Chapter 177: Since then, she also likes rainy days

■■ November 28, 12:24

[Golden Brilliance]: You don't seem to be singing recently.

■■ Month 4th, 22:42

[Star Shining]: Indeed.

Shining Stars: I just solved a difficult problem with others some time ago, and we still need to promote the treatment method. We need to bring in some new people.

[Star Shining]: Didn't a major disaster happen not long ago? I went to help again. I was so busy during this period that I had no time to sing or rest.

[Star Shining]: What? Did you miss my voice?

■■ Month 12th, 13:01

[Golden Brilliance]: It seems that you are indeed very busy... Remember to rest. As a doctor, you must set a good example for others.

[Golden Brilliance]: To be honest, I do miss your songs a bit. Hmm... any inspiration?

■■ Month 13th, 12:05

Shining Stars: It seems like you are also...

Shining Stars: Haha, forget about taking a rest. Saving lives is our duty. Besides, I can manage my work and rest schedule well, so you don't have to worry too much.

[Star Shining]: I don't have any inspiration for songs. I don't have much time to think about it recently... But you promised to let me listen to your music? I haven't heard it yet.

■■ Month 14th, 00:23

[Golden Brilliance]: You must have heard of it, I promise.

Shining Stars: Eh? You haven't slept yet? It's not good for a girl to stay up late, right?

[Golden Brilliance]: I just finished an event and am now catching a plane... but you, are you so late too?

Shining Stars: Just got off the operating table.

Shining Stars: Today... oh, it's the second day now.

Shining Stars: A couple was sent here yesterday afternoon. Their injuries were very serious. We rushed to help them with the surgery... Although follow-up treatment will take a long time, at least their lives are saved.

[Star Shining]: I heard that the couple are both musicians. After this incident, both of their hands will have some problems... Although it should be better if they spend more time on maintenance, it may be difficult to return to the previous level.

Shining Stars: As a music student, you must protect your hands and voice. If they are damaged, you will suffer a lot.

[Golden Brilliance]: As a doctor, you should pay more attention to this, right? Those are the hands that save lives.

[Star Shining]: For you, art is often more important than life, right? Ah... Of course, that's not what I meant.

[Golden Brilliance]: Well, I understand, but you are not wrong in a sense...

Shining Stars: Hey, please don't do that. You have to take good care of your self... I haven't heard you sing yet. What? Do you want to go back on your word?

[Golden Brilliance]: Haha... How could that be? And I believe you have definitely heard of it, I promise.

[Golden Brilliance]: And even if that day comes... I'll ask you to save me, "Doctor"~

Shining Stars: Look at what you said... Never mind, this is also my problem. I promise you.

00:30

[Golden Brilliance]: Haha... As expected, chatting with you for a while really makes me feel much better. I just happened to be at the airport... Thank you very much.

[Star Shining]: What happened? How can I help?

[Golden Brilliance]: It's nothing, it's just that something happened to my parents... But fortunately, the doctor rescued them in time and saved their lives.

[Golden Brilliance]: The hospital just sent me a message saying that my parents just came out of the operating room... The doctors are so hard-working.

[Star Shining]: ...Hmm?

Shining Stars: ...Where is your next destination?

[Golden Brilliance]: Mu Continent, (city name), (hospital name).

[Shining Stars]: ......

[Golden Brilliance]: It seems that we think the same thing?

[Shining Stars]: This is just too much of a coincidence...

[Golden Brilliance]: Anyway, thank you very much, doctor.

Shining Stars: Don't use honorifics like that. I'm not used to it... And saving lives is our duty.

Shining Stars: Okay, stop chatting and have a good rest. Your parents are still waiting for you. Come to see them in a refreshed state. Only then will they be happy. If they are happy, they will get better quickly.

[Golden Brilliance]: Necessary etiquette is still needed... Also, you have worked hard, doctor, please rest early.

[Golden Brilliance]: Then... see you tomorrow?

[Star Shining]: It's already the second day.

[Golden Brilliance]: Hehe... Sorry, I forgot.

[Golden Brilliance]: Then... see you at noon today, doctor.

[Star Shining]: See you at noon, big star.

......

"You seem happy, doctor."

While sorting out the files, Sakura looked at Nozomi, who suddenly put away the terminal and smiled, and spoke slowly.

"Did anything happy happen to you?"

"It's about the same. It's like someone who has known each other for a long time finally gets to meet each other."

Nozomi stretched out his body on the chair and said with a smile.

"…Girls?"

"Well, I could say it was a joke before, but now... it's confirmed."

"I see... you knew her earlier than I knew you?"

Sakura nodded as if she understood, and after a moment of silence, she suddenly asked.

"We've known each other since high school, but we've never met."

"I see..."

"Um... would you like some chocolate, Sakura?"

"Doctor, you seem to have said that it is not good to eat sweets at night..."

"What's the big deal? It's just a suggestion. Whether to follow it or not is up to your personal will."

Nozomi shrugged, opened the package casually, broke off a piece of dark chocolate, and put it in his mouth. The bitter and sweet taste intertwined and permeated his mouth.

"Besides, this is the only thing I like... sweetness can boost my spirits and replenish my energy, how great... do you want it?"

Nozomi handed the chocolate in his hand to Sakura and said half-jokingly.

"It just so happens that it's the next day... the 14th, which seems to be White Day. I'll consider this a gift for you."

"Who would give chocolates they've already eaten as gifts? And to be exact, White Day was last month, and today is White Day... Well, at least that's how it is in my hometown."

Sakura said this somewhat helplessly, and took the chocolate from Nozomi's hand, broke off a piece, and put it in her mouth... She really needed to replenish some energy. The long period of work made her urgently need to replenish energy, and the piece of chocolate in front of her was just right.

"Last month... Look at me, I'm a little confused. And... Far East? White Day? Is there anything special about it?"

"Yes, generally speaking, the woman gives gifts on Valentine's Day and expresses her feelings, and the man returns the gift and responds to his feelings on White Day... In other places, it seems to be the opposite, and it should be the woman who gives the gift on this day."

"It seems that I sent it at the wrong time... I was wrong on both sides."

Nozomi supported his face with one hand and spoke softly with a faint and gentle smile that seemed to have never changed.

"One side said that I gave a gift in return if I didn't receive one, and the other side went even further, saying that it wasn't given today at all, haha..."

"...You don't want to take it back, do you, doctor?"

Sakura subconsciously held the chocolate tighter in her arms and glanced down unconsciously, as if she was hesitating whether to bite it directly and "mark" it so that Nozomi would not be unable to take it back inconveniently—this "energy supplement" was hers now!

"There's no point in taking back things you've given away... and I still have a lot."

Nozomi said this with some surprise, and at the same time took out more chocolates and candies from the drawer, peeled off the packaging casually, and stuffed candy into his mouth.

"But in exchange... can I reserve a return gift for next year's Valentine's Day?"

"…Is this the wrong way around? And isn't the time span a bit too long?"

"It doesn't matter. It doesn't matter if you can't remember. I'll just say it casually, or you can just make some snacks for me later... I want something sweet."

"...um."

Sakura always felt that Nozomi was asking her to make snacks for him in various ways, but she had no evidence... However, after thinking about it for a while, Sakura still agreed.

"As for snacks, I'll make them during my break, and bring them to you when I'm back on duty... I'll only give you half, and I'll eat the rest."

"Eh~ Okay..."

"Next year... next year, that's not impossible. A return gift for Valentine's Day, if I remember..."

"Yeah!"

"Don't be happy yet, doctor."

Sakura reluctantly stuffed a few more pieces of chocolate into her mouth, swallowed them quickly, and then checked the arrangements on the terminal.

"You have a lot of things to deal with. Now is not the time to rest."

"…That's not good."

Nozomi leaned down on the table somewhat helplessly and complained a little decadently, but soon jumped up again, quickly tidied his appearance and expression, patted his face to make himself a little more energetic, then showed a gentle smile again, took a step, and walked out on his own initiative.

"But you're right. Now is not the time to rest... Once things here are dealt with and the newcomers have mastered the removal surgery... we will have more important things to do!"

"Well... I hope that the Fire Moth will approve my application..."

"When the time comes, I'll have to ask Sakura to take good care of me~"

Nozomi's tone was light.

"Yes, I will fulfill my duty as a [guard]."

"That's not it. If we really fight, we don't know who will win or lose..."

"...Really?"

Sakura narrowed her eyes slightly and asked softly.

"Okay, only when you have bare hands."

Nozomi also shrugged and answered truthfully.

"But don't worry, Vill-V will help me prepare a set of equipment, and then I can fight alongside everyone."

"Okay, doctor, that's all for the future... The patient in Ward 4 is due for examination. If nothing goes wrong, you'll have to prepare for an extraction surgery."

"Got it~"

Nozomi's voice quickly faded away, and Sakura stayed behind to organize the data files sent to Nozomi again, and at the same time stuffed the last piece of chocolate into her mouth.

"…It's quite delicious."

Sakura whispered to herself.

However, Sakura did remember one thing... Nozomi's memory was not bad, in fact too good, so it was impossible for him to just muddle through the days.

So... today, on this special yet not-so-special day, he gave her this "gift"... what does it mean?

"Ha..."

Sakura sighed and shook her head, pushing those thoughts to the back of her mind... she wasn't suited to thinking about this.

However, there is one thing she knows, that is, when it comes to relationships... it's okay to be a little bolder.

So...

"Prepare the return gift for Valentine's Day in advance."

Although preparing a year in advance seems a bit outrageous, for Sakura... it's just right.

After all, she also needs time to examine and think about this relationship.

'This feeling is somewhat inexplicable, but I don't reject it at all. It seems as if it has existed since long ago and has continued across a long period of time... a faint liking for him.'

Tick-tock

A faint sound echoed in the silent lounge. She tilted her head to look out the window. In the dark night, some transparent raindrops fell quietly, reflecting the light in the house and covering this neon-lit night city with a hazy rain curtain.

"It's raining…"

Sakura murmured subconsciously.

She still remembered that Nozomi liked rainy days very much. On rainy days, he would always be in a good mood... After the "Fourth Great Eruption," this situation became more obvious. When it rained, one could clearly feel his upbeat mood.

He said that under the hazy rain, everything in the world seemed to be covered with a layer of gauze, and the clouds and mist enveloped the tall buildings, making them look like towers reaching the sky. The scenery in the distance became blurred, like a mirage, far away and untouchable.

But as long as you walk a few steps forward, the scenery will become clear again, and as long as you get a little closer, the scenery will seem to be within reach.

He said that he liked that feeling very much, as if he was pushing away the rain curtain, dispersing the clouds and mist, and finally, bit by bit, step by step, touching the illusory scenery, solidifying the dream-like scenery, making it touchable and feelable.

Every time this happened, Nozomi would suddenly stop and smile, saying that all this was just his fantasy. After all... the scenery was not solidified because of him, but because it existed in the first place and was just blocked by the rain.

Every time this happened, people who heard Nozomi's description would smile, and at the same time be surprised that he would have such a "romantic" idea... In this regard, Nozomi always smiled and said nothing.

If Nozomi had time later, he would step into the rain without an umbrella and stroll in the misty rain, humming a soft or brisk song, and even his steps would become brisk, as if he was about to dance.

Every time at this time, his singing voice seemed to rise up on the wind and float very far, very far away...

Sakura remembered that scene, the figure of Nozomi singing under the rain. That gentle singing seemed to have touched a deep string in her heart. Joy, pity, and even... love, almost came out of her mouth.

But when the rain stopped, the breeze died down, and his singing faded away, when he approached her with concern, asked if she was okay, and even performed a simple examination, that impulsive feeling faded away.

It is no longer intense, but becomes long

, like water, flowing quietly in the heart.

Whenever she looked at him, she would unconsciously smile a little and would let him touch her and check her body... She really enjoyed this kind of care from him.

Since then, Sakura also fell in love with rainy days.

So...

The tip of her tongue moves slightly, lightly sweeping across her lips and teeth, licking the chocolate that still remains in her mouth, which is a mixture of bitterness and sweetness, and feeling the taste that has lingered for a long time.

'I... should like him.'

'But... when did it start?'

'Now? Before? Even longer ago?'

'It seems important, but it also seems not so important.'

'So...'

"Tomorrow... no, today at noon... prepare a snack for him."