I, who tortured the readers, was knocked to the ground by them!

On a suburban street far from the bustling city of Tokyo, a pair of hands covered Sakurai Itsuki's eyes from behind.

Then, accompanied by a familiar fragrance, a deliberately deep voice reached Sakurai Itsuki's ear: "Guess who I am?"

Sakurai Itsuki replied helplessly, "Have you forgotten that you were the one who asked me out?"

Yuki Mizuno chuckled, "How could I forget that? But don't you think this kind of physical contact is quite romantic?"

Sakurai Itsuki sighed: "So, what should I do?"

Yuki Mizuno said, "Quickly guess who I am, then gently pull my hand down, and turn around to look at me."

As she spoke, she tightened her grip on Sakurai Itsuki's eyes, as if urging him to act according to her plan.

Sakurai Itsuki had no choice but to do as she said, taking her soft and slender hand and reluctantly putting it down: "Is she the popular actress, Yukiko?"

"Hmm~ I guess you're right. Actually, in front of you, I'd prefer you to call me Mizuno Yuki rather than Yukiko."

Yuki Mizuno watched as the person turned around, revealing a sweet smile.

"Ah Shu, you've grown so tall now!"

"It's because you're too short."

Sakurai Itsuki released her hand and gave her a quick look.

Yuki Mizuno is the kind of girl who makes you feel that she has an extraordinary temperament and shines brightly when she is on stage, but when she is actually standing in front of you, you will be surprised to find that she is actually quite petite.

Today she was wearing a pure white dress and thick-heeled woven sandals that exposed her instep and toes.

Her attire was simple, but upon closer inspection, one could discover subtle details hidden throughout.

For example, the silver-white cherry blossom earrings that shimmer in the sunlight, or the light-colored lipstick that makes her lips appear even softer, or the natural, light makeup on her face that requires superb skill to achieve.
"Really? It's not too much of a difference, maybe twenty or thirty centimeters."

Yuki Mizuno reached out and gestured on her own head, then leaned closer to Itsuki Sakurai, stood on tiptoe, and gently touched his head.

This method of measuring height by hand left Sakurai Itsuki somewhat bewildered.

It felt like we were back on that afternoon after school, when the two of us were still children, gesturing with our hands over each other's heads, arguing about who was taller.

Back then, the two of them always compared their heights, because boys always develop a little later than girls, and Sakurai Itsuki was a year younger than Mizuno Yuki, so Sakurai Itsuki was always a bit behind in height when they were young.

Yuki Mizuno would pat Itsuki Sakurai on the shoulder with a smug look on her face, making him call her "older sister" and urging him to eat more.

Sakurai Itsuki, however, would retort that the height difference between him and her was getting smaller and smaller, and that he would surpass her sooner or later.

Nowadays, it's no longer necessary to speculate on who is taller between the two.

But as the person in front of him made that long-unheard gesture, a sudden flash of memories made Sakurai Itsuki lose his composure.

"What, are you stunned? Today's meeting seems to have scored quite high in your opinion!"

Seeing Sakurai Itsuki's slightly absent-minded look, Mizuno Yuki tilted her head and smiled. Her shoulder-length flaxen hair looked especially soft in the April sunlight.

Although she wasn't wearing a bare face, she still looked incredibly pure.

Sakurai Itsuki thought that if the world were to remake "You Are the Apple of My Eye," she would definitely be the perfect choice.

No one evokes that innocent, first-love feeling more than her.

"It reminded me of some things from the past."

Sakurai Itsuki didn't deny that he had a good impression of her today.

This is probably what childhood sweethearts are like: at some point in time, they suddenly recall the beautiful memories of the past.

But when I came back to my senses from the beautiful moment, I realized that despite the passage of time, she was still willing to stay by my side, and a sense of comfort rose in my heart.

Yuki Mizuno replied, "It seems to be about me."

Sakurai Itsuki changed the subject, asking, "So, what exactly happened today?"

Today he told Sato Wakaba that he came to see her for work-related reasons, but Sakurai Itsuki himself didn't know the real reason.

However, Yuki Mizuno said she hoped he could spend time with her today as a reward for her recent tireless promotion of him in various occasions.

As for the specifics, Yuki Mizuno said she wanted to keep them confidential for the time being.

She simply sent him a location, telling him that if Sakurai Itsuki agreed, he should go there at the appointed time, and she would be waiting for him there.

Sakurai Itsuki also showed that he didn't ask any more questions. He also happened to have a new song that he wanted her to try out, and they chatted about what would happen next.

He was planning to talk about work-related matters, so he wasn't really lying.

With her hands behind her back, Yuki Mizuno walked ahead of Itsuki Sakurai, leading the way: "I just wanted you to keep me company. Don't you want to go on a date with me? The atmosphere is unusually nice."

Sakurai Itsuki paused for a moment, then followed, something else popped into his head, and he shook his head again: "A date? That's a bit too much for us."

Yuki Mizuno asked, "What's wrong? Did you remember something?"

Sakurai Itsuki said, "It's nothing, I just misremembered."

The two walked one after the other, stepping onto the moss-covered stone steps and ascending a lush, somewhat secluded mountain.

A weathered torii gate stands in front of the mountain gate.

There should be a shrine on the mountain, but it doesn't seem very popular or have any incense offerings.

Although it's unclear why Mizuno Yuki chose this location, Sakurai Itsuki doesn't dislike the environment.

He preferred strolling through places like Shibuya and Shinjuku, which were always bustling with noise.

Yuki Mizuno turned her head and said, "Maybe I'm not mistaken. Actually, today is my birthday! I'm 20 years old, I'm an adult now."

"But isn't your birthday in October?" Sakurai Itsuki asked, as if he had just thought about whether there were any special days around that time.

For some reason, the thought of Mizuno Yuki's birthday flashed through his mind, but he immediately dismissed it.

Last October, Yuki Mizuno held a special fan birthday party, and the tickets sold out in five minutes.

After the birthday party, Sakurai Itsuki and Sato Wakaba and a few others went to celebrate Mizuno Yuki's birthday.

"That wasn't a real birthday! There's so much misinformation about celebrities. Just think, it's a rare birthday, and they have to hold a birthday party and respond to fans all the time. It's so sad."

Yuki Mizuno said that she didn't want to suffer by working on her birthday.

Sakurai Itsuki asked, "But you moved here last April, didn't you? Why didn't you say so before?"

Yuki Mizuno explained with her hands behind her back, "Actually, I don't really like celebrating my birthday. I usually spend it alone quietly. As for why I didn't tell you guys, it's because you guys went out of your way to prepare for me, and I didn't want to spoil your fun. Besides, that girl was probably just looking for an excuse to eat cake." "I don't doubt that," Itsuki Sakurai nodded. "However, I remember celebrating your birthday with you when we were little. Sorry, my memory is a bit hazy; I didn't even think about it last year."

Yuki Mizuno shook her head: "No, after all this time, the fact that you can still recognize me, Itsuki, is enough to satisfy me."

Looking at Yuki Mizuno, Itsuki Sakurai felt a little guilty: "Your standards are too low. Didn't you recognize me at first glance?"

Yuki Mizuno continued walking ahead, looking up at the sky, which was hidden by the mountains and forests with only a few gaps showing: "There's nothing I can do about it, I'm just such an inexpensive girl."

"My female celebrity, are you deliberately showing off to me?" Sakurai Itsuki asked. "If you're considered cheap, then how many others would be selling off at a fire sale price?"

Yuki Mizuno corrected, "That's Yukiko, not Yuki Mizuno."

"..." Sakurai Itsuki sensed something was off and stopped joking. "What happened?"

Yuki Mizuno shook her head: "It's nothing, it happened many years ago, after I moved from Hokkaido to Osaka. Anyway, after moving to Osaka, I stopped really celebrating my birthday. But for my 20th birthday, I still hope you'll be with me, just your company is enough."

She turned to look at Sakurai Itsuki and continued, "Itsuki, I'd be happy if you cared about me, but could you please not ask me why today? Today is a tragic day when I'm about to go from a cheap girl to a cheap woman, so please don't make things worse for me."

“Mm.” Sakurai Itsuki nodded.

Yuki Mizuno continued, "Am I particularly troublesome? I took it upon myself to bring you here, told you a bunch of things, and then didn't explain why."

"You'd be perfect as a manga artist; your ability to keep people in suspense is off the charts," Sakurai Itsuki joked.

"Really? After all, I've done so many manga explanations!" Yuki Mizuno's eyes reddened slightly, as if she was recalling some sad memories of the past.

Sakurai Itsuki stepped forward and gently took her hand: "I'll stay with you."

Yuki Mizuno smiled, her bright eyes crinkling: "Itsuki's hands are so big and warm."

"Happy birthday. I'm sorry I didn't prepare a present," Sakurai Itsuki said.

Yuki Mizuno shook her head. "I already received a gift for Yukiko's birthday last October. Receiving two gifts in one year is too shameless."

Sakurai Itsuki asked, "Didn't you say that Mizuno Yuki and Yukiko are different?"

Upon hearing this, Mizuno Yuki raised the hand that Sakurai Itsuki was holding and gently gestured: "Yes, for Mizuno Yuki, this is the best gift."

"I would give this score an 80," Sakurai Itsuki commented.

Yuki Mizuno was somewhat dissatisfied: "Only 80? I thought it was already full. Luckily I didn't keep going on about the topic, otherwise the score would have been even lower."

"How would you know if you didn't tell me?" Sakurai Itsuki was really concerned about what had happened to make Mizuno Yuki unwilling to celebrate her birthday with everyone anymore.

The Yuki Mizuno I remember from my childhood shouldn't be like this.

Sure enough, she became so paranoid, not only because she regretted her lack of honesty back then, but also because of other reasons.

Yuki Mizuno tilted her head, revealing two small fangs like a little devil: "Really? Then you have to marry me after hearing that."

"."

"Okay, just kidding. I'll tell you about it slowly when I have the chance, if you'd like." Yuki Mizuno moved closer to him again.

"I'm willing, but can't you stop getting so close? We're going to have trouble walking, we're still climbing a mountain," Sakurai Itsuki complained. "You're dressed like an innocent young girl, can't you be a little more reserved?"

"Hmm~ a pure girl, that means she has very pure feelings!" Yuki Mizuno had no intention of distancing herself at all, and now she really pressed her cheek against his shoulder.

Sakurai Itsuki immediately regretted it; he shouldn't have held her hand under the filter of the atmosphere and memories.

Now it's really stuck to me like chewing gum, I can't shake it off.
The two lingered on the mountain path for about half an hour before finally arriving at the extremely deserted shrine.

Perhaps still having some basic respect for the occasion, Yuki Mizuno reluctantly let Itsuki Sakurai go.

Compared to the bustling shrines in the city center, the mountain shrines in the suburbs of Tokyo are extremely poorly equipped.

Only an elderly couple is responsible for looking after the entire shrine.

But both Yuki Mizuno and Itsuki Sakurai preferred this kind of atmosphere.

In such a bustling place, they dared not be so relaxed and carefree; they had to be wary of everyone around them.

As was customary, the two obtained a red seal, drew lots, and received amulets. They wrote their wishes on ema (votive plaques) and then went down the mountain.

Yuki Mizuno originally planned to write "Wishing you health and happiness, Itsuki" on the ema (votive plaque) and then flirt with Itsuki Sakurai a little more.

However, as I picked up my pen, the images of my managers and colleagues, who have been taking care of everyone since I came to Tokyo, suddenly flashed through my mind.

There are also two close friends who always bother her, yet she can't let go of them.

It was eventually changed to "Wishing everyone health and happiness".

As for Sakurai Itsuki, the wish he wrote on the ema was very simple: "May everything go well."

He always wrote this when he got to this part.

However, he knew in his heart that something was different.

For the past two years, my hope has been to make a lot of money.

Now, the expectation of smooth sailing has expanded to include many more factors and people.

After that segment, Yuki Mizuno had no other special plans for the day.

Because this place is already in the far suburbs of Tokyo, the commute back home is incredibly long for the two of them.

Both still had things to do, so after descending the mountain, they took a short stroll, had a meal, and chatted about the follow-up work before heading back.

Honestly, whether you consider it a 20th birthday or a date, today seems rather ordinary and cheap.

However, on the way down the mountain, Yuki Mizuno held his hand and gently hummed a song to him as they strolled along the forest path.

It seems that everything has returned to its most beautiful state.

Yuki Mizuno said she wanted to stay by his side and sing for him for the rest of her life.

Sakurai Itsuki remarked, "The idea that it's all about a lifetime is terrifying."

However, imagining it, perhaps, compared to a grand wedding with fluttering rose petals, simply holding hands and singing songs from youth to old age would be even more romantic.

There is a kind of ordinary, comforting gentleness.

Hidden beneath Yukiko's facade, Mizuno Yuki is indeed, as Yukiko herself said, just a cheap girl with no ambition or aspirations, and certainly not a star.

But there's nothing wrong with that. (End of Chapter)