Tokyo Soft Rice King

"It's your business if you like the monitor. I don't care about that. But it's ridiculous that you come to trouble me just because you like the monitor."

"Do you think that if you show off in front of the monitor, insult me, or even beat me up, the monitor will like you?"

"Or, do you think the squad leader is the kind of superficial woman who wants to see two men fighting over her affections?"

Sumitomo Ryota was left speechless.

Then Kuroba Ming delivered the final fatal blow.

"I tell you, who do you like, the real Hitomi Asato, or the Hitomi Asato in your imagination?"

"...!!!"

Even though he hadn't even started fighting yet, Sumitomo Ryouta couldn't bear the blow. His legs were trembling, and he took a few steps back. Finally, he collapsed on the ground with a distraught expression on his face.

"Tsk..."

Hei Yuming was shocked in dissatisfaction.

At this time, Kuroba Akira also knew where his irritation with Sumitomo Ryouta came from.

Because he is very similar to the young and naive self he used to be.

Those who wishfully believe that what they think is reality and stubbornly believe that they are the only ones who are right are simply self-centered and immature young men. It makes me angry just thinking about it.

Kuroba Ming also had a crush on a girl in junior high school. That was his first love.

The girl was good at drawing and said she wanted to be a cartoonist in the future, but because she couldn't write stories, she hoped that Kuroba Akira, who was a good essay writer, could help her write stories.

So during the summer vacation of the year they graduated from junior high school, the boy and the girl were together every day, meeting at school or the cold drink hall, discussing the plot, making storyboards, and finally completing a short comic together and uploading it to the Internet.

The result was, of course, a flop. No one watched it, and the number of clicks was only a pitiful double digit.

But this comic can be regarded as the starting point of Kuroba Akira's creation, which made this science and engineering man give up the career related to his major and choose to embark on the path of screenwriter and copywriter.

At that time, the girl said that her painting was not good enough and that it was a waste of the script that Kuroba Ming had carefully created. She said that she wanted to paint better, so she wanted to go to art school.

So the girl chose to become an art student and went to another place to attend a training course. In the end, Hei Yuming was unable to express his feelings to her.

As time went by, the two people who had no confirmed relationship contacted each other less and less, and coupled with their busy studies, they lost contact completely, and the three years of high school passed by in a flash.

Then after Kuroba Ming went to college, he kept dreaming about his first love. He finally decided to face his heart, found her contact information, and called her.

At that time, Hei Yuming never thought that this feeling could be reciprocated. So many years have passed, and it is too late to confess now.

But in fact, he still has a fantasy deep in his heart... If she still cares about those beautiful youthful memories like he does... Is there a possibility that they will fall in love with each other?

But even if we can't be together, this time I can say goodbye to my past self.

Amidst a state of anxiety, the phone call was connected.

Kuroba Akira failed to confess his love.

Because after he gave his name, the reply he got was: "Sorry, I... can't quite remember... Are you my former classmate?"

Then Kuroba Akira completely understood.

She doesn't even remember herself.

In the other person's eyes, that memory was not important at all. Three years was enough for the other person to even forget the name of his 'old classmate'.

In this world, apart from your parents, there are not many people who care about you.

On that day, Hei Yuming abandoned all his innocence and also lost his consideration for others.

He used to be a person who cared about the eyes of people around him, would blush, be shy, was very introverted, and cared a lot about his image and self-esteem.

But later on, Hei Yuming became very casual.

Even if you run naked in the street, the onlookers will just watch for fun and forget about it after the commotion is over.

The chance that a person can leave a mark in the memory of others is so small that it is not worth mentioning.

From a young man who couldn't see himself clearly to a mortal with self-awareness, the boy's heart grew up.

And now, it's your turn, Ryouta Sumitomo.

Chapter 47 I promise not to slap you in the face

The inferiority complex made Sumitomo Ryota stop moving forward and unwilling to face reality.

He still thought that Anri Hitomi was still Xiaotong, his good childhood playmate.

But in fact, Anri Hitomi has changed, become unfamiliar, and mature. She has moved towards the future, while she is still living in the past.

It's time to face reality...

Not only did I keep pestering her, I also caused her trouble... What on earth have I been doing...

Sumitomo Ryota felt so regretful that he wanted to slap himself twice.

It turns out that until now, I have not made any progress and have always been a coward.

Some people, once missed, are missed forever, and they are missed for a lifetime.

That's why it's him who's by Anri Hitomi's side now, not herself.

Hei Yuming still explained it to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings.

"My relationship with the class monitor isn't what you think it is. Her making lunch for me was just a deal I proposed without my permission. I joined the Arts Club, and she made lunch for me, that's all. As for why she didn't let you join the Arts Club, that's something you have to ask yourself."

"As for you saying the squad leader only makes bento for her future husband, maybe it was just a childhood joke. Maybe she doesn't even remember saying it."

"So I can't be considered your love rival. After all, I'm not pursuing the class monitor..."

Kuroba Akira walked up to Sumitomo Ryouta who was sitting on the ground, squatted down and asked.

"So, do you still want to fight?"

"……hateful……!"

Sumitomo Ryota clenched his fists. He hated Kuroba Akira from the bottom of his heart, the guy who forced him to face reality.

He stood up from the ground, pounded his thigh to cheer himself up, and then pointed a finger at Hei Yuming.

"One punch!"

"what?"

Hei Yuming raised his eyebrows and asked for the specific meaning.

"Just one punch! Let me punch you! And then this matter will be over!"

I see... This is how Sumitomo Ryouta bids farewell to his past self.

Just like the phone call I made.

Hei Yuming also stood up and cracked his fingers.

"You're not asking me to just stand there and get spanked, are you? I can fight back, you know?"

"Feel free to come over here!"

Seriously, I have the resolute expression of a hero facing a great demon... I'm not the final boss.

"Then come on."

After taking a deep breath, Sumitomo Ryouta raised his fist and rushed towards Kuroba Akira, swinging his fist vigorously as if he was using all his strength.

Just hit me in the face.

In fact, students rarely hit each other in the face during fights, because it is easy to see, so they usually hit the stomach or back.

However, since he had already made up his mind, he still had to respond politely.

Hei Yuming stood still, waiting for the other party to come to him.

Attacks aimed at the face are actually very easy to predict, because the human head is so small, and it is not easy to get a headshot.

So he stared calmly at Sumitomo Ryouta's fist, adjusted his body posture, and when he came in front of him, he turned sideways and swung his fist when the opportunity arose.

Sumitomo Ryouta's fist brushed past Kuroba Akira's cheek, but Kuroba Akira's fist hit him hard in the face.

Cross counter punch.

"Well……!"

Sumitomo Ryota took a few steps back in pain, but he managed to keep his feet and did not fall to the ground in embarrassment, although he really wanted to lie down like that.

He covered his nose, blood was flowing out of his nose, and tears were welling up in his eyes.

Men bleed, not tears.

Since the nosebleed has already started, you have to hold back the tears.

Hei Yuming looked at the joints of his index and middle fingers that were stained with his nosebleed, and the feeling of hitting someone still remained in his hands.

That’s why I hate fighting… The person being beaten feels pain, and the person beating feels bad too.

Anyone who likes to beat people up must have his conscience burned with anger.

Hei Yuming shook his hands and asked.

"Do you want to continue?"

"No... no need."

Although the punch just now missed, he had poured all his unwillingness and regret into it and threw it out along with the swinging fist.

After throwing this punch, he felt as if all the strength in his body had been drained away, and at the same time, an inexplicable sense of relief welled up in his heart.

Maybe he didn't want to hit Hei Yuming to vent his anger, he just wanted to get punched to make himself feel better.

"Hei Yuming...you must make her happy!"

"Uh……"

Hei Yuming rolled his eyes and complained in his heart.

Why are you saying this? Are you her father?

"Her happiness is her own business. I have no right to give it to her, nor should I give it to her."

"Too……"

Happiness should always be fought for by oneself...

But I no longer have a chance.

Sumitomo Ryota's heart grew on this day.

At the same time, he also realized it clearly and painfully.

The fact that I had fallen out of love a long time ago.

……

When lunch break was almost over, Kuroba Akira and Sumitomo Ryota returned to the classroom one after another. Kobayakawa Motoko was waiting for their return with a serious face. It seemed that the class monitor had already gone to find the teacher to explain the situation.

Of the two people who came back, one had injuries on his face, while the other did not. It was obvious that they had been fighting.

The classmates were all surprised. It turned out that the person who got beaten was Sumitomo Ryouta? Is Kuroba Akira really that good at fighting?

Sumitomo Ryouta's relatives and friends looked at Kuroba Akira with unfriendly expressions. Two boys frowned and glared at Kuroba Akira, as if to say, "Just wait and see!" Another girl with a ponytail looked at Sumitomo Ryouta with a distressed expression, and then looked at Kuroba Akira with resentment.

That's why I said I didn't want to have a conflict with this guy. Now I'm really going to be regarded as a villain. I hope Sumitomo Ryota can take care of himself and persuade his friends not to cause trouble for him one by one like the Calabash Brothers saving their grandfather.

On the other side, Asato Hitomi breathed a sigh of relief, which also made Kuroba Ming feel somewhat comforted. It seemed that at least the class monitor still cared about him.

Afterwards, the two were called to Motoko Kobayakawa's office and questioned about what had happened.

During this period, Kuroba Akira didn't say anything. Sumitomo Ryota took all the responsibility alone, saying that he had caused trouble for Kuroba Akira because of his momentary impulse, and then he said this about his nose.

"We didn't fight. My nose was bleeding just because I accidentally fell."

"Is that so? Kuroba-san?"

"If he says yes, then it is."

"..."

Although Kobayakawa Motoko was a little shortsighted, she was not a fool. She could naturally see that Sumitomo Ryouta was injured by Kuroba Akira, but she just couldn't understand why Sumitomo Ryouta seemed to have let it go and stopped bothering Kuroba Akira.