Their restricted abilities are refreshed every week.

"Today's work load was a bit heavy, so I got home very late," said Shoko Toyokawa.

"Do you want to quit your job there?" Shirakawa Haru wiped his fingers with a tissue. "If Xiangzi wants to change jobs, I can help you."

"How about becoming a piano teacher? I'll help you find good students. I'm the one who recommended you, and the parents will be very generous with your tuition fees." He pointed to the music sheet and music stand on the bedside table. "This job should be much easier than your current one, and you'll have more free time."

"No thanks." Toyokawa Shoko shook her head. "My current job is good enough."

There was a hint of toughness in Toyokawa Shoko's tone.

If conditions permit, she would like to change her current job immediately.

But Shirakawa Haru has helped her so much, and she must make all the decisions about work matters by herself and be fully responsible.

In interpersonal relationships, there is often such a subtle situation. The party that always gives unilaterally will, over time, bring a psychological "sense of oppression" to the other party who receives the kindness.

After all, the payer cares about everything and helps with everything. Those seemingly insignificant little kindnesses at first slowly accumulate and gather, and eventually turn into a heavy "favor" like a surging tide, making it difficult for the person receiving the kindness to refuse the request made by the payer, even if he is reluctant in his heart. In daily life, he will also behave in a way that is inconsistent with his own character because of the unequal relationship.

It is in such circumstances that independent personality is distorted.

But she subconsciously wanted to rely on, even depend on him.

Toyokawa Shoko longs to win Shirakawa Haru's heart and wants to be his girlfriend. So she can't be overwhelmed by this somewhat morbid feeling, she must face him with an independent personality.

How can I keep you, Shirakawa Haru?

Now I give you a rented apartment of only a few square meters, oden bought from the convenience store downstairs, and a lonely moon in a dilapidated neighborhood. I give you a stuffed bear on your bed, a goldfish in the bathroom sink, and a spotlessly clean tatami mat...

This is all I can give you now. But I also want to give you the memory of Kawazu Sakura, looking out the window at my birth. I want to give you my own interpretation of myself. I want to give you my loneliness, my pain, I want to give you everything about me.

I tried to impress you with my pride, my confusion, my failures.

I want to give you my soul, my music.

Shirakawa Haru blinked and asked Toyokawa Shoko: "What are you thinking about? I see you seem a little sad. Regarding work, Shoko, do you really not need my help?"

"No need." Toyokawa Shoko knew that Shirakawa Haru was thinking about herself, and her tone couldn't be hard.

If Nagasaki Suyo dared to pester her like this, she would definitely give Nagasaki Suyo the cold shoulder.

Nagasaki Suyo, this troublesome woman...

Qingjun once said that she would help me to ease the conflict between her and me. Although I don’t know what specific steps Qingjun has taken now, it’s better not to ask.

Both of them lowered their heads and remained silent. They ate the food in front of them in silence for a long time.

The aroma of oden gradually dissipated, and the only sounds in the room were the sound of Shirakawa Haru eating potato chips and the sound of the faucet leaking in the bathroom.

"Haru-kun, do you want to hear me play the piano?" A layer of solidified oil floated on the plastic box of oden. Toyokawa Shoko glanced at the "100 yen" alarm clock on the bedside table.

It's already 1:30 in the morning.

The residential area where Shoko Toyokawa lives is quite remote. If it were any later, it would be almost impossible to get a taxi around here.

So as long as Qingjun is willing to listen to her playing the piano, with his concentration when doing things, he will definitely find it difficult to notice the change of time.

If Qingjun can't get a taxi, he might stay here overnight.

After confirming that they have fallen in love with Shirakawa Haru, girls like Toyokawa Shoko also learned to use the little tricks that are only used by girls.

"It's very late now... won't it disturb others?" Baichuan Qing was slightly stunned.

"No." Toyokawa Shoko put the folding table aside and walked to the side of the single bed, where there was an electric piano, a Roland VR-730 model. "Although Manager Matsuo didn't mention it, this electric piano should also be given to me by you, Haru-kun, right?"

Shirakawa Haru admitted, "I was thinking, if you just scroll through your phone after work, wouldn't it be too boring? There are a lot of dried lines on the folding table. Those are the piano keys you drew on it. I thought I'd just put an electric piano in your rental house."

"Qing...you are so nice to me." Toyokawa Shoko said. It is this tenderness that makes me fall deeper and deeper in love with you, until I risk my life for you.

"You only realized it now?" Shirakawa Haru tilted her head, her beautiful eyes narrowed into a line. In Toyokawa Shoko's eyes, Shirakawa Haru was even a little charming at this moment, but unfortunately, her tone was a little bit mean, making her want to "act like a spoiled child" to him.

"No...actually I noticed it a long time ago..." she said, "Come closer."

Shoko Toyokawa's rental house is small to begin with. After putting an electric piano in it, the side of the single bed feels like there's nowhere to put your feet.

She sat in front of the electric piano and let Shirakawa Haru sit on the single bed.

In the early hours of the morning, a couple was still awake in a rented apartment of only a few square meters. They sat in front of the piano. The girl raised her slender neck to push the hair that had pierced her collar behind her ears, while the boy sat beside her, ready to listen to the piano music.

Delicate and soft music flowed in the small space, time seemed to stand still, and Shirakawa Haru closed his eyes.

When he opened his eyes, Shoko Toyokawa had already closed the music sheet.

"Would you like to stay at my house for a night?" she asked.

Chapter 4.3: Embrace in the Dark (k)

"Haru-kun, it's already past two in the morning, and there are no taxis around here." After wiping off the grease stains on the electric piano with a towel, Toyokawa Shoko showed the alarm clock on the bedside table to Shirakawa Haru, "Stay here with me for one night."

"Isn't this a bit inconvenient?" Shirakawa Haru whispered. In fact, when Toyokawa Shoko helped him get his indoor slippers, he vaguely realized her purpose. "Shoko, it's not very convenient for you, is it?"

"I clearly disturbed you last time." said Shoko Toyokawa.

"That was due to force majeure, that's why..." Shirakawa Haru walked to the door of the rental house and prepared to change his slippers.

"If there's no force majeure, can't you stay here with me?" Toyokawa Shoko suddenly felt a surge of courage and ran behind Shirakawa Haru and hugged him. "Don't go, it's very cold outside now."

"Just this once." Shirakawa Haru put on her indoor slippers again.

"Just this once." said Shoko Toyokawa.

Shoko Toyokawa took a quilt and placed it on the tatami, which had been laid out there on that rainy day without moving.

Shirakawa Haru wondered if Toyokawa Shoko had been waiting for him to stay overnight at her house, but why?

When a girl invites a boy to stay over at her house, the meaning is self-evident; actions often speak louder than words.

There is a saying that goes, "A girl's blush is better than any love words."

But Shirakawa Haru doesn't think Toyokawa Shoko will like her.

Shirakawa Haru put her leather jacket under her head and rolled around on the tatami covered with a quilt.

Baichuan Qing kicked the bed leg, and a muffled sound came from the foot of the single bed. He curled up his legs and rubbed his toes with his palms.

"Haru-kun... can't you sleep?" A large stuffed bear leaned against the headboard. Toyokawa Shoko buried her head between the bear and the pillow, her voice muffled. She crawled over to the side of the single bed, leaning towards Shirakawa Haru, and waved her hand in the darkness.

"Sorry, did I disturb you?" Shirakawa Haru rolled to the edge of the single bed and slept against the side of the bed.

"I couldn't sleep anyway," she said.

"I can't sleep either." Shirakawa Haru knew that Toyokawa Shoko wanted to talk to him. In fact, it was not that he couldn't sleep, but it was too cold to sleep on the tatami. The walls of this rental house were a bit thin, and he couldn't fall asleep without covering himself with a thick quilt.

The weather in Tokyo has been quite changeable these days.

"Then let's just chat about something?" Toyokawa Shoko turned over and looked at the dim ceiling above her head.

Sometimes there would be a fleeting halo of light in the rental house, which was the high beams of cars shining through the windows.

"I had eel rice tonight." Shirakawa Haru thought it would be better to go to bed early.

He had heard before that young women tend to become emotional late at night and are particularly difficult to deal with at this time. It would be fine if you were just chatting with them over the phone, but if you made them angry in the same room in real life, you would not be able to rest well at night.

"That's great." Shoko Toyokawa hadn't eaten eel rice for a long time.

In the past, if she wanted to eat eel rice, the servants would rush to the seafood market in Aichi Prefecture early in the morning to buy fresh eels that were delivered to the seafood market when the fishing boats returned to the port. The fresh eels they bought would then be cooked by a special chef.

"Xiangzi, how about I take you out for a meal if I have the chance?"

"Okay, but then it won't be you who treats me, it's me who treats you," said Shoko Toyokawa.

"Okay." Shirakawa Haru was silent. In his eyes, Toyokawa Shoko once again showed her extremely strong yet somewhat childish sensitive self-esteem.

In the past, their relationship was not as good as it is now, so that they could spend the night at one of their houses. At that time, Shirakawa Haru treated Toyokawa Shoko to coffee. After drinking coffee, Toyokawa Shoko left the coffee shop before him, and took the receipt from the tissue box and went to the front desk to settle the bill.

If Shirakawa Haru hadn't been quicker than her, Toyokawa Shoko would have been the one to treat.

After finishing the discussion on this topic, Shirakawa Haru found that there seemed to be nothing more to talk about between him and Toyokawa Shoko, so he remained silent.

"Haru, how's Chihaya Aine's band doing now?" Toyokawa Shoko was the first to break the silence, her deep, hoarse voice echoing in the cramped rental house. "How are Deng, Li Xi, and the others doing lately?"

"It's okay. Li Xi is still the same, no changes. As for Deng, she seems to be doing well recently. She joined the band again, and seems to smile more and more every day." Shirakawa Haru said, "You should be paying attention to them too, right? At least Deng is in the same class as me."

"I don't have much time to pay attention to them." She said, "Just asking casually. Qing, are you and Deng close?"

"Takamatsu Deng and I became friends for life. I took her to the aquarium to see penguins and to sing on the overpass. After that, I called her Deng and she called me Haru." Shirakawa Haru turned over and looked out the window. "Deng likes to use the word 'lifelong'. I think her feelings are a bit heavy."

"Deng is such a child." Shoko Toyokawa thought to herself that I am actually a heavy girl too.

"I heard that Deng is doing well recently. How do you feel?"

"pretty good."

"Xiangzi, your tone is just like a couple who have just parted ways respectfully and see their ex. Are you feeling aggrieved?"

"No, I just want to sincerely wish Deng well. It seems she has found happiness again." Toyokawa Shoko's tone was cold. She sincerely wished Takamatsu Deng well.

"Deng still feels guilty. She thinks it was her fault that you quit the band. If you sincerely wish her well in her new life, then you should find a chance to have a good talk with her. It will be good for both you and her. I heard that they will be officially performing at RING at the end of next month. Do you want to go with me to see their live performance that day?" Shirakawa Haru was a little unsure how Toyokawa Shoko would answer him, but he was indeed looking for an opportunity for Toyokawa Shoko and Takamatsu Deng to reconcile. They just lacked an opportunity to clarify the misunderstanding between them.

"When the time comes, come and remind me earlier, Haru." Toyokawa Shoko thought for a while, and finally promised Shirakawa Haru that she would go to see Takamatsu Touma and the others' live performance.

"What's the name of their band?" she asked.

"I don't know," Shirakawa Haru replied. "Chihaya Aine has terrible taste in naming. The band names she came up with are all ugly, and they're full of homophones of her own name."

"Haru, are you worried about her band?" Toyokawa Shoko said softly, "When I think about how much you've done for Chihaya Aine's band, I'm a little envious."

Shoko Toyokawa touched her chest, which felt a little stuffy and painful. Was this jealousy?

She was jealous that Chihaya Aion was able to get Shirakawa Haru to join her band and become her manager; she was jealous that Takamatsu Touma and Shirakawa Haru had a "lifelong" relationship and could call each other by their names in front of everyone.

Toyokawa Shoko also wanted to do this, but she didn't dare to do it.

Because she was still in debt, Shirakawa Haru was so good to her that she couldn't live without him.

The status of both parties is not equal. How can a girl like her tell Shirakawa Haru about her feelings?

For the first time in her life, Toyokawa Shoko clearly realized that in addition to her love and admiration for Shirakawa Haru, she also felt deeply inferior.

Although she looked down on Chihaya Aine a little, she had to admit that even Chihaya Aine was more qualified to be Shirakawa Haru's girlfriend than her.

You should pay off the money you owe first.

"If you have a band in the future, I will come to see you more often." Shirakawa Haru said in a low voice.

"Who knows what will happen in the future?" Toyokawa Shoko felt a little sleepy. "Let's go to sleep."

"Good night." Shirakawa Haru said.

"Good night," she said.

Both of them closed their eyes and didn't speak. Toyokawa Shoko seemed to be asleep, breathing evenly. Shirakawa Haru didn't know if she was still awake. After chatting, he kept thinking about Toyokawa Shoko's words "Who knows what will happen in the future?" in his head, and he felt colder and colder, so cold that he couldn't fall asleep.

Shirakawa Haru tossed and turned on the tatami, sometimes rolling the quilt into a ball and holding it in her arms, sometimes curling up and hiding under the quilt.

He was feeling very down and could feel his body temperature dropping.

"Haru...are you still awake?" Toyokawa Shoko spoke. In the darkness, her voice was as clear as the sound of pine needles falling on spring snow. "Isn't it too cold?"

"A little bit..." he said.

Although Shirakawa Haru wanted to say that he was not cold at all, he always felt that if he really said that, Toyokawa Shoko might not be able to sleep all night.

"I was inconsiderate. I'm sorry." Toyokawa Shoko's tone was a little nervous, as if she was about to do something big. The room was silent for a while, and then she spoke and dropped a bombshell, "Haru...why don't you want to sleep in my bed? I'll sleep in my clothes later, so you don't have to worry about anything getting into trouble."

"Don't say such things to boys casually." A girl invited him to sleep in her bed, and Shirakawa Haru's heart was pounding.

He was wondering how Toyokawa Shoko could be so bold, and at the same time, he was thinking about how he should reject her.

"Qing, are you thinking about something very rude?" Toyokawa Shoko's laughter rang out in the darkness.

She smiled nonchalantly, as if she had a crown in her hand, which was extremely precious in the eyes of others, but she only regarded the crown as a wreath.

"I just treat you as a friend, don't think too much about it," she said.

"The bed is too small. Two people can't fit in it." said Shirakawa Haru.

"I'm thin, so even if you sleep on it it won't be too crowded."

"You should eat well and don't be too harsh on yourself." Baichuan Qing tried his best to make his tone sound gentler. His voice was a little cold, so even if he spoke in a very gentle tone, others would sometimes feel that he didn't care about the things around him at all.

Shoko Toyokawa crawled to the edge of the single bed, propped up her arms, and leaned her upper body out of the bed.

Suddenly, the sound of a car horn was heard in the silent night, and then the sticky darkness in the rental house was dispelled. The lights cast on the ceiling and walls were gradually moving. Shirakawa Haru's eyes were stimulated by the sudden light. When he regained his vision, Toyokawa Shoko's melancholy apricot-like eyes were trembling with joy.

"Come up." Toyokawa Shoko maintained a calm tone. Ah... It's always like this. I can feel your love for me.

I don't know when you've become so naturally able to express your concern for me, and that's why I like you. Although I'm down and out now, I was once the child of a wealthy family, influenced by all sorts of family rules and regulations. Logically, I wouldn't confirm my relationship so easily, but the reality is different.