May 2nd, Wednesday, a downpour.
"Xiaoquan Aonai" walked into the school building with an umbrella.
When she closed her umbrella, the rainwater from a nearby male student’s umbrella accidentally wetted the sleeve of her uniform.
"Sorry," the boy said.
"It’s nothing." "Xiaoquan Aonai" smiled and waved, heading toward the shoe lockers.
The shoe locker was full of love letters, even more than when Dubian Che was in control of this body.
She remembered the conversation between her and Dubian Che on that day in the third week of April, when the number of love letters distinctly increased.
"Why don’t you just give me your body? I’d definitely live better than you."
"Don’t be too kind to others, save me the trouble!"
"Mr. Dubian, how can you talk to a teacher like that?"
"Little Mr. Xiaoquan, don’t get too cocky."
After changing shoes, she didn’t go to the classroom.
Today she had gone to bed early, and Dubian Che again lost control of his body to her during the morning practice, she needed to help deliver roses to the activity classroom.
The first time she took Dubian Che’s body during morning practice was the second day after that incident, on a Sunday morning; she couldn’t wait to go to Tokyo DisneySea.
At that time, the willows and ginkgo trees along the moat road had tender new leaves.
Today, the leaves of the willows and ginkgos had turned a thick ink green, and the time had moved from April to May.
Compared to the open walkway on the fifth floor that Dubian Che liked, where one could overlook the sky, "Xiaoquan Aonai" preferred the corridor on the first floor.
Here, one could see the courtyard’s plants and flowers.
Today, in the pouring rain and wind, magnolia flowers lay scattered everywhere, but the azaleas were very resilient, their vibrant red petals becoming even more intense.
"Xiaoquan Aonai" took out a rose from her bag.
’Every day I buy the most beautiful roses from Ota Flower Market and present them as a morning greeting to you.’
When did she learn about this?
Such an uncomfortable matter, there was no need to remember it.
Dubian Che’s brain, don’t make me recall it, I don’t want to listen!
Yet, she could still recall it easily.
She had deeply experienced Dubian Che’s intelligence.
Whether it was his body or his brain, it was worlds apart from hers.
After placing the rose, she headed back to the academic building and ran into Horikita Mai from the Wind Instrument Club, who was also practicing in the morning.
"Senior, I’m counting on you for today noon as well!" the petite girl saluted like a soldier.
"Sure," "Xiaoquan Aonai" agreed promptly, "Are you practicing this morning too?"
"Yes, I hope to reach a level that satisfies my senior soon."
"Student Horikita is very diligent; I believe you’ll achieve it quickly."
"Senior, senior Dubian!" Horikita Mai ran in front of "Xiaoquan Aonai," "You should almost tell me how far I am from your passing line, right?"
Hearing Horikita Mai, "Xiaoquan Aonai" was reminded of the matter about guiding the Woodwind Group.
She had zero understanding of wind music.
Every member of the Wind Instrument Club could be her mentor when it came to performance techniques.
To cope with such situations, Dubian Che had taught her some teaching tricks.
Regardless of how well the other person played, when giving remarks:
"Please practice it again."
"Could you play it once more, did you spot the problem?"
"No? That’s troublesome. Hmm—why not try it one more time?"
When someone came with questions:
"I don’t understand this part, let’s find a solution together!"
"It seems we’re not working hard enough usually, think about it when you go home today."
At night, Dubian Che would become a cat and tell her all their mistakes—their playing techniques, fingering, and so on.
Just like that, with the teaching method of bluffing people, those skilled members of the Wind Instrument Club had come to adore her to the extent of wanting to follow her for life.
"Senior?" Horikita Mai called out.
"Sorry, what did you just say?" "Xiaoquan Aonai" asked.
"When will you tell me how far I am from your passing line?"
"Um... how about this noon?"
"Really? That’s great!"
Happily, Horikita Mai bounced away, her cute little face serious.
"Every knight fights for his dream, to protect those they love, and I, to protect the honor of the Wind Instrument Club."
After reciting her lines and completing her motions, the child even hummed ’doo doo, doo doo’ to herself.
Even after three weeks, "Xiaoquan Aonai" still couldn’t understand the appeal of Masked Rider.
Dubian Che had enthusiastically recommended it to her.
Apart from "555," which she could barely tolerate because the plot resembled a romance melodrama, she really couldn’t get into the rest.
"Senior, see you at noon!" Horikita Mai skipped away.
Midway, seeing the Discipline Committee, she walked obediently again.
Entering the classroom of second-year Class 4,
Kiyono Lin was sitting at her desk reading a book, Jiutiao Meijie was lying on the desk sleeping.
Neither of them paid much attention to her.
However, Kiyono Lin was a bit better; in consideration of Dubian Che, she would chat with her.
Jiutiao Meijie, on the other hand, treated her like a stranger.
The future herself had not yet entered the classroom, and there was still some time before the early class meeting; some students gathered by the window, looking up at the sky overcast with clouds in the Shinjuku District.
Large raindrops fell in the campus, pattering against the glass.
"It seems to be getting heavier."
"I hope it stops by the time school’s out, otherwise I’ll have to give up cycling and take the train back."
"No way? You cycled here this morning?"
The usual conversations went on, the only difference was herself.
"Xiaoquan Aonai" walked toward Dubian Che’s seat.
"Good morning, Student Kiyono, Jiutiao."
Jiutiao Meijie showed no sign of waking up.
Kiyono Lin looked up from her book: "You’re early today."
"Today’s the last day, after all," "Xiaoquan Aonai" explained.