki's shoulder. "But I can book a room for you in advance. You know how hard it is to get a hotel room on Valentine's Day."

"That's good, it saves me some trouble. You're not going to internet cafes this year?"

Yuzhen gave the money to Yuxing.

"Are you crazy? Aren't you going to spend time with your girlfriend this year?"

Yuzhen finally broke free from the habitual thinking formed in previous years, and going to the internet cafe to play games with his older brother was now his subconscious reaction when he heard the words "Valentine's Day".

"Oh right, I was supposed to accompany Senior Xingge."

Yuma splashed some more cold water on her face.

"Oh, right, girls give boys chocolates on Valentine's Day, right? Will Senior Hoshika give me chocolates? Will they be homemade?" Yuuma was already looking forward to it. "Big brother, what do you think? Big brother?"

He snapped out of his reverie and realized that Yuuki had already left.

……

As soon as Yuuma stepped through the school gate, she saw Hoshika ahead of her; her ahoge (cowlick) was so distinctive. Yuuma quickened her pace, walked up to her, and then placed her hand on Hoshika's cheek.

"So cold!"

Xingge turned and glared at Youzhen, then kicked him, but he dodged it.

"Okay, okay, I was wrong, don't be angry."

Yuzhen smiled as he looked at Xingge, who had turned her head away and ignored him. He wanted to touch her face again, but she dodged him with a quick movement.

"Hmph, you want me to forgive you?"

"Yes, yes, how can I avoid getting angry, senior?"

"You'll be on duty with me for a while."

"That's a good option."

"Can I copy your math homework again?"

"This is unacceptable."

"mean."

"Say what you will." Yuzhen pinched her cheek when she wasn't looking. "I've put in a lot of effort for your achievements, senior. Don't let all your hard work go to waste."

Xingge glanced at him, then kicked him and strode into the teaching building.

After changing into his indoor shoes, Yuzhen followed her into the classroom, and then he saw the pile of chocolates on his desk.

He had arrived quite early, but these people had arrived even earlier.

"What's the point of giving something like this if you don't give it to me in person?" Yuma picked up two chocolates, which had nothing written on them, and placed them directly on his desk. "Besides, isn't it obvious that I have a girlfriend? Why would you give me these?"

"You're really popular."

Yuma heard Hoshika's sarcastic and bitter tone.

"I'm so sorry I'm so popular."

He looked around; there was no one else in the classroom or hallway. Then he moved closer to Xingge from behind and hugged her.