Tokyo's bubble economy: From literary giants to great entertainers

"Ouch—that hurts! Thank goodness I didn't hit anything... Huh?"

Honami Suzuki grimaced and rubbed her lower back as she tried to straighten her upper body, but just then, she discovered a warm, large hand supporting the back of her head.

When I looked back, I saw Shuichi Kanbara's eyes, which were also tinged with intoxication, right in front of me.

Their breaths mingled as she felt the man's weight, body temperature, and the strong smell of alcohol on his collar. Her eyes widened in shock, and even Shuichi Kanbara's breathing became unusually hot.

In an instant, the world fell silent, with only the low chirping of insects and birds remaining in the air.

She only felt Shuichi Kanbara's large hand behind her head tighten slightly involuntarily.

It was as if confirming her presence, or perhaps a silent approach.

"He thought..."

A thought suddenly entered her mind. Honami Suzuki's eyes widened instantly.

But just then—"Ah! Kimochii!"

A high-pitched but clearly muffled panting came from the nearby pine grove.

The pleasant atmosphere was instantly dispelled.

Under the bewildered gazes of Shuichi Kanbara and her, a couple carrying their clothes suddenly burst out of the pine forest like wild boars driven out of a cornfield.

The woman was clearly shy; she lowered her head in embarrassment and ran away in a flash.

But when the man saw the two of them and the completely exposed lawn, a look of surprise flashed in his eyes.

He then gave Shinbara Shuichi a thumbs-up in admiration, grabbed his pants and ran off, shouting in a low voice as he ran, "Ah Hui! My belt is still around your neck!" He tripped and fell halfway down the road, but got up and kept running.

The sound gradually faded into the distance.

After a while, a suppressed laugh came from below.

She couldn't hold back any longer, and Suzuki Honami was laughing hysterically beneath her, while Kanbara Shuichi's lips curled up in a speechless yet amused smile.

The two laughed for a while, and then Suzuki Honami, her cheeks flushed, tapped his shoulder.

"Hey~ you little pervert, how long are you going to stay on top of me? I'm calling the police!"

Her voice was somewhat coquettish. Seeing her react like this for the first time, a smile flashed across Shinbara Hide's eyes, but he didn't get up. He teased, "You think you can get away with this? If I remember correctly, someone just told me to move out."

"!"

The topic returned to this point, and Suzuki Honami's eyes flickered with panic, but when she looked at Kanbaru Hideaki, she saw a searching emotion in his eyes. Her face flushed, and she said, seemingly both embarrassed and annoyed, "I...I was wrong, you brat, I won't say it again."

"That's more like it!"

To be honest, Honami Suzuki looked incredibly alluring at that moment, her face flushed with the rosy glow of alcohol, and her earrings sparkling in the dim light, making her face even more radiant and captivating.

Shinbara Hideki felt his heart race instantly. But just then, a beam of bright light shone from the side, almost blinding him.

"Hey! You're the perverted couple who were reported for having sex in the park, aren't you?!"

"Hands up!"

"Damn it! Japan's declining birthrate is all your fault!"

Shuichi Kanbara was utterly speechless. Amidst Honami Suzuki's silvery, drunken laughter, he scooped her up and then slipped away.

.

A dozen minutes later, at a 24-hour clinic near the community.

"It's just an old wound reopening, nothing serious. Just apply some antiseptic when you get back. Also, I understand that young people have high needs, but it would be better if you guys kept to yourself for a while."

"Yes... thank you, doctor."

They were mistaken for a living together couple!

Honami Suzuki blushed as she took the disinfectant from the nurse. But when she saw Shuichi Kanbara, who had lowered his shirt and was giving her a teasing smile, she put on a fierce auntie expression.

However, it was clear that this move was useless against Shuichi Kanbara.

"Then I'll ask Aunt Honami to take care of me when I get home."

Shuichi Kambara joked with a smile.

Not long has it been since he took down the West City Group. Although most of his wounds have healed, his left arm is still unable to bear weight, but it won't be fully healed so quickly.

In particular, the doctor is still instructing him to apply medication to the stab wound from his waist to his buttocks every now and then.

Therefore, he hasn't been exercising much during this period.

Unexpectedly, during the "escape" while carrying Honami Suzuki, the scabbed wound reopened, but it wasn't a major problem.

only...

Should I ask Honami to help me apply the medicine?

Shuichi Kambara raised an eyebrow slightly, a hint of anticipation in his heart.

.

A little while later, in the living room of the house, only one table lamp was turned on.

"Hey! You better watch yourself this time!!"

Shuichi Kanbara lay sprawled on the sofa, staring intently behind him. There was no other reason; that witch in that revealing nightgown was simply not cut out to be a nurse!

I used a still-dripping cotton swab to draw a huge circle on his wound!

That almost knocked him unconscious.

Honami Suzuki held a medicine bottle and cotton swabs soaked in medicine in her hands, a nervous yet slightly embarrassed smile on her face. "You...you shouldn't shout! The more you shout, the more nervous I get!"

"Forget it! Don't bother, I'll do it myself... Ah!"

Looking in the mirror, she saw the other person's hands trembling! Shūichi Kanbara panicked and rolled over, ready to do it himself. But as soon as she moved, Honami's hand trembled, and the medicine bottle... tilted.

It's like sulfuric acid being poured on meat!

The next moment, a pig-like scream rang out from inside the house, and the motion-sensor lights in the building across the street were turned on!

Shinbara Hideyuki instantly went straight!

My toes are all spread out and pointed!

Seeing this, Honami Suzuki was initially worried, but seeing his expression, she couldn't help but burst out laughing before the effects of the alcohol had completely worn off.

"What the hell? I don't know who's always saying they're as strong as a lion, but they're making such a fuss over a little medicine... Ah!" Before she could finish speaking, she was pulled onto the sofa by Shuichi Kanbara with a scream, and the two of them instantly started making a ruckus.

"Still laughing! Isn't it all your fault?! If it weren't for you, my wound wouldn't have reopened!!"

"What? You're just trying to annoy me. Would I have fallen on the flowerbed? If I hadn't fallen on the flowerbed, would I have gotten caught by security? Haha! Hey! Stop tickling me! You're cheating!"

"How dare you talk back! Haven't you done something wrong?!"

"No...oh no! I was wrong, I was wrong!"

"I'll let you off this time!"

"Hmph! You rude little brother!"

"kindness?!"

"Hey! Okay, okay, Shuichi is the best~ Go wash up quickly, you smell like medicine."

"That's more like it."

Shuichi Kambara released his grip, chuckled, and glared at her fiercely before getting up to go to the bathroom to treat the medicine—the wound was fine now, but he had poured a whole bottle of it, soaking his pants and smelling pungent.

Unbeknownst to him, Suzuki Honami, who was sitting up with the air conditioning blanket behind her, was watching his back with a sweet smile unconsciously curving her lips.

To be honest, because of her outstanding looks and temperament, she has had many men pursuing her since her ex-husband died, including several on television, but she hasn't been interested in any man for a long time.

Firstly, I genuinely didn't feel anything.

Secondly... people who have been single for a long time are like this—once they have their own habitual rhythm of life, they really don't want to be disturbed by others.

That's what she is.

Over the years, her life has always revolved around work. When she has time off, she either watches TV or reads books at home, or goes to the gym to exercise.

Of course, occasionally seeing couples or friends getting married and having children may evoke some envy and longing, but this feeling is usually quickly dispelled by rational thinking.

To put it bluntly, many adults who have been single for a long time have neither the energy nor the interest to accept someone into their lives, let alone spend the energy to understand someone and learn to get along with them.

This kind of thing can even feel more tiring than work.

But now she finds that she doesn't dislike spending time with Shuichi Kanbara at all; in fact, she quite enjoys it. And she's absolutely certain that this isn't due to the alcohol.

but...

"He's so much younger than me..."

Thinking of this, Honami Suzuki's delicate eyebrows furrowed slightly again, and the images of Keiko Matsuzaka and Rie Miyazawa, the beautiful girl who had been with Shuichi Kanbara tonight, subconsciously surfaced in her mind.

I have a bit of a headache.

She pouted her lower lip, then shook her head frantically, plopped back down on the sofa, and covered her face with a large pillow.

"Whatever! Whatever! Let's just take it one step at a time!"