In Tokyo: They are heavily dependent on me

Chapter 65. Summer Has Arrived

Based on current developments, Hoshino Kaoru believes that the plan to rid Kobayashi of vanity has been quite successful.

Humans only yearn for things they don't have. Upon learning that she could indulge her vanity, Kobayashi Chio spent the next four days completely immersed in false happiness; it was the first time she had ever been truly satisfied.

She squandered money to satisfy her fragile vanity.

She has everything she had always wanted, living the life she once longed for. She enjoys the attention others give her, and she repeats this countless times every day.

However, what she didn't know was that once you get used to doing anything, you'll get bored.

Once you've had something, you won't have the illusion that you want to have it again.

So one day, after she finished taking photos of those exquisite luxury goods and wanted to send them out as usual, her hands would unconsciously pause.

Is it meaningful to do that?

She would stop to think, then shake her head, and continue repeating the process with great enthusiasm.

Although it was a brief moment of reflection, that's how she changed.

That had never happened before.

She repeated this process over a hundred times, almost a thousand times, before she began to hesitate for the first time.

She would feel tired, and she would uncontrollably think that even if she received praise from others and was held in high esteem, she would no longer be as excited as she was at the beginning.

She had experienced it before, so she gradually felt tired and thought that it wasn't a big deal. When she was asked to do it again, she would feel disgusted and repulsed.

And this is Kaoru's ultimate goal, which has now been achieved.

"Hoshino-kun, thank you so much for this... I owe you so much for my mother's surgery."

After paying off the remaining 500,000 yen, Kaoru went to the ward. Kobayashi stood beside him, her gaze revealing a different emotion.

"It's okay, we're friends. Just remember to pay me back later."

For some reason, Kobayashi felt that this guy looked really handsome today, more handsome than ever before.

"Kobayashi, you really have a tough time. You actually managed to make the decision to sell those luxury items that you treasured."

"Besides—you have many friends, right? I thought you could easily raise 500,000 yen instead of asking me for help."

Kaoru pressed the switch for the 5th floor and, as the elevator ascended, stared at Kobayashi's slightly flushed profile.

"Let's not mention them anymore... Hoshino-kun..."

Realizing that the only person who had ever considered her a friend was perhaps Hoshino, Kobayashi felt embarrassed when she thought about her previous attitude towards him.

Despite what happened, Hoshino-kun... still treats her as a friend.

Compared to those guys who run away at the mere mention of borrowing money... he's infinitely better.

"No, I'm going to bring it up."

Kaoru began to mimic her tone, saying things that she herself had said.

"Ayano-chan and Hanako-chan have been like this since middle school... It's not a big deal for girls to spend money extravagantly..."

"I...I'm not going to talk to you anymore!"

Xiaolin poked his waist with her elbow and forcefully turned her face to the other side, not wanting him to see her embarrassed state.

The elevator arrived at the 5th floor with a crisp "ding".

Kaoru walked ahead, found Kobayashi's mother's ward, and just as he raised his hand to knock on the door, a hand tugged at his sleeve.

He turned around and found Xiaolin looking at him with a hesitant expression.

"When we go in later... Hoshino-san, please don't tell your mom that you helped me. She'll worry... I don't want her to think about anything complicated, and I don't want anything to affect her surgery."

"Oh—no problem."

Kaoru thought that it was just a show for Kobayashi, and the purpose was to make her see her so-called friends for who they really were.

Now that his goal has been achieved, he no longer needs to continue acting.

There was a knock on the door.

A voice came from inside saying "Come in."

The moment Kobayashi clenched his fists, determined to lift his face—

She could see the scene before her clearly.

In an instant, she felt her mind go blank, her lips remained open, and she stared blankly at the scene before her.

Her mother was standing by the window at that moment. When she saw her appear, she immediately waved her right hand at her.

"Good afternoon, Chio."

"Mom...Mom..."

"Mother!"

Xiaolin rushed over and bumped into a warm embrace, almost unable to hold back her tears.

"I'm sorry... I made you worry. Mom is in great health. What I said to you on the phone was just a lie."

"Mom! You acted so well! I was so worried!"

After lifting her face, Xiaolin's cheeks puffed out, clearly dissatisfied with her mother's actions.

Although she knew she had been scammed, she was still happy to see her mother safe and sound.

"However, since surgery isn't needed, then the two million yen..."

"Those are the costs of subsequent medication and follow-up visits, which cover expenses for the next year. I'm so happy that Chio is willing to go to such lengths for me."

The middle-aged woman hugged her, and wet, salty tears streamed down her face.

"You should really thank Hoshino-kun. He's... a friend worth getting to know better. It would be such a shame if another girl snatched up such an outstanding guy."

"Mom! I...I'm not interested in that guy at all! He just bullied me!"

As she spoke, Kobayashi turned around and glared at Kaoru, who had turned her head to the other side and was whistling.

"Now that I've brought you to your aunt's, I need to go back. The ramen shop needs my help."

Not wanting to disturb the two of them, Kaoru turned around, waved her right hand, and prepared to leave the hospital.

We arrived at the parking shed.

The rays of the setting sun shone through the clouds, casting a warm glow on my back. The chirping of cicadas, though not in unison, filled the air, making the summer atmosphere even more intense.

"Wait a moment!"

Just as he was about to drive away, a series of hurried footsteps approached him.

Kaoru raised her face.

It's Kobayashi.

She gripped her skirt tightly with both hands, looked at Kaoru's face in confusion, and quickly lowered her cheeks, like a child who had made a mistake and was afraid to face her parents, unable to even speak.

"I'm sorry... I wasn't nice to you before, I apologize! I'll change my ways! And the money you spent on me... I'll pay you back in full!"

Kobayashi bowed deeply, and just as Kaoru was thinking about what to say, he suddenly leaned in, grabbed Kaoru's tie with his right hand, and pressed his lips to Kaoru's lips.

Their lips touched, their burning body temperatures intertwined.

The smell of evaporating sweat mingled with the salty, wet sensation of kissing.

The kiss lasted only five seconds, but it felt like five years.

Coming to their senses, sweat began to seep from their foreheads, which were touching.

For a fleeting moment, Kaoru deeply felt that summer had arrived.