Lonely Rock for the Blind.

It seems there's nothing to lie about.

But you can still sense something strange about it.

For example, Haru Nekoyashiki smiles every time the word "saving money" is mentioned.

It's as if they're imagining some beautiful scenery.

It's so strange... mainly compared to the Nekoyashiki Haru I used to know.

It's a bit like... being possessed!

If you say that time changes people, then Iwashita Shima agrees.

But it's been less than a year... I guess we still need to investigate.

Iwashita finished eating the chicken skewers.

"Okay, keep it up. Just tell me if you have any difficulties."

"Thank you, Shima."

Nekoyashiki Haru nodded.

"By the way, how's Kiku doing lately?"

"Nekoyashiki Haru asked."

"... "

Iwashita Shima blinked.

"Her..."

Chapter 265 Picking Up a Person (and Returning Them)

"You mean? She's been drinking heavily lately?"

"Ah."

Iwashita Shima nodded.

"I see."

Nekoyashiki Haru nodded, showing no surprise.

"...After all, Kiku-ri's drinking is normal behavior."

Otsuki Yuyuko said.

Nekoyashiki Haru nodded.

"She hasn't come looking for me, and I've been quite busy lately..."

Recording, dating, accompanying Yin to home, and performing at a restaurant in the evening.

"Let's not talk about her for now, Qing. Do you want me to take you home tonight?"

Iwashita Shima asked.

"No need, I can go back by myself. I know the way around here well."

"Nekoyashiki Haru said."

"so…"

Iwashita Shima nodded.

"...Um...it would be good to come back to Folt for a visit when you have time."

Shima Iwashita smiled.

"Everyone actually misses you a lot."

"If you have time..."

Nekoyashiki Haru nodded.

"Oh right, I'll be going now. You guys don't need anything else to eat, right? I'll pay the bill."

Nekoyashiki Haru stood up and said.

"I'll buy it..."

Before Iwashita Shima could finish speaking, Nekoyashiki Haru waved to the waiter.

"Hello, please pay the bill and also give me a ride out."

Nekoyashiki Haru smiled politely, tapping her white cane in the process.

"Oh, okay, this way please..."

The waiter helped Nekoyashiki Haru leave, while Iwashita Shima and Otsuki Yuuko watched quietly behind them.

"... "

Otsuki Yuuko felt inexplicably dissatisfied.

As for Iwashita Shima next to her, she lowered her head slightly.

Well... that's normal, after all, it's been quite a while since we last saw each other.

It's normal for feelings to fade.

Click...

The broken skewer bounced onto the table.

...

……

.........

Tap, tap tap, tap tap tap.

With her cane tapping the ground, Nekoyashiki Haru walked home along the street.

The darkness and the shadows cast by the streetlights blended together.

There seemed to be arguing in the distance, accompanied by a strong smell of alcohol.

"... "

Nekoyashiki Haru narrowed her eyes.

With a gentle turn of her cane, Nekoyashiki Haru walked toward the sound of the argument.

Taking out her phone, she dialed the police number and stopped in front of the park entrance.

The phone's broadcast had already revealed Nekoyashiki Haru's location, and the sound from it alerted the people in the distance.

"who!"

One of them spoke up angrily.

Nekoyashiki Haru slowly emerged from the darkness.

"Huh? Damn it! It's the Keyboard Axe King! Last time, he was the one who beat all the girls to their knees with five axe blows! Retreat!"

The female delinquent who was in charge yelled and led the other three away.

"... "

The smell of alcohol still lingered in the air from the bench.

"Kikuri?"

"Nekoyashiki Haru asked softly."

"... "

The purple-haired woman on the bench, watching the boy approach with her eyes open, remained silent.

"...Is it Kikuri?"

Nekoyashiki Haru spoke up again.

Hiroi Kikuri didn't speak; she didn't say a word.

Anyway, that way he probably won't recognize himself...

"Kikuri, what are you doing here?"

Instead of asking about the other person's identity, Haru Nekoyashiki directly confirmed Kikuri Hiroi's identity.

"Were you hit? Or were you just verbally abused?"

Haru Nekoyashiki found an empty seat on the bench and sat down.

"... "

Snapped…

Kikuri Hiroi dropped the bottle in her hand to the ground.

"I wasn't hit... I was just scolded..."

Hiroi Kikuri laughed.

"Why do you assume I'm [Hiroi Kikuri] right away? Wouldn't it be terrible if I weren't?"

"I've never smelled that odor of sweat and alcohol mixed together from the days you haven't showered on anyone else."

"...Haha...that's what drunkards all smell like~"

Hiroi Kikuri took a box of sake out of her pocket and handed it to Nekoya Shikiharu.

Would you like a drink?

"... "

Nekoyashiki Haru's purple, fragmented pupils narrowed slightly.

"what happened to you?"

"It's still the same as before, because the world of sober drinking is too painful... There are too many things to worry about, and I can't stop thinking about them at all, so I can only immerse myself in my spiral of happiness~"

"... "