Chapter 270 Family Trip (3)
In Jimbocho at night, lanterns are hung between the trees along the road. Under the lanterns, open-air book stalls are lined up one after another.
A luxurious black car slowly slowed down and stopped by the roadside.
Pedestrians, customers, and bookstall owners all looked at the car.
The car door opened, a slender leg stepped out, and as the sole of the foot landed hard, the person inside stood out.
A handsome and elegant young man.
His fair left hand was on the black car door, and his right hand was making a supporting gesture towards the car. Then, a slim girl with a delicate and noble face got out of the car.
The handsome boy closed the car door, held the aristocratic girl in his arms, and walked towards the used bookstall.
He lowered his head and said something to the girl in his arms. His faint smile was enough to make all the women on the street fall into sweet dreams on this Friday night.
Faced with such a smile, the noble girl with a slender waist and long beautiful legs responded with an impatient look.
But her movement of leaning in the boy's arms was very intimate and natural.
Not even the headlights of passing cars could pass between their bodies.
The used bookstalls were full of people. When they walked to a stall, the other customers would subconsciously move to the left and right to make enough space for them.
At the bookstall, there are bundles of big books; paperback editions at 150 yen per volume and 400 yen for three volumes; old CDs at 300 yen each; and the most expensive are original English books and picture albums.
Under the dim light of the lanterns, these second-hand books look even more quaint.
""'And I miss her terribly.'"" Toru Watanabe took out "Perception" from the pile of books, turned to a certain page, and said to Kujo Miki with a chuckle, ""'There is nothing like a headstrong wom.'""
"Willful?" Miki Kujo hugged her elbows and glanced at him.
"Miss Kujo is willful, and that's something the entire Shinjuku district knows about," Toru Watanabe said as a matter of course.
"What did you say?" Miki Kujo looked at him.
"I love you, my heart beats as soon as I see you." Toru Watanabe selected three more books about flowers and handed them to the stall owner.
The stall owner casually wrapped it in old newspaper and said, "1,400 yen."
That efficiency is completely different from the Ginza shops that "help customers carry their shopping bags and walk them all the way to the elevator."
"I'll read this tonight." Toru Watanabe felt the weight of four books with one hand.
"Don't you want to watch your Ultraman and Kamen Rider anymore?" Miki Kujo sneered with a smile.
"Who's watching those? I'm just watching with you. You don't understand men's hearts!"
Kujo Miki's eyes turned cold, but she still said with a smile: "You..."
Before she could finish, Toru Watanabe pulled her into his arms and walked towards the car.
"Let's go back, I can't wait any longer."
"Impatient?"
"Reading."
"You'll sleep on the couch tonight."
"I can sleep with you, even on the floor."
"Don't you understand what I mean? I'll leave you alone...Put the book away! It's something that no one has touched!"
"It hasn't been touched yet, is this far enough?" Toru Watanabe held the book high.
"not enough."
"Then I'll just have to go to the moon."
"Remember to come back, dear."
At 9:30 on Saturday morning, Miki Kujo went to work, and Toru Watanabe slowly left the villa and walked towards the University of Tokyo.
The Tokyo University wind orchestra will hold a concert today. Tomorrow, Mai will make her debut as an oboe player, so he naturally cannot miss it.
In fact, Asuri Mai didn't let him go because she had something else to do after the concert and couldn't meet.
If we can't meet, then there's no point in going - Asu Mai didn't take the fact that she played the oboe .
The concert starts at 10:15, which is more than enough time to walk from Jimbocho in 30 minutes.
When I arrived at Suidobashi, I suddenly received a call from Kujo's mother.
"Hello."
"My dear son, where are you?"
"...In front of a steak house." Toru Watanabe looked at the cheap steak house called "Kuishinbo" on the right.
"What else?"
"Also," Watanabe looked around, "you can see the Tokyo Dome."
"What else?" Kujo's mother seemed addicted to the game.
"My dear mother, please tell me what you want to say."
A seductive laugh came from the phone. In addition to Kujo's mother, Kiyono's mother was also there.
Kujo's mother didn't go home last night and slept directly in the palace on Tokyo Bay.
"Your fake mother and I are going to date you."
"Who is the fake mother?" Kiyono's mother said in dissatisfaction, "I recognize Watanabe-kun as my son, so I am the real mother."
"Shame on you, forcing someone to be your son."
While the two ladies were arguing, Toru Watanabe wondered what they were talking to him about, their plans for the anniversary trip - now it would be more appropriate to call it a family trip?
"I'm on my way to a concert at the University of Tokyo," he replied.
"What time does it start?" The phone reached Qingye's mother at some point.
"Half past ten."
"Okay then, son, wait for us there, and then we'll have lunch together."
After ending the conversation between the two ladies, Toru Watanabe called Asuka Mai and explained the situation.
"Will it be exposed?" Asu Mai's voice was flat.
"Well, those two are as treacherous as I am."
"Why did Che come then?"
"This is your first performance. If there is no compelling reason, I want to go anyway, so please don't bother me."
The sound of hair rubbing against the phone could be faintly heard, and Asu Mai shook her head as if in denial.
"I'm glad. I'll be careful to watch Tooru less."
"Well, I look forward to Senior's performance at the concert."
"Okay." The last voice was particularly clear and carried a smile.
Because his mother-in-law and stepmother were there, Watanabe Toru, as the son-in-law and godson, naturally could not walk over slowly.
He hailed a taxi and arrived at his destination ahead of time.
There were a lot of people coming and going on the campus of the University of Tokyo on Saturday. I wonder if it was because of the concert.
Toru Watanabe stood at the door of the auditorium, looking at the playlist posted at the entrance while waiting for the ladies.
He was wearing simple casual pants and a black short-sleeved shirt, with a men's red fashionable shirt on top, with the buttons unbuttoned.
Standing on the campus, he fulfilled the world's fantasy about the youthful years of sixteen-year-olds.
"Watanabe-kun, sorry for the wait!" Kujo's mother and Kiyono's mother came over accompanied by a sentimental and gentle tune.
Qingye's mother has exquisite short hair, revealing a white and translucent neck like a girl's, intellectual and elegant.
Kujo's mother was wearing jeans, a white short-sleeved shirt, and a red baseball jacket - Toru Watanabe looked at her several times, wondering if she was wearing Miki's clothes.
"Hello, mothers." Toru Watanabe greeted them obediently.
"How is it?" Kujo's mother put her hands in the pockets of her baseball uniform and posed like a fashionable girl.
"I almost mistook you for Meiji. Compared to the first time we met, you look a lot younger, not only in appearance, but also in mentality."
"It's mainly because Miki found you." Kujo's mother smiled meaningfully, "After that child stopped associating with Xiaolin, she became very strict with her cleanliness. Even the servants at home were not allowed to touch her. I thought she would never find a boyfriend in this life."
After that, she asked Watanabe Toru:
"Does she often order you to put on clothes and shoes? As a young lady, this is the first time she has been served by someone. Watanabe-kun, please don't think it's troublesome and be more accommodating to her."
"No trouble at all, that's what I like about her."
The purer and more innocent your girlfriend is, the better.
"Watanabe-kun~" Kiyono's mother said dissatisfiedly, "Why do you only talk to her and ignore me?"
Watanabe Toru turned his head to look at her and frowned slightly: "Are you a student of the University of Tokyo? Sorry, I have a girlfriend."
Qingye's mother burst out laughing.
She grabbed the arms of the nine mothers and said with great joy, "This child is really interesting."
"Watanabe-kun, doesn't Rin hate you for lying like this?" Kujo's mother asked curiously.
"That guy scolded me all the time, saying that I was an ape with an uncivilized brain, a pervert who liked breasts, and called me a fool all the time."
"Hmm..." Mother Kujo looked at Toru Watanabe carefully and suddenly asked, "Are you and Rin doing something to let down my Meiji?"
"You can go ask Kiyono Rin herself." Watanabe Toru said with a smile.
"It seems like it's about to start, let's go in." Qingye's mother reminded.
"Let's go." Kujo's mother walked in front naturally.
Kiyono's mother held her arm and lagged behind her half a step. When she passed by Tobe Toru, she made a cute gesture of encouragement.
'Are you really a female college student?'
As for what she was hinting at, Watanabe Toru didn't think about it.
Walking into the auditorium, I saw two mothers and one son - it always felt strange - sitting in the corner, waiting for the show to start.
"What songs are there?" Qingye's mother asked in a low voice.
Watanabe Toru recalled the program he just watched:
"Elgar's Majestic March, Bach's Aria on the G String, Gerda's Lullaby, Brahms' Hungarian Dance No. 5, and Smetana's Vltava, a total of five."
"I like 'The Vltava'." After saying that, Kiyono's mother hummed the E minor key at the beginning of 'The Vltava'.
Her voice was clear, like raindrops falling on leaves. People sitting in the front couldn't help but look back when they heard her singing.
The lights suddenly went out and the auditorium fell silent.
On the only stage with lights on, the performers came on stage together.
Toru Watanabe found Mai Asuka in the crowd.
She was wearing a black dress with a long thin strap tied around her waist, which highlighted her graceful waist.
Her long hair looked even darker under the light, falling on her shoulders, slightly revealing her collarbone.
She has the flavor of a beautiful musician.
Toru Watanabe suddenly wanted Asuka Mai to fight with him in this black dress and wrinkle the clothes.
He put his hand to his chin and realized something:
Could it be that I not only like studying legs, but I am also interested in dresses?
Come to think of it, every time Miki Kujo wears a dress, she seems to be a little more excited than usual.
"Watanabe-kun, cheer up, you can't be so hopeless."
'What does it matter? The more things you like, the more interesting your life will be!'
I was arguing with myself in my head - the performance on stage was so boring.
In fact, it’s just that Toru Watanabe doesn’t like classical music, even though he is a perfect oboe player.
As for Asuma Mai's performance, it is still far from his level, and he will need special coaching when he returns today.
The curtain call began, all the performers stood up and bowed to the audience, who responded with warm applause.
Toru Watanabe also applauded for Asuka Mai who was wearing a dress.
After leaving the University of Tokyo, Toru Watanabe and his two mothers came to a nearby Italian restaurant.
The two ladies ordered wine and veal steak, and Watanabe Toru ordered macaroni and freshly squeezed orange juice.
"Watanabe-kun, I apologize for what happened yesterday." Kujo's mother shook her wine glass gracefully.
Her calmness and elegance fascinated even the waitress in the restaurant who had poured drinks for countless customers.
"What's the matter?" Toru Watanabe thought that wearing a baseball uniform and drinking red wine did not go well together, but he had to admire the lady's temperament.
"I'm sorry to disturb your and Meiji's world of two." Kujo's mother said, "I've lived for twenty years, and I have only two wishes for the rest of my life. One, to see her happily married and have children, and two, to see her have new friends. Please forgive me as a mother. Meiji has sacrificed too much for this family. At least let her have a friend."
"Twenty years?"
Mother Kujo tilted her neck, which looked only twenty years old, took a sip of red wine, then smiled and stared at Toru Watanabe with a very dangerous look.
"I'm one year younger than her." Qingye's mother ate a small piece of steak elegantly with her small mouth.
"Well, I guess I understand." Toru Watanabe nodded and accepted the age setting of the two mothers.
He continued, "Where's Kiyono's mother? Why are you going?"
"Didn't I tell you that I haven't been out for a long time?"
"For the sake of proper education, I think mothers should not lie to their sons." Watanabe Toru seemed to be talking about educational policies suddenly, with no other meaning.
Kiyono's mother gave him a reproachful look: "Rin is almost seventeen."
"Um."
"As the heir of the Seino family, she must give up her insistence on not lying before she turns eighteen."
"What does this have to do with traveling together?" asked Toru Watanabe.
"You and Miki are the only ones that Rin is willing to keep in touch with even if they lie to her. Even I can only see her occasionally."
Kiyono's mother cut off a small piece of medium-rare beef with a knife and fork.
"I hope to change her through you two, and I have to do it before she turns 18. Therefore, I will seize every opportunity, even if it's your and Meiji's anniversary."
"I understand." Watanabe Toru nodded. "It's okay to go. I won't care what you do, but I won't do anything to deliberately bring the two of you together."
"Let it be." Kujo's mother said with a smile.
"Let it be." Toru Watanabe recalled the conversation between the two in the courtyard of the Kujo family mansion that evening.
"You're not angry, are you?" Kiyono's mother stared at Watanabe Toru.
"It's nothing, actually." He said, "I don't care about the anniversary, I just want to please Meiji. And spending the anniversary with my mother, boyfriend and childhood friend is also a good way to celebrate."
"You've got to pay attention to our wedding anniversary." Kujo's mother gave Watanabe Toru a charming look.
"Of course. How can a dating anniversary be compared to a wedding anniversary?"
"I'll feel relieved if you're not angry." said Qingye's mother.
"Have you decided where to go?" After taking a bite of macaroni, Watanabe Toru asked curiously.
"A good place." said Kujo's mother with a smile.
