Tokyo, My Childhood Friend is a Ghost Story

Chapter 20 The Girl Who Picks Up Trash
Utakayo yawned as he walked out onto the street. Today, his classmates had dragged him to sing karaoke. To be honest, the size of karaoke rooms in Japan is generally quite disappointing.

The five-person private room was about the same size as the toilet in the large private room in Daxia that Uta Kasyapa remembered. It was truly something else.

Even going out to use the restroom is a hassle.
Moreover, the time is very limited. In Japan, minors under the age of 16 can use KTVs before 6 pm, but after that time, staff will come and tell you to get out.

However, it's not that strict in this regard. Generally, if you say you're seventeen, they'll allow you to play until ten o'clock.

As for wanting to continue playing after 10 PM, don't even think about it. If someone reports you, it won't just be a simple matter of a fine.

Fortunately, he is already an adult, but he still has to catch the late bus.

After saying goodbye to Fuyuki Saburo and the others, Uta Kasyapa headed towards the bus stop.

If we had to pinpoint a good thing about island nations, it would probably be that public transportation like trams and buses operate for a relatively long time, usually until midnight.

After all, with a small territory and a small population, the only way to minimize losses is to operate more. Thinking about it that way, it seems understandable.

After a leisurely bus ride to his neighborhood, Utada Kassapa went to a convenience store and bought some snacks and drinks to restock the refrigerator.

Fu Jiang is definitely coming to my house tomorrow, and if I don't prepare these things, she'll throw a tantrum and make me go out and buy them.

Moreover, Xiao Fujiang also likes to eat snacks, but compared to Fujiang, Xiao Fujiang is much easier to raise.

Two potato chips were enough to fill her up, and she nestled next to me, looking like she didn't want to move, humming and moaning.

Since discovering this, Uta Kassapa stopped cooking for Fukue as often as he used to. After all, a little snack could solve the problem, so why bother?

Moreover, the snacks come in a variety of flavors and offer more choices.

Of course, Utakayo would satisfy Xiao Fujiang's insistence on eating; it was just a convenient thing to do, and he would share some of the food with her after cooking.

Carrying snacks, I walked home, the streetlights dividing the narrow street into distinct sections.

A figure suddenly appeared in the alleyway ahead, some distance from home.

If the other person hadn't revealed themselves by passing under the streetlight, Uta Kasyapa wouldn't have even noticed them. This is probably the secret to how ninjas disappear into the darkness.

So Uta Kasyapa finally understood why villains in Japanese anime sometimes emerge from places where streetlights don't reach—because the area illuminated by streetlights is indeed very limited!
The figure ahead looked like a girl, carrying a large black bag full of things.

Upon closer inspection, it appeared that the other person was picking through the grass along the road, as if they were collecting trash.

After understanding what the other person was doing, Utakayo was taken aback. It wasn't that he discriminated against a girl picking up trash, but rather that he was surprised that someone would actually pick up trash in an island nation.

You should know that in island nations, even picking up trash can be illegal and can even land you a government job!
Uta Kassapa was shocked when he learned about the relevant laws for the first time. He thought, "They can even break the law for something like this. Nobody else can do that."

Thinking about this, Uta Kassapa had to give the other party a thumbs up for their courage.

Most importantly, it's not easy to pick up trash in island nations. Since trash cans can't be turned over, the only way to find trash is to try your luck in places with high foot traffic.

After all, specially sorted and classified garbage cannot be illegally picked up.

It's getting late, and judging from the girl's full bag, she must have gone to quite a few places to find these things.

Looking at the half-empty can in his hand, Uta Kassapa tilted his head back and drank it all in one gulp, then jogged a few steps forward.

"Hello, I have an aluminum can here, do you need it?"

Upon hearing this, the girl in front turned around in surprise and quickly expressed her gratitude.

"Ariga"

"Jia Yezi?"

Upon hearing the question, Jia Yezi, who was bowing slightly, suddenly froze, her eyes filled with panic and disbelief as she slowly raised her head.

“Kakasyapa.”

Hearing Jia Yezi's slightly trembling voice, Utakayo glanced at the full recycling bag in her hand.

"How could you—" "No. No!!"

Before Uta Kassapa could finish speaking, Kayokawa's eyes suddenly turned red. She shook her head repeatedly, took a few steps back, and then abruptly turned and ran forward.

In the chaos, he even tripped and fell heavily.

Utakayo was taken aback by the sudden escape. Then, realizing that Kayano was worried that he would dislike her because of it, Utakayo quickly put down the snacks in her hand and chased after her.

"Jia Yezi, Jia Yezi, stop right there!!"

"No, Kasyapa-kun, don't look at me!!"

With a tearful, self-conscious cry, Jia Yezi ran forward quickly.

However, the fall just now clearly injured her leg, and the limping Jia Yezi was quickly caught up and grabbed by Uta Kasaya.

"Why are you running? Don't you know you're injured?!"

Faced with Uta Kassapa's rebuke, Kayokawa just kept pursing her lips and shaking her head.

"No. No!"

He muttered helplessly, his hands constantly trying to break free from Uta Kasyapa's grasp.

Uta Kasyapa frowned upon seeing this.

"do not move!"

"don't want."

Faced with Uta Kasyapa's rebuke, Kayanoko, caught in some kind of emotion, could only keep muttering and struggling.

Looking down at the bloodstains on her knees, Uta Kasyapa spoke up with a warning.

"Stand here and wait for me, I'll go buy you some band-aids."

After saying this, Uta Kasyapa turned to leave, but as soon as he turned around, Kayakko suddenly grabbed him from behind and cried out a heart-wrenching plea.

"Kasyapa-kun, please don't hate me."

Uta Kassapa was stunned. Before he could turn around, he heard Kayokawa crying and pleading.

"I...I won't pick up trash anymore, Kasyapa-kun, please don't hate me, okay?"

She turned around and looked at Jia Yezi, who was crying incessantly and had a pleading, timid look in her eyes.

For some reason, Uta Kassapa suddenly felt like she was a dog without an owner, abandoned on the street and wandering around.

Thinking of this, Uta Kasyapa's heart softened for no reason.

"I won't hate you, absolutely not, don't cry."

Immersed in fear and worry, Jia Yezi was unable to discern the comforting words of Utakayo. She could only tightly grip his arm and keep whispering and begging him not to hate her.

People with personality flaws often find it difficult to hear the voices of the outside world when they are caught up in certain emotions.

And Jia Yezi was clearly in this situation. Seeing her pulling him and crying softly, Uta Kasaya sighed and reached out to pull her into his arms.

"Don't cry, I won't hate you."

With gentle comfort, Jia Yezi's emotions gradually calmed down.

Meanwhile, the all-consuming darkness began to gradually fade from the windows of the surrounding houses.

(End of this chapter)