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

Tokyo Haneda International Airport.

"You actually came to pick up Ashu after all? Aren't you at home drawing anymore?"

Yuki Mizuno tilted her head, mocking Shion Hase.

Upon hearing this, Hasegawa Shion pouted and said, "I came to pick up Wakaba. She said she brought me a lot of Chinese specialties when she was transferring flights. Who's like you, with your mind full of men?"

"Oh, I can't help it, I can't stop thinking about Ashu. I'll tell Ashu later that you're not here to pick him up, and that you don't care about him at all."

Yuki Mizuno smiled, a cheeky chuckle.

Hasegawa Shion feigned indifference and retorted, "You, say whatever you want. You're all covered up so well, you look like a thief. Do you think he'll recognize you?"

Compared to Yuki Mizuno, who was dressed in a trench coat, hat, and mask, completely covered up except for her eyes, she was much more radiant.

Today, Shion Hasegawa is wearing a beautiful and elegant black dress, and her legs are covered with the black pantyhose that her die-hard pantyhose fetishist loves the most.

Hasegawa Shion thought to herself: Along the way, quite a few passersby, both men and women, have turned their heads to look at me.

I am indeed very beautiful, and Ashu will definitely be able to recognize me in a crowd.

On the other hand, you, a big star, are so covered up that you look like an ordinary passerby.

Hasegawa Shion felt that she had won back her pride in this regard, and was quite pleased with herself.

But Yuki Mizuno didn't care at all: "It's okay, as long as I can recognize Itsuki, that's enough!"

Upon hearing this, Hasegawa Shion slightly lowered the corners of her mouth and glared fiercely at Mizuno Yuki with her clear eyes: "Is that so? You've had a tough time too. Good luck."

She offered words of encouragement, but inwardly she cursed, "What a shameless woman! What a green tea b*tch! What a vixen!"

Of course, Shion Hasegawa couldn't hide anything from Yuki Mizuno, a seasoned veteran in the entertainment industry.

She knew without even thinking that Hase Shion was mentally attacking her.

But Yuki Mizuno wasn't angry; instead, she chuckled.

Because she knew that Hasegawa Shion's dislike for her wasn't the kind of dislike that would involve secretly stabbing her in the back.

The kind of dislike she has is the kind that makes her care more about someone the more she dislikes them.

Despite being rivals in love, Yuki Mizuno, like Wakaba Sato, often genuinely found this guy incredibly adorable.

Like a kitten that always bares its teeth at you, but occasionally becomes unexpectedly affectionate.

Of course, there's another reason why I find her adorable.
Yuki Mizuno: "Speaking of which, you're getting more and more docile, aren't you?"

Hasegawa Shion: "Huh? What do you mean?"

"Even though Wakaba and Sakurai Itsuki didn't tell you they were going on their graduation trip abroad, you still took the initiative to pick them up. I feel like the old you would have thrown a tantrum and waited for someone to coax you. You're so docile, not even arrogant anymore."

Yuki Mizuno stabbed Hase Shion straight in the heart, dealing massive true damage.

"You, you and I don't care what they do. Even if they're being all lovey-dovey in the hotel, what does it have to do with me? I've already said, I'm just here to pick up local specialties. They are my business partners and friends."

Hanase Shion took a deep breath in anger, her face turning red, and she reverted to her arrogant and haughty nature.

This is another reason why Yuki Mizuno found her cute.

This guy looks cold and aloof, like a haughty young lady, but he's actually harmless and easy to bully.

Yuki Mizuno listened to Shion Hasegawa's statement: "Hotel."

She pursed her lips. As a manipulative woman, she had never been shy about subtly mocking Hase Shion.

However, at this point, even she felt embarrassed to mock the young lady.

Even now, she still doesn't know that he was living at the Sato family's house in England?

That's a bit of an exaggeration.

After listening to Mizuno Yuki's soft murmur, Hasegawa Shion fell silent. She turned around in confusion and asked, "Why are you looking at me with such pity?"

Yuki Mizuno shook her head: "It's nothing. Ah, that's Itsuki, right?"

The two finally spotted Sato Wakaba and Sakurai Itsuki from afar, carrying a large amount of luggage and chatting and laughing as they walked out of the airport.

Because there are very few direct flights from the UK to Tokyo, Sato Wakaba arranged for Sakurai Itsuki, who has a particular fondness for and understanding of Chinese culture, to have a layover in Hong Kong.

What they held in their hands were the spoils they had bought at the airport duty-free shop.

Sato Wakaba snuggled close to Sakurai Itsuki, whispering something to him.

Although I only caught a glimpse of it from afar.

However, both of them clearly felt that something had changed.

Especially Sato Wakaba.
She seemed to be walking closer to him now, and her demeanor and expressions were no longer as carefree as before, but rather exuded a bold and dashing charm.

Although her appearance is undoubtedly still that of Sato Wakaba, the aura she exudes is strangely unfamiliar.

She was like a shy, newlywed bride.

Yuki Mizuno paused for a moment, then subconsciously exchanged a glance with Shion Hase beside her.

This is completely different from the Sato Wakaba they remember.

Sakurai Itsuki did not reject Sato Wakaba, who had a strange temperament, at all.

He actually seemed much gentler and more easygoing than I remembered.

Compared to the verbal sparring between the two just now, the damage caused by this single glance from afar was magnified a hundredfold.

Yuki Mizuno took a deep breath, stretched out her hand, and waved to Wakaba Sato in the distance.

Sato Wakaba immediately spotted Hase Shion and Mizuno Yuki waiting for the two of them.

In the past, she would have jumped up from a great distance, greeting everyone loudly with an air of wanting to be seen by the entire airport.

But today, when Sato Wakaba saw the two of them, the happy smile on her face suddenly stiffened.

After a moment of surprise, she chuckled and waved in this direction.

That fleeting struggle instantly plunged the two people who were picking him up at the Tokyo airport into despair.

Even someone as oblivious as Shion Hase could understand that things had changed between them because of this trip.

Hasegawa Shion stood there dumbfounded, while Mizuno Yuki gave a bitter smile.

What was the point of them just now, bickering and arguing with each other?

It was like two pathetic losers on the side of the road arguing about who was more pitiful.

As for the distant part of the world, Sato Wakaba was in an extremely good mood.

Ashu took the initiative to suggest that he go home to visit his family, and insisted that she accompany him.

Faced with his request, Sato Wakaba could only nod and reply, "I really can't do anything with you."

Taking her back to meet his father, with whom he has been estranged for a long time—isn't this the kind of treatment usually reserved for girlfriends, no, or even fiancées?

Ashu isn't the kind of person who's oblivious; he should be very clear about how his actions will make him think.
Therefore, Sato Wakaba's bright, almost dazzling smile softened and became gentler.

While strolling through the duty-free shop with him, she couldn't help but beam with happiness.

However, he was faced with two friends waiting at the airport.

Sato Wakaba's happiness has been marred by a new thorn.

The matter concerning Ashu's parents flashed through her mind.
Uncle Sakurai brought this up at the dinner table, complaining that the world is a place where some people are dying of thirst while others are drowning in floods.

Why doesn't he encounter such melodramatic troubles?

Uncle Sakurai just treated it as a story, but now that Sato Wakaba is looking back, she feels more and more like she's looking in a mirror.

Ashu and she had tacitly accepted each other's affections, which was the happiest thing of all.
But what are they going to do?

Consider the example of Ashu's parents.
Ashu's mother got to marry the man she loved, but what was the price?

If it weren't for Ashu's mother being terminally ill, the two sisters probably would never have met again.

What would have been the story of Mitsuki's mother if it weren't for the passing of Itsuki's mother?

A single mother who has never been married, enduring all sorts of gossip, painstakingly raised Mitsuki, and then... and then probably died alone.

Regardless, the story always ends with someone getting hurt, sacrificing the happiness of a close friend. Sato Wakaba tried to tell herself that maybe the two of them could let go of this relationship, unlike Mitsuki's mother who couldn't let go for a long time.

Think about it.
It is the woman who waited for him from childhood until she was eighteen, who still couldn't forget him, and who stood on the stage to confess her love to him in front of the entire Japanese audience, who could easily let go.

Or is it that the young lady who gave up her recommendation to Kyoto University and an almost perfect life plan to run away from home and "elope" with him can easily let go of the past?
Sato Wakaba knows her rival in love too well, to the point that she can't even deceive herself.

Looking at the two of them now, and thinking about what they will have to face in the future, that joy has faded somewhat.

Each harboring feelings they didn't want to reveal, they met again at the airport.

Yuki Mizuno took a deep breath and forced a smile: "Long time no see, did you enjoy your trip?"

Sakurai Itsuki replied, "It's not bad."

Yuki Mizuno smiled wryly: "You actually said it was good, so it must have been a very enjoyable trip! Did anything particularly happy happen?"

Sakurai Itsuki, who was favored by everyone present, was unable to empathize with their tormented hearts.

He casually handed the souvenir in one hand to Yuki Mizuno: "There's nothing much to talk about. Rather, could you help me with my luggage first?"

Yuki Mizuno took the luggage, but her gaze drifted to the unusually quiet Wakaba Sato: "Wakaba, did something happen that made you particularly happy?"

Sato Wakaba couldn't help but slightly avert her gaze when facing Mizuno Yuki's eyes.

"Everything about this trip was very enjoyable, but there's not much worth talking about."

After Sato Wakaba finished speaking, she couldn't help but purse her lips.

Those were lips that had stolen a taste of fish.

Yuki Mizuno said, "I see! Such a trip is truly enviable."

Sure enough, something had happened between them that she couldn't tell him.

Sakurai Itsuki then handed the luggage in one hand to Hase Shion, who was standing there in a daze: "Haven't seen you for days, why aren't you saying anything? Have you become mute? Help me carry this for a while."

Hasegawa Shion snapped out of her daze and glared fiercely at Sakurai Itsuki: "My hands are for drawing, not for carrying your luggage."

Upon hearing this, Sakurai Itsuki grabbed her wrist, pulled her arm up, and without saying a word, hung the bag he was holding directly on Hase Shion's arm.

Hasegawa Shion pouted: "Well, since there's a souvenir of mine in this luggage, I'll reluctantly help you carry it! You're such a big man, yet you're such a hopeless lazybones."

"Haha, Shion is still the same as before, she hasn't changed at all."

Seeing Sato Wakaba's still textbook-perfect arrogant remarks, she chuckled.

Sakurai Itsuki chimed in, "It's only been a few days. If you've changed so much, that would be too fickle."

Sato Wakaba agreed, saying, "That's true."

As Yuki Mizuno listened to their conversation, her once innocent eyes were now filled with an indescribable bitterness.

Did they not even realize that they had both changed so much?
Yes, it's only been a few days, why has it turned out like this?
The atmosphere suddenly turned cold. Sakurai Itsuki noticed something was wrong and said, "What are you standing here for? Do you like airports that much? Let's go home!"

As soon as she finished speaking, Sato Wakaba quickly chimed in, "That's right, that's right, hurry home, I miss home so much! Oh, by the way, I brought back some special sauce today, I'll show you how to make it!"

How can they be so in sync, singing in unison?

The four of them left the airport together, took a taxi, and headed towards the street they were most familiar with.

Sato Wakaba sighed somewhat insincerely in the taxi, "I've wanted to go back to Tokyo for ages! The weather in Tokyo is so much better. I really don't want to stay in England at all."

Then she stretched and complained about how bad London was.

The four of them chatted about the local customs and culture they had encountered during their travels, and it sounded very harmonious.

However, they deliberately avoided discussing matters concerning the Sato family or the Sakurai family.

The group returned to the familiar villa.

The room was fairly tidy, because Hase Shion, who had a key, would come over after finishing her painting to feed the two pufferfish named Sakura and Sasa.

Although she didn't particularly like the names of the two pufferfish.

Yuki Mizuno and Wakaba Sato went into the kitchen together, and the two, who were both good cooks, began preparing dinner.

Meanwhile, Hasegawa Shion helped Sakurai Itsuki tidy up the house.

Each had their own role, resulting in an unexpected harmony.

Dinner was exceptionally plentiful and tasted quite good.

Sato Wakaba praised Mizuno Yuki for her greatly improved cooking skills, saying she had been a great help to her.

Yuki Mizuno said that her cooking skills were still better.

Perhaps in an attempt to blend in and to receive praise, Hasegawa Shion mentioned that she came over every day to water the flowers and feed the pufferfish, thus taking credit for her actions.

This time, Sakurai Itsuki did just that, giving her a simple compliment.

Here, everything is as usual, and everyone is as harmonious as a family.

Yes, after dinner.

Sakurai Itsuki offered to take the two of them home, but Mizuno Yuki refused, saying, "You two are so close, there's no need to take you home. You just got back, you should rest."

Hasegawa Shion didn't know what to say, so she nodded and followed Mizuno Yuki out the door.

After walking out the door, turning the corner, and reaching a spot where the Sakurai family couldn't see you anymore, that's the moment.

Yuki Mizuno suddenly squatted down and burst into tears.

Everything is different now.

Hasegawa Shion was startled by Mizuno Yuki's actions: "What are you doing?"

Yuki Mizuno said regretfully, "Ah, they're getting closer and closer. Maybe I should have forced him to stay and not let him go to England. I should have been unreasonable."

The slow-witted Hase Shion hesitated for a moment, then crouched down stealthily, offering her unconvincing words of comfort to her rival.

"It's nothing. They're a little different than before, but they just came back from Europe, and the atmosphere there is a bit different."
Actually, they're not dating. You still have a chance. Although you're a bit of a tease and sometimes annoying, you're still very pretty, and you're a singer. Look, you two are childhood sweethearts!

Hasegawa Shion felt incredibly stupid for actually comforting her love rival.

However, even though her words of comfort were meant to comfort Yuki Mizuno, they were actually also meant to comfort herself.

I still have a chance; they haven't officially started dating yet.

"We didn't date. Yes, we didn't date."

"Yeah, yeah, you're usually so bold, why are you acting like a crybaby today?"

Hasegawa Shion complained, "Even someone as prone to crying as myself isn't crying, so why are you crying? How pathetic."

"Sigh, I should have been more stubborn. I was too naive. I still held onto a sliver of hope that he wouldn't be living at the Sato family's house."

Yuki Mizuno knew very well that this was where she lost.

"Wait, you're living at the Sato family's house?"

Hasegawa Shion frowned.

"Oh, right, you didn't know?"

Three minutes later.

"woooooo"

Having finally learned everything, Hasegawa Shion knelt down next to Mizuno Yuki, hugging her knees and sobbing.

"Can you stop crying? Miss, weren't you going to comfort me?"

With tears still welling up in her eyes, Mizuno Yuki was speechless, patting Hase Shion on the back and sighing.

"This is too much! You're all bullying me! Waaah!"

Shion Hasegawa cried loudly.

Yuki Mizuno was powerless to help. She gently wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes and looked up at the sky.

For some reason, they felt like two defeated dogs stranded on the street. (End of Chapter)