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Chapter 24: Premonitions and Private Villas
Sayuri let out a startled cry, instinctively burying her face in Ryusei Kiryu's chest. A moment later, he carried her out to the open space, only to find it deserted. It seemed the other tenants had moved further away to a more secure evacuation zone during the stronger tremor.
Panting, Ryusei carefully set Sayuri down. Though she was petite, sprinting while carrying someone was no small feat for his current stamina.
"Ryusei-kun," Sayuri whispered, her sleepiness finally replaced by the adrenaline of the moment. She looked at him with genuine gratitude. "Thank you."
"It's nothing," he replied, waving it off. He looked down and noticed her small, bare feet on the pavement. "Sayuri-san, please, take my slippers for now."
She hesitated briefly before nodding. "Thank you... I really didn't expect an earthquake tonight."
"Neither did I," Ryusei admitted. He thought back to the snake that had invaded her apartment a few days prior. "Actually, that snake from before... animals often act strange before an earthquake. It might have been a premonition."
"That snake? You're right!" Sayuri's eyes widened in realization. "I knew it! No wonder it suddenly ran into my house. It was fleeing the earthquake!"
Ryusei checked his phone: 11:58 PM. He glanced at his system wallet: 0 gold, 3 silver, 0 copper. He had gained 10 copper when he first grabbed her hand to pull her out of the room—his "check-in" for the day was complete.
However, midnight was approaching. If the count refreshed at the start of the new day, he could potentially "check in" with her again almost immediately.
While he waited for the clock to turn, he sent a quick message to Katsura Kotonoha. Communication lines were still open.
Katsura Kotonoha: I'm fine! Ryusei-kun, are you alright?
He was slightly stunned. She had already moved from "Kiryu-kun" to "Ryusei-kun." It seemed his immediate concern during a crisis had deeply moved her. For a girl who often felt isolated, having someone check on her during a disaster was an irresistible gesture.
"Who are you messaging?" Sayuri asked curiously, peering over. "Family?"
"No, a friend," Ryusei replied calmly.
"A girl?" When he nodded, she gave him a teasing smile. "Heh, and you said you weren't in a relationship!"
"It's just a friend," he insisted.
"Mhm, mhm, 'friends,' right?" she teased, reaching out toward him. "Ryusei-kun, lend me your phone? I left mine inside and I need to call a friend to check on them. I promise I won't peek at your chats."
"Alright." He handed her the phone.
[Ding—] +10 copper coins.
His theory was correct. The refresh happened at midnight. Sayuri made her call, informing someone named "Sawamura" about the situation, and then handed the phone back.
"Ryusei-kun, we haven't exchanged Line IDs yet, have we? Let's add each other!"
After exchanging IDs, a government alert flashed on his screen advising citizens to stay in emergency shelters and avoid returning to buildings until safety assessments were complete.
"It seems we can't go back to the apartment tonight," Ryusei said. "We should head to a nearby shelter."
Sayuri frowned, her nose wrinkling in distaste. "The shelters will be crowded, noisy, and full of... sweat. Let's go somewhere else. I have a detached villa nearby. It's built to the same earthquake standards as a shelter."
Ryusei blinked. "You have another villa? Then why live in the apartment?"
"I like the apartment," she said simply. "It's livelier. But the villa is clean and has smart locks—no keys needed. Let's go there."
"Sayuri-san, wouldn't it be... inappropriate for just the two of us to stay there?"
She giggled. "Will you take advantage of me, Ryusei-kun?"
"Of course not."
"Then I trust you."
Presented with the choice between a crowded gymnasium floor and a luxury villa, Ryusei didn't need much convincing. However, they only had one pair of shoes between them.
"You wear the shoes," Sayuri suggested, looking at the rough pavement with her bare feet. "And you can carry me like before."
"I can't carry you like that for blocks," Ryusei corrected. "But a piggyback ride is doable."
Sayuri kicked off the slippers, offering them back to him with a hopeful look. Ryusei put them on, turned around, and bent down. With a laugh, she hopped onto his back.
"Let's go," he said, adjusting her weight and heading toward the luxury of a private sanctuary.