A gentle breeze ruffled his hair, fluttering near his ears.
The dark clouds had not dispersed; instead, they grew thicker.
Hayato didn't ride too fast this time; he intentionally slowed down.
However, if someone saw him, they would still think he was riding a small electric scooter at forty or fifty miles per hour, not a bicycle.
There was no starlight or moonlight in the sky.
It wasn't even midsummer yet, but the cicadas had already begun to chirp.
After he turned a corner, he officially entered the residential area.
It was slightly livelier here than Shikenjaya, but much quieter compared to Shibuya.
The streetlights also didn't flicker due to poor contact; their light guided Hayato's path.
Perhaps it was getting late, but even the early summer breeze had turned cool, even a bit chilly. Hayato began to regret that he should have worn a T-shirt when he went out earlier.
"Higashi Kaminarimon Nichome…"
Hayato searched for the address, just like a delivery person, looking at house numbers one by one.
But a skilled delivery person would certainly not do such an unfamiliar thing; rather, it was more similar to a sasaeng fan searching for an idol's address.
Honestly, it was a bit perverted.
But fortunately, Hayato had a handsome face. One house still had its lights on, and a child of five or six years old, through the light from inside the house, saw him peeking at their door through the glass, but showed no fear at all. Instead, like seeing a favorite character, the child waved vigorously.
Hayato just smiled.
He didn't like children.
"Oh, here it is."
Hayato finally found Nanao Akane's house number.
It was a detached building similar to Yayoi's house, with two floors in total. From the second floor, through the curtains, he could see the lights still on inside.
Hayato chuckled softly, then pulled out his phone and made a call.
The call connected quickly.
"Hello, Lin-chan? How do you have time to call me at this hour~~" Nanao Akane's voice was filled with irrepressible joy.
"You picked up so quickly, were you playing on your phone?"
"No! It's just that I turned the ringtone super LOUD! And if Lin-chan calls, even if I'm in the bathroom, I'll cut it short and rush out—"
"Stop." Hayato said distastefully, "Don't say such disgusting things."
"Then why are you calling me so late, Lin-chan? Don't tell me you've missed me~~" Nanao Akane asked with a playful lilt at the end of her words.
Although it was just a voice call and he couldn't see the girl's face, Hayato looked up at the light spilling from the second floor and could still imagine the girl's silly smile.
"Shut up, now listen to what I tell you to do." Hayato said.
"Eh?"
Nanao Akane was startled, and thought to herself, a little uncertainly, "Is this, is this the legendary master's task play?"
What, what would Lin-chan ask her to do?
Send him a video of her rubbing beans? Wow, how embarrassing, but if it could be used as Lin-chan's casting material…
"Go to the window."
"…No, that's not good, is it?"
At the window, though exciting, was a bit too perverted… it would be easy to get caught, no no no no.
"Then open the window."
"And open it!?" No no no no.
Hayato looked up at the second floor; following the light, he didn't see anyone moving inside the room.
"Then I'm leaving."
"…Huh?"
Nanao Akane seemed to realize something then, and stood up with a "whoosh," followed by a "bang."
It seemed she had bumped into something because she was too eager.
Then came a muffled groan.
"Ouch ouch ouch ouch ouch…"
"…Are you okay?"
Nanao Akane didn't answer on her end, but instead made a "thump thump thump" sound while hopping.
Finally, a figure approached the window on the second floor.
Then, the curtain was smoothly pulled open, and a short-haired girl poked her head out. Immediately, her brows, which had been tightly furrowed in pain, visibly relaxed.
Nanao Akane almost leaned half her body out the window.
"Lin-chan! Why are you here!?"
She didn't use the phone, but instead shouted happily, waving her hand vigorously at the same time.
"Quiet, you!" Hayato quickly whispered to her through the phone, "It's past ten o'clock now. I don't want to be taken back by Mr. Police for disturbing public order to drink tea."
"Oh, oh, okay."
Nanao Akane quickly spoke into the phone's microphone, "Why are you here?"
"Can't you open the door for me?"
"Ah! Look at my brain!"
Nanao Akane was stunned for a moment, then waved at Hayato again, shouting cheerfully, "Then Lin-chan, please wait a moment, I'll come open the door for you right away!"
Hayato: ...
So he had explained for nothing.
He got off his bike and pushed it.
Anyone who has watched Doraemon or Crayon Shin-chan should know that the so-called Japan detached houses basically come with a small yard, which is then enclosed along with the house by a wall.
In other words, besides the house's front door, there is also a gate in the surrounding wall.
Generally speaking, the gate in the wall is not locked.
But Nanao Akane's safety awareness was very good; Hayato pushed it slightly, and the gate didn't budge.
So, he waited patiently outside.
Just a moment later.
The lights in the house brightened from the second floor all the way down to the first, then the house door was opened first, and Nanao Akane hopped out into the yard in a strange one-legged hopping posture, then fumbled for her keys and opened the main gate as well.
"Hehehe."
Nanao Akane's eyes curved, and she smiled foolishly at Hayato: "Lin-chan, hehehe, Lin-chan…"
"…Yes." Hayato sighed helplessly. He looked at Nanao Akane's curled leg: "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine, I just accidentally stubbed my toe on the corner of the desk." Nanao Akane still maintained her smile.
Careless words, attentive listener.
Hayato gasped, "Damn, just hearing the description makes it sound so painful!"
"Be careful next time." Hayato warned.
"Who, who told Lin-chan to suddenly ambush me? I was too excited." Nanao Akane pouted as if to complain, but her eyes, curved like a new moon, could not disguise any angry emotion.
Hayato smiled mischievously:
"Then prepare yourself mentally, I have other surprises for you, don't jump up with joy."
Nanao Akane was startled.
Just seeing Hayato at this hour had already made her extremely happy. What? There could be an unexpected bonus!?
She quickly nodded vigorously, then took two deep breaths, causing her prominent chest to sway up and down.
Hayato frowned, "Did this girl not even wear a bra?"
Fortunately, from what he could see with his "x-ray vision," there was hardly anyone around for miles.
"Ta-da!"
Hayato extended his round hand, which he had hidden behind his back, imitating Doraemon's tone: "Red Secret Scroll Mathematics 700 Problems!"
Nanao Akane: …
Her smile instantly froze, then the corners of her upturned lips twitched twice. Just as they were about to turn into a wavy, wronged "~~" shape, she managed to stop herself in time.
She continued to maintain a cheerful attitude.
"…Wow, wow…" Nanao Akane uttered with difficulty: "…Th-thank you, Lin-chan… to make you come all this way in the middle of the night, I will definitely make good use of this reference book…"
She choked on her saliva twice, taking the reference book as if it were a treasure.
Then her hand felt heavy.
A weight that definitely did not belong to a reference book settled in her outstretched palm.
"Eh?" Nanao Akane was startled.
"Complain, you idiot." Hayato said expressionlessly, then patted the takeout bag already in her hand: "This is for you. The reference book is for me to use."
Nanao Akane was stunned again. She opened the bag and looked inside.
Hayato looked up at the sky, "Wow, this damn weather, is it going to rain…?"
Then he lowered his gaze,
"…Don't cry even if you don't like burgers."
"I love them." Nanao Akane's eyes were misty, "It's all Lin-chan's fault, you scared me with the math reference book at first…"
"No, reference books aren't that scary, are they?"
"Mathematics is scary." Nanao Akane said with certainty, "I've been doing math problems, math problems, math problems since just now, I'm so tired now, and then as soon as I come out, you bring new problems…"
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