"I want to learn Japanese. Please, Nana." Living in Japan, integrating better required mastering the essential script first. Nanami Hayashi smiled. "Then, leave it to me."
Honestly, at school, I barely understood textbooks. Japan used many Chinese characters, but their meanings were worlds apart from Chinese. Still, since Japanese script came from ancient China, I figured it wouldn’t be too hard—yeah, right.
Nanami Hayashi bought me a bilingual Chinese-Japanese dictionary packed with vocabulary. In free moments, I flipped through it. For daily classes, I ignored everything except history and literature. While the history teacher’s lectures were a lullaby to others, to me, they held fresh appeal.
On the rooftop, while Nanami Hayashi fetched water, I sat alone on a bench with the dictionary. I’d suggested going together, but she refused to save me time. Truth was, time was the one thing I had plenty of.
"Hello, Cold Creek." A shadow blocked my light. I looked up to see a girl with neat features and a single ponytail. "Oh, am I blocking your book?" she asked hastily, shifting aside. "Not at all," I smiled, though she had been. "Who are you?" I truly didn’t recognize her. The ponytailed girl’s expression dimmed briefly, then brightened. "I’m Chiling Yūkiku. We’re in the same class, Cold Creek." Heh, not my fault—I’d said I barely knew my classmates. "Ah, Miss Chiling. Sorry, I didn’t place you at first." I told a shaky lie, but Chiling seemed cheered. "You’re so diligent, Cold Creek." She sat beside me. I’d never thought "diligent" applied to me. "Well, living here, I must learn the script and customs. There’s a Chinese saying: ‘When in Rome, do as the Romans do.’"
"China sounds fascinating," Chiling said, smiling. Yes, fascinating—though I avoided thinking about my past there. "Miss Chiling, I have a question. This character has one meaning here but another alone. How do I tell them apart?" Chiling leaned in. "Which one? Let me see." Neither noticed our closeness; we were purely focused on the characters.
"Hey, Nanami! What’re you doing here? Where’s senior Cold Creek?" Rika Dojima’s voice cut in, followed by Nanami Hayashi’s flustered reply: "Nothing, I just arrived." Rika Dojima eyed Nanami wickedly. "Nanami, eavesdropping?" "No way!" Nanami protested, but her cheeks flushed crimson.
"Hem hem." I coughed at them. "What’re you two up to?" They shuffled out, grinning. "Oh dear, junior’s already charming another girl. Senior’s so jealous," a voice chimed from above—Mingzi Baishi. Seriously, do you have no hobbies? And when did you climb up there, Senior White Stone? "From here, senior, I can see your panties," I teased. Mingzi Baishi blushed coyly. "For you, junior? Okay." Fine, I’d underestimated her. "Just come down." She chuckled. "Catch me, junior." She jumped. Weirdly, my first thought was the old dilemma: help a fallen stranger or not?
Mingzi Baishi was heavier than expected—probably her chest’s weight. I caught her, but the impact knocked me onto the ground. "Knew you’d catch me, junior. This is senior’s reward." She moved to kiss me. A small hand blocked her. "Senior, don’t push your luck," Rika Dojima said. "Time to get up." Senior White Stone reluctantly rose.
"Heh heh, Cold Creek’s friends are lively," Chiling giggled behind her hand. Rika Dojima glared at her. "Miss Chiling, if you’re stealing senior too, you’re my enemy." Chiling waved dismissively. "Class president, relax. I don’t feel that way about Cold Creek yet. Excuse me." She left the rooftop.
After school, I skipped walking home with Nanami Hayashi and headed to Shuofeng Library instead. She’d wanted to join, but I said I’d be late and asked her to prep dinner. She obediently left.
"What a coincidence, Cold Creek." Chiling Yūkiku approached, holding a hot coffee can. "Hello, Miss Chiling." She set her bag down opposite me. "I visit often. Didn’t expect to see you here." "Reading novels and folklore boosts learning efficiency." I set a book aside. Chiling pulled out another coffee can. "Cold Creek, have this if you like." I took it. "Why two cans?" She stammered, "Ah—for my brother. My house is nearby." I met her eyes. "Sure it’s okay?" She forced a laugh. "Ignore him. I’ll buy another later." I opened the can. "Thanks."
Chiling opened hers. "Cold Creek, um..." "What is it?" I looked up from my book. She fidgeted. "What’s your relationship with... Nanami Hayashi? No offense—girls gossip, you know." I feigned deep thought. "Complicated." "Are you dating?" she pressed eagerly. I shook my head. "No." Her face lit up. I added, "I’m her kept man." Chiling blinked. "What’s that?" I deadpanned, "Living at her place, eating her food, using her stuff, sleeping with her when needed." "Ah!" She gasped, blushing furiously. Her shock amused me. "Kidding. I just stay there temporarily." She exhaled. "That joke’s too much." Truthfully, it wasn’t all false—except the last part.
It was 9 PM. Time to go. "Miss Chiling, I’m heading out." I packed my bag. "Goodbye," she waved. "Oh—and chatting with you was pleasant." I stepped out of the library. Chiling watched my back, whispering so softly only she heard, "Me too."
