I won't be a loser.

Thinking of the girl who confessed to him today and suddenly attacked him, the wise man felt complicated. He opened the door reluctantly and faced the lady who came to his door.

"Good evening, is this Miyamizu Kento, Miyamizu-kun?"

"Excuse me, who are you?"

"I'm Kiyoura Mai, Kiyoura Setsuna's mother who lives next door. May I bother you?"

After the door opened, Qingpu Mai was stunned for a moment, then asked.

Looking at the young man in front of her, even though she had caught a glimpse of his profile the day before, it was only when she met him so closely that she realized that the young man in front of her seemed even more handsome than she had seen him then. His soft eyes and gentle demeanor gave Qing Pu Wu a great liking for him at the first sight, especially the barely perceptible hint of sadness on his body. She also roughly understood why her daughter liked him.

It was like standing in the warm spring breeze, or facing the warm and gentle sunshine. The boy gradually warmed her empty and lonely heart, and the faint sadness made her want to care for him...

Facing the girl who had just confessed her love to him in the afternoon, and looking at Mrs. Qingpu in front of him, Xianren did not expect that the girl would take his words seriously, and that her mother would react so quickly.

But... he always felt that there was something wrong with the way Mrs. Qingpu looked at him?

"Of course, if you don't mind, please come in."

After opening the door a little, he had already seen the other party and roughly guessed the purpose of the other party's visit. How could Xianren refuse the other party? At least he had to explain the matter of Qingpu Setsuna clearly.

He invited the other party into his room, took out his spare slippers, let Qingpu Mai into his apartment, and closed the door casually.

Looking at Mrs. Qingpu who was walking in front of him with a graceful figure and full of mature female charm, Xianren's eyes were distracted for a moment. He recalled something and quickly looked away.

Qing Pu Mai, who entered the apartment, did not notice the gaze of the wise man behind her. Instead, she observed the layout of the apartment. She was a little surprised at the clean and tidy environment in the room. At the same time, her eyes noticed the steaming food in the living room.

"Did I disturb Miyamizu-kun's meal?"

Looking back at the boy behind her, Qingpu Mai asked apologetically.

"Don't mind. Madam Qingpu is here. Is there something wrong?"

The dinner issue is not important. The key is the matter of Qingpu Setsuna. If he can make things clear with Mrs. Qingpu in front of him and let the girl give up, it will be a good thing for Xianren and Setsuna herself.

After hearing the answer from Xianren, Qingpu Mai was silent for a moment. Then she remembered that the boy in front of her was the one her daughter liked, and nodded slightly.

"Yes, then, let me ask directly, Miyamizu-kun, do you like my daughter, Setsuna?"

"That's a very direct question."

When Xianren heard the question from Qingpu Mai, he was stunned for a moment. He didn't expect the other party to be so direct, but he didn't need to think about this question, so he gave an answer.

"Ms. Kiyoura, Setsuna is indeed very lovely, but because we only met briefly, I don't have any special feelings for her. Since Madam is here, she must have heard of my request for her, right?"

Qingpu Mai nodded.

"You need your parents' permission, right?"

Even now, Qingpu Mai felt that it was an answer to her daughter's rejection. Coming here now was nothing more than confirming the other party's attitude and making her daughter give up.

"Yes, love is a matter between two people, but it's not just about two people. If the relationship continues, then marriage, a lifelong event, is inevitable. At that time, if both sides' parents oppose it, then it will inevitably end in a very helpless way."

Looking at Qingpu Mai's expression as if she understood something, Xianren continued speaking.

"So, in order to prevent a sad ending, it's better to have both parents clearly state their stances at the beginning of the relationship."

"About that, I already understand. But even if I agree, will your parents agree?"

"......"

The development of the plot seems a little wrong. Shouldn't he be against his daughter's premature love?

Looking at Qingpu Mai in front of him who didn't seem to object, Xianren fell into a brief silence, unable to speak for a long time, and nodded after a while.

"If it's a normal relationship... my parents probably wouldn't object. My father is a bit stubborn, but my mother has always been very tolerant of these things. Even if I were to date a woman twice my age, she would probably be able to accept it."

"Eh?"

Qing Pu Wu's heart skipped a beat. After hearing the wise man's words, her heartbeat accelerated. In a moment, countless confusions and questions emerged in her mind -

"A woman twice my age? What do you mean? Could it be... me? No way? Why are you suddenly bringing this up? Is he interested in me? No, no! But what if..."

Cherry Blossom Season: 18. Do you like older girls? [Come and vote]

"Miyamizu-kun, do you prefer women older than you, rather than those younger than you, or those of your own age?"

"Ok?"

Subconsciously asking the wrong question, Qing Pu Mai looked at the boy in front of her who was looking at her with strange eyes, and she also realized that she had said the wrong thing. Just when she wanted to explain what she meant, not wanting the other party to misunderstand her and think that she had some intentions towards him...

"Age isn't a problem. Personally, as long as I like someone, age doesn't matter. I like someone, and age has nothing to do with it."

I don't know what kind of thinking was behind Qingura Mai asking this question, but Xianren still gave an answer and explained his personal view on love.

“It has nothing to do with age?”

Looking at the boy in front of her, Qing Pu Mai was a little surprised. Most boys of this age like girls of the same age as themselves. It is not that there are no boys who like those older than themselves, but they are very few. People like Miyamizu-kun in front of her who don't mind age are even rarer.

A young man who doesn't care about age when falling in love is really dangerous for Qingpu Mai. She feels her heart beating vigorously, and her dormant heart feels waves of throbbing.

Even though Kiyoura Mai has been single since giving birth to Kiyoura Setsuna, she has not considered the idea of starting a family again. Her own conditions are not bad, and her figure has not changed after giving birth to Setsuna. Many men also show their interest in her on a daily basis.

She just didn't know why, but she had no feelings at all towards the men around her.

In the past, she had always used the excuse of 'considering Setsuna's feelings' to convince herself, but now, looking at the boy in front of her, Qing Pu Mai had to admit that the reason she was not interested in those men was simply because she didn't like those who were already older.

She is no longer young. Even if she walks with Setsuna, not many people would doubt that they are sisters. She has begun to age, so she feels repulsed by men of similar age.

She couldn't accept that she was no longer young. Only young boys, and only when she faced those young people who were still young, could she feel that she was still young...

Looking at the young man in front of her, Qing Pu Wu understood her own heart and her own thoughts. She clasped her hands in front of her body and gently covered her heart, feeling her heartbeat that was no longer calm.

"Miyamizu-kun, would you mind dating someone older than you?"

"..."

Hearing Qingpu Wu's question, Xianren felt that the atmosphere in the room seemed to be getting more and more weird. Looking at Qingpu Wu in front of him, whose eyes were fiery and seemed to want to eat him alive, he was speechless for a moment. He didn't know why Qingpu Wu suddenly cared so much about the topic of age.

"I personally don't mind it much, and my mother doesn't have any special requirements in this regard. It's just that my father has always been stubborn and can never accept things that challenge common sense. So he might prevent me from having any contact with women older than me. Even if he allows it, he will definitely not let me have a relationship with a married woman."

The wise man, who had vaguely sensed some crisis, brought out his father and used him as a shield.

The moment he finished speaking, he noticed that Mrs. Qingpu's eyes in front of him had become much clearer and calmer, but her eyes were always observing him, which made him unable to understand. Wasn't she here today to discuss something about Setsuna?

Why are you so obsessed with the topic of 'older women'?

The wise man, who was being stared at by Qing Pu Mai, looked at himself vaguely for a moment, thinking about how to shift the topic back to the matter of Setsuna and let Madam Qing Pu in front of him persuade Setsuna properly -

"I already understand that Miyamizu-kun has no feelings for Setsuna. So even if I agreed to Setsuna dating you, you would just be cooperating with her to satisfy her beautiful fantasies as a girl, right?"

The wise man, who was about to change the subject, did not expect that Mrs. Qingpu in front of him would change the subject so quickly. He glanced at Mrs. Qingpu in front of him, whose expression had calmed down, and nodded slightly.

"Miss Setsuna... and I still don't know enough about each other. Perhaps it was because of a momentary affection that she wanted to date me, but I've only been in Tokyo for a short time and there are still many things I need to understand and deal with. I'm afraid it's difficult to take her feelings into consideration, so..."

Most of them were excuses, but Xianren had come to Tokyo and there were indeed a lot of things that needed to be dealt with in the next period of time. Even if he was dating Setsuna, it would be difficult for him to always take care of her feelings.

He did not deny that he felt empty and lonely during this period, but that did not mean that he had completely let go of everything and could date girls without any scruples.

The reason why he proposed to Shanna that they could date after their parents agreed was because he felt empty inside, and Shanna's initiative made him waver.

Although he seems mature and considerate of the future needs of both parties, it is just his inner confusion.

"I understand. I will persuade Setsuna to reconsider this matter. However, Setsuna has always been very stubborn. Once he has made up his mind, he probably won't give up easily. Miyamizu-kun..."

"I know what to do."

Qingpu Mai nodded slightly, and inadvertently noticed the lunch box on the table and the Jinping burdock inside.

"Did Setsuna make this for you personally?"

"Ok?"

Following Qingpu Mai's gaze, Xianren noticed the kinpei burdock on the table and was stunned for a moment.

His reaction also made Qingpu Wu understand that her daughter really liked the other party, and her mood was a little complicated.

"That child seems to really like you. If possible, I also hope that Miyamizu-kun can seriously consider dating Setsuna. You feel confused now, and I don't support you dating Setsuna, but if one day you really like Setsuna, then... it's almost time, I'll go back first."

"Well, let me take you there, Mrs. Qingpu."

"Just call me Wu. Calling me Madam feels a bit too old."

"...Well then, Miss Mai."

"I like this name. Well, I'll go back and persuade Setsuna."

Qing Pu Wu, who was standing at the door, looked at the young man in front of her, bowed slightly to say goodbye, and walked towards the stairs. Xianren, who stayed at the door, stared at her slender back. The scent of her perfume still lingered in the air, which made Xianren sigh. He went back into the house and closed the door.

While waiting at home, I was feeling restless. I said I was preparing dinner, but ended up standing in front of the kitchen counter. I couldn't control my hands even when cracking an egg, and the eggshells broke into pieces in the bowl. With mixed feelings, I casually made a simple dinner and waited for my mother to come back...

click -

The door lock was unlocked. Following the sound, Qingpu Shanna looked towards the door and saw Qingpu Mai coming back.

"Mother."

"Setsuna, I'm back."

"How about it?"

Qingpu Wu came back, gently closed the door behind her, and walked into the living room. Looking at her daughter's expectant and uneasy eyes, she was silent for a moment and smiled slightly.

"Of course I agreed. After all, she's my lovely daughter. It's your first love, so you have to do your best!"

"......"

Looking at her daughter sitting on the sofa, her whole body limp as if she had breathed a sigh of relief, Qingpu Mai felt a little uneasy and guilty, but she maintained a smile on her face.

"However, even though I agree to let you date Miyamizu-kun, there is one thing I hope you can agree to with your mother."

"what?"

Setsuna raised her head, her cheeks flushed with cute but suppressed excitement, and looked at Qingura Mai.

"You have to tell Mom about your relationship with Miyamizu-kun. At least let Mom know how far you've progressed. Only then can Mom feel at ease letting you date Miyamizu-kun. Okay?"

As he blinked, he didn't quite understand why his mother made such a request, but the thought of being able to date Xianren occupied his entire moment, so he didn't think much about it and nodded in agreement.

"Ok!"

- - - -

A new month! Come and vote for Qiuli Paste!

Thanks to Prescription, Immortal Gray Witch, yucd, ihp5, Kewpie-chan~, Delisha is the cutest, Mistydin, Futaba Rio is the best in the world, Soumarez, and Rua of the Red Headscarf for their monthly tickets and blades! Thank you all for your recommendation votes!

Cherry Blossom Season: 19. Please respect my dignity as a man

On the 25th, the time left for school to start is getting shorter and shorter.

Xianren woke up early in the morning, sat in his room, washed up simply, looked at the ingredients stored in the refrigerator, heated up the leftover miso from last night, prepared his breakfast simply, and then sat in his room in a daze, thinking about what he should do.

"I had thought about writing an award-winning work before, but it's not that easy to write an award-winning work."

I had submitted an article to a magazine before, but given the magazine's general efficiency, it would take at least three days to get a reply. Since it was a weekly magazine, I would have to wait at least a week.

He glanced at the calendar in front of him and found that today was Tuesday. Sitting in his room, the idle sage began to miss the past time.

Even if I have nothing to do like now, at least I can use my adult status to enter the adult areas of rental stores and bookstores without any scruples, buy some magazines or CDs, and use them as entertainment at home.

"If I write something like that now, even if I submit it, no one will accept it. By the time I reach adulthood, that will take four years. Four years..."

Four years have passed. I guess all the works he wrote have been piled up in the room and turned yellow and moldy, right?

"I wonder what Sayuri is doing now..."

Sawamura family.

Sayuri Sawamura felt that her daughter's reaction was a little strange recently. She always stayed in her room in a daze. When she went to call her for dinner, she knocked on the door and entered her room, only to find her staring at a strange painting.

When she walked closer, she found that the painting was not the restricted picture she had expected, but was full of blood and darkness.

In a dark room, a man lay in a pool of blood.

“Is this work of this type?”

Looking at her daughter who was unconscious, Sayuri Sawamura came behind her daughter and called out to wake her up who seemed to be still in a daze.

Eriri woke up with a start and looked back at her mother. Her mind went blank for a moment and she hurriedly prepared to close the painting in front of her. But when she was about to click the 'X', she thought that her mother had entered the room at some point and probably saw it clearly, so she gave up such a useless action.

"A revenge story? Like a story about an innocent girl being toyed with by a man lying in a pool of blood, and then, after a period of degradation, she repents and takes revenge with a knife?"

From the picture, one can vaguely see the person holding the knife, who is a young girl. Sayuri even vaguely feels that she is somewhat similar to her own daughter.