Chapter 19: Sayuri Is the Best Adult

A faint breeze whispered across the fields, crossed over the Ochanomizu, and quietly drifted to the window.

At this moment.

Back at her old home, her mother was probably calling everyone to sleep early.

Sayuri Sato felt a pang of homesickness.

She gazed at the distant nightscape, lights flickering, magnificent and enchanting.

Tokyo was beautiful, but it was not truly where she belonged.

Yet...

Would that home still welcome her now?

Sayuri Sato let out a soft laugh. As the eldest daughter, how could she harbor such frail thoughts? From the day she left home, her mother had told her to make a decent life in Tokyo.

She carried the future of her entire family on her shoulders.

“Only sometimes, I just want to be a little spoiled,” she murmured.

Suddenly, a hand reached out, gently brushing through her long hair, accompanied by a tender voice: “Good girl, good girl, Sayuri, you’re the best.”

Her heart fluttered.

Sayuri took a deep breath, forcing down her restless unease, then turned her head with a wry smile. “You’re still here? Didn’t you already finish your tea?”

“I’m the guest. How could I leave so soon?” Kitahara smiled. “Besides, there’s nothing else to do today, so I’ll just spoil Sayuri-chan a little.”

“Chan…”

Her cheeks flushed crimson as she snapped, “I’m fifteen years older than you. Don’t say such ridiculous things.”

“Age is just a number... Or are you embarrassed?”

“Shut up.”

Sayuri turned away, pouting. “Don’t treat me like some woman off the street.”

She was certainly not that shameless—a woman who would easily pull money from her pocket at a whim. Kitahara’s behavior was far too dismissive of her.

He leaned closer, softly swaying her black hair. “Since Sayuri saved me once today, I’ll make an exception and comfort you… You really don’t want it?”

His whisper was like a tender caress near her ear, making the teacher feel shy.

“You… go away.”

Sayuri felt dizzy, her cheeks burning.

Kitahara tentatively reached out his hand.

Their fingertips touched; her youthful fingers trembled but gently clasped his, without resistance.

So their hands met.

Sayuri tensed, the scent on the boy making her heart race.

“What are you doing?”

“I just want to help you.”

“Go away!”

She pushed, but found she couldn’t move him—not because he was too strong, but because she wasn’t resisting.

“You’ve done well,” Kitahara stroked her head, his voice gentle. “You don’t need to try so hard anymore...”

Sayuri’s shame deepened, lips pressed shut in silence.

“Sayuri, you are the best adult…”

“Everyone will be proud of you.”

“I like you the most.”

His voice was soft, as if soothing a child, and it reminded her of wind chimes.

Those summer wind chimes.

They tinkled softly with the breeze every year when her mother went to pick watermelons in the fields.

She and her three younger brothers would hide in the yard, listening to cicadas, sipping orange soda.

“Mom…”

Sayuri whispered to herself.

Perhaps it was the alcohol playing tricks, but she lifted her head as if chasing the sun, staring at the pale lips before her.

“That’s okay... Sayuri, you can do whatever you want.”

“No matter what, I can forgive you.”

The gentle words gradually took on a different tone, like a demon whispering softly, seducing the soul, and on Kitahara’s innocent face, a shadow flickered.

He was smiling.

Everything comes with a choice, and behind every choice, a price is quietly marked.

Sayuri was lost, tilting her head, yearning to grasp her happiness…

She was drunk.

A drunk person’s actions can be forgiven.

So…

Let her be willful once.

The distance between their lips was so close, it seemed if they moved just a little more, they could touch.

Just a little…

Sayuri closed her eyes and leaned in.

“…”

Nothing.

She opened her eyes in confusion. Kitahara’s smile seemed genuine… so why was it still just out of reach?

“Sayuri, I don’t think this is right. After all, I am your…”

Kitahara’s words, tinged with the taste of tea, pierced Sayuri’s heart, suddenly making her confused.

No.

He hadn’t said that just now.

“It’s okay…”

Without even the sound of her vocal cords, a hollow voice screamed from her throat. Sayuri seemed to beg, “It’s okay, our relationship is pure…”

“No, I’m afraid it will affect your future.”

“I do it for your future…”

That’s right.

Sayuri’s lips parted. They were truly unrelated... Such a thing was forbidden.

But only today…

Only today.

Her voice was low and hesitant: “Your name…”

“What?”

She pleaded desperately, “What’s your name?”

“Kitahara Haruki, your…”

No.

At least for now, they had no relationship.

Sayuri stared at him, her lips trembling slightly. “I heard you’re not wealthy, Kitahara…”

“Yes. If there were a suitable way, that would be great.” Kitahara nodded, lowering his head to meet her gaze.

The boy’s eyes rippled like clear waves, meeting hers.

Her breath quickened. She tilted her face slightly and lightly kissed his cheek.

“I have, I have a lot of money... Kitahara, no, little brother, I have a lot of money. If you recognize me as your sister, I can…”

Her words stopped there.

Sayuri’s morals forbade her to say more.

After all, the pale moonlight before her was still a tender youth, filled with infinite promise… She did not want to tarnish that innocence, even if he was already tainted.

But the pale moonlight was called so because in her heart, it was infinitely pure.

It was a fleeting childhood.

A youthful affection.

Everything beautiful in the past…

Kitahara curled his lips, as if he saw that a prey had entered the web he had spun.

Now, only one sentence was needed to shatter Sayuri’s reason.

He lowered his face and said softly, “Will you spend money on me?”

“If you treat me kindly…” Sayuri’s eyes glimmered with hope.

“I’ll give you my true heart in exchange for yours.”

Kitahara took her hand. “Can you feel its warmth?”

Sayuri looked at him and murmured to herself:

“I feel this warmth is not enough.”

Kitahara tempted, “There are actually better ways to feel it…”

“I don’t mind if you tell me in detail.”

“I’d love to, but…” Kitahara smiled slightly, then suddenly stepped back, withdrawing from her embrace. “It’s late. If I don’t go home now, I’ll miss the last bus.”

Sayuri was stunned.

Wait, Kitahara was leaving just like that?

Then who would fill the void of her longing?

“You’re leaving now?”

“Yes.”

Her eyes instantly darkened with longing.

Reluctantly, she said, “I have a car, I can drive you home… Can you stay and talk a little longer?”

Seeing Kitahara hesitate, Sayuri quickly added, “I’ll pay.”

“Isn’t all the teacher’s money taken by your little brother?” Kitahara feigned confusion.

“…”

That’s right.

Sayuri’s expression clouded; she was penniless now, not a single coin in her pocket, borrowing money just to eat.

In this state, Kitahara would never pay her any attention.

“But…”

Kitahara gently stroked Sayuri’s face. “I’m not talking to you for money.”

“Then…”

Sayuri widened her eyes.

“Sayuri, do you believe in love at first sight?”

Sayuri frowned, feeling wronged. “Our first meeting wasn’t that pleasant.”

“You weren’t cute at all. You argued with me and even threatened me… I hated that side of you.”

Kitahara broke into a sweat.

Forgot that part. He’d better find Sakura Reina for advice next time.

Quickly, Kitahara corrected himself, “Actually, that wasn’t our first meeting. The real first time I saw you was in the first half of your first year in high school. You were walking down the corridor in your teacher’s uniform, so elegant and dignified…”

Sayuri stared at him for a moment, then suddenly covered her mouth and laughed.

“What…”

“Try to come up with a better excuse when you lie.”

“I’ve heard such clumsy lines from so many people.”

“…”

Kitahara sighed helplessly. Such a wonderful evening ruined by one careless comment.

After laughing, Sayuri coquettishly shot him a glance.

Though the excuse was poor, she liked hearing it.

Women can see through some lies easily but can also choose to play dumb—or rather, be willing to.

Sayuri didn’t mind if Kitahara said a few more sweet words; she wanted him to be a little gentler with her.

A warm embrace.

A simple kiss.

And… the boldness born of drunken recklessness.

She longed for the boy to look at her with hopeful eyes and ask for her.

When that moment truly came.

Sayuri would say yes.

But…

Kitahara seemed to have no such intention.

After pondering for a while, reason climbed back into Sayuri’s mind. It was then she finally realized what she had just done, blushing and stammering, “About what I said earlier…”

“I know. Words said drunk don’t count when sober,” Kitahara said considerately.

This mission would have to be put on hold.

Later, he’d find a way to teach Sayuri a lesson.

Just a pity about the reward…

“Actually…”

It could be real.

Sayuri looked at him quietly. Though half of Kitahara’s sincerity was false, the part where he cared for her was genuine.

He truly saw through her emptiness, her fragility… and indeed had not left, but used the alcohol to ease her troubled heart.

Moreover…

She was a little afraid.

That after leaving her, Kitahara would turn and fall into another woman’s arms.

At the thought, Sayuri’s heart ached fiercely, as if something precious was stolen away… His smile belonged only to her. She would possess it even if she had to pay.

“Stay and talk with me,” she said softly.

“Okay.”

Kitahara sat back down. This time, there was no more chance—their previous intimacy existed only in memory.

“People say, what is the purpose of life…”

“I don’t know. Maybe there isn’t one.”

“I see…”

Sayuri took a deep breath, a little disappointed, then smiled. She was really crazy to discuss such things with a student.

“Are you troubled by work? Like the title system…”

Sayuri ruffled his hair. “You’re not focused on studying, but you sure know a lot about these petty power struggles.”

Kitahara gently pushed her hand away and pondered.

In Japan, public school teachers are civil servants with decent salaries, averaging 7.5 million yen annually.

Private schools pay even more.

But private schools have fierce competition; every year, there are secret title evaluations…

This affects income, so every teacher strains themselves.

Who wouldn’t want more money?

Yet the entangled interests inevitably breed sordid thoughts, which was nothing new.

“Don’t want to talk about it? Maybe I can give some advice.”

“You’re too young.”

Sayuri smiled and gestured, “Wait until you’re my age…”

Halfway through, she suddenly stopped. If maturity were measured truly, Kitahara seemed more mature than her. After all, he was a boy who had done “papa-katsu.”

He had probably seen plenty of dirty dealings.

“In short, someone is blocking the title advancement, demanding a price from teachers to get it… Of course, I’m not the only one targeted; many teachers have received vague hints.”

“But some refuse to do it just for a raise, while others agree…”

Sayuri spoke of the struggles among teachers, school systems, and the prices she had to pay.

Though she spoke vaguely, she believed Kitahara understood.

And indeed, he did.

“Who is that person…”

“That’s none of your concern. Are you thinking of standing up for me?” Sayuri laughed helplessly. “Anyway, after drinking, I realized it doesn’t matter how much money I make. The key is that I have to be happy.”

“Exactly.”

“So.”

Sayuri suddenly became serious. “You’re not allowed to do that anymore, understand?”

Their eyes met, and Kitahara’s gaze flickered.

He raised his face. “If I don’t do it, I won’t have money.”

Sayuri hesitated. “I can offer you a part-time job. There’s a convenience store near the school hiring. If you’re interested, you can check it out.”

That shouldn’t count as misusing public resources, right?

She was merely providing a job for a student.

That was all.

“If I’m short on money, I’ll go.”

“Don’t just say that.”

“All right.”

…

After seeing Kitahara off, Sayuri lay in bed, lost in thought about everything that had happened tonight.

The pale moonlight’s laughter and playful teasing were still vivid before her eyes.

That gentle voice, that comforting embrace… like a beam of light dispelling the darkness within.

Now.

She no longer needed alcohol to fall asleep.

Unimaginable.

In just one night, he had left an indelible mark on her heart.

Yet in her heart…

An inexplicable restlessness stirred.

If only she hadn’t stopped just now.

Sayuri imagined Kitahara’s figure in her mind and closed her eyes.

In her dream.

He was smiling.

“Big sister.”