I refuse to be a plagiarist

As for netizens, it’s enough as long as they have fun chatting online.

Everyone is wearing a mask of disguise. What kind of person are they in reality and what does it matter to each other?

This is different from Hayasaka Ai, who has already thought about how to meet in person.

When it comes to viewing netizens, Hasegawa Hide has always held an indifferent, or very Buddhist, attitude.

After all, as a former internet-addicted teenager, he had seen too many silly netizens with interesting souls whose avatars had unknowingly turned into gray ones on the Penguin friend list.

Anyway, I didn't reveal any important information.

It is expected that the issue will continue to be debated. In his opinion, it would be better to prepare for the visit.

I fell into a deep sleep holding the corner of the quilt.

The next day, he first hastily finished the boring busy work during the day, and then walked out of the house leisurely until the roar at night. He came to a remote but exquisite shop according to the address given by Miss Hasaka.

“Welcome~”

"Oh, oh, hello."

The person who greeted me at the cashier counter was a big sister with short brown hair.

After a polite response, Hasegawa Hide also learned the identity of the other party's store owner. He then took out the note with the items recorded in advance from his pocket and handed it to the gentle yet slightly shrewd woman in front of him.

"Eh... you have a pretty good taste. You chose some of the rare but exquisite items in our store.

Young man, if I remember correctly, this is your first time visiting our store."

"Yeah, it's the first time for sure."

"really......."

While selecting the clothes Hasegawa needed from the shelves, the female shopkeeper also asked the boy in front of her curiously:

"Excuse me, you chose to buy clothes from us because someone recommended you to us, right?"

There was a certainty in his tone.

Although she is still young, the experience of running this store alone has allowed her to accumulate a certain amount of observation skills.

If I'm not mistaken, the young man in front of me is not very good at dressing.

However, what was written on the other party's note was quite fashionable.

And...it doesn't cost much.

“Well, a friend recommended me here.

Netizens. "

Perhaps because he didn't want to continue wasting time with this talkative older sister, Hasegawa added a sentence at the end.

If it's an online friend you've never met... no matter how enthusiastic you are, you can't continue asking questions, right?

"Oh, so that's how it is...

Well...do you know what that online friend looks like?

I am really curious about which customer is the one who knows so much about our store. "

"........"

[This elder sister... is so difficult to deal with. ]

A hint of embarrassment appeared on his face.

However, facing the other party's harmless and smiling face, Hasegawa Hideichi was helpless against this female store manager.

"Of course, if it really causes you trouble, then...

I was presumptuous. "

"......"

[How can I refuse you again...]

I silently gave a thumbs up to this older sister's cunningness.

Although he was helpless, Hasegawa was not very good at dealing with this type of person who retreats to advance.

Especially when it's not a particularly serious issue.

"Hmm... Let me think about it.

She was a girl, about my age, and seemed to be a foreigner.

As for his personality... he's very mature, and his behavior is probably the capable type. To me, he's a kind, occasionally moody, and interesting guy.

That’s all for now.

Although I haven't met her yet, if you have met her, you will surely have an impression of her."

He flattered this netizen in a different way.

However, it would be impossible to tell from the emotions on Hasegawa's face alone.

"I see......

Hehe...Young man, it seems that girl left a very good impression on you on the Internet."

"Well, if you put it that way, then there's no problem."

It was as if he didn't understand the sarcasm in the other person's tone.

In response to the female store manager's joke, Hasegawa waved his hand nonchalantly, then pointed at her handbag:

"Um...Excuse me, are you ready?"

A hint of embarrassment appeared on his face.

He hadn't eaten all day, so he came out of the house at this time not only to buy clothes, but also to have a good meal in a restaurant.

The empty stomach has long been rumbling with hunger.

Although he hadn't uttered a shameful cry yet, the feeling was truly excruciating.

"Oh, I'm so sorry."

An apologetic smile appeared on his face.

As she spoke, the female store manager handed the packed items to the young man in front of her, and then led him to a fitting room nearby.

With the sound of the door closing, the once crowded store returned to its normal quietness.

In just a few minutes, Hasegawa Hide, who was originally wearing "old" clothes, reappeared in the store with a brand new look.

The weather at this time is early autumn.

What Hayasaka Ai recommended to him was a trench coat that was mature yet slightly youthful.

Even Hasegawa Hide, who knew nothing about it, couldn't help but feel his eyes brightened after looking at himself in the mirror.

My mood suddenly became cheerful.

"Thank you for your hard work, store manager.

Oh~ah.......

It seems that I really need to say thank you to her after I go back this time."

While smiling and talking to himself, after paying the bill, Hasegawa Hide walked out the door with his changed clothes, ready to start tonight's food hunting journey.

But he didn't know that when he just left and the store door closed, a blonde girl slowly walked out from the room inside the store...

Chapter 42: A Slightly Awkward Meeting

The long golden hair was tied into a side ponytail.

The ends of her hair were slightly curled, flashing a brilliant light from time to time under the light.

——Hayasaka Ai

The store she recommended to Hasegawa Hide not only solved the boy's problems, but also provided her with an opportunity to observe him secretly.

This store is actually just a drop in the bucket among the many industries under the Shinomiya Group. With the help of internal staff, that is, the female owner, Hayasaka Ai quietly completed the first wave of tests on a certain netizen.

It is impossible to meet in person on my own initiative. It is impossible to do so in this lifetime.

For this operation, she took a rare day off under the pretext of going out to purchase supplies for her eldest daughter and gathering intelligence.

During the day, the long wait was really boring. The girl had the thought of leaving many times in her mind.

Fortunately, although Hasegawa Hide was a little late this time, he finally came here as Hayasaka Ai expected.

Maybe this is fate.

You know, the last person who waited in advance for Hasegawa Hide was Yukinoshita's mother who was scolded for the whole day!

So in a sense, Hayasaka Ai's luck value is actually quite high...

The girl looked at Hasegawa Hide's figure gradually walking away through the window of the store. Only after he was completely submerged in the crowd did she turn around and take her coat from the female store owner next to her.

"Then I'll take my leave now."

There was a look of capable determination in those crystal blue eyes.

Now that she has achieved her goal, as a close attendant, she should naturally return to the young lady.

Walking out of the store, looking at the starry sky outside which looked a little cloudy due to light pollution, the girl couldn't help but take a deep breath:

"Hasegawa Hide... huh?"

As the personal attendant of the daughter of the Shinomiya Group, Hayasaka Ai has no peers around her with whom she can confide, except for the daughter who can barely be considered half her.

It is undoubtedly lonely.

After all, no matter how close the relationship between the two is, the identities of master and servant still create a transparent wall between them.

In this way, perhaps it was a decision made out of interest, or perhaps it was due to long-term pressure, the girl suddenly wanted to try to find a "friend" who could allow her to take off the mask and not be so tired.

For example, the silly netizen who made me feel very relaxed...

To be honest, Hayasaka Ai had started preparing for this a long time ago.

After all, one must be on guard against others. As a core member of a large consortium, sometimes one also needs to be wary of "spies" from other forces.

However, according to the results of the investigation, countless clues told Hayasaka Ai that the boy she met on the Internet was actually just a small grass that grew stubbornly on the edge of the cliff with ideals in its heart.

In short, those complicated and dark things were products of another world for him.

This made Hayasaka Ai breathe a sigh of relief.

However, this is only the most basic preventive measure.

In order to test the possibility of this netizen becoming a partner in real life, she really put some thought into today's action.

First, Hasegawa was induced to move in a certain direction, and the environment in the store was arranged in advance so that there would be no interference from other customers. Then, the store manager's sister had a series of conversations with the target...

In fact, all of these were the result of the plan that Hayasaka Ai had set in advance.

But then again, today's result is indeed a good start in the girl's opinion.

【Enthusiastic and kind person...】

Listening to the boy's evaluation of her, although she still looked like an icy poker face on the surface, she couldn't help feeling a little happy in her heart.

No one doesn't like sincere praise from others, especially from people they cherish.

The result of the first "contact" made her feel quite satisfied.

In Hayasaka Ai's opinion, no one would be more suitable to be a partner to confide in than this stress-resistant boy who hides his thoughts behind a mask just like herself.

The corners of his mouth involuntarily curled up slightly because of his happy mood.

However, just as she was about to wave down a passing taxi and return to the young lady, a sudden snap of fingers behind her made the girl subconsciously turn her head back.

In the alley where street lights could hardly penetrate, Hasegawa Hide's figure gradually emerged from the shadows with rhythmic footsteps.

His playful smile made it difficult to read his thoughts in such a short time.

As Hayasaka Ai's eyes widened and her expression looked slightly surprised, the young man with one hand in his pocket stopped about two meters away from her, leaned against the wall, and looked at her quietly.

【How could he...?】

In my mind, I recalled the figure of the other person who had just disappeared from my sight.