Tokyo: My Girlfriend

"It really is Hina-sensei! Hina-sensei looks so beautiful today! Is this lady Hina-sensei's friend? She's so pretty too!"

Akemi Aoki took the initiative to walk over and greet her.

Kitagawa Shinichi briefly exchanged glances with Kasuga Hina, even though he had already informed her of today's schedule.

But when Hina bumped into him during his date with Akemi, he still felt a little... you know.

However, Shinichi Kitagawa quickly snapped out of it, realizing they were out having fun openly, not sneaking around: "Hina-sensei, what a coincidence!"

Haruhi Hina parted her red lips slightly and smiled gently, "Akimi, Shinichi, you two are also in the city? What a coincidence..."

Of the four, only Tamura Kyoko, who was completely clueless about the situation, had a blank stare.

Huh? What's going on? Why is Shinichi on a date with a girl alone? Does Hina know? Is Shinichi cheating on her?

No, Shinichi seemed to be acting very naturally. Could it be that Hina knew?

That's even more outrageous! What girlfriend would allow her boyfriend to date other girls?!

Akemi Aoki nodded vigorously, like a chick pecking at rice: "Yes, I'm going on a date with Shinichi this weekend. It's our first date."

Finally, Kyoko Tamura couldn't help but ask, "A date... what's your relationship?"

Akemi Aoki cupped her shy face in her hands with a meaningful look: "What do you think is the relationship between Shinichi and me, sister? It's so hard to guess."

Shinichi Kitagawa clarified, to prevent Kyoko from misunderstanding: "We're good friends, just hanging out for a stroll. It's not that kind of relationship. Akemi was just joking."

Akemi Aoki was displeased: "You're revealing the truth so quickly, Shinichi-kun."

Kitagawa Shinichi was convinced that if he didn't speak up soon, things would really get out of hand.

Tamura Kyoko and Kitagawa Shinichi made eye contact, her eyes suddenly narrowing as if asking Shinichi, "Is it true? Are we really just friends? Such a beautiful girl."

Shinichi Kitagawa had sweat on his forehead and gave a knowing look, confirming that it was indeed Kyoko-nee, as Hina knew.

Kyoko Tamura really couldn't understand these two, so she just nodded and said she would ask them later.

She introduced herself: "Hello to you two little ones, just call me Sister Xingzi. I'm a good friend of your teacher."

The two of them called out "Sister Xingzi" in unison again.

Akemi Aoki looked at the counter: "Is the teacher picking out jewelry?"

Spring day sunflower seemed to want to say something but hesitated.

Kyoko Tamura crossed her arms and explained, "Recently, your teacher Haruna's relationship with her boyfriend hasn't been going very well. She originally said she wouldn't talk about men today, but since we've come all this way, she's decided to buy her boyfriend a gift."

Haruhi Hina hadn't expected Kyoko to expose her, and she hurriedly turned her head in embarrassment, because Shinichi had overheard her: "Kyoko! Why do you say everything? In front of me... my student!"

Kyoko Tamura spread her hands: "What's the big deal? It's not unusual to have a boyfriend. Besides, people have already asked."

Shinichi Kitagawa's expression changed slightly. "A gift you bought for me?"

Akemi Aoki's fox-like eyes widened with excitement as she grabbed Hina Haruhi's arm:

"Boyfriend?! So Hina-sensei has a boyfriend? Really? Do you have a picture, sir? I want to see him. Hina-sensei is so beautiful and has such a great personality, her boyfriend must be talented, rich, and handsome, right?"

Haruhi Hina thought that he was right, he was talented, rich and handsome, but she definitely couldn't show the photos to Akemi: "Let's not look at the photos, it's kind of embarrassing for the teacher. Well... Akemi, you and Shinichi go shopping, we'll go shopping somewhere else."

Akemi Aoki looked at the gift box in Hina Kasuga's hand: "You've already bought a gift for your boyfriend? Can I see it, teacher?"

"It's feasible..."

Haruhi Hina took out the gift box, glanced at Shinichi in the distance, and thought to herself that she had gone to great lengths to choose this gift.

If Shinichi sees this, there won't be any surprise.

But even if she doesn't take it out, Akemi will definitely find out when she asks the counter later.

In the midst of this brief moment of hesitation, Haruhi suddenly noticed that Shinichi Kitagawa deliberately turned away and walked away to look at something else.

He seemed to know beforehand that he couldn't know about the gift, as it was a token of Hina's affection.

A little bit of secret joy welled up inside Haruhiko; Shinichi... was thinking of me.

Kyoko Tamura also noticed this small detail and felt that this meant there was probably no real crisis.

Akemi looked at the gift, and Aoki Akemi stared at it intently: "What a beautiful ring! It wasn't cheap either."

After a brief chat, the four parted ways.

Even though Shinichi Kitagawa didn't want to, he still heard the word "ring." Since that was the case... he decided to buy Hina a ring too.

Then I'll buy Rena a hair clip, though that girl probably won't wear it...

After choosing the gift, Aoki Akemi sat on a chair, leaning against the counter, staring at the ring wrapped up by the sales clerk: "It's a ring, isn't it? Shinichi-kun, were you inspired by Hina-sensei? But giving a ring has a rather profound meaning, it's kind of like a marriage proposal..."

Shinichi Kitagawa accepted the wrapped gift: "We're so young, why would we propose? It's just a simple gift."

"A simple gift..." It's a pity I can't even receive a simple gift.

Kitagawa Shinichi spoke up: "Oh right, Akemi, pick one you like too, I'll give it to you as well."

Aoki Akemi sat up straight, blushing, and pointed at herself in confusion: "I have one too? Why...?"

"Didn't we come to the city mainly to celebrate you passing the interview? How about I pick out a bracelet for you?" He looked at the bracelet section at the counter.

Akemi Aoki was very excited and quickly nodded, "Okay! I'll definitely wear it every day!" Akemi Aoki smiled and cupped her face, "This is the first gift Shinichi-kun has ever given me."

"There's no need to cherish them so much. As you become more and more famous, you'll have as many of these things as you want, and they're not expensive."

"It has a different meaning."

Having chosen a silver-white star bracelet, which was rather plain, Aoki Akemi still wore it on her wrist with great care and happily left the jewelry store. Kitagawa Shinichi and Akemi went straight to the women's lingerie store next door, and this time they had no choice but to go in.

Who knew that as soon as I walked in...

I saw familiar figures again.

This time, Kyoko Tamura couldn't help but complain: "Huh? It's you two again? But... this is a women's lingerie store! Are you two really just innocent friends, Shinichi Kitagawa?!"

Shinichi Kitagawa watched the two people choosing underwear.

What else is there to say? It was fate.

Aoki Akemi looked up from her wrist, puzzled and curious: "We've run into each other again! But how did Kyoko-nee know Shinichi-kun's full name? He didn't mention it at the jewelry store. Did Kyoko-nee know Shinichi-kun before?"

Kyoko Tamura, being a seasoned veteran, naturally pointed at Hina Haruhi: "That's what your teacher, Hina, just told me."

"I see! Then let's pick out lingerie together!" With that, Aoki Akemi cleared up the confusion, proudly waving her wrist, "Oh, and by the way, Haruna-sensei, isn't this bracelet gorgeous? Shinichi-kun gave it to me!"

Upon hearing this, Haruhi saw the bracelet, and her jealousy and resentment were quite evident in her eyes.

Shinichi Kitagawa quickly texted Hina Kasuga across the room: "No, Hina, it's just a little gift to celebrate Akemi's successful interview."

Haruhi saw Kitagawa Shinichi remind her to check her phone, so she took it out, saw the message, and replied, "Oh... I see... I didn't misunderstand..."

Shinichi Kitagawa grinned; Hina's current expression was completely different from the message she had sent.

---------

On a quiet day off, in a certain residence, the Murata couple cleaned their home spotlessly, brewed tea, and nervously awaited the arrival of a certain young girl.

Mr. Murata held his wife's nervous hand: "It's alright, Rena isn't a bad person by nature. If it really comes to it, you can go out for a walk, and we can just have a short chat."

The wife's feelings were complicated, a mixture of worry, guilt, and anxiety: "But she slapped you in the face last time... I can't just leave you two alone like this."

"It's alright, after all, I really do owe this child a lot..."

The doorbell rang, startling both of them, and they slowly got up.

Mr. Murata walked over, and his wife took his hand, seemingly wanting to share his hardships.

Mr. Murata wanted to say it wasn't necessary, but his wife disagreed and even tightened her grip.

There was no other way but to open the door in this condition.

As the door opened, the silver-haired girl, Kitagawa Rena, dressed in a white dress, finally saw that familiar yet unfamiliar face again.

I also saw the man holding hands with his current wife.

Just before opening the door, Kitagawa Rena was a little nervous when she pressed the doorbell, but when she saw the other person again, she didn't feel that way anymore.

She spoke frankly, without any sign of anger: "Don't worry, I'm not here to break up your family. I just want to talk to Mr. Murata."

Mrs. Murata looked at the girl's cool and calm expression. She was still a child, but she had a terrifying aura.

"What happened back then..."

Rena Kitagawa looked at the woman:

"I just want to talk to Mr. Murata for a while. Please don't talk to me, madam. Although I'm in a good mood today, it was Mr. Murata and his wife who eloped and abandoned me back then. I'm not the kind of person who can forgive everything. I hope you can understand."

"I'm sorry..." His wife's eyes were downcast.

"There's no need. I don't hold that much of a grudge against you," Kitagawa Rena said. "So, may I come in and bother you for a moment?"

The Murata couple stepped aside: "Please come in."

Sitting at the dining table, Mr. Murata looked at Rena, who was completely different from when she was a child.

The daughter, who has even changed her surname, has changed a lot upon closer inspection.

Mrs. Murata served tea to the guests: "I...may I sit aside and listen in? I won't disturb you."

"Please go ahead," Kitagawa Rena replied.

Since she had said that, Mr. Murata didn't say anything more.

Rena Kitagawa took a sip of tea and looked at her father, whom she once loved most. He had obviously aged a lot. She hadn't noticed it last time, but this time she saw many more wrinkles around his eyes. "Now, Mr. Murata, please tell me everything that happened in the past."

Mr. Murata nodded slowly and recounted his past experiences in detail, including his thoughts at the time and the decision to elope.

The self-narration was very detailed, and he probably talked for more than half an hour.

Rena didn't interrupt at all, but instead went through the events of that year from her father's perspective.

Now, having experienced many things, her eyes have gradually become clearer. She never dared to think about those things before, but now she won't avoid them.

"Although there are some things I never knew, based on my childhood memories, I could tell that Mr. Murata was telling the truth, and in the end, you even admitted it..."

"Abandoning me was a result of your weakness. The time you asked me if I would come with you was your last bit of courage, because you were afraid that if you took me with you, Mother would keep chasing after you. So, after I fell silent, you actually felt much more relieved."

Mr. Murata lowered his head, his eyes filled with guilt: "I'm so sorry. The only thing I feel guilty about is not taking you with me. I really don't deserve to be called a father... I abandoned Rena for my own happiness."

Kitagawa Rena stared at the other person's expression, noticing his current wife nervously clenching her fingers:

"This ending is quite good. It fits my impression of you and Mom. Let's make peace. From now on, you don't need to dwell on the past anymore. I also need to move on. I have a new life and I won't hate you anymore. Although I still can't forgive you, after hearing all this, I really don't hate you anymore."

Rena Kitagawa thought of herself when she was a child: "After all, you and I were both weak back then, so it's hard to say who's to blame. I came here this time just to remind myself not to follow the same path as you and Mom, and also to see how you are doing now."

She stood up and looked at the two people who had looked up:

"I hope you can treat your current wife and your new daughter well. They are both better than my mother and I were. Although I think you have already done what you did, we have learned our lesson. I wish you happiness in the future. Goodbye."

The Murata couple were completely taken aback by Rena's words and watched her get up and leave.

Mr. Murata hesitated for a moment, then suddenly chased after her. Before she opened the door, his eyes were red and tears welled up in the corners.

"Rena! Thank you... I also hope you can find happiness in the future. If..." He suddenly broke down in tears, "If everything could start over, believe it or not, I would definitely take you with me, I definitely would... All these years I've regretted this..."

Rena Kitagawa stopped in her tracks, placed her hand on the doorknob, and turned halfway back to look at her father, her eyes suddenly softening considerably.

"Don't worry about it too much. Actually, even if you had taken me with you back then, I wouldn't necessarily be happier now. After you and Mom left, I met a wonderful person, someone who will never leave me and loves me."

It seems life hasn't completely abandoned me after all; I just never thought of that before. If our two families happen to meet on the street next time, I'll greet Mr. Murata and your family, and I hope you will too.

Mr. Murata looked at Rena, his eyes welling up with tears: "Yes...of course."

"Goodbye, Mr. Murata." Along with my past.

She left the family with a smile.

On her way down the stairs, Kitagawa Rena inexplicably recalled scenes from her childhood, such as clinging to her father and her mother joking around while cooking in the kitchen, and suddenly felt a pang of emotion.

She used to resist recalling these scenes, always feeling that her past was only filled with pain. Now, thinking back, there are still many beautiful moments, but hatred has long since covered up all those beautiful memories.

As expected, Shin-il was right. Just thinking about having Shin-il by my side in the future gives me a renewed sense of hope for life.

Looking forward to what will happen in the future.

"There are no trains back to Kabasaki-cho tonight, so I'll find a hotel and get a good night's sleep. I'll go home to see Shinichi tomorrow, and I need to be even nicer to him from now on."