The Furthest Distance in the World

As Miu's question fell, everyone also looked at Miu.

"Senpai, did your teacher also tell you that you would receive a post-graduation plan survey later on Friday?" Shishio asked.

"Of course." Miu nodded. "What is your plan after graduation, Shishio-kun?"

Everyone was looking at Shishio at that moment, showing a curious expression, which made him twitch his lips.

Shishio also didn't hide anything and said truthfully since he didn't really hide the fact that he was going to Kyoto University. "I'd thought about entering Kyoto University."

"Kyoto University!"

Mea, Maiko, and Nana didn't feel surprised, but it was the first time Miu, Ritsu, Saki, Usa, and Shiina had heard of it.

Shiina didn't think too much since she would follow him.

As for Ritsu, Miu, and Saki, they thought that they would change their post-graduation plan survey to Kyoto University later.

The most complicated one would be both Mea and Maiko since they thought that they would be separated from Shishio.

"Now that you mention it that you're from Kyoto, right? Shishio-kun?" Kiriya asked.

"That's right. I'm from Kyoto, Sensei." Shishio nodded.

"Hmm..." Kiriya thought for a moment and said, "With your grade, it shouldn't be difficult for you to enter the best university like MIT, Oxford, Standford, Harvard, etc., right? Have you ever thought about going there?"

"What?!"

Everyone was dumbfounded.

"Sensei, even if you're my teacher, if you try to tempt him to enter a university outside of the country, then I'll beat you up!" Nana quickly raised her fist.

Saki also did the same and wanted to beat up Kiriya.

If it was inside the country, then Nana had confidence that she could enter no matter which universities were, but if it was outside the country, she didn't think she had the confidence to enter!

Everyone, except for Usa and Shiina, also wanted to beat up Kiriya at this moment.

Usa was a male, so he didn't think too much, and he only thought that Shishio was smart, that's all. Even though it might be difficult for him to enter a prestigious university like Kyoto University or Tokyo University, it was still possible for him to enter the top 30 universities in the country as long as he worked hard. As for the best universities in the world like Harvard, Oxford, MIT, etc., he had never had an idea to enter those universities since he felt that it was too far, and with his level, he also didn't think that he could enter.

As for Shiina, she didn't think too much since originally she was coming from Britain, so even if Shishio was moving to the United States or Britain, she would just follow him since there wasn't much difference.

Mea and Maiko were startled by Kiriya's words and thought that they wanted to beat Kiriya too. However, they also started to think that the distance between Kyoto and Tokyo wasn't that far. Instead, they felt that it was better to enter Kyoto University than a university outside of the country!

However, unlike everyone thought, Kiriya didn't feel scared when the girls glared at him and said, "What are you afraid of? It isn't like he's going to another world. He's just going to the other side of the world. If mere geographical distance defeats your love, then that kind of love isn't worth it!" He wanted the girls to prepare themselves. If mere distance could make them feel that their love couldn't be maintained, then it was simply impossible for them to maintain their harem-like relationship, and he wanted them to realize that.

Kiriya knew that he was pretty cruel, but he wanted them to realize reality.

Compared to the love separated by a geographical distance, it was harder to maintain a harem-like relationship. Probably. However, it was normal since Kiriya had never experienced a harem-like relationship after all.

In conclusion, he just wanted to remind them since they were young, but once they had become older, something might change, and they needed to prepare. There would be a lot of problems, and if just a mere distance could break their relationship, it would be better to stop their relationship now.

"....."

Hearing Kiriya's words, they were stunned, and they started to reflect on themselves.

Is geographical distance a problem?

Of course, it is a problem!

The majority of the girls came from middle-class families, and even though they didn't have trouble with their daily lives, their families couldn't support them to go to another country for university!

The tuition for someone to enter a university was expensive, especially when someone wanted to go to a university outside of Japan.

Nana thought for a moment and thought that if she studied hard, then it would be possible for her to enter Oxford, Harvard, MIT, etc. As for tuition, she knew that her parents didn't have trouble sending her, so she should be able to go. She thought about it for a moment and thought it might not be bad to go to another country since they only stayed there during university time and could return to the country after they graduated. As for Mea and Maiko, she felt sorry for both of them that she might not be able to meet both of them, but it wasn't like they wouldn't meet forever.

Nana looked at Shishio and made up her mind secretly that if Shishio decided to go to university outside of Japan, she would follow him no matter what!

Saki fell in silence and thought that even though she felt a bit uncomfortable relying on Shishio all the time. She was already his, and rather than separated, she wanted to stay with him all the time, so if he decided to go to another country, she would also try her best to follow by learning hard. As for tuition, she knew that with the salary that he got from Shishio, she should be able to have enough money.

However, the most complicated ones would be Ritsu and Miu.

Neither of them knew about Shishio's family condition, nor did they know how rich he was, but even if they knew how rich he was, they still felt uncomfortable relying on him all the time.

Shishio observed everyone's reaction and didn't say anything for a while. He sighed inwardly and felt glad that he had a lot of money. "Okay, okay, calm down. I am not interested in going to a university outside of Japan. Still, even if I decide to go to a university outside of Japan, I think that geographical distance is a trivial matter. We're not at the beginning of the 20th century where there's no handphones or internet, and most people still use a letter to communicate with each other. With the advance of technology, a lot of things will be more convenient, and we can talk anytime, and if you're still worried..." He thought for a moment and said, "How about I tell you a poem?"

"Poem?"

When they heard Shishio's words, even though they felt reluctant, they knew that even though they separated, it didn't mean the end of the world, but girls' feelings were complicated, and they wanted to stay with their loved one no matter what.

They understood Shishio's logic, but they felt uncomfortable.

They knew that Shishio was talented, he shouldn't be trapped inside a small country like Japan, he could go further into the world, and if that was his dream, they would support him.

But even so... it was hard to accept it.

If Shishio had trouble with money, then it would be difficult for them, but he didn't lack money, so even if he brought all of his harems to other countries, it was perfectly fine, but he didn't really want to show off his wealth that much. It was better to be low-key, but at the same time, he also knew that he needed to show some of them so it would give them peace of mind.

However, before that, Shishio knew that he needed to calm them down, and he knew a perfect poem for this situation.

"Poem?"

Everyone was dumbfounded when they heard Shishio suddenly wanted to tell them a poem.

Looking at everyone who closed their mouths, Shishio started to recite his poem.

"The furthest distance in the world is not the distance between opposite sides of the world. It is that you don't know that I love you when I stand in front of you.

"The furthest distance in the world is not that you don't know I love you when I stand in front of you. It is when I cannot say I love you when I love you so madly.

"The furthest distance in the world is not that I cannot say I love you when I love you so madly. It is that I have to bury it in my heart, despite the unbearable yearning.

"The furthest distance in the world is not that I have to bury it in my heart despite the unbearable yearning. It is when we cannot be together, even when we love each other.

"The furthest distance in the world is not that we cannot be together when we love each other. It is when we turn a blind eye to it, despite knowing true love conquers all.

"The furthest distance in the world is not the distance between two distant trees. It is when branches cannot depend on each other in the wind, despite growing from the same root.

"The furthest distance in the world is not when branches cannot depend on each other in the wind. It is when the trajectories of stars cannot cross, even when the blinking stars look at each other.

"The furthest distance in the world is not when the trajectories of stars cannot cross. It is when they are unable to find each other after crossing trajectories.

"The furthest distance in the world is not being unable to find each other. It is when we are doomed not to love, even when we coincidentally meet."

Everyone was quiet, and they were looking at him in a daze.

The gloomy atmosphere turned gentle which mixed with melancholy in an instant.

No one had ever heard Shishio's poems, and they thought that he composed the poem on the spot, which made the girls' eyes brighten and mesmerized by him.

Finally, at the end of the stanza, Shishio used his deep voice to recite it slowly, "The furthest distance in the world is the love between the bird and fish. One is flying in the sky. The other is swimming in the sea, gazing into each other yet, unable to get close."

Everyone was shocked by this poem, and it was their first time hearing such an interpretation of distant love. It was hard to describe their feelings, but one thing for sure, they had to admit that Shishio was so handsome at that moment!