Tokyo, 1991: Starting as a bank clerk

Chapter 185 Unexpected Love [Seeking Monthly Tickets]

Mizuna Yayoi took a deep breath and gripped the microphone tightly.

「から伝えればいいのか————

(I don't know where to begin. ————)

Her voice wasn't loud, even a little soft, but every note was precise, carrying a clear and soft quality, like the early summer breeze passing through a bamboo forest.

Kiryu Yaya turned his head slightly and glanced at her.

She stood in front of the microphone, leaning slightly forward, her eyes half-closed, singing with great passion:

The time is divided and the time is flowing れて————

(Time is passing by silently —)

When she sang this line, there was a hint of melancholy in her voice.

"Floating and clearing of the sun————

ありふれた言叶だけ————

(The words that welled up in my heart vanished in an instant, leaving only ordinary phrases)

The interlude flowed gently by.

Mizuna Yayoi put down the microphone and glanced at Yaya Kiryu.

Without hesitation, Kiryu Yaya picked up the microphone the instant the interlude ended and continued with the next section.

Having spent over a decade in the banking industry in his previous life, he had also worked his way up in the world of KTVs.

So when he spoke, Kenta Sasaki's eyes widened.

Not a buddy?

You sing so well?

Kiryu Yaya tapped the beat with her fingers: "kun があんまり苏 enemy だから————

ただ素真に好きと语えないで————

(Because you are too wonderful, I cannot honestly express my love for you.)

Mizuna Yayoi gently closed her eyes.

Kiryu-kun's voice is deep and gentle, carrying a reassuring power.

Arima Kishou adjusted his glasses, unusually refraining from his sharp tongue, and simply listened quietly.

Kenta Sasaki stared with his mouth agape, looking like he was wondering, "What can't this guy do?"

「もうすぐ雨もstopんで二人たそがれ————

(Perhaps the rain will stop soon, and we can enjoy the twilight together.)

In the duet, the voices overlapped.

「あの日あの时あの地で————

「Kunakai Yukiえなかったら——

(That day, that moment, that place — if we had never met —)

One is clear and soft, the other is deep and gentle, like two streams that converge in some unknown valley and then flow together to a more distant place.

When Mizuna Yayoi sang this part, she suddenly remembered the day and the moment she met Kiryu-kun at the elevator entrance.

Her voice trembled slightly, but she quickly regained her composure, and a faint smile involuntarily appeared on her lips.

"The servants are waiting for you to see and know the two of them -"

(We may remain strangers forever)

This sentence is placed here as a hypothetical scenario, yet also as a source of relief.

Thankfully, it's not like the lyrics describe; thankfully, they're standing here right now, singing this song.

When she sang the second verse, Mizuna Yayoi's voice had a bit more courage than before.

"Who is it?

もう心揺れたりしないで————

(Don't let anyone's sweet words make your heart flutter again —)

As she sang this part, her eyes suddenly opened, as if she had mustered some courage, and she gently turned her head to look at Kiryu Yaya.

Eyes facing each other.

Kiryu Yaya withdrew his gaze and continued the music when the interlude ended.

"It's cut and dried————

「心は悌ない————」

(Even though it's bitter, please don't bind my heart like this anymore.)

Then the chorus starts again.

This time, their voices were even more in sync than before, as if they were communicating through song, or as if they were confirming something through song.

君のために Wingになる————”

「Kimi Yusukeをshouりっづける————

やわらかく君をつつむ————

"あの风になる————"

(I wish I could become your wings, always protecting you — I wish I could become your gentle breeze, softly surrounding you —)

Kenta Sasaki sat on the sofa, his hands supporting his chin, his eyes shining with a "I've hit the jackpot" kind of light.

He lowered his voice and said to Arima Kishou, "Arima, look at them."

Arima Kishou, holding his iced lemon tea, glanced at the two people on the stage and nodded slightly, unusually not refuting Sasaki: "I saw it."

"Don't you think they're a perfect match?"

Arima Kishou did not answer the question, but simply put down his teacup and said, "You sang quite well."

Kenta Sasaki glanced at him, gleaned something from his expressionless face, and then smiled.

He didn't ask any further questions, but simply continued to rest his chin on his hand, looking at the two people on the stage with a motherly smile on his lips.

He watched Kiryu and Yayoi grow up.

No, wait, why does it sound a bit sad?

The song is coming to an end.

"Kun をつつむあの风になる————"

(I want to hold you like the wind)

Mizuna Yayoi's voice was as light as the last breeze of spring, so gentle it almost melted into the air.

As she sang this line, her gaze remained fixed on Kiryu Yaya's profile, never looking away.

Kiryu Yaya picked up the microphone and finished the last sentence.

「あの日あの时あの地で————”

(On that day, at that time, in that place)

The last note slowly dissipated into the air.

Mizuna Yayoi put down the microphone, the redness on the tips of her ears still lingering.

She lowered her head, her fingers rubbing the microphone handle, as if she didn't know how to face the silence that followed.

"Good! Good! Good!"

Kenta Sasaki was the first to clap, and the applause was particularly loud in the booth area, attracting the attention of several other tables.

"Amazing! How can you sing so well? Although you're still a bit behind me, you definitely have the talent to debut!"

Arima Kishou glanced at him and said indifferently, "Disgraceful."

Kenta Sasaki's smile froze on his face as he turned to glare at Kishou Arima: "How am I embarrassing myself? I'm praising you! Genuinely praising you!"

"When you praise someone, could you please refrain from simultaneously elevating yourself?"

"What's wrong with me praising myself? I sang pretty well!"

Arima Kishou picked up his iced lemon tea, took a sip with a blank expression, and said, "Heh, not bad."

"you--!"

Kenta Sasaki took a deep breath and decided to stop arguing with Kishou Arima.

He turned to look at Kiryu Yaya and Yayoi Mizuna, his expression instantly shifting from indignation to a doting smile: "You two, how about one more song?"

Yayoi Mina quickly waved her hand, the redness on her ears still lingering: "N-no need—my throat's a little tired—"

"Then let's take a break."

Kiryu Yaya put the microphone back on the table, his gaze falling on the gradually setting sun outside the window.

Evening came earlier than expected in Niikyogoku.

"What time is it?"

Kenta Sasaki asked.

Arima Kishou glanced at his watch: "5:20."

Kenta Sasaki jumped up from the sofa, looking shocked: "How long have we been singing? It feels like we've only just begun!"

"You sang by yourself for an hour and a half."

Kenta Sasaki opened his mouth as if to refute, but upon closer inspection, it seemed to be true.

He coughed lightly, casually changing the subject: "So—where to next?"

"Let's eat."

Kiryu Yaya put down his teacup and looked out the window: "There are many restaurants in Shinkyogoku. Let's find a place to have dinner and then go back to Osaka."

"Agreed!"

Kenta Sasaki was the first to raise his hand: "I know a great tonkatsu (fried pork cutlet) place in Hankyu Sanbangai, it's really good value for money!"

Arima Kishou glanced at him: "You seem to know Niikyogoku quite well?"

Sasaki chuckled, "Of course! My grandma's house is in Kyoto, I could walk around Shinkyogoku with my eyes closed!"