Memory is like an old photo, yellowed, blurry, and even with some damage, hazy and unclear.
However, in certain special environments, a part of the photo will suddenly become clear and vivid, as if it happened just yesterday. Toono Shiki is currently in such a state.
Although seven years have passed, the Tono family's mansion has not changed much, which makes Shiki feel less alienated and even nostalgic. Although he felt it was a bit hard to accept returning to the Tono family just now, now it seems not so bad.
The home where Tono Shiki lived until he was nine years old.
After seven long years, most of the memories of that period have faded.
Even so, there are still scenes that are deeply engraved in my heart, and they become more vivid with my return.
There was more than one child living in the Toono family, but the one who is most clearly remembered is naturally his younger sister Akiha.
When he was a child, Qiu Ye was always quiet and often had a nervous expression as if he was afraid of doing something wrong.
Occasionally, when she was playing with other people, she would always follow closely behind him with small steps.
With long black hair and a cute dress, she looks like the most exquisite doll.
I remember that when I first moved to Yujian, Qiuye came to visit a few times. But because we often went to the hospital, it was difficult to meet. Later, after Qiuye was sent to a full-time boarding school by his father, the opportunities to meet became even rarer.
In addition, there is a pair of twin girls.
A very energetic girl who would cheer up just by looking at her. Her never-worried personality made everyone in the mansion think she was cute. Plus, we were close in age, so she and I got along very well, running around in the courtyard every day.
"Shiki, come play."
With a cheerful smile, she found herself locked in the room, holding hands with the introverted Qiu Ye. As long as she was there, no matter how strict the elders were, they would look at her with tolerance.
In contrast to her, there seemed to be another girl.
The identical but expressionless girl was on the second floor of the mansion and had never come out. She just looked at the children playing in the courtyard with cold eyes.
In the end, he only spoke a few words to the girl.
"Those children are probably still in the mansion..."
Shiki woke up from his memories and reached into his school bag, quietly grasping a white ribbon.
The ribbon is very old.
That was what I received from her in the end. Seven years ago, after the "accident", I was sent to the Yujian family from the Tono mansion.
Just before leaving the mansion, the girl handed over the ribbon, wondering what she was thinking.
"I'm lending this to you, so please return it to me."
Having said this, the girl ran away quickly.
This ribbon has cheered up Shiki, who was abandoned by his father, more than once. When he thinks of the girl waiting for him to return the ribbon, something in his heart softens.
It was because he missed them and wanted to see them again that he was willing to return to this house.
"It's unexpectedly quiet." Gan Ye stood in front of the ridiculously large iron gate and looked around, "Excuse me, is anyone here?"
"Don't waste your time, Ganye. There's no one around and the door is not locked. They should let us in directly." Shi used both hands to push the door open and walked in first.
"Shiki..." Mikiya was about to stop him, but saw Shiki following him in, so he could only follow behind helplessly.
Just as Shiki said, the front yard was empty, which seemed a bit out of place considering the huge mansion.
Fortunately, at the end of the stone road, in the heavy entrance, I finally saw a figure, and it was an acquaintance.
"Hey, Shiki, long time no see. And Mikiya and Shiki-nee, what brought you here? Can't wait to greet Shiki's family?"
The one waiting outside the entrance was, of course, the instigator of this scene, Shinji Matou.
"Long time no see, Shinji."
Shiki and Mikiya greeted each other with a smile, but only Shiki spoke in a sullen tone.
"We are afraid that you and Orange have some conspiracy waiting for Shiki."
"Oh, oh, Sister Shiki, your sensitivity is really annoying."
"There is indeed a conspiracy. Tell me the truth."
Hearing Shinji say this, Shiki's face suddenly darkened.
Shinji didn't care: "Haha, since it's a conspiracy, it won't work if you tell it out loud. Shiki, remember what I said, don't just look at things with your eyes, observe more with your heart, and put yourself in other people's shoes, then you will have a Buddha's heart."
"Hmph, playing tricks."
"Yeah, I see."
Two people with the same pronunciation, but different attitudes.
The door of the villa opened and someone else came out. It was Orange.
"If you want to chat, come in and chat, don't stand at the door... Shiki, Kanye, you guys are here too, there's no need to be so hasty to say hello."
"Why do you all say that?" Gan Ye said helplessly.
"Forget it, now that we are here, let's go in first. The new head of the Tono family has been waiting in the living room for a long time."
The corners of Orange's mouth curled up, revealing a wicked smile.
"The arrival of the heir of the Yoji family will definitely surprise her."
"Um... who is the new head of the Tohno family-?" Shiki asked a little nervously.
"You also know your good sister, Miss Tono Akiba. She really misses you as her brother."
Touko and Shinji spoke at the same time, while Mikiya and Shiki looked at each other, and the latter complained, "Bad taste."
However, Shiki couldn't hear what they were saying at this time.
"Akiba is the head of the family?"
Shiki had no complaints about being sent to live with Arima, except that he left Akiha and her younger sister, who was one year younger, alone in that deserted house.
His father, Makihisa, was a stubborn person who was very strict with his children, especially the heir. Thinking back to the education he received as a child, Shiki still felt a chill down his spine.
After he was abandoned by his father due to a weak body caused by a "car accident", the burden fell on Akiba, who was only 8 years old.
"—Akiba, she must be holding a grudge against me."
Because of his own escape.
With a confused mood, I walked out of the living room and stared blankly at Orange knocking on the door to tell him that he was back.
Then the door opened.
Shiki saw the beautiful black-haired lady and the twin maids standing on her left and right, one cheerful and the other indifferent.
"Welcome home, Onii-sama/Shiki-sama."
Even though he has grown up and is no longer as childish as he was, he still looks like a child to Shiki.
My chaotic mind suddenly calmed down and all my worries disappeared.
"Ah, I'm back."
Just like seeing you for the first time.
PS: How wonderful it would be if life could always be like the first time we met.
PS2: Shiki’s memory about Nanaya has been almost erased, and Shinji has no intention of revealing this past.