Chapter 6 chapter Five

March 9th, 2017, Thursday.The weather is starting to warm up. This is the last day of AmeKo in Taiwan. It doesn't rain in Tainan. Even in the rainy Taoyuan, it is still sunny and good weather. The original crew of Hollywood KTV gathered again in the hall of Chiang Kai-shek Airport. Xinjie and I checked the luggage for AmeKo, while AmeKo chatted and laughed with the other three girls. The atmosphere was not as reluctant as imagined. After checking AmeKo's luggage, Xinjie gestured to remind her that it was time to board the plane. AmeKo nodded softly and picked up her red backpack.

The laughter of the four girls did not stop until this time. Yu Ji, who was about to hit the wall at the Hollywood KTV, also shed tears at the same time. AmeKo didn't cry, she patted Yuji's shoulder comfortingly, and then walked towards me and Xinjie. "AmeKo, I wish you the best of luck. Remember to keep in touch with me when you return to Japan!" Xinjie held AmeKo's hand and said goodbye to her. AmeKo still nodded with a smile. It's my turn, what should I say? My palms are already sweating, how can I shake hands with her? And suddenly there was a bitter taste in my throat, and I couldn't squeeze out a word.

"Cai Sang, thank you for coming to see me off. A-Ri-Ga-Do." AmeKo suddenly became stiff, and the 90-degree bow that he hadn't seen for a long time appeared again. "Nah, this is as it should be. 』 AmeKo always smiles to other people seeing off, why is he so serious when facing me? "Cai Sang, thank you for taking care of me these past six months. A-Ri-Ga-Do." "Both each other, you also take care of me a lot. 』 Just like when we first met, I also became polite because of her influence. "Cai Sang, please work harder in the future and graduate early!"

AmeKo couldn't help laughing when he saw my uneasy look, and showed those two cute canine teeth again. If there is no accident, I think this will be the last time I see her tiger teeth. But I also noticed that today AmeKo never showed her canine teeth when smiling at others. And her smile seemed to have the effect of buoyancy, which made my tense and heavy mood feel a lot easier. "AmeKo, I insist that my friends should call me Chihiro.And close friends should call me Azhi. 』 For more than half a year, she has been calling me "Cai Sang", just like I always call her "AmeKo".

I hope I can hear her call me "Azhi" before she leaves. Even if it's just "Chihiro". "I also insist that my friends should call me Yuzi. And my close friends should call me Xiaoyu." I think AmeKo finally understands the meaning of "persistence". "Xiao Yu——Bon voyage, take care. 』 "A-A-Chi." AmeKo blushed and called softly. This reminds me of when I called "AmeKo" for the first time, it took me a long time. ""A" is an initial particle, meaningless.Generally, people in Taiwan like to use "ah" or "what" to address people, which is similar to the ancient Japanese.But you'd better not call Xinjie as Ashin, it will be confused with [Ashin] starring Yuko Tanaka. 』

I'm really sick, no matter what time, I'm still taking classes with AmeKo. "Hehe—thank you for your guidance, teacher." "Xiao Yu, today is Thursday, it's the last class, let's have a final exam!" 』 "Hai! No problem. But I want to test you too." 『What is the next sentence of "The Castle Peak Doesn't Change"? 』 ""Green water flows forever", right? Teacher Cai." "very good.Xiaoyu, your Chinese credits have been officially obtained, congratulations. 』 "Chi, since you said congratulations, how do you say "congratulations" in Japanese?"

"O-Me-De-Do-Go-Zai-Mas, right? Teacher ITAKURA. 』 "I-Des-Yo! Achi, your Japanese credits are already Pa-Su." This shouldn't be the atmosphere of a send-off. I suddenly remembered Li Bai's five rhythms: "Send off a friend". There are two sentences in it: "Floating clouds and wandering children's minds, setting sun makes people's feelings". Unexpectedly, Li Bai's poem about the atmosphere of farewell written more than 1200 years ago is still moving today. However, the word "sunset" is slightly disrespectful to Xiao Yu's motherland.

"So—Chi, I'm leaving. Please take care, Sa-Yo-Na-Ra." After all, the "floating clouds" have to drift around, and no matter how reluctant the "sunset" is, it will eventually sink to the west. "Xiao Yu, take care of yourself too. Sa-Yo-Na-Ra. 』 Xiao Yu hummed lightly, then turned and walked towards the boarding gate. The moment she turned around, it was like a thunderbolt hitting my heart directly. Shouldn't thunder and lightning appear before it rains?Why did I feel it when Xiao Yu was about to leave? I didn't want to see her disappearing through the gate, so I quickly turned around too.

"Chi! - Chi! - Ma-De-Ku-Da-Sai (wait a moment, please)!" Suddenly there was Xiaoyu's urgent call from behind, and she ran towards me. "Xiao Yu, what's wrong?Forgot to bring something? 』 I looked at her puzzled and wished she had really forgotten something. I even hope that she forgot something enough to keep her from getting this flight. Xiao Yu shook her head, but when she met my gaze, she lowered her head. Then he bit his lower lip and said as if mustering up his courage: "Ah Zhi, I'll give you something." Xiao Yu quickly took out a wrapped gift from her red backpack.

"Chi, please accept it, Do-Zo." I took the gift and weighed it, probably it was something like clothes! "Xiao Yu, isn't it too late to send "Shu Xiu" now? 』 I made a joke pretending to be relaxed, but Xiao Yu didn't answer me. I noticed that there were looming tears in the corners of her eyes. Before the tears had time to fall down her cheeks, Xiao Yu turned around and ran quickly into the boarding gate, then turned her head and waved goodbye to me. "Chi! - Sa-Yo-Na-Ra! - Sa-Yo-Na-Ra! -" "Sa——" As soon as Sa said it, I found that I couldn't say Yo-Na-Ra at all.

Xiaoyu's "Sa-Yo-Na-Ra!" sound echoed in the empty hall of CKZ Airport—— When I got home, I opened this gift and realized it was the purple raincoat that accompanied Xiaoyu for many years. On the button of the raincoat, the peace charm of the Meiji Shrine is pinned. May 13, 2017, the day before Mother's Day. The long-grey sky in Tainan finally started to rain. This is the first rain after AmeKo left Taiwan. Is it raining in Osaka now too?I really want to know. Want to know more about how she is doing? Will you also think of me in Tainan? I picked up my umbrella and walked to the Danby bakery on Dongning Road. It was raining so hard that even with an umbrella, my left shoulder was still soaked by the rain. Mom likes to eat taro, so I choose a taro-flavored cake. I haven't been home for a long time, so I just took this opportunity to reunite with my family. Carrying the cake, stepping on the ground full of water, walked back slowly. Huh?There was an extra letter in the mailbox that was splashed by rain. I was so careless, why didn't I notice it when I just went out? I took out this letter from Osaka from the mailbox that had accumulated some rain. With crooked handwriting, one can tell it was sent by AmeKo. It seems that the letter written by Yuzi must have some rain to live up to its name. Put away the umbrella, hold the letter from AmeKo, and go straight upstairs. But I forgot the taro cake downstairs. Amidst the thundering rain, I carefully opened the letter—— Cai Sang Jingqi It started to rain in Osaka tonight, like the rain that we wore raincoats together in Tainan. It was the one time you insisted. I can't help but think of you again, O-Gan-Ki-De-Su-Ka?Are you OK? It has been almost two months since I returned to Japan. In fact, I have wanted to write a letter to you for a long time, especially in early April, when the cherry blossoms in Osaka are blooming gracefully. But I can't pick up the pen, and often I can't continue halfway through the writing. Probably a little less atmosphere! Or should I say a little less courage. Until tonight, the night sky in Osaka began to rain for the first time after I returned to Japan. I suddenly thought of the scene when we first met. I still find it funny how you were in a hurry at that time. Cai Sang, when bowing, you cannot bend your knees.understand?My lovely well-behaved student. If the knees are bent, it will be like the Chinese idiom you taught me: "bow your knees". Is this idiom used correctly?My dear good teacher. It turns out that as long as it is rain, whether in Japan or Taiwan, people's thoughts will be clearer. Will it be raining in Tainan when you receive the letter? And you, will you also miss me, a stupid Japanese girl? If it rains in Tainan, have you put on the raincoat I gave you? Also, you must remember to tie the peace charm of Meiji Shrine to your schoolbag! I miss those days at your desk so much. At that time, I was both your teacher and your student. I must have made a lot of jokes during the role change! Cai Sang, what are you going to use for the desk we used to study together now? I heard from Xie Sang that you all use it to play mahjong recently. What I want to say is: Do you have any money? I can't forget the "green mountains remain unchanged, and green waters flow forever" when we parted at the airport. Of course, I can’t forget the poem you taught me on the Lantern Festival: “Last year on the Lantern Festival, the lights in the flower market were like daytime, the willows were on the moon, and people made an appointment after dusk. This year, on the Lantern Festival, the moon and lights remained the same, and no people from last year were seen. , Tears filled the sleeves of the spring shirt." Cai Sang, next year during the Lantern Festival, can we still watch the sky full of fireworks together? Can you help me to ask Mazu again? It is now May in late spring and early summer, and the cherry blossoms have all fallen. I will be the bride of Ishihara-san in Tokyo at the end of June. We Japanese girls believe that June brides are the happiest, and I am no exception. So after June, I changed my name to Ishihara Yuko instead of Itakura Yuko. But I insist, you should still call me Xiao Yu. Of course, you can also call me Yu Ji, as long as you are still Kato Tomo. Will you come to Japan to bless me?As much as I'd like you to come, I don't think that's possible. Do you agree? I really want to take you to see my hometown, and by the way, go to the cliff where Kato and Yuji died in love. But we are just a teacher-student relationship after all, so even if we do reach that cliff, there is no reason for us to jump off it together.right? So it's fine if you don't come. There is an end to the drizzle.No matter how continuous the drizzle is, there will still be times when the rain will stop.isn't it? I seem to have returned to the night when I was listening to the rain on the balcony. do you hear the rain Cai Sang, you must be wondering why I gave you that raincoat, right? In fact, on February 27th, it was raining heavily outside the Hollywood KTV, and I wanted to see you off at that time. But still let you run home in the heavy rain. After you left, I couldn't help repeating the last few lines of "Osaka Jiyu" alone: ​​"It was my fault for letting him go back in the rain. Rain! Please return that person to me. Ah! Osaka Ji Yu—" Do you remember that romantic legend in my hometown that I told you about? I only told you at that time that if a boy wants to express his love to a girl, he can invite the girl to wear a raincoat together on a rainy day. But I never told you that when she accepts his love or wants to express her love to him, she will give him a raincoat she wore. So, please be sure to keep this raincoat well. A-Ri-Ga-Do-Go-Zai-Ma-Su. So, Satoshi Kato, Satoshi A-Na-Da, Sa-Yo-Na-Ra! Itakura Yuko May 6, Heisei 7 The letter paper is soaked, is it caused by the rain in Osaka?Or the rain in Tainan? Or AmeKo's tears? The rain outside the window had already subsided. When the window was opened, the raindrops touched the leaves lightly, as if apologizing for the rough behavior just now. And the puddle of water that blurred on the desk has blurred in my eyes at some point. In order to make my wish come true, I never told AmeKo the wish I made at the Temple of Our Lady in Tucheng on the Lantern Festival Eve in 2017.In fact, like her, I am very clumsy about the technique of making wishes. I also pray for Mazu's blessing, and I hope that next year's Lantern Festival will allow me and AmeKo to watch the fireworks.But I'm greedy, and I even made an appointment for the Lantern Festival in the next year.It's a pity that on the night of the Lantern Festival in 2018, I became Ouyang Xiu who went shopping alone in the flower market.Later, every year during the Lantern Festival, I would hide at home and watch TV and guess lantern riddles. By the count, this year is Heisei 11. The changes in the past few years have been great. After graduating, Xinjie continued to study for a doctoral degree and is still single. Chen Yingzhang got married when he was in the army. The bride was his girlfriend in Tainan. The child was born six months after marriage. Yu Ji's wedding is in July this year. If the bride in June is the happiest, what about July? Yuji's boyfriend secretly told me that the groom in July may be the most pitiful. I think so too. Inoue returned to Japan the year before last, while Wada and her Hong Kong boyfriend are still exhausted. Because her boyfriend's mother firmly opposed her son being with the Japanese. As for me, I started to like rainy days. Especially the rainy season that lasts for a week or two. I always associate the sound of rain with AmeKo's singing. I specially bought a selection CD of Hibari Misora ​​just to listen to "Osaka Jiyu". Every time I hear "Osaka Jiyu", I will recall the warmth of listening to the rain on the balcony with AmeKo. Occasionally I would hum along: "Yu-Me-Mo-Nu-Re-Ma-Su, A—Osaka Si-Gu-Re—" (Dreams get wet too. Ah! Jiyu Osaka) Three months after I received the letter from AmeKo, on a summer afternoon with thunderstorms like today, I took out this fuchsia raincoat to put on. But accidentally shake off a letter that has not yet been sent. The letter fluttered gently in the air, like cherry blossom petals knocked down by the rain. The date at the end of the letter is June 23, 2017, which is the day AmeKo got married. I don't quite remember the content of the letter, and I even forgot whether I had written such insincere but generous words as "I wish you happiness". I just remember my signature: Satoshi Kato. After the letter was written, the rain stopped. So I have no reason to send a letter, or the courage to send a letter as AmeKo said. Put the letter in the pocket of the raincoat. At the end of April in 2018, Xinjie was going to attend an academic seminar at Kyoto University, and he said he would go to Osaka to find AmeKo. I sealed the unsent envelope and wrote the addressee: Yu Ji. Then ask him to take this letter to the cliff where Kato and Yu Ji died in love, and throw it under the cliff. Xinjie said that it happened to be the cherry blossom season, and the letter floated silently to the bottom of the cliff along with the petals of the cherry blossoms. Like the silence of AmeKo beside him. It's just that AmeKo turned his head away after the letter was thrown out. Xinjie doesn't know the story of Kato and Yuji, and of course he doesn't know the tradition of AmeKo's hometown. Because AmeKo only told him that there is a grave of a man and woman who died in love under the cliff, and there is a small shrine. But she didn't take Xinjie to the bottom of the cliff. I heard from him that she insisted on going to the bottom of the cliff alone at that time, and it took a long time before she returned to the cliff. I've always hoped that this letter would float to the graves of Kato and Yuhime, although the chances of this are slim. I don't know why, but I always insist on not wearing a raincoat. Because I always feel that the raincoat must be worn with AmeKo. For this kind of persistence, I often say "whenever it rains, I catch a cold". Since I don't wear this fuchsia raincoat, I just lock it in the filing cabinet. Pressing the PLAY button on the radio, the melody of Mayumi Gore's "Lovers Yo" sounded again—— goodbye lover Although the seasons shift The two people of that day, the shooting star of tonight Everything glows and disappears like a heartless dream As if hypnotized by the singing, I took out the key, opened the filing cabinet, and saw this fuchsia raincoat again. I stroked it lightly, and vaguely saw the canine teeth that AmeKo showed when he smiled. And the rain on her face. I also heard the deafening crackling of fireworks from the Notre Dame Temple in Tucheng. So AmeKo's clear and delicate words rang in my ears again and again—— "Hai! Wa-Da-Si-Wa ITAKURA AmeKo Des, Ha-Zi-Me-Ma-Si-Te, Do-Zo, Yo-Ro-Si-Ku." "Sorry, I'm Yuko Itakura. It's the first time we meet, please give me your advice." "Cai Sang, what a man compares is ambition and heart, not height! Like Toyotomi Hideyoshi is very short." "Hai! Wa-Da-Si-Wa Xiaoyu Des, Ha-Zi-Me-Ma-Si-Te, Do-Zo, Yo-Ro-Si-Ku." "Mo-Mo-Ta-Ro-san, Mo-Mo-Ta-Ro-san—" "It's very effective! When I return to China, I will give it to you. It will definitely help you graduate smoothly as soon as possible." "And my name is Yuzi! If you don't like rainy days, wouldn't it be a disservice to your reputation?" "Rain knows no borders. The rain in Osaka is as refreshing as the rain in Tainan. What do you think?" "Dai-Te-Ku-Da-Sai, A——Osaka Si-Gu-Re (Please hug me. Ah! Osaka Jiyu)" "Osaka is very fun! Next time I will take you to visit the Osaka Castle built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and then to Shitennoji Temple, which is the oldest official temple in Japan. Then we can eat the largest octopus balls in Japan—— " "The date of return to Osaka is unknown, and the continuous drizzle will have its end. He Nian shared this lingering night, and we talked about walking late on the balcony." "If boys in our hometown want to express their love to girls, but they are afraid to express it directly, they can choose to invite girls to wear a raincoat together on a rainy day." "After the fireworks disperse in the sky, it looks like it's raining!" "I hope next year's Lantern Festival, I can come here to watch the fireworks." "It's nothing. In Japan, it's common for girls to make chocolate today." "Ko-I-Bi-Do-Yo—Sa-Yo-Na-Ra—" "Chi! - Chi! - Ma-De-Ku-Da-Sai (wait a moment, please)!" "Chi! - Sa-Yo-Na-Ra! - Sa-Yo-Na-Ra! -" The rain will always stop. Pushing open the back door of the Department Hall, it was already dark. The ground is full of residual green and broken red, witnessing the violent shower just now. And the air after the rain always makes people feel extra fresh, just like AmeKo gave me. Stretch out your palm and try to feel the gentle touch of raindrops. After a long time, the palms are still dry. The rain finally stopped. But the rain in my heart never stops. "AmeKo——no—Xiao Yu, let's go for a walk in the rain! 』 I was talking to myself in my heart, and finally put on this raincoat.