This Japanese Monogatari Isn't Lame-Chapter 625 - 388. Shen Gu Mirai’s Thousand-Layer Tactics (4000 words)_2
"I had originally thought the school Beichuan attended would have a bunch of extraordinary students."
But as it turns out, there are more ordinary students in the world after all.
Gangye Yoshiko flicked her fingers, tossing a bamboo skewer from a grilled bird into a trash can.
To facilitate visitors and to protect the campus environment, additional trash cans were placed everywhere at Kyubei Festival.
But because she was preoccupied with her thoughts, Gangye Yoshiko didn’t manage to throw the two skewers into it.
"..." Gangye Yoshiko.
Just as she was about to bend down to pick up the skewers and try again—
someone next to her had already reached out, picked up the skewers from the ground, and thrown them into the trash can.
Huh?
Gangye Yoshiko blinked and looked at the owner of the hand.
It was a short-haired middle-aged woman, whose lovely face bore marks of time, but she looked energetic as though she hadn’t been worn down by the flow of time at all.
"Thank you," Gangye Yoshiko politely expressed her gratitude.
"You’re welcome," the short-haired middle-aged woman replied with a slight smile. Then, appearing a bit embarrassed, she stopped the leaving Gangye Yoshiko and asked, "Excuse me, do you know how to get to Kyubei High School’s second-year A class?"
Second-year A class?
Gangye Yoshiko glanced at the short-haired woman with a bit of confusion.
Isn’t that Beichuan Si’s class?
That was her destination as well.
However, embarrassingly, Gangye Yoshiko didn’t quite know where exactly second-year A class was located.
Though she had come to speak on behalf of Beichuan Si a few times, that was only the location of the principal’s office, so she didn’t know where Beichuan Si’s class was.
Moreover, the area she was in now was crowded with stalls and visitors, the view was already obstructed, and each class had decorated their respective areas with trinkets, some even covering up the class names with colored paper.
Finding the second-year A class under such obstacles was undoubtedly going to be difficult.
Thinking this, Gangye Yoshika stopped in her tracks and apologetically said to the middle-aged woman behind her, "I’m sorry, I’m not really sure where the second-year A class is."
"...I see..." The middle-aged woman seemed a bit disappointed but soon recovered and bowed slightly, "No problem, I’m sorry to have troubled you. Thank you anyway."
Seeing the middle-aged woman about to leave, Gangye Yoshiko quickly stopped her, "Please wait a moment. I know someone here at Kyubei High, and if I ask her, finding the second-year A class shouldn’t be too problematic."
"Is that so?" The middle-aged woman’s face lit up with surprise, "I really appreciate your help!"
"Please, don’t mention it. We’re just helping each other out, and I actually want to go to the second-year A class as well," Gangye Yoshiko waved her hand, still somewhat unaccustomed to such a show of thanks.
The two exchanged pleasantries for a while, after which Gangye Yoshiko took out her phone and made a call.
Around five seconds later, the call connected.
"Hello? Is that Mirai? Yeah...it’s me, Yoshiko."
"I’m at the stall area... Okay. Please come over quickly."
After a brief conversation over the phone, Gangye Yoshiko put away her mobile and explained to the middle-aged woman, "My acquaintance will be here soon, she’ll lead us to the second-year A class."
"Thank you very much," the middle-aged woman with short hair expressed her thanks.
This made Gangye Yoshiko, who was already not used to being thanked, scratch her head. After a moment, she introduced herself, "I’m Gangye Yoshiko, may I ask how to address you?"
The middle-aged woman with short hair, sensing Gangye Yoshiko’s discomfort with thanks, promptly introduced herself to ease the awkwardness: "My name is Beichuan Lin, it’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss Gangye."
Beichuan Lin?
Gangye Yoshiko’s mouth fell open, and she looked at the middle-aged woman in front of her somewhat unnaturally.
Her reaction was quickly noticed by the other.
Beichuan Lin looked a bit confused, "Is there something wrong, Miss Gangye?"
"...No, nothing. Ms. Beichuan." Gangye Yoshiko coughed dryly and averted her gaze.
This must just be a coincidence.
As far as she knew, Beichuan Si indeed had a mother, but she was working overseas. Flying back would take a long time and it was implausible for her to be present at the Kyubei Festival.
It was even less likely for Gangye Yoshiko to accidentally meet her at the Kyubei Festival.
The probability of such an event was probably in the range of one in thousands.
Hence, Gangye Yoshiko did not voice her thoughts.
After all, it would have been very rude to the newly met Ms. Beichuan Lin.
After the two had introduced themselves and chatted a bit, they then heard an approaching clear and cheerful voice:
"Sister Liangzi!"
Beichuan Lin instinctively looked in the direction of the greeting.
It was a girl wearing a medium-length dress, with medium-length hair.
She wore the neatly fitting Kyubei High summer uniform.
Her slender brows and thin, cherry-blossom pink lips, along with her large, bright eyes shimmering with spiritual energy...
This girl was definitely the epitome of pure and cute.
"Ah... Mirai is here." Gangye Yoshiko, who was chatting with Beichuan Lin, turned around and waved to the girl.
She acted as the intermediary and introduced them to each other, "This is Shen Gu Mirai, an acquaintance I know from Kyubei, and this is Beichuan Lin, Ms. Beichuan, whom I just met. Ms. Beichuan wants to go to Class 2A with us, Mirai, can you lead the way?"
While Gangye Yoshiko was introducing them, Beichuan Lin clearly saw a surprised expression flash across Shen Gu Mirai’s face.
Gangye Yoshiko had behaved this way just before, and now Shen Gu Mirai was doing the same.
What exactly was going on?
"Is there a problem, Miss Shen Gu?" Beichuan Lin asked kindly.
"Nothing, nothing at all," Shen Gu Mirai said, her expression momentarily awkward as she cleared her throat and asked, "Ms. Beichuan wants to go to Class 2A, right?"
"Yes," Beichuan Lin replied curiously.
Hadn’t Gangye Yoshiko just mentioned that? Why did this girl ask again?
Shen Gu Mirai cleared her throat and then led the way, saying,
"Um... nothing. Please follow me."
Naturally, Gangye Yoshiko and Beichuan Lin followed her.
The two of them talked about various topics behind Shen Gu Mirai, mainly trivial discussions about the Kyubei Festival.
That’s why they didn’t notice the unusual demeanor of Shen Gu Mirai leading the way.
Her fingers trembled slightly, and her breathing was becoming inconsistent.
Yes.
Shen Gu Mirai—
was extremely nervous!
Because she had realized something when Beichuan Lin introduced herself.
This Ms. Beichuan Lin... was very likely the mother of Beichuan Si!
Although it was just a conjecture for now, Shen Gu Mirai was almost certain that Beichuan Lin was the mother whom Beichuan Si occasionally mentioned.
Because in the entire school, the surname Beichuan belonged only to Beichuan Si.
And she had specifically asked to go to Class 2A.
She must be his mom, right? Absolutely my mom, right?
Shen Gu Mirai had a keen intuition about these things, which is why she suddenly sensed something was off.
What to do?! What should I do?! What in the world should I do?!
Shen Gu Mirai’s face was stiff.
She didn’t ask Beichuan Lin about her relationship with Beichuan Si right away, not just because there was a slim chance she recognized the wrong person, but also for another important reason.
That was—
Shen Gu Mirai had her own little schemes!
Of course!
The woman in front of her was very likely her future mother-in-law!
During this Kyubei Festival, she planned to serve her comfortably, making her develop a good impression of her future daughter-in-law, winning her approval.
That was Shen Gu Mirai’s real goal!
Then, when Beichuan Lin and Beichuan Si were acknowledging each other, she’d suddenly interject with, "Oh? Is this Mr. Temple’s mother? You look so young, I didn’t realize it at first."
Perfect!
Absolutely a flawless plan!
This would not only create an image of her love for helping others but would also increase the mother’s fondness for Beichuan Si! An unbeatable strategy!
Shen Gu Mirai raised an eyebrow, already confident in her approach!
