Although his guess was extremely accurate, Zonggu couldn't be happy with his prophet.
It is true that Kirino Akane is cute and has a good personality. They are very happy when they get along with each other. She is an excellent partner...
But he has no intention of dating her at the moment and taking the relationship further.
——What's more, this kind of thing is not something that others think is "just right" and they should "try dating".
"Sorry, I have no plans to date anyone right now."
Zonggu paused for a moment, not wanting to speak too harshly.
"I want to take this matter more seriously. I understand Kirino-san's concerns, but Akane probably feels the same way."
Kirino Keiko frowned and smiled.
"Does Soya really understand Akane's thoughts?"
Soya looked at her, "If nothing else, at least Akane doesn't like being restrained - and probably doesn't like the kind of relationship designated by Miss Kirino."
"..."
She looked at him for a while and could only shake her head.
"Forget it, I'm too impatient. It's up to you."
Looking at Akane Kirino who was still with the guests, Soya said: "At least in school, I won't let anyone with ulterior motives get close to her."
Kirino Keiko sighed:
"Mom thinks that all boys except Soya are bad men who have ulterior motives for Akane."
"..."
Why did you start calling yourself "Mom"...
...
There were fewer and fewer customers in the store, and the couple was able to cope with it. Kirino Keiko didn't let her daughter stay too late, and soon asked Soya to take her home.
After changing her uniform, Kirino Akane wanted to settle the score first.
"I came here at 4:30, and it is now 11:19. Rounding up, it means I have worked for eight hours."
"The hourly wage is one thousand yen." She stretched out her hands and raised all ten fingers one after another. "If we round it up again, today's salary is ten thousand yen."
"..."
Kirino Keiko said nothing, crossed her arms and looked at her daughter for a while, then looked at Soya next to her.
"It's really hard for mom to feel reassured by Akane's appearance."
"..."
He looked away.
Akane Kirino finally got a 10,000-yen bill. She let Fukuzawa Yukichi lie down with the others in the wallet, and she happily followed Soya out of the izakaya.
"etc."
Arriving outside the store, Akane Kirino called Soya to stop, and then pushed the bicycle parked at the entrance of Rakusentei.
"Can Soya know how to ride a bike?"
"Yes, yes..."
He looked at the pink bicycle and asked, "Is this Kirino's car?"
"Yes." She patted the seat cushion and motioned for him to come over, "I bought it when I was in middle school. I used to ride my bike to school."
Soya got into the car, held the handle, and looked back at Kirino Akane who got in.
"I haven't ridden for a long time. Let me try it myself first."
She smiled and got out of the back seat.
"Be careful. If it doesn't work, I can take Souya back with me."
And imagining himself sitting in the back seat of this pink girl's car, Zongya only felt that there was a huge problem.
Fortunately, after learning to ride a bicycle, it is easy to get back the feeling even if you haven't ridden for a long time. He pedaled twice in the alley in front of the izakaya and quickly became proficient.
"No problem."
Zonggu stopped and put one foot on the ground, "Get in the car, Miss."
Kirino Akane sat sideways behind him and looked around.
"Why are there no seat belts?"
Zong Gu laughed, and after she held her waist, she stepped on the pedal.
"Wow..."
The slight sway at the start quickly disappeared, and Zonggu could feel the hands on his waist relax a little.
I rode out of the alley and turned into a wide street. It was already late at night, there were no cars on the road, and a few street lights were connected from a distance, illuminating the road and the closed shops on both sides.
Looking at the slowly retreating street scene, Akane Kirino was in a good mood and even hummed a song.
Soya could roughly understand, "Tirino has already saved a lot of money, right?"
"Uh-huh."
She was indeed happier, "I have already received 60,000 yen in part-time salary."
"Yeah."
He pedaled, "Just going to Kyoto, it should be enough."
Akane Kirino responded and said yes, she had nothing special to buy, and 60,000 yen was more than enough for a day's travel, food and accommodation.
A streetlight came closer, illuminating the two of them, and then moved away from them without stopping.
Akane Kirino said goodbye to it with her eyes, and then looked at Soya's back, "What were Soya and mom talking about just now?"
"Something at school."
He turned his face slightly and could only see his legs swaying under the skirt of his uniform.
"Did Kirino tell her something?"
"What did you say?" Akane Kirino asked.
Zong Gu didn't hide it, "Things like love."
"..."
She was startled for a moment, and immediately remembered Kirino Keiko's inquiry into the relationship between him and Yoshikawa last night.
"Did mom tell Souya?"
"Um."
"I didn't say anything... but mom seemed to know something."
That's what you told her.
Zonggu shook his head secretly.
Kirino Akane then asked: "What do Soya think?"
"No idea."
He rode steadily, "I have no intention of dating anyone right now."
"ah."
She responded, but her meaning was unclear.
"Kirino?"
"nothing……"
Akane Kirino patted him on the back, and at the same time was thinking about how to tell Yoshikawa about this, "Then enjoy the Golden Week."
"Uh-huh."
Continuing forward, riding to an intersection, Soya stopped and waited for the red light, but Kirino Akane in the back seat noticed the stall on the sidewalk.
"Sogu, I want to eat that."
He turned and glanced, "Takoyaki?"
"Uh-huh."
"Go over there."
Akane Kirino landed lightly and walked to the stall. Soya also parked his bicycle on the side of the road.
The aroma filled the air, and an incandescent lamp illuminated the simple stall, which was run by an elderly lady.
"Two takoyakis," he said over.
Akane Kirino: "I've already ordered two portions."
Zongya was startled, then said: "Then take one piece back to Ling and Tsukiko each."
"That's right. Then let's have two more!"
Four portions of takoyaki, two portions were packed, and Soya and Akane Kirino ate the other two portions while standing on the roadside.
"If mom sees me buying snacks at a roadside stall, she will definitely talk about me again." She said vaguely while chewing octopus balls.
After all, the snacks in my own izakaya have more varieties and are more hygienic, “and it’s free of charge.”
Zonggu smiled.
"Then let me treat you."
"No, please!"
Having just received her part-time salary, Kirino Akane said, "The two shares from Mr. Suzu and Mr. Tsukiko are also counted on me."
After finishing the takoyaki, the two packaged portions were ready.
When the two returned to the car, the light turned green.
"Set off!"
...
Because he was riding a bicycle, Soya took Kirino Akane home along a different road that he had never traveled before.
It was going uphill all the way, which was a bit strenuous. Parking the pink bicycle in the yard, Sogu's breathing was a little heavy.
"I'm going back."
"Why don't you come in and take a rest?" Akane Kirino said.
Zong Gu shook his head, "It's getting late."
"Okay, be careful on the road~"
"Um."
He was walking back, so naturally he didn't have to walk the same way he came up. After walking a few steps, he turned around again, and Akane Kirino was still standing at the door.
"By the way, Kirino hasn't seen anything strange recently, right?"
"..."
She was startled for a moment, then laughed again.
"I thought Souya had forgotten it."
Zonggu suddenly felt a little ashamed.
"But it doesn't matter. Although more and more spirit entities can be seen recently, they all look like humans. I haven't encountered anything strange."
Kirino Akane touched her chest, where her amulet originally hung, "If you are scared, I will tell Soya."
He nodded, said goodbye again and turned to leave.
After Soya's figure disappeared under the steps and path, Kirino Akane also returned to the house.
close the door.
bath.
Soak in the bathtub.
Although she had been busy all night and her whole body was exhausted, she felt light and airy.
Not just because of being soaked in hot water, but more like... a sigh of relief?