Chapter 95: Keep your eyes on beauty and love

'Where...is this place?'

In a daze, Nozomi opened his eyes.

"It hurts!"

I tried to move his body, but felt severe pain all over, especially in his hands. There was a crippling pain that stimulated my mind.

It's so dark… and… so cold…

"Where am I being held?"

Maybe it was because he had just woken up, or maybe simply because the pain in his body affected his thinking, Nozomi still seemed a little confused.

He endured the pain and moved his hands bit by bit, slowly groping around in the darkness. Then he barely supported himself by holding on to the wall and moved to the corner.

On the way, he touched something smooth, a bit like glass... No, it should be a mirror.

"Oh...I think so...I should be in the locker room..."

Nozomi slowly adjusted his palms, trying his best to make his hands less painful, and then placed his wrists gently on his head and rubbed them to relieve the pain that kept coming into his mind.

"sigh..."

he adjusted my breathing and gradually got used to the pain from the constant nerve stimulation. his thinking became clearer and past memories gradually surfaced.

It seemed like he... met Elga and the others after piano practice... and then... was invited to go shopping together?

It's just… it seemed like there was a quarrel afterward… No… that's not right, it should just be considered an argument.

Elga's personality is like that. Although she is very irritable, she rarely gets angry. At that time, I was just a little annoyed... After all, she has been ridiculed so many times, so she has some complaints. It's no big deal to complain a few times, and she won't care.

But... her "friends"... probably not.

Stirring up trouble and the like... they are the best at it... they really enjoy watching the fun and making trouble.

"Tsk…"

As his previous memories became clearer, Nozomi gradually became aware of some details of previous events.

'I was dragged into this... Elga... I was influenced by her weird personality...'

Nozomi moved his arm and gently touched his chest... Before, Elga pushed him into this position and pushed him here. This... was located in a large shopping mall, in the dressing room of an unknown store.

'If I remember correctly, this place should belong to [Shida Koro]... It's the property of Elga's family... It should have been a happy thing, but in the end... it turned out like this, it became so bad.'

He adjusted his body slightly and curled up, but soon he felt uncomfortable again. It was wet, and his clothes were sticking to his body... He could only endure the pain in his hands and roll up the wet and cold clothes a little.

These were all done by Elga... She is always like this, with a lot of sarcasm and scolding in her words, but compared to others... her "targeting" seems quite cute, just locking him up and pouring water on him.

And she doesn't go too far. In the end, her friends even pull him over to apologize and give him a change of clothes from her teacher... Although she is a little awkward most of the time, Nozomi thinks she is still a good child.

Maybe this is what is called "no comparison, no harm"... Compared with other people's "targeting", everything she did became acceptable, and... maybe she treated herself like this just to fit in with the group?

"Ha ha..."

Nozomi found it funny that he had subconscious thoughts... Although this was indeed possible, in the end, wouldn't he be the one who got hurt...?

'Also... her personality is too bad. She explodes at the slightest provocation. I'm afraid it will be very difficult for her in the future... I'm a little worried about what she'll do in the future. It will be terrible if someone catches her.'

"......"

In the pitch-black darkness, Nozomi slowly leaned to the side and slowly closed his eyes... he couldn't see anything anyway.

She was taken advantage of. Elga... was taken advantage of by someone. Someone took advantage of her overly violent and easily explosive personality - Nozomi thought so.

Because Elga didn't hit him herself, she just locked herself here and gave herself a chill... It's an old trick, he's used to it.

When there is no one around later, she will come to let me out, and then, under the guidance of her friends, she will reluctantly throw the clothes she wants to change to me... It is impossible for her to apologize, her personality predestines her to not do that.

However, her actions have proved everything, so Nozomi would not be too angry.

It's just that this time…it wasn't her, nor her friend, who came.

It was...others who came.

With malice far exceeding that of others, and with jealousy so strong that anyone could hear it.

I could vaguely hear Eden's name... ah... I knew it would turn out like this in the end. After the truth is discovered, they can still blame it all on Elga... It's really disgusting.

However, they didn't go too far.

Nozomi gently touched the wounds on his body silently, and the tingling sensation boosted his spirits.

It was just my body... they didn't touch my hands... they still have some conscience.

Or are they simply afraid that my hands will be disabled and then the school will find out? Haha...are they still afraid of this?

So funny...

The corners of Nozomi's mouth twitched slightly. He wanted to laugh out loud at his ridiculous thoughts, but the pain on his face made it difficult for him to do so.

But that last guy…do I know him?

In his memory, the person who opened the door of the locker room last... Nozomi didn't seem to know him. He seemed to be just a... service staff here? An employee of [Hida Koro]?

This should be the first time we meet...then why...is it still like this?

"......"

Nozomi moved his fingertips silently, and the obvious pain stimulated his nerves, making him quickly give up the next action.

I remember he was supposed to bring clothes... but he didn't give them in the end.

He just opened the door and looked at me, then he started mumbling nonsense... complaining to himself about all the grievances he had suffered, pouring out his complaints to himself... and then...

He put his foot on his hand.

'Ah… is that so? I just saw other people bullying me and venting their anger on me, so… I took it for granted that they were hurting me… "Other people are doing it, so I can do it too", probably this is his mentality.'

Combined with the clothes he was holding before...everything seems easy to guess.

He was probably the person sent by Elga to let me out, and he even brought clothes with him. But later, he noticed that other students were also targeting him, and coupled with Elga's previous actions... he might have subconsciously thought that he had provoked Elga, so Elga wanted to teach him a "lesson"?

Then he just did the rest of his things on his own and locked himself in here.

"Hahaha...what's that..."

Nozomi found his own inference amusing.

"Ha ha..."

Nozomi laughed twice again as if he was laughing at himself. Even the scars on his face could not stop him from mocking himself.

Tears...slid down silently, warm tears passed across his face, gently caressing the scars on his face, bringing some comfort, and also revealing his sad emotions bit by bit.

It's not like he didn't think about resisting...but...he held back.

Every time other people used some "excessive" means on him, his mind would unconsciously emerge with the method of "physical solution", the kind of "once and for all" method.

'It's really easy, just kill them.'

Nozomi had this thought more than once, and even thought about how to get rid of them quickly and how to kill them with one fatal blow so that they didn't even have time to rescue them.

But in the end, Nozomi did not choose to do it... Because when this thought came up in his mind, he would inexplicably feel some panic and rejection in his heart, and he could clearly feel that he was resisting doing such a thing.

'... Come to think of it, it is a living being, how can it be taken away just like that?'

Besides... Nozomi had promised Father Enrique that he would move towards a broader and brighter future... If he did that kind of thing, he would definitely not be able to do it.

But...as expected.

"It's still...very uncomfortable..."

Tears couldn't stop flowing. This time, he was alone in this dark secret room, and he could... vent his emotions and grievances to his heart's content.

'I didn't do anything wrong... but I have to suffer such harm, and the person who did such an excessive thing doesn't have to be punished. It's really... unfair.'

'Those people are so hypocritical and disgusting, it would be great if they were all dead... They act fine in front of others, but when they turn their backs, they are a completely different person... They are all deceiving others, it's disgusting.'

'Humans...are disgusting...'

In the darkness, soaked in tears, Nozomi's pupils... quietly changed slightly, the star-like golden color expanded a little but soon stopped.

"Um... no... no, I can't think like that."

Nozomi shook his head, put the mess behind him, adjusted his breathing which had become a little disordered due to sobbing, moved his arms, and wiped his tears.

"Hiss… huh…"

Nozomi still remembers Father Enrique's instructions and blessings, to witness the love and kindness of the world, to accept the kindness and love of the world, and then... to keep it in mind.

Therefore, keep your eyes on the beautiful things around you.

Although suffering and happiness often go hand in hand, although joy and sadness depend on each other, although pain and happiness always come together... but precisely because of this, we should focus our attention on the beautiful things.

Just like the night sky, when the moon is still bright, people's eyes are always focused on the shining moon; when the moon is obscured, people's eyes will be attracted by the twinkling stars.

In comparison, the dim night...seems less important.

"Hmmm~ Hmmmm~"

Nozomi hummed his own song slowly and softly, to distract himself, to soothe his restless heart, and to... recall the good old days.

If you think about it carefully, he is always lucky and always "loved".

When he first arrived at the church, he had children to keep him company, Father Enrique who took care of him and cared about him, and people in the community also cared about him.

After that, there was the music teacher who protected me, the teachers who cared about me, and Sister Teresa.

It's still the same now. The teachers are all taking good care of me, and there's also Brother Li who is willing to quit smoking for me and everyone else...ah, although Brother Li is most likely doing it for Yin, but...it's okay to add a little bit of my own credit in there, right?

Nozomi raised the corner of his mouth slightly and found his own childish thoughts funny.

And now, he has a companion, a being who is similar to him—Eden.

She is so dazzling and enviable that people don't even feel jealous... That's why Nozomi likes her and wants to be close to her.

Because she is Nozomi's ideal image, she can be liked by everyone, and the kindness she shows will be reciprocated.

And in all the past, there is one thing that has always been there - music.

Well, that's it... no matter whether it's joy or sadness, no matter whether it's anxiety or peace, gentleness or fierceness, complaints or comfort... everything in the past has its own song and its own music.

Music...only your own music, only your own songs will always accompany you.

So... sing when you are happy, sing when you are sad, no matter what your mood is, express it with singing and music, just like... when you were with Eden.

Music brings joy to people, and it can soothe people's hearts...Haven't you done this a long time ago? When you were still in the community, wasn't you using your singing to help everyone?

Music... is powerful, haven't you known that for a long time?

Then... why do you have to limit yourself in this way? As long as you express yourself well, dissolve your emotions and thoughts into your songs, and express everything through your songs, you will definitely get recognition from others and will definitely be able to help others, right?

Just like Eden, just like it was back then.

'If I can't do it, then I haven't done enough. If I can be "like Eden", then... I can definitely do it, right?'

'After all, music is powerful.'

Nozomi smiled and sang softly a song of his own.

Remember~ Remember~? Keep your eyes on the beauty and love~

Remember~ Remember~ Keep your eyes on the twinkling stars~

????~

The humming voice gradually became light and soft, carrying joy, expectation, and... blessings to oneself.

————————

[Entry: Enlightenment (Purple), has taken effect]

[You have already realized something, and you have set your future path]

————————

Hmmm~

The cheerful song echoed quietly, and a fine breeze squeezed in through the cracks, blowing across Nozomi's face, wiping away the few traces of tears that remained on his face. Then, it quietly took away the sadness in his heart, and quietly carried his song, along with the happiness and joy he expressed, and floated away into the distance.

Even if the song is faint, even if no one is listening here, but... the breeze will carry his song to where it should go.

Gradually, Nozomi's voice became weaker and weaker... He was a little tired. The damp and cold environment, the pain in his body, and the slightly stuffy secret room were all oppressing his spirit and consciousness.

But... he was smiling, leaning gently in the corner, humming a happy song until he fell asleep.

In the dim light, no one noticed that his body temperature was getting lower and lower, but the temperature on his forehead was getting higher and higher, and his face was getting redder... but his breathing was getting weaker and weaker.

But... don't be nervous.

————————

[Entry: ■■■ (purple), effective]

[■■■: Young ones, don't worry, I'm by your side, healing your pain]

[■■■: Young ones, don't worry, I'm by your side, judging your sins]

————————

Slowly, the damp and cold environment around him seemed to have no effect on him anymore. His breathing gradually became steady. Although it was still weak, it was not getting any worse. Even his gradually decreasing body temperature began to slowly rise and returned to a more appropriate level.

At the same time, the breeze... quietly squeezed in through the gap and surrounded him.

In the dim light, he could feel that the wind was also dyed with color... It was blue, very magical, very beautiful, and with a slightly translucent feeling.

In a trance, it seemed as if a green figure came to his side along with the gentle wind, looking at him with gentle care, her eyes full of joy and pity.

She seemed to be smiling, a gentle and loving smile, and then she stretched out her hands, holding him in her arms, and the three pairs of wings behind her were gently folded up, using them as a quilt to cover his body.

[■■■...]

She seemed to be talking, her fingertips gently brushing his face, giving him some comfort.

Suddenly he realized that everything that had just happened was just an illusion. Only a slight breeze kept squeezing in through the gaps, gently brushing over his body.

......

.........

When the rainy night passed and the morning light shone on the earth, the employees who had already adjusted their shifts came to the store of [Hida Koro] mall early.

Although he didn't know how the student had offended Miss Elga, and he didn't understand why Miss Elga asked him to bring the clothes and taught the student a lesson, but... none of this mattered. He only knew that Miss Elga hated the student and that she wanted to make trouble for him.

Plus, he discovered that other students were also targeting that student, so... As expected, that student was a "bad boy", right? So... I should give that student some deep "lessons", right?

So he stamped on his hands with his feet, so he did not give him the clothes, so he did not let him out, but kept him alone until morning.

'I heard that the student, like Miss Elga, studied music... In that case, these "lessons" must be profound enough, right?'

He smiled, seeming satisfied with his own ideas.

'After all... this was allowed by Miss Elga!'

'After all... everyone does it this way!'

'As for whether there will be any accidents or something... ha, don't joke, how can life be so fragile, let alone a young student?'

He smiled, opened the door of the locker room, and saw Nozomi, who was pale and huddled in the corner.

"Hey, kid, get up, it's time to go to school, haha..."

"......"

"Why are you pretending to be dead? Get up!"

Not getting a response, he became a little anxious and subconsciously a little scared, and even his tone subconsciously carried a hint of scolding and threat.

"......"

But, still no response.

"Stop pretending?!"

He subconsciously kicked Nozomi lightly, and his words were filled with panic and fear, so much so that he had to use some insulting words to cover up his panic.

"......"

But... still no response.

"No... no way?"

It was not until this moment that he seemed to realize what he had done before. The pride he had felt for his own guess and the satisfaction he had felt for venting his emotions all disappeared, leaving only deep panic and fear.

With his body trembling, he cautiously reached out his hand to feel Nozomi's breath... But when he touched that hot face and felt that extremely weak breath, his consciousness, and thoughts were completely overwhelmed by fear.

He could only panically dial the hospital's number and pray that Nozomi would not die here or suffer from some chronic illness.

It was not until this moment when a life he had hurt became dying in front of him, that he clearly realized what he had done before.

Fear overwhelmed him, and in a daze, he could still feel the crisp sound of bones cracking in his feet... as if reminding him of his previous actions... which might have destroyed the hands of a student.

He could only repent, apologize continuously, and shirk his responsibilities as much as possible in an effort to ease his inner guilt.

But... the pain will be remembered, and the scars will be left behind, just like the blood of sin, once stained... it can never be washed away.

What's worse…it will also bring about corresponding "judgment".

...No, it's not so legitimate, nor so just, but it's more pure and simple... "revenge"