Tokyo Wingman King

The sky in Berlin seems a little gray.

Perhaps the morning mist has turned into clouds, perhaps some dreams have shattered into smoke, perhaps the supportive gazes will eventually get tired, perhaps the self-righteous sunlight will never learn to turn a corner and fall to the ground.

When he was with his friends, he hated to be bothered by trivial matters. He was used to the respectful blank space between both parties. At this moment, he began to reflect on his laziness - he did not follow the changes in Ichijo's emotions. He rarely deliberately captured the mental noise of these friends, and settled down in the [natural friendship] and [defensive love relationship].

They said they would thoroughly investigate the current situation of each member, but due to privacy concerns, they have been delaying action.

Let Yitiao say something like that, there is no doubt that [the culprit] is him.

Unfortunately, the purpose of coming to Europe was deconstructed. He thought that his and others' arrival would be an encouragement to Ichijo.

Unexpectedly, after just a few days of getting along, the encouragement did not work and it even broke the girl's decision that she had made after 15 years of hard work.

The reason why he was dating Masumi Ichijo was because he thought Masumi Ichijo had said something to her. He helped to find a solution.

I didn't expect it to be this kind of thing.

Asama Shizumi made himself a clown.

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

"I'm sorry to hear that."

Masumi Ichijo thought that Asana closed his eyes to hide his disappointment and disdain for her.

The girl grabbed Asana's hand and said anxiously,

"Hero, you misunderstood! This is not a compromise. I have not given up my music career! I just realized that the music environment in Europe is not much better than that in Japan. Berlin today is not the Vienna of the past. Of course, there is no problem with the instructors, orchestras or classmates. Thanks to their support, I have achieved such results and attention in this tour. However, I know better. I must leave here, I must go back because only in Tokyo can I find the growth and recognition that I need more.

Hero, please believe me! I know exactly what kind of [world] and life I pursue.”

He spoke incoherently and his vision started to blur.

Asana opened his eyes but didn't rush to break free from her hand.

Although she was clearly holding onto his hand, he saw the chain he had created, holding Masumi's entire body tightly, guiding her towards taming.

He seemed to see the flying bird return to the cage and say to him - it was beautiful to sing for him in the cage.

The two looked at each other, each with hope and guilt.

Block irrelevant opinions, follow your own heart, and build a pure world.
These are what he told Yitiao.

The piano girl who used to be weak and just wanted to escape, her perfect world is not just about the piano.

"I-san, you are not being bullied again, are you? Is it those girls?"

Ichijo let go of Asama and waved his hands repeatedly.
"No, they may not look friendly, but they are not bad."

"So Ms. Ebi's skills are not good enough, and you are embarrassed to fire her, so you want to find a reason to get out of this?"

One shook his head again.
"The teacher is very good and will return to China, but she will be back a little later than me. I have already communicated with my father. I don't know if it's good to say this, but the teacher is not having a good time in Europe."

"."

Asama tried his best not to think that "Masumi Ichijo's return to Japan was her father's idea". He tried his best to consider the pros and cons of Ichijo's return to Japan now.

There is a saying in the circle of studying abroad in classical music: "Money is good, money is bad, Italy is bad." If Lang Lang had not stayed in Europe, he would not have met the master Grafman; if Argerich had not stayed in Europe, she would not have met the master Gulda. These masters saved the new generation of masters at least 10 years of struggle.

But Asama couldn't say something like "It would be better to stay in Europe". Because Ichijo's teacher was only Ms. Ebi, and she was not a top master like Rubinstein or Gould. Her influence was not as great as that of Mitsuko Uchida, who once performed at the opening ceremony of the Eiwa Sports Festival.

From a realistic point of view, Ms. Ebi is one of the paths leading to the Sho Sai Grand Prix, but not the only one.

Asama doesn't want to say anything too realistic to Ichijo.

In Asama's eyes, the eldest daughter of the Ichijo family, this new generation of Japanese piano genius, is not suitable to choose a teacher like Ms. Wendi Deng chooses a husband. There is always someone better.

She is not the ambitious type.

In the music industry, the relationship between mentors and apprentices is often a matter of fate.

The financial resources of a family is fate.

If Yitiao Mayuan is willing, the true masters will definitely stand at the closest place and discover Yitiao's piano sound.

If Masumi Ichijo was a girl who came out of the slums, even if Japan has the second largest music market in the world, with a complete music education, music performance, record recording and distribution industry chain, Asama would definitely stand up and firmly oppose her decision. It is more important to take advantage of the popularity of the tour to make a name for herself as a talented girl.

Seeing the boy opposite him silent, Masumi Ichijo tried to hold his hand again.

Asana put his hands into his shorts pockets.

Ichijo didn't care about these, she looked straight at Asama,

“I won’t be attached to the little fame here, I hope to catch the inspiration that can make my playing better.

Both the teacher and the conductor have been telling me these days that I finally have my own emotional interpretation. I know very well who is the one who brought about the change in me. ”

"I-san, your statement is a bit cunning."

Ichijo did not deny that the reason she returned to Tokyo was for Asama.

“I know that I can’t take up too much of your time in Europe, so it’s important for me and my performance to come back to Tokyo, to where you live. If I can make it even 1% easier for you to come to see me, it’ll be worth it.”

"Engels was only Max's comrade-in-arms, not Max's pendant. I-san, I don't agree with your point of view. It is you who really changed your performance. You can't regard external factors as the main reason, and you can't use me as an excuse to go back to Tokyo."

"It's never an excuse! Hero-kun, please don't downplay your role like this. I don't want to hold you hostage with my life.

I want to be closer to you, this is the answer my piano tells me! "

Futami and Jiandao did not follow Ichizo's example to pursue their dreams independently, but Ichizo moved closer to their life direction.

Bad results.

Asana took a hand out of his trouser pocket and patted his head to dispel thoughts of [escaping, disappearing, forgetting], etc.

"I-san, you are making me look stupid for encouraging you to pursue your dream in Europe."

"Hero-kun, you are the most important part of my dream.

[Put aside your burdens and pursue your dreams. There is no dream that cannot be achieved.]
This is what you said before to encourage me to pursue my dream. Even if I can't realize this dream, I will work hard to make myself a part of your dream. "

It seems that except for Pochi, they can recite his words by heart, making themselves like boomerang launchers.
"I-san, you are already part of the nightmare."

Ichijo laughed, and it seemed interesting to be rejected by Asana who was rubbing his eyebrows.

"Hero-kun, hasn't anyone told you that you often say some very excessive things?"

"Aggressive expressions are a normal sign of low emotional intelligence. Just get used to it. By the way, getting used to unreasonable words and actions is also a sign of low emotional intelligence."

"."

Asama accepted the fact that Masumi Ichijo returned to Tokyo, but he rejected Ichijo's suggestion to infiltrate the [Healing Girls Alliance] as an undercover agent for him.

He didn't believe in Ichijo's acting skills, nor did he believe in his loyalty. Being a spy was not a game, and this profession was not suitable for her at all.

This young lady will definitely turn against us at the critical moment.

"So, where to go next?"

"Hackescher Markt, Risa says it's the place that has the most flavor of East Berlin. If you're lucky, you can find some interesting things."

Hearing this answer, Asama couldn't help but sigh that Busikawa had too many things to worry about. He was just like a neighborhood auntie.
And he actually looks more like a local bully than Masumi Ichi!

It's a little past 6 o'clock now, and it's impossible for lazy Europeans to set up their stalls so early.

I guess Ichijo didn't tell Busuigawa the date.

The two walked through four street corners and two narrow green spaces and arrived at the Hackescher Markt. As expected, neither the tents nor the food trucks were set up, and the entire square was empty.

Continue walking north and you will reach Hackenhof, where all the shops on the street are closed.

Restaurants, cafes, souvenir shops, beauty stores, Nordic furniture stores, but if you just take a quick look, there's nothing worth seeing.

The two walked into the courtyard alley and passed through several corridors covered with posters and graffiti.

As the texture of the building becomes more and more rough, the density of stickers and graffiti on the walls becomes greater and greater.

"Who are these two men?"

Masumi Ichijo asked, pointing at a graffiti on the wall.

The graffiti in front of me is a replica. The two men in the painting are former Soviet leader Brezhnev and former East German leader Erich Honecker, and they are kissing.

"This painting is called 'Brotherly Kiss'. One is a famous medal collector, and the other is a famous city wall defender. The medal collector failed to collect glory, and the city wall defender failed to protect people's hearts, so everyone likes to use them as the protagonists of jokes."

Asama's answer was equivalent to no answer.

Ichijo didn't ask any further questions, her attention was distracted by the urine smell coming from the other graffiti on both sides.

Most likely it was done by drunks from a nearby bar.

The small wall fundraising sticker with the QR code SURPORT Ukraine (Support Ukraine) was stained.

Asama occasionally sees stickers in Chinese on the wall, such as [I love to wear my girlfriend's underwear], [I do it less and less, but my skills are getting better and better], etc. The mental state of the creator is worrying.

Who are these people who go abroad to study?
I don't really like this kind of chaotic, stacked art space that can trigger trypophobia.

She looked up at the graffiti higher up, and backed away little by little until she was right next to Asama.
"Hero-kun, isn't this place very American? Why do you say it's East Berlin style?"

"Because it is poor and chaotic, the nights are filled with rebellious youth, punk singers, down-and-out artists, beat writers, transvestite partygoers, homeless drug addicts, and anarchist lunatics. In the eyes of West Berliners, this is what East Berlin looks like and what it ended up like. Perhaps the only element of East Berlin they can accept is the little green man at the traffic light."

"Is that so? Because of prejudice?"

Asana nodded, steadied one and pushed it away.

"But East Berlin is not a derogatory term. Because it proves that the most free, modern and critical cultural soil in the world was born in a place that capital doesn't like."

Ichijo nodded thoughtfully and asked again,
"Which one do you like better, East Berlin or West Berlin, Hero?"

For some reason, Asama felt that Ichijo was asking him, "Which one do you like better, Fuzuigawa Risa or Ichijo Masumi?"
"Honestly, Berlin is very boring. Emotionally, East Berlin is more approachable."

A man looked at the chaotic graffiti wall and asked,

"kind?"

“Serious but not rigid, lively but not exaggerated. Failure has not destroyed its spirit. It has a dual personality, simple and passionate.”

"Hey, so Hero-kun likes this type?"

After Ichijo directly passed over the [not serious] Fuzugawa, he also excluded the [not lively] Futami and Majima from Asama's strike zone.

Her heart instantly became 100 times happier.

Seeing that Ichijo was not very interested in graffiti art, Asana took her, who did not remember the way very well, out of the graffiti area of ​​Hackescher Market and slowly walked back.

Taking a stroll in the deserted early morning, she walked backwards while looking at Asama, her steps were lively and cute, which was inconsistent with the character of [Love Letter Harvester].

At less than 7 o'clock, a food truck serving breakfast finally opened on the street.

Asama even helped the owner set up the tent and outdoor tables and chairs just to get something to eat earlier.

Ichijo stood in front of the dining car and turned to Asama and asked,

"Hero-kun, what are you eating?"

"Just like you."

Yitiao ordered two servings of scrambled egg toast, and Asama added a slice of every type of ham on the cart.

A total of 36 euros, not cheap at all.

The owners are a Lebanese couple, and their skillful serving of food is a delight to watch.

Soon, coffee and scrambled egg toast were served.

Asama and Ichijo sat on the street and could see the sun rising above the building without looking up.

The tent could not completely block the dazzling slanting sunlight, and he squinted his eyes, looking a little tired.

"There are sunglasses and a hat in the bag, do you need them?"

Ichijo shook his head, moved the bench naturally, exposed his back to the sun, and ate breakfast leaning against Asama.

Asana picked up the fork, picked out all the ham and divided it into three parts and seven parts, and put the small portions into the plate of one of the fish.

"I can't eat so much."

"[Like you], help me share some."

"Ok."

The two of them first dealt with the mountain of salad next to the toast.

The salad contains chopped sausage, diced ham, diced pickles, diced apples, chopped parsley, mayonnaise and sour cream.

"This salad is called Fleischsalat (meat salad). We often serve this kind of salad in the school cafeteria. The sausages in it are called beer sausages. They are called this name because they are very suitable as a side dish for beer. This salad is a little different. The meat salad in school does not have apple cubes. Sometimes black pepper is added, and sometimes mashed potatoes and chopped onions are added."

It seems that German school canteens also know how to integrate innovation.

"Are you used to eating German food?"

"Except for the pickled cabbage being too salty, everything else is actually fine. However, what I want to eat the most is Hero-kun's cooking."

"Thank you for the compliment."

"I'm not complimenting you, this is 100 times better than the best German food I've ever had. By the way, Hero-kun cooked for everyone again yesterday, right? Don't always do this when I'm not around!"

"Don't treat me as a cook just because I can cook. If I don't cook for you, we can't be friends, right?"

Yitiao blushed and smiled.

"If you're my boyfriend, you don't have to cook. You never have to go into the kitchen again. Just leave the cooking to me."

"Then I'll just cook."

Asana shrugged, picked up the ham and took a big bite of toast.

Ichijo continued the topic from the cafeteria and chatted with Asana about her life living alone in Berlin.

What is more convenient, what is inconvenient, what suits your taste, what you cannot accept, what you like, what you don’t like
Asama listened patiently. He felt that Masumi Ichijo was much more down-to-earth than Fujiwara and Hououin. She could easily make Asama forget her identity as the eldest daughter of the Five Regents family.

A girl's joy, a girl's worries, a girl's complaints, a girl's yearning
It was like a new breeze with great tenderness blowing through the street called youth.

The girl's face blushed, like a love letter. Asama remained alert to this romantic atmosphere, but he could not be absent-minded. He always played the role of a competent friend or psychologist, giving comfort or advice appropriately.

"So, it won't work without Hero-kun."

Masumi Ichijo used this sentence as the ending remark of Berlin Ryuko's daily sharing.

Why did we come back again? (End of this chapter)