Seiichi Yukimura didn't mind the sudden throbbing in his heart. He was still busy with his painting and gardening. In his first year of junior high school, he won the national tennis championship and attended an overseas seminar in France. He painted a portrait of Sanchū Ming and submitted it to the Ueno Art Museum.

It seemed like nothing had changed in his life.

The first year of junior high school passed quickly.

During the spring break of the second year of junior high school, in early March, on Seiichi Yukimura's birthday, Yukimura's mother handed Seiichi Yukimura an unaddressed letter.

The pure white envelope was sealed with red wax, and the seal was six small copper coins in two rows.

Seiichi Yukimura carefully opened the envelope, and Sanchū Ming's handwriting fell out on a cardboard.

"Come here."

Is this some kind of puzzle or treasure hunt game?

Seiichi Yukimura thought for a while, then packed up his things and went to look for Sanada Senichiro.

The six copper coins were the emblem of the ancient samurai family, Sanada.

He got a hand-made bamboo sword pendant and a new letter from Shinichiro. The cardboard inside the letter was printed with Monet's painting, "Monet Painting in a Flower Painting."

It was his favorite Impressionist School of Painting.

So, the puzzle this time was related to painting?

The similarity between him and Monet in terms of painting …

Seiichi Yukimura searched all the places that Sanchū Ming knew of where he painted. At his favorite spot in the studio, by the window, Seiichi Yukimura found a painting folder that didn't belong to him.

There was a painting in the folder. He didn't know when Sanchū Ming had drawn Seiichi Yukimura with his head lowered, painting. Sanchū Ming, who liked intense colors, painted Seiichi Yukimura bathed in soft light. The colors were transparent and gentle, and the painting was clean and fresh. Seiichi Yukimura could almost see a pair of beautiful wings stretching out in the painting.

Was he like this in Ming's heart?

Seiichi Yukimura looked at the painting, and an inexplicable feeling rose in his heart.

There was a third letter hidden in the drawer. There was nothing in the letter, but there was a faint floral scent in the envelope.

It was the smell of his favorite cornflower.

Yukimura began to understand Sanchū Ming's train of thought.

He returned home and helplessly took the third letter and a pot of blooming bright blue cornflowers from his mother, who was trying to hold back her laughter.

Blue was his favorite color and cornflower was his favorite flower.

Yukimura's mother looked at her son, who was carefully touching the petals, and handed him two bottles of water. "Bright Paste said that you should drink some water after running for so long."

Yukimura was completely addicted to this treasure hunt. He opened the bottle and gulped down a few mouthfuls of water before opening the fourth letter.

Next, he got the fifth letter and a book of Renoir's paintings on the mountain where he had seen the meteor shower. He got the sixth letter, a warm lunchbox, and a hand-drawn copy of "Waves of Kanagawa" from his grandfather, who was fishing by the sea in Kanagawa. He listened to Brahms's Symphony No. 4 played for him at the rooftop cat café where he celebrated Sanchū Ming's birthday, drank a cup of hot matcha milk, and received the seventh letter and a purple-blue-eyed cat.

These were the places he and Sanchū Ming had been to.

Yukimura was getting more and more impatient. He wanted to see the planner of this treasure hunt as soon as possible.

Hurry up, hurry up.

In the seventh letter was a picture of the crescent moon.

When Yukimura arrived at Sanchū Ming's house, it was already dark.

He was carrying a schoolbag full of things, a portfolio, and a cat bag in his hand. He was full of joy and just wanted to find Sanchū Ming, who had planned an ingenious birthday party for him.

He didn't take many detours and went straight to the tree where Sanchū Ming had climbed and cried. When he was about to touch the tree, he heard a "bang" in the sky. Seiichi Yukimura instinctively looked up.

Then he saw his name.

His name, accompanied by orange fireworks, shone in the sky.

"Happy birthday!

Yukimura! "Sanchū Ming came out from behind the tree.

In order to get permission to set off fireworks in March, when fireworks were not allowed, she had asked many elders to pull strings. Finally, after meeting Seiichi Yukimura, on his third birthday, she got special permission to send a grand fireworks party to only one person.

"Yukimura is really smart. He can find it everywhere."

Sanchū Ming was bubbling with joy. This puzzle was not only fun for Yukimura, but she was also moved when she received Yukimura's game progress.

Originally, she was worried that this puzzle would be too difficult and Yukimura would not remember.

It symbolized their first meeting at Sanada's house, the studio where she watched Yukimura draw, the cornflowers she planted in the courtyard of Yukimura's house, the Orion meteor shower they watched together, the high tide at Kanagawa Beach, and the cat café where they sat under the cat tree to draw cats.

It turned out that Yukimura remembered all these things, just like her.

"This fireworks party is the last big gift for Yukimura," Sanchū Ming said with a smile.

Yukimura looked at the fireworks party that belonged to him alone and looked down at Sanchū Ming, who was smiling at him under the fireworks.

His accelerated heartbeat, warm body temperature, and inexplicable emotions all burst out uncontrollably from her smile.

When did he fall in love with Sanchū Ming?

He fell in love with Sanchū Ming.

The fireworks were almost finished. Sanchū Ming lit the incense in her hand and gave a handful to Seiichi Yukimura.

"What's wrong?

Are you so moved that you can't speak? "Sanchū Ming asked with a smile.

Mitsui Yueming was no longer the little girl with thorns all over her body. In a short period of time, she had become confident and cheerful. She gradually overlapped with the Ming in Xing Cun's mind who was standing in the kendo hall and wiping her sweat with her sleeves.

Not only in her own field, Sanchū Ming began to shine brightly in other people's lives.

Yukimura held a handful of burning incense. In the midst of the fireworks, he felt that if he didn't say something to break the inflated mood, he couldn't help but confess to Sanchū Ming.

Well, he admitted defeat. Mr. Knight was completely conquered by Miss Dragon.

He didn't want the last gift of the treasure hunt game to be fireworks. He wanted Miss Dragon.

But now was not the right time. It would scare her.

So Seiichi Yukimura picked up the strawberry milk that he bought for Sanchū Ming on the way to the treasure hunt game.

"Do you want to drink it?"

"Drink it?" Sanchū Ming was surprised.

"Ah?"

"Wait," Sanchū Ming scratched her head, "Do you want to ask me if I want to drink strawberry milk?"

"Ah?

Yes, what did I just say? "

"You said strawberry milk is a relationship."

… … Too, too embarrassing!

It was the first time in his life that he was so embarrassed!

Seiichi Yukimura felt that it was better for him to disappear immediately.

But at this moment, he was no different from any other young boy who was facing the girl he liked. He didn't want to embarrass himself and didn't want to hide anything.

Yukimura nervously rubbed his thumb back and forth with his index finger. He gritted his teeth and said bluntly, "Actually, I want to ask, do you want to try dating me?"

Sanchū Ming, who was holding a handful of incense, stiffened at a speed visible to the naked eye.

"What did you say?"

Seiichi Yukimura said, "I like you. I want to date you."

Sanchū Ming turned around and ran!

"Wait, Ming, why are you running?"

Seiichi Yukimura hurriedly ran after her.

Sanchū Ming ran into the house and locked the door. Seiichi Yukimura was a step too late.

"Be good, open the door. I have something to say to you." Yukimura was panting slightly as he gently coaxed her to open the door.

"You're crazy."

Sanchū Ming covered her face and squatted behind the door. Her whole body was emitting heat, and her face was almost cooked. "What nonsense are you saying?"

Seiichi Yukimura big pig head!

"You can't lock me outside. It's so cold at night."

"Then hurry up and go home!

The tram to Kanagawa doesn't stop! "

"It's already very late."

"It's just getting dark early!"

Seiichi Yukimura couldn't find a reason. He thought about it and couldn't help but say,

"But I like you. Can you open the door?"

What kind of karma was this?!

Sanchū Ming wailed and was so embarrassed that she wanted to bury herself in the ground.

"You're not opening the door?"

"I'd be an idiot if I did!"

"Okay."

Xingmura Goshi turned around and walked towards the entrance of the courtyard. After waiting for a while, Three Suns Moon Ming carefully opened the door and poked his head out. He just happened to meet Xingmura Goshi's pair of purplish-blue eyes.

"Bam!" She locked the door again.

Seiichi Yukimura went to the door and took out the key from the flower pot on top of the mailbox. He inserted the key into the keyhole, and the door opened with a click.

Sanchū Ming:??!

She scrambled out of the back door and took a taxi to Akaji's house.

Seiichi Yukimura, who chased after Akaji's mansion but was rejected outside, was speechless.

Seiichi Yukimura stood outside Akaji's house. Without the protection of the tall buildings, the biting cold wind pierced his heart.

He picked up the cat bag, and two pairs of identical blue-purple eyes met, staring at each other.

"Mom abandoned you and Dad to spend the night with another man." Seiichi Yukimura lamented.

The white cat turned around and left him with its butt.

After returning home, he looked at the bright blue cornflowers and his portrait on the table. He couldn't help but go out and buy a dozen letters and envelopes.

What should he write …

He was afraid of being unscrupulous when he recalled the past. He was afraid of being cliché when he confessed his feelings. He was afraid of being pretentious when he wrote about his feelings for her.

He was full of hesitation and caution, which he usually didn't have.

He thought about it and hesitated for a while before he began to write.

— — I desire to leave your side …

Go away.

Sanchū Ming, who received the letter, found an empty classroom to read it.

"I want to say the deepest words to you, but I don't dare. I'm afraid you'll laugh.

"So I laugh at myself and break my secret in a joke.

"I make my pain sound light because I'm afraid you'll do the same.

"I want to say the truest words to you, but I don't dare. I'm afraid you won't believe me.

"So I make a lie real and say the opposite of my true feelings.

"I make my pain sound funny because I'm afraid you'll do the same.

"I desire to sit silently by your side. I don't dare. I'm afraid my heart will jump to my lips.

"So I make small talk and hide my heart behind words.

"I treat my pain roughly because I'm afraid you'll do the same.

"I desire to leave your side. I don't dare. I'm afraid you'll see my cowardice.

"So I casually walk in front of you with my head held high.

"The constant stimulation from your eyes keeps my pain fresh forever."

Sanchū Ming blushed and clenched her teeth. She crumpled the letter full of rogue words into a ball of paper and was about to throw it into the trash can.

Only then did she see what seemed to be words on the back.

She carefully smoothed out the crumpled paper and found that Seiichi Yukimura had written a line on the back.

"Yuji misses you very much."

… This is a foul.

Sanchū Ming buried her face into the letter in frustration.

Using the purple-blue-eyed cat as a pun …

Referee, where's the referee?

Referee, player Seiichi Yukimura has fouled his straight ball.

Sanchū Ming turned around and wrote a letter.

"I only miss Yuji the cat. Yuji Yukimura must be crazy. Calm down."

A few days later, Sanchū Ming's menstrual cramps were unbearable. She was lying on the table between classes, gasping for air.

"Is Sanchū here?" It was a senior.

"Yes …" Sanchū Ming was about to stand up, but the senior waved his hand.

"Excuse me." The senior walked directly into the classroom and put a bag on Sanchū Ming's table.

"Senpai Senpai …?

What's this? "

"Someone asked me to give you this."

The senior with the hedgehog hair winked ambiguously. "He also asked me to tell you to change into your boy's uniform. Don't wear a uniform skirt."

Sanchū Ming blankly watched the senior leave their classroom. She couldn't figure out who the "someone" was.

She opened the bag and found a hot electric pillow and a thermos flask inside.

Sanchū Ming opened the thermos flask.

Ah, it's ginger and date brown sugar water?

…

She knew who it was!

San Ri and Yue Ming tore off a piece of paper in exasperation. The force of his pen penetrated the back of the paper.

"Why are you so flirtatious?!"

Seiichi Yukimura burst into laughter when he received the letter.

He thought for a moment, took out the letter, and replied:

"I want to know what you're looking at."

It was like a lover's whisper.

"I want to know what you like and what you think."

It was like a lover's plea.

"I only ask that you put me in your heart like a mark, and wear me on your arm like a stamp."

"Marks" are made with fire, and "stamps" are made with needles. Believers need to go through fire and pain to have a loving connection with God.

When a person is flirtatious, even the Bible is full of words of love.

"If you really love me, please tell me your sincerity. If you think I'm too easily submissive, I'll put on an angry face and pretend to be stubborn. I'll reject your good intentions so that you can plead with me. Otherwise, I won't reject you no matter what.

"Beautiful moon, I'm too infatuated, so you may think my actions are a little frivolous. But believe me, girl, one day you'll know that my loyalty is far greater than those who are good at pretending.

I have to admit, if you weren't so charming under the fireworks at night, I would be more reserved. So forgive me, it was the night that revealed the secret in my heart. Don't think of my promise as shameless frivolity. "

What was Seiichi Yukimura's head full of?!

Sanchū Ming didn't know what to feel, but he wrote a reply to Seiichi Yukimura's shamelessness.

A few days later, he received a picture of Yuki the cat from another student. In the picture, a white cat with purple-blue eyes was rolling around and acting cute. On the back of the picture, there was a signature pen:

"Yuki is so cute, don't be angry."

Sanchū Ming: …

Yukimura's letters came one after another, and all kinds of wonderful little gifts were endless. Sometimes it was a little snack, sometimes it was a simple drawing of Yuki the cat.

The two of them seemed to have returned to an era without the Internet or phones, relying on words and imagination attached to objects to establish a secret connection.

"A storm filled the valley, a fish filled the river, I made you as big as my loneliness, the whole world for us to hide in."

During the summer vacation of the second year of middle school, Seiichi Yukimura sent Sanchū Ming a postcard with this sentence written on it. The postcard was printed with a lonely whale.

Sanchū Ming took the postcard to Akaji.

"After Rabindranath Tagore, the Bible, Romeo and Juliet … and then Paul Eliard?"

The red-haired, red-eyed teenager tapped the postcard with his finger and said to Sanchū Ming: "He's acting pitiful to you.

"Using a whale as an analogy for loneliness?" He chuckled.

Who gave Seiichi Yukimura such a big face?

"I don't know." Sanchū Ming lay on Akaji's bed, not wanting to move at all.

"What do you want to do?" Akashiji Seijuro asked.

Sanchū Ming got up and replied to Seiichi Yukimura's letter. Akaji glanced at the content of Sanchū Ming's letter and sighed.

He knew it.

If it was someone he didn't like at all, Sanchū Ming wouldn't be so conflicted.

"What will happen if we don't like each other equally?" — Sanchū Ming

"If love can't be equal, I'm willing to love more." — Seiichi Yukimura

… This person.

She asked Sanada Senichiro to send a letter to Yukimura, and Sanada soon returned from Yukimura's house with a letter from Yukimura.

"You'll have to do this yourself in the future!" Sanada handed over the letter and left with a dark expression.

Sanchū Ming opened the letter.

This time, the letter was quite short, to the point that it only contained one line.

"My heart is on a tree. Just pluck it."

'Seriously …'

Sanchū Ming felt like it was all over for him.

"How should I pluck it?" — Sanchū Ming.

"Let's meet at the fireworks festival." — Seiichi Yukimura.

Soon, it was time for the Summer Festival. On the day of the fireworks festival, Seiichi Yukimura waited by himself on Mount Kanagawa with a Baby Dragon doll.

Would the Three Suns and Moon Brightness come?

Seiichi Yukimura was certain when he gave Seiichi Yukimura a time, but he wasn't so certain anymore as he waited for a long time.

He waited from dusk until the fireworks started exploding, but Sanchū Ming still didn't appear.

"He's still not coming …" Yukimura sighed lightly as he stood up and prepared to leave.

There was no need to wait any longer.

"Who did you say wouldn't come?"

Seiichi Yukimura heard a familiar voice during the short break between the fireworks.

Sanchū Ming, who no longer intentionally kept his head bald and had a layer of curly golden hair on his head, was wearing a T-shirt. He turned around and said to Seiichi Yukimura, "Aren't I here now?"

"What?" The fireworks were too loud for Seiichi Yukimura to hear Sanchū Ming's words clearly.

Sanchū Ming scratched his head awkwardly and took a deep breath. He walked over to Seiichi Yukimura and whispered in his ear.

"I'm here."

Seiichi Yukimura widened his eyes.

"I've thought about it for a long time and realized that I might like you just a little bit.

If you don't mind that I like you less than you do, then there's no need for me to be overly cautious, "Sanchū Ming said." Since you've chosen me, then you're mine. "

"Then what's the special treatment for becoming Ming?"

Seiichi Yukimura, who finally succeeded in his confession, looked like he had everything under control and was even in the mood to tease him. In fact, he was holding the Baby Dragon doll so tightly that his hand turned white.

He was so happy that he was about to go crazy. Even the happiness of dominating three consecutive times couldn't compare to this moment. He felt like he would explode into fireworks in the next second. The gorgeous fireworks fell and enveloped Sanchū Ming, lighting up her beautiful green eyes.

He wanted to hug Sanchū Ming.

"Hand, use a little more strength and the Baby Dragon will be squeezed out of the cotton." Sanchū Ming, who noticed this, said, "Can't you hold it in?

I remember there was a bathroom on the way here … "

Seiichi Yukimura: …

Whoever had Ky's girlfriend would have to suffer alone.

Facing this kind of big Ky who didn't even feel that he was Ky, Seiichi Yukimura decided to hold back his embarrassment and said honestly, "I want to hug you."

"…" Sanchū Ming almost wanted to follow her brother's teachings and slap the youth who was suspected of sexual harassment.

She held back her hand and stiffly hugged her new boyfriend.

It wasn't as hard as she thought. When Seiichi Yukimura put his hand on her back, she even felt that her heart was filled with emptiness.

"If you become my thing, there will be a lot of benefits." Sanchū Ming rubbed the back of Seiichi Yukimura's furry head.

"Sanchū Ming, no matter if you're happy or angry, happy or sad, like or hate, whether you're still with Seiichi Yukimura, you won't let Seiichi Yukimura feel any pain from her."

Sanchū · Miss Dragon · Great Demon King · Ming, from that day onwards, treated Seiichi Yukimura as a dragon's treasure and carefully protected him.

"By the way, what are you doing with the Baby Dragon?"

"I'm giving it to your little son."

“？”

"You gave me a little daughter, so I'm giving you a little son."

"…"

"You don't like it?"