I live my life in Tokyo

As soon as she walked out of the door, Higuchi Yuanxiang saw Sakakibara Kaede standing in the rest area and checking the status on her phone. She didn't know what expression to make on her face for a moment.

The feeling of that kiss kept lingering in her mind. Higuchi Yuanxiang pursed her lips and frowned slightly. Fortunately, she acted drowsy at the time, and this irritating man just thought she was half asleep.

But what's even more outrageous is that after that, he carried her back to the bed in a princess hug and then kissed her goodnight on the forehead. He is really perverted and it makes people angry!

"what happened?"

Higuchi Yuanxiang looked like she was in a bad mood. After she finished speaking, she walked to Sakakibara Kaede's side and said, "I don't want to get close to you, it's just that the vending machine is here and I want to buy a drink."

"How was the training?"

Sakakibara Kaede didn't care about Higuchi Madoka's attitude. He was already used to continuing to talk to her shamelessly when she had a cold face. It could be said that he was somewhat unable to read the atmosphere, but it could also be said that he completely understood the girl, Higuchi Madoka.

Higuchi Madoka swiped her mobile phone in front of the vending machine. With a crisp prompt sound, the armrest moved upwards. She held the drink in the mechanical palm and tilted it to spit it out.

"...The training is very tiring. I will have to practice with the same intensity every day from now on." She looked away, bent down to pick up the drink, inadvertently revealing the graceful curves of her body.

"Training time varies from person to person." The young man smiled. They both unscrewed the bottle caps and took a sip of the drink. He continued, "Are you worried that the intensity of the training might be difficult for Ichikawa-san and Fukumaru-san to accept?"

"Isn't it normal to worry like this?"

Sakakibara Kaede was startled. He looked at Higuchi Madoka and smiled, "I am so happy to hear Madoka's sincere words, even in front of me."

"Alas, you still can't tell the truth from lies? You are really hopeless, Mr. You are so self-indulgent."

"Haha."

Seeing Sakakibara Kaede's stubborn look, Higuchi Yuanxiang didn't know what to do with him for a moment. She just felt her teeth itching and wished she could bite off a piece of flesh from his body. He could easily see through her inner thoughts, which made her angry just by watching him.

"Is Yuanxiang going back to the hotel?"

"Rest for a while and then go back."

After answering, Higuchi Madoka closed her mouth. Until now, she had been led by the young man Sakakibara Kaede in front of her. She had a lot of questions she wanted to ask, but in the end, the rhythm was still controlled by the young man. He was always the active one.

She glanced at the green onions outside the music hall. The male protagonist Feng was not the only one who took the initiative in the class monitor line. After the class monitor realized her feelings, he also made a tentative attack.

But the real world is not a galgame, and the class monitor’s name is not Higuchi Madoka.

"Um..." Higuchi Yuanxiang narrowed her eyes and looked up at the young man, "You have a lot of dark circles under your eyes. Didn't you sleep well after returning to the B&B last night?"

After the live broadcast last night, Kaede Sakakibara and Yuma Miura took the last bus and staggered back to the B&B. They were a little tired from the live broadcast, and they were warmly welcomed by the students when they returned. Takisho noticed that they were tired and asked them to go to bed, but they couldn't fall asleep for a while and discussed the implementation of the concert and the writing of the score in the room.

Because of this, they were like the high school students next door who chatted in the bedroom at night. They didn't shut up until Teacher Takisho finished his patrol. Then they crawled into bed and rested. With the musical notes still floating in their minds, Kaede Sakakibara fell into a drowsy sleep at one o'clock.

Waking up early today, it was time for another day of writing, which made Sakakibara Kaede physically and mentally exhausted. His only hope now was to stay away from worries and have a good sleep.

Now he doesn't have to worry about a few girls pestering him to play galgames, as he can hardly protect himself.

"Writing music requires a lot of energy. We plan to wait for Maki-san to come to Kyoto to meet us before making a final decision." It would have been fine if Sakakibara Kaede hadn't said it, but when Higuchi Madoka reminded her, she felt her eyes sore and wanted to lean on the soft sofa in the rest area to have a good sleep.

When Higuchi Madoka heard Maki-san's expression changed, she pursed her lips. Years of role-playing had made her think of all kinds of endings that would lead to lifelong regrets.

Maki Nishikino is also an idol, but she is more famous than Madoka Higuchi in all aspects, including the Muse team. Moreover, although Maki Nishikino is a little bit arrogant, she still speaks her mind most of the time. Although she will say cold words and say something nani suo li mi waganai from time to time, it is harmless. When she is with colleagues and friends, Maki Nishikino is still very serious and frank.

Higuchi Yuuka thought about her usual attitude towards Sakakibara Kaede, and then thought about Nishikino Maki's usual attitude towards her friends, and she felt a sudden sense of panic in her chest.

She was recently watching the discussion on Feng Lai Xue Guo on the forum, and seeing that the reputation of the squad leader had improved, she felt a little comforted. She had watched a lot, so naturally she also knew some two-dimensional terms.

She and Nishikino Maki have extremely similar attributes. Both are idols, both are colleagues, both are younger than her, and both receive cheers from fans, but Nishikino Maki is better than her in every aspect.

Higuchi Madoka pursed her lips. She felt like a homeless boat floating on the endless ocean. The harbor that was originally open to her was gradually covered by haze, and she could no longer find the direction. . .

Maybe five years later, she saw Sakakibara Kaede holding Nishikino Maki's hand with a smile on her face on the street. The two looked extremely sweet, but her heart was being quietly eaten away.

"Yuan Xiang... I'm talking about Yuan Xiang."

Sakakibara Kaede waved in front of Higuchi Madoka, and seeing that she was staring at him in a daze, he reached out and gently patted her shoulder, "You really look a little tired, Madoka, why don't you go and rest first."

Higuchi Madoka's eyes gradually regained their alertness. She looked at the young man standing in front of her with a worried look, and she couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

"By the way, I heard that Yuanxiang's B&B has a hot spring area. Although it's a bit of a shame that it's not winter, we can still take a bath. Do you want to go and relax before going to bed?"

Higuchi Yuanxiang raised her head, revealing a hint of doubt at the right moment, "Are you inviting me to take a hot spring bath with you?"

"Yes."

"Idiot, pervert, I didn't expect that you usually look so gentle, but you are thinking about such things in your heart--"

Sakakibara Kaede scratched his head. What are they talking about?

"——You actually want to take a mixed bath with girls. Are you tired and confused?"

"Wait, mixed bathing?"

Sakakibara Kaede frowned and questioned back.

Higuchi Yuanxiang snorted coldly, "The guesthouse we are staying in now has an open mixed bathing room. There are many tourists staying here during the peak tourist season, but there are not many people now..."

The thin layer of anger on her body was visible to the naked eye.

"Forehead..."

Sakakibara Kaede was also a little embarrassed, "Then... Yuanxiang is unwilling?"

"Tsk."

"You didn't say you didn't want to, did you?"

"..."

Normally the young man should have just laughed it off and gotten away with it, but Higuchi Yuuka didn't expect that he would do something unconventional, so the cold words she had prepared would be useless.

Sakakibara Kaede was surprised by Higuchi Madoka's erratic attitude, but she automatically attributed it to the fact that she was tired and just wanted to vent her stress.

Higuchi Yuanxiang glanced at Sakakibara Kaede and walked towards the dressing room. She was about to pack up and leave. Halfway through, she turned her head and asked, "Is this an active invitation from Kaede to me?"

Sakakibara Kaede was still complaining about Higuchi Madoka's strange behavior today. When she heard what she said, a faint smile appeared on her face, "I told you, if Madoka doesn't want to take the initiative, then I will."

"..."

Higuchi Madoka seemed to hum softly, but it seemed that no sound came out at all. She finally took in the young man's smile and then returned to the dressing room.

Five minutes later, she came out with her bag. Seeing Sakakibara Feng still standing there, a rare look of relaxation appeared on her face. Sakakibara Feng could read that this was her satisfaction with him.

It’s rare.

"Toru, what about Ichikawa-san, Fukumaru-san and the other two?"

"Let them rest for a while. Someone from the office will drive them back to the B&B. It only takes less than ten minutes to walk."

Higuchi Madoka walked out of the room first in sandals. As the sun covered her body, her dark red short hair looked like a burning sunset, with unspeakable passion and mystery.

"Today's weather is neither too hot nor too cold. It's a good day for a hot spring bath."

Sakakibara Kaede breathed a sigh of relief. The only important item he carried with him was the notebook for writing music scores. As for taking a bath, bathrobes were provided at the B&B. It was not like going to a swimming pool, where one had to bring their own swimsuit and swimming trunks.

Walk side by side, feel each other's pace and breathing, and make your own steps consistent with each other, so that the footsteps sound even and pleasant.

Higuchi Madoka brought Sakakibara Kaede back to her and Asakura Toru's room, and after asking him to put down his belongings, the two came to the entrance of the mixed bathing hot spring. Guests staying in the B&B can enjoy the hot spring for free, but people like Sakakibara Kaede who have not booked a room have to pay. This is also basic operation. After paying, Sakakibara Kaede took out a towel and bathrobe from the basket, entered the men's locker room and began to change clothes.

It was the off-season for tourism and there was no one around. The only sounds were the humming of the automatic electric fan and the faint sound of a TV playing at the front desk of the B&B.

The young man had soaked in hot springs several times, so he was naturally familiar with the situation. He put his clothes in the locker and locked it, put on a bathrobe and a towel, and then stepped into the mixed bathing hot spring.

As expected, there was no one inside. It felt like I was taking a private hot spring bath rather than a mixed bath.

The surrounding environment is beautiful, with bamboo forests, courtyards and buildings, full of artistic conception.

Sakakibara Feng felt the temperature of the water. This was not a natural hot spring, but an artificial hot spring, so the temperature could be controlled freely. He touched the water temperature and it was not too hot. He would not get dizzy or dehydrated if he stayed in this kind of weather for a long time. This made him feel a little relieved.

He sat in the water, cross-legged, naturally wrapped in a bathrobe, with a towel on his head. He squinted his eyes and looked up at the blue sky and white clouds in a daze.

"So slow, Yuanxiang."

As Sakakibara Kaede was talking to himself softly, he heard footsteps coming from behind him.

Just as I was about to turn around and say hello, Higuchi Madoka's voice rang out immediately, "Don't look back!"

This sentence sounds a bit like the insults used by the spoiled young ladies of rich families in ancient times. Look, I'm going to dig out your eyes!

"I didn't look back."

"Weren't you going to look back?"

"Uh... just my head and neck are a little sore."

"Oh, liar."

Higuchi Madoka stepped into the water, and Sakakibara Kaede could only hear the sound of water getting closer and closer, knowing that she was walking towards her step by step.

When he got closer, Higuchi Madoka sat down, and Sakakibara Kaede felt some soft skin on the part of her back that was not covered by the bathrobe. He felt it slightly and could tell that it was Higuchi Madoka's back.

"Don't look back."

Sakakibara Kaede knew that Higuchi Madoka was a little shy, so he didn't say anything, just smiled.

Noticing an itch on his shoulder and the added weight on his back, he tilted his head slightly.

Higuchi Madoka leaned her weight on his back and imitated him, squinting at the sky.

For a moment, there were only the sounds of running water, forest birds, and moist breathing.

Chapter 29: A Promise with Her

The body temperature so close to her made Higuchi Madoka clench her teeth. She curled up in the warm water as if she was afraid of the cold, and pulled the bath towel wrapped around her body tighter.

Sakakibara Kaede acted according to Higuchi Madoka's idea. He did not turn around. Since Higuchi Madoka was shy, he would not go any further. He closed his eyes slightly and felt the breeze.

After seeing that Sakakibara Kaede really did not move, Higuchi Madoka's originally tense heart slowly relaxed a little. She breathed a sigh of relief, but felt a little depressed. She did not expect that the man behind her would be so polite. She originally thought that she could scold Sakakibara Kaede with a blushing face not to look, but she did not expect that this would not happen at all.

She sighed softly. She did feel shy when she said it, but now she regretted her previous attitude. The feeling of worry and fear made Higuchi Yuanxiang hug her knees and look at her face in the water.

She had felt this way many times before.

The girl pursed her lips unwillingly, then loosened them. She was an idol and had gained many fans with her smile, but she couldn't turn the man behind her into a beast. Was this her problem or his?

After a moment, she snorted softly. This was the Sakakibara Kaede she was familiar with, and this was the person she liked. If he was not him, then Higuchi Madoka would definitely just treat him as an ordinary colleague.

"What is Yuanxiang thinking about?"

"Um..."

After a long pause, Higuchi Madoka realized that she had leaned all her body weight on Sakakibara Kaede. Her tiredness made her want to fall asleep in the water. Her hands and feet were warm, and with him by her side, this unprecedented sense of security made her feel like she was curled up in a kotatsu at home on a rainy afternoon and staring blankly.

This home, of course, is not the high-end tower in the central district. The home in her heart is the one where she sometimes goes home with Asakura, and more often with Feng. The one where she opens the door to her mother's gentle smile and scolding expression, and the faint aroma of food wafts from the cheerful conversation between Feng and her mother.

She missed that home very much, and for some reason it came to her mind when she was alone with him.

That home is filled with memories of being with him. Whether studying in the bedroom or eating and watching TV in the living room, his presence and existence are seamless, wrapping around Higuchi Madoka like clear water.

That is a pure color that will not dye her and turn her into water of other colors.

"I feel a little homesick."

"Ah, I miss it a little too." Sakakibara Kaede chuckled, "I haven't eaten Aunt Higuchi's cooking for a long time. I really miss it."

Higuchi Madoka wanted to say something but stopped herself. The sharpness of the man behind her made her lower her head. They were only a little distance away from the water surface, and he knew that he was not talking about the tower that she shared with Asakura now.

"Well, let's go back together before the end of summer vacation. I also want to visit my aunt."

Sakakibara Kaede said with a smile. He was not telling lies or speaking to please Higuchi Madoka. He did miss Mrs. Higuchi's gentle expression and delicious meals - although he now knew that some of them came from the hands of the girl behind him. He had seen Higuchi Madoka with Band-Aids wrapped around her fingers before, and at first he thought she was acting like that, but he understood after Higuchi Madoka herself admitted that she made the bento for him.

How long has the girl behind him practiced cooking for him?

He felt a little warmth coming from his hand underwater, glanced sideways, then reached out and gently held Higuchi Madoka's hand.

"?!"

Higuchi Madoka's body trembled, and she suppressed the sound of exclamation from her mouth. She turned her head, with a hint of anger on her pretty and moist face, "Why are you holding my hand? Is it because our friendship gives you the courage, Mr. Playboy?"

"Well, didn't you hold my hand when you were watching the fireworks?"

Sakakibara Feng groaned and suddenly felt unyielding. If you take the initiative to shake hands when watching the fireworks, that’s fine. Oh, I should take the initiative to shake hands, but that’s not possible.

"That doesn't count! I was just scared by the sound of the fireworks!" Higuchi Madoka spat, anger flashing in her purple eyes.

She looked very angry, as if she was offended, but her hand still lay obediently in Sakakibara Kaede's palm without struggling violently, as if... she had already accepted her fate.

The young man took Higuchi Yuanxiang's hand, turned half around, and held it in front of his eyes to observe it carefully.

Her hands are slender, white and tender, and look well-maintained. This is a daily maintenance that idols must do. Fingers are also one of the xp for some fans. Isn't it beautiful to have slender, pink and white jade-like fingers holding the microphone? This is the same as fans xp legs, feet and waist.

There are no scars on his fingers from practicing cooking. Now there is not even a trace. Sakakibara Kaede breathed a sigh of relief. If he had lifelong scars on his hands because of learning to cook, Sakakibara Kaede might not be able to forgive himself.

"What are you looking at? Palm reading?" Higuchi Madoka snorted. She bent her fingers reluctantly but still did not move.