Chapter 12: It’s so dark inside.

Kenji Hagiwara didn't know that he was being given the nice guy card.

He took Chaomu to have a barbecue, watched her leave with a satisfied look on her face, exchanged contact information with her, and then returned to the Metropolitan Police Department with the phone that was almost broken by You Xunran.

"Two whole hours of work time disappeared... I was responsible for the post-mission cleanup and wrote the entire report..."

In the office, the resentment burning in Jinpei Matsuda almost burned the indoor green plants into the same curls as his hair.

He grinned and grabbed You Xunran's collar, pressing closer and closer: "And what did you say you just did? Invited a girl to eat barbecue? Hagi, you guy..."

"Hey, Jinpei-chan, don't be so anxious. Let me explain," Hagiwara Kenji tried hard to protect his face as he ran upstairs in circles. "I have a reason for doing this! I'm definitely not just slacking off... If you don't believe me, ask Aida-san!"

Matsuda Jinpei chased him all the way upstairs, frowning suspiciously, and saw that most of his colleagues from the Investigation Section were there, and when they saw Hagiwara coming back, they all gathered around him.

"What do you think? Hagiwara-kun? The child should be more willing to accept your help, right?" Officer Aida was most concerned about this matter and asked with concern.

Inspector Megure was still handling other work. Although he didn't come over, he was also listening at his workstation.

"I think Miss Asamure wouldn't mind accepting help." Hagiwara briefly summarized their recent interaction, propping up his chin and sighing. "But is it limited to justifiable compensation or rewards? If I just say I see she's in trouble and want to treat her to a meal, I'm sure she'll probably refuse."

Moreover, she obviously only charged for daily expenses, and she didn't order anything too expensive when they went to eat barbecue later; the bento should have been enough for almost three days. After the meal, she thanked him and said she would treat him to a meal another day. After exchanging contact information, she said she had to go back to work.

"Children raised in this kind of environment often have such a sense of propriety that it's heartbreaking..." Officer Aida said lovingly, "Even though Hagiwara-kun said it was 'compensation', she still wants to invite him back in the future..."

Hagiwara agreed with her: "At first she was even planning to go to a convenience store, but I stopped her and she chose the barbecue restaurant."

Matsuda, who didn't know the story, roughly understood it: it turned out that there was a girl who bravely stood up for justice and lived alone in the city from a poor family. The bonus approval process takes time, so several police officers from the Investigation Section discussed whether they could provide some funding together, and they chose Kenji Hagiwara because he was young and friendly.

"...You really are following orders." He had no problem with this kind of good deed. He glanced at his little friend and leaned against the table with his arms folded. "So, you plan to keep that little brat from now on? Although she's called a brat, she's actually an adult, right?"

"It's just a little help until her bonus is paid and her job becomes stable. I can't really call it 'support.'" Hagiwara, understanding his subtext, spread his hands. "Look at how hard she works, even after encountering robbers and taking statements, she still goes back to work without stopping. I feel like in a few years, her income might even be higher than mine."

"The economy is tough right now, and many young people entering the workforce face similar difficulties," said Officer Harada, whose daughter just started university. "It's not that they don't work hard, but the job market is so challenging. Expecting to support themselves in Tokyo right after starting work is unrealistic... Some children have parents and family to support them during this transition, while others..."

His words were quite pertinent, and both the young people who had just started working and the old police officers with children in the office felt the same way.

Matsuda had no objection to this kind of funding - he just wanted to confirm whether they had a charter. After all, sponsors couldn't just give a few meals like some people do when feeding stray cats and dogs, and then completely ignore the follow-up.

"Then count me in too." He nudged Xiao Xunran with his elbow, the corner of his lips slightly raised, "Especially when you're inviting me to dinner, remember to invite me."

Inspector Megure interrupted at this time: "Matsuda is right. Hagiwara, if you keep in touch with that child, especially when you make an appointment, it's best to ask Matsuda or Aida to come along."

After all, Chaomu is still a young girl, and it is not a good idea for her to go out alone - especially when Hagiwara still wants to provide her with certain financial support. It would be a bit bad if the girl was influenced by the favor and had the wrong impression.

Hagi was originally very charming, and Megure Jusan still remembered how Hagi had stared at people before, so he was still a little worried.

On this issue, Hagiwara Kenji also became serious: "Understood."

However, although this is indeed a matter of caution, he feels that Chaomu is not the type to develop an illusion and feelings for someone just because of a favor.

Before they parted, when he stood at the door and said goodbye to her, although she was responding to him, her eyes were always fixed on the trash can at the entrance of the alley... Recalling this scene, Hagiwara couldn't help but have a subtle feeling: in her eyes, he seemed to be less attractive than that trash can.

Of course, Hagiwara certainly wouldn't think this was due to Asami's preference for trash cans—it was probably a manifestation of ambition, given its relevance to her job. Someone so ambitious even as a scavenger would surely succeed in whatever they did.

"Anyway, don't worry too much about her." Feeling the phone in his pocket vibrate, he took it out from his pocket to see what the message was, while comforting Inspector Megure, "Ms. Asagure is a relatively rational person, so there's no need to worry that she will..."

On the mobile phone screen, a message with the note "Miss Chaomu" happened to pop up. The young man with semi-long hair clicked it with a smile, and the smile suddenly froze slightly at the corner of his lips.

[Ms. Asami: I'm ready to start work (raccoon peeking out) (kiss)]

[Ms. Asamure: I also want to thank Hagiwara-kun for feeding me rice balls (kiss), which gives me more energy to work (I love you the most.jpg)]

Although there are many girls who like to use emoticons, perhaps because Inspector Megure had just reminded him of this, Kenji Hagiwara suddenly had a subtle feeling.

Eh...? That's not the meaning... It's probably just something girls like, like emojis or something... It's true that some people seem aloof in real life but are incredibly lively online...

The face of the girl who always seemed to have no emotions appeared in his mind again. Hagiwara held his forehead. It was indeed difficult to imagine her saying "kiss" to his face.

What was her expression when she sent this kind of text...?

The answer is no expression.

The little raccoon had no expression on his furry face after sending the message. He admired his work again and touched his chin with his paw.

The text was very soft and cute, and it also emphasized his contribution to her work - wouldn't this make Hagiwara madly in love with him?

Chaomu Ahwu, who had just returned home after a walk around the city, swallowed a rice ball in one gulp, regained his energy, and stared at the screen of his mobile phone. Two minutes later, Kenji Hagiwara, who had read the message, finally sent a reply.

Most Important Friend #1: I'm also happy to be able to help Xiao Chaomu (puppy spins in circles). Good luck with your work!

The puppy emoji was quite cute. She stared at it for a while, and after a little thought, she knew the setting of Hagiwara in the game: he was a gentle dog-like man... And since the players were all raccoons, maybe there really was a hidden beast setting in the game, and there might even be a pet system.

She decided that if Hagiwara really was a puppy, she would pick up trash and raise him.

Chaomu, who had gained another game goal, stood on the windowsill, feeling a surge of pride in his heart.

Although the current player is still a poor newbie at level 2, and doesn't even have gifts to give out to increase NPC favorability... but with the support of fellow villagers in the Novice Village, she will surely be able to complete the initial accumulation of wealth soon.

Being helpful is a beautiful human quality, and her neighbors would surely not mind contributing to her career.

The raccoon, who had turned on stealth, jumped out from the windowsill lightly, and with a standard leap of faith, hung on the air conditioner outdoor unit of Kurosawa's house. He used his claws to twist the window lock and crawled in quietly.

To her relief and a bit of regret, her neighbor Kurosawa Jin was not at home at the time. Therefore, the player's infiltration went very smoothly and without any challenges.

Chaomu walked into his bedroom very easily and touched his empty trash can. Then he couldn't help but frowned: because the trash can in Kurosawa Zhen was really empty, and there were no basic materials dropped from the card pool except skill books.

[You have unlocked the special scene prop: Gin's trash can]

[Gin's Trash Can: A qualified killer will dispose of all traces that may reveal his identity.]

[Special Limited Drop: SSR Skill Books "Hot Weapon Expertise" and "TOP KILLER Fighting Technique"

SR Skill Book "How to Catch Rats" Gin Experience Card (5min)...]

Gin should be Kurosawa Jin's... nickname? Nickname?

Putting this aside, his skills, hot weapon expertise, catching mice...

Chaomu stared at the contents of the card pool, and always felt that this setting had a subtle sense of déjà vu.

Half a minute later, she suddenly realized: using all kinds of high-tech thermal weapons to catch mice, isn't this Tom Cat!

Once players accepted this setting, the image of the silver-haired killer gradually became a giant blue cat holding a variety of weapons and grinning, "Where are you running, little mouse?" She touched the trash can with a subtle expression, and suddenly felt that his skills didn't seem so impressive anymore.

But no matter how good it is, you still have to draw the card.

Chaomu rubbed his paws and drew a card devoutly - and as expected, he drew nothing.

[Congratulations to the player for achieving: Nothing (Reward: Raccoon Coins +10)]

...Just consider it an achievement...

Although this achievement seems quite ironic, players can only hold their hearts and comfort themselves in this way.

And it's definitely not her fault that she can't draw anything...it's definitely the bad feng shui of the Kurosawa family! Kurosawa Zhen's last name is Hei and he wears black clothes, which affected her card draw results!

Chaomu put the trash can in her hand back to its original place with an expressionless face, and went to search his bathroom without giving up. In the end, she found that the novice gift package she had expected did not exist. She could only leave this sad place in pain, which did not bring her any useful materials.

Forget it, forget it… Forget about the card-drawing and plane crash at Kurosawa’s house… The other neighbors won’t allow her to be so black!

With such a mood, she selected her troops and chose the Amuro family, then climbed up to the window of the Amuro family with her fluffy tail wagging.

The windows of the Amuro residence were locked tightly, and the living room was empty. However, the player who had unlocked the stealth technique had improved his lock-picking skills by leaps and bounds, and easily climbed into the living room.

The living room trash can was also empty, with only an empty lunch box and a bottle of mineral water in it. Raccoon tiptoed to the door of the master bedroom, knowing that the trash can with the card was most likely inside the master bedroom.

She carefully used her claws to push the door open a crack, squeezed in, and saw a dim light in the corner of the bedroom. On the double bed, a blond, dark-skinned young man was sleeping on his side, the thin blanket sliding down to his waist, outlining the full, firm lines of his body.

With his gentle breathing, the lines of the young man's waist and abdomen rose and fell.

There was a deep and suggestive shadow under the quilt. Chaomu rolled over and shrank under the desk, wrinkling his furry face: It's over, this Mr. Amuro also looks very dark... If she fails to draw a card, it will definitely be his problem!

The author has something to say:

----------------------

Player to Hagi: He sent me a puppy emoji, he wants to be my dog ​​(sure)

Players to Tou: It’s so dark (disgusted face)