People in Tokyo, the world is clear

She seemed a little embarrassed to speak, but finally took a deep breath and calmly began an unexpected question.

This is a sentence that I really didn’t expect:

"Senior. I... may not be in Tokyo for three days: tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, and the day after tomorrow."

These words made my heart tighten suddenly.

"what happened?"

"Uh." The girl in front of him looked a little unsure how to explain.

After considering her words for a moment, she finally revealed the truth:

"He is, my...brother, um."

"He and I are going back to our hometown together."

"..."

It's a possibility that I haven't even realized yet.

For some unknown reason, I felt a sense of discomfort in my heart.

But showing it would be very rude and selfish. So, Lin Sen tried his best to keep calm.

“I see.”

"Yeah. My grandma is in my hometown, and we made an appointment to go visit her some time ago."

"Did you bring anyone else?"

"No. Just the two of us."

"...Oh."

That strange emotion is even more sinister.

Then, suddenly, suddenly, suddenly.

I just remembered it.

She, Ito Nishika, is not just a silly, innocent girl next door who is as blank as a sheet of paper.

Deep down in her heart, she has someone she admires, just like the protagonist in the story Lin Sen wrote for himself.

She is the same type as that little Lin Sen, and the same type as the Lin Sen who is addicted to role-playing, but she is not the same type as the Lin Sen who wears a hat and acts as a tour guide.

I almost forgot this.

What a low-level mistake.

Memories flash back vividly, like a video being rewound.

This reckless day flashed before my eyes, and then I flashed back to last night, when I shared pear soup. Then, time began to speed up.

The station in the early morning, the udon restaurant late at night, and that rainy night again.

Yes. I don't know when I gradually let down my guard. My acting skills crumbled, and I went from being a model puppet to a real person.

This shouldn't be the case.

The next moment after figuring this out, the hidden color in the depths of Lin Sen's eyes suddenly disappeared.

It was that Vanta black again.

Reach out and adjust your hat left or right.

Then, put on a calm expression as usual.

Give the same encouraging words of encouragement:

"Come on, Ito. You're different from me. You still have a chance to turn things around."

"Ah."

The girl glanced over secretly, as if observing something.

But I didn't see anything.

She had no choice but to lower her head, her expression blurred for a moment.

But he quickly raised his head again, still with a warm smile.

"Will do."

The girl under the starlight still smiles peacefully and lovely.

The diffuse white light from the lamp shone on her face.

But I don’t know why.

Some of them feel unfamiliar.

Chapter 28: Living Like This for Seven Days

“So, I always feel like there’s something wrong.”

"Elaborate."

This morning's manuscript seems to have dissatisfied someone.

Reaching out to the side and calling out to Lin Sen who was about to run away, Sasagawa Riya lowered her head, bit her lower lip, and carefully examined the contents on the paper.

moment.

"I can't quite describe it."

She placed her hooked index finger against her chin, tracing the source.

"Actually, after reading yesterday's content, it doesn't feel right when I think about it again. It's like drinking a sip of clear soup—it's flavorful, but not very rich."

This woman has a lot of demands.

But there was nothing I could do. She was currently a thigh that needed to be clung to, so I had no choice but to go along with what she said.

Stopping in the middle of the room, Lin Sen organized his words.

"Does it mean the plot or writing is bland?"

"Tsk."

The flamingo clicked its tongue and frowned again.

"Not really. I just feel that your new book, although not much different from your previous works, is still missing something."

This was said as if it were a sentence.

Lin Sen was a little overwhelmed.

I had no choice but to continue the topic.

"Then I should change it?"

"It seems that it's not necessary. Actually, it's been fine so far, but if this trend continues, something will be wrong."

"Editor Sasakawa, what do you think is the best way to handle this?"

I kicked the ball back, but found that the female editor's face was even more conflicted.

She closed her eyes and seemed to be thinking.

The room fell into silence for a short while.

Long strands of hot mist swirled from the coffee cup on the table, swirling and drifting with the weak morning air currents before dissipating towards the ceiling.

Then, the speechless situation was broken at this moment.

"To be honest, I don't really want to influence Mr. Itsuki's creative ideas." Sasagawa Rio opened her eyes again and looked up.

This was the first time Lin Sen read sincerity in her expression.

A little surprised.

"I prefer to be a pure reader and enjoy the final story. But at the same time, as a reader, I want to convey my experience while reading to you."

She took a sip from her coffee cup, covering her mouth and chin.

"From that stunning preface, my experience with this story has been gradually declining, like a slow slide from the top of a mountain. It's certainly a masterpiece, but I always have a hunch that it could be even better."

Halfway through his words, he put down his hand, cleared his throat, and looked over at me seriously again.

"I noticed this subtle flaw, so selfishly I wanted to express my feelings and share my feelings. I also hope that Mr. Itsuki can change my current opinion in the future. I hope you don't find it offensive."

It was a very sincere and careful speech, completely without the sharp tongue that is typical of this person.

Maybe the more you value something, the more cautious you will be about it.

She must really like literature.

I felt sad and decided to think of a solution when the time comes.

All we can say is that we have done our best. After all, this Lin Sen is not the same little Lin Sen.

Turn around and face the other person, and make your promise solemnly.

"I understand. I'll find a chance to adjust."

"Grateful."

Despite some twists and turns, we finally parted happily.

I was lazily wandering on the way home, but my heart had already drifted to the bed in the bedroom of my apartment.

Today is Sunday.

After a week of work, it's time to take a break.

I somehow recalled the scene of the girl next door and I saying goodbye when I went out early in the morning.

He dragged his suitcase out of the house, panting, and still greeted himself happily.

But the smile on his face was filled with a bit more enthusiasm and anticipation that was easy to understand than before.

In the morning light, he was as happy as a little fool.

It's understandable. If it were the old Xiao Linsen, if the woman he deeply loved invited him to go out with her, his reaction would probably be even more exaggerated.

People who fall in love always become childish.

Is such that.

Lin Sen made the above comment while kicking a stone on the ground like a child, causing it to roll all the way.

A sigh escaped my throat. I didn't know why, but I felt a kind of inexplicable depression in my chest.

But after all, I am a person who is good at self-regulation. Soon, my mentality was calm again.

Let’s mix it like this first and talk about it later.

Let's just live one day at a time, what else can we do?

Without further ado, I walked slowly along the elevated highway, savoring the present weekend moment.

There was the sound of a convertible passing by.

The trendy woman in the red car hugged her boyfriend's neck, leaving a lipstick print on his cheek. Then she turned her head to face the wind, combed her hair with her hands, and smiled foolishly.

People in prosperous times are always bold and free.

The speakers, turned up high, blasted out beats, performing the most common musical style of this era.

[Don’t let a sudden kiss or passionate gaze disrupt the rhythm of love...]

[From meeting to breaking up, I can handle it easily.]

[Just end it when the time is up, don’t worry!]

It turns out that humans are creatures that are influenced by their environment.

As I climbed up the stairs, I unconsciously hummed the tune I had just learned.

He didn't stop until he took out the key to open the door.

Then the next second I couldn't hum anymore.

"?"