By the time they arrived in Tokyo, it was already eight in the morning. The sky, however, was shrouded in gray.
That day, Chu Lian and the others happened to encounter a rare May rainfall. Though the rain had gradually lessened, it still turned the world into a hazy scene—like standing beside a waterfall, the surroundings appearing like an illusion of flowers in a mirror or the moon reflected on water.
"Who would've thought it would rain in Tokyo? Looks like this trip is going to be interesting." Chu Lian stretched out her hand to catch the raindrops beyond the umbrella, feeling the damp cold against her palm. The corners of her lips curved into a faint smile as she whispered.
"Big Sis, what does rain have to do with us? It seems like something normal, right?" Chu Chu held another umbrella at her side. Hearing her quiet words, she looked puzzled. She imitated her by reaching her hand out into the rain and asked curiously.
"This can't be said…" Chu Lian glanced back at Inori beside her. Only after seeing the deep orange hue fade from her eyes did she take her little hand and say, "You just need to remember what you promised me on the plane."
"Fine, I won't ask…" Chu Chu saw the silent understanding between her and Inori, and felt a bit stifled inside. Unable to vent it, she lowered her head in frustration.
At her side, Li Xiu'er couldn't help but cover her lips lightly and laugh softly, her large eyes curving into crescents like the moon—adorably cute.
But that little act of hers only "angered" Chu Chu. She herself was upset, yet Li Xiu'er dared to laugh secretly? How could she?
So, with the hand not holding the umbrella, she snuck it over to Li Xiu'er's waist. Her fingers danced nimbly, tickling her soft side. Li Xiu'er couldn't hold it in and burst into laughter.
"Eh, Big Sis, why did you flick me?" Hearing Li Xiu'er's laugh, Chu Lian turned around, just in time to see Chu Chu's hand still at her waist. Instantly understanding the situation, she slowed her steps slightly. When Chu Chu caught up, she raised her right hand and flicked her forehead with her finger and thumb. Chu Chu yelped in protest.
Turning back, Chu Lian tucked her right hand into her hanfu sleeve again, her tone soft as she said: "Why aren't you walking faster? We need to head to the outskirts of Tokyo to check in. The trip is quite far. If we arrive late and keep our hosts waiting, it won't be good."
"Alright, alright. Don't we have a special car anyway? Honestly, Big Sis, you seem way too interested in all this." Chu Chu pouted but let go of Li Xiu'er's waist, pulling the still-breathless girl along as she caught up with Chu Lian and Inori.
Chu Lian and Inori exchanged a glance and shared a mysterious smile. Chu Lian squeezed Inori's small hand and said: "Because I feel like today might be the most interesting day of our trip. Not just interesting, but thrilling. There will be danger too, but as long as you remember my words, everything will be fine."
Chu Chu's lips still pouted, her gaze locked on Chu Lian and Inori's tightly held hands. She unconsciously squeezed Li Xiu'er's hand a bit harder. But she forgot—Li Xiu'er's body was that of a true loli, far too delicate to withstand the grip of someone as strong as Chu Chu. Reflexively, she cried out: "Chu Chu, you're hurting me."
"Ah, sorry, Cousin Xiu'er. I was lost in thought just now and accidentally used too much strength. Are you alright?" Li Xiu'er's voice snapped Chu Chu out of her daze. Seeing her cousin's pitiful expression, she immediately felt embarrassed.
Back when they recorded Bird's Poem, she had already made Li Xiu'er cry once because of her careless words. Although she had been forgiven, Chu Chu still felt guilty. And now, because of her jealousy, she had hurt Li Xiu'er's hand again. Whether she was angry or not didn't matter—what if she had bruised her?
"I'm fine…" Li Xiu'er had originally wanted to say, "It seems swollen," but just as she was about to speak, she felt a warm current rise within her body. It flowed through her arm, and the pain instantly faded away. Within seconds, it was completely gone. So, the words that had reached her lips were swallowed back, replaced with something else.
"Then that's good. I'm really sorry, Cousin Xiu'er. I keep troubling you. I truly apologize." After confirming that Li Xiu'er wasn't in pain and that her face didn't show any signs of enduring it, Chu Chu finally let out a breath of relief and quickly apologized.
Li Xiu'er shook her head, showing her understanding. Then she lowered her delicate head and softly said: "If you really want Chu Lian to treat you the way she treats Inori, you must first mature. Don't let her keep seeing you as the little sister who needs her protection, the one who always needs her to stand up for you as an elder sister…"
Here, she lifted her head and looked at Chu Lian's slender back, her voice growing quieter: "Because she is also someone who needs protection. Sometimes she appears brave and strong, but more often she is fragile, in ways we can see and in ways we can't. The burdens she carries might be far greater than we know. If you remain one of her burdens, then she will never be able to face you as anything but her younger sister."
"Perhaps, one day, she'll look at you differently. But by then… will it really be the place you wanted?" Only Li Xiu'er knew these words weren't just for Chu Chu—they were also for herself. "Chu Lian isn't your biological sister, is she?"
That final question made Chu Chu's body tremble. She turned her head, eyes wide in shock, staring at Li Xiu'er. In the end, she only lowered her head, saying nothing. She simply tightened her grip on Li Xiu'er's hand and hurried after Chu Lian and Inori.
"Lian, aren't you worried the two of them might discover something?" Inori gently squeezed Chu Lian's arm, pointing her left hand back toward the two girls as she whispered.
"They'll learn about these things sooner or later. I plan to awaken Xiu'er's special constitution after this trip, and then help strengthen her abilities. I won't let those by my side fall into danger. That includes Chu Chu too—she's already unlocking her restraints."
Chu Lian shook her head. Of course she knew what Inori meant, but she had no intention of hiding it forever. She hadn't even thought of avoiding it. If not for the timing being wrong, she would have already helped Li Xiu'er awaken her special constitution. That way, their safety would be much greater.
"Inori, do you think I'm selfish?" As they walked, Chu Lian suddenly lowered her voice when she saw the elegant black car parked in the distance.
"Why would you say that?" Inori didn't seem surprised, only puzzled.
"Because of my affairs, so many people have been dragged into this. If not for me, the alien incursion at Qingping Grand Hotel in Jiuzhaigou wouldn't have happened, and so many people wouldn't have died. If not for me, happy families wouldn't have been torn apart in an instant…"
"Because of me, Zhang Feng died once and was revived, his life no longer peaceful. Because of me, the students of Class One were thrown into danger, perhaps scarred by this trip for life. And because of me, Chu Chu, Xiu'er, Cai Ya, and the others are constantly worrying, constantly in danger."
Her tone was gentle, yet filled with unspeakable bitterness. Like the purest coffee—one whiff told you it was bitter, not sweet.
"Maybe you're right, Lian. Maybe it is your fault. But have they ever once regretted it?" Inori smiled, raising her face slightly toward the rain-filled sky, murmuring: "At least, I don't regret it, Lian. Because this journey let me discover myself. It let me know your heart, and my own."
"Do you know, Lian… if I could choose again…" She turned her head, her eyes shimmering brilliantly with tender light. "I would want the first person I see upon opening my eyes to be you."
"Big Sis Inori is right. We've never regretted it either, because this is a wonderful journey. Maybe it's a once-in-a-lifetime chance. Even if it's dangerous, it's worth taking." Chu Chu and Li Xiu'er caught up just in time, echoing Inori's words.
Their voices made Chu Lian's body tremble softly. She didn't look back, but her tone brimmed with vitality: "Mm. What's the point of overthinking? As long as I have you all, I'm not afraid of anything. Even if the road ahead is a mountain of blades and a sea of fire, what does it matter?"
Half a step behind her, still holding her hand, Inori exchanged a glance with Chu Chu and Li Xiu'er. The three of them couldn't help but burst into quiet giggles.
In the curtain of rain, the graceful figures of the girls gradually vanished into the car, which carried them off into the distance.
Meanwhile, in a bamboo forest on the outskirts of Tokyo, a white-haired girl struggled to stand, trembling as she propped herself up with twin blades. Her blood-red eyes, void of any emotion, glanced back briefly before she silently sheathed one katana. Holding the other in her left hand, she steadied herself with her right against a tall bamboo stalk and walked forward.
Normally unmoved by rain, she found herself immensely grateful for this sudden downpour. It had allowed her to escape her pursuers. Though in her rush she slipped into the mountain bamboo grove, worsening her already grave injuries, it had also helped her elude those tracking her.
She reached a small cave in the mountainside and entered. After lighting a pile of charcoal and dry twigs left behind by others, she sat beside a pool of water about four or five meters wide.
Once the fire burned steadily, she lifted her clothes, pressing against her wounds as she bit her lip and whispered: "Damn it. Five years, and not only have I failed to take revenge, they're drawing ever closer to me."
"At this rate, within a year I won't be able to escape their pursuit at all. If I keep encountering that terrifying stranger, two or three more times and I'll be captured for sure."
Scarlet blood stained her hands, yet she seemed not to feel the pain. She only stared in silence at her reflection in the water—white hair, crimson eyes, a cold face, and the faint scar on her neck. Her eyes suddenly grew moist.
"Father, Mother… your daughter can't hold on much longer. I'm sorry, for making you worry since I was little. When I finally wanted to do something for you, I could no longer see you again. After you passed, those who once laughed and smiled with me never looked at me again. The dojo was taken, I was driven from my home, and now I'm hunted by those who know I survived…" Covering her pale lips, her tears fell endlessly.
For the first time in a year, she cried—helplessly, yet heartbreakingly beautiful.
Only after a long time, when the rain had eased, did the white-haired, red-eyed girl wipe away her tears. Washing her face with the pool's clear water, she restored the image of the cold beauty. If not for her overly young and striking appearance, most would have mistaken her for a mature woman.
Just as she prepared to leave, the sounds of girls laughing reached her ears. Her entire body stiffened, her eyes flashing with a sharp, murderous gleam.
Drawing both blades, she stepped lightly toward the cave entrance. No matter what, her trail could not be exposed. Even if it meant more bloodshed. Before they were all dead, she could not die—she must not die.
With that conviction, the girl's figure disappeared into the bamboo forest…