The Starbucks here merges with the first floor of the neighboring "Sakimiyamaya Bookstore," so one can enjoy coffee and snacks while reading a book.
After eating, the three of them took the bus back to East Mountain Villa from across the bookstore.
Gazing out the bus window, they could admire the dusky scene of the Capital City.
Looking up, they could vaguely see crows, like specks of black, circling in the nearby sky.
Back at their accommodation, Dubian Che finished his shower and was getting ready to check on Kunii Shuichi.
Just as he walked into the boys’ dormitory, Kunii Shuichi pulled him aside.
"Dubian, you couldn’t have arrived at a better time, I was just about to come looking for you."
Kunii Shuichi glanced around to confirm that everyone else was preoccupied with gaming and not paying attention to them before whispering, "Ichiki and I are planning to sneak out tonight."
Dubian Che looked at him in surprise and couldn’t help but say admiringly, "You’ve got guts!"
"No, you’ve got it all wrong!" Kunii Shuichi explained with a blush, "On the bus earlier, I said, ’I’m feeling down today, and so are you, Ichiki. How about we sneak out to an internet café tonight and play games together?’ And she agreed."
"An internet café... play games..." Dubian Che mulled over the words, "Then what? Why come to me?"
Kunii Shuichi said with a tinge of embarrassment, "After I got back, I realized there’s a teacher on watch. There’s no way to sneak out."
"Isn’t it just fine not to go then? You’re not in class tomorrow when we return to Tokyo, you two can play all day."
"Are you doing this on purpose?"
"Is that how you ask someone for help?"
Immediately, Kunii Shuichi’s tone softened, "Dubian, I really have to rely on you. I don’t want to lose face in front of Ichiki!"
"So, you still want to hang out with her even now that you know Ichiki likes girls?"
"To be honest, a weight has been lifted off my chest," Kunii Shuichi said with a happy grin.
"Hm?" Dubian Che asked curiously, "Why’s that? Tell me."
"If Ichiki likes girls, then she’ll never be with a guy for her whole life. That’s a huge relief for me!"
"You’re denying that love between girls is real love. I’m going to call you out on this."
"Quit spouting nonsense!" Kunii Shuichi grabbed Dubian Che’s sleeve, "So, will you help or not?"
"I can’t be sure, but I’ll do my best."
"With you on the case, it’s sure to go smoothly!"
After agreeing to help Kunii Shuichi, Dubian Che went to find Xiaoquan Aonai.
The two female teachers had a room to themselves, and there was Akiko, with a facial mask on, in a yukata, lounging and watching a drama series.
"Mr. Xiaoquan, are you responsible for tonight’s room checks at the girls’ dorm?"
"Yes," Xiaoquan Aonai nodded, "What about it?"
She wore a loose yukata too, but her 88 centimeters bust was quite impressive.
"Mr. Xiaoquan, a few of us boys plan to sneak out to go online tonight, and third-year Ichiki Aoi will be joining us. Could you help us cover for it?"
"Going online? No way!" Xiaoquan Aonai frowned and refused.
"It’s a once-in-a-lifetime high school trip, we want to do something different."
"You can’t. What if something happens?"
"Mr. Xiaoquan, you must trust the nation’s top intelligence, and the strength that can send a soccer ball flying 110 meters. Only I can make disasters happen to others, and plus, we’re a group, not alone."
Xiaoquan Aonai still shook her head.
"Mr. Xiaoquan~" Dubian Che grabbed the sleeve of Xiaoquan Aonai’s yukata, "Just this once, I’ll send you a message every twenty minutes, using the English alphabet as a code, I promise there won’t be any trouble."
Xiaoquan Aonai clutched her yukata’s neckline, which was sliding down, and thought for a good while with a furrowed brow.
"Every fifteen minutes, you must send me a photo."
"A photo? Alright." Dubian Che let go and said with a smile, "Mr. Xiaoquan, I adore you. If I ever met your sixteen-year-old self, I wouldn’t be able to resist falling for you."
"How do you speak to a teacher like that!" Xiaoquan Aonai pulled her neckline up to her neck and tapped Dubian Che on the head, "Remember, send a photo every fifteen minutes, got it?"
After Dubian Che left, Akiko, still following the TV drama, asked Xiaoquan Aonai, "What was that kid doing here?"
"He said the boys’ dormitory is planning to play mahjong all night."
Dubian Che returned to the boys’ dormitory and told Kunii Shuichi the plan, "Sorry, but I have to go with you guys."
The Capital City was safe generally, and since Kunii Shuichi was also a member of the baseball team, not much could go wrong at night, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Otherwise, if the two of them got into trouble, the kind and gentle Xiaoquan Aonai would be implicated, so Dubian Che had to accompany them.
"No problem at all, it’s not as if Ichiki likes guys anyway." Kunii Shuichi cheerfully messaged Ichiki Aoi on LINE, reminding her not to wear the school uniform.
Dubian Che also went back to his room to change into casual clothes.
As he was putting on his jacket and stepping out of his room, he bumped into Kiyono Lin.
She was wearing the school’s mandatory tracksuit.
The tracksuit, which made other girls at school look frumpy, somehow appeared chic on her. It was truly unbelievable.
Was this the so-called difference in looks?
With arms crossed, Kiyono Lin sized up Dubian Che, "Are you going on a date with which girl?"
"Kunii Shuichi is going to the internet café to play games with Ichiki Aoi to shake off the blues from getting dumped. For safety, I have no choice but to go along." After explaining, Dubian Che then asked her, "By the way, Kiyono, would you like to join us?"
"The intersection of two heartbroken souls, isn’t there any value in observing that?"
"That’s an interesting point..." Kiyono Lin stroked her chin and pondered.
"Plus, you haven’t been to an internet café before, right?"
"I’ve never been to one, and don’t have a great impression of those places."
"Why not give it a try anyway? There’s always value in trying, right?" Dubian Che continued to persuade, "And, rest assured, with me there, if anyone dares to hit on you, I’ll absolutely break his legs!"
"I wouldn’t recommend doing that, after all, if their legs are fine, they can go to the hospital themselves."
"...Kiyono, you’re terrifying."
"Replace ’terrifying’ with ’cute’ and it will bode well for your own legs, Dubian." Kiyono Lin said with a smile.
"To me, ’cute’ is evident at first glance, but ’terrifying’ is a new realization I’ve had spending time with you. These aren’t conflicting; their sole significance is that we’re getting to know each other better."
"That’s enough pleasantries for now." Kiyono Lin sighed, pressing against her slightly aching temples, "Wait while I change clothes."
"Don’t bother changing, you look incredibly cute in your tracksuit!"
"...Really?" Kiyono Lin glanced at her tracksuit, "Anyway, you just like various kinds of uniforms, right?"