Chapter 691: Miss Shimizu Appears to be Kidnapped
The black sedan drove smoothly along the road from the station, the scenery outside the window gradually shifting from open countryside to a more bustling city street. Kazumi sat quietly by the window, with the blond young man, who, as usual, was chattering incessantly, beside her.
“Kazumi, want to try this?” Satō Shin’ichi took out a small, individually wrapped biscuit from his seemingly endless, enormous backpack and offered it to the girl like a treasure.
“Mhm.” Kazumi looked up, glanced at her clumsy boyfriend who was handing her another biscuit, and nodded faintly. She took it and then resignedly looked at the small table in front of her, which was already piled high with various snacks and drinks.
She wondered where this guy got so many things. From the moment they got on the car until now, his feeding actions hadn’t stopped, as if this had already become a fixed routine for Satō Shin’ichi’s outings. Moreover…
To be honest, she could still somewhat understand it when they went to Nagoya last time as a trip. But this time, weren’t the two of them supposed to be seeking refuge in Minggu City? They were going to escape the potential dangers in Kyoto! Why was this guy still acting so excited, like it was a school trip for elementary students?!
Thinking of this, Kazumi subconsciously raised her hand to wipe an imaginary sweat bead from her forehead. She turned to look at Satō Shin’ichi, who was sitting beside her, engrossed in another snack, and decided to ask about the specific arrangements so she could be better prepared.
“Shin’ichi,” she called softly, interrupting the young man’s “battle” with the snacks, “What are our plans after we arrive in Minggu City?”
Upon hearing Kazumi’s question, Satō Shin’ichi quickly swallowed the mouthful of bread crust he was chewing, almost choking. After forcing down a large gulp of water, he turned to her with shining eyes.
“Um… Kazumi,” he said, scratching his head sheepishly, “Sorry, there might not be any special sightseeing arrangements this time. Because Old Man specifically instructed me that the main reason for coming here is to prevent anything in Kyoto from affecting my daily training. So, usually, during the day, I’ll need to go to the place my master arranged for training most of the time and won’t be able to accompany you.”
He finished speaking with a clear apology in his tone, as if feeling it was wrong to neglect his girlfriend. He immediately added, “Of course! If you’re bored or want to go somewhere, I can ask my master for a leave of absence. Taking a day or two off should be fine!”
However, Satō Shin’ichi’s voice immediately lowered, and his head drooped slightly. His fingers clenched unconsciously, as if he felt deeply guilty for not being able to clearly set aside a large block of time to spend with his girlfriend and could only offer superficial companionship.
“Okay.” Kazumi nodded faintly, accepting his arrangements. She seemed to keenly sense the overflowing dejection in his words. A rare hint of softness melted on her icy face, accompanied by a faint but reassuring smile. She continued, her voice softer than usual: “It’s alright. Training and studying are the most important things. Besides, we both know that coming to Minggu City this time wasn’t supposed to be a vacation trip. We have important matters to attend to.”
She paused, picked up the biscuit he had just given her from the table, gently tore open the wrapper, and took a small bite. She then continued, her tone appearing very understanding: “You know me. I don’t usually like going out and playing around much. I prefer to stay quiet. Once we reach our accommodation, I’ll just read a book in my room and handle some personal matters. You don’t need to take time off specifically for me. Your own training and self-improvement are the most important things. It’s really fine.”
These words, caring and sensible, completely considerate of the other person, could be called “model girlfriend speech.” Kazumi couldn’t help but give herself a perfect score for her performance. This kind of behavior almost made her want to act coquettishly and ask: “Don’t you want me to?”
Kazumi!
As expected, Satō Shin’ichi was immediately touched beyond words. His puppy-dog eyes instantly filled with sparkling stars, and his gaze towards Kazumi was filled with gratitude and affection. Kazumi even felt that if they weren’t in a moving car with limited space and a driver in the front, this overly emotional, clumsy him would have impulsively rushed over to give her a big hug.
Looking at Satō Shin’ichi’s moved expression, as if he’d happily count the money even if she sold him, a hint of smugness grew in Kazumi’s heart, and the almost imperceptible curve of her lips deepened slightly.
In fact, for Kazumi, Satō Shin’ichi needing to train was her truly desired, or rather, her most longed-for arrangement!
Although the accommodation at Isshin Dojo before had her own personal room, ensuring a certain level of privacy, Kazumi had actually been secretly planning how to find suitable excuses after arriving in Minggu City to occasionally leave for a period of time to handle contacts or deal with emergencies related to the organization, without arousing Satō Shin’ichi’s suspicion.
Now, it was perfect! It was like someone offering a pillow when she was craving sleep! Satō Shin’ichi needing to train during the day gave Kazumi the perfect amount of free operational time! Moreover, this reason was open and justifiable, requiring her to painstakingly fabricate any lies.
This way, she could perfectly maintain the facade of “boyfriend goes to training during the day, and she obediently stays at the accommodation to rest, read, and study.” In reality, she could completely use this time to coordinate with the organization for long-distance teleportation methods and directly transport herself to participate in missions in Kyoto. As long as the plan was meticulous and the timing was right, this was a flawless disguise!
[Rarely has things gone so smoothly. This guy can be reliable at times.]
Thinking this, Kazumi was secretly delighted. Even the silly, large golden retriever beside her seemed much more pleasing to her eyes.
At this moment, the car slowed down and slowly stopped by the roadside. Kazumi casually glanced outside, about to close the window to admire the buildings and streetscape, when her movements slightly paused, and her pupils contracted almost imperceptibly.
The scene before her… was completely unfamiliar. It was not the traditional, ancient, and rustic main gate of Isshin Dojo that she had expected. Instead, what appeared before Kazumi were rows of very modern high-rise apartment buildings. Their glass curtain walls reflected a cold light under the sunlight. The entrances downstairs were designed simply and discreetly, exuding an aura of privacy and luxury.
“This place… where are we?”
