Chapter 99: Shame always has a charm that radiates towards wooden stakes...
Although he hasn't yet drawn the SSR skill book "How to Become the Face of the Police Force", Chaomu can probably guess the key points from his interactions with Kenji Hagiwara.
The reason why Kenji Hagiwara has become the face of the police force is not only because of his handsome face, but more importantly because of his high emotional intelligence - even when making such a declaration with a strong desire to win, he does not make people feel annoying at all.
...Of course, face and figure are also important.
A young man with semi-long hair hopped onto the bike with a single, long-legged leap, his jacket lifted by the wind to reveal a slender waistline. Chaomu's first reaction, having seen his photos on the official website, was that his waist looked incredibly thin in the vest. It wasn't excessively slender, but rather just the right amount of leanness, his core strength strong and stable, allowing him to ride the bike.
Perhaps because it was hot, his fingertips casually moved back and tied his semi-long hair into small buns, with a rather cool movement.
Even though he would have to wear a helmet to cover his head, he still managed to finish the show so conscientiously - Chao Mu was filled with awe for a moment.
However, in sports competitions, being handsome is secondary, winning is the first priority.
The race route took them along a relatively smooth mountain road on the outskirts of the city. The asphalt had softened from the sun, and the tires made a gentle hissing sound as they rolled over it. Hagiwara Ken brushed his hair back with one hand and, before donning his helmet, gave a final reminder: "Little Chaomu, you just got your driver's license, after all, and you still have little experience. Prioritize safety..."
"I know, I know." Chaomu snapped the visor of his raccoon helmet shut. The roar of the engine suddenly rose to a crescendo, drowning out the cicadas' chirping. "Hagiwara-kun, are you ready? Three, two, one—"
Two motorcycles shot out like arrows, the screeching sound of tires scraping against the ground cutting through the heat. In her peripheral vision, the shadows of the trees on either side of the mountain path merged into a blurry green wall. She almost wanted to scream: "Excitement! Motorcycles truly are a woman's romance!"
After collecting enough materials for upgrading, the Raccoon Motorcycle seems to be able to fly in the sky - after racing, she will definitely go digging garbage at night!
She was having a great time, and Hagiwara Kenji followed behind with a smile on his face. His headlights were always nibbling at the edge of her left rearview mirror, like an inescapable shadow, or like a frigate escorting her.
It was not until the last corner that he overtook the car with ease and admired the raccoon's paint job: when he successfully overtook the car, the player angrily pressed an expression, and the pixel raccoon on the car body made an indecent gesture unhappily.
[Weekly Mission: Racing with Kenji Hagiwara (1/1)]
[Riding Skill Proficiency+++]
"Looking at the result, it was a close loss... but Hagiwara-kun, you're just completely giving in to me, aren't you?" Even after parking the car, Chaomu, whose hand was stuffed with candy, was still unhappy. "You've been following me around all this time, afraid I'd flip over?"
Hagiwara Kenji unwrapped a lollipop, bit the stick, and frowned, "How could that be? Little Chaomu's driving skills are very beautiful. I wouldn't dare to try that cornering angle easily."
He used to smoke, but hanging out with girls meant he didn't want to expose them to secondhand smoke. Therefore, whenever he went out with Chaomu, he would always bring some lollipops to ease his cravings and to feed her.
He always spoke so nicely, and when he handed over the candies and unwrapped them with care, all the subtle dissatisfaction in Chaomu's heart was dispelled.
She grunted reluctantly with the candy in her mouth and was about to complain about him, but she saw the young man with half-long hair tuck his helmet under his arm and casually brush his sweaty hair.
The setting sun cast a golden edge on his eyelashes. When he looked over, his violet pupils sparkled. "It's just that as a 'teacher', I also want to check on the progress of Xiao Chaomu's practice. It's more convenient to watch you from the back... Eh? Now that you say that, it makes me sound a bit like a pervert, but I definitely don't mean that, okay?"
...He is really beautiful.
Even DPS lovers were momentarily captivated by this atmosphere and scene. Chaomu blinked for a moment before recovering, only half a step late remembering to complain: "Isn't this just a pervert's talk? I originally thought it was nothing, but now that Hagiwara-kun said that, it seems really weird."
"Eh—is that weird? I think it's okay..."
"It's just weird. It feels like some shadowy male ghost that's been secretly following and staring at people... Totally OOC, Hagiwara-kun."
"That's not to that extent!"
Amidst the constant complaints, Hagiwara Kenji's behavior of letting the game go was completely forgotten.
The two men rode the motorcycle for two more trips, and it was not until they covered their faces with helmets again that the young man with medium hair breathed a sigh of relief, and felt his face getting a little hot.
Although he usually seemed to be in this… in Xiao Zhenping's words, "peacock spreading its tail" mode? But strangely, being like this in front of Chao Mu always made him feel a little embarrassed.
Was it because Xiao Chaomu always seemed to be indifferent to such "opening of the tail" that made him feel a little embarrassed? There was always a strange feeling of radiating charm to a wooden stake...
But it is difficult for Kenji Hagiwara to control himself - after all, this has become his daily habit, and it would be strange to change it.
Then again, it's a bit strange that he's agonizing over this matter right now... If Xiao Zhenping knew about this, he would definitely be criticized.
"...It's more than just a little weird—you're just weird."
Matsuda, who had just reunited with them, couldn't help but complain, "So what are you so obsessed with? Playing with young girls, dressing up like a peacock, saying sweet nothings and flirting—isn't that just your style?"
The two aces of the Explosion Team usually don't take vacation at the same time. Today, Hagiwara took vacation, so Matsuda worked overtime and didn't meet up with them in the city until after eight o'clock in the evening.
The short-haired girl who had just been nearby had suddenly scurried back into the alley ahead, crouching in front of a trash can with a few stray cats. It was unclear what she was doing. Hagiwara Kenji and Kotsugu Ran were walking side by side behind. Their backs stiffened slightly at the words, and they instinctively glanced at the girl ahead. After confirming she couldn't hear them, they relaxed a little for some reason.
She's a tall girl, but squatting there like this, she looks like just a small ball. There's nothing wrong with her squatting with a few cats, like some cute little animals...
Seeing this, his gaze unconsciously lingered on her back for a moment longer. It wasn't until Xiao Xunran's suspicious gaze burned his face that Hagiwara Kenji coughed softly and snapped back to his senses. "Actually, there's really nothing to worry about... I just feel a little... a little embarrassed to be like this in front of Xiao Chaomu."
"You still have a sense of shame?" The curly-haired young man wearing sunglasses stared at him with the same eyes as if he had just met You Xunran. Then he said thoughtfully, "But if you put it that way, I can understand..."
Matsuda's words surprised Hagiwara a little.
"Xiao Zhenping can actually understand?" he asked in surprise, "understand how I feel now?" He thought Matsuda had no experience in this area and had never been very smart in the past, so he would definitely not be able to understand.
"...What's with that expression? Why can't I understand? Is this something so difficult to understand?"
Being stared at with astonishment, Matsuda tutted in disdain. "The answer to the question is obvious. You're ashamed because that guy's young, right? It's only natural to be embarrassed about making a fool of yourself in front of a child who's just reached adulthood."
Just like his embarrassing behavior back then… Looking back now, his avoidance mentality was definitely because Chao Mu was only eighteen or nineteen years old, and he actually… Tsk. Anyway, it was embarrassing.
The curly-haired young man obviously believed in his own words. Although Hagiwara Kenji was not completely clear about the "embarrassing thing" that happened when Kotsuren first met Asami, he also understood the other party's psychology.
This interpretation may be correct when applied to Matsuda, but for him... will it be the correct answer?
Hagiwara vaguely felt that this might not be the correct answer, but he was not willing to think about it any further for the time being.
"As expected of Xiao Zhenping, his reasoning ability is really strong." He sighed half-seriously, "Maybe I'm overthinking it."
"It's normal to overthink things when you're with an idiot." Matsuda Jinpei had already reached the alley entrance, his eyes twitching. "So what is Chaomu doing... talking to cats?"
Chaomu is trying out his animal communication skills.
"Hmm, meow, I see."
There was nothing new in this kitchen waste bin. Several cats had already taken out all the fish bones, and she also took a small piece, which she could use to make fertilizer when she got home. However, for her, this ordinary trash bin was not the point. What she cared about was the cats' opinions.
"Does this restaurant use good ingredients...? That restaurant above adds strange spices to their dishes?" She communicated with a few stray cats through gestures, understanding most of what they were saying. "Thanks, meow. I'll open a can for you."
This was what she deducted from Mimi's rations Rick... Well, just don't let him know.
Footsteps approached from behind. The kitten, which had just meowed at her, arched its back in alarm, as if it had seen something frightening and scattered in an instant. Even before Chaomu looked up, she could already guess who was coming: "Matsuda-kun?"
"You're squatting here, meowing... what the hell are you doing?" Matsuda Jinpei stood behind her, his arms folded. His eyes behind his sunglasses revealed an indescribable silence. "Are you communicating with the trash can, or a stray cat?"
The kittens ran too fast. Chaomu, who had just exchanged information but didn't find any wild cats, snorted and stood up. "I have nothing to say to a stray wild man like Matsuda-kun who doesn't want a cat."
Matsuda Jinpei: “…………?”
Perhaps the conversation he had just had with Kenji Hagiwara brought back his memories. When he heard "no cats wanted", the first thing that flashed through his mind was a cat girl in a maid outfit.
Before he could even protest, his ears flushed red: He couldn't help but think about this scene... How ashamed must he be of what happened back then...! It was all this little bastard's fault!
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Author's Note: Song Tiantian swears: My heart is racing and I can't stop thinking about her. It's definitely because I made a fool of myself that she's been remembering it! I'm so ashamed!
hagi: Hmm... is that right?
By the way, I have to report a bolt from the blue: the sky is falling, my height adjustable desk is broken... my waist...!
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