Chapter 15, Section 14: Danger! Zhuge Tongzhi is in danger! ...
Relatives met face to face
Tears of joy welled up in her eyes
—Excerpt from the eighth-grade lower semester Chinese language textbook (compulsory education)
Zhuge Tongzhi silently added the source of the poem at the end.
Beside him, Midorikawa Hikaru, still dressed in a hoodie and jeans, smiled as he accepted a plate of caramel pudding. The blond, dark-skinned waiter withdrew his hand from the tray with a gentle smile, indicating that all the dishes ordered had been served.
Hikaru Midorikawa placed the dessert in front of the head-shaking Zhuge Tongzhi, earnestly acknowledged it, and praised his first dining experience there.
"Kori really has a good eye. Mr. Amuro's sandwiches definitely deserve to be the signature dish of the café."
The young college student exudes a mature and reliable aura, speaks tactfully and politely, and his droopy dog-like eyes convey seriousness and sincerity even when he is not smiling. People who talk to him have the illusion that they have become the other person's whole world at that moment.
Chatting with this kind of person is often pleasant because they are very mindful of maintaining appropriate distance and will not speak ill of others or make sarcastic remarks. However, if you get too close, you will start to doubt whether they really care about the relationship.
But as a complete stranger meeting someone for the first time, Midorikawa Hikaru's words were naturally very friendly.
Although Amuro Tooru felt uneasy, like moss slowly sprouting from the ground after the rain.
This person... is so strange... a familiar kind of strangeness.
"I'm really happy to receive your recognition, but I still need to work harder. Our pasta and lemonade are also very popular signature dishes."
The newly hired waiter smiled a little shyly, thanked the customer politely, and then recommended several other popular dishes on the menu, which happened to be dishes the customer hadn't ordered before—just like a good waiter would do.
However, Morofushi Kagemitsu felt a helpless urge to laugh, as if he had unexpectedly seen what kind of image he had in Zero's mind.
Was he really such a gentle person? The sniper, who had applied for a job in the organization that required a single, decisive strike and had handled countless cleanup missions, wiped his hands, which were stained with invisible blood, and was momentarily dazed.
"Is Zero planning to work in this ordinary coffee shop in her true form for a long time?" Morofushi Hiromitsu wondered, glancing at the small but exquisite shop before him.
Is this an organization's mission? Are there organization members nearby monitoring us?
Is it suitable for him to connect with Zero?
"Xiao Guang! I want lemonade!"
Unable to resist grabbing a piece of caramel pudding, Zhuge Tongzhi, who devoured the high-sugar dessert in a flash, raised a hand, feeling her mouth was now burning with sweetness.
On the one hand, she desperately needed to drink water, and on the other hand, the meal was almost over, but the two of them barely exchanged any words except for serving the dishes.
Even though it was right after school let out, and there were only their table of customers and two waiters, Amuro Tooru and Enomoto Azusa, in the restaurant, the two of them didn't make a single unnecessary gesture, glance, or say a word.
Perhaps it was because she was there.
Zhuge Tongzhi watched as Zhufu Jingguang ordered two glasses of lemonade, planning to use the excuse of needing to use the restroom after drinking too much to give the two of them some space.
So, it turns out that Morofushi Kagemitsu is now acting alone?
Zhuge Tongzhi, who had been keeping a close eye on things, did not miss the subtle surprise the other person showed when he saw Amuro Tooru. If he was still in the public security system or still active in the brewery, the two of them should have some contact, and it was impossible for him to be completely unaware of working at the coffee shop.
So, what force am I currently under their control?
Zhuge Tongzhi took the quickly prepared drink and gulped down the refreshing, sweet and sour lemonade. He was both puzzled and somewhat relieved that he wasn't facing Scotland under the winery's orders.
The girl gulped down a glass of water, wiped her mouth with a napkin, and was about to indicate that she needed to go to the restroom when the wind chimes at the door rang.
Two police officers in uniform pushed open the door and entered. One had medium-length hair and looked at the dog with deep affection, while the other had naturally curly hair and wore black sunglasses that made even dogs want to run away.
The two greeted Amuro Tooru very naturally and then sat down at the next table.
Zhuge Tongzhi sat back down, his buttocks, which had been half-erected.
Oh wow.
She glanced at Kenji Hagiwara, who was smiling as he flipped through the menu, and then at Hiromitsu Morofushi, who was looking up at her.
This is an authentic copy clashing with a cosplay; is it time to start cracking down on fakes?
Kenji Hagiwara's attention was partly on Tooru Amuro, and he wasn't fully focused on the menu. Naturally, he quickly noticed the child's gaze next to him. The officer with medium-length hair put down the menu and pushed it in front of Jinhei Matsuda, who was looking down at his phone, and winked at the girl in greeting.
"Good afternoon, Kiri-chan. Are you having lunch with your parents today?"
Matsuda Jinpei naturally told his childhood friend what had happened at noon. Hagiwara Kenji also nodded to the young man next to the elementary school student, his deep purple eyes sweeping over Midorikawa Hikaru with a hint of inquiry.
"Hello, I'm Hikaru Midorikawa, Kirito's uncle." Hikaru Midorikawa introduced himself politely, and after Kenji Hagiwara introduced himself as well, he smiled and said, "Kirito told me about what happened at the mall, and I also want to thank the police officer for saving my child."
"Well, actually, it was Kiri-chan who stopped the robbers for us, but I was quite surprised when she said no one was home." Hagiwara Kenji replied flawlessly, then asked sharply, "Even if Mr. Midorikawa needs accommodation now, you can't let a child who is only in elementary school live alone, can you?"
Across from him, Matsuda Jinpei took off his sunglasses, greeted Zhuge Tongzhi, and leaned back in his chair to watch the two of them battle it out—hagi was definitely better at questioning details.
“I also think it’s not a good idea,” Midorikawa Hikaru said with a troubled expression, reaching out to touch Zhuge Tongzhi’s short, chewed hair. “But Tongzhi’s parents are very busy with their work, and she lives alone when she’s abroad. I’m worried that she won’t feel comfortable living with me.”
“However, my overseas research project has come to an end, and I’m also considering taking care of her.” Midorikawa Hikaru gave a perfectly reasonable answer, and Hagiwara Kenji nodded understandingly, praising the child’s quick wit and intelligence a few more times, seemingly preparing for a second round of questioning.
No! Absolutely not! Don't come and look at her!
Zhuge Tongzhi felt a pang of anxiety and decided to interrupt this conversation, which was proving unfavorable to their side.
"Xiao Guang, Xiao Guang! I need to go to the toilet!"
"Hagiwara-kun, would you like to order now?"
The clear, childlike voice collided with the gentle male voice, and both of them were momentarily stunned.
"Right away, right away, Amuro-kun." Kenji Hagiwara's gaze swept lightly over Amuro Tooru and Midorikawa Hikaru before he picked up the menu and said cheerfully, "Jinpei, is there anything you'd like to eat?"
"Same as last time, but without green peppers." Matsuda Jinpei, with his black curly hair, looked sharply at Amuro Tooru, who was still smiling, and his tone was a little dangerous. "Besides, I don't see any mention of green peppers on the menu."
"Last time it was a new product that I came up with on the spur of the moment. After all, green peppers are rich in various vitamins." Amuro Tooru explained his thoughts with a hint of apology, and said insincerely, "I just didn't expect Matsuda-kun to hate green peppers so much. Although it's rare among adults, it was my oversight. I'm very sorry."
"Pfft!" Kenji Hagiwara made a strange, suffocating sound from behind the menu. Jinpei Matsuda's forehead vein throbbed, but he simply picked up the tea on the table, took a sip, and calmly said, "It's nothing, Amuro-kun."
"I'll have one serving of the sushi from last time plus one serving of tamagoyaki, without green peppers." He gave Amuro Tooru a smile, and Morofushi Kagemitsu, sitting diagonally opposite him, immediately saw the provocation in that smile.
Matsuda Jinpei said, word by word, "Please, make it, for me, by your own hands."
Amuro Tooru held up his notebook, obscuring the hand gripping the pen behind it, and replied with a normal smile, "Of course, no problem, Matsuda-kun."
"Ahem, I'll just order the same as Jinpei." Kenji Hagiwara, who had been seemingly studying the menu carefully, put it down but ultimately didn't order dinner from it at all.
"You lot!" Zhuge Tongzhi revealed his crescent-shaped eyes.
She glanced up at Morofushi Kagemitsu, whose smile remained unchanged, and silently prayed for three seconds for the two police officers who were deliberately teasing each other's childhood friends.
After ordering, Amuro Tooru walked back to the counter, and it became difficult to continue the conversation that had been interrupted earlier, so Hagiwara Kenji started anew.
"Is this Mr. Midorikawa's first time eating here? Kiri-chan recommended it, right?"
"Eh, were you two also recommended by Kirito?" Midorikawa Hikaru blinked, and Zhuge Tongzhi next to him suddenly broke out in a cold sweat.
"Well, when Kiri-chan was giving her statement last time, she told us that there were delicious sandwiches here, and after we came and tried them, we found that they really lived up to the hype." Hagiwara Kenji gave an exaggerated thumbs up, and Matsuda Jinpei across from him nodded in agreement. "So we decided to come here often."
"Ah... I see..." Midorikawa Hikaru's gaze fell on the elementary school student beside him. The girl was now engrossed in poking at the lemon slices in her empty cup, seemingly quite interested in the grotesque-looking lemon slices.
While fiddling with the stool, Zhuge Tongzhi suddenly jumped off and shouted, "Oh no! I have to give a statement today! Have all the officers gone home yet?!"
"Hmm? I don't think the First Investigation Division has it yet; they often work overtime," Matsuda Jinpei answered her question casually. "When I went downstairs, I saw the squad leader was still inside."
"Hikaru, Hikari, let's go!" Zhuge Tongzhi anxiously grabbed Midorikawa Hikari's arm. She couldn't let these people continue talking. If they kept talking, she would find out what she had done in the past few days and that she wouldn't even have any underwear left to cover herself.
At least for now, she is already inextricably linked to the charge of 'gathering a crowd to watch Amuro Tooru make sandwiches,' and has even exposed her identity as the organizer.
Danger! Zhuge Tongzhi is in danger!
"Okay, let's go then." Midorikawa Hikaru patiently got up with the girl's help, said goodbye to the two police officers, and said, "Goodbye, Hagiwara-kun and Matsuda-kun."
He pulled out a piece of paper from somewhere and placed it on the table between the two of them. A phone number was written on it.
"If Xiaotong ever needs anything in the future, I would appreciate it if you two officers could take good care of her as her irresponsible guardian."
Although they were police officers, they couldn't illegally investigate other people's private information. Matsuda Jinpei and Hagiwara Kenji naturally didn't have his contact information, so they exchanged a glance and accepted it directly.
As Matsuda Jinpei entered the phone number into his contacts in front of Midorikawa Hikaru, he earnestly said, "Protecting the safety of citizens is our responsibility. Please rest assured, Mr. Midorikawa."
"Yes, I believe you." Midorikawa Hikaru smiled and led Zhuge Tongzhi out of the Poirot Cafe.
The sound of wind chimes rang in his ears, and beneath the disguise of the man's dog-eye eyes, his phoenix eyes, with their upturned corners, narrowed slightly.
Do you often come to the cafe to watch Zero...? That's nice.
…
Inside the café, Matsuda Jinpei shrugged at his childhood friend, who was deep in thought.
Kenji Hagiwara stroked his chin and said, "It does feel strangely familiar."
"But she's still very different from Kenji-chan!" The man with medium-length hair suddenly flicked the ends of his hair, which had recently grown quite a bit, and winked at Matsuda Jinpei, saying in a deliberately childish tone, "Kenji-chan's charm is irreplaceable!"
Matsuda Jinpei looked utterly disgusted and repulsed. "Don't walk next to me when we go out."
"Eh—Kenji-chan will be sad!" Hagiwara Kenji joked with a grin, then lowered his voice to ask his somewhat lazy childhood friend, "So, how does Jinpei feel?"
Amuro Tooru arranged the sushi on a plate and brought it to the table.
Matsuda Jinpei pushed his teacup aside to make room and replied, "It's not like you, it's like Boss Jing."
Amuro Tooru placed the plate with fluid movements and then refilled the two empty teacups. His blue-purple eyes, hidden by the shadows of his blond hair, revealed a subtle and indistinct gray.
Matsuda Jin looked tired after a long day at work, and his deep, magnetic voice could only be heard by those at the table.
He said, "The look he gave me before he left was even more like it."
Amuro Tooru didn't stop. After placing the sushi and drinks, he took the tray away and went back to the counter to make tamagoyaki.
Hikaru Midorikawa put the note he left behind into the pocket under his apron.
…
Oshima Jewelry Exhibition
Hikaru Midorikawa was talking to Wataru Takagi, who was taking notes there, while Kirito Shuge, playing the role of an active child, mingled into the crowd of people viewing the exhibition.
"Nearest route detected: Booth 58 at the Oshima Jewelry Fair"
Where is number 58? Number 58?
The petite girl nimbly weaved through the crowd, looking left and right, and finally figured out the arrangement of the numbers before heading straight for booth number 58.
With a loud thud, she collided with a long-haired woman in a dress who had suddenly appeared.
"Oh no!"
"Oh, sorry, little one!"
The older sister, with a gentle voice, apologized repeatedly, bent down to help the somewhat dazed Zhuge Tongzhi up, patted the dust off her clothes, and smiled apologetically.
Meanwhile, O-D navigation is refreshing.
"Route: Booth 58 at the Oshima Jewelry Fair (Completed)"
Watching the long-haired older sister leave, Zhuge Tongzhi reached into his pocket and found several plastic-looking cards.
That doesn't belong to her.
A note from the author:
----------------------
Police academy internal war
Zhuge Tongzhi: Watching the drama unfold
The war suddenly spread
Zhuge Tongzhi: Oh my god, don't burn me!
…
One had shoulder-length hair and looked at the dog with deep affection; the other had naturally curly hair and wore black sunglasses—even the dog would want to run away from her.
The smooth typing of this part is really hilarious.
The original version is more rhyming.
It's like this: one with medium-length hair hanging down, looking at the dog with deep affection; the other with naturally curly hair, wearing black sunglasses, exuding the air of a corrupt cop.
Your police academy group is really interesting.
…
Zhuge Tongzhi is now thinking about one question every day.
Who am I? Where am I? What am I supposed to do?
After thinking about it, I decided to go to Poirot for a meal first.
…
Hehe, I hope everyone will leave lots of comments! (Sending love)
It seems like the lack of a reply means the application wasn't approved. I haven't figured out exactly what to do yet (scratching head).
But they are all sincere Dragon Boat Festival wishes!
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