Chapter 340: On the Journey
Adolescent boys and girls are always restless and noisy. If you add the premise of a group outing, the scene becomes frighteningly lively.
In a large bus that could hold fifty people, young men and women in various outfits were excitedly chatting, playing, and messing around. For these students who had just entered high school, the holiday trip after a semester of hard study was the best reward for everyone.
Listening to the noisy chatter of his classmates, Sato Shinichi, sitting in his seat, breathed a long sigh of relief. He had had a chaotic and embarrassing morning, but he had finally made it to the school bus in time, not making his classmates wait too long.
The girl beside him still looked half-asleep, leaning drowsily against the chair. She seemed to be trying to wake up from her early morning sleepiness. Her cute nose-twitching appearance made one want to hug her and pet her.
Sobakada Asada, the love master (in theory), had once told him that officially confirming a relationship did not mean the end of emotional investment. Only through actual interaction would one’s hidden side be revealed to their partner. If one got carried away and didn’t cherish what they had, the final outcome would surely be parting ways.
Although Sobakada Asada himself had never been in a proper relationship, Sato Shinichi somewhat agreed with his words. The young man himself was like this. Although he always presented himself as positive, friendly, and sunny in front of others, Sato Shinichi had also felt lost and confused, even unable to find his direction at times.
And the pressure of growing up while hiding his abilities and identity, and bearing the burden of Teacher Hamano Tsukasa’s mission, was probably something only this fifteen-year-old boy knew.
The girl was also like this, at the beginning of their contact, and even after being together for some time. Kazumi still showed him that cold, unapproachable demeanor in front of him, but Sato Shinichi could still feel the deep care beneath her unexpressive words.
Perhaps it was due to her family, or perhaps due to childhood experiences. The young girl was like a hedgehog hiding in a dark corner, protecting her broken heart with spikes called “coldness.”
It was heart-wrenching, yet one didn’t know how to approach her.
But now, the girl’s transformation had reassured Sato Shinichi a lot. From the clumsy way she expressed her care with coldness at first, to later opening her heart a little in front of him, and now revealing her unique girlish self without reservation, the girl’s gradual changes were proof that she was slowly stepping out of her past experiences.
Compared to the academic genius girl who initially kept everyone at a distance and showed no emotions or flaws, the current cute girl who stayed up late playing games, overslept, and acted cute in front of him was more like a girl her age should be, and had a more human touch.
“Heh heh, Shinichi, did you… conquer her?”
Just as Sato Shinichi was smiling at Kazumi beside him, a familiar, mischievous voice came from across the aisle. Turning his head, he saw Sobakada Asada’s grinning face.
“What do you mean?”
Scratching his head in confusion, Sobakada Asada was like a riddler all day, always saying things he couldn’t understand.
“Uh, I mean, you… and Kiyomizu-san!”
Beckoning Sato Shinichi to lean closer, Sobakada Asada lowered his voice, glanced at Kazumi Shimizu who was still resting with her eyes closed inside, and said.
“Everyone in the class saw you pull Kiyomizu-san over just now, and Kiyomizu-san’s clothes seem to be quite messy. Did you go to a love hotel together during the holiday?”
“No!!!”
The panicked and loud voice echoed in the bus, even drowning out the noisy chatter and drawing everyone’s attention.
“Sorry, sorry.”
Apologizing to the surrounding classmates, Sato Shinichi pressed down on Sobakada Asada’s head and said in a low voice.
“I just went to Kazumi’s house to wake her up. How could I do what you’re saying!”
“Ow, ow, ow. I was just asking, don’t overreact…”
With his strong arm constricting him, Sobakada Asada couldn’t move. Now Sobakada Asada understood that although Sato Shinichi seemed like an honest and good-natured guy who could take jokes, whenever it involved Kiyomizu Kazumi, his intense reaction was enough to kill him.
“Sorry, I got a bit too excited…”
Quickly releasing his arm, Sato Shinichi was also agitated by such words and accidentally used too much force. Seeing Sobakada Asada in pain, he quickly released his right hand.
“I say, your strength is greater than some guys in the Hero Department, are you a monster?”
Rubbing his neck, Sobakada Asada couldn’t help but complain. Because he was a boy, Sobakada Asada’s development direction was towards ordinary combat personnel, and he had dealt with many Hero Department students. However, the strength Sato Shinichi had just displayed was no less than that of the psychics specializing in physical strength in the Hero Department.
“Heh heh, my family always made me exercise…”
He let out a simple laugh to gloss over the matter. Sato Shinichi looked back at the still sleeping Kazumi and continued to explain.
“Sobakada, you can’t just say things like that. Kazumi didn’t wake up today, so I went to her house to find her. As for her clothes, it’s because she was in too much of a hurry to change when she left, so they weren’t tidy…”
Sobakada Asada’s head ached from Sato Shinichi’s earnest explanation, and he waved his hand to interrupt his rambling. He really just wanted to tease Sato Shinichi. After all, from everyone’s understanding of him, unless Kiyomizu Kazumi made the first move, this upright and somewhat rigid boy wouldn’t do anything even if they slept in the same room.
“Alright, alright. I’ll just see if a guy with your thick eyebrows and big eyes has betrayed the organization. I won’t say anything.”
Losing interest, Sobakada Asada raised his eyebrows at Sato Shinichi and reached into his bag for a game console. But before he could turn on the screen, a large hand landed on the red and blue game console.
Raising his head with some doubt, he met Sato Shinichi’s extremely friendly smile.
“Lend me the game console to play as an apology.”
“Ah, no. There are still over two hours until we reach our destination, I need this to pass the time.”
Hearing Sato Shinichi’s request, Sobakada Asada shook his head like a rattle. Although he had other things to play with, he hadn’t had a chance to play the newly acquired game console because of the final exams.
“If you don’t lend it to me, I’ll tell her you like Shinomiyai-san.”
“How… Shinichi, who told you? It’s not true!!”
Like a duck whose tail had been stepped on, Sobakada Asada’s voice abruptly stopped. He hugged Sato Shinichi again, glancing around as he explained.
“I don’t know who keeps looking this way for no reason. They definitely wouldn’t be looking at me…”
Shrugging helplessly, Sato Shinichi said with a somewhat shifty expression.
“That… that’s looking at the scenery, it’s not what you think.”
“Oh, I happen to need to find Shinomiyai-san for something. What a bother.”
Sato Shinichi nodded as if he understood partially, then stood up as if he was about to walk out, but was pulled back by Sobakada Asada.
“One hour, no more! Besides, Shinomiyai-san already has a boyfriend now, so what difference does it make if you say it?”
“Shinomiyai-san!”
“Yes, what is it? Sato-kun.”
A sweet and gentle voice came from a few rows ahead. The tall, long-haired girl turned around, her jade-colored eyes full of confusion. Just as Sato Shinichi was about to speak, a red and blue game console was handed to him, interrupting the young man’s words.
“It’s nothing, we’re just kidding around, Shinichi.”
Sobakada Asada explained to Mai Shinomiyai with a smile, but half of his eyebrow twitched frantically at Sato Shinichi, begging for mercy.
“It seems I misunderstood. Sorry to have bothered you, Shinomiyai-san.”
With Mai Shinomiyai looking at them like idiots, the two big men pushed and shoved each other and finally completed the handover of the game console. Sobakada Asada, with a reluctant expression, also packed the game card along with it for Sato Shinichi, and then retaliatorily took a few snacks from his bag.
In response, Sato Shinichi gave him a harmless, innocent smile.
…
“Kazumi, Kazumi.”
The familiar call sounded in her ears. The roar of the engine and the bumps of the car made the girl drowsy, but her well-rested mind meant Kazumi was in a light sleep, and she quickly woke up.
“What is it?”
The sunlight filtering through the gap in the curtains was a bit dazzling, making it difficult for the girl to fully open her eyes. However, both the familiar voice and the aura emanating from the young man gave her a warm and reassuring feeling.
Stretching lazily, Kazumi had truly woken up. She turned to look at her boyfriend beside her and asked.
The young man also smiled and nodded, then handed over an object in his hand. The familiar red and blue colors and model even awakened a fragment of memory in Kazumi. Energetic words came from the young man’s mouth, but his tone seemed to carry a hint of seeking praise.
“It was quite boring on the way. Want to play the game console? The latest one.”
