Tokyo, there are too many beautiful girls imitating me

"I heard that someone wants to get you, Yui, to form a band?"

Chapter 99: Each One's Own Path

[Calling "Xiao Yiyi" is a joke, while calling "Yui" is a serious negotiation.

So at this moment, when you hear your mother calling your name, you become tense.

"What? Did Zhizi tell you the secret again?"

"no!"

When she heard the question, the mother answered immediately.

Well, it's definitely Shimokawahara Eiko who's meddling again, trying to kick you into the light music club.

This is really...

I don't know what kind of magic potion Chika Tachibana gave her that made her betray you again and again.

Thinking of this, you can't help but blame Kawahara Eiko for putting women before friends.

Wait, color?

Did you subconsciously classify Chika Tachibana, who is also a girl, into the category of "sex" and subconsciously regard her as a potential love interest?

Realizing that your straight-woman mentality seemed to be slipping, you quickly shook your head and responded to your mother.

"there is."

"Then why not give it a try? Yui has been playing drums for a few years, so it's a good opportunity to rekindle our past relationship. As for your studies, I've always been confident in them. It doesn't matter if you slack off a bit. Isn't it a good choice to enjoy your youth during this only-once-in-a-lifetime period?"

Enjoy youth?

You shook your head as you mentally chanted such unfamiliar words.

“They are just playing…”

The group of people in the light music section who you never hear playing together are just playing around. You wanted to use this reply to perfunctorily appease your mother, but as soon as you said it, the firm and hopeful look in Chika Tachibana's eyes when she invited you appeared in front of you. In the end, you couldn't continue, and you shook your head again.

"I've lost that interest a long time ago."

"Liar!"

Your lies are light and your mother's words are even more straightforward when she exposes you.

"Even though I haven't been taking music theory classes in the past few years, I've never stopped practicing drums. Even when I'm shopping, I always glance into the windows of music stores whenever I pass by. Zhizi has clearly told me all this!"

"Sure enough, it's Zhizi."

Stupid mothers are like this, they leak secrets when they speak, and they will blurt out all the secrets when they are anxious.

After hearing more details of Zhizi's revelation, you showed an expression of expecting it, and decided in your heart that you must ask her about it when you meet her again... Forget it, just ask her relatively seriously not to get involved in this matter anymore.

You went to the same school for elementary, junior high and high school and have a very close relationship. You know that she hopes that you can release yourself and face the things you like.

But in the end, it is difficult for people to empathize if they cannot be in the situation themselves. Zhizi will not understand unless she is in your position.

Your worries, your entanglements, your anxiety, your inner fears, all these things that have been oppressing you, Zhizi cannot see them.

No one else can see it. Only you can see it.

"Uh, haha, I let it slip. Don't blame Zhizi, she was just worried about you. That incident happened a long time ago, and you should... Yui... Anyway, it's my fault, but I always hope that you will not be affected by it anymore."

"It doesn't matter anymore. I don't care about those things anymore."

"...Yeah, that's good. Then, let's try to join. I heard from Eiko that the girls in the light music club are very nice. Even if we don't practice, it would be nice to just drink tea and chat every day."

"I don't have that much free time. I have my own things to do."

"tennis?"

"Ah."

"..."

"..."

The air becomes quiet, and you suddenly realize that having inherited your mother's stupid genes, you don't seem to be very good at lying.

Before this, your explanation for not being home on weekends was that you were attending tennis club training. Now when you heard your mother ask, you just answered without thinking.

But since Eiko has already told your mother about the light music club trying to persuade you, the truth about you working part-time under the guise of tennis club activities must have been known to your mother as well.

Sure enough, her face immediately became sad, her fingers moved unconsciously, and tears welled up in her eyes.

"Mom, you can obviously earn a lot, so why do you still work? Or do you think it's shameful?"

Your mother feels guilty and sad that you sacrifice most of your free time to work part-time jobs.

Although it is not glorious, being a hostess does pay well and you don't need to work part-time to supplement your income.

Although the salary is generous, being a hostess is not glorious, and she is worried about this: Do you think her money is shameful? Would you rather work hard to earn money than take it from her?

"No, that's not the case. Mom, you've done well enough. Excellent."

How could it be possible that I think my mother is lowly and that the money she earned with hard work is dishonorable?

You quickly lean over and hug her, burying your head in her arms and pressing it against her chest, and you clarify seriously.

"I just want to make more money and gain some experience at the same time."

"I can still make money, a lot of money, Yui, you have to believe in your mother."

"Yeah, I know...I know."

Yeah, you know, of course you know.

I know that my mother's salary has been declining rapidly in the past two years. I know that although she is only 34 years old and still considered young, her health is weak due to irregular work and rest schedules, excessive drinking and overwork. At this age, she can no longer retain her beauty and cannot stop the passage of time.

The skin that was once so fair and tender is now... I could see it when I was removing her makeup just now. It is dull, dry, and has wrinkles that cannot be covered even with heavy makeup.

And from taking a taxi home at four o'clock every day to taking the tram home at eight o'clock now, although the quality of life I provide you has never decreased and the pocket money I give you every month has never decreased, it is almost unbearable, mother.

If this continues, will the mother, who is getting older and in increasingly poor condition, be cleared out of the nightclub first, or will her body collapse first?

You dare not imagine, and don’t want to think about it. You just blame yourself for being young and incompetent.

In high school and college, even if you study hard and get admitted to the best college, it will still take six or seven years to convert your academic ability into financial resources. Do you really want your mother to work hard during this period?

Moreover, there are all kinds of hidden dangers brought about by the mother's poor judgment of people and her continuous search for bad partners...

You are a stupid daughter with no talent. You are not able to shoulder the responsibility of this family at such a young age, but at least, you should start working hard from now on. Even if it is a small amount of savings, you should try to save it. Even if it is experience that will not be very helpful to your future work, you should try to accumulate it.

so.

Just like the reason why you envy and admire Chika Tachibana, leave it to her, a girl with a bright future, strong backing, and a natural carefree nature, to work hard on things like not being afraid of wasting time, smiling, cheerfully, and bravely running towards her dreams.

All you need to do is keep your feet on the ground, focus on what's in front of you, prepare for the worst, and always work hard to deal with the worst situation.

You have realized this kind of thing a long time ago, and you will not be shaken at this moment, but you will just feel a little regretful.

But isn’t regret something that runs through life?

Yes, that's it! You say to yourself.

"Okay, okay, don't worry about these things. Go to bed quickly, it will be nine o'clock soon."

So, with your head raised and a smile on your face, you prepare to leave, leaving time for your mother, who has been working all night, to rest.

However, when he tried to leave, his sleeves were grabbed again.

Phew! Will it take some time to get my mother to give up on this idea? Or should I just give her a verbal agreement and then force Zhizi to collude with her, thus keeping the truth from her mother?

When you were hesitating between the two choices, your mother spoke, but it was not to persuade you.

But -

"sorry."

She said in a low voice.

Text: Chapter 100. Where to escape?

I have clearly tried hard enough and given everything, but I still say "I'm sorry".

How would the mother feel and how would the daughter feel when such words were spoken?

In the dark bedroom, the tip of her nose felt sore and Chika Tachibana pursed her lips tightly.

What a resemblance, she saw her past self in Hanasaka Yui.

Her mother also cried like this when she was in high school and twisted her waist while carrying heavy objects at work and was forced to take a two-week leave of absence from school.

Her mood at that time...

It hurts a lot, for myself, for my mother, and for my mother's heartache.

Guilt and bitterness are mixed together, but I can't say any words to comfort myself. I know it's futile to say anything, so I can only say some pale and powerless words like "It's okay", "It's enough", and "Let's work hard together".

Previously, she was wrong to pursue Hanasaka Yui and ask her to join the club without knowing much about her.

It seems that Hanasaka Yui had experienced the same thing as Chika Tachibana.

She envies others while doing her best, and forces herself to be steadfast while being shaken. Such a person cannot withstand the toss and turn and cannot take risks. At this time, encouraging her to pursue her dreams is just inflicting cruel punishment on her.

I know the other person's good intentions, but I also know my own difficulties, so I can only force a smile and watch the other person go away with envy. Years later, I watch the other person achieve success, or fail but be worry-free, and laugh at their youth without regrets...

Of course, knowing Hanasaka Yui's family situation, she could help her, but she couldn't do it. However, if Mitsuki Marin took action, it would be easy to help Hanasaka Yui's mother find a decent job.

However, taking on the financial responsibility of supporting the other family is a huge and heavy debt.

If you do that, I'm afraid we won't be friends anymore.

Always remembering the favors and always following the other person's ideas are not friends, but vassals, the worst relationship.

Chika Tachibana had experienced this kind of thing in college, so she knew how painful such a friendship could be.

Come to think of it, at that time, the senior student must have liked me, but I was such a fool that I never realized it. Instead, I tried my best to repay her kindness, but in the end, our relationship became more distant, and we separated after graduation.

Suddenly recalling the past, Chika Tachibana couldn't help but sigh.

After sighing, she started to worry about Hanasaka Yui again.

Seeing the future in the simulation, how is she now? Is she crying? Or is she holding it in?

Phew~ I hope my simulated self can be smarter and realize Hanasaka Yui's dire situation sooner, and stop bothering her too much...

Wait! Thinking of this, Chika Tachibana suddenly realized something was wrong.

In the simulation, Hanasaka Yui embarked on the path of music.

In Mizuki Marin's simulation, she missed Hanasaka Yui because she initially joined the music club, and eventually met in an off-campus band.

In Akizuki Aino's simulation, she joined the light music club and seduced Hanasaka Yui. In the end, even though she quit halfway, Hanasaka Yui reached the top with Mizuki Marin.

No matter which route she takes, Hanasaka Yui has gone through this journey on the music road.

So, was it her persistence that moved Hanasaka Yui, or was it Mizuki Marin who solved her worries, or was it Hanasaka Yui who figured it out herself and made the brave decision?

The thought of a bright future instantly brightened her mood, and Chika Tachibana looked forward to the next simulation.

However, contrary to her mood, the words inside the simulation were still heavy.

"Don't say such things. Mom is never wrong!"

Faced with your mother's "I'm sorry", you retorted excitedly, fervently wanting her to know how you felt.

However, she has always known this feeling. After all, you are so well-behaved, never cause trouble, always careful, independent and tenacious. Even though she is not energetic enough to take charge of you, you still grow up to be such an excellent and sensible girl.

But that’s what love is like, you always feel indebted.

As you do to her, so she does to you.

There is clearly nothing wrong, but when two right things meet, it will lead to such a "mistake". This is life.

Your mother is powerless to reverse such a life, so she laments like this.

Before you can say more words of comfort, she tells you more reasons why she feels sorry for you.

"I'm sorry for making you like this."

"..."

All of a sudden, as if struck by lightning, you are speechless.