Tokyo Tutor: Starting with My Ex-Girlfriend's Sister

Chapter 44: Beware of fire, theft, and best friends

The alarm clock woke Yamazaki Kazukazu, who was fast asleep in bed.

"Sleeping an extra hour compared to staying home, who says that's not sleeping in?"

During the summer holidays when I'm at home, I have to get up at six o'clock every morning to do chores.

I get 2,000 yen a week from my mom, and life is miserable.

Staying in Tokyo now means not only a higher salary, but also the ability to sleep in a little longer each day.

My parents' wish for me to be toughened up by Tokyo society is probably going to be dashed.

After washing up, Yamazaki Kaze packed his things and went to Inoue Keiko's house for breakfast.

"What happened to Keiko-neechan last night?"

Standing in front of the door, Yamazaki Kazukazu recalled what happened last night.

I call her my brother, but her behavior last night seemed a bit strange.

Yamazaki Kazuka could only think of one possibility: Inoue Keiko didn't realize last night that she was wearing a bra.

So, is he joking with himself?

If that's the case, she should have realized the problem after I left.

With a somewhat uneasy feeling, Yamazaki Kazuka entered Inoue Keiko's house.

Good morning, Yamazaki-kun.

The moment I entered, Keiko Inoue greeted me warmly.

On a summer morning, the warm sunlight streamed through the kitchen window and shone on her, making her eyes look like sparkling black pearls.

Seeing that Keiko Inoue was in good condition, Kazuka Yamazaki breathed a sigh of relief.

Good morning, Sister Huizi.

Since Sister Huizi doesn't care, I'll just pretend I didn't see anything last night.

"I just made some salt-fried salmon, have a taste."

Keiko Inoue served the dishes, and the two sat facing each other.

While Yamazaki Kazuka kept his head down and ate, Inoue Keiko remained silent and didn't pick up her chopsticks.

[What should I do? It's really impure for Hefeng to see the entire snow-capped mountain before we're even married.]

Although she outwardly appeared calm and composed, behaving like a mature and serene older sister, Keiko Inoue's heart was in turmoil.

On the way to Himeno's house, Keiko Inoue remembered something and quickly turned off the music in the car and switched to the radio.

"Sister Huizi, why are you suddenly interested in talk shows?"

"Wafu, didn't you hear me? The BBC is going to interview Ms. Himeno Natsuki, and it's being broadcast on Japanese radio stations."

These past few days, Yamazaki Kaze has been so busy with work that he is completely unaware of anything else.

"I just heard you talk about this."

When Keiko Inoue's radio show started, the interview was already halfway through.

Natsuki Himeno sat in the studio, answering questions from the host, guests, and the audience.

The host started the program with very conventional questions, such as his life experiences, artistic philosophy, his journey studying in Europe, and how he created the masterpiece worth 20 million euros.

If we stop here, the interview with Himeno Natsuki could be described as rather uneventful, even somewhat boring.

It wasn't until a guest asked a question that he introduced himself as an art critic.

"Ms. Hime, I've been following you since your junior high school years. It was your first time in Paris, and you were exhibiting your work at an art exhibition."

"I had high hopes for you then, but now I am utterly disappointed. Since coming to Europe, your art has made no progress, even though you have created fifteen paintings, many of which have sold for astronomical prices."

"But in my opinion, you're just going around in circles. Your work has no creativity anymore; it's just repetitive, mechanical labor."

"Especially that painting that sold for twenty million euros. Oh God, it's not worth that much at all. That work is worth at most twenty thousand euros."

After the critic finished speaking, the studio fell completely silent, as if the signal had been cut off.

Not to mention the audience at the scene, even the Japanese interpreter who was broadcasting the news was stunned for a moment before using tactful language to relay the critic's words to the public.

That's really going too far.

Although the Japanese audience heard a much gentler version than the original, Keiko Inoue still couldn't help but sigh.

Yamazaki Kaze, who can understand English, felt suffocated for Himeno Natsuki at this moment.

At this moment, the audience in the studio could hear each other's breathing, and everyone's eyes were on Himeno Natsuki.

Today, she wore a navy blue long dress, looking like an elven princess from an elven kingdom, exuding an air of elegance.

This allows people to admire her beauty in their hearts without harboring any evil thoughts.

Faced with the onslaught of critics, Himeno Natsuki calmly launched her counterattack with a faint smile on her face.

"Mr. Dalton, you are a renowned art critic in Europe. Thank you for still being willing to praise my painting at 20,000 euros. I can at least afford a classic meal at the fries shop by the Thames."

"Your predecessor criticized Van Gogh's paintings as worthless during his lifetime, causing him to fall into poverty."

"God help me, that my next work will be worthless in Mr. Dalton's eyes, and then I can become a great painter."

Himeno Natsuki's composed and assertive attitude, along with her powerful irony, earned her applause from everyone present except the critics.

"That's sophistry, Ms. Himeno Natsuki. You are a scribe now, not an artist."

The critic wanted to argue further, but was warned to shut up by the on-site director.

"Ms. Himeno Natsuki, let's ask a lighter question. What was the happiest time of your life?"

The answer to this overused question was already prepared for Himeno Natsuki's team.

As Himeno Natsuki prepared to recite her lines, a scene from her high school days—a vacation at the beach with Yamazaki Kazuka—suddenly flashed before her eyes.

"In high school, the school organized a study trip. We went to the beach, some people were wading in the waves, and some were sunbathing."

"There was a fool sleeping under a parasol. I walked up to him and stepped on his foot. When he woke up, he had my footprint on his face and chased me along the coastline for a long time."

Himeno Natsuki blurted out those words without thinking, tears welling in her eyes.

Is he your boyfriend?

The host's words instantly brought Himeno Natsuki back to her senses, and she held back her tears.

"No, we're just friends. I don't need love in my life!"

"Himeno Natsuki said righteously."

"Hey Kaze, what are you laughing at?"

As soon as Himeno Natsuki finished speaking, Yamazaki Kazuka couldn't help but laugh. This puzzled Inoue Keiko, who was standing to the side.

"It's nothing, I just heard some really funny jokes and couldn't help but laugh."

"Yes, Natsuki-san's rebuttal to that critic was really interesting."

After finishing the interview, Himeno Natsuki returned to the backstage dressing room. A large group of people, including her assistants and art agents, surrounded her.

"Ms. Hime, why didn't you answer according to the script that was prepared for you by the audience?"

"Why did that critic ask me questions outside of the script?!"

Himeno Natsuki said with a displeased expression.

The truth is the best policy. Himeno Natsuki understands that what the critic said is true, but she absolutely cannot admit it in public, and she must fight back fiercely.

After arriving in Europe, I lost my creative inspiration.

Who can blame them when their muse is in Japan?

"Ms. Hime, please calm down, but it's best to avoid saying things that could easily cause misunderstandings."

"I understand. Have you found the sushi chef I asked you to arrange?"

"It's all arranged, and the time is scheduled for next Sunday."

"Too slow, I want it next Saturday night."

"Saturday night? Ms. Himeno, you have an art exhibition during the day?"

"I want to eat sushi after the art exhibition ends, so arrange it for me right away."

"Yes."

This was a code word between her and her secretary; to prevent news of her return to Japan from leaking, the two used sushi to refer to the arrangements for her return to China.

A makeup artist was touching up her makeup; there was an artists' symposium tonight.

Bored, Himeno Natsuki picked up her phone, ready to contact her best friend Chiba Karen in Japan.

She is his cousin, and also the true eye he arranged to be by Yamazaki Kaze's side.

Both were students at the University of Tokyo. Himeno Natsuki asked Chiba Karen to keep an eye on Yamazaki Kazukaze and prevent the pests from getting close to him.

Himeno Natsuki called to ask if she knew why Yamazaki Kazuka came to the Himeno family as a tutor.

"Natsuki, why are you calling? I just watched your interview live."

"Let's not talk about that now, where are you right now?"

"I'm in Tokyo. Yamazaki Kazukazu has already returned to Hokkaido."

Upon hearing this, Himeno Natsuki knew that she hadn't been working seriously and immediately lost interest in chatting.

Are you sure?

"Hey, isn't that right? Doesn't he usually go back to his hometown around this time of year?"

"It's alright, you don't need to keep an eye on him for me this year."

"Nazuki!"

Before Chiba could say anything more, Himeno Natsuki hung up the phone.

"Eh, isn't Yamazaki-kun home?"

Chiba Karen, dressed in a bright green kimono, knelt in a hotel room.