The three left the Shengong Outer Garden before the road became crowded with spectators coming out of the Shengong Stadium.
Outside, Jiutiao Meijie got into a luxury car that was waiting there and sped away on a road clearly under traffic control.
"Being rich must be nice," Dubian Che, holding a tripod and a boom mic, remarked as he watched the taillights of the departing car.
"You’re pretty wealthy right now yourself."
"I am rich, but actually, the happiest time I had in Tokyo was when I stood under the sun for hours holding a signboard, working every day and figuring out how to save money," Dubian Che said contentedly, finally voicing the line he’d always wanted to say.
His affection for Kiyono Lin increased by three points!
On the contrary, Kiyono Lin gave a smile that could even be described as cruel.
"I was wrong," Dubian Che said as he decided to quit while he was ahead.
With a resigned sigh, the girl headed towards the train station.
They avoided the crowd from the Shengong Stadium, but couldn’t escape the throng at the station, which was extremely crowded.
Most of the people seemed to be returning from a fireworks festival, not only wearing yukatas but also carrying mats and sun umbrellas.
The various gazes of men around them kept unintentionally glancing at Kiyono Lin, making her frown.
Similarly subjected to the looks of girls, Dubian Che, though he couldn’t completely empathize with Kiyono Lin as a man, understood her feeling.
"Should we take a taxi?" he suggested.
Taxis were ridiculously expensive in Island Country, but it wasn’t a problem for either of them.
Kiyono Lin glanced at the crowded platform, where they were already stuck, unable to move.
"Do you think we can even get out?"
Dubian Che, noticing their situation, had to agree and nodded, "Can you hold on then?"
Dubian Che was surprised, expecting Kiyono Lin to say something like ’Does it matter if I can hold on? In this situation, don’t we have to endure?’ or similar.
"What will you do then?" he asked.
After pondering for a while, Kiyono Lin reluctantly replied, "No choice, I have to accept your suggestion."
"Take a taxi? I thought we couldn’t get out?"
"Are you an idiot, Mr. Dubian? Sorry, the one always thinking about girls’ chests and legs is already an idiot, isn’t he?"
"...Could you keep your voice down." Dubian Che really had no way to deal with this person.
Kiyono Lin, noticing the unusual looks around, blushed and looked down at their shoes, whispering, "It’s all because you’re too stupid!"
"I’m really sorry for being too stupid."
"It’s okay." Kiyono Lin looked up with a gleam in her eye, "My generosity is as vast as Salt Viewing Mountain; forgive your foolishness, and be thankful to me."
’That’s definitely the line she always wanted to say!’ Dubian Che swore to the heavens at Shibuya Station.
If not, let the next train come off its tracks and crash into the platform where he stood!
And hopefully take out this person beside him too.
"The beautiful and wise Miss Kiyono, could you please tell me what your proposal was?"
Kiyono Lin, with a touch of satisfaction, replied, "’You are so beautiful, and there will be a lot of people watching the fireworks tonight. I’ll be very worried about you, so don’t leave my side’... Mr. Dubian, that was what you said, correct?"
Dubian Che looked up at the station ceiling, "Yesterday’s me is not me."
"Typical fool. It was today at noon."
"...Is that the point?"
Kiyono Lin, slightly annoyed, "Besides lying, are you going to be inconsistent?"
"Of course not." ’The Great Gatsby’ said it, didn’t it? Everyone thinks they have at least one fundamental virtue; mine is keeping promises."
Kiyono Lin, rubbing her temples in frustration, didn’t tell Dubian Che that last time he had professed honesty was his fundamental virtue.
"Anyway, before we get out of Shibuya Station, I’ll allow you to protect me like a knight does a princess."
"Being able to say a request in the tone of dispensing a reward, you really are something, Miss Kiyono."
"Are you not willing?"
"No no no, I’m more than willing. But, how about the pay?"
"Of course, what do you think! In my status, serving as the Protector for someone else, do you know what that means? Without any accidents, your future is at least stepping on everyone’s heads—and I say ’at least’ because I haven’t discovered any other races yet."
"Protector?" Kiyono Lin looked at Dubian Che helplessly, "Sometimes I really can’t understand what you’re saying. Is the difference between Iwate Prefecture and Tokyo that big?"
"Miss Kiyono, a question for you."
"Do you know the comic ’Discussing Affairs with Guan Gong’?" Dubian Che asked.
"I know Guan Yu, probably referring to Guan Yu from the Three Kingdoms, but I’ve never heard of this comic. What about it?"
"It’s full name is ’About Completely Not Understanding What My Husband Is Saying,’ and the plot is roughly: The husband, relying on his rich otaku knowledge and experience, plays around with his wife who knows nothing about this..."
Dubian Che closed his mouth.
Kiyono Lin blinked her eyes, as beautiful and cold as the aurora, "Enough with the indecent jokes, if there’s a third time today, I’ll..."
Dubian Che said it so promptly that even the cold-faced Kiyono Lin couldn’t help but crack a slight smile before quickly reverting to a stern look, glaring at him fiercely.
Just then, a clanging sound came from nearby, and both turned their heads as the train, accompanied by an announcement, slid into the platform and gradually stopped in front of them.
Though reports of molesters on trains weren’t frequent, they never ceased. To avoid any mishaps, Dubian Che protected Kiyono Lin as they squeezed into the crowded carriage, positioning her in a corner against the wall.
Meanwhile, he held the tripod and boom mic he had been carrying all along and completely surrounded her with them.