The social phobia substitute will not dream of the band girl

"Oh, of course. After all, today is the second day of the holiday and the first day of Ueno Zoo's opening during the spring break. It's bound to be super crowded, so if we go directly there'll just be a huge crowd and we won't be able to see anything, okay?"

"..."

So what does this have to do with you grabbing my hand and saying, "No time to explain, get in the car!" as soon as you showed up today? I think you just wanted to say that, right?

And the hand...

"What's wrong?...Ah, are you curious about where we're going now!?"

"No, it's nothing... It's up to you. You've already figured out that I won't refuse, right?"

Interlocking fingers... a completely different feeling than when we held hands before. Was it the posture? Or was it just the warming weather and the overpowered car heater?

"Hmm?... Enka-chan seems a little quiet today. Is it because it's too warm that you're feeling dizzy? Ah! Come to think of it, there was once a time in winter when I couldn't breathe because I was wearing too many clothes. There's a kind of cold in the world called mom is afraid that you'll be cold——"

"...Heh~..Then let's get to our destination quickly, Mr. Mommy's baby."

"Okay, Miss. My baby——"

......

...

..

Because they were driving all the way out of Tokyo's city center, there wasn't a long traffic jam, and they arrived at their destination in less than an hour.

After putting the scarf they bought on their first date in the car, Higuchi Enka also got out and silently observed the surrounding environment with her beautiful purple eyes.

This place seemed to be in the suburbs or somewhere close to the suburbs. The place they drove into was surrounded by a circle of barbed wire. From time to time, patrolmen nodded to them as they passed by. It looked like a secret testing ground somewhere.

Since it is a secret place, it is naturally difficult to guess, like the asphalt road, sand road, and gravel road in such a large area, and the high-rise building over there that looks like an airport terminal, perhaps a control center.

But this is not a problem for her, because she has an absolutely reliable "news channel" -

"So...where is this place? Why did you bring me here?" Enka asked, squeezing Pingxin's hand. This thing is much better than a search engine.

It wasn't that she didn't trust him, but Ping Xin often gave people the impression of being reliable but a bit outrageous. It wasn't impossible for him to suddenly bring her here to see some artificial superpowered person, but it would be better for her not to know too much, as it would only cause her more trouble.

"This is one of the testing grounds in the Tokyo area. It used to be where some second-generation kid held illegal drag races, but after I put his father in jail, I bought it for a low price. There's a ready-made runway here, so it's perfect for testing new cars, right?"

"...What was he sent in for, a business fight?"

Higuchi Enka is not one of those brainless heroines in soap operas who starts to rush around without understanding anything. Although she has a negative view, she actually has common sense and intelligence, but the most important thing is that she works hard on her own.

Although she didn't want to be the wife of a gang leader, it would be much better in all aspects if there was someone who could "hold him back" for a while, right? So this had nothing to do with her own personal feelings, it was just a consideration from the perspective of "righteousness".

"Ah... a business struggle? That shouldn't count—"

After all, I just cleaned the dust in the house and killed a few mice. Can this be considered a "struggle"?

Chapter 85 Come on, who doesn’t want to build a drivable Gundam?

"His father did something wrong and went to jail. I kept the dirty laundry and resources he left behind and used them to help all the victims I could find. Since he didn't have to die in jail, his son didn't have to enter this dark world and could do what he liked. If his father behaved well, he could spend a few years in jail and enjoy his old age and family happiness. I bought it myself and posted it here for him, and he even thanked me~"

"...Your plan is as good as ever."

After hearing what Hiranobu said, Higuchi Enka finally relaxed and began to enjoy the peaceful and unique scenery. She had always enjoyed being alone, away from her loving family and friends, without any negative thoughts, simply letting her mind wander and think freely, or even without thinking at all.

It is very difficult to find true peace in this bustling Tokyo, whether it is physical or inner peace.

But in this place that belongs to Tokyo and also does not belong to Tokyo, she can breathe and walk freely without worrying about the exhaust fumes, noise and possible dangers of passing traffic. She just lets this man lead her forward without thinking about anything.

But even such a small thing brought a sense of satisfaction and peace of mind along with this novel experience. After walking for a few minutes, we met several patrol teams. They came to the bottom of the control tower.

"Brother, you are finally here, Wu Si~!"

"Hey, here I come!...How's it going? Have you made any new progress recently? Do you need my help?"

"..."

What's going on with this scene?

As soon as they met, a young man, seemingly of some standing, standing in the middle of a group of white-coated researchers, came over enthusiastically. Ping Xin released her hand and enthusiastically high-fived and fist-bumped him. Then, the two of them stood there chatting about something she couldn't understand.

What's going on? This atmosphere is like I'm the only one who's failing... Enka, who hadn't noticed Delta following her the entire time, looked around and found that those people who looked like scholars and researchers seemed to be oblivious to such developments and didn't care at all. They were just doing their own work.

Unsure of what to do or whether to just stand there, Enka resorted to her signature expression: a cold, cool one. It turns out you can put on a blank face when you don't know what to do. At least when you do that, others won't know you're embarrassed.

As if sensing the drop in temperature, the two guys who had just been passionately discussing something stole a glance, then quickly changed the subject as if nothing had happened.

"Speaking of which, who is this lovely... adorable... uh, pretty lady?"

"My girlfriend~"

The transition between the two people singing in unison was a bit awkward, but at least it successfully gave Enka the step she wanted.

"Hello, nice to meet you... I'm Higuchi Enka, please be kind to me."

"Oh, that... my hands are not clean so I won't shake hands. Sister-in-law, you can just call me Dajie!" The energetic young man wiped his hands on his clothes and said a little embarrassedly.

"By the way, he's the original owner of this place I was just talking about... How's your study been lately? Although the research here is what you'll be doing in the future, don't forget about the university~"

"Yes...Thank you for your teaching!"

Someone who used to be the second son of a certain Yakuza family still can't completely change his old habits today, such as this strict class concept. He gave a 90-degree bow, which surprised Yuanxiang.

"Ah, what do you mean by teaching?... I just know a little more, nothing special other than that~"

Even though Hirayuko was smiling, it only made Enka realize how powerful he was. It seemed like everyone he met was respectful to him, and the scariest thing was that they all sincerely submitted to him.

"Although Daisuke grew up in that kind of environment, he didn't like fighting and killing, but motorcycles, Gundams and other mechanical creations that are very romantic for men. Talent is secondary. The most important thing is that he is really dedicated and passionate. He even came to me in person..." Ping Xin suddenly started to talk about something else, not knowing what he was thinking about.

Enka knew that this was a sign of his slip of the tongue, but was there anything strange in this statement?

"Anyway, even though he's still researching motorcycles and cars, his dream is to one day build a drivable Gundam... By the way, Enka seems to have seen Gundam too. She even scolded me before for not understanding women and calling me an old-fashioned person~"

"Oh? Really?! ...Yeah~~ Big brother is so lucky to have found a woman like this as his sister-in-law!"

"Haha... Really?"

"of course?"

“Haha ...!” x2

The two idiots just laughed with their arms around each other, which was really hilarious. Instead of this awkward flattery, shouldn't they let me join the conversation?

Haha~...it's so funny.

"So, is that ready?"

that?

Higuchi Enka's ears tilted slightly. It seemed that this thing should be the reason why Pingxin brought her here today, but what was it?

"Ah, 'that' right... The alpha version is ready and can be launched now."

No, so what is that?

"Ohh ...

Pingxin began to rub his hands. If the location was not in the laboratory area surrounded by staff but in the classroom, Enka would probably mistake them for high school boys exchanging pornographic books.

......

...

..

"Oh~... Look at this cool silver-white alloy shell, the streamlined exterior, and the perfect amount of seating for two—... Beautiful lady, would you be willing to spend a little while riding this white horse with me to enjoy the breeze?"

"...It's fine if you want to get some fresh air, but if you keep talking like that I'm going to give your ass a good smack with my boot." Pingxin raised his hands in surrender and stepped aside, allowing Enka to get closer to admire this motorcycle that can be called a work of art.

The white hands touched the silver shell. The warm and soft hands could feel the hard and cold machinery better than the eyes. The so-called beauty has never been limited to visual enjoyment.

"Does this child... have a name?"

"No, we only have code names now... How about you come up with one? No one here has any objections, right?"

Everyone nodded collectively, no objection, no objection, I have no objection!

"Then call it... Silver Bullet—"

Chapter 86 Test Drive and Chat

Although it was named the Silver Bullet, it didn't mean it had to be driven at high speed. The two were currently driving at a disgraceful 20km/h. Although its cool exterior and ultra-high performance were completely wasted, this wasn't the most important thing to the two people in the car.

"You don't have to wear a helmet when you're sitting behind me, but if you're outside, it's better to wear one, okay?"

Are you my father? No, I think you should be more like a brother or something like that.

"...I usually don't take this kind of transportation. I usually walk or take the train."

"After all, taxi fares in Tokyo are really expensive... But you like it, don't you? You even like it so much that you wanted to name it. I was planning to give it to you, don't you?"

Higuchi Enka, who was leaning against him, did not reply immediately. At this moment, she was enjoying the warm and peaceful atmosphere.

The two of them were now driving on the roads nearby. In addition to places that looked like racetracks, there were also winding mountain roads, riverside roads, and roads through the woods. The areas that were usually used to test performance and various terrains had now become excellent routes for a drive.

The scenery itself was nothing new, but seeing it at this speed and from this angle was a new experience for her. Higuchi Enka now had her arms around the man's waist and abdomen, her head resting on his back, close to his heart, and looking left and right with her head tilted.

Of course, this view wasn't as good as sitting in the front, but Pingxin insisted it was safer to sit in the back, so that's how it ended up. But now, she felt that this was perhaps even better: she could look at the view whenever she wanted, and when she didn't want to or felt the spring breeze was a bit chilly, she could just curl up behind him.

Although the broad back blocked the scenery ahead, it also blocked the cold, confusion, loneliness, and all the bad things she could and could not imagine. Warm and solid, yet so soft, what kind of experience made you this way?

"......Askuma, are you really Asuka?" Higuchi Enka couldn't help but say this.

"Yes, of course—"

"...Then why are you Asuka?"

A creature that doesn't exist in this world, just like you, exists only in stories. Could it be that you, who appear before me now, are also just a "story"?

If the relationship between the two is truly equal, then when they exchange names, it should be Enka and something else. Why don't you say a word now?

"Hmm... How should I put this question? After all, the surname Asuka Ma is just something I came up with, but it's not something I imagined out of thin air. It was a surname that I came up with on a whim based on the strange words on the pocket watch my sister always carries.

Simply put, because my sister was Asuka, I became Asuka too."

"...Who would understand this?"

Enka's body pressed against Hiraishin's back, deforming and squeezing. The thing she held onto was the only thing she could rely on and trust. Although she wasn't some super-agent who could tell if someone was lying just by looking at their heartbeat or pulse, hearing that slow, steady beat always gave her a sense of peace of mind.

"If you don't understand, then try to get to know me a little better, Enka... Besides meeting me in person, I recommend reading my memoirs."

"...is it also in the head this time?"

“No, it was actually published before.”

This man really never ceases to surprise people... Most people don't have much to remember when they are 16 or 17 years old, okay?

"Since the sales volume is only 1, are you coming to me to double it?" Higuchi Enka's fingers drew circles playfully on his back. Although he could have spoken more gently, there was no need. He liked the real her, so he would like her no matter what.

"No, no, no, actually, the sales were pretty good, or even unexpectedly good... But the ultimate goal hasn't been achieved yet—from that point of view, it's probably a failure."

In addition to being a means to kill his boring time and help him recall and remember the wonderful life he once had, the main purpose of writing books is to spread them around the world so that his amnesiac parents who may have been scattered around the world due to accidents can remember him and find him.

"...So you can fail too."

I thought you always won, always won, forever won—

"It was a lot at first, but it gradually became less as I got used to it... But even today, there are still things that make me feel frustrated. It's like I didn't notice your anxiety before. I'm sorry."

"..."

Why apologize? What a cunning man... If I say that, wouldn't I just forgive you? But is forgiveness enough? If the root of the problem isn't addressed, no matter how many times you make it disappear, it will reappear.

"So call me Xin—Xin of credit, Xin of integrity... Xin of trustworthiness. This is an important name I got from my father. I'll tell you the rest when you're ready."

"...Hmm~"

Leaning against Hiraishin's back even tighter than before, Enka silently recited that name in her heart—

Letter... letter? ... letter?~

......

...

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