Survive in Azure Files

At this point, A-Lu waved her hand heavily and said proudly, "Please look! We are hiding in such a seldom visited place, but we have such a magnificent office. This is the best symbol of us as lawless outlaws!"

Mutsuki smiled and added, "Besides, it's very close to the nearest apartment I rent, so it's very convenient to go to school and other places~"

Haruka's face flushed with excitement, and she praised sincerely, "As expected of Master Aru...!"

Finally, Kayoko sighed and said nothing.

"Hehe~" A Lu smiled proudly and continued, "Besides that, our business is also thriving now! We even don't care about ordinary commissions anymore."

how to say.

If Kayoko hadn't complained to me before that they could only afford the cheapest bean sprout bento in the supermarket recently, I might have really believed it.

I began to think whether I should change the story a little bit and say that I actually had a commission for them, and then make up a simple excuse to help the students who were troubled by poverty, and treat Convenience House 68 to a good dinner.

"How about, teacher, as our chief business consultant..."

Alu's bold words were once again interrupted by a phone call.

She was slightly startled, then her smile became even wider: "Good! Let me show you, teacher, how we handle the commission!"

After the words fell, A-Lu strode to the retro-looking landline phone, sat down on the large and comfortable office chair, picked up the receiver, and spoke clearly:

"Hello, this is Lu Bamo from Convenience House 68."

You know what, she really looks like a business elite, but she is A-Lu.

"Fufu~ Don't you think it's funny when Aru-chan is serious~" Mutsuki laughed in a low voice.

That's true. I nodded slightly in agreement.

"...What? Looking for a cat?" Alu's expression turned cold. "Unfortunately, our Convenience House 68 is not the place to accept such requests."

Don't try to be stubborn at a time like this, just start with small, down-to-earth commissions. At least get rid of the dilemma of only being able to afford bean sprout bento.

As if she heard my inner voice, the next moment, A-Lu was stunned again:

"What!? The reward is..."

Remembering that I was listening, A-Lu's exclamation stopped abruptly, and then she tried her best to pretend to be calm:

"Hmm, hm. So that's how it is. Since it's actually such an important commission, there's no reason for us at Convenience House 68 not to accept it. Yes."

After answering the phone for a while, exchanging information with the client, and agreeing on the payment method, Alu finally hung up the phone.

Chapter 35: Is there anyone you want to eliminate?

After hanging up the phone, Alu looked at me and opened her mouth to speak, as if she was thinking quickly about how to explain it to me.

"Actually..." She hesitated for a moment, then finally had an idea and explained with a forced smile, "Haha~ I received a good commission, cat, cat... um, to find the great treasure buried by the legendary ninja, Meow Tenmaru! It's really a job that matches our Convenience House 68!"

...Has he become famous in the underground world, Meow Tenmaru? And is this a new setting?

Feeling that she had come up with a good excuse and had successfully fooled him, Alu said smugly, "I'm sorry, teacher. As you can see, we have received an important commission and may not be able to entertain you."

"Is that so?" I suddenly said, "How about I go with you guys?"

"Eh!?"

I stood up and said teasingly, "I am the business consultant of Convenience House 68, right? I have been busy with other work all along, and I seem a little incompetent. Let's take this opportunity today to learn about the recent specific business status of Convenience House?"

“Uh… this…”

Ah Lu hesitated and said, "Today, you are here as a guest after all... Besides, I don't know how long it will take to complete this commission, and I may have to travel to many places..."

I admired the girl who looked cool and innocent, and saw her panicked look because of my own stubbornness. I soon felt satisfied and changed my words:

"That's true. Let's talk about it next time. Then, can I stay here and wait for you to come back? If the commission goes smoothly, it should be completed soon."

After all, it was just a request to find a cat.

To be honest, the office of Convenience House 68 is indeed in a good place. At least it is quiet enough and difficult for ordinary people to find it, making it a suitable place to hide.

...Although, this may not be entirely an advantage for Alu's career, which is on the rise.

Hearing this, A-Lu breathed a sigh of relief and said happily, "Of course, you are free to use our office as you wish!"

She agreed readily without even asking the reason, which is one of the reasons why I like Alu - she must like me.

Today is also a day when I suspect there is a bug in the card.

Then, the president of the convenience store looked at her loyal members and said, "Well, everyone, let's get going without further delay!"

"But, Alu-chan." At this time, Mutsuki suddenly spoke up with a worried look on his face, "If the teacher is left here alone, isn't he a little too pitiful?"

I suddenly realized something.

"……Eh?"

"I think this is not the way our convenience store, as a mature business, should treat its guests, right?"

The little devil girl's eyes moved, and she smiled and said: "So, there is no other way. For Alu-chan, I will voluntarily withdraw from this mission and stay in the office to accompany the teacher~"

Mutsuki's calculations were so blatant.

You actually want to play a prank on me in the office of your own club without any scruples while no one else is around?

I'm quite looking forward to it, just a good way to kill some boring time.

"Eh!?" Alu was stunned. "This, this... but..."

She seemed to have instinctively sensed that something was wrong, but couldn't tell what was wrong.

Therefore, she turned her eyes to the person she would first turn to whenever an unexpected event occurred during the commission that she could not handle.

Kayoko, who was the oldest and calmest member of the convenience store and had always been silently supporting the team, keenly sensed the president's earnestness and nodded.

Then, under Alu's grateful gaze, Kayoko raised her hand:

"I second the motion."

The hope on Alu's face instantly turned into shock: "Huh!?"

But Kayoko said calmly, "We're just looking for a cat. We don't need so many people. I stayed up all night yesterday and got up early today to clean the office. I'm a little sleepy now, so I might as well stay here too."

I was a little surprised: she was willing to give up even a commission related to cats. Could it be that Kayoko loved me more than cats?

Besides, isn't she used to staying in bed? Why is she using this as an excuse now?

As if she had noticed what was going on in my mind, Kayoko glanced at me coldly.

In a short period of time, he was betrayed by two capable men one after another. For a moment, Lian Alu was so shocked that she was speechless.

After a long while, she managed to calm down: "Well... I admit that what you said makes sense... But the task of receiving the teacher only requires one person, right?"

A-Lu didn't even refute it. The content of the commission was just to find a cat...

No, what is more worth noting is that this time, Alu actually found the key crux of the problem——

With just one sentence, Mutsuki and Kayoko, who had temporarily formed a united front, were divided and returned to their state of opposition.

"I'll do it." Kayoko spoke first, her attitude quite firm, "I have more reasons, obviously."

"Well, Aru-chan," Mutsuki chose another path, "I'm your childhood sweetheart, huh?"

Even as the president of Convenience House 68, he is still caught in a dilemma.

Should we stand on the side of morality or on the side of friendship?

The entanglement did not last long.

Alu's expression gradually became firm, as if she had already made a decision.

“Haruka!” Alu turned around and called out to her companion who had been hesitant since a while ago but had never really spoken due to her personality, “Can I ask you to do this?”

“Eh? Me, me…?”

As if she couldn't believe it, Haruka pointed at herself and said in surprise.

A Lu smiled and nodded: "Yes. But if you don't want to..."

“Ah… I’m sorry, that’s not what I meant… But is it really okay for someone like me to come…?”

"Of course! I think everyone has no objection to this!"

Kayoko and Mutsuki looked at each other, and although they were a little disappointed, they both expressed approval.

I secretly exclaimed that it was brilliant. I didn't expect that Alu could actually rely on instinct to find the only way out of the situation.

Everyone present, no matter who they are, will show the greatest kindness to Haruka, who has serious psychological problems. In addition, Haruka is usually a quiet and introverted person, which is obvious to everyone. Leaving her alone will not arouse the vigilance of others...

Alu, is actually a strategist! ?

However, I actually felt a long time ago that although Alu usually gives people a silly impression, she is actually not stupid, in fact, quite the opposite.

Because of this, she can always show her unexpectedly trustworthy side at critical moments.

...But this evaluation cannot escape the contrast with her usual inattentiveness.

"Teacher, what are you thinking again...?"

Haruka stared at me, pursed her lips, her eyes filled with nervousness, uneasiness and anticipation.

Faced with such a lovable student who needs recognition, can I give a second answer?

I tried my best to keep my tone gentle: "Please give me your guidance."

"Okay... okay! I'll do my best... if the teacher and everyone else are willing to trust someone like me... is that really okay? S-sorry, I don't doubt your intentions! I'll do it at the risk of my life!"

Haruka tried hard to speak, even though her words lacked confidence and were a little disorganized, and her body even trembled violently at the end, but she was just like that after all, a person who needed to be cared for.

“There’s no need to work so hard.”

I said as I walked over to Haruka and rubbed her head to stop her shaking.

The other members of Convenience House 68, upon seeing this situation, seemed to exchange reassuring looks with each other.

I have an inexplicable feeling that rather than Liu Yaoxiang entertaining me, it's more like he's entrusted Yaoxiang to my temporary care, or something like that?

Anyway, after talking to Haruka and me for a few more words, Alu and the others went out for the hard-earned and well-paid commission.

So, Haruka and I were the only ones left in the not-so-big office.

I looked at the girl beside me, who was getting a little nervous again:

"Haruka, let's sit down for a while."

"Ah, okay."

I led Haruka to sit on the sofa. She sat stiffly, as if she was a first-time visitor to this office.

After considering for a moment, I tried to lead the conversation: "Haruka, I haven't seen you for a while."

"Ah, yes! No, for a humble person like me, I am already satisfied just to see greetings from the teacher on momotalk occasionally!"

"Is that so? Well... I really wanted to meet Haruka... but I couldn't find the right opportunity, so it took me so long to come and see you."

Haruka shuddered: "How, how could this happen! It's all my fault... I'm too stupid to understand the teacher's idea... I'm sorry! Please let me make up for it now! When there is no commission, I will be on standby near Xialai 24 hours a day. As long as you call me, I will appear immediately..."

"...That's not the case. Relax. I just want to chat with you for a while."

I have to say that it is a little troublesome to get along with a child who is both inferior and sensitive.

But precisely because of the trouble, I have to try harder to get along with her.

"Um... that," Haruka tried to understand and said carefully, "You mean, if I appear in front of you all the time, will it be too annoying? Please rest assured that I will hide myself well when you don't need me..."

"That's not what I meant. Anyway, calm down first."

"Ah, sorry..."

Silence spread in the room for a moment.

I changed the subject: "Speaking of which, Haruka, the grass you gave me seems to be growing well recently."

Until now, it has been placed on the balcony outside my room, and even though I don't take good care of it, it is still growing tenaciously.

Hearing this, Haruka smiled shyly: "Hmm... is that so? Hehehe... even if it's a gift from someone like me, the teacher still takes good care of it... Ah, but it's okay to leave it aside and ignore it. It should grow well on its own. You don't need to spend too much time on it..."

...I feel a little ashamed when I think about the fact that I really didn't take much care of it.

I smiled and nodded: "After all, it's a gift from Haruka, how could I not cherish it? Haruka, I have something to say to you that I've wanted to say for a long time."

“Eh? Ok, ok…what is it? I’ll listen carefully…”