Tokyo Rebirth: Start From Picking Up Sayu

Kamisato Town, Saitama Prefecture.

Although this is still Saitama Prefecture, it is located at the very edge of the border. After just a short walk, you can reach Gunma Prefecture next door. Even within Saitama Prefecture, it's not super rural, but it's surrounded by farmland.

There is almost no decent entertainment.

But even such a remote place has its beautiful side.

For example, the green paddy fields covered by water, or the undulating peaks surrounding the fields.

Under the boundless blue sky, the wires extending from the small iron tower connected straight into the distance, as if telling that this was the end of the town.

When you get off the bus, which has almost no other passengers, the first thing you feel is the fresh air that is different from Tokyo.

Although this statement is very cliché, Sayu couldn't think of a more appropriate adjective for a while, because the air here is really fresh and refreshing, and it also has the aroma of grass and trees.

Everyone who comes here from the city will subconsciously feel refreshed and open-minded.

"Wow~~!"

The sky I looked up at inadvertently was very broad, so blue that it felt like it was about to fall downwards. The gauze-like clouds were floating freely, and the golden sun showed its face behind the clouds.

Every time a breeze blows, the emerald green rice sea will sway with the wind. You can also see water striders swimming leisurely in the fields, as if they are also dancing with the chirping of cicadas.

"So...so beautiful!!"

Unable to help but exclaim, the girl turned around quickly, "Is this where Yusuke grew up?"

"Well, it's a place with nothing else but rice fields, but I hope you like it." Yusuke Kato responded as he slowly got off the bus, carrying a bag full of luggage.

"Ah, I'm sorry, is it heavy? I'm here to help, too."

Seeing this scene, Sayu hurriedly stepped forward and wanted to share some beautifully wrapped paper bags from his hand, but was stopped by him who shook his head.

"This little weight is nothing."

After identifying the direction, Kato Yusuke said: "And there is still a long way to go, so I can just take it."

Buzzing.

After completing its mission, the bus turned back along the original route. The sudden muffled sound caused a few crows parked on the power lines to squawk in alarm and fly towards the mountainside in the distance.

Stepping on the ground beneath my feet, I waved my hands to fan away the pungent exhaust fumes emitted by the bus.

Kato Yusuke stared at the familiar and unfamiliar scenery in front of him, his eyes slightly dazed.

Then he slowly shook his head and prepared to move forward.

But that beautiful figure always stopped in front of him, with a somewhat tangled expression on her face.

"What's wrong?" Instead, he cast a questioning look in confusion.

The girl muttered "Hmm..." and then smiled bitterly, "Um, Yusuke. You said that an elder will pick you up at the old house later, right?"

"Yeah, that's right. Any questions?"

"Well~ here's the problem. Although I am very grateful that you have always taken care of me, but if the other party sees you taking so many things, but I am empty-handed..."

Hearing this, Kato Yusuke immediately understood the problem and smiled knowingly: "Then when we are almost there, I will share it with you. Is that okay?"

"Eh~~~? Wouldn't that be like lying? It feels so annoying." Sayu said gloomily, obviously unable to accept this plan.

Then he muttered again: "You just need to give me some now. Yusuke is too protective."

Looking at the eyes that glanced at him secretly while speaking, Kato Yusuke couldn't help but raise the corners of his mouth slightly, and his expression softened.

"Okay, if you want it so much, then take some, although I don't think that person would care about such a trivial matter." With that said, he picked out a pile of exquisite paper bags containing wagashi. Two were handed over.

"Then I'll give you these two souvenirs. You can hand them over to each other when we meet later. Are you satisfied with this?"

"Oh~~~!"

Sayu smiled brightly, nodded vigorously, and said confidently: "Please leave it to me~!"

The two then took steps and walked towards the road.

◇

After walking for about fifteen minutes, an old house with a tiled roof, presumably built in the late Showa era, came into view.

The word "Kato" is vaguely printed on the wooden door plate that looks to be of some age.

And a middle-aged woman wearing home-style bright-colored short-sleeves and white cropped trousers had her hands folded in front of her lower abdomen and was looking here gently.

She is not tall and looks about forty years old. Her long hair, which is tied back casually, looks a bit frizzy, with some silver hair mixed in, giving her a simple yet neat look.

"Xiaoyou——"

The other party waved his hand, and his mature voice spoke very gently.

"Ah, yes! Hello...Hello!"

Sayu, who heard the other party's call, immediately trotted forward, then bowed and said: "This is the first time we meet, I am Sayu Ogiwara. If you don't mind, please accept this!"

"...?"

The woman who saw this scene looked puzzled at first, and then seemed to remember something. A deep surprise bloomed on her slightly thin face, and then she took two steps forward, took Sayu's hand, and said:

"That's it! So you are Xiaoyou's girlfriend, Sayu-chan? I'm sorry I didn't recognize you just now. You are welcome to be my guest."

From this, Sayu realized that the other party was not actually calling him, and then he hurriedly put on a smile and responded: "Ah, no, it's totally fine. Please don't apologize. It was me who misunderstood... I'm sorry that I suddenly arrived." Are the disturbances in the house disturbing you?"

"?Huh? It didn't bother me at all."

The woman smiled kindly: "Because this is Xiaoyou's home, I just helped clean the house a little bit."

While the two were talking, Kato Yusuke from behind also walked up and joined the conversation.

"You're doing this again, Auntie Mina. Just leave the cleaning to us, and we shouldn't bother you."

"It doesn't matter, it doesn't matter. Anyway, I usually only come here to clean when I'm not busy, so it won't be troublesome at all. But it's rare for you to come back. It would be too hard to clean as soon as you come back."

"Do you always do this kind of thing?"

Kato Yusuke couldn't help but said in astonishment: "Obviously no one lives there, why can't we just leave it there?"

"Really, what nonsense are you kidding?"

The middle-aged woman named Mina patted his head reproachfully, "If you leave the house vacant for too long, let alone the health condition, even the family's blessings will slip away."

"... Even if this is the case, you can actually consider renting it out to support your family." Kato Yusuke said with a wry smile.

The other party continued to respond in an unfailingly gentle tone: "After all, this is where Xiaoyou grew up. How could I do that kind of thing? Besides, how can anyone come to rent a house with us?"

As if she was amused, she burst out laughing after saying this. Kato Yusuke, who made unrealistic remarks because of his quick words, couldn't help but feel a little surprised.

At the same time, Sayu, who took all this into consideration, had a thought in his mind: "It turns out that Yusuke will also have such a time." He couldn't help but raise the corners of his mouth and laugh out loud.

In order to let this embarrassing scene pass as soon as possible.

After clearing his throat, Kato Yusuke decisively changed the subject and spoke very bluntly.

"Sayu, let me introduce you. This is Aunt Motoyama Mina, the elder who has always taken care of me and is also my current guardian. Aunt Mina, she is the Ogiwara Sayu I mentioned to you before, and she is also my daughter. friend."

Mina Motoyama smiled and nodded at this, and turned her gaze to the girl in front of her, "Well... Anyway, since you are Xiaoyu's girlfriend, I will call you Xiaosayu, okay?"

"Ah, okay! That's good!"

Perhaps because he felt the intimacy of the other party, Sayu, who was still a little nervous at first, relaxed at this time, with a sincere and soft smile on his face, and said: "Thank you ~ Auntie Mina."

"You're welcome, and Xiaoyou...here."

Mina Motoyama called Kato Yusuke to her side, then took out a silver key from her pants pocket and put it in his hand.

"This is the key you left with me before you left. Go in with Sayu-chan. It's almost time for me to go back. Come to my place for dinner in the evening."

After saying that, he turned around and left, leaving space for the two of them.

Insert the key into the lock and turn slightly.

The door opened with a click.

The scene inside the house slowly appeared in front of them.

………