Lonely Rock for the Blind.

"Oh, right, we should visit your parents often in the future."

"…it is good."

As Haruto Nekoyashiki and Yuuko Otsuki were about to head home, their phone suddenly rang.

Nekoyashiki Haru paused for a moment, then picked up her phone.

Beep—click.

【Sunny...come keep me company.】

That was the voice of Hiroi Kikuri.

"Ah."

Nekoyashiki Haruka's heart skipped a beat, then she nodded.

After hanging up the phone, he looked at Yuyuko Otsuki.

"Let's go, I'll take you to my house first, and then... I have something to take care of at Kiku's place."

"Okay, go ahead without worry."

Yuuko Otsuki wiped away her tears and nodded.

Chapter 422 Request and Search

As he approached the house, Nekoyashiki Haru could smell a distinct odor of alcohol.

The familiar yet strange taste made the boy's pupils shrink slightly.

He quickened his pace, deliberately ignoring the bumps and knocks he made on the road.

Click...

Until he opened the door.

The woman leaned against the wall under the window, with wine bottles neatly stacked around her.

"... "

Nekoyashiki Haru closed the door behind her.

"come over…"

Hiroi Kikuri's voice sounded dazed and confused; perhaps she was drunk, but she seemed different from before.

Nekoyashiki Haru walked over and sat down next to Hiroi Kikuri.

"what happened?"

The boy's voice was calm, but it seemed to conceal some kind of worry.

"That's strange... I thought you'd be angry, since you clearly don't like me drinking..."

Hiroi Kikuri tilted her head back and took a sip of wine.

"...You must have your own reasons. Do you think I'm such an easily angered person?"

Nekoyashiki Haru shook her head and picked up a can of sake.

Click...

Nekoyashiki Haru tilted her head back and took a sip.

"...Beer..."

"You can tell by the smell, right?"

Hiroi Kikuri said with a chuckle, chewing the liquor with her sharp teeth.

"...That's strange..."

"... "

Nekoyashiki Haru quietly turned her head to look at Hiroi Kikuri.

"...That's strange...why...it feels like alcohol is completely useless now..."

"... "

"Before, as long as I was drunk, I was carefree... I didn't have to think about anything, I didn't have to worry about anything, it was like the world only consisted of me... The spiral of happiness and stuff... is that no longer possible?"

Hiroi Kikuri shook the sake jar.

“…Kikuri-nee…”

Nekoyashiki Haru moved a little closer to Hiroi Kikuri.

"Qing... tell me, why did we end up together?"

Click click...

The wine jar was squeezed tightly.

"...Why...when everything was clearly moving in a positive direction...why do all these unexpected problems always arise...why..."

Snap...

The wine jar fell to the ground.

Hiroi Kikuri grabbed her hair.

"Where did I go wrong... And... drinking now... doesn't bring me any joy at all, I can't forget anything... It's so frustrating... I feel like pulling my hair out, I can't even laugh... I have absolutely no idea what to do... I hate this feeling... I'm so scared of what will happen next... I'm so scared..."

Hiroi Kikuri swayed her body, her teeth clenched tightly.

Nekoyashiki Haru's pupils trembled.

He originally wanted to ask directly what happened... but now...

"Sister Kikuri..."

"... "

Hiroi Kikuri looked at Nekoyashiki Haru, and the next moment, the boy suddenly kissed her.

Bang... patter...

The two men fell to the ground, with the wine jug rolling beside them.

Time to perform my duties…

This is what you, as wine, should do.

...

……

.........

"Haa...haa...haa..."

Hiroi Kikuri was panting heavily.

"...Why...are you suddenly being so proactive?"

"...Are you feeling better now? If you're still bothered, I'll continue."

Nekoyashiki Haru did not answer Hiroi Kikuri's question.

"...Ha...haha...although I really want to continue..."

Hiroi Kikuri closed her eyes, her long, loose purple hair spreading out behind her head.

"But now... I have something else to say..."

"what?"

Nekoyashiki Haru lay on Hiroi Kikuri's body, listening to her beloved's words.

"...Eliza...maybe it was all for you from the beginning..."

Hiroi Kikuri savored the language.

Nekoyashiki Haru's pupils contracted, and he raised his upper body.

"what?"

"...From joining to staying...from beginning to end...maybe it's all because of you?"

Hiroi Kikuri pressed her forearm against her eyes.

"I guessed, she left the group... [ck Hack], that's it."

"…What?"

Nekoyashiki Haru looked at him with a puzzled expression.

"...Ah...it's that kind of expression you have..."

Hiroi Kikuri slightly raised her forearm, and through the gap, she could see the boy's expression.

Confused and puzzled...

"That's true... Qing, you and Eliza were very close from the beginning, weren't you?"

"... "

Nekoyashiki Haru remained silent.

"She'll put her arm around your shoulder...she'll hug you every time you meet...but why do you seem to notice nothing?"

Kikuri Hiroi continued.

"...When we first met, she was like that; she just greeted us and then hugged me."

Nekoyashiki Haru pursed her lips and said.

"...Really...So that's just her personality..."

Kikuri Hiroi nodded.

"...But I can see...that she and the others aren't like that, except for you..."

Hiroi Kikuri remained silent for a while.

"Qing, it seems you've been tricked."