I live my life in Tokyo

"This place is more suitable for grandma to live here than for me."

The girl looked out the window at the cluster of houses and pursed her lips. "Grandma feels good about this community. She said she has found a companion to go out for a walk with."

"Ha... Grandma is really energetic."

Chizuru Ichinose chuckled when she heard this, but she couldn't help feeling a little lonely in her heart. She had been looking forward to becoming neighbors with the young man and to getting closer to him, but she didn't expect that he was going to move away.

But she can understand this. People always strive to move forward. She will not complain about the world, but will just work hard silently.

"Here, you haven't had lunch yet."

The young man took the luxurious bento box handed over by Chizuru Ichinose. She took out her own lunch box from her bag and gave a portion of chopsticks to Kaede Sakakibara. "My grandma and I made this together. We stewed the pork rib soup in it for a long time. It should taste good."

"Hiss... This meat is so tender, the flesh and bones separate smoothly, the meat shakes three times when you slap the table... Ichinose-san..."

Ichinose Chizuru laughed awkwardly after being praised.

"——I remember that Aoyama-san cooked this dish for us. Could it be that Ichinose-san can perfectly recreate this dish after eating it once?" Sakakibara Kaede opened her eyes wide in surprise. "With such a talent, he will be able to kill people in Totsuki Academy!"

Ichinose Chizuru's face suddenly darkened, and she changed her previous cheerful expression. Now she gritted her teeth and said, "Aoyama-san taught me this when he came to visit me last time."

After the show, she and several other sisters kept in touch and went out for dinner when they had time.

The young man smiled and began to taste Chizuru Ichinose's cooking.

He found that the female friends he knew seemed to be able to cook. Sakurajima Mai knew more dishes, Higuchi Enka cooked the Higuchi family's Japanese cuisine, and Yuuki Asuna was said to be able to cook some high-end Japanese food - this was what he heard from Yuuki Koichiro.

He highly recognizes Chizuru Ichinose's cooking skills. Having lived under the same roof for such a long time, he has tried all kinds of cuisines.

"Ah, I have to leave after I finish eating. I have an audition for a new play in the afternoon." Chizuru Ichinose glanced at her phone and gracefully showed her phone screen to Kaede Sakakibara. What she saw was an email notification from Kei Iida. Kaede Sakakibara looked at it seriously for a few seconds and returned the phone to Chizuru Ichinose.

"It's a daughter-type role in an urban life. This kind of role seems a bit difficult to play."

"I also feel that it is very difficult to show such normal affection towards parents to strangers."

Ichinose Chizuru pushed up her glasses and frowned in thought.

"This is a new subject for me, I will find a way to solve it myself."

"Ah."

Seeing that Chizuru Ichinose wanted to solve this problem on her own, Sakakibara Kaede did not continue to ask.

The next moment, Chizuru Ichinose leaned on Kaede Sakakibara's shoulder and said to herself, "Is this the feeling of relying on your father?"

"I think this is more like the reliance between friends." Sakakibara Kaede was slightly startled by Chizuru Ichinose's sudden action, but he quickly calmed down and cooperated with Chizuru Ichinose to play this scene. "Well, your father's words seem to carry a bit of a spoiled tone, right?"

Kaede Sakakibara and Chizuru Ichinose looked at each other. The young man's only memory of his father was from his previous life, when he was a taciturn middle-aged man. He and his father were not as close as he had imagined. Instead, they were like two men, who incorporated family affection into every move of their daily lives. Perhaps his experience was not suitable for the current subject matter of Chizuru Ichinose.

As for Chizuru Ichinose, she has lived with her grandparents since she can remember, and there has never been a father figure in her life.

"Being coquettish... like this?"

Chizuru Ichinose tried to rest her head on Kaede Sakakibara's shoulder, with her long black hair hanging down and her eyes raised to look directly at the young man.

“I feel like this is more like a couple.” The young man scratched his head.

"Yeah."

"--you."

The imaginary space that the two people created for themselves was broken. Higuchi Madoka and Asakura Toru stood in front of the door, one in front and one behind. The former had an incredulous look in her eyes, and Asakura Toru wanted to imitate the character in the movie and whistle coolly, but she failed. All that came out was a whistling sound.

“Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh—”

Chizuru Ichinose was like a broken machine, speaking incomprehensible and awkward language. She sat at the table with a hot face, as if... broken.

"So, what's going on, Sakakibara-san?" Higuchi Yuuka pointed to the new shoes she was wearing today, twisting her toes slightly, and asked with a frown.

Sakakibara Kaede blinked, he seemed to find this sentence a bit like déjà vu.

After the explanation, Higuchi Madoka seemed to calm down, and Asakura Toru let out a long sigh, "So that's how it is."

"Why are Higuchi-san and Asakura-san here?"

"Mom is worried. Go home and get something to eat." Higuchi Madoka said silently. Mrs. Higuchi was always worried about letting her live outside. Even though she and Asakura Toru shared the house, she was still a little worried that she would be hungry or kick off the quilt when she slept at night and get cold - as if Higuchi Madoka was still a babbling child, and Mrs. Higuchi was worried about everything.

Mrs. Asakura was also worried.

"My mother, Aunt Asakura and I will go to the apartment later. Where is Sakakibara-senpai?"

Sakakibara Kaede glanced at Higuchi Madoka and laughed.

"What are you doing?" Higuchi Madoka glared at him coldly.

"It's rare to be called senior by Higuchi-san. Hmm, do I have to call you Higuchi-san from now on?"

Higuchi Madoka opened her mouth. In her heart, she wanted to scream out an answer, but her throat was blocked and she couldn't utter it. Besides, Asakura Toru and Ichinose Chizuru were also present. Shouldn't this topic be discussed during the candlelight dinner?

Like the candlelight dinner I dreamed of that night.

"I have an appointment with a senior this afternoon, and I will be home before dinner." Sakakibara Kaede spoke like a husband who told his wife something before going out. Higuchi Madoka thought of this for some reason, and her face became even colder.

"Got it. I'll save some food for you."

Toru Asakura watched the two actors' simulation of husband and wife with curiosity and was surprised to find it quite suitable.

"Ah... Sakakibara-san, please come to the welcome party tonight."

"Welcome party?"

"It was Mom and Aunt Asakura who cooked to congratulate me and Asakura for living independently. It wasn't a party." Higuchi Yuanxiang glanced at Asakura Toru and brought her back on track. She nodded to Sakakibara Kaede, "I understand. I'll tell Mom. I'll cook more for Sakakibara-senpai tonight."

The young man nodded in thanks.

The three people's eyes moved to Chizuru Ichinose, whose brain had been shut down for a long time. She felt the gazes of the three people and gradually came to her senses: "Ah-ah, what happened?"

The young man saw her bangs hanging down and covering her eyes, "Let's talk about dinner. When does your audition start this afternoon, Ichinose-san?"

The girl glanced at the clock on her phone, "Ah! Sorry, I have to go."

Before leaving, she did not forget to put away the lunch boxes that the two had finished eating. She bowed deeply to Higuchi Madoka and Asakura Toru in front of the door, and left as if she was escaping.

"What happened to Ichinose-san? What's going on?" The young man was confused.

Asakura Toru agreed with Sakakibara Kaede's point of view, "Well, I've experienced this many times, being late for an audition—"

Higuchi Madoka looked helplessly at the out-of-touch young man and her childhood sweetheart. Now she seemed to have gotten used to this scene and was no longer surprised.

"Is the senior you are meeting a boy?"

"...Senior, there are girls too?" Sakakibara Kaede looked at Higuchi Madoka in silence with a serious attitude, took off her coat on the back of the chair and put it on. At this time, the movers' truck was ready to go. They planned to have a meal and then deliver it directly to the new address in the afternoon.

"Who knows? After all, he's Sakakibara-senpai. Everything is possible." Higuchi Yuanxiang snorted and reluctantly stepped forward. As if she was holding back something, she pulled the crooked collar for the young man and said, "See you tonight."

"Well, thank you."

The young man smiled at Higuchi Enka.

The three of them parted at the intersection, and Higuchi Yuanka felt Asakura Toru's curious gaze.

"what happened?"

"Higuchi, are you interested in Sakakibara-san?"

"What about you?"

Higuchi Madoka avoided the question and asked Asakura Toru instead. She served as Asakura Toru's translator in daily life, but at this time she had no idea what Asakura Toru thought of Sakakibara Kaede.

"Well, it's like watching a wonderful movie."

Higuchi Madoka didn't understand. When she saw Asakura Toru having a mysterious smile on his face, she turned around and remained silent.

"How about some cake on the way home?"

"Did you bring your wallet?"

"..."

Kaede Sakakibara's usual activities are mostly in Bunkyo-ku, but she also goes to Ginza quite a lot, most of which are closely related to RECT.

In the distance, on an electronic billboard hanging outside an office building was a magnificent concept map. As sword lights and monsters appeared and intertwined, the Sword Art Online logo slowly emerged.

The game has only been out for two months, but it has already become a hotly discussed topic among most high school students and a game they play online after school. The brand new world, the grand world view, the exquisite modeling, the mature UI style, everything makes players feel the surprise of discovering a treasure.

Although electronic versions are still available for purchase and download online, purchasing a hard drive offline not only allows you to obtain the official initial settings set, but also allows you to receive rewards for offline purchases in the game - although it is just a set of potions, it is worth a little money in the game.

Two days before the server was launched, all the major offline game stores in Tokyo were packed with MMO players who rushed in after hearing the news. Many sales targets had been achieved before the server was even launched. Although they had expected this, they were still shocked to see it actually happening before their eyes.

"Yo."

Koichiro Yuki appeared next to Kaede Sakakibara who was staring at the billboard in a daze, patted him on the shoulder, and looked at the advertisement like him.

“It’s quite shocking.”

"Ah."

"In fact, I think so too. Our mission has just begun."

After not seeing Koichiro Yuki for a while, he seems to be more mature. After graduating from the University of Tokyo, he has devoted all his energy to RECT. He is not only the nominal founder of Sword Art Online, he also needs to be familiar with other departments of RECT. In the future, he needs to inherit not only the software department, but the entire company.

"I heard that you finished filming a while ago and started recording songs. When will the new song be released?"

"It's probably the end of April, only a few days left."

"What about the concert?"

Sakakibara glanced at Yuuki Koichiro and shrugged. "Please, I see people leaving messages on your band's official account every day asking you to hold a concert. You're so popular now, so it's reasonable for you to hold a concert now."

Indeed, it makes good business sense to think this way.

"I don't know the exact location, but it should be somewhere between Yokohama and Tokyo." The young man stretched and said, "By the way, what is it that you wanted to talk to me about today, Yuuki-senpai? Is it about work?"

"No, I have a favor to ask of you."

"what's going on?"

“Does the house you’re renting have any vacant rooms?”

Sakakibara Kaede raised an eyebrow, "Yes."

"Asuna and I are officially starting our independent lives. Is it convenient for us to move in?"

Chapter 2 I am not Zhao Yun, but Lu Bu

"Hehehe, you are worthy of being Junior Sakakibara. The location of this house is just what I want—"

Koichiro Yuki was carrying two suitcases, pushing his glasses without prescription, looking at the two towering buildings not far in front of him whose lower halves were connected together and reaching into the sky, and he laughed happily and complacently.

"It's 2.2 kilometers from Ginza, at the intersection of the central Tokyo area and the Bayside area. It's a 52-story twin tower. This STARS agency has something special." Yuuki Koichiro said, "If you want to get this house... it's hard to say what the agency's background is."

"Sakakibara-san, what do you think?"

The young man was carrying a backpack, holding a cute sports bag that looked like a high school girl's hiking bag, and pulling a suitcase. Hearing this, he curled his lips and said, "The firm is not short of money."

"I can see that." Yuki Koichiro sneered, looking up and down at Sakakibara Kaede's body, "I am a little surprised by your physical strength."

"Don't underestimate Kamen Rider Kora!"

The chestnut-haired girl whispered behind the two immature men, "Arnold, Sakakibara-senpai doesn't actually have to help me with my luggage."

"Do you understand the dormitory culture of college students?" Sakakibara Kaede frowned. Although Yuuki Asuna was not a college student, but just a senior high school student, "When you step into the university campus, you must be careful of those male college students who are as ferocious as wolves and tigers. They will rush forward and scramble to carry your bag. Do you think they want to help you? Wrong! They just want your mobile phone number!"

Sakakibara Kaede spoke earnestly to the ignorant Yuuki Asuna about the dangers of society, her tone heavy.

Koichiro Yuki raised his eyebrows and said, "Aren't you talking about yourself?"

"It's okay. If you're tired, I'll help Asuna." Yuki Koichiro rolled up his sleeves and was about to step forward to share the burden with the young man, but the latter looked at him coldly and took a half step back.

"What do you mean?" The senior raised his finger and shouted angrily, "Are you trying to destroy my image as a brother in front of Asuna? As a brother, you should protect your sister from all the storms - including carrying bags."

"Didn't you just mention it? You're as tired as that dog." Sakakibara Kaede curled his lips.

"Damn it, things change over time. I'm going to go to the gym right now to exercise. Just wait. Three years from now—"

Asuna Yuuki was speechless watching the two elementary school students bickering with each other. What she felt was the other side of Sakakibara-senpai that she had never seen before.

The young man and Koichiro Yuki talked a lot about life besides work when they had a cup of coffee in the cafe three hours ago.

He had already decided to move out and live alone, and had even found a house. This was necessary for him to develop independence.

As for why Yuuki Asuna moved out, as the eldest brother, he thought that his sister took a lot of time to commute to and from school every day, and was often pressured by their mother at home - these were Yuuki Koichiro's original words. He thought that his mother was good in other aspects, but she put too much pressure on her children.

He had been through it before, and those memories of high school were something he never wanted to recall again.