"This is the express delivery you requested." Kunikida Dopo pushed the cardboard box across the table.

The cardboard box was not big, and inside was the backpack that contained his changed performance clothes. It was black and red, and looked very cool.

Munechika took it.

At this time, the detective agency has resumed work. Except for the small sofa for meeting guests, everyone else is sitting quietly at the table. Edogawa Ranpo is nowhere to be seen, and Dazai Osamu is lying on the table humming a song.

Munechika received the commission and the detective agency received the commission fee. Logically, they should have just expressed their happiness at the transaction and then parted ways.

"Last time you said you were going to the Hong Kong Black Building to look for someone, did you find him?"

"Yes, I found it."

"That's good." Kunikida Dopo was obviously relieved. He was still thinking about Dazai's directions to Munechika yesterday. What if something happened...

He would not interfere too much in the private affairs of his clients, nor would he ask who they were looking for in the Hong Kong-Hei Building.

"If there is anything difficult to solve, please come and ask the detective agency for help."

Kunikida looked at the person in front of him. Perhaps because of his height, he looked a little small sitting on the sofa. Munechika was still a sophomore in high school. Even though he could show many different temperaments when cosplaying and acting, he still looked youthful when he was relaxed, like a young boy.

This is why Kunikida is so concerned.

"Thank you, but I'll excuse you first." Munechika had no intention of staying here any longer and stood up from the reception sofa.

All he had to do was to repay the money and favor owed to Nakahara Chuuya... and then he could find a way to return home without any burden.

The door to the president's office clicked.

Edogawa Ranpo opened the door from the inside and saw Munechika walking out.

"Are you leaving already?" Edogawa Ranpo didn't wait for Munechika to answer and waved to him, "See you next time~"

Munechika had already reached the door and responded when he heard this.

I didn't notice that what Edogawa Ranpo said was see you next time.

When Munechika walked out the door, he seemed to hear Dazai Osamu humming. He closed the door, restrained his desire to look back, leaned against the door and breathed a sigh of relief.

He only carried one strap of his backpack, which made him look more like a student.

He leaned against the door, and a voice came through the door intermittently, echoing in his ears like the devil's whisper.

“… Chuuya… is… more like a child… hahahaha.”

##.

I accidentally stepped on the door and left a 1cm deep footprint. Munechika gritted his teeth and turned his back to

Just pack it and go.

He was afraid that if he stayed any longer, his provoked nerves would make him break down the door.

He was used to being ruled by his own Dazai, but ever since he saw Nakahara Chuuya beating Dazai here, it was as if a beast had been released from deep within his heart, always ready to tempt him.

Walk out of the Armed Detective Agency building.

It was sunny outside and people were coming and going.

The sunlight hitting the ground made the ground warm. Munechika pulled up the brim of his hat to block the sunlight that was about to hit his eyes.

Chuuya should still be at work, and there would be no one there if I went home.

Thinking of this, Munechika began to walk aimlessly. Although he seemed to be free from thoughts, his thoughts never stopped.

Without a backer to lean on and with his family in danger, he can only rely on himself to determine why he ran to another world without any warning.

I have experienced this twice, including this time.

The common points are cosplay and concerts.

But there must be more to it than that…is there more?

Time passed, and at some point, Munechika came to a cool place where the crowds of people were gradually dwindling. He raised his head slightly to look at the sky, and thought of another common point.

And an excited audience.

"Gululu..."

A somewhat abrupt sound came into my ears.

Zongqin's body paused, and his thoughts also stopped. He blinked in confusion, feeling his stomach which was not hungry. It took him a while to realize that this hunger did not come from his stomach.

He looked in the direction of the sound and saw the figure was almost next to him.

The other person was bending over and lying on the wall in a peeping posture.

Munechika didn't pay much attention to the outside world. Because Munechika walked without making any sound, the other party didn't seem to notice that there was someone around him.

The other person's grey shirt and trousers were a little dirty, his skin was fair, and his white hair was messy because it was unkempt. After the gurgling sound, this young boy groaned in grievance.

Munechika poked his head around the corner.

This is a small alley, which is very narrow and can only accommodate two people at most. There are cardboard boxes and some unwanted construction materials at the corner.

From the outside, people passing by probably wouldn't even want to take a look at it.

As for the direction the young man was looking at, Munechika only took a quick glance and knew in his heart what he was looking at, with an accuracy of 80%.

There is a restaurant in that area. The aroma of food wafting out from inside makes people's stomachs stir.

It was noon, and there were young people queuing in front of the store. The smiles on their faces made it clear that they were having a great time.

.

Munechika knew without even looking that the boy beside him had an expression of envy on his face that he himself was not aware of.

Because……

"Want something to eat?"

“Wow wow wow wow—”

The boy was startled out of nowhere and tried to jump away, but he was tripped by something on the ground and fell to the ground, losing his balance.

Finished!

The boy closed his eyes resignedly, ready to accept the pain of falling to the ground, but he felt a force in his stomach. After a brief period of weightlessness, he stood steadily on the ground again.

He cautiously opened his eyes tentatively, and saw Munechika withdraw his hand, tilt his head slightly and ask, "Are you okay?"

The person in front of him was slightly shorter than him, wearing clean casual clothes. His ochre hair under the hat stuck to his cheeks, making his skin look very white, and his blue eyes were clean and clear.

"...Ah," the young man widened his eyes slightly, and after a while his face turned red because of the embarrassment just now. Even in this place covered by shadows, it can be seen clearly.

The boy only knew that the other person made him feel comfortable, which was completely different from the way ordinary passers-by looked at him. He inexplicably wanted to give the other person a good impression, but he didn't know how.

Finally, he became even more flustered: "No, it's okay! I pooped on time, thank you..."

Munechika softened his expression and took out one of the "performance fees" given to him by a passerby in the morning, which was a bag of bread.

"Do you want to eat? Just fill your stomach first."

"Hey, I..." The boy was unsure whether to take it or not. With another grumble, he looked like he wanted to burrow into the ground. He lowered his head and took it, whispering, "Thank you, thank you."

The boy tore open the package and gobbled it up, holding the package for a long time without moving.

Without trying to understand his expression, Munechika misunderstood: "Do you still want it? I just want to give you a cushion. I..."

Before he could even mention that he wanted to take the boy to the restaurant, he was interrupted by the other party.

"No," the boy bit his lower lip, trying to hold back the sourness in his nose, "I just..."

I feel a little touched and a little sad.

The kindness that could be shown to a complete stranger was kicked out by the orphanage where he grew up.

He also wondered if he was really a waste, a good-for-nothing.

Only then...

As the young man spoke, his Adam's apple rolled slightly. Munechika looked up and saw that even with his head lowered, he could see a hint of tears in his eyes. His pupils suddenly dilated and he was at a loss.

But Munechika didn't know what to do. The boy wiped his eyes with his hand and bowed to him 90 degrees.

"Thank you very much for your help. My name is Nakajima Atsushi! If there is anything you can do for me, please feel free to help me as long as I can."

Munechika stood there in a daze.

The hot summer wind blew past them, bringing the heat to this cool alley and adding warmth to the air.

He opened his lips, but they suddenly turned into a smile.

At this moment he abandoned those settings, and in this place where no one could see him, he was himself for a second, showing a fleeting tenderness, and continuing with his previous thoughts.

Because...he is Nakajima Atsushi.