Chapter 295: Morning

No matter where he was, Lei Yin always maintained the habit of waking up early to go for a run if he had the time.

When he returned to the inn after his jog, it was already around 7:30 AM.

The training location for Rumi and the others was near the outskirts of Asakusa. Asakusa, located in Tokyo’s Taito Ward, was a relatively remote area. It was known for its many old buildings and temples that carried the style of Japan’s Edo period. Being far from the city center and with Japan’s increased awareness of environmental conservation after suffering the effects of urban pollution decades ago, Asakusa had well-preserved forests and greenery in many places.

After taking a cold shower in the bathhouse, Lei Yin felt refreshed, his mind clear. He even had the urge to find Kuang Dao for a sparring match.

Because the morning training started early, some of the students were already beginning to get up.

After casually drying his damp hair, Lei Yin headed straight to Kazumi’s room and knocked on the door.

It took over ten knocks before the door finally opened slowly.

Kazumi, dressed in pale white pajamas with her hair sticking up messily from sleep, stared blankly at him for a moment before silently turning back toward her bed.

“Hey, time to get up.” Lei Yin knew she wasn’t fully awake yet, so he walked in and immediately opened the curtains.

The bright light was too much for Kazumi, who quickly turned her head to the other side, mumbling groggily, “Shinobu, close the curtains and let me sleep for five more minutes.”

Kazumi had mild low blood pressure due to overusing her brain during her studies. This caused her intelligence to plummet right after waking up, making her a completely different person from the sharp, clear-headed version of herself. Once, when Takeshima Shinobu tried waking her up early, Kazumi had opened the door and said, “I don’t want a newspaper,” before slamming the door shut.

Lei Yin couldn’t help but feel both amused and exasperated. “Shinobu, my foot! Get up and have breakfast.”

“I don’t want breakfast. Please, just let me sleep for a few more minutes,” Kazumi groaned, her voice fading as she spoke the last few words.

Seeing no other option, Lei Yin moved to the adjacent bed and shook Amy awake.

The little girl rubbed her sleepy eyes and slowly opened them. When she saw who it was, she beamed with joy and exclaimed, “Lei!”

Smiling, Lei Yin gently patted her head. “Get up, brush your teeth, and wash your face. Then we’ll go have breakfast.”

“Okay!” The little girl obediently nodded.

After Amy finished freshening up, Lei Yin had her sit in front of the mirror. Using the inn’s comb, he helped her brush her hair.

Amy was clearly delighted, making funny faces at the mirror from time to time as he worked.

“Who taught you that?” Lei Yin asked, amused by her antics.

“Bibi did.”

“When did you two make up?” Remembering the time Amy had smashed an entire watermelon on Bibi’s head, Lei Yin couldn’t help but laugh.

Amy thought for a moment, but her eyes showed a hint of confusion. She had already forgotten when she and Bibi became friends again.

Lei Yin realized his question was unnecessary. The world of children was simple. They might fight over things adults considered trivial, but they could also reconcile without even realizing it, holding no grudges or resentment. If adults could be like that, there would be no wars in the world.

Suddenly remembering something, Lei Yin said, “You’ll be starting middle school soon. You won’t be able to keep depending on Ailin the way you have been. You need to learn how to bathe, change clothes, and sleep by yourself, okay?”

Although Amy had just turned twelve, her development was delayed compared to children her age due to her history of autism. Even Bibi, who was four years younger, seemed far more independent and mischievous than Amy.

Ailin, understanding that Amy’s autism stemmed from witnessing her mother’s tragic suicide, had always been lenient with her. Aside from teaching her during lessons, Ailin indulged her most of the time. As a result, Amy still couldn’t sleep alone. While she could manage a night or two, any more than that would terrify her.

However, Lei Yin knew that Amy had to learn independence. After all, Ailin was a woman who would one day marry. Amy couldn’t rely on her forever.

“Lei, I don’t want to sleep alone. I’m scared,” the little girl pleaded, looking up at him with teary eyes.

“It’s fine, you’ll get used to it gradually. If you feel scared at night, you can call me.”

“Will you tell me a story then?” The little girl seemed tempted.

“Of course I will,” Lei Yin replied, though he couldn’t help but smile wryly at the thought of using international long-distance calls just to tell bedtime stories—surely the most expensive way to do so.

Amy stared at him for a moment and then said, “Lei, I’ll try.”

Lei Yin could see the unwavering trust in her eyes, a trust without a hint of doubt. It touched him deeply.

“When I come back, I’ll buy you a very big stuffed animal for you to hug while you sleep. That way, you won’t be afraid to sleep alone anymore.”

“Okay.” The little girl agreed with such confidence, as if she had already succeeded.

Lei Yin smiled and, on a whim, decided to try braiding her hair into two pigtails. However, he quickly gave up when he realized it wasn’t as easy as he had imagined.

Since it wasn’t convenient for him to help Amy change clothes, he decided to take her out in her pajamas.

Just as he opened the door, he heard familiar footsteps coming from down the hallway.

Lei Yin smiled and stood still, waiting for the person to approach.

“Senpai, so you really came to Kazumi’s room. I was just about to call you for breakfast, but I couldn’t find you,” said the kendo girl happily when she saw him.

“You’re just in time. Help this little one change into some clothes.”

“Is Kazumi still sleeping?”

“Yes, let her sleep. Don’t worry about her.”

Rumi chuckled. “Kazumi never wakes up before 8 AM because she always stays up late reading. Amy, come with me.” She took the little girl’s hand and led her back into the room.

“I’ll wait outside for you,” Lei Yin said as he closed the door.

At breakfast, Kawaguchi Megumi asked, “Where’s Rumi? I saw her get up early.”

Akiyoshi Masako, munching on her food, replied, “I ran into her in the hallway just now. She said we didn’t need to wait for her.”

“That’s odd. Is she on a diet or something?”

“No, she was with a guy earlier. Maybe she went to have breakfast with him.”

“A guy? What guy? Don’t tell me it’s Okuzawa Ryoji, the one she met yesterday?” Kawaguchi Megumi quickly inquired.

“No, I’ve never seen this guy before. But I heard Rumi call him ‘senpai,’ so he’s probably a student from our school. Still, it’s strange—I’ve never seen him around here. And he had a really cute little girl with him. No one here would bring their younger sister, right?”

“Who could he be?” Kawaguchi Megumi’s curiosity was thoroughly piqued.

“I told you, I don’t know. Asking me won’t help.”

At that moment, a voice from nearby chimed in, “No need to guess. That person is Gennai Masashi. I saw him drive here yesterday.”

“Gennai Masashi? Fujii-senpai, who’s that?” Both girls immediately turned to the senior sitting across from them.

Fujii glanced at them, then suddenly put down his chopsticks. Adopting a dark, ominous tone, he said, “You’re freshmen, so there’s a lot you don’t know. Actually, there’s a terrifyingly dangerous individual at our school. That person is Gennai Masashi.”

Akiyoshi Masako couldn’t help but laugh at Fujii’s dramatic attempt to mimic a storyteller spinning a ghostly tale.

Kawaguchi Megumi, however, took him seriously. “Senpai, tell us more!”

Delighted to have an eager audience, Fujii straightened up, cleared his throat, and continued in a tone reserved for ghost stories. “Have you ever heard of the legend of a human weapon at our school?”

Influenced by his serious demeanor, Kawaguchi Megumi nodded solemnly. “I think I’ve heard that term somewhere before.”

“Let me tell you, that legend is real. The story’s origin dates back to…”

Before Fujii could finish, the sliding paper door beside them was suddenly flung open.

“What are you first-years still doing here? Everyone else has already finished breakfast and started preparing. Fujii, you too—why are you always dragging your feet?” The loud, authoritative voice completely shattered the tense atmosphere Fujii had worked so hard to create.

“Okawa-senpai, why are you always scolding me for no reason?” Fujii couldn’t help but complain, feeling embarrassed in front of the two younger girls.

Okawa glared at him and said, “That’s because you’re too careless. You’re already a senior now, you should be setting an example for the younger students. Stop talking nonsense and go get ready.”

“Yes, yes. I’ll tell you all about it later,” he replied reluctantly, standing up.

“You two, hurry up too,” Okawa said to the two girls as they followed her out.

Once they left, Kawaguchi Megumi, somewhat annoyed, said, “What a buzzkill.”

“At least we now know his name,” Akiyoshi Masako said with a smile.

“Hey, do you think that guy with the Gennai surname is Rumi’s boyfriend?”

“How would I know? Let’s go, or Okawa-senpai will start scolding again.”

“You’re just like Rumi, always so obedient. If you get married in the future, your husband will definitely bully you,” Kawaguchi Megumi said as she stood up.

“You’re crazy. How did we get to that topic?”

The two of them walked out of the room as they spoke.

Not far from the hotel, there was an old gymnasium where the students from Teikyo were conducting their training. As they walked along the dry cement road toward the gym, Kazumi saw, from a distance, dozens of students in kendo uniforms doing physical training on the open field. She focused her gaze and quickly spotted Rumi, dressed in a white kendo uniform, stretching while back-to-back with another girl.

Watching Rumi’s face, which was a little reddened from the intense sun but still exuded a healthy glow, Kazumi couldn’t help but stop and gently watch her.

If we were to divide by seasons, Kazumi thought, Rumi was a girl who suited summer. Enthusiastic, pure, full of childlike energy, a quality that someone like Kazumi, who lacked passion, could never experience.

Although Kazumi didn’t like her own personality, she also didn’t want to change it. She understood that she wasn’t as pure as Rumi, nor could she be as straightforward as Takeshima Shinobu. When she observed others, her gaze was sharp, and even without speaking harsh words, her expression rarely conveyed warmth.

What an unpleasant personality. She thought, self-mockingly.

Seeing that Rumi hadn’t noticed her watching, still focused on her warm-up with her partner, Kazumi didn’t want to disturb her and continued walking forward.

When she reached a lawn in front of the field, she saw him lounging under a tree, reading a book while listening to his headphones. Amy was resting her head on his lap, with an open comic book lying on the grass to her left.

For some reason, seeing this scene, Kazumi felt that this otherwise dull morning had suddenly become interesting, and the weather didn’t seem as hot anymore.

If we were to divide by seasons, which season would he fit?

With this strange thought in mind, Kazumi slowly walked over.

“If you’re too relaxed, people will resent you,” she said casually as she sat down beside him.

Lei Yin put down his book, then lazily replied, “The whole hot-blooded youth thing doesn’t suit me, but watching others train hard while I sit comfortably in the shade, enjoying the cool breeze, does give me a strange sense of satisfaction.”

“That’s obviously a bit of a twisted pleasure. If Rumi hears you say this, she’ll cry,” Kazumi said, pulling an earbud out of his ear and putting it in her own.

“What song is this? I don’t think I’ve ever heard it before,” Kazumi asked after listening for a while.

“It’s from an old movie, but I’ve forgotten the name,” Lei Yin said, gazing at the field in front of him.

Kazumi suddenly smiled and said, “Brother, you always like strange things. But speaking of which, I can’t imagine you chewing gum and humming pop songs like everyone else. The conclusion is that, as expected, you’re a weirdo.”

“Do you want to rebel? You actually dare say that to my face?” Lei Yin glared at her.

“Silly, what’s the point of saying it if I don’t say it to your face?” Kazumi said with a smile as she leaned her head on his shoulder.