Chapter 51: What Strange Things
Uesugi Kiyoshi firmly denied Hoshimi Rie's accusation.
Is it lazy of him to do this? It's the employees who are truly lazy, when leaders do it, it's called delegation.
Leaders personally handle everything and oversee all tasks. If they do everything themselves, how can their subordinates learn and grow?
Hoshimi Rie didn't comment on Uesugi Kiyoshi's statement, she just shook her head and continued working.
"You don't believe me? Fine, since I've already been misunderstood, I might as well be lazy all the way. This boring journey, meeting a stranger, it's a good opportunity for a chat!" Uesugi Kiyoshi said firmly.
The two plainclothes guards at the door gave a signal of safety. The nearby metal detector didn't detect any sharp objects or firearms, so he let the person pass without stopping them.
Amidst many gazes, the woman remained oblivious, holding her ticket and smiling apologetically at a bodyguard sitting in a seat.
"I'm sorry, you seem to be sitting in my seat."
The bodyguard glanced at the train ticket and obediently gave up the seat under the employer's signal, without telling her she was in the wrong carriage.
After sitting down, the woman gazed sadly at the scenery outside, her eyes becoming misty again, until an apple was handed to her.
"Sister, are you traveling alone?"
In casual situations where there was no need to dress up, Uesugi Kiyoshi's appearance was quite deceiving, considering he had just finished his junior year in high school and didn't look much different from other high school students.
Facing someone much younger than herself, the person quickly let down their guard and started confiding their troubles.
"Oh sister, I've just been dumped!" a woman claiming to be Amano Shizuka said.
She had a nonchalant expression, talking while slicing an apple with a fruit knife.
"I loved that man so much, I tried to match his tastes in everything - lipstick, clothes, perfume... But he still unhesitatingly abandoned me."
"Saying I'm better suited for serious men, while men like him who are fickle should be with flippant women, it's all just excuses!"
Amano Shizuka licked her lips, unable to control herself any longer. She put down the apple in her hand and cried in pain, covering her face.
"He actually said, 'Don't call me again, and don't meet me anymore!'"
What a heartless guy!
Even in Uesugi Kiyoshi's eyes, the woman in front of him was a pretty beauty.
Especially her long, black hair, naturally cascading down to her waist, smooth and soft like black silk, even Tomie Kawakami couldn't compare in this aspect.
Feeling Uesugi Kiyoshi's gaze on her, Amano Shizuka smiled sadly and twirled a strand of hair.
"He said he likes women with long hair, so I grew my hair long. But now... selfish men. After this trip back, I plan to cut off my hair!"
Hoshimi Rie suddenly felt a chill in her heart, stood up from her seat, and vigilantly looked around.
"What's wrong?" Uesugi Kiyoshi also became nervous seeing her like this, and scanned around with her.
"Just now, there seemed to be a strange feeling in the air!" Hoshimi Rie looked around, then sat back down and whispered, "But now I can't feel it anymore... Maybe it was just my imagination."
While they chatted, Amano Shizuka also gradually stopped crying. She took a deep breath and tried to look brave.
"I'm sorry for rambling on like a stranger. Please trust me, I have moved on from my failed relationship. There are plenty of good men in the world - like your younger brother!"
"Really?" Uesugi Kiyoshi perked up.
"Of course! If only we didn't have such a big age gap, I would actually consider being in a relationship with you, big brother!"
Amano Shizuka giggled, ruffled Uesugi Kiyoshi's hair, and then started munching on an apple.
Watching her, Hoshimi Rie's expression turned serious.
"Do you remember, Mr. Uesugi, that apple of hers wasn't fully peeled..."
"Um, is that important?"
Uesugi Kiyoshi wouldn't notice here.
And the apples in front of him were already peeled very clean, the peels were neatly placed on the table. Who else could have done it if not her?
"It can't be strange to help peel apples for others, but I have never seen it before. Besides, didn't you also not feel any presence?"
Hoshimi Rie frowned, seemingly not accepting Uesugi Kiyoshi's words.
Uesugi Kiyoshi sighed and stood up from his seat, "Since that's the case, I'll try again!"
Taking advantage of a slight swaying of the new bullet train, he pretended to accidentally stumble and bumped into Amano Shizuka. The apple he had just taken a few bites of fell to the ground due to the impact and rolled away.
"Sorry, Sister Amano!" Uesugi Kiyoshi quickly apologized.
"It's okay, my mom said that food that falls on the ground can still be eaten if picked up within 5 seconds. I'll just wash it and it'll be fine."
Amano Shizuka smiled indifferently, about to bend down to pick it up when someone passed by and accidentally stepped on it. The apple, which was only slightly dusty, was now reduced to debris.
"Ah..."
"No worries, I have more here!" Uesugi Kiyoshi handed over another fresh apple, "Sister Amano, try this one, it's an imported product from abroad!"
"I'm not insisting on eating apples..."
Amano Shizuka felt very embarrassed, kept refusing, but couldn't resist the other person's warmth, and could only accept the apple again.
Just as she started to peel it, Uesugi Kiyoshi suddenly tapped his forehead, looking like he just realized something.
"Oh, right, I forgot to ask you, where is your home, sister?"
He pulled Hoshimi Rie along, with both of them singing and harmonizing, successfully diverting Amano Shizuka's attention, causing her to put down the apple in her hand, and the three of them happily chatted away.
Soon, they arrived at the new Yokohama station. Amano Shizuka's home was in Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture, which was her final destination.
"Maybe we'll meet again in the future!" Amano Shizuka waved to Uesugi Kiyoshi and Hoshimi Rie, picked up her luggage ready to get off.
"Here's your apple, Sister Amano!"
"Oh, I almost forgot!"
Amano Shizuka turned back, picked up the apple, took a bite, and showed a satisfied expression.
"This apple is really very sweet, well then, goodbye for real!"
He watched her leave, and the smile on Uesugi Kiyoshi's face gradually disappeared.
This time he saw very clearly.
The apple, originally only half-peeled, somehow became completely bare at some point.
Is it really strange? Strange behavior towards the apple peel...
