Chapter 257: Strange Kindness
“Ring ring ring—”
The wooden door with a wind chime was gently pushed open, and a crisp sound echoed inside the small shop. The busy female boss behind the counter looked up, her pretty face breaking into a slight smile as she looked at the familiar figure entering the doorway.
“Good evening, Kurokawa-kun.” “Good evening, Michi-nee.”
A gentle voice sounded from the counter. The slender and tall man, leading the girl behind him, slowly walked up to the counter, his face still wearing that perfectly faint smile.
“Hmm, the usual place? Room number three in the back is empty.”
Natsuki Michi held a cigarette in her mouth without lighting it. She got up from behind the counter, tidying up the dishes on the small table while familiarly replying to this polite and handsome regular customer.
“No need. Kitayama and the others are busy today and can’t make it. A small private room is fine.”
Kurokawa Iori gently shook his head and explained to Natsuki Michi, who was tidying up.
“Hm?”
The boy’s uncharacteristic reply made Natsuki Michi pause noticeably. She tilted her head and looked at him with confusion. After all, Natsuki Michi was somewhat aware of Kurokawa Iori’s situation. They were students from the nearby Shikoku Gakuin High School, and it was said they were all members of the student council. They always came here to discuss student council matters. They were excellent students, gentle and polite, and came from a nationally renowned high school. As their boss, Natsuki Michi found it hard not to like these young boys and girls.
Her gaze swept over Kurokawa Iori and then turned to the somewhat unfamiliar, thin young girl standing behind him. The experience of an adult allowed Natsuki Michi to understand the situation instantly. A smile like that of an aunt immediately appeared on her face, and she patted Kurokawa Iori on the shoulder with considerable satisfaction.
“Oh, then go to small room number seven. Will the food be the same as usual? Do you want to try our new couples’ meal? I’ll give you an extra dessert.”
“Yes, thank you, Michi-nee.”
Politely thanking Natsuki Michi, who had a strange smile on her face, Kurokawa Iori didn’t say anything more. He then led the black-haired girl behind him towards the small private room inside.
Watching the boy and girl slowly disappear from her sight, Natsuki Michi placed the dishes in her hand into the sink in the back kitchen. Then, she took a lighter from her pocket and lit the cigarette she had been holding in her mouth. After taking a deep puff, she belatedly smacked her hand.
“In that case, Fujika-chan won’t have a chance, will she?!”
…
Kazumi didn’t pay any attention to Kurokawa Iori’s attitude towards the female boss. For her boss, who had terrifying disguise capabilities, it was not surprising what role he played in life. As for this female boss, she was either an outer member of the organization responsible for reception, or an ordinary person Kurokawa Iori chose to better conceal his identity. Regardless of the situation, it had no impact on the plans in the girl’s heart.
[The location is chosen east of the school, not far from the river, with an entrance to the sewer nearby. Moreover, it’s surrounded by residential areas…]
[If discovered, it would be easier to escape or take hostages, wouldn’t it?]
Thinking about what she observed along the way with her head lowered, Kazumi quickly understood the reason why Kurokawa Iori chose this location. Compared to a secret base that seemed hidden but was actually very easy to discover, this location gave a feeling of “hiding in plain sight.” Furthermore, the girl, who had no empathy for ordinary humans, easily thought of the most appropriate response in the worst-case scenario.
“Don’t be so nervous. Just think of it as a regular dinner.”
A gentle and warm voice sounded in Kazumi’s ear, interrupting the girl’s further speculation in her heart. At the same time, a cup of warm tea was passed to her by the boy. Kazumi accepted the teacup handed to her by the other person and looked up at the boy sitting opposite her with a faint smile on his face, nodding expressionlessly.
“I was supposed to introduce you to the other members after you officially joined. But they all have things to do today and can’t make it. I’ll introduce them to you when we have time later.”
Looking at the indifferent expression on the girl’s tender face, Kurokawa Iori didn’t show much reaction. After all, after a thorough investigation of Shimizu Kazumi, he knew that this cold and taciturn girl had never even shown a smile to anyone except her boyfriend.
[Boyfriend maybe…]
Thinking again that the girl he cared about showed a bright smile in front of others, the familiar sense of irritability rose uncontrollably in Kurokawa Iori’s heart. However, as his eyes filled with anger met the girl sitting opposite him looking at him seriously, they gradually dissipated. Kurokawa Iori slightly composed himself and continued,
“The person who brought you here before is also one of us. Sanae Fujika, from the Regular Department, second year, class C-3. If I’m not at school someday, you can go directly to him if you have something.”
“Yes, Kurokawa… President.”
Nodding seriously, the girl subconsciously wanted to speak but still organized her wording before replying. Since the place they were in was a public area, and even the ordered dishes had not yet been served, the service staff could walk in at any moment. Kurokawa Iori, who had the ability to change space, had no intention of making a move, so Kazumi could only speak in a way that wouldn’t expose her identity, following his lead.
At this moment, the girl also couldn’t quite figure out her boss’s purpose in bringing her here to eat and chat about everyday life. It couldn’t possibly be a welcome party for new employees as he said, right? The previous newcomer test of survival of the fittest wasn’t this friendly! Or is it simply his habit to discuss things while eating? But the problem is, that’s a Chinese tradition, why would a Japanese person learn it! She could only attribute his behavior to the unique personal habits of a pervert and stopped thinking about it. Kazumi carefully recorded the information revealed in Kurokawa Iori’s every word in her mind. Fortunately, the setup of this small restaurant was quite fast, otherwise, Kazumi would have almost recalled the painful experience of accompanying leaders during social gatherings in her past life. Although she didn’t have to drink heavily, carefully accepting every word and considering how to give an appropriate answer was also a very arduous task. The exquisite and delicious food somewhat eased the girl’s helplessness, and Kurokawa Iori, on the opposite side, very gentlemanly pushed the small dessert gifted by the boss to her. Seeing the meaningful look from the female boss before she left, Kurokawa Iori nodded, then turned his gaze back to the well-behaved and silent indifferent girl sitting opposite him. He slowly raised his right hand and asked as if seeking permission.
“Do you mind if we chat while we eat?”
In the next moment, familiar flesh tentacles suddenly appeared in the narrow space.
(PS: Let me find my state. I feel like I haven’t written in a while and it’s a bit dull.)
