Tokyo Sound

...It sounds like Takizawa is very fierce, Yin Ze thought as he chewed the tender beef.

"Where's Sakura?" Haruka Kamura smiled and looked at the high school girl who was fiddling with her cell phone all the time.

It was only at this time that Yin Ze got a good look at the girl sitting nearby.

Her smooth and shiny black hair has grown past her ears, her cheeks still have childish baby fat, her face is rosy and healthy, and the eyes hidden behind her silky bangs are like a small animal cautiously peeking at the ever-changing world.

Although she wore light makeup that was suitable for her student period, her lips, which were painted with lip gloss, were as translucent and jelly-like, which made her look more precocious and gorgeous.

Her eyes suddenly met Yin Ze's, and she quickly looked away like a frightened deer. But she quickly put on a decent smile and answered.

“I thought it would be an interesting and joyful thing, so I worked hard on it.”

"Whose books do you like to read?"

"… by Kuniko Mukaida [Note: a famous Japanese female writer whose major works include "Seven Grandchildren", "The Woman Next Door", "The Terauchi Kantaro Family", etc.]"

"I didn't expect such a Showa-like answer. Does Sakura like things that have a sense of age?"

"My father likes it, and I am infected."

"So, has anyone in school known that you're about to debut as a voice actor, especially the male students who love watching anime?"

"Well... I don't have any friends close enough to tell this to."

"I see. Speaking of which, the academic workload is heavy now. It will be difficult to balance studies if I really want to debut."

"My parents will help me."

Slowly, the conversation started between the women. But it was mostly Haruka Kamura asking questions, and Ayane Sakura answering passively.

It's really troublesome to control the atmosphere and not let anyone feel left out.

"Let's have a drink!" Yin Ze suggested.

Everyone stood up, the glasses clinked together, and after a round of greetings, they sat down and asked and answered questions, and the slightly awkward conversation between the woman ended appropriately.

"I'll go over there and say hello too." Yin Ze filled the juice and walked to the next table.

The other table was full of working people. If you throw out a burden, there will definitely be someone to help. The interactions were very relaxed and enthusiastic. In addition, the two agents were present, and for a moment Yin Ze couldn't come back and stayed there to brag.

"Matsuoka, let's go say hello too." Iwasawa Toshiki said upon seeing this.

"What should I say about this?" Matsuoka Yoshitsugu hesitated when he heard this. He was quite experienced in this area.

"There's nothing to prepare for this. Let's go." Iwasawa Toshiki pulled Matsuoka Yoshitsugu over forcefully.

Sakura Ayane glanced at the bustling party over there, and the pungent smell of alcohol drifted in from a distance. The little girl frowned unconsciously, looked at the time again, and waited patiently.

About half an hour later, Yin Ze and others returned to their original positions.

The more they drank, the more drunk they became. Yin Ze, who had been drinking with fruit juice, really drank to his heart's content, not to mention Matsuoka Yoshitsugu and Iwasawa Toshiki, who really drank. Both of them had red faces and blurred eyes.

The thirty-something agent had taken off his tie and tied it around his forehead to dance Noh, with a bunch of people clapping to the beat.

With such a good example, the energetic young people who had just entered the facility would naturally not fall behind. Some of them even took off their clothes and wanted to play sumo solo.

Kashiwa Ippei was also a little dizzy, with wine stains dripping down his chest, but he remained sober. He glanced at his exquisite watch and finally said that the welcome party was almost over. He dragged his dancing colleague to the front desk to settle the bill.

The rest of the people walked out of the store, breathing in the fresh air outside, and the big brother-like people handed out cigarettes. Some people thought it was not enough, and discussed having a second show, going to karaoke or something like that.

Soon most people decided to go to the nearest entertainment venue to start the second match.

"See you another day then." Haruka Jiacun, who was about to take the subway, waved her hand, "By the way, are you two okay?"

"It's a small problem, isn't it?" Iwasawa Toshiki put his arm around Matsuoka Yoshitsugu's shoulders and laughed. The two of them swayed side by side. "Be careful on your way back!"

Soon there were only a few people left at the door.

"Are you planning on walking back, Sakura-chan?"

Sakura Ayane calmly moved away from the two drunken people.

"I'll take the bus."

"If we take a taxi, can we come together? We'll pay for the fare. After all, you're an adult."

"No, thanks."

"That's right...it would be bad if Matsuoka couldn't help throwing up in the car. Come on, Matsuoka, I'll take you home first."

Matsuoka Yoshitsugu shook his head and squatted on the street with some weakness.

"Does your stomach feel uncomfortable? Okay, take a break first. I'll go to the convenience store to buy some water. Sakura, you take care of him for a few minutes."

Sakura Ayane looked at Iwasawa Toshiki who could no longer walk in a straight line and Matsuoka Yoshitsugu who was squatting with his head in his hands in pain.

So why drink so much, she muttered quietly.

Matsuoka Yoshitsugu did seem to be feeling a little nauseous. He dry-heaved several times, banged his head with his hands, and muttered something to himself.

Seeing him like this, Sakura Ayane leaned forward tentatively.

"…Um, are you okay?"

Hearing someone calling him, Matsuoka Yoshitsugu answered "yes" reflexively, then turned his head and stared at the female high school student with bloodshot eyes.

Sakura Ayane immediately took a step back and wanted to say something, but she felt that this person was staring at her, and she subconsciously moved away from him.

"Sakura-san." Matsuoka said softly, his sight becoming empty.

"Uh?"

"You said..." Matsuoka paused, raised his head and looked at the night sky, "What is life?"

"?!"

The sudden and inexplicable question came from the mouth of the older drunk man whom she had just met. The girl, who had just been promoted to high school, was speechless and even a little scared.

A time of great confusion.

Kashiwai Ippei, carrying his sleeping colleague on his back, and Yin Ze, carrying a plastic bag, walked out.

"Is Matsuoka-kun drunk?" Kashiwai Ippei was stunned when he saw the man sitting on the street.

"I think so." Sakura Ayane nodded silently.

"Well, I just happened to be taking Mr. Okawa home, Matsuoka, come join me in the taxi."

"Iwazawa-san just went to buy some water," the girl added.

"Then I'll go with him. By the way, how are you going to get back?"

"My father will pick me up in the car,"

"Is that so? Takizawa-kun, if you are not in a hurry, can you stay here with her? After all, it is already half past nine, and there are bound to be drunk people in this food court. It would be better if you stay for a while."

"Of course." Yin Ze nodded with a smile, "Brother Bro, feel free to send them away first."

It wasn't long before I was alone again.

The girl was looking around the street, eager to go home, but Yin Ze stayed by her side with a clear conscience.

People of all kinds passed by with the smell of alcohol and laughter, making the place very lively, which made the two people who were silent with each other feel a little awkward.

"What are you carrying?" Perhaps because of her excellent upbringing, Sakura Ayane asked first.

"I think the leftover dishes on our table are all well-cooked and not cheap. It would be a pity to waste them. If we pack them up and take them home, they can last for two meals," Yin Ze said truthfully.

"Oh..." Sakura Ayane nodded.

The atmosphere became cold again.

"I noticed that you didn't pick up much food. Won't you be hungry when you go home tonight?" It was Yin Ze's turn to ask curiously.

"Losing weight." A concise answer.

"You can't treat yourself badly. Besides, you look cute now." Yin Ze smiled refreshingly and said some nice words to her.

"Ahaha, really?" The girl just laughed politely and moved away a step.

The little girl is really introverted, Yin Ze thought silently as he looked at the high school girl who was eight steps away from him.

Fortunately, the bright lights of a car soon cut through the silence, and a shiny black car drove up and stopped in front of them. Yin Ze tilted his head and stared at the car model for a few seconds, then looked at the girl who had quickly and skillfully opened the door and walked in.

This... rich second generation?

The man sitting in the driver's seat of the car rolled down the window and smiled at him kindly. Yin Ze was holding the bag and couldn't wave, so he bowed in return.

Only after the red tail lights disappeared in the flashing neon lights did he sigh and try his luck to catch the last subway.

Chapter 5: Under the Same Night Sky

“How are you getting along with your colleagues?”

The mature and steady middle-aged man was steering the wheel while waiting for the red light. He glanced at his daughter who was sitting in the passenger seat and looked as if she was exhausted, and couldn't help laughing.

"A bunch of noisy men." Sakura Ayane's still chubby face turned upside down and said sullenly, "The smell of alcohol makes people feel so uncomfortable, and the drunken appearances are uglier than each other, and the alcohol doesn't taste good. I really don't understand."

"This is also a part of society." My father laughed as I expected, "But now you can understand my hard work, right?"

"If you dare to come back drunk, I will definitely not let your mother open the door for you. Even if you come in, you can only sleep on the sofa!" said the daughter viciously.

"...Can't you be more gentle to hard-working middle-aged men?" The father sighed, "I have to say, it's difficult for ordinary adult men not to drink in such social occasions."

"Can't we talk without drinking?" Sakura Ayane snorted.

"You have to follow the rules when playing in this place, especially when you need help from others."

The red light turned green, the car started smoothly and continued to drive, my father said calmly.

"So I'm working hard. As long as I get the top spot, I'll be the one being toasted. Then I won't come home drunk, and Ayane won't chase me away."

"Then I will also look for a boyfriend who is the president in the future." The girl's smart eyes turned.

"But the average age of that group of people is at least 40 years old." My father immediately looked embarrassed.

"There must be some promising young people." The girl raised her head.

"What era is it now? You are still young and promising. I think it's better for you to inherit the business at a young age." The father was dismissive of this, and then he remembered something, "Oh, by the way, I saw a young man waiting with you just now. He seemed to be a student like you."

"...Ah, he's in his third year of high school, right?" Sakura Ayane recalled.

"Oh, are you a former classmate from the training center?"

"No, he is a queue-jumping student who came in directly through a special assessment."

"Turns out he's an excellent talent. Did you chat while eating?" Dad was a little surprised.

"No."

"Then thank the other person next time you see him or her," the father taught.

"knew."

Sakura Ayane responded with a long tone.

She leaned all her weight on the seat, watching the night scene passing by outside the car window, which was dragged into long, colorful, flickering streaks, and a feeling of fatigue flowed from the inside out.

It is a wrong expectation to think that there will be people of the same age that you will get along with.

A group of men were drinking and sweating, talking in sharp voices, and occasionally telling dirty jokes that they thought were humorous. This was not the social interaction she wanted.

There was an air of reluctance about the occasion.

Even if you can't drink, you have to put on a smile and raise your glass to please others. Even if you can't talk loudly, you have to join in the conversation.

It's just an upgraded version of the one in school classes.

The result is the same everywhere.

The high school boy who was late today was actually quite embarrassed when he walked in, and he had to pretend to be familiar with the place.

"Ayane, are you a little tired?" The father keenly noticed his daughter's mood.

"a bit sleepy."

"Then I'll drive faster and go home to rest early. I have to go to school tomorrow. By the way, are you adapting to the new school?"

"Well, the teachers and classmates are all very nice." Sakura Ayane said softly.

……

Matsuoka Yoshitsugu staggered up the stairs and reached the door of his cheap rental apartment. He inserted the key several times before it fit properly.

After habitually muttering "I'm back" to myself in the dark, empty, narrow space, I relied on my memory to go to the bathroom, turned on the light, turned on the faucet and washed my face.