novelhk Page 154
Page 154
Yuto stood aside, watching this scene, feeling a complex warmth in his heart.
Although this home is chaotic and noisy, it seems... to be slowly coming together in a strange way.
As for Megumi Kato, although she doesn't live here, she always appears at the most crucial moments.
When Yuto is exhausted from preparing breakfast for two, she will appear at the door with a sandwich she made herself, smiling and saying, "Itsuka-kun, you look tired. I made something to eat."
When Utaha and Eriri are about to fight over the TV, she texts Yuto: "I downloaded that French movie and recorded that animation. I'll send it to you later so we can all watch it together."
Her presence always manages to cool down the escalating chaos just in time.
Days passed by in this chaotic, sometimes messy, sometimes heartwarming routine.
Yuto felt like a patriarch with multiple roles, acting as a chef referee, mediator, and repairman, leaving him exhausted every day.
That afternoon, he enjoyed a rare moment of peace.
Eriri was called home by her mother for dinner, Utaha went to attend an author salon, and Yuzuriha Inori sat quietly by the window listening to music while wearing headphones.
Yuto brewed a cup of coffee and was preparing to continue his writing career.
At this moment, his cell phone suddenly rang.
He picked up his phone and froze when he saw the name displayed on the screen.
The caller ID showed Mai Sakurajima.
Why would she suddenly call?
Yuto hesitated for a moment, then pressed the answer button and held the phone to his ear. (The rest of the text appears to be unrelated and possibly machine-generated gibberish.)
"Hello, is this Durian? Is this the Yiqi 30々yi 2ba siba? + Youdou-kun?"
On the other end of the phone came Mai Sakurajima's familiar voice.
……
Book 1: Chapter 145: That Damn Azathy
"Mai...senpai?"
Yuto Itsuka's voice carried a surprise he himself was unaware of.
Since that conversation on the terrace at the last celebration party, he and Mai Sakurajima have had no contact whatsoever.
Unexpectedly, she took the initiative to call me.
"It's me." A soft laugh came from the other end of the phone. "Did I disturb you, Yuto?"
"N-no, of course not," Yuto quickly said, instinctively straightening his back.
"That's good." Mai Sakurajima sounded relaxed. "I called you to thank you again formally about the movie."
"If it weren't for the script you wrote and your guidance on set, that movie wouldn't have been so successful."
"You're too kind, senior. Your performance is the soul of the film," Yuto replied politely, but he always felt that Mai's call was not just for these polite words.
As expected, after a brief exchange of pleasantries, Mai Sakurajima got down to business.
"So, to express my gratitude, I'd like to treat you to a meal. I wonder if you... are free this weekend, Yuto-kun?"
coming.
Yuto's heart skipped a beat.
He had been reflecting on himself ever since that conversation with Kato Megumi that night.
He knew he couldn't drag this out any longer, using ambiguity and tenderness to build a false peace.
Mai Sakurajima, this observer who remains detached from his daily life yet possesses an exceptionally clear mind, may be the key to breaking the deadlock.
"Yuto? Are you still listening?" Mai's voice came from the other end of the phone again.
"Here! I'm here!" Yuto snapped out of his daze, took a deep breath, and made a decision.
"I have time."
"Great, it's settled then. I'll send you the time and place later."
"Ok."
After hanging up the phone, Yuto stared at his phone screen, remaining motionless for a long time.
……
……
On Saturday night, Yuto stood in front of the mirror, unusually troubled by his outfit.
He changed his clothes several times, but he always felt that they were either too casual or too deliberate.
Finally, he chose a simple white shirt, layered with a light, dark gray casual blazer, and paired with well-fitting black trousers.
It's neither too formal nor too mature than a typical student's outfit.
"Are you going out?"
Yuzuriha Inori appeared at his doorway at some point, tilting her head and looking at him curiously.
"Yeah, I was having dinner with a friend," Yuto replied vaguely.
"Oh..." Yuzuriha Inori nodded as if she understood, then asked softly, "Will you be back for dinner?"
"No, you guys can take care of yourselves tonight. There's food in the fridge," Yuto said, straightening his collar.
He couldn't imagine what the consequences would be if Yueyi told the two gatekeepers at home that he was going to have dinner with Sakurajima Mai.
Therefore, he chose to strategically conceal it.
……
Yuto left home and headed to the restaurant that Mai-senpai had specified in her text message.
It was a high-end French restaurant located near Ginza.
Guided by the waiter, Yuto arrived at his reserved seat.
Mai Sakurajima had arrived. She was wearing a long black dress, her waist-length hair was casually draped over her shoulders, and she wore light makeup.
"Yuto, over here." She smiled and waved.
"Sorry, Mai-senpai, I'm late." Yuto walked over quickly, somewhat embarrassed.
"No, I arrived early." Mai gestured for him to sit down, then casually pushed the menu in front of him. "Take a look and see what you'd like to eat."
Dinner began in a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere.
Mai is a great conversationalist. She talked about everything from interesting anecdotes about movies to school life, and then from her acting career to her future plans.
Her refined speech and elegant demeanor gradually relaxed Yuto's tense nerves.
However, Yuto knew that this was just an appetizer.
Sure enough, after the main courses were served and the waiter left, Mai gently swirled the lemonade in her glass, subtly steer the conversation toward the core issue.
"Speaking of which, Yuto-kun's life must be quite lively now, right?" She looked at Yuto, her eyes filled with an all-knowing smile.
Yuto's heart skipped a beat; he knew the main event was about to begin.
"It's...it's alright," he replied somewhat guiltily.
"Really?" Mai-senpai's lips curled up slightly. "I heard that several talented ladies live in your new home."
"There are genius painters, genius screenwriters... and of course, a singer with a heavenly voice."
Yuto's forehead began to sweat.
He felt like a student caught cheating by the teacher, with nowhere to hide.
Her intelligence network is just too well-connected!
“They…they’re just doing it for the convenience of their work…” Yuto tried to explain.
Mai Sakurajima didn't expose his weak excuse; she simply sighed softly, her gaze becoming somewhat distant.
“Yuto, do you know?” She put down her cup, placed her hands on the table, and looked at him earnestly, “Your kindness and talent attract people to you, which is wonderful.”
"However, if you don't show any direction, you'll only drag everyone in, and no one will be able to leave or find happiness."
Her voice was very gentle.
“You said before that you didn’t want to hurt anyone, but your current indiscriminate ‘gentleness’ is precisely the cruelest torture for everyone.”
"You gave them hope, but then kept delaying the answer, leaving them to exhaust themselves in endless speculation and competition."
These words left Youdou breathless.
Kato Megumi had said these things, but he had also thought about them himself.
But when spoken by Mai Sakurajima, it carried a different weight.
Because she wasn't involved, her perspective was more objective, and also more... cruel.
Yuto fell silent. He couldn't refute her, because every word she said was true.
Inside the restaurant, the melodious piano music continued, but Yuto felt the air around him grow heavy.
Looking at the mature and beautiful senior in front of him, he felt an unprecedented pressure for the first time.
Under the gaze of Mai Sakurajima's eyes, which seemed to see right through people, Yuto Itsuka felt that all his pretense had been exposed.
He habitually tried to change the subject with humor or witty remarks, but when the words came to his lips, he couldn't utter a single one.
In front of Mai-senpai, any attempt to be slick or evasive would only make one appear more childish and ridiculous.
“I…” He opened his mouth, but could only utter a dry syllable, followed by a long silence.
Mai didn't press him further; she simply watched him quietly, her eyes filled with no reproach, only a hint of helplessness.
She picked up her knife and fork, cut off a small piece of steak, put it in her mouth, and savored it, giving Yuto enough time to process what she had just said.
This calm and unhurried attitude, on the contrary, made Yuto feel even more pressure.
This is unlike Kasumigaoka Utaha's aggressive verbal exchanges, or Eriri's straightforward emotional outbursts.
Mai's confrontation is subtle and gradual; she doesn't attack you directly, but guides you to confront your inner wounds.
"Yuto, I actually envy you." After a long while, Mai spoke again, but her tone had become much gentler.
"Envious of me?" Yuto looked up, somewhat puzzled.
He's in a terrible mess right now, what's there for this national idol to envy?
"Mm." Mai nodded.
"As an idol, I've lived in the spotlight since I was a child. Every word I say and every action I take is magnified and interpreted."
"I need to be perfect at all times, I can't make mistakes, and I can't have negative emotions."
"Over time, I almost forgot what the real Mai Sakurajima was like."
She chuckled self-deprecatingly: "I have many people around me—staff, fans, partners..."
“They were all very kind to me, but that kindness was reserved for ‘idol Mai Sakurajima’.”
"Few people care whether I'm tired today, whether I have worries, or whether I want to... be willful like an ordinary girl just once."
Her words gently stirred Yuto's heart.
He saw the unknown loneliness and longing behind this radiant idol.
“But you’re different, Yuto.” Mai’s gaze refocused on his face, and her beautiful eyes seemed to sparkle with starlight.
"The girls around you like you because you are you. They will argue for you, get jealous for you, and be happy or sad because of something you say..."
"That's because what they saw was a living, breathing Yuto Itsuka, with both strengths and weaknesses, not a perfect symbol."
"Their existence makes you more complete, doesn't it?"
Yuto was taken aback by what she said.
He had never thought about the problem from this perspective.
He always felt that the jealousy and rivalry between Shiyu and the other girls was a kind of trouble, a kind of sweet burden.
But now, after hearing Mai say this, he realized that the undisguised, genuine emotions were perhaps the most precious thing.