I live my life in Tokyo

Yuki Koichiro's face darkened, "You are wrong."

"Good good."

The waitress brought the tea again. The two of them were not in the mood to order food for the moment, so they continued to look at the plan.

"What about the plot arrangement of the TV series? You can tell me about this, right?"

"You are the male lead I have chosen, so of course you can say that." Koichiro Yuki nodded. He took out a document from his briefcase and handed it to Kaede Sakakibara. There were four big words printed on the folder: Sword Art Online.

Seeing how serious he was, Sakakibara Kaede also became careful in his movements. He took out the documents from the folder and read them carefully.

"Although this is a game, it's no joke."

"Death in the game is equivalent to declaring the player's death. Sakakibara Kaede enters the game world of Sword Art Online as Kaede. At the same time as him, there are 10,000 players who are drawn into the game world."

The young man frowned, "Well, the protagonist's name is Sakakibara Kaede?"

"I just added it casually. I haven't thought of a name yet." Koichiro Yuki waved his hand, looking indifferent.

Sakakibara sighed, and after reading it, he pondered for a few seconds. "I feel that the script of this TV series is more suitable for anime. If we are trapped in the game world, then the surrounding scenes cannot be filmed on the streets. Monsters and other things that do not exist in real life can only be created with CGI, and the cost seems to be much higher than anime."

"But... the Death Game, this promotional method is indeed surprising."

"right."

Yuuki Koichiro shrugged complacently. He accepted Sakakibara's compliment and quickly calmed down. "To be fair, your point is correct. Online dating, which is related to the real world, is indeed easier to film in a TV series, but you didn't think of one thing."

"There is no such thing as a harem in TV dramas. As for the Death Game Sword Art Online project, that is the purest adventure TV series. The hero and heroine went through hardships from beginning to end, and the bond between the two is very touching."

"I am going to start this project with Toei. As for the 3D footage, Sakakibara, don't forget what our 3D team does. We have the most original models. As you have participated in the production, you should know that every hair on the monster can be seen clearly."

Sakakibara Kaede took a deep breath, "This... won't the budget explode?"

"That's right. The new version will be released just in time for the TV series to start airing. The popularity and traffic will naturally reach new heights by then."

The young man looked at Koichiro Yuki who was talking eloquently, his fingers crossed, unable to hide his excitement.

Sakakibara laughed. He knew that Yuuki Koichiro was not participating in this project as a board member, but as a game developer and enthusiast. If it was the former, he would definitely swap the scripts of the TV series and the animation as Sakakibara said.

He looked at the character design in the plan again, and suddenly felt that something was wrong.

"The protagonist's character: He is an inconspicuous person in the class, introverted, interested in computers, has a weak sense of reality, and always feels that he does not belong to this land."

“Heroine’s character: A young lady from a prestigious family, Yamato Nadeshiko, gentle and sensible, her personality gradually becomes more cheerful after entering the game... She was a bit self-destructive in the early days, but after meeting the hero, she became optimistic and fell in love with him..."

Sakakibara Feng tapped his little head, "Why does this character look... so familiar?"

"Hmph, it's just your illusion!" Yuki Koichiro sneered.

"Forehead..."

Yuuki Koichiro responded like this, and Sakakibara Kaede didn't know how to fight back for a while. The more he looked at this character, the more he looked like... Yuuki Asuna?

The character in the TV series looks like Yuuki Asuna, and the character draft drawn in the anime also looks like Yuuki Asuna.

Senior Yuki, what do you mean?

"Okay, it's settled. I'll have a detailed discussion with Toei about the TV drama project, and we can also get involved in the CGI production. By the way, now that the plot issue has been resolved, do you have any familiar actress to recommend for the female lead?"

"I told you that you would use it directly?"

"You're the male lead, so I must choose an actress who is comfortable with you as a partner." Yuki Koichiro laughed and scolded, "I still have some judgment. Who do you think is the best among the list you sent me, Sakakibara-san?"

Sakakibara Kaede pondered for a moment, and finally advised, "Let Toei make the selection through auditions. As an investor, you naturally have a certain say in choosing roles, and you can just choose which actress you like. I'm an actor, and I have professional ethics. I won't be a bad match just because the other party is an unknown actor. Please believe me on this."

A glimmer of memory flashed in Koichiro Yuki's eyes. He still remembered that he had just met the hardworking junior Sakakibara in college. The two got along very well. Later, he saw him on TV. At that time, he felt that Sakakibara was an excellent actor.

Of course, I feel that way now.

"Okay, now that you said so, I'll drag you along to choose a female character then."

Hearing what Yuki Koichiro said, Sakakibara Kaede didn't know whether to laugh or cry, but the corners of her mouth curled up, indicating that he really didn't consider himself an outsider.

Sakakibara Kaede had never received such treatment before, as the leading actor was allowed to personally participate in the casting. He thought that he was not a well-known and popular star, and was far from Sakurajima Mai. Yuki Koichiro's words made him feel warm in his heart.

You may be an ordinary actor in front of passers-by, but you are the best actor in front of your friends.

"Let's order the food first. We'll talk about the differences between the anime and the TV series while we eat. If you have any good suggestions, just let us know and we can change them on the spot."

Koichiro Yuki laughed and called the waitress who had changed into black stockings to start taking orders. While talking to the waitress, Kaede Sakakibara looked at the night view outside the window. The windows of the Osaka Castle tower in the distance emitted a warm orange light, which made people feel at ease.

The two of them did not follow the ancient rule of not talking while eating. Koichiro Yuki ordered a bottle of red wine to celebrate their reunion, and also to celebrate RECT's opening up of new markets and finding new partners. Sakakibara Kaede, who had been with Koichiro Yuki since he started developing Sword Art Online, made an indelible contribution to this.

Sakakibara never mentioned salary or promotion to Yuuki Koichiro. How much he got every month depended on Yuuki Koichiro's mood. It was OK if he didn't give any. Sakakibara didn't help Yuuki Koichiro for salary, but because they shared the same ideals. Besides, saying this between friends does hurt the friendship.

"After you go to Kyoto to settle things, when you return to Osaka, Asuna will come too, and her friends, including your two sisters." Halfway through the meal, Yuuki Koichiro thought of something and reminded, "I have already booked a hotel for them. I have to say that the tourism industry is quick to catch wind and shadow. The room rates during your concert are comparable to the peak tourist season. Where will you stay then? Do you want me to book it for you?"

"I think we should be staying at a hotel under the jurisdiction of the office. Thank you, Yuuki-senpai."

The young man pretended to bow, and the two of them knew the reason very well. If some crazy fans broke into Sakakibara Kaede's room directly... safety issues should be considered first.

"Spend more time with Asuna, my parents are going to be busy." Yuuki Koichiro pursed his lips, "You said you want to travel all over the country. I may also go abroad to expand my business in the future. By then, Asuna will only be with you."

"I will always be by her side, Yuuki-senpai."

Koichiro Yuki raised his eyebrows, grinned, drank the question along with the wine, and patted Kaede Sakakibara's shoulder.

"With your words, I feel at ease."

"The next task is to find an actress with a personality and appearance as perfect as my sister."

"You... you still don't admit that the prototype of this heroine is Asuna?" Sakakibara frowned, "The hero and heroine are married in the game, Yuuki-senpai, Yuuki-senpai, don't treat me like a fool!"

Yuki Koichiro sneered and pointed at Sakakibara Kaede, "I've seen many clips of you and actor Higuchi. Be careful, or I'll make you regret it for the rest of your life!"

Chapter 35 Home and Her

The food and dishes for dinner with Koichiro Yuki were very rich, but Kaede Sakakibara had long forgotten the taste of the food. His mind was full of thoughts about the TV series.

He was specifically asked to be the leading actor, and he had already started thinking about the plot. Yuuki Koichiro gave him a copy of the script. Although the plot outline might be adjusted in the future, the death game was definitely a worldview.

Wearing holographic stealth equipment, his soul was fighting in another world while his body was lying on a hospital bed.

This might be the swordsman from another world.

To be honest, the story that comes with the outline is really good, and Kaede Sakakibara was fascinated after reading it for a while. She feels that if the CGI is handled well in the later stage, this will be another successful TV series.

Seeing that the guild he founded, the Blood Knights, was magically changed into the guild founded by the final boss in the TV series, Sakakibara Kaede was speechless. He could always see the strong aggressiveness of Yuuki Koichiro between the lines.

You said that you want to make yourself regret for the rest of your life, and you won't let the female character die in front of you, right?

Sakakibara Feng sighed at the thought, and the cool air conditioning suddenly lost its scent. He would have nothing to do with being in charge of the script. He was an actor and had to follow the director's requirements. If he asked the female character to die in front of him, would he regret it for the rest of his life?

Senior Yuki wouldn't do that, right?

Sakakibara Feng patted his head, stood up and started to fill the bathtub with hot water for bathing. He took the opportunity to wash his face in front of the sink. He had a full dinner and was now a little sleepy. He still had a day of training tomorrow. In order to maintain a good spirit tomorrow, he had to rest early tonight.

After sending good night messages to his close friends, Sakakibara Kaede leaned back in the bathtub and slowly closed his eyes. After washing his hair, the young man soaked for a while again, then reluctantly left the bathtub and lay back on the bed.

The next few days were spent practicing and practicing. Of course, the music score had to be modified. With the cooperation of Mr. Yamada, Shine of the World gradually became familiar to him. Sakakibara no longer just played the electric guitar during rehearsal, but also started to sing.

There were quite a few new songs among the songs he sang. Every time he sang a new song in the past few days, the musicians in the band seemed intoxicated and could not wait to buy the new CD of Shine the World.

Time slipped away quietly in the busyness, and the Kyoto Prefecture Conference Wind Ensemble Competition was about to begin.

"Senior Feng, you seem to be in a good mood."

"Chizuru-san, are you getting more accurate in judging people now, or is it because you've been with me for so long that you've become familiar with me?"

"Who's familiar with it?!"

The scenery of Osaka Castle Park is naturally unique. During the peak tourist season when there are not a lot of tourists, it is an excellent place to relax. You can lean against the ancient trees and watch the wind and clouds move. Thousands of years ago, the samurai who passed by here still looked up at the blue sky.

In the distance, the musicians of the orchestra sat on the grass covered with blankets. On the blankets were picnic baskets and plates with food on them, such as afternoon snacks. Their laughter reached here, and Sakakibara Kaede leaned on the blanket and stretched contentedly. He reached out and pulled Chizuru Ichinose's wrist, "Thank you for complaining. The weather is so good today, why not relax a little."

"Really? You pulled me here, and I...thought it was you."

"What did you think it was?"

"Fool!"

Chizuru Ichinose's face was half red. She received a text message from Kaede Sakakibara, inviting her to hang out. She thought it was a date, so she dressed up carefully and put on the best clothes she brought with her. She rushed over excitedly, only to find out that it was... a team building.

"Thought it was, a date?"

"Who said they were on a date?"

Chizuru Ichinose started complaining again, and Sakakibara Kaede grinned when she saw this. He did not continue teasing Chizuru Ichinose who was stuck in a tsundere cycle, but leaned on the green grass and enjoyed the summer breeze.

I usually stop and go, and because of my busy work, I never have time to sit down and look at the blue sky.

Being busy is not a reason, it is just an excuse to numb yourself. When Sakakibara Feng heard this, he sneered. The real busyness is not the small fights in school days, but the tiredness after working hard. Human economists have done similar tests. Why do the poor get poorer? Because they use their physical strength to work, and after work every day, they have no energy to exercise themselves or learn skills.

The young man was not complaining about his job. Now he had no excuse, so he could still stop and look at the sky occasionally and reflect on himself.

After a while, he stood up and saw Chizuru Ichinose still staring at the ground with a red face, as if she was observing the movements of the red ladybug on the tip of the grass, and seemed to be still sulking with herself.

Kaede Sakakibara picked up a sandwich and shook it in front of Chizuru Ichinose. The latter came to her senses, snorted, and took a bite of it.

"Hey, are you going to bite off my fingers too?"

"Who knows?"

Sakakibara Kaede smiled and said nothing.

Yuuma Miura and Maki Nishikino were not there. They were caught by Miss Nanakusa to take individual photos. The young man started taking photos early and finished early. Without such worries, it is naturally time to enjoy himself.

He stood up and held out his hand to Chizuru Ichinose, "Let's go."

"What are you doing? Where are you going?"

"Don't you want to go shopping?" Sakakibara Kaede smiled and held Chizuru Ichinose's cautiously extended hand. Seeing her look away as if guilty, he added, "Just think of it as a date."

"About about about about..."

The young man was a little worried. Chizuru Ichinose looked quite normal, so why did her talking remind him of Pochi-chan who was far away in Shimokitazawa, Tokyo?

Fortunately, unlike the soul playing the guitar while Pochi-chan floated out of its mouth, Chizuru Ichinose quickly came to her senses and whispered in agreement,

The departure of the two did not alarm the members of the band. Seeing them take out the musical instruments they carried with them to perform an impromptu performance from time to time, Sakakibara Kaede could not help but sigh that the atmosphere of the band was really good. Perhaps people who play music all have a romantic heart that wants to shine in front of others.

Although I have practiced in Osaka Castle Park for such a long time and have seen the Osaka Castle Tower from afar many times, I have never gone inside to visit it - after all, I have to buy a ticket and pay for it, and I usually come to Osaka Castle Park to practice and don't have much time to wander around.

Sakakibara bought tickets for two people. The interior of the castle tower was hollowed out. Different floors provided exhibitions of different artifacts, most of which were artifacts with ages written on them, such as samurai swords and armor. As a date scene, it was obviously not as perfect as an aquarium. The young man was used to keeping silent when visiting museums or viewing artworks. He was not the kind of person who would talk about the information of familiar artifacts when he saw them. He would hide his thoughts and feelings in his heart and digest them slowly.

Chizuru Ichinose followed Sakakibara Kaede closely. She looked to both sides and stopped to observe from time to time. As a tourist, the feeling of coming here for the first time was naturally novel. Although there was no communication, their hands and shoulders intersected from time to time, and there was naturally a tacit understanding between them.

"Chizuru-san, what new projects of companies have you been paying attention to recently? Do you have any ideas for this fall and winter?"

The topic turned to work. Chizuru Ichinose was used to Sakakibara Kaede's jumping thinking rhythm. After thinking for a moment, she said, "Iida-san said that he would keep an eye out for new job opportunities for me. He said that he would try to find an audition for the heroine for me next, because I have played enough minor roles..."

There was a hint of frustration in her words, but Chizuru Ichinose curled her lips slightly. She had decided long ago that her dream would not change. As long as she could become an outstanding actress active on the screen, no difficulties or obstacles would be a problem for her.

This is the agreement between her and her grandfather.

"You can ask Iida-san to pay attention to Toei."

This is all Sakakibara Kaede could remind him.

Ichinose Chizuru blinked. She didn't know what Sakakibara Kaede meant for a moment. Seeing his serious expression, she nodded and said, "Okay, I'll ask Iida-san to find out about the audition at Toei."

Sakakibara smiled bitterly. Facing Chizuru Ichinose's doubts, he really didn't know how to say it. How could he say that his friend was going to invest in a new TV series at Toei and was going to select an actress from my surroundings as the heroine? This sounded a bit outrageous. In order to prevent her from thinking too much, Sakakibara didn't say it.

Walking out of the Osaka Castle Tower, he saw several familiar figures in the distance. The young man's eyesight was not bad. After seeing the figures clearly, he was surprised and happy and hurried to greet them.

"Asuina, Yuuki, Aiko, why are you here?"

Sakakibara Kaede took off his mask and greeted the three people with a smile. He half squatted down and stroked Konno Kapok's little head, "Well... much better than six months ago, you look a little fatter."

"How can you say such rude words to a girl, Captain! Ah——"

After Konno Mumianji finished speaking with a smile, she realized the grammatical error in her words and immediately covered her mouth. She was so accustomed to calling the leader in the game that she would occasionally mention his game ID in real life.

"Lanzi, you look much better. Can you exercise now?"

"Short-distance running shouldn't be a problem." Konno Aiko held her sister's hand. The two of them looked much better than they were half a year ago. The special medicine was expensive, but it was still effective. At least the two of them were not as skinny as when they were in the hospital. They were gaining weight and growing in the right places.

Seeing the long-awaited reunion of brother and sister, Yuuki Asuna smiled, and she noticed Chizuru Ichinose standing beside her and smiled, and went to greet her. Chizuru Ichinose felt guilty for no reason when facing Yuuki Asuna's smile, and she held her hand and asked about daily trivial matters.

Well, now I can’t escape the identity of a concubine.

It was a long-awaited reunion for each of the five people. They did not return to the grass where the band had their picnic. Instead, they walked around and walked back into the Qingwu Gate, strolling south along the East Outer Moat, and stopped in front of the plum forest.

The plum blossoms in the plum forest bloom around February or March. At this time, there are only green leaves. Although there are no flowers, the green is still refreshing.

"Are you guys adjusting well in school? I guess Toyosaki Academy isn't too harsh in this regard?"