The proprietress of the Ryori-tei, just like the proprietress of a Ginza bar, keeps chatting and drinking with the guests.

"Alright, please enjoy." The proprietress elegantly retreated a few steps, then turned and left the private room.

During dinner, Kiyono Lin asked Dubian Che what he did on his trip.

Since there was plenty of time, Dubian Che described everything in more detail, even mentioning how the air in Hokkaido felt better than in Tokyo.

As he spoke, he suddenly realized something.

This kind of "checking in," does it mean it will continue for a lifetime? And with four people—no, maybe Mayi Asuka wouldn't care where he goes or what he does.

Thinking of this, Dubian Che looked at Kiyono Lin, who was chatting with Jiutiao Meijie about the differences between Kantou and Capital City cuisine.

To match the pastoral style of the private room, the food served was also rustic, with main dishes like grilled mackerel, fried tofu, and potatoes stewed with butterbur.

"If we were in the Capital City, the flavor would be a bit lighter." Kiyono Lin said.

Jiutiao Meijie nodded: "Potatoes would also be replaced with taro."

Having grown up in the countryside of Iwate Prefecture, Dubian Che couldn't quite join in on this conversation.

'It's been a month since the Cultural Festival; it's time to consider solving their issues.' Dubian Che thought.

After finishing the meal and red bean soup, the three of them left "Tsukiji," and on "Qinghai Avenue," they could already see the bright lights of "Ginza" ahead.

They got off at the Sixth District, where each store on the street poured delicate lights onto the sidewalk.

In the evening breeze, Kiyono Lin and Jiutiao Meijie linked arms, with Dubian Che walking beside them as they strolled along the night streets of Shinjuku.

Occasionally, they went into a boutique store, lowly discussing, sometimes asking Dubian Che for his opinion.

Tired from walking, the three sat at an outdoor table in a coffee shop.

"You can change it." Jiutiao Meijie suddenly said, looking at Dubian Che's left hand.

"This?" Dubian Che raised his wrist, the black watch felt heavy.

"I bought it last year, and it's not expensive." Jiutiao Meijie's tone was as if they were talking about changing a pair of chopsticks.

"I don't like watches, but I really like this one, so just leave it." Dubian Che said.

Jiutiao Meijie didn't insist on making him change; it was just a casual suggestion.

"Should I buy you one?" Kiyono Lin smiled at Dubian Che.

"Buy what? Speaking of things, I brought you specialties from Hakodate." Dubian Che took out his phone, "The things are with me, but let me show you the photos first."

"Topic switched so naturally." Jiutiao Meijie praised.

"Meijie, you taught me well." Dubian Che found the photo of the gift and placed his phone in the middle of the small round table, "Pick one."

Kiyono Lin showed a helpless smile, then she relaxed and leaned forward slightly.

The November night breeze blew, and Dubian Che smelled the scent of her shampoo, followed by the familiar scent of Jiutiao Meijie as she also leaned forward slightly.

The three of them gathered around the phone and started discussing.

"What is this?" Kiyono Lin asked.

"A frog, a toilet, a pig." Dubian Che answered.

"Who is the frog? Who is the toilet? Who is the pig?" Jiutiao Meijie asked.

"I should have bought a frog riding a panda, or a pig carrying a frog." Dubian Che said.

"Reason?" Kiyono Lin asked.

"I can't possibly say that you are the toilet, so I had to be the toilet myself. If I bought the frog riding the panda, at least I'd have a chance at being the pig."

"Then I'll be the frog." Kiyono Lin said, "You've carried me like that before too."

Jiutiao Meijie looked at Dubian Che.

"Meijie." Dubian Che raised a finger.

"Go ahead."

"I suddenly remembered a famous saying: 'To love each other is not to gaze at each other, but to look in the same direction together.'

"Finished?"

"Please allow me to explain."

"Alright."

"I think what this saying means is: Meijie, you shouldn't always be staring at me, rather we should be staring at the frog together." Dubian Che pointed at Kiyono Lin.

"Are you the pig, or am I the pig?" Jiutiao Meijie asked.

"If you want to be the pig, I can let you have it, as long as you want."

Jiutiao Meijie sat up straight and pointed to the Shinjuku Avenue beside her: "Go up there yourself and pick a car you like."

"You can only take a driver's license test at eighteen, buying a car now is meaningless, never mind, I'll think about it next year."

"I meant find a car to run yourself over with."

"Well?"

"Although it's a lie," Kiyono Lin also sat up straight, "I can understand Meijie's feelings right now."

"Well, well?"

"You've said enough." Jiutiao Meijie gave Dubian Che a look.

Dubian Che leaned back in his chair and laughed.

He didn't mind the two ladies' confrontations and could even appreciate the beauty they displayed;

He didn't mind being questioned either.

Getting the brain to think of good ideas is quite an exercise.

"You haven't picked yet," he reminded them.

"Since you're a pig, I can only have a pig that carries a frog," Jiutiao Meijie said.

Kiyono Lin took a sip of her hot coffee and suddenly asked, "Is this really a specialty of Hakodate? Can't you get it in Tokyo?"

"Maybe," Dubian Che wasn't sure of the actual facts, "Tomorrow I'll take these two ornaments to the club room and decorate it there; they'll feel more present than at home."

Under the street trees in front of the café, a few people began playing jazz music with their instruments.

The sound of the saxophone flowed softly all around.

Time drifted with the notes into the distance.

"We have school tomorrow; let's head back," Kiyono Lin said.

"I'll have the driver take you back," Jiutiao Meijie texted the driver on her phone.

"You're not going back?" Kiyono Lin asked.

"I slept during the day. I plan to walk back."

"I'll walk with you," Dubian Che said to Jiutiao Meijie.

He couldn't let Jiutiao Meijie be outside alone.

"Isn't that obvious? What? Do you want to go back with Lin?" Jiutiao Meijie glanced at Dubian Che.

"...Of course, it is."

After Kiyono Lin left by car, Dubian Che and Jiutiao Meijie held hands and walked together towards the Imperial Palace.

At the crossroad in front of the "Sony (Ginza Store)," while waiting for the traffic light, Jiutiao Meijie glanced several times at Dubian Che.

"What's up?" Dubian Che asked, puzzled.

Jiutiao Meijie didn't say anything, just continued to look at him.

Dubian Che touched his face. "What is it?"

"Nothing," Jiutiao Meijie averted her gaze.

Dubian Che was baffled but decided to ask again back at the villa, as they were surrounded by people.

Jiutiao Meijie seemed indeed fine and still held his hand, her fingers gently swaying.

Three seconds, two, one left on the traffic light.

Just as Dubian Che was about to step forward, Jiutiao Meijie suddenly let go of his hand and jumped onto his back.

Dubian Che quickly supported her thighs.

"Let's go!" Jiutiao Meijie laughed and said.

"So this is it," Dubian Che chuckled.

All those things about sleeping during the day and wanting to walk back; staring for no reason—it was all because of Kiyono Lin's words: "You also carried me like this."

"That day, Little Lian wanted persimmons, and Kiyono was only on my shoulders to pick them," Dubian Che explained.

"Did her legs feel comfortable?" Jiutiao Meijie bit Dubian Che's ear, gently grinding her teeth.

"Do you think she'd do that?"

"Hm, who knows, she might not do it, but if you did, could she refuse?"

"...I'm not that kind of person, either." Dubian Che said, "She was on my shoulders. Do you want to?"

"With all these people around, would you dare? I don't want to embarrass myself."

"But there are..."

"The traffic light, dummy, quick!" Jiutiao Meijie squeezed Dubian Che's waist with her legs.

The green light began to flash.

"Hang on tight!" Dubian Che ran across with Jiutiao Meijie on his back.

"Faster, hahaha!" Jiutiao Meijie's cheerful laughter lingered on the sidewalk.

After crossing the light, Dubian Che didn't stop and continued running with Jiutiao Meijie on his back.

"Dummy, you can stop now!"

People around them turned to look, thinking they were rushing to catch the last train.

Dubian Che thought of the oak tree at school.

They say the larger the oak tree's crown, the wider its roots spread.

That immense oak tree, which now reached the sky and blocked out the sun, once was a simple nut easily eaten by a squirrel. To uproot it now, from the Goda school gate to the building, the entire path would have to be excavated.

That little oak tree seedling so liked Jiutiao Meijie, liked her bit by bit;

That immense oak tree so liked Jiutiao Meijie, liked her very much.