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

Damn it, Ashu: [Sorry for standing you up. I was hoping to make it before it started, but I still can't.]

It's alright, it's just a fireworks display, nothing special. If you can't make it, there's nothing you can do.

Is it just a fireworks display?
They were clearly determined to break the status quo.

But he didn't know that, for him, it was just an ordinary date.
Perhaps it doesn't even qualify as a date.

Damn it, Ashu: [I should have told you sooner. I was busy the whole time and made you wait there alone for so long.]

"It's okay, I just ran into someone I know, we chatted for a long time. Besides, it's just about watching fireworks, it doesn't matter whether you're here or not, don't take yourself so seriously!"

That's obviously a lie. Compared to fireworks and a lively party, you are the most important person.

Asuka: [I heard there are summer festivals in other places soon, let's go see them together then.]

Damn it, Ashu: [Also, is there anything you want as compensation?]

【Eh~ You want it? I'll have to think about it carefully. Is anything okay?】

Actually, I've known what I wanted for a long time.

Damn it, Ashu: [Anything too outrageous is unacceptable; it has to be something I can do.]

Can you choose me?

Can you really do it if you don't go to Yuki's side?

Bastard Ashu: [It might be a little awkward for you to go to the dinner party alone. It's okay if you don't want to go. If you do want to go, you can ask Shiyin. Anyway, she's probably just staying home by herself.]

"Hmm, forget it, we only paid a deposit anyway."

Is it easy for you to see the sky right now?

Damn it, Ashu: [I'm watching.]

That's like us watching it together!

In different places, we look up at the same sky.

It's like a scene in a movie where a man and a woman are thousands of miles apart, but they still look up at the same star in the sky and miss each other.

Isn't that romantic too?

"Ha, it's still a bit hard to convince myself."

Sato Wakaba let out a long sigh.

Now the two of them are looking up at the same sky, watching the same firework bloom in the air.

But now, he has someone by his side to watch the fireworks in the sky.

"What should we do?"

Sato Wakaba looked up at the dazzling fireworks, her heart filled with bewilderment.

At this moment, the corridor of the internet cafe was bustling with noise.

Everyone looked up, raised their phones, and recorded the scene in the sky.

Several otaku even started humming Kenshi Yonezu's song "Fireworks" while arguing about whether fireworks should be viewed from below or from the side.

It was a rare moment of joy in this usually dull place.

But the more it's like this...
Yuki Mizuno turned her head and looked at Itsuki Sakurai, who was replying to messages with his head down.

Without a doubt, he was replying to Sato Wakaba's message.

"what happened?"

Sakurai Itsuki noticed Mizuno Yuki's gaze and put down his phone.

Yuki Mizuno took a deep breath: "Let's watch the fireworks, and then go back after they're over."

Sakurai Itsuki: "Yeah, anyway, your house isn't that far away."

Yuki Mizuno shook her head: "I'm not going home. I'm going back to the hospital after taking a shower. You know what happened to me, right? I want to spend more time with my mother during this period."

Sakurai Itsuki nodded: "I'll take you back to the hospital."

Yuki Mizuno: "Don't be like that."

Sakurai Itsuki: "I also want to see Auntie more. You forgot, she used to give me wagashi (Japanese sweets) when we were little. Once you even took money from home and we went to the amusement park and played all day. When Auntie caught us, I thought we were going to get a beating together."

Yuki Mizuno also recalled the past: "Ah, I did get beaten up when I got home! But that was to be expected."

Sakurai Itsuki: "So, it's only right that I go to visit my aunt."

Yuki Mizuno turned to look at Itsuki Sakurai.

Why do you always torment people like this?
Yet, it's something you can't refuse.
When Sakurai Itsuki pushed open the hospital ward door, the distinctive smell of disinfectant hit him.

The gentle and beautiful Aunt Mizuno that Sakurai Itsuki remembered was lying on the hospital bed, her face pale.

However, upon seeing the person who had arrived, she still forced a gentle smile: "Ah, you must be Ashu."

Even though they hadn't seen each other for many years, Aunt Mizuno recognized Sakurai Itsuki at a glance.

"Hello, Auntie, it's been a long time." Sakurai Itsuki gently placed the fruit basket she had bought on the hospital bed.

Aunt Mizuno smiled and said, "Yes, Yuki always talks about you to me. When I was little, I thought you would grow up to be a handsome man, and it turns out that I was right."

Sakurai Itsuki: "Really? I'm sorry I'm only coming to see you now; I should have come sooner."

Sakurai Itsuki glanced back at Mizuno Yuki, who was silently peeling a pear for her mother with her head down.

She always mentioned herself in front of her mother, which Sakurai Itsuki had expected.

What was unexpected was that she never told herself that.

Aunt Mizuno: "Yuki usually receives a lot of care from you."

Sakurai Itsuki said, "No, actually it's me who's always being taken care of by Yuki."

Aunt Mizuno chuckled softly, "You're too kind. Yuki told me everything. Come to think of it, I've been taken care of by you. Without you, I wouldn't be able to stay in such a nice single room."

Thanks to Yuki Mizuno's rather good income, this single hospital room is of a very high standard.

Despite being a newcomer to the entertainment industry, her actual income is significantly higher than that of many veteran artists due to the huge sales of her song CDs and copyrights, as well as the double income from being a major online influencer.

Yuki Mizuno's rapid rise to such heights within two and a half years of her debut was undoubtedly aided by Itsuki Sakurai.

If Yuki Mizuno were to say it, her role would definitely be exaggerated a lot.

Sakurai Itsuki also sat down with a smile: "Speaking of which, you used to take care of me a lot when I was a kid."

"Alright, that's enough. How long do you plan to stay? There aren't any extra beds for you to sleep in. Or are you planning to share a bed with me?"

In the hospital corridor, Yuki Mizuno tilted her head and asked Itsuki Sakurai a question.

The three of them chatted about many things from the past. Aunt Mizuno seemed very happy, and Yuki Mizuno also showed a nostalgic expression.

However, that nostalgia lacked some of the joy.

Around 10 o'clock, Yuki Mizuno urged Aunt Mizuno that it was time to rest.

Aunt Mizuno wanted to chat with Sakurai Itsuki a little longer, but Sakurai Itsuki nodded in agreement with Mizuno Yuki's suggestion.

Aunt Mizuno let out a slight sigh.

Visiting a patient would only disturb their rest, which would be putting the cart before the horse.

Sakurai Itsuki: "I'll leave after you fall asleep."

Yuki Mizuno rarely expressed her dissatisfaction: "Seriously, I slept all day, how could I possibly fall asleep now? Were you a pig last night?"
Don't worry, and I know Mom has been sick for a long time. She won't break down. I've come to terms with it.

Sakurai Itsuki asked, "Then why were you so dejected last night?"

Yuki Mizuno shrugged: "He just drank too much. Are you overthinking it? Aren't there countless drunkards in Shinjuku who get drunk and start crying and making a scene?"

Sakurai Itsuki: "I never expected you to have this kind of character."

Yuki Mizuno feigned surprise and covered her mouth: "Oh no, this has lowered my opinion of you?"

Sakurai Itsuki said, "It's alright. Compared to some drunk guy, you're actually quite well-behaved when you're drunk."

Yuki Mizuno pouted: "Don't worry, there's a caregiver here. I spent so much money, so if I'm not feeling well, it's okay if she takes care of me occasionally, right?"

Yuki Mizuno took a deep breath and said, "Since you still want to stay with me, let's talk about work. I haven't had a proper job in a long time, but I'm spending money faster than I thought. Do you have any songs for me to sing lately? I need the kind that can make money."

By the time Sakurai Itsuki left the hospital, it was nearly midnight.

Although Yuki Mizuno seemed to be in good spirits, Itsuki Sakurai still called Asami Nakajima.

Sakurai Itsuki only left after Nakajima Asami came to hand over the duties.

She'd spent the whole day going through the hassle of finding someone, and then to be summoned to a place like this at night—it was torture to even think about. But this time, Nakajima Asami didn't seem to complain as much as before.

Rather than just working together, Nakajima Asami has come to regard Mizuno Yuki, who always causes her trouble, as a friend.

With mixed feelings, Sakurai Itsuki left the hospital and got into a taxi.

Yuki Mizuno watched him until his figure disappeared from sight.

Why did I break down last night?
"It's because of Mother, and it's also because of you."

She was so scared.
She was afraid of losing everything, yet stubbornly refused to bind him with pity.

"Guests, we've arrived."

It was only when the taxi driver's voice reminded him that Sakurai Itsuki came back to his senses.

Only then did I realize that the taxi had already stopped in front of the familiar door.

"Ah, thanks."

After paying the fare, Sakurai Itsuki got off the bus.

Looking at Aunt Mizuno's pale face, Sakurai Itsuki had many thoughts on his mind.

Aunt Mingming is still so young, and she used to be so beautiful. How did she end up like this?

Sakurai Itsuki remembers when they were little, Mizuno Yuki compared her dreams with his own, saying that she wanted to become a big singer, make lots and lots of money, and let her mother enjoy a life of luxury.

I want to travel all over the world, buy lots and lots of things, and live a good life.

But, if nothing unexpected happens, that day may never come.

By the way, Yuki Mizuno had such lofty dreams back then, but now it seems she only yearns for a very ordinary and peaceful life.

That kind of life is pretty good, but it has become a luxury for Aunt Mizuno.

The unpredictability of life is a consensus shared by everyone in the world.

But you can only truly understand this feeling when it actually happens before your eyes, right?
During the conversation, in response to my concern, Aunt Mizuno said, "She just wants to focus on the present now; she doesn't plan to think about the future anymore."

Sakurai Itsuki always thought that once he made enough money, the future would be bright and promising.

But he increasingly felt that this might just be wishful thinking.

He always thought he was still young and that there was plenty of time, so he always put everything off.

"I'll take some time to go back to my hometown soon."

Sakurai Itsuki muttered to himself as he pushed open the door.

A pair of wooden clogs were placed in the shoe cabinet in the entryway.

She didn't wear geta (wooden sandals) during the previous events where she wore yukata because she said they were very uncomfortable and almost like torture.

Sakurai Itsuki often criticized her for being completely out of place.

But she always says, in her unconventional way, that as long as she's comfortable, that's all that matters! She doesn't care what others think.

Sakurai Itsuki was immediately startled.

Should I stop putting this off indefinitely?
I got up and went into the kitchen, where there were freshly wrapped meals in plastic wrap.

Microwave on high for five minutes, remembering to close the lid tightly.

Do not microwave this! It will taste bad and become very hard!

I didn't add chili peppers; you can stir-fry it yourself if you don't mind.

She didn't go to the restaurant after all. She went home and cooked for herself, and as usual, she saved a portion for herself. She also drew that classic smiley face on the back of each sticky note.

However, she probably can't laugh.

Sakurai Itsuki didn't eat any late-night snacks. Instead, she opened a can of ice-cold beer from the refrigerator and took a big gulp.

Then I went up to the second floor, hesitated for a moment, and then looked down to the third floor.

The lights on the third floor are already off.

But Sakurai Itsuki still came to her bedroom door and then slowly pushed it open.

"What are you trying to do? Entering a young girl's room so late at night, are you planning something improper?"

The room was pitch black, and Sakurai Itsuki couldn't see anyone for a moment, but that familiar questioning voice came in first.

Sakurai Itsuki turned on the light switch in the room and, sure enough, saw Sato Wakaba, still wearing a yukata, sitting on the bed, staring at him with slightly reddened eyes.

Sakurai Itsuki knew she wasn't asleep.

But looking at the scene before him, he was still stunned.

She looked so beautiful today that even Sakurai Itsuki was a little dazed.

Normally, her hair is always messy at home, and at most she'll just hastily tie it into a ponytail with blonde hair. But today, it was carefully styled on her head and adorned with pretty hair accessories.

The exquisite makeup on her face made her already outstanding features look unrealistically beautiful.

Her feet were as white as snow, with a slight redness and swelling.

Clearly, that was the suffering caused by wearing wooden clogs.

As for those reddish-blue eyes...

Clearly, he suffered because of Sakurai Itsuki.

Sato Wakaba took a deep breath, her lips trembling slightly as she looked at the person in front of her: "What, you've entered someone's room without permission and aren't saying anything? You've gone too far."

Sakurai Itsuki replied truthfully, "Sorry, you're so beautiful, I lost my focus."

Sato Wakaba said with dissatisfaction, "You always say things like this to coax me, especially at times like this."

Sakurai Itsuki didn't deny that his statement was heartfelt; instead, he leaned closer to her and whispered, "Is your foot alright? Shouldn't you get it treated?"

Sakurai Itsuki looked at her slightly bleeding foot and felt a pang of heartache.

Instead of answering Sakurai Itsuki's concern, Sato Wakaba asked, "What did you talk about with Yuki until the early hours of the morning? Was it work again?"

Sakurai Itsuki paused slightly, remembering what Mizuno Yuki had told him: she didn't want too many people to know right now.

She was somewhat overwhelmed by everyone's concern and sympathy.

After hesitating for a moment, he nodded slightly.

They did talk a little about work.

Upon hearing this, Sato Wakaba suddenly started crying and fussing like a child: "You're cheating! You're cheating! You're being so cheating!"

Sakurai Itsuki was stunned.

Tears finally began to roll down Sato Wakaba's cheeks: "It's always like this, every time it comes to work! You know I can't get a word in edgewise when this topic comes up, you know I can only listen silently!"

Sakurai Itsuki said, "You don't have to listen silently."

Upon hearing this, Sato Wakaba growled softly, "What can I do? Yuki is a dazzling superstar, and Shion is a genius illustrator. And me? I'm just an insignificant assistant who can be replaced at any time. What can I do besides listen silently?"

"Even if I know you left at noon, I can't question you. I don't even know what the club is busy with now, just because I'm not as good as them."

Sakurai Itsuki quickly said, "No, you misunderstood. I never thought you were inferior to them."

Sakurai Itsuki immediately understood that this dissatisfaction was not something that had only accumulated today.

Even if he despicably brought up Mizuno Yuki's affair to explain, it would be of no use.

Because the one who was wrong was indeed Sakurai Itsuki.

Sato Wakaba: "Then tell me properly! I also feel insecure and inferior! I'm not as always cheerful and confident as you think! I'm scared! You're always pretending to be stupid! You know everything!"

She growled uncontrollably, she no longer had the strength to control herself from getting angry, no strength to be careful not to annoy her, and no strength to think about whether she should hide her thoughts.

This was probably the first time in her life that she had become hysterical.

This was the first time Sakurai Itsuki had ever seen her like this. It was the first time he had ever seen Sato Wakaba, who was always angry and would just give a perfunctory reply, but could immediately put on a bright smile like this.

Sakurai Itsuki: "No, you are one of a kind."

Sato Wakaba sniffed and continued, "It's that kind of talk again. You always think you can just coax me and I'll be happy. You're always so perfunctory and pretend to be stupid. You beast, how much more do you want to torture me? I'm never talking to you again!"

Sakurai Itsuki always brushes off Sato Wakaba's "I'll never talk to you again" because he usually knows that this effect will not last more than three minutes.

But this time, he knew he couldn't continue like this.

Sakurai Itsuki didn't immediately refute her, but silently approached her and pulled the girl, whose body was trembling from sobbing and anger, into his arms.

"That won't do. I can't live without you anymore, don't you know that? Besides, you promised me you'd come home with me." (End of Chapter)