I live my life in Tokyo

"Yes, it is at the corner of his mouth."

Sakakibara Kaede reminded them with a smile. He did not stay in front of the two of them for long as they still had the task of patrolling.

"Hmm... it reminds me of that summer."

"Which summer?"

"Really...really! What other summer will there be!"

Chizuru Ichinose, who was originally romantic, was once again broken by Kaede Sakakibara's stupidity. She punched his shoulder with her little fist in annoyance. When she looked at Kaede Sakakibara with a slightly red face and saw a little smile in his eyes, she was suddenly stunned, "You, you did it on purpose."

"Well, I felt that your reaction was a little funny, so I couldn't help it..." Sakakibara Kaede coughed and explained. Teasing Chizuru Ichinose's reaction is indeed very similar to teasing a cat.

Moreover, Chizuru Ichinose's personality is very close to the tsundere attribute in the two-dimensional world. As a man who is so familiar with the two-dimensional world, he naturally grasps it fiercely.

"Miss what?"

Seeing that the four childhood friends had gone a little far away, Sakakibara Kaede smiled from the side and answered his own question, "Did you know that Shirogane-san went abroad?"

"Eh? Really?" Chizuru Ichinose was stunned.

The six of them had a group chat in Dream Apartment, but they didn't chat very often. Most of the time, the girls shared video links or discussed where to have dinner together next time. Sakakibara Kaede and Shirogane Miyuki seemed to be invisible.

Among the remaining girls, Chizuru Ichinose gets along best with Nanami Aoyama and Furuno Furuno.

"He left last year and went to the United States." Sakakibara Kaede smiled and looked up and said, "Shirogane-san has fulfilled his dream of being under the stars. I have nothing but blessings in my heart."

"We are still in touch until now."

The young man shrugged and said, the two of them stopped in front of the stall, and the uncle at the stall hurriedly squinted and smiled to greet them. Kaede Sakakibara saw that what was sold here were the fragrant roasted squid tentacles, he glanced at Chizuru Ichinose, and the girl also looked at him at this time, their eyes met, and they nodded at the same time.

"Welcome back next time. You two are a couple, right? The combination is a perfect match." The uncle put the squid tentacles into the food box and handed them to the two with a smile. His voice was warm and rough.

"No..."

"Thank you."

Sakakibara Kaede nodded and smiled, then pulled Chizuru Ichinose who was standing still, and the two of them set out on the road again.

Chizuru Ichinose opened and closed the Masked Man's mouth, and her eyes were a little confused. Senior Feng didn't explain, didn't explain, explain, explain--

"It's a misunderstanding, so what? Anyway, we were both wearing masks, so he couldn't recognize us." Sakakibara stuffed a portion of squid tentacles into Chizuru Ichinose's hands. "People of their generation like to bring young people together. The high school student who just passed by was also teased by them."

Ichinose Chizuru was silent for a moment, then lightly punched Sakakibara Kaede on the shoulder again.

Tsundere, tsundere. Chizuru Ichinose doesn't want to be arrogant in front of Sakakibara Kaede, so the only thing left is coquettishness.

Sakakibara Kaede smiled. He had not finished talking about the previous topic. He and Shirogane Miyuki were having a very happy chat. Maybe they would start a business together in the future, but it was still an unknown now. After all, who could know the future?

"I feel like Senior Feng is so close to me now."

"Ah, then I'll stay away."

"Really...really, Senior Feng, do you have zero emotional intelligence?!"

Chizuru Ichinose exploded again. She glared at Kaede Sakakibara, and after seeing the amusement in the latter's eyes, she could no longer hold back. This was the second time.

"Little one, be careful or I won't pay attention to you!"

Chizuru Ichinose pouted, lowered her head with a blushing face, and deliberately took a few steps away from Kaede Sakakibara.

Sakakibara Kaede smiled. He noticed that Chizuru Ichinose walked out a few steps... and then walked back a few steps, forming an arrow shape with her steps.

"Do you mean close in terms of distance?"

"Well... there's also a distance in our hearts." The girl chuckled as if she was talking about family matters, "Because I'm different from Mai-san, Madoka-san, Tou-san, and Asuna-san. In daily life, the only possibility for me and Kaede-senpai to meet is in the office."

"It feels like I've been living together with Feng-senpai in Kyoto for less than two weeks, and it feels like we're back to last summer when we lived under the same roof."

"Chizuru-san, where do you want to move to in the future?"

"Where...are you referring to?"

Sakakibara smiled as he watched Chizuru Ichinose pull down her mask and stuff squid tentacles into her mouth. The young man knew that Chizuru Ichinose was very sensitive to the housing prices in Tokyo. She had been paying attention to this because of her grandmother's health and also because she worked part-time to save money.

As Chizuru Ichinose's work gradually got on track, no, it should be said that she had already gotten on track, Chizuru Ichinose's current salary is enough to rent a better house than the small detached house where Kaede Sakakibara lived in Bunkyo-ku at that time.

"I might move out in the future." Sakakibara clicked his tongue. "Other agencies have set their sights on the tower where I and others live. With more and more people living there, it will easily attract paparazzi and fans."

Although the security is indeed good, Sakakibara Kaede doesn't want dozens of people to watch him when he goes downstairs in the future.

"Where are you planning to live, Chizuru-san? Maybe we can be neighbors in the future?"

The young man hummed, "As neighbors, I can visit her every day and help take care of grandma."

Chizuru Ichinose blinked her eyes. She looked into the smiling eyes of Kaede Sakakibara and felt her eyes a little wet. Her nose felt sore and she lowered her head. At this moment, she didn't want Kaede Sakakibara to see her weakness.

Higuchi Madoka was walking in front, and she took off her mask to eat marshmallows and looked back.

"Ahaha~ This is the thirteenth time that Madoka-senpai has turned around to look at Sakakibara-senpai~"

“...” Higuchi Madoka’s fists stiffened.

"Ah, is there something on Sakakibara-senpai's face?"

Fukumaru Koito exclaimed in a low voice.

Higuchi Madoka didn't know how to answer the group favorite Koito. She ignored Hina's hahaha questions and continued walking forward in her wooden clogs.

When she saw Sakakibara Kaede and Ichinose Chizuru together, she felt the familiar pain, but another voice in her heart told her that she had been pestering Sakakibara Kaede for a day and a night, and she should give some time to Chizuru Ichinose.

But she still wanted to enjoy this time alone with him... If the next moment, everyone in the world disappeared and only the two of them were left, then they would have no choice but to accept the mission of continuing the family line.

There was a faint smile in Asakura Toru's eyes. She glanced at Higuchi Madoka who was keeping her head down and silent, and the corners of her mouth curled up gently.

"Ah~ Toru-senpai has turned back for the fifth time too."

"Ah... so many times?"

Chapter 14 She's Looking at Him

It's so close, yet it feels so far away.

This is the feeling that the young man gives people. He has a clear sense of distance and treats everyone with the same attitude. It may be because he is an artist and actor, or it may be because of his personality.

Only by taking a step forward and chasing him closely can we break the shackles of distance.

Looking at the young man beside her holding takoyaki in his hand, Chizuru Ichinose felt her fingers trembling slightly.

"Ah, the time is almost up, Feng-senpai, the fireworks are about to start."

The girl saw Toru Asakura walking in front of her and waving at her, so she pinched Sakakibara Kaede's sleeve and reminded her in a low voice.

"Ah, got it, let's go."

Sakakibara Feng nodded. He once again noticed Higuchi Madoka's gaze and couldn't help but touch his face. . . He had been stared at like this for more than a dozen times. If he wasn't wearing a mask, he would even wonder if there was sauce on the corners of his mouth from what he had just done.

"Higuchi, I'm sorry."

"Why are you apologizing?"

Higuchi Yuanka frowned at Asakura Toru, she seemed to know what Asakura Toru was going to say.

If Hina and Koito had not accepted Toru Asakura's invitation, then the two of them would have been able to accompany Kaede Sakakibara at this summer festival - that's what she must have thought.

But Higuchi Madoka didn't like this idea. Although she liked it and had something she wanted to say out loud, she would not change herself just because she liked that man.

She is afraid of change, but also doesn't want to change. Falling in love with Sakakibara Kaede does not mean ignoring her childhood sweetheart. The two are always balanced in Higuchi Madoka's heart.

Sakakibara Kaede is also very nice to her childhood sweethearts. She smiles whenever she sees them and obviously treats Hina and Koito like her younger sisters.

Higuchi Madoka doesn't know how Sakakibara Kaede sees her, if she is also a sister...

With a mixture of sweetness and bitterness in her heart, she narrowed her eyes and looked at Asakura Toru who was smiling beside her. . . . From the look of her, it seemed that she had understood Sakakibara Kaede thoroughly.

"Hey, isn't this Tsukamoto-kun?"

Kaede Sakakibara blinked his eyes and found Shuichi Tsukamoto standing in front of the stall, looking a little restrained, no, a little embarrassed. Next to him was Kumiko Huangmae, who was wearing a yukata and looked a little shy.

The young man nodded with satisfaction. He had indeed asked his childhood sweetheart out.

"Kumiko, this is your share. Here, Tsukamoto-kun, this is yours."

Reina Kousaka came to the two of them with a clear female voice, holding a colorful smoothie in her hand and a slightly mysterious smile on her face.

She was obviously aware of being a light bulb, but judging by her expression, she seemed to be doing it more for fun.

Sakakibara Kaede and Tsukamoto Hide, who was standing aside and did not choose to eavesdrop on the conversation between the two, nodded and continued walking towards the place where the fireworks were set off.

Although he did not get the chance to visit the summer festival alone with Kumiko Koumae, he did not even have the courage to take this step before. Sakakibara Kaede is now like a good young man who does good deeds without leaving a name. He did not chat with a few people, but abided by the agreement he made with Chizuru Ichinose.

He and the girl did not spend much time together in their daily lives. Most of the time they met in the office and talked about work. They rarely talked about family matters. In life, Chizuru Ichinose was the one he could talk to the most, but she lived the farthest away.

Chizuru Ichinose's family background is similar to his previous one. Neither of them is wealthy, and both have just entered the entertainment industry. The jobs they take and their living habits are somewhat similar. Before Chizuru Ichinose became an actor, she worked part-time in a convenience store while filming a show last year.

"Now that we're here, where do we sit?"

"Front row, Tou-san. Would it be convenient for the two of us to sit next to you?"

After all, the way Sakakibara Kaede watched the fireworks display at the summer festival last year was wrong - the real way to appreciate fireworks is to sit on the green grass with a blanket, with the flowing river in front of you, and the fireworks blooming on the other side of the river. At that time, the river water will reflect the fireworks in the sky with all the colors, and you will be infected and moved by the colors.

She sat on the ground with Chizuru Ichinose, and beside her was Madoka Higuchi, who was hugging her knees. She sighed softly, and her faint fragrance drifted away with the wind.

The young man looked up to the sky.

He recalled the summer festival that Kaede Sakakibara had spent alone. Outside, there were sounds of fireworks from near and far. He opened the curtains but could not see anything. He looked at the dim house in the dim light from the window and felt that he was so far away from the city. There must be a lot of people having fun in every place where the fireworks were dazzling.

Time that can never come back.

"I'm really looking forward to it."

"Ah."

Sakakibara Kaede supported his hands behind his back, keeping his body in a very relaxed state. Higuchi Madoka glanced at him sideways and saw that his Adam's apple on his white neck moved slightly and he pursed his lips.

He's so good looking.

The superficial good looks were not enough to make Higuchi Madoka like him so much that she would remember him vividly. What she really liked was the young man’s complex inner world, which was similar to her own.

What does the mouth shape look like under the mask? Should it be smiling?

Higuchi Yuanxiang stretched out her hand, imitating Sakakibara Kaede's movements, and slowly moved her fingers closer to Sakakibara Kaede's hand that was supporting the ground.

The announcement that the fireworks were about to begin was heard next to the grassland. At this time, most people had arrived, and those who did not buy seats could only watch from the outside. The voices on the grassland gradually became lower and lower until they could no longer be heard.

Kaede Sakakibara took off his mask, and the clear breeze of the summer evening was like the gentle hand of a girl, gently brushing across his lips and nose. He felt particularly ethereal. His daily worries, work, and trivial matters temporarily disappeared from his heart at this moment. At this moment, his heart was like the sea he saw in Kamakura last year, with the tides rising and falling.

A streak of red fireworks cut through the blue night sky and bloomed brilliantly above the sky. At that moment, the sound of the fireworks was so shocking and beautiful.

"Today's fireworks are so beautiful." Ichinose Chizuru laughed softly.

"This should be our first time watching fireworks."

"Senior Feng, what do you think the rising fireworks look like from the side?"

Sakakibara Kaede pondered for a moment. He felt as if he had heard such a conversation somewhere before, but he couldn't remember where he had seen it for a while.

"I don't know, do fireworks really have sides?"

"—"

Ichinose Chizuru smiled brilliantly. She didn't continue talking, but just hugged her knees, letting the happiness at the moment fill her heart.

Higuchi Madoka blinked her eyes, with fireworks blooming in her eyes. She pursed her lips, and finally couldn't help but look to her side, in the direction of Sakakibara Kaede.

His face was reflected so brightly, which reminded her of the summer festival in May last year. At that time, she also looked at his face in the same way, but she felt in her heart that what the young man showed was not real.

She was now also looking at his face.

If the fireworks always knew that they would eventually fade away, would they still be willing to bloom for that moment?

Higuchi Madoka smiled softly. She didn't like to smile, but her smile was as beautiful as fireworks, but it was about to disappear in a flash. If it was her, she would definitely be willing, because she had known him, had become friends with him, and had glimpsed his inner world.

She still clearly remembers every brilliant moment between the two of them, which are irreplaceable and unforgettable memories.

Fireworks are beautiful, but they are fleeting.

Life is long, but it is fleeting.

Even if tonight's fireworks have already bloomed, no matter if people stay awake all night or sleep quietly, the morning sun of the next day will always shine on the whole world.

The dazzling light emanating from the road ahead may be fleeting, but people's steps forward are so real. At the end of this road, people may understand that they are just a small grain of sand in the river of time, but people's stories will be passed down from mouth to mouth, and everyone will think about the meaning of them.

In this so-called long river of life, how much time is left with him?

Higuchi Enka didn't know.