[Net King] Pilgrim

As soon as Machida returned to the room, he touched his cheeks that were still a little hot, and buried his face in the soft blanket.

After releasing her exhaustion and tension, sleepiness hit her like a tide, and she soon fell into a deep sleep.

Sleep till dawn.

When she woke up, she reacted for a while, and gradually regained her consciousness before she remembered where she was.He got up in a daze and went to the bathroom. After washing up, he went to the balcony to get the clothes that were dried yesterday and changed.

After leaving the bedroom, I happened to meet Echizen Ryoma who came out of the room.He was dressed in black sportswear, with wrist guards on his wrists, reflected in the first morning light, still exuding a clean youthful air.

I could see him when I got up early, and Machida felt inexplicably warm, "Are you feeling better?"

"Well, it's all right." He was sweating all over at night, and his skin was slightly cool when he woke up, and he didn't feel slightly uncomfortable like last night.

Machida breathed a sigh of relief, but saw Echizen Ryoma was looking at her quietly, his smile didn't seem to hold back, and his lower lip slightly curved.

"What's wrong?" She looked puzzled.

"Do you want a comb?"

comb?

Machida stood still for a few seconds.

"..."

She raised her hand to cover her head in frustration, "Do I look like a mess...hey, don't laugh!"

I forgot to look in the mirror just now, but according to the past, she can think of what she looks like now...

Echizen Ryoma suppressed his smile, and dragged her to the outside bathroom, "I was worried that you didn't sleep well last night." He took out a comb from the drawer of the cabinet and gave her, "It seems completely opposite."

Machida Kazu simply gave up face, sighed, and combed his hair in front of the mirror.

Although she is not an overly casual person in her life, she is also unable to maintain refinement all the time, and there will always be times when she is slovenly.No matter how casual she is on weekdays, in front of him, she still cares about these things.

She pursed her lips. "Waking up early is the worst part of my day, usually."

Echizen Ryoma leaned against the bathroom door, smiled and said, "It's not too bad. I'm very happy to see you in life."

Machida paused while holding the comb, and a smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, "You are happy to see my sloppy side? Don't you dislike it?"

"If it were me, would you dislike me?"

"What if I say yes?"

He raised his eyebrows, and suddenly raised a hand to mess with her freshly combed hair, showing a mischievous smile.

Machida Kazu: "Echizen Ryoma, you childish ghost!"

The classmate "Naive Ghost" took the comb from her hand with a smile, took the initiative to make up for the mistake, stood behind her, and combed the soft long hair again, the movements were a bit clumsy but gentle.

After a moment of silence, he said softly, "Just do it yourself, I know this is your truest appearance."

Not perfect, but real.He has always liked her for her original and willful behavior.

Machida looked at Echizen Ryoma through the mirror, the strings in his heart were gently plucked, and the echo echoed in his chest.His downcast and careful expression also carried a bit of laziness when he got up in the morning, and the ends of his hair were curled up in an unruly way.

She muttered in a low voice, "How can someone look so good-looking when they're lazy."

"Huh?" He looked up.

Their eyes met, and she couldn't help but smile, as usual, "I said, you are so pretty, I like you."

In the morning, Janice sent a text message saying she was back, so Machida went back to the apartment first.

As soon as she entered the door, Janice gave her a big hug: "Honey, I'm back! I put the key on the coffee table." Let go of her and looked at her, "...Is my sensor wrong? I feel yours The clothes are a bit damp."

"It rained a little last night..." Machida inexplicably flashed the events of last night in his head, and lost his mind.

Janice looked suspicious at first, and then said with a somewhat ambiguous smile: "I was quite guilty of leaving you outside alone, but now it seems that you live well."

Machida clapped his hands one by one.But he controlled the strength, and it was painless.

Janice chuckled, and threw herself back on the bed to catch up on sleep.

Once Machida went back to his room, he changed into clean clothes, tidied up and went to the school theater.

I am worried that I will be busy in Japan for a few days, so I have to solve all the current tasks and plan ahead for future arrangements.

On the eve of returning to Japan, Machida finished a report in advance, discussed the repertoire of the final performance with his classmates in class, discussed the rehearsal schedule, and took time out of class to write a brief first draft of the final paper.

And Echizen Ryoma is not much better, the schoolwork is tight, the spare time is almost filled by training, and the time between the two of them is pitifully small.

Been busy until Easter break.At noon on the day of departure, Kaibin drove Echizen Ryoma and waited downstairs in the school theater.

Machida still had final confirmation on final rehearsals in the morning, so he left the luggage in his apartment in advance, and went straight to the airport after she finished.

After waiting for about 10 minutes, I saw Machida walking straight through the flower bed in front of the building.

The weather was cool, she was wearing casual clothes, carrying a shoulder bag, and a black peaked cap which was rare, but Echizen Ryoma still recognized her at a glance.

Kebin didn't go back to Japan with them. He had to drive to the Scottish Highlands with his friends the next day.

As soon as Machida ate the instant sushi Echizen brought her, she looked slightly surprised, "It's still a bit cold to go to the highlands now."

Echizen Ryoma raised his eyes slightly, "I reminded him."

Kebin put his hands on the steering wheel and said with a smile: "I can't even remember the rough scenery when I go to see it in warm weather. I have to be shivered by the wind to get a deep impression."

After getting the boarding pass at the airport, Kaibin smiled and waved to the two of them, "Happy holiday, see you when you come back, I'll pick you up." He slipped away before being sent to the security check.

Machida couldn't help smiling, "I think Kebin is like an explorer."

Echizen Ryoma was noncommittal, "He said that if one day he stopped playing tennis, he would travel around the world."

The airport was crowded with people. When boarding the plane, he pressed the brim of his hat, paused, and looked at her suspiciously, "I just wanted to ask you..."

"Ok?"

"You rarely wear a hat."

Machida blinked, and finally understood what he meant, "Ah, tell me this..." When the two of them found seats in the first-class cabin, she pondered for a moment, but said, "Let me tell you a secret."

Echizen Ryoma looked at her.

"For some female friends, wearing a hat is not for dressing up, nor for shading the sun." She paused, and continued to state without changing her expression, "It's because you haven't washed your hair."

"..."

She rubbed her nose, "Oh, I didn't go back until late after discussing with my classmates last night. I went to school again early this morning, and I didn't find the time..."

Echizen Ryoma sighed softly, and asked the flight attendant for a thicker blanket.Covering her with a blanket, she lowered her voice, "If you are tired, go to sleep first, and you can wash it when you get back. Be patient."

Machida yawned, and with a soft "um", he lifted the blanket up.Leaning on his shoulder, he put on the hood of the hoodie again, and closed his eyes.

The plane roared and whizzed across the runway, rising into the sky, like a gull skimming the sea, with white and transparent wings shining in the sun.

The spring is warm and colorful, and the sky is full of colorful cherry blossoms, and the sky over Tokyo is as clear as blue.

Machida received the flight number from Machida in advance, and took a day off to pick up the plane, accompanied by Fuji Shusuke who has become a freelance photographer.

Just after noon, Haneda Airport was busy and bustling. When the two of them were picked up, the sun was shining outside, making their bodies feel warm.

While the few people in the car were exchanging greetings, Machida lay down by the open window in the back seat, looking outside happily, without the groggy feeling he had just got off the plane.

Echizen Ryoma turned his head to look at her, the spring breeze brushed her cheeks, her raised lips, and his own heart.

In the spring when he first entered Qingxue, during those few months, he was not familiar with her, nor did he know that the spring breeze in Tokyo can be so gentle that even every corner of the city is printed with color.

Echizen Ryoma reached out, took Machida's hand that was on his knee, and held it tightly in the palm of his hand.

She paused for a moment, then held back her hand the next moment, interlocking his fingers.

Fuji Zhousuke sat in the co-pilot, looked at the two people in the back seat through the rearview mirror, and smiled, "It's great, you are together." After finishing the sentence, he added with a smile, " Right? Echizen."

Machida clearly felt that Echizen Ryoma's expression froze.

She looked at him with some doubts, but saw that he lowered the brim of his hat unnaturally, turned his head to look out the window, and gave a vague "hmm".

Then the topic turned to the party, and Fuji smiled and said, "The party is at Aaron's store at seven o'clock on Saturday night."

As soon as Machida heard him mention that Kawamura-san inherited his father's business, he was busy selecting ingredients and preparing the menu for the party during this time, and then the topic naturally extended to the recent situation of the seniors.

She looked at Echizen Ryoma beside her.Although he didn't show much enthusiasm these days, she knew that he must be looking forward to this gathering, looking forward to seeing the partners who shed blood and tears on the tennis court together.

When sending Echizen Ryoma home, Machida stood beside the car and gently hugged him, "Go back and have a good rest, we should see each other on the weekend."

He patted her on the back, "You too."

The two people who told each other to take a good rest did not feel sleepy on the first night because of jet lag and enough sleep on the plane.

As soon as Machida got home, he cleaned up and had a family reunion dinner in the evening.

I haven't seen her for two years, and the family members were very happy to see her. They said that she lost weight, and then carefully checked the injuries on her hands. rest assured.

At the dinner table, she inevitably asked about her boyfriend.

Machida bit his lip, and explained everything else that needed to be said except the name "Echizen Ryoma".

Father shook his head and laughed: "I mean, when you were in high school, all the love letters were delivered to your doorstep, and I didn't see much reaction from you."

"Invite him to come home on weekends." Mother said with a smile, "Tell me what he likes to eat later, so I can prepare it in advance."

And Grandpa Naka Machida is already proposing a trip to Shonan, "I want to go and tell me anytime, I'll have someone clean up the room." But they don't know that this is a revisit for the two of them.

The attitude of the three elders is clear, and it is inevitable that there are two "guarantors" Machida Hisashi and Fuji Shusuke.

After dinner, everyone chatted and watched TV dramas. Machida briefly mentioned to his family what had happened during his two years away, but he only reported good news but not bad news.

After Fujisuke left, Machida returned to his room early in the morning.I wanted to sleep because of jet lag, but finally found that I was still a bit reluctant, so I got up from the bed, turned on the bedside lamp, took out my phone and sent a text message to Echizen Ryoma, asking if he was asleep.

"No, I can't sleep."

"Hehe, me too."

Echizen Ryoma played a game in the yard at night, and the smelly old man chattered as usual, but this time he switched to other fields, teasing him about having a girlfriend while playing.

I took a shower and lay on the bed, knowing that the jet lag would be over for a while, so I watched a movie on Netflix.

Echizen Ryoma was watching "Pirates of the Caribbean" when Machida called.

"Are you free for two weekends?" she asked.

"On Sunday, I asked Senior A Tao to go to the street tennis court. On Saturday... isn't there a party tonight?"

"Well. At noon on Saturday..." She paused, her tone soft, "Do you have time? My family would like to invite you to my house for dinner."

Echizen Ryoma was slightly taken aback, and after a while, he said calmly, "Okay."

Saturday, sunny and clear.

At ten o'clock in the morning, when the doorbell rang, the two brothers and sisters were "flirting" with their grandfather in the yard, and Machida rushed to open the door when he heard the sound.

The old man laughed at her, took off his muddy gloves, and was supported by Machida Hisashi and walked over.

As soon as Echizen Ryoma put down his hand, the gate of the courtyard opened.

Machida led him in with a smile, trying to take the things in his hand, but was avoided, he smiled and said, "Help me take off the hat." He lowered his head slightly as he spoke.

She gently took off the hat, smoothed his cool hair, and helped him take off the mask.

The old man who came close was stunned, and Machida's parents who came out and stood at the door of the room were also stunned.

The person in front of the courtyard has a handsome face, and a light gray knitted sweater over the shirt.Looking up and seeing the three elders standing in the yard, he was taken aback for a moment, bowed slightly politely, "Hello, I'm Echizen Ryoma."

This was even more surprising than knowing that Ha Yi had a boyfriend. The three elders smiled and beckoned him to come in and sit down.

Under the seemingly calm appearance of Echizen Ryoma, there was a strange joy in his heart.He and Machida had exchanged "information" with each other, so the gift they prepared was naturally suitable.

Machida was inevitably reprimanded by her family, saying that she didn't make it clear in advance, she smiled, "It's the same now."

It has nothing to do with his identity or name, the most important thing is who he is.

Machida's parents naturally also understood, especially seeing that Echizen was not as indifferent as the rumors said, but very polite.On the contrary, the grandfather sitting on the sofa looked thoughtful, and couldn't help asking Echizen if he had been to Shonan many years ago.

Everyone looked at each other.

He nodded, "I went there with my seniors when I was in junior high school. Hajime was there too."

The old man laughed heartily, "I can't be wrong...the boy who made two senior students speechless in front of the restaurant that day, wasn't it you?"

That year in Shonan, Grandpa Machida happened to meet Hisashi Machida who was traveling with his classmates in a restaurant he frequented. When he said a few words and left, outside the restaurant, he overheard two middle school boys wearing team uniforms chatting behind his back. root.

Basically, I heard that Qingxue broke Lihai Dalian's winning streak in the national competition, and the minister who mocked Lihai University lost to a first-year boy.

Their laughter didn't last long before being interrupted by a lazy "Hello".

In front of the vending machine a few meters away, a boy with dark green hair drank a soda and glanced coldly, "You are very noisy."

The two seniors were stunned for a moment, and then they gave a snort. Just as they were about to speak, the boy said calmly, "It's because you talk too much that you can't play tennis well." After saying that, he threw the empty jar Going into the trash can, ignoring the other two who were already black-faced, and walked back to the restaurant expressionlessly.

"Where did you come from... Who are you feeding you!" One of them said angrily.

The boy's hand that was about to open the door paused, and turned his head indifferently, but his aura remained undiminished, "First-year Qing Xue, Echizen Ryoma." After finishing speaking, he turned and entered the restaurant.

Machida was really surprised when he heard it. He didn't know there was such a connection. He looked at Echizen, "Is there such a thing?"

It's obvious that she doesn't remember him, but based on her understanding of him, the credibility is extremely high.

There was a smile in the corner of the old man's eyes. What he didn't say was that, judging from the reactions of the two students later, he quickly understood that Echizen Ryoma was the first grader who won the competition, and he could hear his overtones.

Young, but very bold and upright.

Although the attitude is a bit ostentatious, who is not yet young and vigorous.

——This is Grandpa Machida’s impression of Echizen Ryoma at that time.It quickly occurred to me that the first grade of Qingxue...was at the same school as my granddaughter, such a good boy, I wish she could get to know him...

As a result, the person was brought back today.

After a happy meal, Machida's father asked Echizen to relax, and said that Haichi's mother was a great cook.

Echizen Ryoma thought of something, smiled and said, "I know."

Everyone was puzzled, Machida cleared his throat, and hurriedly said, "...I told him."

...She didn't tell him about it, but she gave it to him.

In the afternoon, Machida greeted his family and went out for a stroll with Echizen Ryoma.

The flowers in half of the city are in bloom, and there is a sweet smell in the air.He held her fingers, from Tokyo Tower to Ginza, from Kanda to Ochanomizu, walking for the short distance, and taking the tram for the distance.

When the sky was getting dark and the two were planning to go directly to the sushi restaurant, a little accident happened on the way.

Coming out of the ancient bookstore in Jimbocho, there was a whispered discussion around him—"Is he Echizen Ryoma?!"

Both of them froze when they heard the sound.

Machida was still holding a half-eaten ice cream in one hand, and was led by Echizen Ryoma to the inside, silently blocking the sight of the surroundings with her body, and tightly holding her hand to avoid the crowd.

As night fell, the streets were quite crowded.After walking more than ten meters away, there are still voices of surprise or screams behind me, and I can't ignore them even if I want to ignore them.

Echizen Ryoma always felt that his hat and mask were decorations, and they were useless when meeting so-called die-hard fans.

He was still hesitating how to get away, but seeing Machida throwing the unfinished crispy skin into the trash can, he turned to him and said, "Ryoma, let's run away."

Along the wide road, the two held hands and ran all the way, couldn't help laughing, and the evening wind blew into their ears.

Just like that, he turned two intersections without direction, got rid of the people following him, and hid in an inconspicuous narrow alley before stopping.

The alley is dark and quiet, few people walk around.

Machida leaned back against the concrete wall, panting, "...Have you avoided fans like this before?"

"A few times." Echizen Ryoma took off his hat and mask, and casually shook his wet hair.Raising his eyes, he saw a small piece of clear moonlight shining on the wall in front of him.

Machida stood there in the moonlight.

"Then why didn't you run away just now?" She asked with a smile.

He approached her involuntarily, "Isn't there you? If you take away the ice cream, you will lose your temper again."

She giggled, "Then you are really unlucky to meet me..." Before she could say the rest, Echizen Ryoma hugged her in her arms.

Machida breathed and stagnated, and in the blurred shadows, he felt his breath brushing the tip of his nose.

Her heartbeat stopped for a beat, and she suddenly said, "...lipsticks are very expensive."

From a slight distance, the taste of vanilla ice cream was still overflowing on her lips.

Echizen Ryoma smiled, "Tell me the brand, the color, and I'll buy it for you." He kissed her with warm lips, and said vaguely, "Is ten enough... twenty?"

Machida couldn't help laughing, feeling that it was strange that such words came out of his mouth.Pushed him lightly, "You bought your lipstick wholesale..."

Echizen Ryoma grabbed her wrist and held her in his arms.

With the sky full of bright stars above his head, he kissed her delicately in the quiet darkness.