Chiba.
Sixteenth floor of the high-end apartment.
Yukino Yukinoshita looked at the neatly arranged clothes in her wardrobe, momentarily unsure of how to choose. What clothes would be better to wear? She had never had this problem before, yet now she did.
Why was that?
A figure emerged in the young girl's mind. She sighed lightly and selected an outfit. A few minutes later, she had changed into it.
In front of the floor-to-ceiling mirror, the girl with long black hair looked at herself. In the reflection, she wore a lavender long dress with a blue outer coat draped over it. She looked pure and cute, lacking a bit of her usual coldness and possessing a touch more softness.
She brushed back her long black hair, revealing her snow-white neck.
"I'm just going to help, yet it feels like I'm going on a date."
The corners of Yukino Yukinoshita's mouth outlined a curve; it was unclear whether she was smiling or troubled. She then chose a set of capable clothes and put them into her suitcase.
Aside from that, there were changes of underwear and toiletries. Because she didn't know when they would find Mai Sakurajima, she budgeted five days for this trip to Tokyo—the entire Golden Week.
If Mai Sakurajima did not appear throughout the entire Golden Week, she thought Lin Ye would be able to accept the fact that Mai Sakurajima wouldn't show up.
She carried the small suitcase and left the bedroom. At this moment, Lin Ye had already changed into black casual wear that was convenient for movement. Facing the girl who walked out, a look of stunning admiration appeared in Lin Ye's eyes.
"You look very good."
"I always look very good."
Facing Lin Ye's evaluation, Yukino Yukinoshita's response was calm. However, upon careful observation, Lin Ye could still capture the bits and pieces of happy smiles in the girl's eyes. Girls indeed liked being praised, and even Yukino Yukinoshita was no exception.
He had already discovered that when he was with Yukinoshita, the girl's micro-reactions became increasingly frequent. This must be the result of the change in their relationship! Since that day at the Yukinoshita mansion, ever since the girl designated him as a 'prospective fiancé' for contact and communication, she began to open up a little bit of her true self to him, no longer treating him with the aloofness and indifference reserved for strangers and passersby.
"You look even better in a long dress."
As he spoke, Lin Ye walked to the girl's side, intending to take the suitcase from her hand. But the girl wasn't used to it yet and subconsciously declined gently, "It's not heavy, I can do it myself."
She had always done what she could by herself. The items in this suitcase weren't many, and the weight wasn't heavy; she could handle it alone.
"Then I'll hold your hand."
Lin Ye reached out his hand and placed it in front of the girl. This caused the girl to reveal a trace of helplessness. She handed the suitcase over to Lin Ye's hand.
"Let's go!"
The two walked out of the apartment one after another and took the elevator to the first floor. A taxi took them to Chiba Station, where they boarded the train heading to Tokyo.
Clack-clack... The rhythmic sound of travel rang out continuously.
On the train, Yukino Yukinoshita in her long dress became the focal point of the carriage. Not to mention the men, even many women cast looks of stunned admiration and envy toward her. They also wanted to possess such a beautiful appearance as Yukinoshita. No matter who it was, everyone pursued beautiful things.
Yukino Yukinoshita composed a message and sent it to her sister, Haruno, indicating that she would not return home during Golden Week.
During past long holidays, she would always return. Although she didn't like staying at the Yukinoshita mansion, she would choose to return during holidays to reunite with her family. But for this May Day Golden Week, she would spend it with Lin Ye.
It was the first time in her life she was going out alone with a member of the opposite sex for a holiday. And regarding this partner, neither her parents nor her sister would object.
Two minutes later, Yukino Yukinoshita's phone rang. It was a call from her sister, Haruno.
"Yukino, you're going to Tokyo to play with Lin-kun?"
The moment the call connected, Haruno went straight to the topic. When Haruno saw that message, her expression changed immediately. Her sister going out alone with Lin Ye—even if nothing happened, the progress of this relationship worried her.
Her sister not only let Lin Ye stay overnight in the apartment but was now willing to go to Tokyo with Lin Ye. Even if it was to find that 'Mai Sakurajima', it still pulled her vigilance to the max.
"Finding someone. Sister, you know this."
"Ay, ay, you're helping Lin-kun find a girl. That... isn't good, right!"
"Just helping, nothing more."
"If Lin-kun runs off with that girl, you won't even have a place to cry."
Haruno was probing. She wanted to understand her sister's true thoughts regarding this relationship with Lin Ye.
"If he really runs off with other girls, it proves that he and I are not suitable."
She glanced at Lin Ye out of the corner of her eye, her red lips moving lightly as she spoke.
"Willing to break up?"
"He and I have never been together. Right now, we are only in the stage of contact and communication. If the contact isn't suitable, our communication will stop and end here. We will revert to our previous relationship as classmates and clubmates."
This was Yukino Yukinoshita's thought at this moment.
"If Lin-kun heard this, he would definitely be sad."
But Haruno was relieved. As long as her sister held her bottom line, she wouldn't have to worry about her sister sinking completely and losing herself.
"He is right beside me."
"Eh, eh, eh?"
Haruno's feigned exaggerated tone of shock rang out.
"Student Lin, Elder Sister wants to speak to you."
Yukinoshita placed the phone by Lin Ye's ear. At this distance, she could actually hear it too.
"Lin-kun, you must be single-minded toward my sister! If you are unfaithful, my sister 'won't want you' anymore."
You clearly hope I keep my distance from your sister, preferably separating right now.
"I'm actually quite single-minded and devoted."
"Oh? You're devoted, yet you go looking for other girls?"
"Cough cough cough, I am devoted to a group of people."
A flash of helplessness passed through Yukino Yukinoshita upon hearing this. She didn't even want to retort anymore. Only a man like Lin Ye would dare to be so thick-skinned as to say such shocking words to her face. If it were any other male, how would they dare say such a thing?
"Hahaha, Lin-kun, you really are interesting! Then I wonder, is Big Sister included in this scope of your devotion?"
"No, absolutely not. Please rest assured."
"Sad. Big Sister is really so sad!"
Haruno grieved alone for a moment, then continued, "Take good care of Yukino. Since you're going to Tokyo to play with her, you must protect her safety. I don't wish to hear news of something happening to Yukino."
"Mn, I will."
"Pay attention to protection! You two are still young."
Leaving behind this sentence, Haruno immediately hung up the phone.
Beep beep...
Lin Ye's gaze fell on the face of the girl beside him. At this moment, Yukino Yukinoshita's exquisite cheeks were flushed with a faint crimson. At her age, how could she not understand the underlying meaning of her sister's sentence? What was her sister randomly thinking!
"Miss Haruno told us to do a good job with protection."
Yukino Yukinoshita glared at him, straightened her posture, and closed her eyes. She was rejecting people thousands of miles away right now and didn't want to communicate with Lin Ye.
Lin Ye laughed and sat there.
Clack-clack...
Yukino Yukinoshita's soft body nestled against Lin Ye's side, and her small head leaned on him due to her brief nap. Lin Ye smelled the scent of the girl's hair and sat motionless, avoiding disturbing the girl's rest.
More than half an hour later, they were about to arrive at the transfer station.
Lin Ye spoke up, "Yukinoshita, almost at the station."
Seeing the girl gave no reaction, he placed his right hand on her shoulder and shook it slightly. "Wake up, almost at the station."
"Woo..."
Yukino Yukinoshita then slowly opened her eyes. "Arrived?"
"Transfer station. We need to transfer to head to Akihabara."
"Mn."
She was still a bit dazed. When the train stopped and the doors opened, the young girl swayed a little as she stood up. Lin Ye supported the girl with one hand and pulled the suitcase with the other, walking out of the train.
"Sorry, I slept until I was confused."
"Didn't rest well last night?"
Thinking back now, the girl's condition today wasn't very good.
"Mn."
"Insomnia? It wouldn't be because you thought I would come for a night attack that you couldn't sleep, right!"
Lin Ye thought of a possibility and spoke hesitantly. If that was really the case, he really shouldn't have stayed over last night; he should have left.
"No."
"Then..."
"Don't ask."
"Is it related to me?"
"..."
Seeing the girl's reaction, Lin Ye immediately realized that the girl's insomnia was related to him.
"Looks like it's my problem. I will take responsibility."
Yukino Yukinoshita raised her eyes to look over, a trace of confusion in her gaze.
"I'll be responsible for your sleep quality tonight, guaranteeing you a comfortable night's sleep."
Lin Ye spoke seriously, but Yukino Yukinoshita's thoughts went astray.
"Don't need you to be responsible."
"It's already happened, how can I not be responsible!"
Yukino Yukinoshita couldn't help but lightly tap Lin Ye's waist. "The jokes end here."
Since the girl said so, Lin Ye naturally didn't continue teasing. Yukinoshita withdrew her hand, feeling the residual sensation on her wrist. This feeling of physical contact with a man was strange. She thought she would hate it, but now she unexpectedly found that she didn't dislike physical contact with Lin Ye.
The two quickly arrived at the JR line for the transfer, heading to Akihabara Station.
Twenty minutes later, following the crowd, they walked out of JR Akihabara Station. People surged, coming and going endlessly. There were also part-time idols performing, their beautiful singing voices echoing.
"First time coming to Akihabara?"
Lin Ye asked Yukinoshita.
"I've been here twice before, but didn't stay for much time."
She had only come here due to its fame but hadn't played deeply or experienced Akihabara's culture.
"There's less than half an hour until eight o'clock. Shall we stroll around?"
Facing Lin Ye's invitation, Yukino Yukinoshita did not refuse. "Sure."
The two walked shoulder to shoulder, very close together. Because there were many tourists on the street, one look around revealed tourists playing in Akihabara. From time to time, cute maids called out, hoping to guide customers into their shops, soliciting business. Lin Ye and Yukino Yukinoshita walked all the way down, and many youthful and beautiful maids greeted them proactively.
Yukino Yukinoshita could be considered to have appreciated the maid culture of Akihabara. No wonder so many otaku liked this place; just these cute and youthful maids alone were enough to attract a large group of otaku.
"Yukinoshita, how about you try a maid outfit next time too?"
Suddenly, Lin Ye spoke. He looked at the black long-haired girl beside him with a smile. Yukino Yukinoshita stopped her steps, turned slightly, and looked at the man beside her.
"Wait until the day you become my fiancé!"
She didn't refuse.
"So, Student Lin, please do your best."
This gas... I'm afraid he can't add it.
What this girl wanted was for him to be single-minded, truly single-minded, but he knew deeply that he couldn't do it.
...
At 7:57 PM, Lin Ye and Yukino Yukinoshita arrived at that ramen shop near Akihabara. At this point in time, the ramen shop's business was very good. Customers were queuing, and under the bright lights, the rising steam could be seen.
"Is there anyone?"
Yukino Yukinoshita looked around a full circle but didn't see any figure of a young girl suspected to be Mai Sakurajima. However, if the girl was in an unobservable state, it was normal for her not to see.
Lin Ye shook his head. "No."
His memory of Mai Sakurajima was very clear, so he shouldn't be in a state where he couldn't observe Mai Sakurajima yet.
"I'll go inside and take a look."
After handing the suitcase to the girl, Lin Ye walked straight toward the ramen shop. "Excuse me, I'm here to find someone."
After successfully entering, Lin Ye went straight to the seat where he and Mai Sakurajima had eaten together. A pair of a man and a woman who looked like a couple were sitting opposite each other, eating. Lin Ye continued walking down the line, circling twice, but didn't see Mai Sakurajima.
"It can't be that even I can't see her, right!"
Of course, there was another biggest possibility: Mai Sakurajima didn't know about the 'trending search' and didn't understand the implied message revealed by the trending search.
Lin Ye left the ramen shop.
"How was it?"
"No. Maybe she doesn't know the news on the trending search yet!"
Lin Ye looked around and took the girl to a position on the other side where there were fewer people, but from where they could observe the situation outside the ramen shop. Yukino Yukinoshita sat on the suitcase. The height of this small suitcase was just right to be used as a stool.
Eight o'clock arrived, but the girl suspected to be Mai Sakurajima still didn't appear. The night wind blew past with a whistle, carrying a trace of chill. The sitting girl unconsciously tightened her blue outer coat.
"Here, take this."
Lin Ye took off his own jacket and handed it to the girl.
"No need."
"Just drape it on first. If Miss Haruno finds out you caught a cold, I don't know how she'll criticize me."
Facing Lin Ye's firmness, Yukino Yukinoshita didn't succeed in refusing and silently accepted it. Draped over her body, this outer coat was indeed warmer. Apart from the physical warmth, a flowing warm current also emerged in her heart, warming her body.
Lin Ye and Yukino Yukinoshita waited until nine-thirty. Lin Ye even went into the ramen shop multiple times to search and wandered nearby, but he still didn't see Mai Sakurajima's figure.
"Let's end it here for today! Let's find a hotel to stay in first!"
Lin Ye knew that if he insisted on waiting, Yukinoshita would also continue to accompany him silently in waiting and wouldn't take the initiative to propose going to a hotel first.
"Mn."
Lin Ye queried, searching for a hotel near Akihabara. On the way walking over, Lin Ye saw a love hotel flashing with red neon lights. Honestly, every time he saw a love hotel, the first thing he thought of was 'Love Heart Love Hotel'.
The promise with Horikita Suzune hadn't been fulfilled yet. Sigh, he couldn't find the location of 'Love Heart Love Hotel'. The intelligence he grasped regarding the Inner World was still too little.
"Yukinoshita, have you ever been to a love hotel?"
Hearing this, Yukinoshita stared at him. "If you want to say we should sleep in a love hotel tonight, you'd better not open your mouth. It's impossible for me to agree."
"I was just asking purely out of curiosity."
"You think I've been to one?"
"It's not necessarily only couples who go to love hotels. I remember quite a few female high school students go to love hotels to throw parties and play."
Because love hotel locations were large enough, the prices weren't expensive, and the privacy was good, they could play without scruples.
"You think I have that kind of classmate?"
A rhetorical question reminded Lin Ye of Yukinoshita's popularity at Sobu High.
"Yui Yuigahama might still possibly invite you."
"She wouldn't come to this kind of place."
"Why?"
"She is very pure."
"Haha, you're praising yourself for being pure, right!"
"I am very pure."
Her navy blue eyes were serious. "Purer than you."
"Yes, yes, yes. I am indeed not pure."
At this moment, a trace of loneliness flashed past Lin Ye, which was seen by Yukino Yukinoshita. For the rest of the journey, the two didn't converse again.
Ten minutes later, the two arrived at the target hotel. The front desk receptionist was a young woman wearing a suit.
"Welcome, two guests. Do you have a reservation?"
"No."
"Then what type of room do you need?"
"Standard room, double bed room, or..."
The female receptionist gave several options and explained the prices and approximate sizes of the rooms.
"Double bed room, two rooms."
Lin Ye spoke up. This surprised the female receptionist. She definitely thought Lin Ye and Yukinoshita were lovers, but it turned out they were just friends traveling together.
"Okay, guest."
"Help arrange for our rooms to be adjacent rooms!"
"No problem. Guest rooms 810 and 812 happen to be vacant, and the locations are adjacent."
A few minutes later, the check-in procedures were completed. Lin Ye and Yukino Yukinoshita took the elevator to the eighth floor. In front of 810, Lin Ye used the key card to unlock the door. Accompanied by a beep-beep sound, the hotel room door opened.
"Yukinoshita, rest early."
"Goodnight."
She walked to the door of her own room and opened the hotel room door. Soon, both entered their own rooms.
Lin Ye turned on the light, placed the mousse cake bought on the way on the table, and went to the bathroom to wash up. A while later, he touched the bracelet on his left wrist. Soon, a beautiful girl in a black and red sailor uniform appeared in the empty hotel double bed room.
Miyuki Kuroshima.
She gazed at Lin Ye, curious about the current environment.
"A hotel?"
"Mn, came to Tokyo for some business."
He said. Hearing this, Miyuki Kuroshima stepped to the window, gazing at Tokyo's night view outside. Under the brilliant neon lights, the prosperity and beauty of the metropolis were fully revealed.
"Rarely come to Tokyo?"
"Came once before." Miyuki Kuroshima seemed to recall something. "Came with my parents."
She missed her parents. After becoming a Strange entity, although she survived, she was already all alone, spending most of her time wandering alone in 'Elite High School'. Every day, only the five minutes Lin Ye summoned her brought a trace of novelty and freshness, adding a touch of rainbow color to her lonely life.
Miyuki Kuroshima walked to the table, opened the plastic bag, and began enjoying the small dessert cake belonging to her. She ate very elegantly; every movement manifested good breeding. Just watching from the side was a feast for the eyes for Lin Ye.
"There's news on Tenmachi Elementary."
"How far is the distance?"
Finally waited for this news. The [Strange Mission: Elementary School Ghost] had not been completed yet. The target Little Boy Strange entity was in the Inner World, not appearing at Chiba Elementary. He could only head to the Inner World's 'Tenmachi Elementary' to solve that Strange little boy and complete the mission. And the deadline was tomorrow. If it wasn't solved by tomorrow, this mission would end in failure.
"We can take the Inner World's taxi. The speed will be faster, but... the Strange Coins will cost more."
Lin Ye might lack other things, but when it came to Strange Coins, he really didn't lack them.
"Strange Coins are not a problem."
"Today or tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow morning! I want to rest a bit tonight."
"Mn."
Miyuki Kuroshima was a tiny bit disappointed. She thought she could see Lin Ye at Elite High School tonight; she had always looked forward to her time with Lin Ye in the Inner World. Reality always lacked something.
Ding-dong...
The doorbell suddenly rang.
"It's me, something's come up."
It was Yukinoshita. What matter did she have coming over?
"Who?"
"My classmate."
"Yukinoshita?"
Miyuki Kuroshima had the most memory of this name.
"Mn."
Miyuki Kuroshima's expression changed slightly.
Knock knock...
The knocking sound rang again.
"You go open the door!"
Lin Ye knew upon hearing this that Miyuki Kuroshima was going to return to the Inner World ahead of time.
"Mn, see you tomorrow."
Miyuki Kuroshima nodded. Lin Ye walked over to open the door.
Click...
The room door opened. Yukino Yukinoshita raised her eyes to look, but her attention was attracted by that girl with long black hair behind Lin Ye.
"Mai Sakurajima..."
This was her first reaction. But soon, comparing with the photos in her memory, she was very sure the girl in the black and red sailor uniform inside the room was not Mai Sakurajima.
Lin Ye turned his head and saw Miyuki Kuroshima's figure and the indifferent gaze projected over. Miyuki hadn't returned yet. Why didn't she leave!
Lin Ye was sweating profusely, his heart hanging in his throat.
"Student Lin, who is she?"
It couldn't be a compensated dating JK girl invited over to serve in bed, right! How thirsty was this guy Lin Ye? She, this prospective fiancé, was in the room next door, yet this guy still dared to invite a compensated dating girl over?
"I am Miyuki Kuroshima."
The one who spoke was Miyuki Kuroshima. She walked over, her piercing eyes staring at Yukino Yukinoshita. This was her first time seeing Yukino Yukinoshita; she had long been interested in this girl.
The two girls with long black hair looked into each other's eyes. But in this moment, the pure and cold Yukino Yukinoshita seemed to lose a tiny bit in momentum. And Lin Ye, sandwiched in the middle, felt the cold gazes of the two girls. He only felt that the hostility between the two was so intense!
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