Tokyo Three Generations

To deflate her arrogance, Jun Takasaki deliberately spoke in a cold voice, "She became like this because you forced her to do it."

“You…” Seeing that he was still defending his daughter, Mori Minami was speechless with anger.

After a moment, she managed to compose herself slightly. "So, your mother is coming to my door to show off her power? And I have to put up with it?"

"There's no need to use such direct language..."

“That’s exactly how it is!” Minami interrupted.

"That's how it is, so what?" Jun Takasaki simply stopped pretending and asked directly.

"Are you threatening me?" Minami was immediately enraged. "Didn't we settle things last time? I did as you said, what more do you want? You're the son of a politician, don't you know your limits?"

...Takasaki Junya also felt that he had gone a bit too far this time.

But he still forced himself to continue, "Then consider it an obligation I owe you. Anyway, this is the only way now."

"Do you think your pride is worth a lot?" Minami sneered.

Jun Takasaki did not answer, but his silence meant that he truly believed it.

The two remained silent on the phone for a moment, until finally, it seemed that Senmina Nami couldn't hold back any longer.

"Fine." She sighed softly. "Let her come. But I'm telling you beforehand, you'd better watch your mother's words. If she goes too far, I won't tolerate it. If we really start arguing, neither of us will have an easy time! If it's a contest of who's more humiliated, she'll be even more humiliated than me!"

After saying that, she hung up the phone immediately.

After the call was disconnected, Jun Takasaki felt a mix of emotions.

He could clearly sense that Minami had genuinely given him face this time—although he didn't know what she wanted.

In short, as long as things can be glossed over, we can deal with other issues later.

With this sense of ease, he put away his phone and walked back to where Ruoye Mutsu was.

Just now, Ruoye Mu really stood obediently in front of me, as if she had been transformed into a doll.

As the two drew closer, Wakaba Mutsu's expression began to soften slightly, as if he had returned to human form.

Jun Takasaki smiled easily and then gave an OK sign.

"I've got it sorted out. Your mother has agreed, and she'll be more tolerant of my mother. Everything's fine now; she won't expose you—"

Upon hearing this, a faint smile appeared on Wakaba Mutsu's face.

Although she didn't know exactly how Chun had convinced her mother, she wasn't surprised, because that's just how clever he was.

"Thank you... Chun." She bowed slightly and thanked him solemnly. "I'm really... really ashamed that I always cause you trouble."

Actually, she wasn't that ashamed.

Just now, Jun Takasaki said, "I'm willing to be a bystander, but feel free to come to me if you're in trouble." According to Mutsumi Wakaba's simple thought process, the matter is obvious—if you can only get a response when you ask for help, then why not keep asking for help? If you don't ask for help, then create one.

And now this strategy has succeeded.

Of course, she knew in her heart that if she always asked others for help without giving anything in return, she would inevitably be disliked by them, and she would feel guilty about it.

Therefore, we must repay them properly... to the best of our ability.

By this time, it was completely dark.

It wasn't entirely dark, because today is a full moon. The moon appeared very early, and after the sun set, it was already hanging low in the eastern sky, quietly bathing the earth in a gentle silver light.

At this moment, all around was quiet, and no one else was disturbing them. The two stood by the pool, with the moon in the sky and its reflection in the pool faithfully accompanying them, acting as silent spectators.

The soft moonlight, green plants, and pool evoked a memory of that moonlit encounter at the Akita Onsen Hotel.

However, Tokyo is different from Akita; it is a metropolis with severe light pollution, so even the bright full moon looked as if it were covered with a thin layer of gray.

But as long as the person and their mindset remain the same, what difference does it make?

What matters is not how the moon looks, but the people you spend time with and enjoy the moon with.

"The moonlight is still beautiful tonight," Wakaba Mutsu murmured to herself as she looked up at the sky.

81, The Weight of Hope

"The moonlight is still beautiful tonight."

Wakaba Mutsu's sigh was extremely soft.

However, Jun Takasaki stopped in his tracks because he heard it.

What does this mean? He knew very well.

He was not a complete novice in literature. In fact, as an outstanding student and student council president, his literary knowledge far surpassed that of most of his peers.

Moreover, there seems to be no room for "misunderstanding," because when Wakaba Mutsu said "still," it means that her thoughts at this moment have returned to the scene when the two of them met again under the moon, and he caught Wakaba Mutsu falling from the building below.

Whether intentional or unintentional, her meaning was almost obvious.

Even if she didn't say it out loud, her feelings were already very evident—she secretly came over, wasn't it all to see her?

So... how should I respond? Junichi Takasaki hesitated for a moment.

It would be too cruel to pretend not to hear, like trampling on a young girl's sincere feelings with indifference.

Moreover, when a beautiful and adorable girl like Wakaba Mutsumi musters up the courage to express her feelings to you in such an almost explicit way, can anyone really remain unmoved? At least he can't.

However, he couldn't agree to it.

After all, he's still a minor...

Besides, he really hadn't considered that issue.

"Month after month, year after year, there will be many nights with moonlight as alluring as tonight." After a moment of silence, he took a deep breath, then turned to look at Wakaba Mutsu, trying to soften his expression. "You just haven't seen enough of it yet, so you find it breathtakingly beautiful. Maybe once you've seen more, you'll find it's nothing special..."

Upon hearing his words, the light in Ruoye Mu's eyes suddenly dimmed.

It was truly disheartening to receive such an answer after finally mustering up her courage.

If it were the old her, she might have been devastated for a long time, or even on the verge of collapse, but now, she has grown up after all.

A stubborn, unyielding spirit and a yearning for something she could not have gave her the courage to face one of the most important moments of her life once again.

“Maybe…maybe that’s true. As I grow up, my experiences will be different, but even if I see the bright moon a thousand times again, I can’t find that initial feeling again…” She responded softly but clearly to the young man opposite her, “For me, that initial feeling is incomparable because…because that was the moment when I truly became a human being and felt the preciousness of being human…there will never be a second time like that.”

Jun Takasaki was somewhat puzzled by these words.

Even if I did save you, there's no need to exaggerate like that...

However, if Ye Mu is usually a bit eccentric, it's normal for him to be a little incoherent in his excited state right now.

However, judging from her expression, she had not given up on her idea.

Just as he was pondering how to respond, Wakaba Mutsumi, who was already visibly agitated, continued speaking on his own.

"I'm sorry... Chun, I've caused you... I know I've troubled you. I know how ridiculous and despicable it is that I suddenly came to your house, suddenly asked you for help, and suddenly said such embarrassing things to you. But... what can I do? I can't do anything right, and no one... no one cares about me. To everyone, I'm just Xiangzi's follower, Senmina's daughter, a little copy, or even not a copy at all, because... because I don't even have the courage to face others, let alone have the grace of my mother."

As Ruoye Mu spoke, she lowered her head, as if her shoulders were being crushed by a heavy burden. "But, when I was in my most painful and desperate moment, you saved me. Not only that, you also let me know that I am not insignificant, that there are people who care about me, love me... and even help me unconditionally and without asking for anything in return. For you, this may just be a small favor, but for me, it instilled in me a completely different courage and hope in my life. I don't know if you can understand the weight of this hope, but even if you don't, it doesn't matter... because I will show it, I will make you believe in the weight of this hope."

As she said this, she slowly raised her head again and looked at the person in front of her. "If you want to see a shining Wakaba Mutsu, then... then I will become that kind of Wakaba Mutsu, a Wakaba Mutsu who is even more beautiful than Minami-chan. On that day, you will no longer think that what I said today was just childish nonsense... I will do it."

As she spoke, a glistening tear slid down her cheek, but she didn't even notice it in her emotional state.

And what about Jun Takasaki? He was completely stunned.

He simply hadn't expected that Wakaba Mutsu could speak so much in one breath, and so fluently. This completely shattered his preconceived notions.

No, she should have had that ability all along, but she was crushed by her unhappy childhood, so she locked herself in a closed-off inner world, and gradually even believed that she couldn't do anything.

At this moment, Wakaba Mutsu was just as surprised as Takasaki Jun.

She herself was surprised that she could accomplish such a remarkable thing.

She originally just wanted to observe from a distance, but the sudden turn into a home visit was not part of her plan. Asking the aunt to visit her home was also a spur-of-the-moment idea. Even until a few minutes ago, she never imagined that she would have an emotional outburst and then, as if she had become a different person, say such a long string of words.

However, when we were actually alone together and faced the moonlight again, this feeling, and the subsequent emotional outburst, all seemed so natural and inevitable.

She was simply saying what had been bottled up in her heart for a long time; she felt neither ashamed nor saddened by it.

Ultimately, Ruoye Mu didn't need a real response; she just needed care, hope, and the courage to keep striving for it.

"I'm sorry, I've said so many hurtful things without thinking. I'm really sorry..." After a moment of silence, she bowed again to Jun Takasaki to apologize. "Jun, it's... it's very late now. Auntie should have prepared dinner by now. Let's go back... I'm hungry."

Jun Takasaki sensed that Mutsumi Wakaba was afraid of saying something politely refusing him.

But she was wrong. Looking at the lingering tears in her eyes, who could say such cruel words?

If she feels this is best for her, then so be it.

This sentiment was as dazzling and brilliant as a cut diamond, making him both yearn for it and feel ashamed of himself.

And so, the two of them walked back into the house in silence.

"You're back..." Upon seeing them, Takasaki Mio immediately smiled. "I was just about to call you. Dinner is all ready."

Then, her smile vanished as she saw the lingering tear stains at the corners of Wakaba Mutsumi's eyes.

"What's wrong with you?" she couldn't help but ask with concern.

Then, she glared at her son, "What's going on? Did you bully Xiaomu?"

"No...I didn't." Jun Takasaki quickly waved his hands in denial, but he couldn't tell the truth, so he could only give a vague answer.

“Auntie, it’s alright.” Ruoye Mu also came to his rescue. “I just… I just remembered some unpleasant things from the past. It has nothing to do with him.”

"I see." Takasaki Mio was relieved. "Sometimes there's no need to take unpleasant things to heart. After all, everyone experiences pain in life. If you keep wallowing in these distressing emotions, you'll only hurt yourself."

"Yes, I understand." Wakaba Mutsu accepted all of her elders' lectures without question.

As they talked, the three of them came to the dining table. However, Takasaki Hiroshi still hadn't returned. Instead, Takasaki Jun had gotten out of bed and was sitting blankly in his seat.

Although his mind is still sharp enough, he is, after all, an octogenarian, so he is usually in "energy-saving mode," either sleeping or spacing out. He only enters "power-consuming mode" when he needs to use his brain, vaguely regaining his former glory.

His previously drowsy state suddenly cleared when he saw Wakaba Mutsu's somewhat cloudy and blurry old eyes.

He had already learned about Ruoye Mu from his daughter-in-law, and now that he saw this beautiful young woman in person, he immediately perked up.

"Xiao Mu, you're here today too. I've missed you a lot since we parted ways in Akita, and I'm so glad to see you again today..."

"Grandpa." Ruoye Mu bowed respectfully to the old man before sitting down. "I apologize for visiting without an appointment and disturbing you."

"It's alright, don't be shy. I just love seeing children when I'm old, especially beautiful and lovely children like you. Just seeing you sitting in front of me makes me happy. If you come to see me more often, maybe I can live a few more years..." the old man replied with a smile.

This joke, which wasn't meant to be a joke, made everyone else in the room laugh, even Wakaba Mutsu smiled slightly. "Then...then I'll come visit you more often in the future."

"Okay, it's settled then." Takasaki Jun nodded slightly. "However, I won't be staying in Tokyo for long. Once things are settled here, I'll go back to my hometown to continue my recuperation, so you should hurry up..."

At this point, he sighed regretfully, "It's a pity you weren't with Miss Toyokawa last time she came. Otherwise, with you two standing on either side of me, I'd probably be so happy I wouldn't be able to eat..."

"Hmm?" The speaker meant no harm, but the listener took it to heart.

It was only then that Wakaba Mutsu learned that Shoko had already "beaten him to the punch" not long ago.

She looked at Jun Takasaki with an inquiring gaze, and Jun Takasaki, unsure how to respond, could only manage an awkward laugh.

He was afraid that Ruo Yemu would overthink things, so he didn't tell her. He didn't expect his grandfather to tell her so easily, which made him feel guilty.

As he feared, Ruoye Mu was indeed overthinking things.

No wonder he rejected me… She found a strange but seemingly logical answer to her earlier “frustration.”

Xiangzi was her best friend, but more than that. Because they had spent every day together since childhood, she understood Xiangzi's strengths better than anyone else.

Aside from her looks, which might give her a slight edge, she lacked confidence in every other aspect that she could match Xiangzi.

What's even more disheartening is that even if Ruo Ye Mu exhausts her imagination of how "unparalleled" she will be in the future, she still finds it hard to imagine how she should surpass Xiangzi in the future.

...What should I do if it's Xiangzi?

Thinking of this, she felt so frustrated that she lowered her head slightly.

At this moment, the others at the table also noticed her unusual behavior.

Takasaki Jun realized he might have said something wrong, so he stopped talking; while Takasaki Mio quickly interjected, changing the subject.

"Xiao Mu, eat more! Auntie has prepared a very sumptuous dinner today. You're great in every way, but you look a bit thin; you need to eat more to improve your appetite—"

"Thank you, Auntie." Ruoye Mu didn't want to spoil everyone's mealtime, so she forcibly suppressed her frustration, nodded obediently, picked up her chopsticks, took a floret of broccoli, and put it in her mouth.

Perhaps to reassure her aunt, or perhaps because the family atmosphere made her feel at ease, she had a long-lost appetite and ate more and more.

“That’s right…” Seeing that Wakaba Mutsu was enjoying her meal, Takasaki Mio nodded repeatedly.

While obediently responding to everyone's requests, Ruoye Mu also ate her dinner attentively. She had a small appetite to begin with, so she was full quickly. However, she still sat quietly at the table, watching the others eat.