During his suspension, Norman felt gloomy. On one hand, he didn't want to be complained about by the domestic helper again. On the other, he believed his educational background was inferior to others, making him feel inadequate in other fields. Staying home daily to care for the children, though it eased his wife's burden, he saw no long-term solution in this arrangement. The Time Police hadn't issued him a return-to-work notice either. Gilbert recently wrote: "I heard you've been suspended. Why not try furthering your education? It's never too late, even if you're past university age. Your brother Nathan, despite his heavy course load, has carved out a niche in his passion—I recall he's a diving instructor now pursuing freediving. Why not find something to study?"
After reading the letter, Norman began wondering if he'd forgotten something. He glanced at the figurines in his cabinet—90% of them were claw-machine prizes, with a few Japanese virtual singer models in different poses. To keep himself occupied at home, Norman decided to clean out the cabinet. During the cleanup, he stumbled upon a Ronin figure. That model held a hidden memory—his first cosplay attempt. He'd bought the costume online. Back then, not knowing how to make wigs, he'd simply grown his hair long, dyed it brown, and styled it like the character's. His makeup wasn't great either. Though he captured the character's look, the foundation didn't blend well, leaving a noticeable powdery finish. The memory was awkward, but everyone has a first time.
Just then, the purple necklace emitted an eerie glow again. That childish voice spoke impatiently: “Unbelievable. How did Wa State end up like this?” Wa State? The term felt vaguely familiar, though the memory was hazy. Yue beside him clarified, “Wa State is what we now call Japan. Did you bring that doll back from there?” Norman hastily explained, "I won this at a claw machine in Japan when I was 18. I really like these figurines. Do you think it's outrageous for someone my age to like anime?“ The voice spoke again: ”I really don't understand. The writing in Wa State has become bizarre and unrecognizable. Only a few Chinese characters remain. How am I supposed to read it?" Norman knew something was terribly wrong. He decided to open The Book of Huyan Hu to uncover the truth.
Suddenly, one page glowed, flipping open automatically. A portrait of a young man appeared with extremely long black hair tied in a low ponytail, clad entirely in black—a dark blue undershirt, gray trousers, and black boots. His features were youthful, somewhat resembling an anime character, yet distinctly different. Yihe beside him exclaimed, “Hu Yongnian! He's the only member who's ever been abroad, but why isn't there a portrait of him in kimono?” Yue added, “The kimono we saw today wasn't even invented during the Zhenguan era.” Norman countered, “That Hu Yongnian looks harmless no matter how you look at him. Just look at his appearance—so similar to an anime character, utterly adorable!” Yihe shook his head, displeased. “Don't be fooled by appearances! He even slaughtered his own brothers—though not blood relatives, it was still excessive. Have you heard of the Xuanwu Gate Incident? Legend has it he personally pinned Li Yuanji to the ground and stabbed him through the heart!” Norman studied the records closely, discovering mixed evaluations of Hu Yongnian: Praise for his compassion toward the people and capable governance, but criticism for his ruthless slaughter on the battlefield, where he crippled countless enemy soldiers. A master of the spear, his legendary “Army-Breaker Spear” had pierced countless hearts—including Li Yuanji's.
At that moment, Norman glanced at the certificate pinned to the wall—proof he had passed the N1 Japanese proficiency exam—and couldn't help but recall his own N1 certificate, gathering dust unused for years. He remembered Yamamoto Hideki once teasing him about his peculiar pronunciation, which sounded like a newly developed military machine. Though accurate, his intonation was flat, making conversation feel like talking to a robot.
That afternoon, unable to endure the constant chatter of his two clones and the unbearably irritating voice from the necklace, Norman decided to swim at the nearby pool. The deep pool was his favorite spot, as he found the underwater world profoundly tranquil. He dove to the bottom in one breath, relaxed his body, and entered a meditative state. Before he knew it, he'd been underwater for a long time. Then the voice sounded again: “The opportunity is right before you. You already have the highest qualifications. Why not take that professional exam? Your Japanese will quickly reach a new level.” The suddenness of the voice caught Norman off guard, disrupting his breathing rhythm. He tried to calm himself, then swam a lap underwater until his oxygen ran low.
The moment he surfaced, he realized his breath-holding time had increased. Perhaps someday he could dive with his younger brother. The voice from the necklace had a point—how could he know his limits without trying? Just like his breath-holding time: last time it was one and a half minutes, this time two minutes. Since he hadn't received any notice to return to work, he might as well use this downtime to study, rather than sit idle at home. The voice sounded again, this time wishing him good luck in Japanese.
ns216.73.216.33da2
and then Add to home screen.