Lonely Rock for the Blind.

"Hmm? Birthday cakes are usually made with sweet cream, right?"

Nekoyashiki Haru shook her head.

"After all, it's the same as Sister Xingge's birthday now, isn't it?"

"...Well..."

Ichiji Hoshika looked away.

In fact, she had figured it out in that instant.

It was just a dream, and I seem to have taken it too seriously.

It was just a dream, but these kinds of dreams, which are beyond the control of the owner, keep happening. It seems that I am being affected too much.

and so…

Ijichi Seika took a deep breath, then suddenly reached out and put her arm around Nekoyashiki Haru's shoulder.

The sudden arm around his shoulder startled Nekoyashiki Haru, but that was all; he continued eating his cake with a normal expression.

Seeing this, Ichi Seika breathed a sigh of relief once again.

That's right, I was just overthinking it.

“Compared to before, you’re only 17 or 8 now.”

"Ok?"

Nekoyashiki Haru raised her head in confusion, then a slight smile appeared on her lips.

"But Sister Xingge will be 30 years old after tonight..."

Before he could finish speaking, his ear was suddenly twisted.

"Pain Pain!"

"Stop saying things that upset people."

Ijichi Hoshika smiled and shook her head.

I'm so happy, so very happy.

Is it because she's become close to a child who looks like her younger brother?

That's right, it's because of this.

Ichiji Hoshika thought to herself with unwavering conviction.

Nekoyashiki Haru put the cake into her mouth, but the next moment, her phone suddenly rang with a broadcast message.

It was a call from Iwashita Shima.

Nekoyashiki Haru blinked, then turned to Ijichi Hoshika, who had her arm around her shoulder.

Ijichi Hoshika was slightly taken aback, then released her hand.

Nekoyashiki Haru stepped to the side and then answered the phone.

"... "

Is Shima Iwashita...

Suddenly, Ichi Hoshika felt something was off.

Ichi Seika didn't really like the person who called herself Sister Qing.

And now they're calling...

That being said, it's my birthday, so please don't let anything unpleasant happen.

However, these petty thoughts remained only in her mind; on the surface, Ijichi Hoshika's expression remained unchanged.

That's right, his complexion was normal.

"?"

On the other end of the phone, Nekoyashiki Haru's expression froze for a moment.

"Kikuri isn't here with me."

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone, and then it seemed like they were about to hang up.

"...Wait a minute, what happened to Kiku?"

Nekoyashiki Haru pressed for an answer.

Then, Iwashita Shima explained it in a few words.

Simply put...

It's gone, I can't find it.

"...I understand. Where are you now? I'll come with you..."

"Let's forget about it, Qing. I was just asking if Kiku was with you. That's all, I'm hanging up now. Don't worry about her."

Iwashita Shima hung up the phone and looked at the empty street in front of her.

"...It's not here either..."

Chapter 291 Searching (and Returning)

The flower bed next to it looked like it hadn't been tended to for quite some time.

Eliza, who had split up with Iwashita Shima, walked past the overgrown flowerbed.

"Ha~"

She exhaled a warm breath and walked towards an apartment on the first floor.

crunch...

The door was pushed open without being locked.

Eliza looked into the room.

Leaning against the wall, Hiroi Kikuchi drank his sake in large gulps.

Those are relatively expensive, high-end wines.

There were so many, scattered all over the ground.

Eliza opened her mouth.

"Kikuri, Shima is looking for you."

"...I know, I'll tell her I'm okay."

"Can't you say it yourself?"

Eliza asked.

"... "

Hiroi Kikuri didn't speak, but simply pointed to the door.

Eliza turned to look at the doorway, where her phone, its screen shattered, lay quietly, seemingly broken.

Eliza looked up.

What did you see?

“…beautiful things.”

"I see, Kiku-ri..."

Eliza lowered her head.

"How come my words came true so quickly?"

"Maybe... By the way, Eliza... I asked you before, and I still do now."

"...I'll distract Xiao Qing, right? I promised you that before."

Eliza nodded.

"But... Xiao Qing doesn't know you're missing."

“That would be best…but…if he finds out, please have Eliza distract him.”

Hiroi Kikuri put down the sake.

"I don't want to...see him."

"I understand."

Eliza nodded.

Then he walked towards the door.

"... "

Eliza opened her mouth.

"...Well, never mind."

Then he went outside.

In the darkness, Hiroi Kikuri sipped her drink.

That's awesome...

"I'm drunk... my mind is starting to... not be able to think straight..."

That's the best.

...

……

.........

Nekoyashiki Haru put down her phone and then faced the other side.

The lively atmosphere remained.

"... "