Tokyo Sound

"Huh? What's going on?" Sakura Eiji was puzzled.

"He has always wanted to go into politics. He lacks money, but his political assets are basically zero. Later, he found ways to marry into a large family in a local constituency and married the youngest daughter of the head of the family. Now he is temporarily working as a secretary for his father-in-law. I estimate that in a dozen years, he can become a member of the House of Representatives. After all, he is smart." The man said admiringly, "It's a big sacrifice. That girl seems to be two digits fatter than me. No wonder she can't get married despite her good background. In the end, she was hooked up by Longfu... He works diligently and has suffered a lot. If he really wants to make it, it can be considered as hard work and rewards, right?"

"Marrying into politics?" Sakura Eiji frowned, "So, you broke up with Mayu?"

"Oh my brother, that was so long ago. He and the squad leader broke up a long time ago, right?"

"Stupid. Mayu is such a good person, but you don't know how to cherish her. Instead, you pursue a false path." Sakura Eiji was a little unhappy, "Even if you enter someone else's house, you are still an outsider. If you can be promoted to a high position in the future, I'm afraid you will be blamed for it."

"I remember you had a crush on the class monitor before, oh, one-sided crush on him, right? But Longfu launched the offensive in advance." The man understood, "... But to be honest, even if you attacked first, I don't think there would be much hope. At that time, you could wear the same clothes for two quarters, and Longfu was much more fashionable. Your grades were almost the same, so she would definitely choose the more handsome one."

"Don't mention this, don't mention this." Sakura Eiji waved his hand, "It's all in the past."

"Indeed, you are already in your forties. You have seen a lot of troubles in this world. In the end, no matter it is power and money, ambition and planning... nothing can compare to a stable life, a harmonious family, and a healthy body." The man said deeply, "In fact, in our class, I admire you the most. After reading so many political and legal books, you went into art design after graduation. This is real freedom. Moreover, your family background is not much better than mine. In the end, you and Xiongda really worked it out. It's really speechless. Look at this watch. You live a happy life, right? What's more, you married a wife who is so much younger than you. Jealousy makes me burn fat. You should thank Xiongda. He forced you to go to the social gathering."

"Yeah, I should be thankful. Without him, I would have missed him... I can't imagine a parallel world where I couldn't be with Edamori." Sakura Eiji nodded, then shook his head, "It's a pity that we still had a disagreement."

"Divorced?" The man was delighted.

"I resigned." Sakura Eiji was speechless, "I'm going out on my own."

"Are you going to change your career again?" the man was shocked.

"That's not true."

"Then what's this for? Unequal distribution of the spoils?"

"How can we evolve without experiencing conflict?" Sakura Eiji hummed, then smiled again, "I once chose an exciting adventure at a crossroads in my life. Now I am setting sail again, and I am over 40 years old. Those exciting past events are now shining in my memories. Fortunately, I have no regrets so far.

"Although a smooth life is a bit boring, having no regrets is a template for success." The man agreed, "Although I haven't achieved much, I have done a good job supporting my family, and I am still a little proud. Unfortunately, I am too busy, always thinking about accumulating some wealth for my descendants, and neglecting to discipline him. My son is very naughty, and I am worried about his further studies. Even though he is not strong among his peers, his father was admitted to the Faculty of Law of the University of Tokyo. As a result, my son's school often invites parents to talk, which is too embarrassing."

"…In the blink of an eye, our baby has grown so big." Sakura Eiji's eyes flashed with nostalgia, "Time flies so fast, it never slows down for anyone."

"You have a daughter at home, right?" the man asked.

"Well, she happens to be considering further studies as well." Sakura Eiji said with a smile, "Just like your family, she doesn't seem to have inherited my smart mind. She's stupid."

"Are you about the same age? Then you can walk around more often." The man became interested. "My kid's grades are a little bit lower, but he is smart and experienced in dealing with people."

Sakura Eiji's expression restrained, and he suddenly became alert and gloomy.

"Don't make that face." The man was speechless. "My son doesn't look like me. He looks like his mother, tall and thin, and quite handsome."

"Please stop your sweet dream." The old father said in a heavy voice.

"...I was just saying it casually. It's not a proposal. Look at you, you look like you're facing a powerful enemy." The man was helpless.

"There are indeed enemies who are so arrogant and rampant that I have to be on guard against them." There is deep meaning in Sakura Eiji's words.

"Hey, you're quite efficient. You always act on impulse when it comes to major career changes. I didn't expect you're also a girl-con." said the man.

"You gave birth to a boy, so you can just let him grow up. He's thick-skinned and can handle falls and beatings anyway. How can you understand the feelings and stance of someone like me who has worked hard to raise a precious daughter?" Sakura Eiji said disdainfully.

"You're going to get married sooner or later, right?"

"If anyone can pass the twelve trials I set up and reach the level of a good man like me, I will naturally recognize him." The old father nodded.

"You set yourself as the standard of qualification. This is not giving people a chance to survive." The man said with a sigh, "I understand your love for your child. But no matter how much you love him, there will always be a day when you let go. There will always be a day when you die, right?"

Sakura Eiji was silent now and didn't respond.

"Family love is great, but it still cannot surpass the curse of life and death that will accompany us to the end."

The man said softly.

"Like my dad, his last wish was to see his grandson. On the one hand, he wanted to see the continuation of life and family. On the other hand, no matter how old I am, I will always be a brat in his eyes who can mess things up. If I had a wife and children, with support and support, I would be more reliable and stable. This is the case for boys, let alone girls? You and I are not ignorant people. In this society, women are still relatively disadvantaged."

The man rubbed his loose belly.

"Let's not talk about the workplace. Just at the University of Tokyo, girls have to work harder to gain recognition. When we were there, it was considered unrealistic for girls to apply to the University of Tokyo. It's a little better now, but it's basically the same. Medical universities are not without discrimination against women. I also heard that there are still male clubs at the University of Tokyo that do not allow girls from the University of Tokyo to join and only accept girls from other schools."

"To describe a girl, we often use the word 'cute'. This rather childish compliment and description has already revealed some problems. You are a handsome man, and your crow's feet are as handsome and flavorful as aged wine under the halo of high income, but what about women of this age? Should they age quietly and gracefully, or use cosmetics to cover up the traces of time? Professor Chizuko Ueno of the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences on campus is engaged in this research, and you have also heard her lectures.

"Besides, the aging population is becoming more and more serious. Under the prosperous economy, the hearts are alienated, and lonely death has become a common social problem. When we were young, we didn't care because the education and environment we received at that time were far superior to our peers. Our minds were full of conquering and changing the world, and at the very least we wanted to see all the stars. Only when we were no longer agile did we admit that the complaints of our parents did make some sense. That was the conclusion they had drawn after half a lifetime of struggling through muddy water."

"What awaits the next generation is an unknown world that cannot be fully applied by existing theories and is impossible to predict." The man took a sip of milkshake and finally said, "So, how can we guarantee that a mere father, a single person, can withstand all her storms?"

Sakura Eiji silently raised his eyes, looked at the butcher-like little green onion, and couldn't help but say, "Your image is really completely inconsistent with the remarks you made..."

"Sad, you are obsessed with appearances." The man said miserably, "We are obviously both top students at the same level, but you are prejudiced against me because of my extra fat and obesity. As expected, except for me, everyone in this class has changed."

"You're still a top student, but I'll make you gasp for air even if you try to solve an equation right now." Sakura Eiji rolled his eyes, "Admit it, the only thing we have left is the wisdom to survive."

"Think whatever you want. The meat over there is almost roasted. Do you want to eat it?" the man asked.

"I don't have much appetite in this hot weather, so I won't eat." Sakura Eiji raised his hand to look at his watch. "The dinner party tonight, the promoted old Kawato will also come, right? I'll take advantage of the little time now to walk around the campus. I haven't been back for a long time, so I'll take a walk and reminisce about the past."

"Go ahead. Anyway, the best thing about Japan is that it hasn't changed over the years. The buildings in the countryside will look the same 20 years from now as they did 20 years ago. The school facilities haven't changed much, so you won't get lost. Just remember not to get too engrossed in walking around, and come back to eat." The man said casually, moving towards the grill.

You have a lot of social observations. You are more suitable for politics than Longfu...

……

The Faculty of Law has a total collection of more than 70 books, which is one of the largest collections in the world. When I didn’t have classes, I would come here to kill time.

When I was studying, I didn’t have much money in my pocket, and I had limited ability to participate in fancy activities. I could only keep absorbing knowledge. At that time, even if I ate in the cafeteria, I had to eat cheap set meals. I was even lucky enough to be picked up by the Dean of the Faculty of Literature, Onishi Kawase, who was known as the "specialized detector of outstanding poor children", and he treated me to a big meal and arranged a part-time job.

"..."

Sakura Eiji looked at the bustling crowd and the friendly school buildings.

There is indeed no change, as if no time has passed, but it seems that I have graduated for many years.

1994 1 Month 29 Day.

The weather was bad. It started to snow and sleet yesterday evening. After midnight, the outside of the window was covered with snow. For the city of Tokyo, such heavy snow is quite rare. The snow continued all night, and at dawn, the streets were covered with pure white, as if we had suddenly arrived in Otaru in the north.

Sakura Eiji, who was working overtime, turned down the work and rushed to the hospital.

The warmth that comes with melting ice and snow.

He finally saw the petite, lovely girl.

It was really strange. After only one look, he swore to give her all the best things in the world. You know, when he proposed to Zhisen, he hesitated for at least 10 seconds.

Zhisen, who was still lying on the hospital bed, thought of the word "Ling". Since he liked music, he picked out the word "Yin".

Later, because the girl liked working behind the scenes, she somehow became a sound worker. It must have been fate.

Sakura Eiji doesn't like to do things without preparation. Any decision must be made with enough willpower and preparation to avoid a disaster. He has also read many parenting books, but he still has no idea.

Oh, if only there were a test. The judicial examination is incredibly difficult, but there is a reason for it, because the law carries a lot of weight.

——But humans don’t need any exams to become parents.

She was from a top university and knew how to become an elite. So her initial education was very strict, similar to games and animations, and controlled the time for reading and playing. I don't know if it had a counter-effect, but Ayane was very wild when she was young, even playing football with a bunch of boys and rolling in the sand in the park.

Before I could come up with a new solution from my distress.

Ayane was hospitalized for health reasons. During the long period of recuperation, and because of the fear that both Edamori and herself had caused her, she didn't go to school for a long time and thus lost touch with her peers of the same age.

In an instant she felt very lonely. Originally, I didn't want her to go out and have fun, but now I really hope she can enjoy her only childhood with her friends.

The situation did not improve until I entered middle school.

But that has nothing to do with me. As a father, he can provide a lot, but there are some things that can only be done by new fate. The identity of "family" sometimes has limitations. Maybe it is because we are too close that we are at a loss?

Xiaoconghua is right.

What awaits the next generation is an unknown world that is impossible to predict and to which existing theories cannot fully apply.

The path still has to be chosen by oneself, and life belongs to her first. Others can only guide and encourage, and should not impose their own obsessions on others, making children their own projections and puppets.

Young Sakura Eiji went out into the world, pursuing the unknown. He was not afraid of different cultures. He believed that life was possible anywhere. He was very willing to take risks. When he met Edamori, he was a law student in front of his father-in-law. Just when his father-in-law thought that he would have a lawyer son-in-law in the future, and even more so, a judge, he became a designer who was everywhere a few days after the marriage. You know, Japan is not short of artists...

Fortunately, Sakura Eiji was strong enough and could swim out of the Red Sea. When Ayane was born, the Sakura family was already well-fed and well-clothed, and could easily swipe their bank cards.

But even though Sakura Eiji had been well-behaved for so long, he still couldn't help himself and jumped back into the sea.

It's not a good thing for the breadwinner of the family to be troublesome.

Can you hold it?

Ayane's life will definitely be longer than his and Edamori's.

Sakura Eiji moved slowly, with mixed feelings.

At this time, taking out your phone, opening the account, and clicking on that guy's tweets can help you relax. In addition, this guy is really a talent. He manages the account in a very interesting way. It has all kinds of attractive photos, silly things, life insights, and game guides. It's quite exciting to scroll through it.

But unlike his online friends, he had actually met this person.

He is kind enough to stop his car for those in need, has a unique perspective on the world, is knowledgeable, and has a witty way of speaking... To be honest, I really want to recruit him to work overtime in the company.

"You really finished all that coffee?"

“It can’t be wasted.”

"It's the same if you take it back and share it with others. Or you can sell it somewhere else at a low price. Then..."

"So I can patronize Takizawa-kun's business again?"

"..."

Sakura Eiji's ears twitched slightly, and he sensitively looked in the direction of the sound.

Why do you need so much instant coffee???

The middle-aged man was a little confused, but he inevitably walked in that direction.

……

"Hello, how can I help you?"

The man sat there, and although he was still talking, he was obviously desperate and even his eyes looked a little empty.

"I want to buy 10 cups of coffee. Can I order customized service?" a girl asked shyly.

"Please go ahead." The man replied mechanically.

"I occasionally glimpsed the morning through the leaves, walked on the path of broken snow, listened to the whispers of nature, and looked up to meet a warm bouquet. I wandered here, squinting my eyes and fantasizing about how nice it would be if you were by my side. I will spend the rest of my life savoring this scene with you." The girl blushed more and more as she spoke, but she quickly added, "I hope to say it from a lover's perspective, preferably with a bit of coldness and sadness. Well, the man has a terminal illness and will soon die. In his last days, he and the woman rushed to the end of their lives, and embraced each other in the cold and lonely morning sun to welcome the end. In the end, the boyfriend's nosebleed dripped onto the ground, forming shocking petals, and a sadomasochistic love ended. The sense of loss should be a bit youthful."

"...Time is limited, so let's do it according to Mr. Guo's style." After listening to the request, the man nodded and began to think.

In the girl's melancholy and surprised eyes, the boy in front of her completed a gorgeous transformation. His smile spread out, captivatingly beautiful, with a hint of liberated madness, so depraved that it made people like moths to a flame.

"Recently, I like the word silence more and more." The boy tilted his head slightly, and the sunlight fell like fragments and fell into his pupils. "It seems that everything can become purer and kinder in silence. Is loneliness the essence of youth, or is loneliness permeating the entire youth?"

The girl held her breath.

The boy slowly stretched out his hand.

It was a very gentlemanly invitation, and she accepted it without hesitation.

A tall, wide golden door carved with gorgeous patterns opened, and a grand ball full of extravagance and decadence suddenly appeared before the eyes. Tall women wearing masks danced gracefully in the center of the dance floor. The brilliant reflection of the light from the crystal chandeliers made their skin exposed to the air glow. People's dance was so sad and thrilling, just like dying swans stretching their bodies for the last time by the icy lake.

"Come here." The boy kept his hand out.

The girl grabbed the hand in panic because she had a premonition that the other person was about to disappear.

“Our lives exist in such a small, crowded, and warm era. The huge singing voices echo melodiously throughout the world, embellishing this prosperous era with golden edges.”

The boy said gently. He embraced the girl, stepped lightly on his toes, and took her with him, spinning into the center of the ball. The masked dancers gathered around them, as if they were meeting the king and his concubine.

"How lucky I am... to have these eyes that can gaze upon you in the bright daylight. I cannot forget you, and my life sinks into the eternal night. If I bloom in my dreams, the eternal night will turn into a sunny day.

"Will you marry me?"

His eyes were lowered, and he looked like an angel in an oil painting, pure and holy.

"I am willing!"

The girl only had time to speak.

The shadow of the god of death has different shapes. The platinum-gold hall, the fragrance of power, the endless aria. When time reaches a fixed scale, it will be pieced together with the shadow to form a complete sickle, cutting off all the love in the world and rushing to darkness. The dancer wearing a swan mask is still swaying, and when the dance party comes, it will be a cold world.

The boy fell down with red lips. He proposed with blood in his eyes.

"If time could be stopped, if love and hate could be frozen, if memories could turn into eternal amber, if the years could slow down and not reach the end of the soul, I would be able to have you forever..."

This is the scarlet ending, this is the strongest syllable of tragedy, and what permeates the entire empty sky and earth is a huge wail.

The sobs and pain in my chest were all pressed hard into my body. It was like a violent meteorite impact on the moon, blocked by the vacuum, and everything was silent and empty.

"Thank you for your patronage."

After a few seconds, Yin Ze, who was lying on the table, stood up and became mechanical again. The previous affection disappeared without a trace, as if it had been formatted.

The girl touched the other person's hand again, and left with her coffee, feeling satisfied.