I, Aki Tomoya, will not be a simp.

In fact, Eriri also discovered this today.

Take, for example, Sayuri Sawamura, the mother. Why was she able to go from not objecting to Sayuri being friends with children from ordinary families to supporting her relationship and offering advice behind the scenes?

They were each other's first love.

Even Aki Tomoya himself admitted to this.

It took Eriri quite a bit of brainpower to figure out how far she really was from her childhood friend, going from taking everything for granted.

"Thanks for the compliment."

Aki Tomoya smiled.

It's less about enlightenment and more about reality.

The idea of ​​enjoying pleasure without working is something I dream of.

He even complained that, compared to the protagonists in the novels he had read in his previous life, he didn't even have a system, which was simply miserable.

But now he has surpassed many people, so he no longer needs to complain, and even now, he has the opportunity and time to enjoy life.

"Teshima, the holy land of manga, and Ikebukuro, you can have a great time today."

Aki Tomoya turned to look at Eriri, a smile on his face.

Regardless of my own situation, being with Eriri now is much more relaxing than before.

"By the way, are you going to set off fireworks together on the shore tonight?"

Chapter 222 Things I Never Did (3/?)

light fireworks?

Upon hearing this, Eriri immediately recalled the time when she wanted to invite Aki Tomoya on the 15th.

At that time, she was thinking that it would be great if they could be together during the fireworks festival.

When Aki Tomoya mentioned the word "fireworks" at this moment, it was as if he was doing it specifically to make up for this regret.

However, it doesn't just refer to fireworks displays.

Rather, don't even mention setting off fireworks together; we've never done anything like that.

When I was a child, setting off and watching fireworks with my playmates during festivals was nothing out of the ordinary.

But such an ordinary thing didn't happen to Aki Tomoya and Eriri, these childhood friends.

In other words, what should be a normal thing for childhood sweethearts is very rare for them.

We met in elementary school, shared similar interests, and could talk about anything back then.

Even after the relationship broke down, they maintained a twisted relationship, but the concept of "childhood sweethearts" was certainly not strong for them.

It seems more like they were forcibly placed there, by acquaintances with whom they had a bad relationship, or perhaps familiar strangers; such descriptions would be more appropriate.

"Together!"

Eriri raised her hand, as excited as an elementary school student going on a field trip.

After agreeing to this, Eriri gradually became more active.

Click!

Standing on Shiina-cho, Eriri held up her phone in front, while Aki Tomoya behind her turned to face the camera, resulting in this selfie.

"In selfies, you're no different from other girls."

He glanced casually at the photos on Eriri's phone; he wasn't really into selfies.

Eriri, on the other hand, thoroughly enjoyed it.

But seeing how happy she was, Aki Tomoya was also a little infected by her joy.

After walking through Shiinacho, we went back to Ikebukuro. It was noon, so we had lunch at a restaurant and then went to West Exit Park, where we saw the place where the time capsule was buried.

"Time capsule, did Lun ever think about what he would say to his future self ten years from now?"

This place used to be used as a black market, giving it a cold and gloomy feel.

It was only after the adjacent art theater was built that this place was given new life.

In the 1990s, the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Theatre was established here, and at the same time, when West Exit Park opened, a time capsule was buried in the park.

Seeing the time capsule reminded Eriri of the idea of ​​writing a letter to her future self ten years from now, something many people still do, both in the past and present.

"It's a pity I never thought about it, but if I could, I would like to pass on a message to my past self from ten years ago."

Aki Tomoya pushed up his glasses and smiled at Eriri next to him.

She looked at the boy curiously and couldn't help but ask, "What? What?"

Unable to resist Eriri's curiosity, Aki Tomoya reluctantly looked towards the place where the time capsule was buried, beneath the statue made of iron pillars and stones.

"Aki Tomoya persisted in his otaku identity until his second year of high school without feeling any remorse. I used to be an otaku, but I have returned to reality. I love anime."

To be honest, I feel a little embarrassed to say these things.

But similarly, once I said it out loud, I felt an inexplicable sense of relief.

He didn't continue striving in the world of anime and manga, aiming to reach the pinnacle of the industry, but he still had a goal in mind.

"Now I'm good friends with Eriri."

This is the sentence that Aki Tomoya most wanted to tell his despairing self at that time.

Eriri wanted to say the same thing, and now their relationship has been repaired.

We spent an hour at West Exit Park, and then went to the nearby Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre.

"We've never really had a proper time together like this before!"

Walking ahead, Eriri suddenly turned around and sighed, her face beaming with joy.

This is the first time I've seen something like this.

For Aki Tomoya, this was indeed his first time with his childhood friend.

"You all had a great time coming out together last time, right?"

"no the same!"

"...It's up to you."

There was no rebuttal, or rather, there was no desire to refute it.

It's definitely different; there are only two people, childhood sweethearts.

At this point, there's no need to think about too many things.

In the bright, spacious halls of the art theater, which stretched from the first to the fifth floor, it was no longer Aki Tomoya leading Eriri; instead, Eriri gradually quickened her pace, trying to keep up with his rhythm.

She's starting to get a little carried away with her antics.

When girls become lively, it exceeds Aki Tomoya's expectations.

On the last day of the afternoon, we went to the observation deck on Taiyo-dori Street. From the highest observation deck of that Sunshine Building, we enjoyed a panoramic view of Tokyo.

Tokyo at dusk is enveloped in a golden glow.

"Actually, the night view should be even better."

After seeing Tokyo at dusk, I wanted to see the night view here.

However, I already have a reservation for tonight.

"That's good!"

Eriri replied with satisfaction.

After sunset, it was the night she looked forward to most.

The fireworks display on the 15th hasn't been over for long, so it's still easy to buy fireworks if you want to.

After nightfall, the two went to the shore together.

Having bought everything, they walked to the bridge.

"It's like doing something wrong..."

Eriri stuck out her tongue and said that there was no one around, as if this quiet place had been specially reserved for them.

Quietly coming here to set off fireworks seems to be even more fun than watching fireworks together at a fireworks festival.

However, when Eriri and Tomoya Aki actually walk the path to Senso-ji Temple together at the summer festival and then watch the fireworks from the shore, I wonder how they will compare.

But looking at things now, I'm happier than ever before.

"We didn't do anything wrong. We'll clean up properly before we leave."

As he spoke, he lit the fireworks.

Blue fireworks burned, sprinkling onto their faces.

Gazing at that light, Eriri clenched her hands, looking on with eager anticipation.