[Net King] Pilgrim

The moment the assistant panicked, Machida had already bent over to pick up the phone, avoiding her hand, and looked down at the photo.

It was the same as the scene she saw just now, but the angle was different, and the two looked closer.

There was no one paying attention in the corner, so Machida raised his eyes to stare at the dodgy person in front of him, and took a step forward, "What are these photos used for?" She raised her eyebrows, "Favorite?"

The aura around her was so overwhelming that the assistant couldn't help taking a step back, curling up her fingers nervously, "This is..." She searched for words, but in front of her girlfriend, it was hard to explain what she said.

The assistant lowered his eyes, his face was flushed, Machida looked at her for a moment, and then softened his tone, "Did you want to take the picture yourself, or did someone else ask you to take it?"

……

Seto Shizuko paced back and forth in the empty lounge, holding one hand to her lips, and the bright red sunset glowed outside the glass window, making the air in the room a little restless.

After a few minutes, someone pushed open the door of the lounge, she immediately stopped, turned around, but was slightly stunned.

Once Machida entered the room, he glanced at her indifferently, then turned around and closed the door.

Seto Shizuko tucked her hair behind her ears, quickly recovered her complexion, skipped her gaze, and walked straight to the door.As soon as the door was opened a crack, Machida raised his hand and held it down, closing the door.

Seto Shizuko was stunned, "What are you doing?"

"I should ask you this question, why did you deliberately approach Echizen Ryoma in the rest area just now?"

"Get close on purpose?" She said in a cool tone, "It's just to find a place to rest. Why, isn't it okay for a boyfriend to talk to the opposite sex?"

"Just talking?" Machida held up the mobile phone in his hand, observing Seto Shizuko's expression, "Then why did you take these photos?"

The latter is obviously a meal.

"It's not you? Then call your assistant and let's confront him face to face."

The tense atmosphere between the two seemed to have pierced the layer of window paper, tearing apart the previously maintained peace.

Seto Shizuko's eyes seemed to be frozen, and she simply showed her cards, "Yes, I asked someone to take the photo, just to borrow his fame." She mocked: "Aren't you also using hype to raise your own value? "

Machida frowned, puzzled by her hostility.

"Isn't it?" Seto Shizuko stared at her and came to a conclusion, "The exposure of your Reload identity was self-directed and acted. I know this way of gaining attention too well."

"Then it seems that this is your field of expertise. I don't know much about this method."

"You..." Seto Shizuko gritted her teeth and said, "Don't talk about yourself being so innocent. You must be very unwilling to take a part of your role, but you still want to put on an air of generosity. Behind his back, he used other methods to grab the limelight."

Machida didn't know that she thought this way from the beginning to the end, and suddenly felt a little hard to explain, and his frank eyes were mixed with a bit of pride and disdain, "I have said so much, in fact, you just want to get all the benefits. Just like today , if Echizen Ryoma hadn't shown up, you wouldn't have thought hard about taking these photos."

Seto Shizuko was stunned for a moment, then snorted coldly, "You're right, anyway, I have nothing to lose by taking this photo, if it makes you feel uncomfortable, I feel at ease."

"If you hate me, you can pick my fault and attack me, but if you use this method to hurt the people around me, I despise you."

"Aren't you the one who hurt him? I'm curious, what's good about you, it's been exposed in this kind of news, and Echizen Ryoma still trusts you so much. Machida Kazu, how are you worthy of him."

"I don't need you to worry about it, it's our business." Machida said coldly, "Whether it's worthy or not, it doesn't matter what you say, it depends on my boyfriend."

Seto Shizuko seemed to choke, and her bright and charming face suddenly felt a little embarrassed, and she sneered, "I hope you can still have such arrogance after staying in this circle for a long time."

Machida looked at her with a complicated expression for a while, and was suddenly brought back to her thoughts by the notification sound of the mobile phone. She glanced subconsciously and froze for a moment.

For a moment, she suppressed the turbulent emotions, and said coldly: "If you said this to me because of this news, then there is no need." She deleted the photo and threw the phone on the sofa next to her.

Seto Shizuko turned her head to look at the phone screen, slowly opened her eyes wide, and her face turned pale in an instant - "Seto Shizuko is in love with a TV producer, and her girlfriend exposed the text message chat history..."

A large piece of sunlight outside the window hit her back, with scorching heat, but her whole body was cold from head to toe.

Machida glanced at her, no desire to talk anymore, turned around and opened the door, and left the lounge.

Walking along the corridor to the rest area, all the eyes of the people around her fell on her, but all of their words were pointing and poking at the news that Shizuko Seto had just been released.

The person who once held the moon among the stars, threw himself off the altar overnight.

Machida didn't want to listen to those whispers, mixed with sympathy for her being accidentally injured, but it didn't make her feel so relaxed and happy, and the incident of Echizen Ryoma being photographed made her a little angry.

"Why don't you look at the road, you will fall down." A clear voice sounded in front of him, Machida paused, raised his head, and bumped into Echizen Ryoma's amber eyes.

In the spacious hall, people passing by couldn't help but cast their eyes on the two of them. She opened her mouth, and from the corner of her eye, she saw the mobile phone in his hand, hanging by her side, and the screen was still on.

She couldn't hide her fatigue, but she was still holding on, Echizen Ryoma's heart seemed to be tightly clenched, he took a step forward, grabbed her wrist, and pulled her into his arms.

The surroundings were quiet for a moment, followed by surprised gasps and exclamations. People on this floor and the floors above and below all turned their heads to watch.

Machida gently grasped the sweater at his waist, the soft fabric brushed against his palm, and the fresh breath from his body finally let her tense nerves gradually relax.

Echizen Ryoma never felt that he was with Machida and had feelings for her. He needed to prove something to others, but seeing her being made things difficult, calculated by others, and enduring gossip, he instinctively wanted to protect her Mood prevailed.

She stood in the place closest to fame and wealth, where people would desire more and more, but she didn't let herself be impetuous. She shouldn't be smeared like this.

"Why didn't you tell me that you were replaced by the producer." He paused and said, "...I saw it on the news."

Machida was slightly taken aback, thinking of the news he said, it seems that the chat records that were leaked are really... a huge amount of information.

"... The feeling of disappointment passed quickly, so I didn't mention it. I just thought that I would do my best." She said softly, "Don't worry, I didn't keep my unhappiness in my heart."

Echizen Ryoma tightened his arms, stroking her back comfortingly, "...Well, you've done a good job."

She buried her face in his arms, and after a while, she said in a muffled voice, "How long will you hold me?" This is a TV station.

Instead, he said to her: "Obviously you don't let go."

"..." She struggled to leave, but he pushed her back.

Machida finally smiled, took a deep breath, and poked his waist, "Let's go."

"Yeah." His voice pressed against her ear, "I'll take you there for your birthday."

It was later that Machida heard from Amakusa Izumi that the producer's girlfriend contacted the media with evidence about Seto Shizuko and the producer's scandal. When the firm found out the facts but there was no evidence, no one expected someone The real hammer was released first.

The reputation of Seto Shizuko, who was originally a sunny image, has plummeted, her career has been hit hard, and the producer has also fallen into public opinion. However, Amakusa Izumi does not have much energy to pay attention to the follow-up. That night, I received several calls from the media...but they all declined politely.

……

In the gloomy sky, there is a constant stream of traffic on the streets covered with neon lights.

The car was driving slowly on the road. Echizen Ryoma glanced at Machida Kazu who was silently lying on the car window. The wind blew in, and the white fluff on her collar was slightly shaken by the wind. "What are you thinking?"

"...I was thinking about that Christmas before you left Japan." She smiled slightly, recalling a long time ago, "I played ball with you on Christmas Eve, which caught up with my week's exercise, and it turned out that my birthday was the next day. Didn't even leave the house."

"I'll make it up for you today."

She just remembered and turned to look at him, "By the way, where is my gift?"

Echizen Ryoma slightly curled his lips, "Behind."

"Back?" Machida poked her head towards the back seat. Besides the two square pillows, there was a...fat plush doll behind her seat?

She leaned forward and reached for it, and grabbed it, a large piece of clean pink, fluffy in her hand, "Is this for me?"

"Ah."

She laughed, "Did you send this because you wanted me to sing a lullaby?"

Echizen Ryoma smiled, "The last time I went to your house, I saw a lot of Pokemon toys in your room. I thought you would like them."

Machida hugged Fatty and looked over and over again. When he thought of the picture of Echizen Ryoma going to buy toys, he couldn't stop smiling, and finally hugged him tightly, "Where are we going?"

"You'll know when it arrives."

The car traveled for a while and stopped near Yoyogi Park.

There are Christmas trees standing at the entrances of shops along the road, and the red streamers are reflected on the warm and bright glass windows, without the harshness of winter at all.

The car was parked in a nearby parking lot. Machida's eyes lit up, and he couldn't wait to jump out of the car. He ran a few steps to the side, and saw the crowd in front of him far away—it was the Christmas light show.

Echizen Ryoma walked over to hold her, "Let's go to the lantern show first, and have dinner later." He paused, and then said, "If you're hungry, you can get some snacks from the car."

"Did you bring snacks?"

"Well, there's still a drink, it's in the trunk." He handed her the key, "Go and get it."

Machida ran back to the car not far away, pressed the car key, and walked straight to the trunk.

Clasp it with one hand, gently lift it up, and then froze on the spot—pure and elegant snow mountain roses covered a trunk, light green and pure white filled the eyes, the petals were compact, and there was a faint burst of fragrance .

She turned her head to meet Echizen Ryoma's eyes.

He was just a few meters away, leaning on the railing, looking at her with a smile in his eyes, lowered his head, and walked towards her.

"Happy birthday." He hugged her from behind, saw her staring at the flowers, as if she hadn't reacted, he paused and said, "...isn't it a bit tacky?"

Machida shook his head, turned around and threw himself into his arms, his voice choked up, "It's not vulgar...it's just a surprise."

"Didn't I say the presents are in the back?"

"...Sly guy."

Echizen Ryoma laughed and hugged her tightly, "You said you wanted to be surprised."

"When did you prepare?"

"Before I picked you up... I was recognized by someone, so there was a delay."

Machida couldn't help laughing, but there were tears in his eyes. Many things he wanted to say ended up in one sentence, "... Ryoma, thank you."

"This seems to be the first time you gave me a birthday present."

"...The second time." He paused and said, "The first time was a can of soda."

"What soda?"

"Forget it if you don't remember."

"..."

……

The night is like splashing ink, and the lights are bright.

The two left the parking lot, bought oden and takoyaki on the street, held them warm in their hands, and walked slowly along the park road.

The zelkova trees beside the road are decorated with blue Christmas lights, and the snow candles are shining brightly. From the Yoyogi Park wooden trail all the way to Shibuya Koen Dori, you can hear the exclamation of the crowd from time to time.

As soon as Machida finished eating oden, Echizen Ryoma looked at her, "Are you full?"

Sure enough, she shook her head, he forked a takoyaki and handed it to her mouth, she still shook her head, "I can't eat any more, there are activities in these two days..." Before he finished speaking, he had already sent the takoyaki into the into her mouth.

Machida Kazu: "..."

She "reluctantly" ate it, saw him smile and handed over another fork, and hurriedly dodged aside, but accidentally bumped into a passerby beside her.

Machida hurriedly turned around and apologized, the girl he met waved her hand and said "it's okay", suddenly paused, and immediately recognized her and Echizen Ryoma.

The girl and her friends were obviously shocked and excited. Machida apologized and was about to leave, but the girl suppressed her excitement and said, "Miss Machida is very good and gentle. Don't worry about slanderous remarks. I will continue to work hard in the future." And said, "I wish you happiness."

She was slightly taken aback when she heard the words, and after a while, she felt the hand hanging by her side being gently held by Echizen Ryoma.

She regained her senses, held his hand, smiled sincerely and said to the girl in front of her, "Thank you, I will." She will still go all out and still love the stage.

After the two left, they could vaguely hear excited voices behind them.Echizen Ryoma threw away the garbage bag stuffed with the food box, took Machida Kazu's hand, and suddenly heard her say, "I'm quite surprised to be said to be gentle... Actually, I'm not a very good-tempered person. "

He turned his head to look at her, the goose-yellow scarf surrounded his cheeks, his long hair was piled up, and the tip of his nose was slightly red, "Don't be surprised, what they said is the truth."

"is it?"

"Yeah." Echizen Ryoma looked straight ahead and held her hand tightly.

Although her temper is not very good, if she is provoked, she probably won't take advantage of her, but in fact, she is also a gentle and kind person, and she is easy to soften her heart.

Machida Kazu wanted to continue talking, but was interrupted by the sparse voices in the crowd. He turned his head and looked - it was the "countdown" before the lighting ceremony.

The crowd is surging, and everyone is looking forward to it.

"ten."

"Nine."

……

She turned her head to look at the person beside her, surrounded by light and shadow, his expression and the eyebrows and eyes hidden in the night, as always, coincided with those in her memory, and had not changed for so many years.

She couldn't help clasping his hand tightly, and gently tugged him in the "countdown" when the surrounding crowd became more and more emotional.

"two."

"one."

The moment she tiptoed to kiss him, the blue light suddenly turned on, and the lights on both sides of the wooden walkway were brilliant.

Echizen Ryoma was stunned for a moment, and Machida's eyes were lit up, "Merry Christmas."

She was about to back away, but he grabbed her waistband and brought her back into his arms, lowering her head.

Surrounded by excited cheers after the lighting ceremony, there seemed to be the sound of falling snow. Even though the ears were filled with mixed and enthusiastic voices, it still made Machida feel that at this moment, this place was so quiet that it belonged only to them.