Chapter 23: Meeting

Chiba Prefecture, Sakuragi High School, Literature Club.

In the clean club room, there was a row of bookshelves against the southeast wall. Besides that, there was only a long table and three stools.

“Takashi was scolded by Mr. Omi again today,” a girl with brown hair in a uniform said.

“It would be surprising if he wasn’t scolded one day,” the voice was clear and cold. It was the girl sitting by the window, holding a book in her hand.

“Is there anyone who isn’t scolded by Mr. Omi? It’s not just me!” Takashi, the only boy in the literature club, retorted unwillingly.

“But, it seems only Takashi is scolded every day,” the brown-haired girl said, tilting her head.

“Nonsense, it’s not!” Takashi retorted loudly.

“Quiet,” the girl by the window glanced over.

Takashi’s throat was instantly blocked.

“But you can’t blame Takashi. Mr. Omi is the fiercest I’ve ever seen,” the brown-haired girl quickly said.

“That’s right, that’s right,” Takashi agreed. “Today, before class even started, she walked in and said, ‘Didn’t I tell you that the break time is not for you to play!'”

“‘Students who have nothing to do, go back to your seats quietly and preview! Why are you always in this summer vacation mood!'” the brown-haired girl also imitated Mr. Omi’s tone.

“As she spoke, she kept hitting the blackboard with her pointer,” the girl by the window added.

“Yes, yes, yes!”

The brown-haired girl and Takashi laughed cheerfully. Even the girl by the window smiled slightly.

Looking at her, the brown-haired girl couldn’t help but feel a sense of admiration.

Itomi Yuki, the second daughter of the local large hospital family, had excellent academic performance and was ranked among the top even in the high-deviation-value Sakuragi High School.

Her oval face was delicate and small, and her skin was as white as porcelain.

Her long, straight black hair swayed gently in the sea breeze from Tokyo Bay, so beautiful that it was intoxicating.

But she had no friends, not a single one.

This was before the first half of her first year of high school.

From the second half of her first year, she and Takashi joined the literature club together and spent more than half a year together. Itomi Yuki was still cold, but she could already joke like just now.

“Let’s go back,” Itomi Yuki closed her book. It was time to go home.

“Okay!” the brown-haired girl came back to her senses.

The three of them packed their things, returned the club key, and walked towards the school gate together.

“I feel like time has been passing so quickly lately,” the brown-haired girl stretched her arms upwards.

“By the way,” she suddenly remembered and said to the other two, “next week is the university visit. Have you decided which university you want to go to?”

“I’m going to Chiba University,” Takashi said.

“What about Yuki?” the brown-haired girl asked Itomi Yuki.

“Juntendo.”

“Yuki…” the brown-haired girl’s face showed worry. “Are you still going to your sister’s university?”

“Yes,” Itomi Yuki replied without emotion, her slender back straight.

The brown-haired girl and Takashi didn’t know what to say. Itomi Yuki and her sister had a very bad relationship, seemingly over the family inheritance, but it was more complicated than that.

“It’s still better to be a commoner,” Takashi said in a light tone. “I can’t stand the scheming in rich families.”

Itomi Yuki glanced at him, then turned her gaze to the school gate, which was right in front of them.

“It’s not scheming, I just don’t want to lose to her,” she seemed to be talking to herself.

After a short silence, the brown-haired girl suddenly said, “I’ll go to Juntendo too.”

Itomi Yuki was taken aback for a moment, then said, “Hajima-san, I understand your desire to go to the same university as me, but a person should be aware of their own level.”

“Oh!” the brown-haired girl named Hajima’s face turned red, and she quickly explained, “It’s a visit! A visit! I want to visit Juntendo University with Yuki!”

Itomi Yuki showed a “that makes sense” expression and nodded lightly.

Hajima was too shy to look at her. She turned her head and said loudly to Takashi, “Takashi, you come too!”

“I’m going to Chiba University.”

“Anyway, you’ve already decided to go. It doesn’t matter if you visit or not, right?!” Hajima was aggressive.

“That’s true. Okay, I’ll go with you.”

“Great!” Hajima hugged Itomi Yuki’s slender arm. “What should we eat when we get to Tokyo?”

“Hajima-san, we’re going for a university visit. There’s no free time. Also… it’s hot. Can you please not hug me?”

“It’s not even May yet. Where is it hot?” Hajima pressed closer.

Itomi Yuki’s delicate face was full of helplessness, but she didn’t ask her to let go again. The two of them walked out of the school gate in a slightly awkward but intimate posture.

“So you were playing with your friends. No wonder you came out late.”

Hearing this slightly teasing and pleasant voice, Itomi Yuki’s face instantly turned cold, her small face tense.

The three of them followed the sound and saw a high-end red sports car. An elegant woman in a black off-the-shoulder dress was getting out of the car.

She had delicate short hair, supple skin, and her eyes and nose were gorgeous. She had a slender figure, a full bust, and long legs. She was a coveted beauty.

“Hello, I’m Yuki’s older sister,” Itomi Sayaka showed a sisterly and kind smile.

“H-hello,” the two who had not yet left the school gate were a little timid, as it was their first time seeing someone with such a temperament in person.

Itomi Sayaka saw Hajima hugging her sister’s arm, smiled, and asked her curiously, “You’re Yuki’s friend.”

“Ah! Yes!” Hajima quickly let go of her hand, her already small body shrinking even more, her gaze falling to the ground.

“What are you doing here?” Itomi Yuki took a step forward and said in a cold tone.

“Father asked me to pick you up on the way. I can’t help it,” Itomi Sayaka said with a slight complaint.

“By the way,” she remembered and waved at the driver’s seat. “Minamoto-kun, come down and say hello.”

The three of them followed her hand and looked. The car door opened, and a man got out.

Some people, you will never forget the first time you see them.

The atmosphere at that time, that person’s posture, seemed to be frozen in memory. No matter how time and space changed and washed over it, it would not be eroded, would not decay, would not disappear.

The person before them was such a person.

The sea breeze blew his fine, soft black hair. Hajima couldn’t help but cover her surprised mouth. Itomi Yuki also took a few more glances.

“The night wind from Tokyo Bay is very comfortable today,” Minamoto Kiyomoto said with a smile as he walked over.

“Is that important?” Itomi Sayaka’s hand naturally hooked his arm.

“It’s important, and it’s not important.”

“What do you mean?” Itomi Sayaka looked at Minamoto Kiyomoto’s profile curiously.

“When I’m alone, it’s not important; when you and I are together, it’s very important.”

“Annoying! Yuki is still here!” Itomi Sayaka said coquettishly, not at all annoyed.

Itomi Yuki looked at her sister with cold eyes.

Even though she and her friends were waiting, she was chatting there, completely ignoring her and her friends.

She hated her attitude of being condescending and putting herself in a superior position.

No matter what, she had to surpass her.

She wanted to prove to her father that the more outstanding person, the one suitable to inherit the Itomi family, was her.

“Hello,” Minamoto Kiyomoto sized up the three of them, then focused his attention on the cold-faced Itomi Yuki.

A navy blue pleated skirt, a white shirt, and a thin spring cardigan over it, all were school uniforms.

“You’re Yuki? I’m Minamoto Kiyomoto, I guess I’m your sister’s…”

“Boyfriend on probation,” Itomi Sayaka’s tone was light.

“Then he’s not your boyfriend,” Itomi Yuki said coldly. “You’re not dating, but you’re holding hands. Sister, please don’t do anything to ruin the Itomi family’s reputation.”

“Oh my, oh my,” Itomi Sayaka was very happy. “Yuki, the adult world is very open. My relationship with Minamoto-kun is not just holding hands, is it, Minamoto-kun?”

Minamoto Kiyomoto covered his mouth with his hand and whispered in Itomi Sayaka’s ear:
“Boss, I’m a person who values my reputation the most. If you want me to say yes, you have to pay more.”

“Annoying, we’ll talk about this when we get back,” Itomi Sayaka’s face was pink, her voice wet.

Thinking that the two were talking about something lewd, Itomi Yuki’s face became even colder.

The other two high school students’ hearts were beating fast, and their minds couldn’t help but conjure up a pink show of the handsome man and beautiful woman before them.

“Yuki,” Itomi Sayaka’s expression was a half-smile. “You haven’t introduced yourself yet. Don’t do anything to ruin the Itomi family’s reputation.”

Itomi Yuki took a deep breath, turned to Minamoto Kiyomoto, her eyes clear and bright.

“Hello, I’m Itomi Yuki. It’s a pleasure to meet you,” she bowed slightly.

“You don’t have to be so polite. You’re Sayaka’s sister, so you’re my sister,” Minamoto Kiyomoto said with a smile.

“Just call me big brother,” Itomi Sayaka added.

Itomi Yuki nodded without speaking.

A bell suddenly rang on campus.

“It’s already this late,” Itomi Sayaka suddenly realized. “Yuki, the make-believe with your friends is over. Don’t keep father waiting.”

Itomi Yuki seemed to be glaring at her coldly, then turned her gaze to Hajima and Takashi.

“Goodbye~” Hajima waved her small hand and showed a brilliant smile.

Takashi nodded.

Itomi Yuki’s cherry-like small mouth had just opened, and before she could say anything, she was pulled into the car by her sister.

“It’s been a long time. Let’s get close before we go back.”

“Let go of me! I don’t want to sit with you. I want to sit in the front.”

“Your brother is driving. The passenger seat is for your older sister.”

“I—”

The car door closed. Whether it was a car or a house, the things of the rich were very soundproof.

The two high school students were dumbfounded, looking at the car body, which seemed to be shaking slightly.

“The wind tonight seems a bit noisy. Goodbye, you two,” without waiting for a response, Minamoto Kiyomoto got into the driver’s seat with a smile.

A fight between beautiful women, and beautiful sisters at that, was indeed interesting.

While driving, Minamoto Kiyomoto watched the live broadcast through the rearview mirror.

The occasionally lifted hems of their skirts, the high school student’s pleated skirt, the twenty-six-year-old’s dress, the tender and youthful legs, the sexy and mature legs, and the slender waists.

Minamoto Kiyomoto did not hypocritically look away.

He just felt that having a girlfriend was a waste of time, not that he wasn’t interested in this kind of thing.

The two of them fought for a while, or to be precise, Itomi Yuki struggled and resisted for a while, and finally, it was quiet.

The two sisters’ originally crystal-clear faces were slightly flushed.

Itomi Yuki coldly straightened her school uniform and hair. Itomi Sayaka adjusted her makeup in a small mirror, her face full of satisfaction.

Looking at the scene before him, Minamoto Kiyomoto couldn’t help but think of Kamibayashi Miko and Himemiya Izayoi.

He wondered what a wonderful scene it would be if the two of them fought like this.

Wait.

Golden lightning, a bow and arrow pulling out a red dragon hundreds of meters long, a palm breaking a river…
Fighting was not good. It was better not to fight.

The Itomi family’s house was a veritable mansion, with equipment installed on the walls to prevent robbers from climbing over.

Passing through the garden, Minamoto Kiyomoto met the Itomi sisters’ parents.

The man was calm, the woman was dignified. Although they were older, one could still see their handsome and beautiful youth.

Minamoto Kiyomoto took out the “Toraya” snacks that Itomi Sayaka had prepared as a meeting gift.

Their first impression of him was very good, not because of the snacks, but because of his appearance and temperament.

Not to mention his appearance. As beautiful as Kamibayashi Miko and Himemiya Izayoi were, Minamoto Kiyomoto was just as handsome.

In terms of temperament, Minamoto Kiyomoto used to be bookish. After meeting Kamibayashi Miko and spending all day in the mountains, his temperament gradually became similar to Kamibayashi Miko’s, becoming a little otherworldly.

When Itomi Sayaka was close to him, she always smelled a fresh scent similar to spring.

If she didn’t know Minamoto Kiyomoto’s true nature, she couldn’t help but develop a good impression.

The five of them sat in the living room, chatting and eating the “Toraya” snacks that Minamoto Kiyomoto had brought.

“Every time I see flower-like snacks, I have a feeling of being reluctant to eat them,” Itomi’s mother’s voice was also very pleasant, with a leisurely elegance.

“Me too,” Minamoto Kiyomoto said with a smile. “The smooth surface, the dense and translucent appearance under the light, no matter how you look at it, it can be called a work of art, making one want to reach out and touch it.”

“Natsume Soseki,” Itomi Yuki said the original author of this sentence.

“I’ve been exposed,” Minamoto Kiyomoto said to Itomi Sayaka with a bitter face.

Itomi Yuki had the aura of a literary girl, and her legs were very beautiful.

“Don’t cry, don’t cry, here,” Itomi Sayaka gave him a snack as if coaxing a child.

Itomi’s mother sized up the two of them, her eyes full of smiles.

“Kiyomoto-kun, you usually have class. Do you have time to read Natsume Soseki?” Itomi’s father asked.

“The Faculty of Letters has a class at six in the evening. I don’t have class at that time, and it’s too early to go drinking with friends, so I often go to audit the class and learn a lot.”

“You’re a medical student. What’s the use of studying literature?” Itomi Sayaka was eating a snack that looked like a frozen carp.

Minamoto Kiyomoto ate the snack and drank a sip of tea, “Your words remind me of a line from a movie I’ve seen.”

“Didn’t you say you don’t watch movies?” Itomi Sayaka said as if she were a little resentful.

“I watched it when I was learning Italian,” Minamoto Kiyomoto stopped eating. The snacks were too sweet.

On the side, Itomi Yuki was eating happily, one small bite at a time. Of course, her face was still expressionless.

“What line?” Itomi’s mother asked.

“It was a tightrope walker, speaking to a young clown, ‘There is nothing in this world that is not needed. The stones on the roadside, the shining stars in the night sky are all the same.'”

“Italian? You also know Italian?” Itomi Sayaka asked.

“Yes,” Minamoto Kiyomoto nodded. “I learned it in my spare time. I first learned Chinese, then English, French, German, Italian, and a little bit of Spanish.”

The living room was quiet for a moment.

“You know so many languages?” Itomi Sayaka stared at him with a “you’re not afraid of blowing your own horn” look.

“Kiyomoto-kun got full marks in all subjects on the entrance exam. It’s nothing to know a few foreign languages,” Itomi’s mother seemed very satisfied with Minamoto Kiyomoto. “But, why did you learn Chinese first?”

“It’s a personal interest. Anyway, it’s fast to learn, so I didn’t care which one I learned first,” Minamoto Kiyomoto replied.

In the Japanese language system, many elegant words came from Chinese.

For example, Juntendo University, which was taken from the “I Ching’s” “follow heaven and respond to man” and Mencius’s “those who follow heaven will survive, those who go against heaven will perish.”

Not to mention the era names and the names of the nobility, most of which came from ancient Chinese books.

Most importantly, curses. This kind of thing could not be moved or changed. Without knowing Chinese, many things could not be understood.

It was not until today that Japan finally localized some of the Chinese curses that were thoroughly understood, lowering the difficulty of cultivation and creating many of its own curses.

However, for some profound methods, one still had to learn Chinese.

“Big brother, why did you learn so many languages?” Itomi Yuki asked in her clear and cold voice.

“Mmm—, there’s no special reason,” Minamoto Kiyomoto looked at her small, fair face, his tone gentle. “I just wanted to see how far I could go and expand my possibilities.”

“That’s very good,” Itomi’s father nodded.

“Mainly because he’s smart,” Itomi Sayaka said proudly.

“Everyone has been calling me a genius since I was young,” with her, Minamoto Kiyomoto’s attitude was a little more frivolous, with the fondness of a young person.

“Who says that about themselves? Shameless,” Itomi Sayaka snorted.

“I didn’t say it. Everyone said it.”

“Anyway, it’s shameless.”

The two seemed to be bickering like a couple. Itomi’s parents were very satisfied.

Itomi’s father felt that Minamoto Kiyomoto still had some of the pride and showing off of a young person, but Minamoto Kiyomoto had the capital to show off, and he was only twenty, so it was nothing.

The key was that he was a doctor, not a bad person, and his own daughter liked him. That was enough.

After dinner, Minamoto Kiyomoto left on his own. Itomi Sayaka stayed and spent the night at home.

The sea breeze was blowing. Minamoto Kiyomoto walked on the way to the station, complaining in his heart about the rule that prohibited the use of divine power in public places.

‘What a waste of a good opportunity to practice the Wind Control Curse… hmm?’

In his field of vision, a gray divine power flashed past, flying close to the ground.

Those who used divine power in public places would be dealt with as anti-human cultivators—Minamoto Kiyomoto remembered this strict rule.

So, this was an anti-human cultivator?
(End of Chapter)