Chapter 108 The Unexpected Person.
Tsukino and Chiya stood alone on the streets of Yokohama.
No… that seems a bit biased? After all, Yokohama isn’t exactly a deserted little place, especially since Tsukino and Chiya are currently in what is considered the city center, with passersby constantly brushing past them.
Therefore, a more accurate statement would be that "Tsukino and Chiya came to Yokohama alone without anyone else."
Before the holiday started, and even before the undergraduate practical exams and the preparatory course final exams, Tsukino and Chiya asked Ohma Kokichi if he wanted to wait until the holiday started and go to Yokohama together.
Just like the many times we've done together and alone before.
However, their trip to Yokohama was somewhat different from their previous collaborative efforts in exploring strange events.
The reactions of the marks behind them had forced them to speed up and rush into one dangerous situation after another, even knowing the danger, they still had to cooperate and venture into them together. Because neither Tsukino and Chiya nor Ohma Kokichi had any intention of dying inexplicably under the countdown of the marks' time limit.
Although Tsukino and Chiya later deduced that the mark Aurora left was different from the old Death Mark and might not necessarily bring death, knowing this wouldn't actually affect their actions... After all, there are things in this world more terrifying and torturous than death.
If that weren't the case, why would anyone in this world willingly choose death?
But by then, the trouble caused by the mark had subsided for some time. It was just a trip to Yokohama to find someone; it seemed like it wouldn't matter if someone accompanied me?
However, since this planned trip involved the doll supernatural, Tsukino and Chiya didn't hide anything from Ohma Kichi and asked him if he planned to come along.
...What a reasonable reason! Anyone who hears it would agree with it.
As for whether there are other thoughts or considerations behind such inquiries, only Tsukino and Chiya themselves know, probably.
"Well..." Wangma Xiaoji didn't answer immediately, but instead asked with a smile, "Does Kozukino want me to go with you?"
"About this..." Tsukino and Chiya hesitated for a few seconds, but ultimately chose to tell the truth, "They probably don't want it."
Because Yokohama is, in a sense, a place rife with undercurrents. Although three forces are entrenched there, keeping each other in check and maintaining a semblance of harmony, it doesn't change the fact that that place also means trouble.
Of course, the probability of an innocent tourist visiting Yokohama during a holiday getting involved in strange things is still very low.
Otherwise, a city that is too chaotic would not be able to attract so many tourists and allow so many residents to live happily there.
However, if Tsukino and Chiya can successfully reach Yokohama as planned, then he won't be considered a mere tourist.
After all, his goal was to make contact with a dangerous individual with supernatural abilities who was under strict official surveillance.
Furthermore, Tsukino and Chiya themselves were unsure whether the operation would go smoothly, since they didn't know how many capable people the authorities had closely monitoring the famous murder detective named Ayatsuji Yukito.
As an ordinary person with no special abilities, it would be bad if he accidentally offended someone he shouldn't have.
It would be very difficult for ordinary people to fight against people with superpowers, right? At least that's how it should be, in theory.
Moreover, as the leader of the Ultimate School Class, Ouma Kokichi is inherently more likely to attract attention than Tsukino and Chiya, who are ordinary students in the Preparatory Course. Yet, he is also the one who should be the least noticed.
Because Wang Ma Xiaoji is a complete outsider.
There are people in this world who hide their original identities and whose pasts are completely untraceable, but their numbers are definitely not large.
If possible, Tsukino and Chiya hoped that Ohma Kokichi wouldn't attract unnecessary attention.
...They're all just troublesome things, after all.
Therefore, both logically and emotionally, the best option for him and Ouma Kokichi is to completely cut off any potential trouble from this trip to Yokohama.
I guess so.
Even though Tsukino and Chiya knew very well that if Ohma Kokichi came to Yokohama, he would definitely consider his own situation carefully and successfully avoid those potential dangers.
—He is an all-powerful evil mastermind.
Although this is a phrase that Ouma Shokichi often says, few people take it seriously these days. But Tsukino and Chiya genuinely believe that if it were Ouma Shokichi, he could indeed do many things that others would find difficult.
"So," Tsukino and Chiya asked again, "will you come?"
"Well—" Wangma Xiaoji drawled, then suddenly stood up abruptly, "The evil leader's schedule is packed, I might not have time, you know?"
After standing up, the purple-haired boy lowered his head to meet Tsukino and Chiya's gaze. Because of his cute appearance, and because Ohma Kokichi had hidden his sharp side very well, Tsukino and Chiya did not feel much pressure even though they were being looked down at.
"But even though that's what I'm saying now, I think there's still a very good chance I'll go, you know?"
Tsukino and Chiya saw Ohma Kokichi wink slyly at them.
"But I'll have to go secretly, otherwise I won't get to see Kozuki and the scene where she hides and cries because she's all alone~!"
"Besides, if I just don't go because Kozuki tells me not to, wouldn't I lose face?"
Tsukino and Chiya: "..." Ohma, do you know that what you're saying sounds a bit like the legendary tsundere?
Then, as such thoughts began to surface uncontrollably, Tsukino and Chiya's silence grew even more deafening.
Help! It feels so strange to associate Wangma Xiaoji with the word "tsundere"! This weird feeling is growing stronger! This is terrifying! Get this out of my head!
Wang Ma Xiaoji tilted his head: "Huh? Why isn't Xiaoyueye saying anything?"
Tsukino and Chiya managed to say with difficulty, "Well... how should I put it, I suddenly feel like it's a bit hard to explain."
"Huh? Is that so? But we didn't say anything that would suddenly make you feel awkward, did we? So, did Kozue Kazumi imagine something strange?"
"No, that's not true. There's no such thing."
"Oh dear, is this an attempt to cover something up? Kozuki is becoming even more suspicious!"
Wang Ma Xiaoji squeezed the now empty aluminum can.
"Anyway... it depends on my mood~!"
"Anyway, I can't guarantee whether I'll go or not right now. After all, you and I know very well..."
"—Am I a liar!"
*******
That conversation happened some time ago.
In the end, Ouma Kokichi did not come to Yokohama with him.
This is how it should be.
They're not conjoined twins, and their relationship on the surface hasn't yet reached the point where everyone would assume they're inseparable. There have been times when they've acted separately before.
But... no, never mind.
Now that I'm already in Yokohama, and I'm sure Ouma Kokichi isn't with me, I should focus on the present and not dwell on what's already happened.
So what's next...?
Tsukino and Chiya were thinking about their plans for the future.
Ayatsuji Yukito is not the kind of person who can be met easily. — Approaching him discreetly and having a conversation with him that might not be so brief is even more difficult.
Tsukino and Chiya didn't have many opportunities. In order to seize the opportunity, he chose to arrive in Yokohama before Ayatsuji Yukito arrived, and then try to find and seize the right moment... This also meant that this trip to Yokohama might take more time than he had imagined.
So for the first few days, let's follow the normal tourist itinerary. Today is my first day here, so I'll rest at the hotel I've already booked for a while, and tomorrow I'll explore Yokohama.
Perhaps going to Chinatown would be a good option?
With that in mind, Tsukino and Chiya decided to go to the hotel first. He still had some luggage to settle in.
But before he could actually take a step, he suddenly caught a glimpse of a familiar figure out of the corner of his eye.
Tsukino and Chiya were startled, and then involuntarily turned their heads to look at where the figure was.
It really was him?
Wait a minute, why is that person here? Wait, if it's this person, it doesn't seem strange that they'd appear anywhere...
In an unfamiliar city, Tsukino and Chiya unexpectedly run into someone they haven't seen for almost two years, and their feelings are mixed.
Should we go over and say hello to him?
Tsukino and Chiya hesitated at this moment.
That person was never skilled in physical combat, so their keen eye perception naturally couldn't compare to those who had specifically trained. Furthermore, the two were quite a distance apart, so Tsukino and Chiya simply kept their eyes openly fixed on that person.
Unsurprisingly, the person didn't seem to notice him.
While Tsukino and Chiya hesitated, the figure had already disappeared into the crowd.
Tsukino and Chiya knew that if they chased after him now, they should still have time to catch up with him, and then they could decide whether to follow him from a distance or come directly to him.
But in the end, the black-haired boy, who stopped because he saw someone, didn't even turn his toes in the direction the familiar person had left.
...Never mind. I have a feeling that if I were to run into this person right now, things would just get more complicated.
Tsukino and Chiya, carrying their luggage, left along the route to the hotel. The setting sun lengthened their shadows, and the black-haired boy's figure disappeared into the crowd of people coming and going on the street.
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