Outside, the rain pattered softly, and Ei walked out of the room, stepping under the eaves.
She had discussed Yu Xie's request for the Vision with Makoto, but as expected, it's not something that could simply be achieved by will alone.
So, was there no way?
She had boasted in front of Yu Xie, promising to help him fulfill his wish… but now, not only would she lose face, but she might also lose her credibility.
"Still thinking about the Vision?" Makoto, not knowing when she had arrived, came under the eaves as well. "It's rare to see you so concerned about something other than martial arts."
"A promise must be kept," Ei replied.
"Then let's think of another way," Makoto smiled gently. "There's still plenty of time; there's no need to rush."
"Mm..." Ei nodded thoughtfully, suddenly coming up with an idea. "Sister, I was thinking... could we make a kind of 'Vision' pendant for Yu Xie first?"
"A pendant?" Makoto raised an eyebrow.
"Yes, a pendant that looks like the Vision. We can give it to Yu Xie. Of course, this won't be the end of it; we can continue thinking of ways afterward."
"That's not a bad idea." Makoto thought for a moment, then nodded. "But have you ever made a pendant before?"
"No, but I can learn."
"Rare for you to care so much about something other than martial arts. Alright, let's try it together."
"In that case, let's go now!" Ei said earnestly.
Time passed, and spring faded away, making way for the arrival of summer.
Yu Xie watched as the notifications in his mind updated over and over. He couldn't quite understand his own thoughts anymore.
[Remaining Life: 31 Days]
There wasn't much time left, and the weariness of his body was becoming more and more apparent.
Indeed, getting older was inevitable. No matter how much he tried to deny it, his body was starting to betray him. With a sigh, he grabbed an umbrella and left the house.
It was another rainy day.
The summer rains weren't as intense as the spring ones; they came and went with much more vigor.
But today, the rain was light and gentle.
Yu Xie didn't have any specific plans. On a whim, he decided to take a leisurely walk down the streets.
Although he had walked through the streets of Inazuma City countless times before, and knew every corner of the town, each time he wandered, it still felt like a new experience.
Many of the shops he was familiar with had new owners and different businesses.
The children he had known in the past had all grown up, married, and started families of their own.
Many of the elderly people he had known had already passed on, leaving this world for another.
The streets were the same streets, yet everything had changed in subtle ways.
These changes were happening every day, and Yu Xie understood that he was but a fleeting part of them.
Soon, he too would be gone, unable to resist the waves of change.
Though he knew a new life awaited him, and though he had come to terms with it, there was still a part of him that couldn't entirely let go of the time he had lived so far.
Before he realized it, the rain had stopped. The sun broke through the clouds once more, and Yu Xie found that, without intending to, he had arrived at the gates of the Tenshukaku.
On this casual stroll, he hadn't planned on visiting, yet he was here now. It was a bit of a surprise, but since he had come, he figured he might as well go in.
"General!" The members of Okuzumeshuu guarding the entrance greeted him respectfully as he arrived.
Yu Xie nodded in response and entered the gates of the Tenshukaku.
Upon entering the main hall, he didn't see Makoto or Ei anywhere.
Yu Xie walked to the place where he first met Makoto—the simple, unadorned house where Makoto lived.
As expected, Makoto was there.
Just like when Yu Xie first met Makoto, she was sitting under the eaves at the back of the house, gazing at the distant sea.
But this time, unlike before, there was no trace of hidden sorrow in Makoto's eyes.
"Makoto," Yu Xie called out as a greeting.
"Yu Xie, you're here! Come, look over there," Makoto said, pointing toward the distance.
Yu Xie walked over and sat down beside her, following her gaze toward the direction she pointed.
The rain had just stopped, and a number of seagulls were already soaring in the sky. A flock of them flew by, as if writing words against the backdrop of the sky.
"From time to time, a lot of seagulls fly past. It's quite beautiful," Makoto said with a smile that was as gentle as always.
And so, the two of them sat under the eaves, watching the seagulls flying across the sky and the distant scenery, as the sky gradually darkened.
Another day quietly passed.
By now, Yu Xie felt that time was moving faster.
Sometimes, even when he had done nothing, the day would already be nearing its end, but the night seemed to stretch on endlessly.
Perhaps when a person reaches their twilight years, their perception of time passing is like this.
"Makoto, where is Ei?" Just as Yu Xie asked, his body suddenly shuddered.
A violent cough wracked his body uncontrollably. His lungs seemed to spasm, and his airways struggled to push air through. His whole body felt exhausted, his cells drained.
And then, a gush of blood was coughed out.
Yu Xie tried to avoid Makoto, but it was too late.
"Yu Xie!" Makoto rushed to support him. Seeing the blood, deep concern filled her eyes. "What happened?!"
"I'm fine..." Yu Xie, finally able to catch his breath, lowered his head and spoke softly.
"How could you be fine! You coughed up blood!" Makoto said urgently. "Wait here, I'll send for a doctor right away!"
Makoto was about to call someone to come.
But Yu Xie tightly grasped her hand.
"No need to call a doctor. I'm really... really fine."
"Stop joking!" Makoto's eyes were filled with anxiety. "How could you be fine if you're coughing up blood?!"
"Makoto, listen to me." Yu Xie lifted his head and met her gaze, but hesitated.
The flow of the wind seemed to slow down. What felt like just a few seconds felt like an eternity to Yu Xie.
He couldn't hide it any longer. The lie wouldn't fool Makoto.
Finally, Yu Xie whispered:
"Makoto, don't call for a doctor. It won't help... I'm not sick, I'm just... I don't have much time left."
His soft words reached Makoto's ears, but they felt like thunder in a clear sky.
What did "not much time left" mean? Yu Xie...?
No, no, this couldn't be true. Yu Xie was just sick, and he would get better.
"Stop it! Don't joke like this. Listen to me, I'll send for a doctor right now. You'll be fine!"
"Makoto!" Yu Xie raised his voice.
Makoto froze.
She knew Yu Xie. Though she had said he was joking, she knew him well enough to realize that he would never joke about something like this.
"Listen to me." Yu Xie's voice softened again. "I'm already over a hundred years old. As a mortal, it's normal to pass away at this age. To die of old age is far luckier than dying from illness or something else."
Makoto was speechless.
It felt like she couldn't hear much anymore. Her heart seemed to be blocked by something, and she felt an overwhelming sense of powerlessness.
"Yu Xie, I..." Makoto slowly opened her mouth, wanting to say something but finding the words stuck.
"I'm sorry, Makoto..." Yu Xie said. "I won't be able to stay with everyone anymore."
Indeed, he shouldn't have told the truth so soon. Makoto would be upset, and Yu Xie didn't want to see her sad. She should be smiling—that was the real Makoto.
It was as if something had scratched at his heart, and without realizing it, Makoto's eyes began to well up.
"I was planning to tell everyone later, but I didn't expect you to see me in such a pitiful state." Yu Xie looked into Makoto's eyes. "Please don't cry. If you do, I'll be reluctant to leave."
End of chapter
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