I live my life in Tokyo

"Well, I've been to their house before. All five sisters of the Nakano family live together."

When Sakurajima Mai heard this, she immediately became concerned. She was not short of money. Although it sounded like she was showing off, it was the truth. Her daily expenses were just a little more than those of ordinary female high school students, and most of them were skin care products for maintenance and beauty. She even spent less on food than female high school students because she strictly controlled her diet and seldom went out to eat and drink. This was a qualitative difference from Sakakibara Kaede.

It would be a good idea to find a large tower that can accommodate multiple people and then share the rent.

She looked at Higuchi Madoka, who was slightly stunned, not knowing what Sakurajima Mai wanted to say. When she leaned over to her ear and whispered her plan, Higuchi Madoka pursed her lips.

She also thought this method was good, but she needed to discuss it with Asakura. Moreover, the more roommates there were, the cheaper the rent would be. However, sharing a room would make the management of the room chaotic. If they wanted to be fair, they could only imitate the work schedule drawn up by the production team of the Dream Apartment reality show, and everyone had to work according to the schedule.

Sakakibara Kaede paused, walked to a shop nearby, and looked at the window for a long time.

What caught his eye was an object called a glow clock. In a shop decorated in red and green Christmas style, there were rows of glow clocks in tube punk style. It was said that the clocks were made of glow tubes left over from the Soviet Union, and had a lot of Cold War style.

He naturally knew that there was a similar style device like the Glowing Clock in the anime "Steins;Gate". Sakakibara thought that this device was very cool, and it would be even better if the person receiving the gift was another two-dimensional being.

After wrapping the gifts with colorful ribbons, Sakakibara Kaede felt relaxed after completing his task. With some time left, he went to the shop next door and began to look at the strange little gadgets displayed on the shelves.

"Have you bought the presents, Sakakibara-san?"

"I've bought it. I think the other party will like the gift I received very much." Sakakibara Kaede smiled at Higuchi Madoka, "Have you decided what to buy, Higuchi-san?"

"this."

In the palm of her tender hand, there lay an old-looking coin that looked quite old, but this was just because the manufacturer had intentionally made the coin look old.

“Is this a commemorative coin?”

Higuchi Madoka did not answer. Instead, she gently pressed and turned a few switches on the coin. The originally small coin actually made a clicking sound of turning gears. The coin originally had a warrior holding a lamp, but now it turned into a machete.

"So it's a mechanical coin. It looks quite interesting. I suddenly want to buy one too."

Higuchi Madoka glanced at him and said, "Maybe you won it at the Christmas party?"

“That possibility is a little small.”

"Then I'll buy one for you." Higuchi Yuanxiang took back the step she was about to take, and blinked at the boy with her indifferent purple eyes, "Or do you think this Christmas gift is too cheap for you?"

"...I always believe that gifts are to bring smiles to people's faces."

"That's a statement. Are you Mr. Kamen Rider, Godai-kun?"

"Haha, but that's exactly what I meant. Gifts are meant to bring happiness to people. It doesn't have to be expensive. Sometimes, if the thought is there, the person receiving the gift will also feel it."

Higuchi Yuanxiang snorted, "Organization Coins and 100,000 yen, what do you choose?"

"Organization coin."

"Organization coin and a car, what do you choose?"

"Hiss... You are testing me." Sakakibara's lips moved for a moment, but he finally succumbed to reality. He raised his eyebrows and said openly, "It must be a car."

The corners of Higuchi Yuanxiang's mouth curled up slightly, then she glanced down and tried her best to hide the smile. She carefully selected on the shelf for a while, then walked to the checkout counter.

Sakakibara Kaede has experience in shopping with women. He had gone shopping with Sakurajima Mai before, and now it wouldn't make any difference if Kashima Yu and Higuchi Madoka were added as well. He just needed to faithfully play the role of the bag carrier.

While Higuchi Yuuka was paying the bill, Sakakibara sat aside and read the group chat on Line. After following the trend and posting a few repetitions, Sakakibara learned from Yuuki Koichiro that they would prepare for Christmas until the first month of next year. . . . He made it so clear because of the deadline, so that Sakakibara would not be unable to find him when he needed to.

I heard that they are going to celebrate the festival at their main home next year. Sakakibara Kaede clicked his tongue. Is this the value of being a rich young man?

Hearing Higuchi Madoka's footsteps, Sakakibara Kaede put down her phone.

"this..."

The girl was holding a chain with a small but finely crafted mechanical coin tied to it. Sakakibara Kaede took a closer look and found that the front of the coin was a prince facing left, holding a long sword in his hand, with lines stretching behind his head. He looked majestic and unrivaled in the world.

"Wow, that's cool. Is this the Christmas gift that Higuchi-san gave me?" Sakakibara Kaede asked with a smile.

Higuchi Madoka hesitated for a moment, nodded, and handed the coin to the boy.

After taking the coin, Kaede Sakakibara played with it in his hand. He found that the chain was indeed tied very well. He didn't know whether the store had tied it to the coin from the beginning or it was Higuchi Madoka's request. It could be worn directly around the neck, becoming a non-mainstream necklace.

Seeing that Sakakibara Kaede couldn't let go of the coins, Higuchi Madoka's originally slightly cold temperament softened a little. She turned sideways and looked at the two mechanical coins in her bag.

One is intended to be given as a gift at a Christmas party. It is engraved with a cat and a dog. The two animals are running around the front and back of the coin, which looks quite cute.

The front of the other one shows a princess looking to the right, also holding a sword in her hand, with sunlight lines spreading out from behind her head.

Higuchi Madoka pressed a few buttons with her fingers, and the long sword on the coin turned and turned into a bouquet of flowers.

Then she zipped up her bag.

"Where are they?"

"I just went upstairs to buy gifts."

"Then let's just stroll around?"

Higuchi Madoka accepted Sakakibara Kaede's suggestion. It was a rare opportunity for her to come out, so going home after buying the gifts seemed to be the most efficient option. She would have chosen to do so in the past, but at this moment, she found a reason to stay here with difficulty.

Kaede Sakakibara has little desire to buy when shopping. The most important thing is to enjoy the festive atmosphere. At this moment, there are no worries on people's faces, only longing for the festival. Such beauty makes Kaede Sakakibara stop for a long time.

He longed for such beauty... But he knew that such beauty could not be in his hands forever, and he needed to fight for it himself, or bring this beauty to the people around him.

"Where do you want to go in the future, Sakakibara-san?"

The boy was surprised. Higuchi Yuanxiang glanced at him and said calmly, "Asakura and I want to go to the beach in the future."

"So it's this future. I thought it was in the distant future."

"..."

"If I'm going to the beach soon, I'd like to go there, too." Sakakibara looked at the brilliant world outside the window, with a rare look of admiration on her face, as if she was recalling something from the past, a thing that had become a passing cloud of smoke. "Of course, I also like the cherry blossom rain in spring. Higuchi-san, do you know that when you walk in through the main gate of the University of Tokyo, you'll be greeted by cherry blossom petals falling like drizzling rain?"

"In summer, I want to go to Kamakura to see the sea, in autumn, I want to go to Kyoto to see the maple leaves, and in winter, I want to go to Hokkaido to soak in hot springs."

"There are so many places you want to go, Mr. Actor."

Sakakibara Kaede's face looked slightly bitter. According to his schedule, unless he wanted to take a break for a whole quarter, it would be impossible for him to go out for a long trip.

"Isn't the band going to shoot a MV? We can take this opportunity to suggest to Miss Nanakusa that we go to the beach." Higuchi Madoka suggested softly.

Sakakibara Kaede's eyes lit up, and he leaned on the railing with a smile, "This is a good idea."

Higuchi Madoka stared at the side of the face illuminated by the sun, and she suddenly felt that the boy in front of her... no, the young man, was so close to her. She mustered up the courage to step closer, but he did not take a step back.

It’s so gentle, like the warmth of a maple leaf brushing against your face in autumn.

Chapter 32 Gift

It started snowing on the way home. After saying goodbye to Sakurajima Mai and Kashima Yu who were still on the train, Sakakibara Kaede opened an umbrella and looked at Higuchi Madoka.

The latter did not bring it. Higuchi Yuanxiang searched in her bag for a while, but finally gave up. She forgot to bring an umbrella when she went out, and her mother did not remind her.

The station is neither too far nor too close from my home. It only takes about ten minutes to walk there in the light snow. But my hair will inevitably be wet when I get home.

"Let's go."

The umbrella was held up over her head.

"Ah."

Higuchi Madoka cleared her throat, came under the umbrella, and left the subway station side by side with Sakakibara Kaede.

She once heard Koito say that when a man and a woman share an umbrella, the relationship between them must be that of lovers.

"Tonight's dinner."

"Ah, I want to solve it myself, without bothering Aunt Higuchi and..."

"and?"

Higuchi Madoka instantly started the emperor engine. She blinked her purple eyes and took the opportunity to glance at Sakakibara Kaede beside her when her opponent was breathing heavily.

The young man sighed and then smiled. He had a meal at the Higuchi family in the cafeteria with Kasumigaoka Utaha. After her intentional or unintentional reminders, Sakakibara Kaede vaguely sensed the possibility that Higuchi Madoka was the cook.

He remembered that Higuchi Enka had a band-aid on her hand for a while. He probably didn't think much about it at the time, but Sakakibara Kaede was not a fool. Now he naturally knew why his bento went from having frequent mistakes in the beginning to being so delicious now.

"Nothing, I just wanted to thank you."

"I'm practicing my cooking skills because I'm going to move out." Higuchi Madoka looked straight ahead and said calmly, "Sakakibara-san is just my experimental subject."

Facing the setting sun, the two of them shut their mouths for a moment and squinted their eyes. The falling snow made the road sparkle. The way home seemed long and far, with no end.

"Higuchi-san, do you need me to help you with anything?"

"What do you mean?"

"Practicing my cooking skills has saved me a lot of money, and I want to thank Higuchi-san."

Higuchi Madoka gritted her teeth. At this moment, she felt the distance again - she sighed in her heart, knowing that Sakakibara-san had also approached her like this in the past, even though she always had a thorny back towards everyone.

"Will you and Uehara-san say thank you?"

"...I don't really know how to speak. What's wrong?"

“No need to say thank you between friends.”

Higuchi Madoka snorted awkwardly, and Sakakibara Kaede grinned.

"It turns out that Higuchi-san already considers me a friend. That's great. I thought Higuchi-san only cared about his family, childhood friends and other people."

Higuchi Madoka stared coldly at Sakakibara Kaede. The latter had not been treated like that for a long time. Not to mention, he even felt a little nostalgic.

She sighed softly, and mist came out of her mouth, turning into water vapor and dissipating.

"If anyone wants to say thank you, it's me."

It's just that the voice was too soft and Sakakibara Kaede didn't hear it.

It took a little longer than before for Sakakibara Kaede to send Higuchi Yuanxiang to her home. The girl smoothed her short burgundy hair and walked up the stairs in two or three steps.

She thought about it and saw that Sakakibara Kaede was still waiting outside the house, so she knew that he would not give her the gift until he saw her come in.

Higuchi Yuanka looked back and said, "Thank you for taking me home."

"Just on my way."

Through the fine snow, Sakakibara Kaede seemed to see a faint smile on the corner of Higuchi Madoka's mouth. This kind of smile was only seen in the TV dramas and movies she starred in. In her daily life, she rarely smiled.

Although Higuchi Enka said thank you, Sakakibara Kaede felt that she treated him as a friend - according to what the girl said just now, friends should not say thank you.

After walking along the road for another ten minutes, Kaede Sakakibara arrived at his rental house.

There was a trail of footprints in front of the mailbox. Seeing this, Kaede Sakakibara opened the mailbox and found a slightly thick letter inside.

He had no intention of waiting in the snow to see who was so sentimental and wrote to himself in this high-tech age. He automatically excluded Kei Iida and other office leaders and partners from his mind, as they would either contact him by phone or email.

After returning home and turning on the heater, Sakakibara Kaede took off his coat and hung it aside. He then sat cross-legged on the heater, feeling the heat from his back spreading throughout his body. He breathed a sigh of comfort, enjoying it.

He took the letter, weighed it, and frowned.

I have watched a lot of spy movies starring Kaede Sakakibara. Given the thickness of the bag, it is most likely that what is inside is not letters, but money.

As expected, the letter contained a thick stack of 10,000 yen in banknotes. Sakakibara Kaede frowned slightly, but when he saw the letter, he calmed his curiosity and opened it.

The letter was handwritten in Japanese, with a hint of liveliness between the lines, but the overall impression was one of neatness.

The owner of the letter is the Father.

Sakakibara Kaede scratched his temple. In his impression, the original owner's father had always been working away from home, doing overseas business and was even busier than Higuchi Madoka's father.

The letter was indeed sent by the original owner's father. There was a hint of guilt and a bit of pride between the lines. It was obvious that he had no idea where in the world he had heard of Sakakibara Kaede's name, and when he saw his face he immediately recognized that he was his son.

These yen were the living expenses he sent to Sakakibara Kaede, including the living expenses he had not received since he graduated from high school.

Was he trying to get a piece of the action after seeing his son become so famous, or was he simply feeling guilty as a father? Sakakibara believed it was the latter.

At the end of the letter, he said somewhat awkwardly that he had a new lover in Tokyo, who also came from a single-parent family with two daughters. If Sakakibara Kaede was willing, she could visit next time. This was the new home he had prepared for Sakakibara Kaede.

Sakakibara Kaede grinned, and as he smiled, the smile gradually faded. He looked towards the window beside him, maintaining his leaning posture.

"That's great, Sakakibara Kaede."

He said softly, with a hint of relief in his voice, "Father loves you and has prepared a new home for you."

There was no response, nor was there a setting in the fantasy novels that the original owner's unwilling soul was still living somewhere in his body. Sakakibara Kaede sat like this for a while, then stood up.

There were two addresses at the end of the letter. Sakakibara looked them up on the map and found that one was a house in a residential area and the other was a hospital.

Does the other person work in a hospital?

Sakakibara Kaede didn't know the answer. If his father had not contacted him before, he wouldn't feel any loss. He was just a person who took over the body and didn't belong to this world.

However, the arrival of this letter made him fall into a brief confusion. He sighed and decided to go and check out the situation of that family after filming Kamen Rider. It was unlikely that such a troublesome thing would happen to them living there, but it did not mean to cut off contact, after all, they were innocent.