"Senpai, it's still early tonight, so I'll just walk home," Oriyama Midori said while stroking Pudding's fluffy head. "You can borrow the bike for now."
Hayashi Shuichi hadn't said anything yet. He awkwardly touched his face and, searching for something to say, asked: "By the way, doesn't Pudding usually get along poorly with Wangcai? How come they're together today?"
"This..." Oriyama Midori clearly hesitated, her fair cheeks flushing slightly.
"What else could it be?" Mori Kogoro laughed heartily. "Of course, Wangcai won the beauty—no, won the beautiful dog!"
"Woof woof!"
Wangcai noticed everyone looking at it and immediately held its head high, barking proudly.
"No way?" Hayashi Shuichi widened his eyes in surprise. "Pudding really let this simp Wangcai succeed?"
"More than just succeed," Mori Kogoro winked suggestively. "This afternoon, after Midori brought Pudding to the agency, the two dogs quickly... overlapped right in front of everyone."
"Cough cough!" Oriyama Midori hurriedly interrupted him, blushing. "Senpai, Pudding's probably in heat lately, that's why... I-I'm heading back now!"
The girl flusteredly picked up Pudding and hurried out of the shop, accidentally kicking the umbrella stand by the door on the way, making a loud "clang."
"I'm heading upstairs too," Mori Kogoro glanced at Hibiki Eri and Yukiko, giving Hayashi Shuichi a "good luck" look before calling Wangcai and leaving the shop.
As the door "clang" shut, the once lively izakaya suddenly quieted down, leaving only Hayashi Shuichi, Hibiki Eri, and Yukiko staring at each other.
Seeing the awkward silence, Hayashi Shuichi quickly spoke up: "Right, who should I take home first tonight?"
"Like last week—rock-paper-scissors?" Yukiko suggested. "This time, I definitely won't lose!"
Hibiki Eri adjusted her glasses: "No objections."
Ten seconds later, Yukiko slumped over the table like a deflated balloon: "Damn it! I lost again!"
She annoyedly pounded the table with her fist, making the dishes clatter.
"You'll never beat me in this lifetime!" Hibiki Eri's lips curved up as she triumphantly declared victory.
...
The night breeze was gentle as Hayashi Shuichi rode the bicycle, taking Hibiki Eri home.
"This noon at the art museum..."
The girl in the back had just started speaking when Hayashi Shuichi hurriedly defended himself:
"You can't blame me for that. I didn't expect that just visiting an art museum would run into robbers."
"Who's blaming you!"
Hibiki Eri rolled her eyes at her childhood friend, then lightly pinched him with her slender fingers:
"I just wanted to say, in the future, be more careful with your safety in situations like that!"
"Mm," Hayashi Shuichi nodded quickly. Feeling the warmth from behind, he unconsciously slowed down.
"This afternoon when Reiko and Amuro Tooru came back and bragged about how amazing you were, how quickly you subdued the robbers—I was worried sick."
Hibiki Eri's voice suddenly softened. She gently pressed her face against Hayashi Shuichi's back, arms wrapping around his waist.
Through the thin shirt, the girl could clearly feel his solid back muscles and strong heartbeat:
"The robbers had guns. What if they fired..."
"Don't worry," Hayashi Shuichi sensed her fear and gently placed one hand over hers. "I wouldn't do anything without confidence. Besides, I wasn't fighting alone—Kudo Yusaku was right there."
"He's just a novelist. How capable can he be?" Hibiki Eri pouted.
"You're underestimating him," Hayashi Shuichi smiled. "That guy, besides writing mysteries, is skilled in fighting, shooting, driving cars, boats, planes..."
Hearing this, Hibiki Eri couldn't hold back and burst out laughing: "He told you that himself? That's way too exaggerated!"
I'm not exaggerating... Hayashi Shuichi grumbled inwardly.
In the original timeline, Kudo Shinichi was proficient in everything except singing.
Whenever someone asked why he knew all that, Kudo Shinichi's answer was always: My dad taught me in Hawaii.
So, Kudo Yusaku, even if not omnipotent, was pretty close.
"These novelists just love exaggerating," Hibiki Eri said amusedly. "How could there be an all-rounder like that in the real world?"
Chatting idly, they soon arrived at the apartment building below the girl's home.
Hayashi Shuichi steadied the bike with one foot, about to see Hibiki Eri off upstairs, but unexpectedly, after taking two steps forward, she suddenly turned around.
"Tonight, Amuro Tooru took your bedroom," Hibiki Eri's face flushed faintly. "If you have nowhere to sleep tonight, you could..."
She didn't finish the rest out of embarrassment, but how could Hayashi Shuichi not understand?
Blood rushed to his head and lower body; he was about to nod excitedly when he suddenly remembered his promise to Reiko, instantly feeling like cold water had been poured over him.
"I'm afraid not tonight," Hayashi Shuichi said gloomily. "I promised Reiko I'd return to the Kujo house early tomorrow morning. If I stay over here tonight, I definitely won't be energetic tomorrow—her parents would scold me again if they saw."
"I just meant for you to rest at my place, not do anything else!"
Hibiki Eri glared at him blushingly, then quickly walked toward the apartment entrance.
On the streets of Mikan, the cool breeze continued, but behind Hayashi Shuichi, a different girl now sat.
"What's the deal with that Koizumi Akane exactly?"
Yukiko angrily waved her fists, nearly unbalancing the bike:
"And Teacher Murakami! That's my seat—I haven't dropped out. How can she let Koizumi Akane occupy it?"
"It's not occupying, just sitting there temporarily,"
Hayashi Shuichi steadied the handlebars. Feeling the girl behind him still fidgeting restlessly, he quickly soothed:
"Next week when we go to school, I'll get storage to bring her a desk and chair!"
"Why are you so eager?"
Yukiko pouted, resting her chin on Hayashi Shuichi's shoulder, looking at him suspiciously:
"I heard from the glasses girl that Koizumi Akane is very pretty?"
At this point, clear jealousy laced the girl's words:
"I heard on her first day, the Teitan High students blocked the school gate completely because of her?"
"That was just an accident." Thinking back, Hayashi Shuichi couldn't help chuckling. "In terms of looks and figure, she's far behind you!"
"Really?"
Hearing this from Hayashi Shuichi immediately satisfied Yukiko; she smiled happily, cute dimples appearing on her cheeks.
Looking at the boy riding ahead, the girl's eyes twinkled. She suddenly leaned in playfully to his ear:
"Fine, you know how to talk sweet—here's a little reward for you..."
(End of chapter)
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