Tokyo Three Generations

61, Family gathering

At his mother's insistence, Jun Takasaki had no choice but to agree to go with her to see Aine off.

It was called a send-off ceremony, but it wasn't really that serious. Just like before, Mio Takasaki picked up the phone and made a dinner appointment with Mrs. Chihaya.

The meeting place was a French restaurant near Chihaya's house, which is also a place where the two families often meet.

Before getting married, Mrs. Chihaya was part of the socialite circle in Minato Ward, and she was close friends with Mio Takasaki (who was then Mio Komuro). Later, she married an employee of a large bank and became a housewife, but she never lost contact with Mio Takasaki. Although the two families were not particularly close, they still visited each other quite often.

Therefore, Chihaya Aine is a child that Takasaki Mio watched grow up.

Back in the socialite circle, Mrs. Chihaya was a step below Mio. In terms of parenting, she followed in her predecessor's footsteps. Every few years, she would send her daughter to the same school that Mio Takasaki chose for her son. In her opinion, if Mrs. Mio liked a school, it must be good, and it would save her the trouble of choosing one herself.

Thus, starting from elementary school, Jun Takasaki had an extra junior schoolmate who was a few grades below him.

Because the prestigious private school he attended was a combined junior and senior high school system, even though one of them went to high school and the other to junior high, they were still in the same school. They even bumped into each other frequently because of their student council connections. I guess you could call it fate...

Just as evening was approaching, Mio Takasaki drove her son to the restaurant and then walked to their reserved seats with practiced ease.

When Takasaki and her son walked to their seats, a mother and daughter were already sitting there.

When they saw Takasaki and her son, the mother and daughter immediately stood up to greet them.

Without a doubt, this mother and daughter are Haruka Chihaya and Aine Chihaya.

"Haruka, it's been a long time!"

Right from the start, Mio Takasaki gave Mrs. Chihaya a friendly greeting typical of close female friends.

"Mio, it's been so long... You're finally back from Kansai!" Haruka Chihaya greeted her with a big smile. "I missed you so much."

"Sigh, after being away from home for so long, you always have to come home to visit..." Mio Takasaki waved her hand.

Then, her gaze fell on the girl next to Mrs. Chihaya, and her eyes lit up.

"Wow, Aine is so different from usual today! Kawaii!"

It's no wonder she was so surprised. Before, every time she saw Chihaya Aine, she was wearing a school uniform and often wore black-rimmed glasses. Although she was still pure and cute, Takasaki Mio always felt that she was a bit of a "country bumpkin" and not worthy of her mother's status as a Tokyo socialite.

Today, Chihaya Aine wasn't wearing glasses (or perhaps she was using contact lenses), and it was as if a "seal" had been broken, making her look completely refreshed.

She wore a floral dress in off-white and light blue, with a small bow tied at one side of her waist, exuding youthful cuteness. Her pink hair was also loose and flowing over her shoulders, like a carefully woven satin.

The more Mio Takasaki looked at it, the more she liked it, and she felt a sense of satisfaction, like "the girl next door has grown up."

I couldn't help but exclaim again, "Kawaii~"

Ultimately, she didn't disgrace the taste of her socialite circle...

Being praised by Takasaki Mio made Chihaya Aine a little shy. She lowered her head timidly, not daring to meet her aunt's eyes. This only made Takasaki Mio laugh even harder.

Just as Mio Takasaki was looking at Aine, Haruka Chihaya was also watching Jun Takasaki.

She was equally satisfied with what she saw and nodded repeatedly.

“Every time I see Tsun-kun, he gets more and more handsome…” she said with a smile. “Mio, all the sisters envy you. You have such a wonderful son, impeccable in both appearance and studies. I wish I had a son like him!”

Although she was very proud inside, Takasaki Mio still pretended to be modest for a moment, "What are you saying? I'm actually quite envious of you having such a wonderful daughter. I wish I had a daughter, it would save me so much trouble..."

While exchanging compliments, the two mothers smiled knowingly, creating an atmosphere that was both harmonious and subtly awkward.

"Aine, why aren't you saying anything? Hurry up and greet Auntie and Jun-kun..." Mrs. Chihaya urged her daughter.

"Auntie, Chun-ge, good evening..." Chihaya Aine greeted them timidly, bowing slightly with great poise.

"Hmm, Aine, good evening~" Takasaki Jun waved with a smile, showing no airs of a senior at all. "Congratulations on graduating from junior high school~"

He doesn't have a younger sister, so Chihaya Aine calls him "Ni-chan," which doesn't bother him at all; in fact, it's kind of fun for him.

At this moment, the waiters began serving the dishes to the table.

Soon, a variety of French dishes were served.

However, when having a meal together, the food itself is usually not the focus. While eating, the two elders naturally bring up the topic.

"Jun-kun, have you been busy with your studies lately? It feels like I haven't heard from you often..." Chihaya Haruka asked softly, looking at Takasaki Jun.

"I'm not too busy with my studies, but I've had a lot of things to take care of at home, so I haven't been out much," Jun Takasaki replied.

“That’s true. Now that Tsun-kun has grown up, it’s time for him to be trained by the family and gradually learn to take over the family business…” Chihaya Haruka nodded gently. “Compared to his peers, Tsun-kun is much more reliable. I think you were the one who attended the Toyokawa family’s funeral on their behalf, right?”

The Chihaya family was not eligible to receive an invitation to Mizuho Toyokawa's funeral, so they could only say they had "heard about it."

“Yes.” Jun Takasaki nodded. “But I’m just here to make up the numbers, nobody really pays attention to me.”

“You’re still too young. In a few years, no one will be able to ignore you…” Chihaya Haruka smiled gently. “Then I’ll have to call you ‘sir’…”

After laughing for a while, a look of worry reappeared on her face.

"However, I don't know what will happen to our Aine next."

"Aren't you going to study in England?" Takasaki Mio interjected at this moment, "Isn't this great? Aine is such a good student, maybe she can even go to Oxford or Cambridge in the future, how prestigious would that be..."

“That’s true…” Chihaya Haruka smiled, but the smile still couldn’t hide the bitterness. “Since Aine was born, my daughter and I have never been apart. I’ve watched her grow up little by little and become who she is today. Now that we are suddenly separated by thousands of miles, I don’t know if she can adapt, and I don’t know how I will adapt myself.”

If it were anyone else saying that, Jun Takasaki would inevitably think it was just polite talk or feigned modesty. But he had known Aunt Chihaya for many years, so he could tell that she was genuinely worried—if it weren't for the presence of his own mother and son, she probably would have burst into tears.

Thus, Jun Takasaki fell into deep confusion.

He never really understood why Chihaya's family would send their daughter to study abroad right after she graduated from junior high school.

After years of training and mentorship, Mr. Chihaya is now a mid-level manager at the bank, so the Chihaya family lives a very comfortable life. Although it is far less comfortable than the Takasaki family, they are still considered upper-middle class. Therefore, although sending their daughter to study abroad is very expensive, they can definitely afford it.

However, this is not a matter of economic strength—the real question is whether it is really a good thing to leave a young girl who has never experienced hardship alone in a place where she has no relatives or friends.

I initially thought that the Chihaya couple had gone mad for no reason and wanted to send their daughter to study abroad thousands of miles away, but now it seems that this is more like the result of Chihaya Aine's personal will.

Because of this speculation, Jun Takasaki couldn't help but ask, "Auntie, did Aine herself suggest going to study abroad?"

“Yes.” Haruka Chihaya nodded. “To be honest, my husband and I were quite surprised when she first brought it up. But since she insisted, we went along with it. But I also told her that she must come home every time there is a long holiday and not to worry about the airfare.”

Although her tone was calm, it was enough to show how much the couple doted on their daughter.

After all, studying in the UK is quite expensive, and even if Chihaya's family has a good income, they would still have to grit their teeth to afford it.

Alas, parental love knows no bounds of gain or loss.

However, deep down, he still had some doubts.

In his memory, Ai Yin had a good personality, good grades, and impeccable manners. She was a well-deserved "campus idol." Although she was occasionally a little mischievous and would make silly laughs or cries, none of it was a big deal.

In short, she's very cute.

However, "cuteness" is a beautiful embellishment in life, but it cannot withstand the storms of life.

While living in Tokyo, Aine was protected by her parents and could live a carefree life, but if she went to England alone, the situation would be completely different.

Although Aine is a reliable junior and has always done a good job in the student council, she is still a delicate and gentle girl at heart. Can she really endure this hardship?

He could only harbor cautious suspicions.

Despite his inner turmoil, Jun Takasaki didn't say anything more, since it was someone else's family matter and he couldn't bring it up publicly.

While the group was talking, Chihaya Aine remained silent, quietly eating by herself. However, everyone knew that the young girl was shy, so they didn't say anything more.

"Haruka, it's been a long time since we went to that spa on the third floor of this mall. How about we go together later?" After dinner was almost over, Mio Takasaki suddenly suggested to Haruka Chihaya.

“Okay.” Chihaya Haruka immediately understood and agreed.

So, Mio Takasaki smiled and looked at her son, "Jun, why don't you take Aine home later? After all, she's going to England soon. As her senior, you can say some words of encouragement as soon as possible..."

After saying that, the two aunties excitedly paid the bill and went to the spa together, leaving the two children behind.

However, after they left, both women remained silent, and an unusual silence fell over the dining table.

Although only a year had passed since Jun Takasaki graduated from high school, both of them felt a familiar sense of strangeness.

"Aine, let's go." After a moment, Jun Takasaki stood up. "I'll take you home."

Chihaya Aine did not object, but stood up as well.

This wasn't the first time the two families had gathered here, so Jun Takasaki was quite familiar with the place. The two of them took the escalator out of the mall together and then walked along the street to Chihaya's house.

The bustling streets were noisy, but it seemed as if the noise didn't reach their ears.

"Why?" Jun Takasaki suddenly asked after walking for a while.

This sudden question caught Chihaya Aine off guard. "What? Why?"

"Why did you suddenly choose to study abroad?" Jun Takasaki continued to ask.

As if afraid that Chihaya Aine would misunderstand him, he quickly explained again, "Aine, I didn't mean to oppose you or hinder you, I just felt it was too sudden."

Chihaya Aine lowered her head, as if she didn't know how to speak.

After a moment, she answered softly, “I want to see the world. I’ve lived under my parents’ wings since I was little, and I don’t have any complaints about that. I’m very grateful for their love and care… I just feel that I can’t stay a child forever, so I want to study abroad, partly to train myself, and partly to learn more useful knowledge… so that I can become a better person in the future, right?”

Oh no. Jun Takasaki's mood plummeted.

From Chihaya Aine's words, he had already discerned that she didn't have a clear or specific plan for studying abroad; she was only going abroad to "broaden her horizons." This meant that she was definitely not mentally prepared for the challenges that were about to unfold.

As she said, she was a well-behaved girl who was well taken care of by her parents since childhood, and she was also a beloved school idol. Can Aine really withstand the sudden pressure of life? Or rather, can she really withstand the "disappointment" of suddenly being ignored?

Even fledglings need an adjustment period before leaving the nest. Is it really a good idea to just run off to a place thousands of miles away so abruptly?

Based on his understanding of Ai Yin, it was indeed difficult for him to be optimistic.

Because he wasn't very optimistic, he couldn't help but offer another word of advice.

“Studying abroad to broaden your horizons is a good thing, but it’s not too late to study abroad even if you wait until you graduate from high school… At your age, it must be a lot of pressure to suddenly say goodbye to your parents and go to a foreign country alone.”

"Brother Chun, you don't think it's a good idea either? Are you worried that I won't be able to handle the loneliness of life abroad?"

Seeing Takasaki Jun gently trying to dissuade her, Chihaya Aine's face showed a hint of wavering.

“I… I don’t necessarily think you can’t handle it, I just think you don’t need to suffer like that now. You can wait until you’re older and more resilient.” Jun Takasaki smiled. “Of course, this is just my personal opinion, for your reference only. I believe that no matter what difficulties you face, as long as Aine can muster the courage, she will definitely be able to overcome them.”

That's what he said, but it's clear he wasn't very optimistic.

"Jun-nii, do you not want me to go?" Chihaya Aine looked up and asked Takasaki Jun.

It was as if... (of course, it could also be Jun Takasaki's imagination), as if she would stay if he simply said "Don't go."

However, Jun Takasaki couldn't bring himself to say it.

As Mrs. Chihaya said, the Aine family has already spent so much money on studying abroad. What right does she have to casually say "you are not allowed to go" and let all that investment go to waste?

Or rather, what right do I have to deny Aine's choice?

He has always believed that people should make their own decisions and take responsibility for them.

Therefore, after remaining silent, he could only give one answer.

"No matter what you do, I will support you, Aine."

62, Blessing

"No matter what you do, I will support you, Aine."

Jun Takasaki's answer left Aine Chihaya slightly disappointed.

Because it seems to be encouraging, but in reality it's saying nothing at all.

That's true. Chun-ge has always been a man of action with a strong sense of autonomy, so he wouldn't interfere with other people's decisions.

Chihaya Aine understood Jun's character and way of doing things, so even though she was disappointed, she was not surprised.

Ultimately, you have to take responsibility for your own life.

It's strange. When I first made up my mind, I was full of confidence, but when the time came, I suddenly became hesitant and confused.

She felt a pang of self-reproach for her lack of ambition.

"Actually, Chun-ge, I know everything you've said. I'm also feeling anxious." So, in front of this senior she had always respected, she finally opened up. "Isn't it funny? I was the one who excitedly told my parents I wanted to study abroad, and now that it's finally here, I'm the one who's scared. It's so embarrassing. If only I had your strength..."

To her surprise, Jun Takasaki suddenly stopped and turned to look at her with a serious expression.

"Why feel embarrassed? You've just grown up and want to try to break free from your parents' protection, take a step forward, and try to live on your own. This attempt and courage are commendable no matter what. I don't think wanting to study abroad is a bad thing; I just think it's better to change the timing. But first of all, whether you go or not, you can't be anxious or hesitant. You might make a mistake if you do something, but doing nothing and just staying in the same place is worse than making a mistake, because you won't even have the opportunity to learn from your mistakes and will only stay in the same place and achieve nothing."

Chihaya Aine listened silently to Takasaki Jun's words.

"That's really Chun-ge's style... I knew you'd say that." Then, she smiled slightly. "But even knowing that, standing in front of you and hearing you say it yourself still makes me feel encouraged."

After she finished speaking, she let out a soft breath, and seemed to relax a lot.

In fact, in a stable society like Japan, universities are less about how much knowledge one learns and more about providing graduates with a bond to "stick together." In the government, graduates from the University of Tokyo stick together, and in major companies, each prestigious university has its own circle, where seniors help juniors, forming alliances of interests and sticking together for mutual support.