Tokyo Three Generations

Or rather, how many people will actually take on that responsibility?

He simply can't do it.

“Su Shi…” Driven by the last shred of reason, he sighed softly, “You didn’t have to go to this extent. You don’t owe me anything.”

"What if I think it's necessary?" Nagasaki Motoyo's question returned, "I really hate that I can't help you with the malicious attacks your family is currently suffering, and can only stand by and watch... All I can give you is this insignificant comfort, please don't make me feel like I'm completely useless, okay?"

Then, she reached out and gently stroked his hair, just like a mother would.

"Rest here. You've done so much. No matter what others think of you, to me alone, you're an amazing person!"

"That's so true, that's what Mom would say..." Jun Takasaki suddenly felt a lump in his throat.

Because his mother had indeed said similar things to him, and more than once.

Although Nagasaki Motoyo and Takasaki Mio do not look alike, their images in his mind at this moment seem to truly overlap.

Why don't we find an opportunity to introduce Mom to her? Mom already knows she exists, and Xiangzi and Mu have already met her. It would be too hurtful to leave her out...

Her identity is certainly a huge concern, but there's always a way to resolve it if we think of a solution.

Since Su Shi has been saying that he wants to work for her company in the future, it's not unreasonable for him to get to know his future employee beforehand...

Jun Takasaki believed that once they met, his mother would be very satisfied with Su Shi—because he couldn't imagine anyone disliking such a gentle and kind Su Shi.

Just as he was lost in thought, seeing his dazed look, Nagasaki Motoyo's smile grew even gentler.

"Take a good rest. Our elevator has passed the highest point, and we don't have much time left... Let's cherish the time we have together..."

There's nothing left to hesitate about.

Maybe this isn't right, maybe this is a bit much, but... whatever!

Jun Takasaki simply closed his eyes, then slowly lay down, finally resting his head on Motoyo Nagasaki's lap.

"Ugh..." Nagasaki Motoyo let out a small, mournful cry the moment his head was lowered.

It wasn't because it hurt from being pressed down, but because of the shyness and nervousness in my heart.

Even so, she remained tolerant. She lowered her head to look at the young man on her lap, and then gently said, "Then get some rest..."

At that moment, Jun Takasaki was looking up at the face that was looking down at him.

Su Shi could no longer maintain that composed smile; her face was flushed and full of tension.

But those deep blue eyes were still filled with concern and comfort, as well as a sense of security that seemed to encompass everything.

Like a deep, dark lake, it is so captivating that one cannot help but be enchanted by it.

A girl younger than myself is looking at me with such kind eyes... It feels a bit unfair!

Meanwhile, at the back of his head, another tactile sensation was constantly stimulating his brain's central nervous system.

Nagasaki Motoyo's thighs weren't thick, but because of her nervousness, her muscles were subtly tense.

So, she wasn't as relaxed and at ease as she seemed...

How much courage did she muster, and how much shame did she endure, to so calmly and proactively offer a lap pillow?

Jun Takasaki could hardly imagine it, but he was able to feel the warmth of Motoyo Nagasaki.

Then... enjoy and cherish this moment.

"Su Shi, it's truly my good fortune to know you. Please continue to take care of me in the future."

After leaving those words, he obediently closed his eyes and drifted into a comfortable slumber.

Nagasaki Motoyo didn't say anything more. She just sat quietly, looking down at the person in her arms, occasionally reaching out to stroke his hair, like a noblewoman petting a kitten in her arms.

The surroundings were quiet, and no one was watching their interaction. The noisy world had generously given them a small, enclosed space, allowing the two of them to enjoy a peaceful respite.

It was a wonderful experience, however... time always flies, especially when you're having fun.

Just a few minutes later, the Ferris wheel cabins slowly slid down from the highest point and moved towards the lowest point—the place they had just come from.

It's such a shame, is it really going to end like this?

Jun Takasaki was filled with regret, but he still slowly stood up from Su Shi's lap.

The sedan chair was about to open, and he didn't want others to see it and embarrass Su Shi.

Nagasaki Motoyo didn't speak, but just looked at the empty space outside the glass. A faint bittersweet feeling filled the air, like an unfinished regret.

The door reopened, and two people stepped down one after another. New tourists then entered, and their turn began again.

Jun Takasaki held his head high, looking spirited, as if he had just been "cleansed".

Nagasaki Motoyo lowered her head slightly, as if ashamed of her "boldness" just now.

However, the slight upturn of her lips was enough to tell her true feelings at that moment.

Jun Takasaki led Su Shi to the platform, and the staff member who had just seen them go up greeted them with a smile.

"Did you two have fun?"

"I'm so happy! Perfect!" Jun Takasaki gave a thumbs up. "Thank you! You've worked so hard!"

"Hahaha..." The staff burst into laughter, "Why are you thanking us, young man? Thank this young lady! Youth is fleeting, cherish it!"

Nagasaki Motoyo is tall, several centimeters taller than Tsukinomori's other two best friends. Although she is not yet an adult, she is considered "tall" among adult Japanese girls.

Although there is still a significant height difference between the two, they do look quite well-matched when standing side by side.

Hearing the teasing from others, Nagasaki Motoyo dared not reply, her face flushed, a stark contrast to her earlier boldness.

Junya Takasaki couldn't help but chuckle, and so he led Su Shi outside.

But as he walked, he couldn't help but look back at the Ferris wheel that was still turning.

"Were you happy just now?" he asked cautiously.

Although the question seemed redundant, he always wanted to verify it again.

And he received the answer he expected.

“I’m very happy.” Nagasaki Motoyo answered without any hesitation. “Seeing Jun happy because of me makes me very happy… Maybe this is all I can do right now, but I will try to do better.”

Su Shi's words contained no element of feigned flattery or pretentious reserve, but rather a frank and honest expression of his true feelings.

She is completely devoid of the adjective "alluring," yet she effortlessly draws people in. Standing beside her, there's no need to worry about things getting worse; it's as if you can simply leave all your troubles to her.

“Actually, I have a suggestion.” Jun Takasaki stopped and turned to look at Motoyo Nagasaki seriously.

"What is it?" Nagasaki Motoyo asked softly.

"Um... could we do overtime?" Jun Takasaki smiled sheepishly, even scratching his head in embarrassment, but still mustered the courage to voice his thoughts.

Nagasaki Motoyo first widened her eyes slightly, then covered her mouth and laughed.

Her smile showed surprise, but not too much.

There was even a hint of smugness in his "plan succeeded".

"Sure~" Then, without pretending to be reserved, she immediately agreed.

In an instant, her hand was grasped, and then Jun Takasaki pulled her back to the entrance they had just come from, and they bought another ticket.

Nagasaki Motoyo's heart pounded wildly, and she could hear the wind whistling in her ears repeatedly.

It's strange, she wasn't nervous at all when the two of them were already using each other's laps as pillows, but now that they were holding hands, she felt like the world was shaking.

Perhaps it was because this was the first time he had taken the initiative to lead me around.

Despite the tinnitus and dizziness, she still kept up with Jun Takasaki's pace without showing any fear.

The two returned to the staff member from before, who was grinning from ear to ear.

With a smile on their faces, the two quickly passed through the railing and slipped into an empty sedan chair that had just turned down.

When the door was closed again, the world once again opened up a corner just for them.

At this moment, Nagasaki Motoyo's wildly beating heart gradually calmed down.

"I'm sorry to have troubled you to spend so much money..." she said softly.

“It’s only a few thousand this time, nothing to brag about…” Jun Takasaki smiled slightly, “I have enough money in my phone to keep us going for a whole day, round after round.”

You have to get off the Ferris wheel here after one rotation, but you can buy multiple rotations and get unlimited refills.

"Really, it'll take all day?" Nagasaki Motoyo gasped, looking quite shocked.

But he didn't seem too angry.

“I was just kidding.” Jun Takasaki laughed. “But it shouldn’t be a problem to ride a few more rounds, right… if you don’t mind, Motoyo.”

Nagasaki Motoyo did not reply further, but simply nodded slightly.

At this moment, looking at the scenery rising higher and higher ahead, Jun Takasaki no longer had the mood to appreciate it. He simply quietly observed Motoyo Nagasaki.

Nagasaki Motoyo didn't say anything more.

In this unspoken silence, Jun Takasaki gently lowered his head again, and in an instant, he once again experienced that soft and elastic touch.

Having had the experience of the first time, it seemed that everything else was going smoothly. Nagasaki Motoyo was no longer flustered at first, but calmly returned to that nurturing and maternal state.

Last time, they waited until they had crossed the highest point before taking this step in a state of emotional excitement, but this time, it will take them much longer.

In this quiet and warm atmosphere, the two silently enjoyed the feeling of relying on each other once again.

Round after round, until almost an hour later, the two finally had their fill and left the Odaiba Ferris Wheel.

After leaving Odaiba, Jun Takasaki felt refreshed, and Motoyo Nagasaki also looked radiant. The two of them walked one after the other on the bustling street once again.

"Su Shi, what kind of gift do you want?" Takasaki Jun asked proactively. "Because of my willful request, you have had to cater to me for so long for no reason. I really feel bad about it. I should at least give you a gift to make up for it. Please don't refuse - this is my heartfelt wish."

Out of politeness, Nagasaki Motoyo wanted to refuse, but when she thought that this was the first time he wanted to give her a gift, she swallowed the words of refusal that were on the tip of her tongue.

Then, she thought about what kind of meaningful gift she needed.

She wasn't materialistic to begin with, and her current life wasn't particularly difficult. She had everything she needed, like a cell phone and a computer, and didn't want the other person to spend money on them.

After thinking for a moment, she suddenly had an idea.

She clearly remembered that the last time the three of them visited Grandpa Takasaki in Akita, Shoko received a calligraphy scroll with the words "Practical Application of Knowledge" written by Jun Takasaki himself as a return gift.

While it's not necessarily about comparing myself to Xiangzi, if possible, I'd really like something personal as a keepsake...

With this in mind, she carefully offered her opinion.

"If you really want to give something as a gift, could you give me something of your own? It doesn't matter what it is, just something to keep as a souvenir... Is that alright?"

Jun Takasaki certainly wouldn't refuse this request. He thought for a moment, then nodded slightly, "Alright, how about I give you the amulet I used before?"

"Hmm? What kind of amulet?" Nagasaki Motoyo immediately became interested.

"When I was in high school, my mother went to a pretty famous shrine to pray for my academic success and got this amulet. Actually, she didn't really believe in this stuff, but since it wouldn't do any harm, she gave it a try... Haha, in the end, I guess I didn't disappoint her."

This amulet is still in my room; I forgot to return it to the shrine. If you don't mind, I'll give it to you. I hope it can transfer some of my good fortune to you, since you're going to high school soon anyway... Consider it your prayer charm, how about it?"

Nagasaki Motoyo, of course, had no objections.

She had only made a casual suggestion, but she never expected to receive such a thoughtful gift.

She already placed great importance on her studies and future prospects, so the gift's meaning was already quite appropriate; moreover, it involved the story of the Takasaki family's aunt and Jun... and even seemed to imply acceptance of her.

"It's perfect! I want this one! Chun, thank you!" Usually so composed, she was a little overjoyed this time, her smile barely contained. "I will cherish it forever!"

"As long as you're happy." A gentle smile answered her.

100, a truly lamentable number.

After receiving Jun Takasaki's gift, Motoyo Nagasaki was overjoyed. The two then took a walk together for a while before reluctantly saying goodbye in the afternoon.

Junya Takasaki, filled with joy, embarked on his journey home.

That very night, the Takasaki family finally received the news—Takeshita Wataru, the leader of their faction and the half-brother of the former prime minister, who had been critically ill for many days, had finally stopped breathing in the hospital's intensive care unit.

Because he had been bedridden for many days, his death did not bring much shock to the outside world.

For ordinary people, this is just the loss of an old politician. Even though he once held great power while he was alive, no one remembers what he did or what he left behind.

However, when the news reached the Takasaki family, Takasaki Jun, who was usually stern and unsmiling, finally sighed for his longtime colleague.

"Another old friend I knew has disappeared..."

Rather than saying he was grieving the death of the faction leader, it would be more accurate to say he was lamenting his own old age.