40 Chapter 40
Summer mornings always retain a rare coolness. The sun has not yet released its full firepower, and the cicadas hiding in the treetops are still asleep. The only ones awake are the hardworking birds.
After breakfast, accompanied by the crisp chirping of birds, Nakajima Atsushi pushed open the door and walked into the yard. Through the gap in the fence, he saw Akutagawa Ryunosuke standing alone at the door, waiting.
Maybe it was because he had just completed a mission, or maybe it was for the convenience of future work, or of course it might be because in the eyes of the other party, this was to execute the leader's order. This time, Ryunosuke Akutagawa was not wearing casual clothes, but his work clothes.
Even though Bailibian had given Nakajima Atsushi an emergency lesson about Akutagawa Ryunosuke's past last night, Nakajima Atsushi still couldn't control his facial expression when he actually saw her wearing a little dress with a lace collar - fortunately the door hadn't been opened yet, Nakajima Atsushi thought thankfully at the moment when his facial features were uncontrollably distorted.
After a night of mental preparation, Nakajima Atsushi stood in the yard and looked at Akutagawa Ryunosuke who came to the door early as expected. He quietly encouraged himself in his heart, then pushed open the door and put on a bright smile.
"Good morning, Akutagawa."
………
Ah, as expected, no reply.
There wasn't even any eye contact, and his gray eyes didn't even move, as if he didn't see Nakajima Atsushi at all.
Faced with the silent Akutagawa Ryunosuke, Nakajima Atsushi felt relieved.
Just treat it as air, just treat it as air, just treat it as air.
Facing Ryunosuke Akutagawa who seemed to be here to assassinate him, Nakajima Atsushi tried hard to restrain the urge to go back the way he came, and walked forward with gritted teeth.
Although Bailibian had advised Nakajima Atsushi to use his time with Akutagawa Ryunosuke to gather information about the port's shady dealings, Nakajima Atsushi had the good sense to back off. Akutagawa Ryunosuke wasn't the type to simply offer his opinions on the job based on a few words. He might even get angry and expose him for asking too many questions.
Nakajima Atsushi recalled the conversation he had with Bailibian last night. "Although he may seem rather exaggerated at times, Akutagawa is actually quite a serious person, even stubborn. His special ability is called Rashomon, which allows him to manipulate his clothes as a weapon. But in reality, it's probably much more than that. I just haven't fought him, so I don't know for sure."
The two of them walked towards the market in silence, one in front and one behind. Their temperaments were so different that no one could tell they were in the same group.
But even so, after entering the vegetable market, Akutagawa Ryunosuke, who was two or three steps away from Nakajima Atsushi, was still able to play his only role for Nakajima Atsushi at the moment - bargaining.
After purchasing the corresponding ingredients for the menu in his mind, Nakajima Atsushi took out his mobile phone to check the time. Sure enough, it took more than half the time than originally planned.
He quietly turned around to look at the expressionless Akutagawa Ryunosuke. The coldness around him didn't make him look like a customer at the vegetable market, but rather like a protection fee collector - by the way, would the port mafia go to the vegetable market to collect protection fees?
Nakajima Atsushi couldn't help but imagine a related scene in his mind - Akutagawa Ryunosuke, who could kill two hundred strong men in one breath, stood in front of the small vendor with a stern face, ruthlessly revealing his murderous intention, staring at the trembling small boss with disdain as he trembled and took out the protection fee he had prepared long ago from his pocket - a full 500 yen, then took it with a cold snort and left without any reluctance.
Nakajima Atsushi was silently shocked. If he were the stall owner, he would probably become decisive when facing such a customer.
Putting his phone back in his pocket, Nakajima Atsushi searched his other pocket and pulled out his shopping list. After reconfirming that there were no missing ingredients, he turned around, flashing his polite yet courteous smile, and said sincerely, "Thank you, Akutagawa. I've already bought everything. You can go back now."
Akutagawa Ryunosuke did not answer, but just looked at Nakajima Atsushi coldly as always.
The gray eyes were filled with emotionless light, and as the eyeballs moved, they reflected the shadow of Nakajima Atsushi - like a mirror forgotten in an old house, reflecting the appearance of dust only out of duty.
That look made Nakajima Atsushi feel that he was not a human being, let alone an enemy, in the eyes of Akutagawa Ryunosuke, but just an ant.
Seeing that Akutagawa Ryunosuke didn't move, Nakajima Atsushi didn't dare to turn around, but just stood there, waiting for Akutagawa Ryunosuke's move. Just when Nakajima Atsushi wondered if the other party didn't hear him clearly, Akutagawa Ryunosuke made a reply.
"The leader has ordered me to send you back."
Oh, Nakajima Atsushi can now silently complain in his mind without batting an eyelid, and he doesn't even have a nickname anymore. When we first met, we used to call each other names (although they weren't very nice), so now he doesn't even deserve a nickname?
After buying vegetables and returning home, Nakajima Atsushi washed them in advance and went into the basement to start a day of training. Ever since Baili made the domineering declaration of "stepping on him under my feet" that Nakajima Atsushi never expected, he really prepared corresponding training courses for Nakajima Atsushi.
This course was adapted from Bailibian's daily exercises in City A and some of his family's unique skills. It wasn't necessary to learn everything, but there were some modifications because while some of the alleys in Yokohama were bustling, compared to the scale of City A, where planes and bombs were flying everywhere, atomic bombs were used as fireworks, and tanks were used as welcoming artillery, it was really just a small-scale fight.
Although Nakajima Atsushi had no desire to step on Akutagawa Ryunosuke, looking at Bailibian who had worked hard for a long time, he couldn't bear to let the other party's hard work go to waste, not to mention that he really wanted to become stronger.
"Okay, let's eat, A-Dun."
Nakajima Atsushi's training came to an end only when Bailibian's urging voice came.
Because of the training, the kitchen power that was originally handed over to Nakajima Atsushi temporarily returned to Baili Bian.
Of course, even if you are sentenced to death, you cannot escape punishment for a crime you are facing. Now that the cooking job has been reduced, shopping and preparation must be done well.
So what about Dazai Osamu, who has been eating for free for a long time?
Since he wisely handed in his salary card and Bailibian had already purchased an advanced dishwasher, he had nothing to do.
"Thank you, brother. I'm going to eat now." After the intense exercise, Nakajima Atsushi urgently needed food. Because of this, his appetite, which had been reduced, once again showed up.
One bowl, two bowls, three bowls, four bowls... Looking at the pile of bowls, Nakajima Atsushi would always scratch his head subconsciously in embarrassment. But Bailibian would always look at him with an indifferent, even pleased, look.
Bit by bit, time and again, little by little, it all adds up. Slowly, Nakajima Atsushi no longer felt guilty about his food intake like he did at first. He knew clearly that having enough to eat was a must at home.
Bailibian said that the books "The Correct Way to Raise Children", "Three Sentences to Help Your Children Build Confidence" and "Raising Children in Rich or Poor or Educating Them" played a great role in this earth-shaking change.
But Bailibian would occasionally have a headache in the middle of the night. His balance was decreasing little by little, and living off his savings was not a solution. Should he go out to work?
At this time, the salary that Dazai Osamu handed in seemed particularly important. Although compared with the last time, it was a drop in the bucket, it was better than nothing.
The days passed one by one, time slowly went by, and the long two-month summer vacation, which was spent going back and forth between training and buying groceries, finally came to an end.
"Akutagawa, I'm going to start school tomorrow, so you don't have to come anymore."
It’s not that Nakajima Atsushi doesn’t have to buy groceries after school starts. Even though he has been promoted to the first grade, the second-year junior high school curriculum is still not too heavy, and school will be over on time at 4 pm at the latest.
It's just that Nakajima Atsushi really doesn't want to have a dark tail behind him, even if it means saving money...
Well, the owners of the vegetable market promised that as long as Nakajima Atsushi didn't bring the girl wearing a skirt and no eyebrows, they would give him the lowest price in the future - even lower than the current price.
Looking at Nakajima Atsushi, who was grinning like a fool, Akutagawa Ryunosuke frowned slightly and said in a cold voice, "This is not for you to decide. I am obeying the leader's orders."
Even now, Akutagawa Ryunosuke still has no good feelings towards Nakajima Atsushi - the weak do not deserve to live in this world, and he has always looked down on people like Nakajima Atsushi who can only rely on others to survive.
Ah, this is indeed worthy of being, Ryunosuke Akutagawa.
Facing the ruthless rejection, Nakajima Atsushi thought calmly.
After nearly two months of getting along, Akutagawa Ryunosuke has now become an adjective in Nakajima Atsushi's mind, specifically used to describe all of Akutagawa Ryunosuke's actions.
Because of this, when he was with Akutagawa Ryunosuke, Nakajima Atsushi often had such psychological activities:
This walking posture is really like Ryunosuke Akutagawa.
This standing posture is worthy of Ryunosuke Akutagawa.
This is really what Akutagawa Ryunosuke said.
………
Over time, Nakajima Atsushi developed a resistance to Akutagawa Ryunosuke's cold words - all of Akutagawa Ryunosuke's actions can be summed up in five words, Akutagawa Ryunosuke.
In response to his complaints, Bailibian raised his eyebrows slightly and smiled with interest. Dazai Osamu laughed and rolled off the sofa into the kitchen - but hasn't Dazai-brother ever met Ryunosuke Akutagawa?
Neither Bailibian nor Dazai Osamu said anything, and Nakajima Atsushi didn't pay any special attention. But who on earth would want to share their daily life with Akutagawa Ryunosuke?!
There are a total of 7 billion people in this world. That is to say, even if 99.99% of them are unwilling to share their daily lives with Ryunosuke Akutagawa and talk about their little happiness, there are still 7 million people willing to communicate with him.
But so what!
Anyway, there will be no Nakajima Atsushi or Bai Libian in it, and Dazai Osamu is yet to be determined.
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