Chapter 201: Farewell to the City of Romance
"Waaah, everyone. Sniffle..." The little girl with tear-filled eyes approached step by step.
The black curly-haired girl, completely unaware of her state, was still immersed in emotion and wanted to give her good friends, who had cared for her, a warm hug.
Shirou didn't know if the hug would be warm if she managed to land it, but he was certain it would be sticky.
"You guys let go of me! The door is right behind us, why don't you just run out!" Shirou said to the guys holding him.
"Oh, right! That's a way!" The boys suddenly realized and were about to let go of Shirou and slip out the back door.
"Wait, that would be too mean to her, wouldn't it?" the blonde ponytail girl holding Shirou's arm called out, stopping everyone.
"Then you stop her!"
"It's not right to let a girl step up in this situation, you guys! Is this how men act?! Go up there and block her! That's why none of you can find girlfriends!" the blonde ponytail girl, who was holding Shirou's right arm, shouted.
"We don't see you acting like a girl most of the time..." a boy muttered.
"No, the reason we can't find girlfriends is simply because we dedicate all our energy to cooking." The boys hiding behind Shirou took out combs, neatened their messy hair, opened their phones, checked themselves with a beauty filter, and confidently asserted, feeling more self-assured.
"We only protect the women we want to protect!" the male chef hugging the boy's right thigh vowed confidently.
"Exactly! It's not because we're not brave!" the other male chef hugging the boy's left thigh echoed.
"Tch! You all deserve to be lonely for the rest of your lives!" the blonde ponytail girl clicked her tongue in distaste.
Now Shirou finally understood why the French often lost wars abroad.
They relied on Jeanne during the Hundred Years' War, and later on Napoleon's military genius to create new, world-leading tactics, having one moment of glory, and then never achieving any truly impressive results again. They remained stuck in an awkward position of being neither too strong nor too weak.
During this argument, the zombie... no, the black curly-haired girl was getting closer.
"Wait! You're her best friend! Don't hide behind me!" Shirou said to the blonde ponytail girl.
"No, the snot is too much. Dirty things are dirty, even if it's your best friend!" the blonde ponytail girl, crouching behind Shirou, said, turning her face away.
"Shirou-senpai! Please!" Erina, who was behind him, also revealed a mischievous smile and pushed the boy forward with force.
"Shirou~! Hug! I'm so touched, waaaah!" At this point, the girl's face was blurred with tears and crisscrossed with snot. She could no longer clearly see what was happening in front of her, only sensing that Shirou was indeed so gentle. While everyone else was avoiding her, Shirou was the good one.
"Calm down! Get a tissue and wipe yourself first! Stay back! Waaaah!" The boy let out a tragic scream in the cooking classroom.
The situation on the other side was equally lively. Hiratsuka Shizuka, who had sung an astonishing song, was surrounded by a crowd of people. Those who had been healed, moved, and encouraged after hearing that angelic, pure, and inspiring song had spontaneously gathered here to send her off.
Although it was regrettable, they could understand.
After all, how could such a miraculous woman, who could sing with such sacred power, such firm conviction, and such an aura of punching through all misfortunes and setbacks in the world, become a singer for fame or money?
The profession of a diligent gardener (teacher) suited her better. It was truly because people like her existed that the corrupt and utilitarian education system still had hope. The new generation of students could still find different, worthy role models in schools, amidst a large group of selfish and obstinate adults.
As the TV broadcast continued, more people heard Hiratsuka Shizuka's singing. To sing a vibrant, soul-stirring, and powerful song during a time when everyone's spirits were low was practically heroic.
After watching the interview program, which beautified her image countless times over, Hiratsuka Shizuka's popularity among the elderly people in Paris soared even higher. She was now being pulled aside by a group of fans for photos and handshakes.
Hiratsuka Shizuka felt too embarrassed to refuse, so the crowd grew larger and larger.
But it was precisely because Hiratsuka Shizuka was this kind of person that the elderly men and women adored her.
Even ordinary people, if they've lived to be fifty or sixty, have accumulated life experience that young people cannot match in certain aspects. Not to mention, Hiratsuka Shizuka did not intentionally hide her true nature.
Therefore, the elderly fans didn't believe the TV show portraying Hiratsuka Shizuka as a goddess-like figure. Her simple nature, coupled with her kindness and respect for the elderly, made them genuinely fond of Hiratsuka Shizuka as a person.
"Shizuka, will you come back here again?" an older woman asked Hiratsuka Shizuka with regret.
"Mhm, of course! If the school has any activities, I will apply to come to Paris to see you all," Hiratsuka Shizuka said with a smile.
"Even if you get married and have children, don't forget Paris!" another older woman pleaded, clasping Hiratsuka Shizuka's hands.
"Haha," Hiratsuka Shizuka laughed awkwardly, feeling that might not be easier than forgetting Paris.
"Shizuka~! Are you really not considering it?! Part-time is fine too! Just record one album! I, Sonico, guarantee you absolute freedom!" The scout, blocked by the crowd of older people, waved his arms, stood on his tiptoes, and shouted loudly.
"Whatever Sonico offers, we at great Warner will pay double!!!" the man in sunglasses shouted in response from the other side.
"Shizuka~! You belong to the Lord! You are destined to be a woman who becomes a nun! So, stay here! Our church needs you! Let us use your voice to benefit all humanity!" The priest, still persistent, shouted from the outer perimeter.
"Go away! Go away! We're here to send Shizuka off! She already said she doesn't want to do those things, so stop bothering her!" The older woman yelled, hands on her hips, blocking these people.
"Madam, Madam! Let me explain! I'm not bothering her! I am contributing to the musical arts of France!"
"Exactly! Hiratsuka is a rare genius. That kind of devout, inspiring voice that can move people without technique, how could I let such a talent go to waste in that island nation!" the man in sunglasses interjected.
"Is that so? Then I truly misunderstood you gentlemen. You are here to discover musical talent for the sake of France," the older woman said, looking at the two.
"Yes, we are!"
"That's right! That's exactly it."
Seizing the apparent opportunity, the two scouts quickly agreed. They presented themselves as mentors for a talent show, dedicated to music and finding a good voice! Not for exposure or money or anything like that. Although they didn't know if anyone else believed them, they themselves started to believe it as they spoke.
"Is that so? Since you're so eager to recruit singers, why don't you take a look at us?" a few older women walked forward, showcasing their plump figures.
The scout's mouth dropped open in stunned silence for a moment, then he asked with a laugh, "Ahaha? Madam? Could you please not joke like that?"
"That's right! Didn't you say you wanted to discover musical talent? Didn't you say you wanted to be mentors for newcomers? Didn't you say you wanted to dedicate yourselves to musical art? Then teach us!" The older women surrounded the two scouts.
First, there were the Chinese dama who teamed up to buy gold abroad, and now there were French dama who volunteered to replace Hiratsuka Shizuka and become a singer group to help an international friend.
"Hiratsuka! Hiratsuka! The Virgin Mary is watching over you! Return to the embrace of the Lord!" On the other side, the priest was still standing there, shouting persistently, seemingly tireless.
"Father! Why are you still here!" The elderly man looked at him, utterly helpless.
"Preaching is my sacred duty," the priest said as a matter of course.
"Then try preaching to me first. If I convert, then not only will I not stop you, but I'll also help you convince Shizuka, that good child," the elderly man said to the priest.
At this point, Hiratsuka Shizuka had finally shaken hands with everyone, and as time was almost up, she said her goodbyes and walked inside.
Inside, the silver-haired girl was leaning against the wall, checking her phone. Having separated from Shirou to enjoy her free time, she was waiting for Hiratsuka Shizuka to return to the dormitory with her.
Since there were no more activities for the day, and she would only get a headache if she followed Shirou to study in the classroom, she simply sneaked out and wandered around.
When she got bored, she would take out the phone she got from Da Vinci at Chaldea and send provocative texts to that Cold-Blooded King. Then, she would wait for his retaliatory reply and happily roast him back!
Although the argument never reached a definitive conclusion, at least she wasn't bored.
"Cold-Blooded King, what are you doing? Still playing your weird maid game?"
"Hmph, unlike a freeloader like you, I supervise my Round Table maids every day to ensure they work properly."
"Hah? It's hilarious that the Tyrant of Invasion wants to play the role of serving others!"
"Hmph, I have no intention of serving anyone. I merely wish to consider things from the perspective of caring for others, as a King. A girl who acts on impulse like you wouldn't understand."
"Let's go, Jeanne," Hiratsuka Shizuka said, patting the silver-haired girl on the shoulder.
"Oh, right, are you finished?" Jeanne replied, putting away her phone.
"Mhm, I guess I managed to satisfy them. Being a celebrity is not something anyone can do. Even just shaking hands was unexpectedly tiring. You have to accommodate everyone's feelings.
After all, these are people who supported me, and I don't want to hurt anyone. Talking to them all night with that thought in mind, I'm already exhausted," Hiratsuka Shizuka said, her shoulders slumped with fatigue.
"Why bother caring about what other people think? If you didn't want to, you could have just refused," Jeanne said, not understanding.
"No, it's not that I didn't want to. After all, I haven't been this popular in many years," Hiratsuka Shizuka said, smiling shyly. Then she remembered something and said to Jeanne, "I'm sorry. I promised to take you out for delicious food, but let's just eat in the dorm tonight."
"It's fine, I already went to find Shirou and had something good to eat. Oh, right, Shirou asked me to give you this. He said you would definitely be tired, so he made you some sweets." Jeanne said, pulling a paper bag from her clothes.
"Oh! As expected of my student, he knows how to be considerate of his teacher," Hiratsuka Shizuka happily took the small bag, poured a chocolate chip cookie from it into her mouth, and smiled blissfully. The sweet and soft cookie, coupled with the sweetness of the liqueur chocolate, was full of energy. As she ate it, her whole body instantly warmed up, and the fatigue in her heart vanished.
Outside, after Hiratsuka Shizuka said her farewells and left, the surrounding crowd dispersed. The priest looked at the only person who remained: an elderly gentleman with half-closed eyes, looking completely at ease. He felt genuinely moved; at least his tireless speaking hadn't been in vain.
If he could influence this man's family and lead a whole clan to choose the faith, it would be a major accomplishment.
The priest straightened his attire and asked the elderly gentleman with a pleasant expression, "Would you like to join the church?"
The old gentleman, half-closing his eyes and looking fully at ease, half-opened them. "Sorry, I'm Protestant!"
"..." The priest, not knowing what expression to make, covered his face. Compared to a truly capable priest, he seemed to lack a certain "pleasure."
The elderly gentleman walked away with a grin, hands clasped behind his back.
The next day, under the send-off of the people, the team leader, having fulfilled his mission, led the students to bid farewell to the principal, teachers, and students, and then boarded the Paris Branch School's special bus.
"Shirou~! You must not forget me! Don't forget our promise~!" The curly-haired, round-faced little girl ran out, shouting loudly in French to Shirou on the bus.
"Mhm! Take care, everyone~!"
"Eh?!" The people from the Paris Branch School around her looked at the boy on the bus in shock. How could you be this kind of person?!
However, when they clearly saw the girl shouting, they all understood.
"Hmm?! What is that child saying? Did she just call Shirou?" the students from the Chiba School on the bus asked in surprise.
The curly-haired girl's eyes were blurred, tears welling up inside, expressing an indescribable depth of emotion. Then she shouted loudly again, "Erina! Absolutely don't forget me, you, and Shirou! Waaahhhhh~!!"
Before she could finish her sentence, she burst into loud sobs.
"Don't say misleading things~!!!" Erina on the bus shouted, her face flushed red.
"Waaah! It's not a misunderstanding~! We all made a promise last night!"
The teachers and students on the bus looked at Erina, then at Shirou in astonishment. Some turned and took out their phones, while others leaned in together, whispering.
"A love triangle? No, it couldn't be... Th-Three! Three! Three!!!" The boys' eyes widened as they looked at the boy.
"Sh-Shirou? What exactly is going on?!?" Hiratsuka Shizuka also looked at the boy in surprise, grabbing his collar and shaking him.
She had only been a little busy these past few days and hadn't been paying attention to him. How did such a girl suddenly appear?
"Calm down..."
"There's... a misunderstanding...!" Shirou's head was shaking wildly, and he didn't even get a chance to explain.
"Alright, stop crying. Snot! Snot!" The blonde ponytail best friend walked up to comfort her.
"Waaah! I'll miss you all~! Sniffle..." The black curly-haired little girl, watching the vehicle gradually drive away, sniffed and vowed.
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