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

Sakurai Itsuki looked up at the sky, which was beginning to turn twilight.

This is the sky over Tokyo during the summer.

As expected, Sakurai Itsuki took out his phone; it was already six o'clock.

They had originally agreed to meet at 5 p.m.

That chatterbox on my phone finally sent a message.

The fireworks display will start at 7 PM!

It's rare that she didn't complain to me repeatedly about her procrastination today, and only sent me a message now.

However, Sakurai Itsuki is still quite far from the location of the fireworks festival.

Furthermore, he cannot get there now.

Sakurai Itsuki: [Sorry, please wait a moment, I haven't finished dealing with this yet.]

Sato Wakaba looked down at the message, pursing her lips slightly: "It's okay, I'll always wait for you."

Sato Wakaba: [I wore a yukata today, you haven't seen this style before, are you already looking forward to it?]

Sakurai Itsuki looked at the message and took a deep breath.

After hesitating for a moment, he still didn't tell her that he was looking for Yuki Mizuno.

Yuki Mizuno and her manager did not want them to know about this.

Of course, since Sakurai Itsuki used this as an excuse for being late, Sato Wakaba certainly had no reason to blame him.

However, I still feel that he's a bit too much of a scumbag.

Let's delay a bit longer. Maybe we can find Yuki Mizuno soon, hand her over to her manager, and then I can make it there myself.

Although I'm sure I'll get criticized, I'll deal with it when the time comes.

Sakurai Itsuki replied to the message: 【Yeah, I'm really looking forward to it. I'll do my best.】

Sato Wakaba: [There's no need to rush. Didn't you say before when you were drawing manga that you wanted to keep the readers waiting a little, to whet their appetite? The climax will be even more exciting!]

Upon seeing Sato Wakaba's message, Sakurai Itsuki let out a long sigh.

Looking back at the bustling streets of Tokyo.

Finding someone in the world's largest metropolitan area is like finding a needle in a haystack.

There was none at home, none at the hospital, none in the parks or cafes she frequented.

We can't just run back to Osaka.
Could it be that she went back to Sapporo, Hokkaido?
Sakurai Itsuki was in a real bind.

Since their reunion, Yuki Mizuno has spoiled him excessively.

She accepted almost all of his requests and deliberately restrained herself, rarely causing him any trouble.

Every time I express my dissatisfaction to her, even if she is unwilling, she will definitely change.

Compared to those two annoying girls, in front of her, she really seemed to be like the "cheap" girl she had described before.

She should be a dazzling idol on stage.

But even when she cried, she did so secretly, behind her back.

Even when I'm incredibly busy, I'll still make time to prepare promotional videos for myself.

Two years like this
Even though things are already like this, she even agreed to help me make a video to promote the movie "Hotarubi no Mori e".

I publish my monthly magazine on the 2nd of each month, but to ensure the best effect, the video was actually completed around the 20th of the previous month.

Her video production cycle is about two weeks, so she usually starts making videos around the 6th of each month.

She would usually call on the 8th to check the first draft of the video with me.
Although Sakurai Itsuki felt that the thoughts currently flooding her mind were too absurd.

However, compared to finding a needle in a haystack, we can only give it a try now.

July 7th, 6:50 AM.

Sato Wakaba stood alone by the river, staring repeatedly at the time on her phone.

The eyes of those around her couldn't help but drift toward Sato Wakaba, who was standing quietly in the corner.

Her striking blonde hair and beautiful pink yukata made her stand out even in a densely packed venue, instantly drawing everyone's attention.

She knew that Sakurai Itsuki preferred to keep a low profile, but according to her plan, she was destined to be absolutely stunning today and unable to keep a low profile.

The Western-style girl has delicate, three-dimensional features, yet her eyes possess the softness and subtlety of an Eastern woman.

After she spent an entire afternoon carefully dressing up and blending her features, it seemed as if the beauty of Eastern and Western girls had been perfectly harmonized in her.

If there really were elves like those in Japanese fantasy novels, wearing yukatas, they would probably be like this, right?
Beautiful and captivating.

So much so that passing girls couldn't help but exclaim in amazement, wondering: Which company has brought these models for an outdoor shoot?

I rotated it around, but still couldn't find a camera lens to shoot from.

She simply lowered her head with a slightly worried expression, staring repeatedly at the ticking time on her phone screen.

Who exactly made her wait like this?

Many people are curious, but this situation is different from the usual situation where they are confessed to or approached by strangers.

No one approached Sato Wakaba today.

Because they are so beautiful that you feel like they are from a completely different world.

Because those who come together to watch the fireworks display are either couples or happy families.

More importantly, even passersby could see that the girl's face was filled with the thought that she was waiting for someone she had been longing for.

6 points.

Sato Wakaba lowered her head and asked about her again.

However, the message is marked as "unread".

Where did he go? Is he that busy?

Looking around the fireworks display, I saw couples holding candied apples, eating takoyaki, and beaming with smiles.

Sato Wakaba bit her lip slightly.

It's okay, Ashu, you're always so slow and dawdling.

I used to be like that when I was in school, I would only walk into the classroom at the very last second before the doorbell rang.

If I weren't there nagging and urging him on, he would definitely be like this!
That's just how that guy is.

By the way, there were so many people watching the fireworks display today, even though it was a weekday evening.

Given Tokyo's terrible traffic conditions, the surrounding area must be completely jammed by now, right?
He definitely didn't want to get out of the taxi and run over.

Or perhaps, that guy carelessly fell asleep in the car? Like the kind of person he'd do.

Aside from jobs that pay, he's always been incredibly lax about everything else.

Well, he was quite attentive to me and my family when we were in London.
He'll definitely come, right?
Time keeps ticking away on my phone.

"Eh, Wakaba?!"

A voice suddenly came from afar, and Sato Wakaba immediately raised her head.

Only after looking up did I belatedly realize what had happened.

That voice wasn't a familiar one.

Yuuki Tsukimi clapped her hands: "So beautiful!"

Shinichi Kojima stroked his chin and whispered to his sister, "Looks like it really is Wakaba's turn today."

The club members, having finished their work early and having nothing else to do, decided to come here and join in the fun.

As soon as they arrived, they spotted the beautiful, elfin-like girl.

"Oh, you've come to see the fireworks display too!"

Sato Wakaba, standing alone to one side, scratched her face somewhat awkwardly.

Today she was looking forward to some time alone with him. She and Ashu had already agreed that it would be a "birthday party for two" just to make up for it.

Everyone's appearance is too much
Sato Wakaba asked, "By the way, where's Itsuki?"

"You're asking us?" Yuna Eguchi asked in confusion.

"You, aren't you working together?" Sato Wakaba suddenly had a bad feeling.

"He finished his work by noon, didn't he? Didn't he leave the company at noon?" someone asked.

At that moment, Hina Goto suddenly said, "He's probably still with Yukiko, right?"

After she finished speaking, noticing everyone's gaze turning in their direction, Goto Hina, the only one who knew the truth, quickly covered her mouth.

She let it slip again.

"I'm sorry, but if you keep asking me, I probably can't tell you what Yuki's agency is asking of me."

Sato Wakaba paused for a moment, but did not press the matter further.

Because, as the colorful lights along the riverbank suddenly went out, the world darkened by a shade.

boom! A sound.

The first firework burst into bloom in the sky.

The fireworks display has begun.

Sakurai Itsuki, panting, pushed open the door to a private room in an internet cafe.

After a difficult negotiation with the shop assistant, Sakurai Itsuki, who claimed to be her family member, finally obtained the information that the shop assistant had sold her privacy for.

And now, the person lying face down on the table in the private room, fast asleep, is none other than Yuki Mizuno, who has been out of contact since this morning.

She was wearing a very inconspicuous black hoodie, and the baseball cap and mask she usually used to cover herself up on the street were casually left in another corner of the private room.

Her chestnut-brown hair was scattered all over the computer desk, like vines that hadn't been tended to for years.

The aroma of malty beer permeated the entire private room.

The computer desk was surrounded by empty Asahi beer cans.

Seeing her chest rise and fall with her breath, Sakurai Itsuki finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Fortunately, he appears to be physically unharmed.

She couldn't help but think to herself, "This disheveled and filthy female drunkard has no trace of an idol."
If some fans saw this, they might be disillusioned, right?

Just as she was thinking this, Sakurai Itsuki saw the Office document and the script she had sent her earlier on the computer screen.

She was already fast asleep, with a copy of the manga "5 Centimeters Per Second" beside her.

Her eyes were red and swollen, and her face was covered with dried tear stains.

Sakurai Itsuki gently bent down and patted her shoulder.

Yuki Mizuno frowned slightly, her long eyelashes fluttering a few times before her beautiful eyes finally opened a crack.

She opened those eyes that were always filled with innocence.

Yuki Mizuno sat up somewhat groggily and glanced at Itsuki Sakurai: "Huh?"

Sakurai Itsuki asked, "Are you feeling unwell?"

When faced with Sakurai Itsuki's question, Mizuno Yuki reached out and cupped his face in her hands.

Her bright eyes were fixed on his face, then she pouted and sighed softly, "Ah, I'm really drunk, I dreamed about you again. I wish I could stay drunk forever."

Faced with her somewhat cute murmur, Sakurai Itsuki reached out with both hands and cupped the face that still bore traces of tears.

Then I tugged at it.

Yuki Mizuno winced in pain and released her grip, saying, "Ouch, that hurts!"

Sakurai Itsuki also released his hands at the same time, saying irritably, "See? You weren't dreaming. You should sober up by now. If you don't, the agency will really have to call the police."

Yuki Mizuno rubbed her cheeks, which had just been pulled, with both hands, looking somewhat dazed.

Then he suddenly raised his head and looked at Sakurai Itsuki in front of him, finally realizing the situation.

Yuki Mizuno frantically turned her head, searching for something: "Ah, oh no, oh no!"

Sakurai Itsuki reminded him, "The phone is under the table."

Unexpectedly, Yuki Mizuno wasn't looking for her phone; she was trying to contact her manager, who had been searching for her all day.

Instead, she got up, picked up the small bag hanging at the back of the private room, and hurriedly took out a bunch of cosmetics from it, intending to touch up her makeup.

Sakurai Itsuki quickly raised her hand and flicked her forehead: "Aren't there things that take precedence over touching up your makeup right now?"

Why does it feel like the Mizuno Yuki in front of me is completely different from the shrewd, fox-like woman I usually know?

Yuki Mizuno put down her cosmetics and leaned weakly against the wall of the private room: "Ah, this is so embarrassing."

He then glanced at the time on his computer and said, "I've messed things up."

Sakurai Itsuki picked up Mizuno Yuki's phone; the battery was dead, which was probably why she couldn't get through.

Sakurai Itsuki then handed his phone to Mizuno Yuki: "Use my phone to apologize to your manager. The password is my birthday."

"Ah."

Having recovered from the effects of alcohol and sleep, Yuki Mizuno took the phone and easily unlocked it.

The first thing that caught my eye was a LINE message from the woman whose contact name was "Golden-haired Old Lady".

Are you with Yuki?

Yuki Mizuno paused for a moment, then glanced at the date again.

It's Qixi Festival.

Yuki Mizuno didn't know whether to be happy or sad. She pursed her lips and said, "I'm sorry, Itsuki, I've caused you trouble and bothered you."

"Don't always think about being afraid of causing me trouble. I'm always taking advantage of you. Even if you cause me endless trouble, it's still fair. Don't keep quiet about everything."

Sakurai Itsuki has always been someone who hates trouble, but that depends on the person, the type, and the situation.

He would gladly accept some trouble from the person who had been waiting for him for almost ten years.

Yuki Mizuno smiled wryly, "Because I'm afraid you'll hate me. You made plans with Wakaba today, right? Hurry up and go over there."

Yuki Mizuno could have been despicable enough to leave him there, but in the end she didn't do it.

She clearly said she would stop at nothing, and she clearly reprimanded Sato Wakaba severely, saying she wasn't worthy of causing trouble for Itsuki.
Sakurai Itsuki shook his head: "It's too late. We can't get there now. Let's talk about it later. It's not a big deal over there."

Despite having been thinking of finding her, he rushed over there as quickly as possible after informing his agent.

But there wasn't enough time.

Of course, the main reason was the tear stains on Yuki Mizuno's face.

He knew his place in her heart.

Sakurai Itsuki couldn't possibly leave her when she was so vulnerable.

otherwise
If something truly irreversible were to happen, Sakurai Itsuki wouldn't be able to accept it.

Therefore, he had to stay here.

"It's nothing serious, I just accidentally drank too much and overslept."

Yuki Mizuno is very good at lying, but under his gaze, her eyes still gave her away.

"I've already told you, don't keep everything from me. We're childhood sweethearts, we've known each other for over ten years. Don't be like you were when you left, saying nothing. Haven't you always regretted not saying goodbye to me back then?"

Looking at the girl in front of him who seemed about to break, Sakurai Itsuki couldn't help but feel heartache.

Yuki Mizuno paused for a moment, then reminded him again, "Ah, meeting you alone on Tanabata is no small matter, Itsuki."

Despite the reminder, Yuki Mizuno didn't give Itsuki Sakurai another chance to speak.

She picked up her phone, dialed the number, and called her agent.

She solemnly apologized to her agent, and then reminded him, "I'm fine now, and with Ashu by my side, you don't need to come over."

Nakajima Asami breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that the caller ID was Sakurai Itsuki's number.

It was a good thing for her that the two of them could be alone together, so she nodded in agreement.

Sakurai Itsuki asked, "Aren't you going to show your face at the agency? She's really anxious too."

After hanging up the phone, Yuki Mizuno looked at Itsuki Sakurai and said, "How many people do you want to see me looking like this, all disheveled and drunk? What, are you still going to abandon me and go to Wakaba's place?"

Sakurai Itsuki sighed: "Who would dare to abandon you if you act like this?"

Yuki Mizuno scratched her face: "I really want to say that I'm just under too much work pressure, so I drink. Can that convince you?"

Sakurai Itsuki: "You haven't been working much lately, have you?"

Yuki Mizuno shook her head: "Those traitors... how did you find me here?"

Sakurai Itsuki said, "Honestly, it's really hard to find someone in Tokyo. I was just trying my luck, thinking that you might be a hopeless idiot, that you would still want to make a video for me even after all this."

Sakurai Itsuki was able to find her thanks to the underdeveloped internet cafe industry in Tokyo.

Internet cafes that can support smooth editing and special effects, and have high color gamut screens, are extremely rare.

After filtering through the areas where Yuki Mizuno might be active, this place was found.

Yuki Mizuno pouted slightly: "Don't call me an idiot. Fine, I am an idiot. I was just thinking of having a couple of sips to make myself feel better before getting back to work, but once I started, I couldn't stop."

She looked at the manuscript and the unedited video on the screen: "I messed up, sorry, Ashu, we're behind schedule."

Sakurai Itsuki sighed, "You spoil me too much."

Yuki Mizuno simply said, "Because... I promised you."

Yuki Mizuno still didn't say those words.

Because soon I will have nothing left but you.

If you leave again
Yuki Mizuno wiped away her tears and changed the subject: "Why are there so many people in the hallway?"

The balcony and corridor in the internet cafe, which were meant for people to relax, were already packed with people.

"Are you watching fireworks?"

Although it's far from the fireworks festival venue, Tokyo's terrain is surprisingly flat.

Even from a great distance, you can see the fireworks bursting in the sky.

"Let's go watch the fireworks together."

As she spoke, Yuki Mizuno forced a smile and forcefully pulled Sakurai Itsuki's hand up.

And under the same fireworks.

Sato Wakaba said goodbye to her club friends and stood alone under the fireworks.

The message on my phone has been marked as "read" for a long time.

The message was finally sent out from there.

[Sorry]. (End of Chapter)