Tokyo Three Generations

Logically speaking, sitting on the sidelines and silently watching a few young girls interact should have been a bit boring, but he found it quite interesting.

This is not only because they are all very beautiful (which is of course the main reason), but also because of the youthful and energetic feeling they exude towards each other.

Since starting university, he has rarely experienced this feeling of youth.

Indeed, I feel a bit nostalgic...

Just as he was savoring the moment, his phone rang.

He opened his phone and found that it was Su Shi who had left him a message.

"Chun, could you slow down and wait for me? Let's walk together. There's something I want to tell you..."

Looking at the carefully written words, Jun Takasaki couldn't help but laugh.

Then he casually sent his location.

"Wait for you."

98, Under the Sky

After receiving Nagasaki Motoyo's message, Takasaki Jun deliberately slowed down.

Sure enough, not long after, he heard light footsteps behind him.

He turned around and, sure enough, saw Nagasaki Motoyo quickly catching up with him.

The two drew closer and closer until she stopped, and they stood face to face.

Because she had just jogged a short distance, Nagasaki Motoyo's face was slightly flushed, but she calmed her breathing and then bowed slightly with meticulous care.

"I'm sorry to have taken up your time, Jun."

"It's alright, I have plenty of time right now." Jun Takasaki smiled nonchalantly. "Is there something you'd like to ask of me?"

"Is it not okay if I don't have one?" Nagasaki Motoyo asked, sounding both reproachful and coquettish. "What if I just want to walk around with you? After all, it's been quite a while since we last saw each other."

"That works too!" Jun Takasaki gave an OK sign. "Let's not just stand here, where would you like to go for a walk?"

“Well…” Nagasaki Motoyo looked around and then frowned slightly. “You decide. I don’t seem to know this place very well. I can’t exactly take you shopping, can I? You probably aren’t interested in that kind of thing.”

In fact, Jun Takasaki didn't know exactly what Suze was interested in, but he was always good at simplifying complex problems, so he picked up his phone and looked at the surrounding map and street view.

Sure enough, he soon spotted a perfect target – Odaiba Seaside Park was nearby, and next to the park was the famous Odaiba Ferris Wheel.

Because it's not far from Tokyo Tower, when the Ferris wheel goes up, you can see the iconic building and get a panoramic view of Tokyo's most bustling area.

On the other side, you can overlook the shimmering Tokyo Bay.

The sightseeing experience is quite good. What's even better is that the Ferris wheel cabins are both private and spacious for two people, allowing them to talk freely without worrying about what others might think. It's an excellent place to be at this moment.

[In reality, this Ferris wheel was demolished in 2022 due to its age and new urban development plans, which is a pity.]

"How about we go ride the Ferris wheel?" he tentatively suggested. "It's the Odaiba Ferris wheel right next door."

Sure enough, Nagasaki Motoyo's eyes lit up.

"Great! It's been so long since I've ridden a Ferris wheel! I really want to try it now."

Since she had agreed, there was no need to dawdle. The two of them started walking together towards the Odaiba Ferris Wheel.

Suddenly, she seemed to remember something, and then looked at Takasaki Jun with a slightly unnatural gaze, as if she wanted to say something but hesitated.

"What do you want to ask?" Jun Takasaki pressed.

Nagasaki Motoyo hesitated for a moment, but it seems that she was ultimately defeated by her curiosity.

"Until now... I've always traveled with my mother or classmates from girls' school..." Nagasaki Motoyo asked hesitantly, "And Jun? Has he always traveled with his family or boys?"

Why do you look like you're both looking forward to the answer and afraid of getting it? Jun Takasaki thought to himself.

Of course, he probably understood the reason.

"It sounds so weird for guys to ride a Ferris wheel together!" Jun Takasaki complained.

Nagasaki Motoyo's eyes dimmed slightly, but she didn't seem particularly surprised.

"So you're with a girl?" she asked cautiously. "Is it with Xiangzi?"

“No, not even once.” Jun Takasaki shook his head.

"Eh? Aren't you two family friends?" Nagasaki Motoyo asked, somewhat surprised.

“Even among family friends, there are differences in status…” Jun Takasaki shrugged. “For many years, the Toyokawa family was quite difficult for us to approach, let alone get Miss Toyokawa out to play with me—”

"It's such a class-based world... Sometimes it's easy to get used to, but other times it's a little annoying." Nagasaki Motoyo seemed to empathize, letting out a soft sigh. "But thankfully, Shoko is very easy to get along with, otherwise, I wouldn't dare to approach her..."

Although "climbing the social ladder" sounds simple, most people simply cannot do it. After all, the powerful and wealthy are often capricious, and it is impossible for anyone with a little self-respect to unconditionally cater to such people. At most, they can only maintain an attitude of "keeping a respectful distance".

Nagasaki Motoyo also admired Takasaki Jun's composure and frankness. Although he acknowledged the reality that others were better than him and did not pretend to be superior, he was still neither humble nor arrogant.

On second thought, hadn't he just gotten ahead of Xiangzi and "shared a ride" with him?

A small sense of victory suddenly flashed through her mind, and a smile appeared on her face.

However, her inner curiosity compelled her to continue asking.

"So, who was the girl who was riding with Jun earlier? Was she Jun's ex-girlfriend?"

Although Nagasaki Motoyo appeared very calm when she asked the question, she was actually quite nervous inside.

She knew that with Chun's family background, grades, and appearance, he was probably close to being a campus idol, if not a campus idol. He certainly wouldn't lack admirers, so it would be normal for him to have ex-girlfriends.

But the more you know, the more you want to ask; that's probably just a girl's damned curiosity.

By this time, the two of them were quite close to the Ferris wheel. This Odaiba Ferris wheel is 115 meters high and is placed on a platform, so it is an undeniably enormous structure. Even though it was still some distance away, he could already see its outline.

Besides its enormous size, its perfectly round geometric shape and the seemingly endlessly rotating carriages that resemble fruits hanging from tree branches are also exceptionally beautiful.

Looking at this landmark entertainment facility, Jun Takasaki felt a pang of nostalgia for his childhood.

Like Tokyo Disneyland, he also played here with Aine when he was a teenager.

“No…it was a girl younger than me. Our mothers were best friends, so we played together a lot when we were little.” With fond memories from a long time ago, he answered leisurely, “To me, she was like the little sister next door.”

It's my sister... Nagasaki Motoyo, who was originally feeling uneasy, suddenly felt as if she could relax completely.

"To be cherished by Chun so much, she must be a very beautiful and lovely girl, right?" she said with a smile. "I wish I had a chance to meet her; I also want a little sister..."

Actually, you're all the same age, so it's really hard to tell who's the younger sister and who's the older sister, Jun Takasaki thought to himself.

“She’s gone to study in the UK now, we’ll talk about it another time.” He shrugged.

That's true, but Ai Yin's path to studying abroad was also very bumpy, and he felt a little sorry for her when he thought about it.

Seemingly noticing the melancholy in Takasaki Jun's brow, Nagasaki Motoyo wisely refrained from pressing further. The "information" she had gleaned from this probe was enough for her to process for a long time.

...This "younger sister" might actually come into contact with me in the future. If she's difficult to get along with, then things will be troublesome.

During their conversation, the two had already reached the foot of the Ferris wheel.

It wasn't peak time, so the Ferris wheel had just the right number of passengers, and there wasn't much of a queue. After spending a few thousand yen on two tickets, Jun Takasaki and his companion quickly reached the boarding area.

The staff member under the Ferris wheel glanced at them and naturally assumed they were a young couple. Since they were both very good-looking, he smiled and waved to them, saying, "Have fun, you two!"

"Speak," he said, opening the railing, and the two of them stepped into a sedan chair that was just reaching its lowest point.

The Ferris wheel is constantly moving, so as they sat down, the gondola slowly rose. At first, they could only see the surrounding scenery, but as they gradually climbed higher, the view became more expansive and ethereal.

The Tokyo Bay stretched out before them, gradually revealing its vast expanse. The ships of all sizes crisscrossing the water resembled colorful beetles crawling on a gray curtain, a rather amusing sight. More importantly, a few kilometers away, the red and white Tokyo Tower gradually came into view.

Although they had seen this view before, they both found themselves captivated by its beauty once again.

The important thing is not just the beautiful scenery, but also the people who accompany you to see it.

In the cramped space, the two sat side by side. Jun Takasaki could only smell a faint fragrance emanating from Motoyo Nagasaki and reaching his nose.

That wasn't the scent of artificial perfume, but the pure aura of a virtuous young girl in the prime of her youth.

In this situation, any normal person would be distracted and have wild thoughts, and he was no exception.

However, he still possessed basic rationality and self-control, and did not do anything indecent in this confined space—even though there was nothing to stop him at that moment.

As the altitude increased, facing the sea and the morning sun rising from the sea, Nagasaki Motoyo felt her heart become much more open.

"What a wonderful... peaceful and relaxing day," she murmured. "I've had a very happy day."

“Yes,” Jun Takasaki chimed in, “I’m also very happy to see you guys form a group today.”

"But thinking about it carefully, it really is surreal. Just a moment ago I was wandering around, almost losing my life, and now I'm a close friend of Miss Toyokawa, and even a member of a band... It's unbelievable." Nagasaki Motoyo smiled slightly, seemingly somewhat sentimental. "This has taught me a lesson. Our seemingly peaceful lives, our seemingly readily available daily routines, are actually things that come at a high price. The happiness we gain in a few days, sometimes we have to risk everything, even our lives, to protect."

Jun Takasaki felt a deep sense of sympathy for Su Shi's sentiments.

He witnessed firsthand the secret efforts of his father and grandfather, and the decades-long struggle of the Takasaki family. Even his mother was willing to risk everything for him.

The happiness that seems "natural" in life actually comes at a price. If you don't pay it, then someone else is paying it for you.

However, this wasn't a literary club gathering, and neither of them intended to spend their time wallowing in sentimentality. So, Jun Takasaki changed the subject, "We really owe you a lot today. Otherwise, I don't think the band could have gotten off to a good start. Shoko has ideas and drive but lacks patience, and Mutsu isn't good at interpersonal relationships. Only you can be that reliable glue... Shoko said you're the soul of the band, and I don't think that's just polite talk. It's the truth."

"Reliable...that's right, Jun. I prefer being praised as reliable rather than pretty...so please say that to me more often, it will make me very happy." Nagasaki Motoyo was pleasantly surprised by Jun's praise, and a satisfied smile spread across her face. "I want to be the most reliable partner for all my friends, and I also want to help all the people I like."

After she finished speaking, she smiled and looked at the other person, almost as if she was about to say "including you".

—But it doesn't matter if we don't say it, because everything is understood without being said.

"Then I'll wait for the day you become my assistant!" Jun Takasaki didn't stand on ceremony and gave her a thumbs up. "I believe Su Se can do anything well."

Feeling a little embarrassed by the constant compliments, Nagasaki Motoyo casually changed the subject. "What do you think of that band, Jun?"

"I can't say anything about the band's development. Let's see how Xiangzi arranges it—after all, this was originally a product of her whim." Jun Takasaki shrugged indifferently. "Besides, I'm not worried at all. You're all so beautiful. Even if you rely solely on your looks, you can sell out tickets like crazy."

This joke, which wasn't exactly a joke, amused Nagasaki Motoyo.

“You can’t say that! We’re a band, not some underground idol group… Besides, Tsukimori School wouldn’t just watch its students go on stage and pose like that!” she protested with a laugh. “We can win through talent, we won’t take shortcuts.”

“Yes, yes, I believe you—” Jun Takasaki nodded seriously this time. “Mutsu’s playing was praised by even my mother; her skill is truly amazing. Shoko’s piano playing is also incredible. As for your technique, I haven’t had the chance to see it yet, but I choose to believe in Tsukinomori…”

“If you want to see it, you can do it anytime…” Nagasaki Motoyo said softly, “Although I’m a bassist, I’m even better at the violin.”

Then she remembered something else, "By the way, has Auntie met Mu?"

“Yes, she met with Minami Mori and also met with Mutsu.” Jun Takasaki replied casually.

Nagasaki Motoyo immediately lowered her head.

She knew that Xiangzi had visited the Gao family, but she didn't expect that Mu had also entered the house... Only she herself... the stain of being the daughter of a fugitive suspect cannot be erased for the time being, and she will probably not be able to meet the law's standards.

I wonder what my aunt thinks of me?

"What kind of person is Auntie?" she asked softly, caught between uncertainty and hope.

"He's an upright, steady, and gentle person, and also incredibly talented," Jun Takasaki answered almost without hesitation. "Just like you—"

Although he didn't mean anything by the last sentence, he found it surprisingly appropriate after saying it.

Because they really do look very similar...

However, he did not expect that his words seemed to have caused a huge uproar in Su Shi's heart.

He said I resembled his mother...

It seemed to express her true feelings more directly than any other deliberate praise, and it made her feel more satisfied.

At that moment, the Ferris wheel reached its top, and the sun temporarily disappeared behind the white clouds. The entire blue sky seemed to be opening up to the two of them.

"Maybe you're just joking, but I'm taking it seriously~" Facing the azure sky, Nagasaki Motoyo turned to look at Takasaki Jun with a clear mind.

Her azure eyes, at that moment, seemed to reflect the color of the sky, sparkling brightly before him.

"Then why don't we try it here—like Mom did?"

She pointed to her legs as she sat upright in the chair, and although she didn't say anything more, the meaning seemed self-evident.

"Don't joke like that..." Jun Takasaki felt his heart race a little. "What if I take it seriously?"

"Do I look like I'm joking?" Nagasaki Motoyo retorted, her expression a mix of melancholy and hurt, yet also hopeful. "There are only two of us here, nobody knows what happened. Consider this your reward for making me so happy~"

99, Motherhood and Gifts

"There are only two of us here, nobody knows what happened. Consider this a reward for making me so happy~"

Nagasaki Motoyo's words caused Takasaki Jun's already limited self-control to vanish rapidly.

If a beautiful and elegant young woman like her were in such a space, expressing her feelings in such a clear and unambiguous way, how many people could resist?