I live my life in Tokyo

"I like it too." Asakura Toru smiled faintly.

"I want to give you a happy ending."

Happy New Year, fellow book lovers!

Chapter 10 Childhood Sweethearts

People on television go through life.

The protagonist in the movie has an approachable smile on his face. In the eyes of outsiders, he is a good man, as if nothing can make his smile disappear. In fact, he secretly sighs every day and night because of his mother's illness. He sits alone on the bench on the bridge, with his face buried in his hands, and no one can see him.

Although the theme of the film is the young relationship between men and women, Sakakibara Kaede focuses on things that set off the background of the characters.

After coming out of the hospital, he kept thinking about his physical father, no, it should be said that it was how his father and Miss Konno met.

He may have complained about the other party's irresponsibility before, but now it seems that he is relieved.

If he were in the father's position, he might make the same choice as the other party, but he would tell his son what he did, such as telling his son that he was working hard to make money for his mother's illness.

The misunderstanding has been cleared up.

What Sakakibara Feng was thinking about at this moment was the past, his father in his previous life, the taciturn but gentle father. He saw the protagonist's mother in the movie being pushed into the operating room, and the protagonist and his father waiting outside the operating room. Although their faces were calm, their nervousness could still be seen from their small movements.

However, movies are not as real and cruel as the real world. After anxious waiting, the mother's operation was successful and the family hugged each other.

People yearn for movies or animation because they are full of beauty, as if they are a dream world where characters come and go, and everyone has different ideals and ambitions.

The young man likes to watch daily life TV dramas and animations. He likes to see the days that seem like reality passing by one by one, as calm as water. People have their own difficulties and frustrations, but their faces are filled with sunny smiles.

The end of life is to return to ordinary.

"Here... water, I haven't drunk a sip."

After the movie ended, Toru Asakura handed the cup of water to Kaede Sakakibara. The originally slightly hot black tea had already gone cold. For the sake of the movie's effect, all the curtains were drawn, causing Kaede Sakakibara to be unable to judge the current time from the sky for a while.

He took the cup of water from Toru Asakura and took a sip.

"Thanks,"

"Sakakibara-senpai, what did you think of the movie?"

"The camerawork is a little awkward, and I can think of the ending halfway through the plot, but it's a veteran plot, and I feel very involved. Plus, the actors' acting is up to par, so if it's released, I might go watch it." Sakakibara Kaede thought to herself that she wanted to hear the actors' professional explanations, but after thinking for a moment, she tried to put in her own experience.

"Well...that's not it." Asakura Toru pouted. That wasn't the question she was asking.

Sakakibara Kaede thought for a moment and recalled what the girl said to her before watching the movie, that she wanted to give herself a Happy Ending. She couldn't help but smile. It turned out that she was asking about the ending.

"I really like this ending. After all the ups and downs, it all ends peacefully. Everyone gets redemption in the development and ending of the plot. The hero's choice to live with the two heroines is a highlight."

"Really? I like this ending."

Asakura Toru seemed to be lost in thought. She leaned on the sofa and stretched her body, revealing her slender curves. "Ah... I'm hungry."

"I want something to eat... Although I say this, I'm not good at cooking. If you're hungry, you can only order takeout."

"apple..."

"You still want to eat, I'll peel some for you."

"Ah."

Sakakibara Kaede chuckled. So this was what Asakura Toru meant. After getting along for a long time, he gradually began to understand Asakura Toru's words, just like Higuchi Madoka.

The girl opened the curtains. It was sunset outside the window. She opened her arms towards the Tokyo Bay outside the window and embraced the sunset freely.

She turned around, her eyes filled with incredible clarity, as if they were a piece of glass.

Through Asakura Toru's eyes, Sakakibara Kaede saw herself.

He put the cut apples on a plate, picked up a piece with a toothpick and put it in his mouth. He liked apples with a harder texture because they were chewy and he could hear the refreshing and crisp chewing sound in his mouth.

Apples are sweet.

Asakura Toru came to the periphery of the open kitchen, leaned over slightly, supported his hands on the bar, and opened his mouth to Sakakibara Kaede, "Ah——"

Kaede Sakakibara couldn't figure out what the girl meant for a while. After Toru Asakura puffed her lips at him, he suddenly realized what was going on and used a toothpick to pick up a piece of apple and put it into her mouth.

"Ah... it's really sweet."

Asakura Toru said while chewing.

The young man continued to put the fruit into his mouth with a toothpick. He had allocated this day off quite well. He went to the hospital to visit his stepmother and her family, and then watched a touching movie after returning home. It was really the best way to relax.

He seemed to feel like he had forgotten something.

"What about dinner?"

Toru Asakura raised this fatal question.

Sakakibara Kaede took a breath of cold air and looked at Asakura Toru, "How is Asakura-san's cooking?"

The girl looked away.

The young man nodded, "Well, it's okay to go out to a restaurant on the weekend."

"Oh... I didn't think of that!"

Asakura Toru felt like he had met a soulmate. A faint smile appeared on the corner of his mouth. He sat down at the bar, leaned next to Sakakibara Kaede, and began to wolf down the fruit.

When Higuchi Yuanxiang opened the door, she saw her childhood sweetheart and the man whispering in front of the bar. The parasol in her hand fell to the ground with a thud.

"what."

"what."

"Welcome home."

Sakakibara Kaede took a few steps forward and handed an apple on a toothpick to Higuchi Yuanxiang's face, "You've worked hard today, do you want to eat?"

"No."

Higuchi Madoka glared at Sakakibara Kaede.

The young man didn't know what happened to Higuchi Madoka at work today, so he automatically attributed her attitude to the fact that she was too deeply involved in the role and had not yet come out of it.

Seeing that Higuchi Madoka didn't eat the apple, Sakakibara Kaede stuffed the apple into her mouth, took the ladies' bag from Higuchi Madoka's shoulder and hung it aside.

Higuchi Madoka saw that Asakura Toru was just eating fruit in small bites, but now he started to wolf it down while Sakakibara Kaede was away. She slapped her forehead. She left in a hurry this morning and didn't tell Asakura Toru about lunch... It was as if she was Asakura's mother.

She took off her coat and handed it to Sakakibara Kaede, "So, how is the video shooting going, Sakakibara-senpai?"

The young man suddenly broke out in a cold sweat. He was completely immersed in the plot and ending of the movie and even forgot the original intention of coming here today.

The soul of the guitar lying across the sofa seemed to be crying.

Higuchi Yuuka knew the ending from Sakakibara Kaede's expression, so she washed her hands and face. She took the last piece of apple handed to her by Asakura Toru and put it in her mouth, frowning, "What did you do this afternoon?"

"I watched a movie."

Asakura Toru said in a low voice, his eyes drifting to the side.

"The movie is great, and I learned a lot of camera techniques from it. Now I have a good grasp of how to shoot my own music videos."

Higuchi Madoka seemed to believe it, but also seemed to be noncommittal. Asakura Toru looked at Sakakibara Kaede and mouthed the word "big liar".

She looked in the refrigerator and sure enough, there was nothing stored.

Sakakibara Kaede suggested: "Why don't we go downstairs and have a meal. After dinner, I'll record a video of me singing along to the guitar."

"I agree!" Asakura Toru shook his hand.

Higuchi Enka did not object.

Seeing that both of them agreed, Sakakibara Kaede took out his cell phone and sent a message to Yuuki Asuna, saying that he would eat outside and if she needed him to bring food, she should let him know.

It is a waste of time for a senior high school student who is immersed in study to cook and clean. He has been in a mess in the past, but he met a very good person who allowed him to eat Chinese bento for a whole winter.

When the three of them entered the elevator, Yuuki Asuna received a reply. The other party replied with a thank you and a cartoon emoticon of a little rabbit sending a loving heart.

Sakakibara Kaede smiled and put the phone back into his pocket.

Higuchi Madoka, who was secretly peeking at the screen behind him, withdrew her gaze. She had heard from Sakurajima Mai before that Sakakibara Kaede was now living with a brother and sister, and she did not know the girl's information yet.

Mai Sakurajima also said that she would move in and monitor Kaede Sakakibara after her brother moved out.

There are many high-end hotels and restaurants near the central area. Higuchi Yuanka pulled back Asakura Toru, who was nodding thoughtfully while looking at the menu. The latter was just looking at the menu of the Starlight revolving restaurant on the rooftop.

This seemed to be the restaurant that Higuchi Enka had dreamed of, but regardless of whether the three of them could afford to eat there, first of all, no one would enjoy a candlelight dinner in casual clothes.

After many twists and turns, they finally found a family restaurant. After the three of them sat down, they each ordered a set meal. Sakakibara Kaede did not forget to order a set meal for Yuuki Asuna to take away.

"When will Sakakibara-senpai go to Yokohama?"

"Hmm?" Sakakibara Kaede heard Higuchi Madoka's answer and said it without thinking, "There's about a month left. By then, the agency will transfer a group of people to Yokohama to participate in the concert. Let's first decide on the songs we will sing, and then get familiar with the venue."

"My next job location will be in Yokohama." Higuchi Madoka took a sip of lemonade.

"Okay, okay, let's go out and play when we're free."

Sakakibara Kaede said with a smile.

Higuchi Madoka seemed very satisfied with the young man's answer. She thought for a moment and then said, "The CD will be released next week. I heard from Miss Nanakusa that your band will also have a signing event."

Asakura Toru hummed loudly, "Handshake meeting?"

"It should be of the same nature as last year's summer idol festival fes."

Sakakibara Kaede said uncertainly that he still needed to ask Miss Nanakusa about these things once more.

The food came quickly, and the young man couldn't help feeling a little touched as he ate new and exotic dishes that he hadn't tasted for a long time.

It had been a few days since he last ate out, and his taste buds had gradually changed from a year's Higuchi family mode to a Yuki family mode. In this situation, eating out was like a new adventure, with tears and touching moments.

Of course, it doesn't mean that he doesn't appreciate the meals that Mrs. Higuchi and Madoka Higuchi worked so hard to prepare. After eating the same flavor for too long, it would be fresh to try something different occasionally.

"What time did you sleep today? Did you miss the message I left for you?"

"Ah... I was half asleep... I'll change my clothes when I get home tonight to shoot the video."

"Wait, do you mean you want to be on camera too?"

"Hey."

With a smile on her face, Sakakibara Kaede listened to the conversation between her childhood sweethearts. Asakura Toru was usually the one who let himself go, and Higuchi Madoka's role was to pull Toru back from the brink.

The three of them were dining together and the default arrangement was to go Dutch, but Asakura Toru didn't bring her wallet, so Higuchi Madoka paid for her out of habit. Wait, why was she already used to it?

Sakakibara Kaede went home first, said hello to her two cats and put the meal on the table. Yuuki Asuna's room was still closed, so the young man did not go in to disturb her. He left a note on the table and left.

He changed his clothes as requested by Higuchi Madoka. Since the video had to be shot full body, the clothes also needed to be coordinated.

As the photographer, Higuchi Madoka fixed her phone on a mount, looked up at what Kaede Sakakibara was wearing, and took a few steps forward to straighten the young man's collar.

After plugging the electric guitar into the speaker, Sakakibara Kaede sat on the round chair with his feet crossed.

"Do you want to introduce yourself?"

"Ms. Nanakusa told me that I only need to record the song, but I still need to say hello beforehand."

Asakura Toru stood aside licking a popsicle, while Higuchi Madoka leaned over and pressed the record button, while she made a gesture to Sakakibara Kaede.

"Hello everyone, I'm Kaede Sakakibara, the lead singer and guitarist of the World Shining Band."

The young man smiled at the camera of his mobile phone. At this moment, his body seemed to be covered with a layer of light, shining like stars - this might be due to the change in his aura.

He transformed himself from an approachable senior to a band singer who made fans praise him crazily.

It is extremely beautiful to shine on the stage.

Higuchi Madoka silently pressed her chest. She felt that the young man at this moment was somewhat distant and seemed out of reach.

She had felt this kind of distance when she had just become an idol. The gap between her and other idols in the agency was as huge as heaven and earth. She thought so at that time, and she gave up on herself and thought that she would be like other unknown idols and gradually be forgotten by the world.

But the result was unexpected, she became famous.

Higuchi Yuanka believes that the result this time will also be unexpected.

"Another day, another life~"

After introducing themselves, the young man went straight into the singing part. As the strings of the electric guitar vibrated, the breathing of Higuchi Madoka and Asakura Toru seemed to disappear. They held their breath and listened quietly to Sakakibara Kaede's song as bystanders rather than fans.

Although there were no drum beats or the low consonants of the bass, the performance still seemed flawless.

When the song ended, just as Higuchi Madoka was about to say something, Asakura Toru came forward with a smile and asked for her autograph.