Tokyo Rebirth: Start From Picking Up Sayu

After resting in the office for a while, Kato Yusuke came downstairs, told everyone the results of Hashishima's voyage, and then continued working.

Affected by his calm attitude, everyone also behaved very calmly.

Xiaokanao ran to contact the outsourcing company.

Megumi re-planned his schedule.

Eiri and Mayu continued to draw pictures.

Shiyu quietly wrote the script.

Yoshida typed code diligently.

Everyone was doing their work step by step, as if Hashima's departure had no impact.

Kato Yusuke still looks the same.

He chatted with people in an ordinary way, arranged work in an ordinary way, started to get angry without putting pressure on others, and even occasionally joked with people during work breaks.

It doesn't matter if you say he is happy, it doesn't matter if he is unhappy.

He was simply fulfilling his established obligations and working normally, and no one could find anything wrong with him.

However, when he returned to his home after sending Shiyu off, he couldn't help but frown.

Under the twilight sky, a girl was sitting alone on the mottled stairs.

She rested her right knee with her left hand and her chin with her right hand, staring at the ground unconsciously. Her long brown hair was spread over her shoulders, blowing slowly in the wind, like a blurry silhouette in the dusk.

After taking a breath, Kato Yusuke raised his feet and walked up.

"……what are you doing here?"

As if she had just woken up from a certain thought, the girl blinked and looked over, her beautiful amber eyes gradually returning to focus, reflecting his figure.

"Yusuke..."

Sayu stood up holding her knees and gently opened her red lips, "I'm waiting for you."

Kato Yusuke frowned deeply, "...Who told you I live here?"

"During the few days you were in Chino City, I came to Asami as a guest, and we talked a lot. And..." Sayu said quietly: "Your cat is very cute."

Kato Yusuke glanced at Asami's room and said coldly: "Are you okay?"

Sayu bit her lip lightly and nodded, "Yes, I want to see you."

Kato Yusuke put away the expression on his face and walked forward without saying a word.

"Yusuke——"

Upon seeing this, Sayu immediately wanted to stop him, but he gently stepped out of the way and missed him.

Kato Yusuke walked to the landing between the first floor and the second floor, looked down at Sayu and said something.

"-No matter what you're thinking, don't do it again."

As soon as he finished speaking, he simply walked up to the second floor and entered his room.

Bang.

There was a dull echo from the locked door.

Dim light surrounded him, making the room dark.

"……Well."

After letting out a deep breath, Kato Yusuke stood there quietly for a while, silent.

"Uu~meow~?"

The black cat ran out of the living room with small steps, sat down in the hallway of the entrance, and looked up with a pair of round green eyes.

One person and one cat looked at each other for a moment.

The master knelt down and stretched out his hand, and the black cat curiously leaned forward and licked his hand with its barbed pink tongue.

Swish, swish.

The rough abrasive feeling made Kato Yusuke unconsciously rub his fingers and gently pinch the little tongue, which caused the black cat to whine dissatisfied.

As soon as he let go, the black cat held his hand and bit it angrily twice, then ran back to the living room.

Kato Yusuke slowly took off his shoes, walked to the living room, and turned on the light in the room.

The dark red sunset shone in from the balcony, and he squinted his eyes unconsciously and stopped in front of the window.

The city in front of me became dull, the noisy crowd seemed to no longer exist, and it was so quiet that it seemed to be buzzing.

The old houses are lined up quietly on both sides of the street, emitting a faint light, leaving only a lonely mood wandering in the silence.

Whoa——

He deliberately made a loud noise to close the curtains, and threw his bag and coat on the bed.

He took a bottle of oolong tea from the refrigerator and drank it in large gulps.

"What are you doing..."

He tugged on his shirt irritably, as if this would make it easier.

Kato Yusuke stared blankly at the pool, and the face in the dusk appeared in his mind, like a nostalgic mirage.

It’s obviously over——

He put the oolong tea on the counter and washed his face in the sink. As if to remove stubborn dirt, wash it carefully again and again.

Then, he took another big gulp of oolong tea and finally calmed down.

"...Eat something."

While mumbling to himself, he opened the cabinet.

I wanted to have instant noodles for dinner, but it turned out to be empty.

"Right……"

He muttered and closed the cabinet, feeling depressed.

Ever since Hui San came to cook at home from time to time, he hadn't bought those convenience foods for a long time, and the little stock he had before had been consumed unknowingly.

...It seems I must add something.

Kato Yusuke was in a daze for a while, then took a sports coat and put it on, put on his shoes with heavy steps, and opened the door.

Along with the "click" sound of the door, the girl's ethereal voice also sounded.

"...Yusuke?"

Look to the left.

Sayu stood up from the ground in a hurry while holding on to the wall, and asked eagerly: "Where are you going?"

Kato Yusuke felt negative in his heart, but his face remained calm.

He ignored Sayu, just came downstairs without saying a word and headed in a certain direction.

It was the rush hour for getting off work, and white-collar workers in suits could be seen everywhere on the road, making the noise irritating.

He unconsciously quickened his pace, went to a nearby convenience store, and started to scan the goods.

Oolong tea, some ready-to-eat side dishes, beef bento boxes and rice balls, nutritious jelly, and cup noodles in various flavors.

As he put these things into the shopping basket one by one, he felt a slight tug on his left hand holding the basket.

"Yusuke, are you buying yourself dinner? This nutritional combination is not healthy enough. You should eat something decent."

Kato Yusuke turned a deaf ear and continued to purchase supplies in his own way, just pretending that the other party did not exist.

Then, he took the shopping basket to the cashier to pay.

Just as he was about to pay, several things were suddenly stuffed into the basket. Those are milk, tomato juice and vegetable salad respectively.

"that--"

The girl who was the instigator said: "I still want these things, please help us pay the bill."

"Uh——?" The clerk blinked and cast a questioning look at Kato Yusuke, "Customer...?"

Kato Yusuke frowned and said, "I don't know her, check out."

Sayu immediately retorted: "No, we are together. I will pay, please settle together."

"Hmm...? Well, two guests...?"

The clerk showed a dumbfounded expression and looked at them repeatedly in embarrassment, as if he was looking at an awkward couple.

Kato Yusuke's expression changed, he took out a 10,000 yen note and put it on the cashier tray, his tone was a little stiff, "Including these three items, help me settle the bill."

"Okay~ I understand."

The clerk who was hesitant a second ago readily agreed, neatly put everything into a shopping bag and returned it with the change.

"I've kept you two waiting for a long time. Here's your change. Welcome to patronize me next time~"

What a waste of patronage, I'll never come back again.

Kato Yusuke took the things with a dark face and strode outside.

Come outside the store.

In just a moment, it became dark outside.

In this season of short days and long nights, it still gets dark so early.

Look up.

Street lights of equal distances line both sides of the street, slightly lighting up the residential area at night. The trees on the roadside were blown by the breeze, making a sparse rustling sound.

Ignoring the soft footsteps following behind him, Kato Yusuke walked forward.

The air was filled with a deserted atmosphere, and the occasional sound of cars came from far away, and then immediately disappeared into the night.

After walking for a while, I returned to the door of the apartment again.

Kato Yusuke stopped and finally looked sideways at the little tail behind him.

Sayu pursed her lips lightly, letting herself smile, "...eat well and take care of your health, Yusuke."

He was silent for a moment, but still didn't speak. He took out the key and opened the door.

Perhaps because he didn't want to offend him too much, Sayu didn't follow him and just watched him enter the room.

Kato Yusuke sat in the entrance hall for a while, but did not hear the footsteps leaving, and the image of the other party squatting outside the door appeared in his mind.

If I had known earlier, I would have ordered takeout.

He thought a little self-deprecatingly, got up and walked to the living room, where he put the things he bought into categories.

Prepare dinner for Xiao Hei.

Take out the student union documents.

Eat while working.

Time just passed.

…

7 p.m.

After drawing a game CG, Kato Yusuke stopped writing, put on his coat and outdoor shoes, went to the balcony, and flipped through it when no one was paying attention.

With some uncertainty, he walked around to the front of the apartment from the side and looked towards his room.

——Sayu is still there.

The girl squatted quietly on the ground, hugging her knees with her hands, surrounded by the quiet night. The moon spreads its silver radiance, coating her thin figure with a hazy veil.

She stared blankly at the night sky, her eyes showing a hint of sadness, as if she was indulging in some kind of thoughts.

At this moment, night falls, everything around her is silent, only she and the faint starlight echo each other, forming a quiet picture.

Kato Yusuke was speechless for a moment.

"Compared to Tokyo, the stars in Hokkaido are so beautiful that they are annoying."

"It's not a good thing for people who are trespassing."

"Hehe, but you are still a little excited, right? This kind of thing."

"Where did you come from, a rebellious kid?"

"I'm not a brat! After all, Yusuke should call me sister, right?"

"Don't label yourself as a senior. Besides...I like it when you call me daddy."

Insignificant memories flooded my mind.

A gentle curve naturally appeared on his lips, and then slowly fell silent again.

The two of them were upstairs and downstairs, each looking at the same but different scenery without making any sound.

This situation lasted for thirty minutes.

Sayu upstairs answered a phone call and whispered in his ear.

After a moment, she ended the call with a slight nod and put the phone back into her pocket.

Kato Yusuke quietly retreated into the corner, watched the other party take one last look at his room, then got up and walked downstairs.

The next moment, a black Prado parked in front of the apartment.

The burly Mr. Lin hurriedly stepped out of the driver's seat, put a thick coat on Sayu, and handed a paper bag to the latter's hand.

Sayu took out a burger from inside, nodded his thanks to Mr. Lin who opened the door for him, and got into the back seat of the off-road vehicle.

After a while, the car disappeared at the end of the street.

Kato Yusuke walked out of the corner and took a look at the old apartment standing alone in the night. He felt a little desolate for no reason.

Go up the stairs to the second floor and return to the door of your room.

In the cold night air, only the faint smell of citrus floats here, bringing freshness and vitality, refreshing the heart.

He looked at his feet, then opened the door and entered the house, sitting down in front of the workbench again.

On the desk, the image on the digital screen still shows the CG drawn half an hour ago, with an unopened tomato juice next to it.

He hesitated for a moment, then took off the straw and stuck it in, picked it up and took a sip.

"...it tastes bad."

The taste that filled his mouth made him frown unconsciously. He felt that the taste was somewhat anti-human and the only way back was through the sewer.

"...Eat well and take care of yourself, Yusuke."

Kato Yusuke stared at the tomato juice for a while, and finally endured the discomfort and drank it in one go, then immediately brought a bottle of oolong tea to clear his mouth.

——The next time I buy something, it will be a dog.

Someone secretly swore a poisonous oath and prepared to continue drawing.

Just then, the phone suddenly rang.

Press the answer button and put it to your ear, Serizawa Yu's voice came from the receiver.

"...Brother Yu?"

"Yes." Kato Yusuke smiled slightly, "Good evening, Xiao Xi."

"Good evening~! Brother Yu." Serizawa Yu responded happily.

"You rarely call at this time. Is there something wrong?"

"This...it's actually nothing important. Tomorrow is Friday. Brother Yu, are you...free tonight?"

"tomorrow--"

Kato Yusuke pondered for a moment and deliberately joked:

"I'm not sure yet, does Xiao Xi want to date me? Although the amusement park and the like are temporarily unavailable, I can take you to eat or buy some clothes."

"Brother Yu, you are serious." Serizawa Yu chuckled, and then asked: "...Really?"

Kato Yusuke smiled:

"Of course, Auntie Mina always asks me about you. She said that you, a girl, can't live as rough as me, and asked me to pay more attention to you. Is there anything you want to do?"

Serizawa Yu replied instantly: "I want Brother Yu to be happy."

Kato Yusuke was taken aback for a moment, and said helplessly: "...Thank you, but we are family, and it's okay for you to be willful or coquettish occasionally."

"Willful and coquettish..."

"Well, is there anything you want to do or like? You can make requests to me."

"Well...if that's the case, can I invite Brother You to have dinner with me?"

"...Do you want to eat? I heard that there are a few good restaurants in Ginza. You can see Tokyo Tower and Skytree from the terrace area there. The weather has not been that cold recently, so we can go there."

Kato Yusuke described it vividly.

This was the homework he had done before when preparing for Shiyu's birthday, but unfortunately he didn't use it in the end.

Serizawa Yu said "Wow~": "It sounds great! But...that kind of restaurant must be very expensive, right?"

"No, the price/performance ratio there is relatively good. Does Xiao Xi want to go?"

"this……"

Serizawa thought for a while and said insinuatingly:

"But, I still want to ask Brother You to come and eat at home. In fact, I recently researched a new recipe. Brother You, are you willing to come and eat...?"

Kato Yusuke was a little silent, "...Speaking of which, Xiao Xi, are you still used to living there?"

"……Huh?"

"Actually, I have been considering renting a new apartment recently. Would Xiao Xi consider coming to live with me? I can rent another one for you next door. The environment should be much better than where you live now."

"...Brother Yu."

"What's up?"

As if she heard what he meant, Serizawa Yu asked after a short while: "Brother Yu, are you... not going to want Xiaoxiang again?"

As soon as the words fell, the two fell silent at the same time.

Kato Yusuke thought about it again and again, but still felt that he should explain it to the other party, so he whispered: "Xiao Xi, this is her own choice."

"——!"

There was a blank on the other end of the phone.

For a while, there was only the faint sound of breathing in the receiver.

"...Brother Yu."

Serizawa Xi whispered his name, looking particularly sad, "No matter what, you won't forgive Xiaoxiang...?"

Kato Yusuke did not answer directly: "Anyway... Regarding the proposal I just made, Xiao Xi, what do you think?"

Serizawa Yu's breathing suddenly became faster.

"Brother Yu..." the girl said anxiously: "If... I say that I want to continue living with Xiaoxiang, will you hate me?"

Kato Yusuke was silent for a moment, "...No, this has nothing to do with Xiao Xi. If you like it, just continue to live there."

"This...that's it..." Serizawa Yu seemed to be relieved, and then asked: "Then...Brother Yu, will you come for dinner tomorrow?"

"Not tomorrow. "

"Then in a few days..."

"Sorry, Xiao Xi."

Kato Yusuke said: "I have a lot of things at school and the studio recently, so I may not have time to go to your place. If you want, you can come to the studio to play."

"is that so?"

Serizawa Yu's voice dropped, then she braced herself and said, "Well... I understand, then good night, Brother Yu."

"Good night, Xiao Xi."

Kato Yusuke put down his cell phone, leaned back on his chair, picked up the oolong tea, took a few sips, and then continued working.

Everyone is responsible for his own choices, including himself.

…