Chapter 23

How could Ida Kou be so careless as to delay his work at the Metropolitan Police Department just to have an extra cup of coffee while he was carrying out an undercover mission at the same time?

If I'm really late, I'll be laughed to death.

So he didn't look at Amuro Toru again, but instead worriedly told Hoshikawa and Ming again:

"Then I'll be leaving first. Remember not to run around randomly recently. If I can't catch up with you after get off work because I'm working overtime, you'd better go home with your colleagues and don't go out alone."

Hoshikawa Kazuaki felt warm in his heart and was a little touched when he saw that Date Kou was thinking about him like a worried mother even though he had only met her a few times.

He widened his eyes in surprise, listened patiently to Ida Hang's instructions and nodded in agreement one by one. Sometimes he thought it was great to have such a friend, and sometimes he thought it was probably just Ida Hang's professional habit.

There are people like this who will consider their friends in everything, but how can such a good thing come to you so easily?

There are not so many lucky things in the world.

So, it is more likely that this is a professional habit of the police, right?

Xingchuan and Ming were not disappointed by this, but thought it was normal.

He watched Date Kou leave with a smile, then finally turned around and began to think about how he should perform in front of intelligence expert Amuro Toru.

In view of the fact that the opponent's abilities in all aspects are too strong, Xingchuan and Ming decided to make their performance as natural as possible.

At least you shouldn't attract too much attention from the start by appearing too suspicious.

Little did he know that Toru Amuro had been very curious about Hoshikawa Kazuaki because of Date Kou's previous gestures, and no matter what performance Hoshikawa Kazuaki showed, Toru Amuro would pay close attention.

"Senior Hoshikawa and Officer Date have a good relationship. Are they friends who have known each other for a long time?"

Hoshikawa and Ming had just changed into the aprons they had left in the lounge when they heard Toru Amuro asking a question with a hint of curiosity.

He perked up. Is this coming? But it wasn't necessarily a test. Maybe he just wanted to learn a little more about the recent situation of his long-lost classmate from him?

This is understandable.

So Xingchuan and Ming did not hide anything and told the truth:

"I guess we're friends, after all, we went through some pretty dangerous things together. But it's been over a year since we last met, and I was very happy to see you again..."

Hoshikawa Kazuaki looked at Amuro's smiling eyes, and he seemed to be very interested in what he said.

He scratched his hair irritably and suddenly felt that this situation was extremely embarrassing.

It is obvious that the person in front of him, Toru Amuro, is the true friend of Kou Date, but he insists on asking himself whether he is Kou Date's friend.

Why does it feel like I accidentally kidnapped someone else's cat, and the owner is chasing me and asking if I can pet the cat?

Xingchuan Heming's curly hair was messed up by himself. He felt a little uncomfortable under the focused gaze of Amuro Toru, and said in a self-deprecating tone:

"Forget it. I don't know if Ida-sama and I are friends anymore. But he's such a nice guy, so he must have a lot of like-minded friends."

Just like you four other police academy teams. Of course, Xingchuan and Ming would never tell the last sentence to anyone.

He had long since begun to like these five people who shone like the sun.

Not only because they left behind too many regrets whether they died tragically or were left behind, but also because the precious friendship between them was so sincere that it moved people to tears and was truly so desirable.

That is the beauty that Xingchuan and Ming envy the most but is forever out of reach.

He never thought he was that lucky, but that didn't stop him from truly loving the Police Academy Team.

Therefore, as long as conditions permit, Xingchuan and Ming will do their best to maintain this beauty.

Because of this, my enthusiasm for completing dungeon missions far exceeds my emphasis on main quests.

Unexpectedly, after hearing Hoshikawa Kazuaki's answer, Amuro Toru shook his head in disapproval, and then said to Hoshikawa Kazuaki very seriously:

"If Officer Date heard what Senior Hoshikawa said, he would probably get angry."

"…What do you mean?" Xingchuan and Ming asked hesitantly.

Amuro Toru's smile was full of sincerity, and he spoke in a gentle tone as if guiding:

"Since Senior is happy to see you again, he must have considered you a friend. And Officer Date just now clearly cared about Senior Hoshikawa as a friend. But if he knew that someone he had always treated as a friend actually said, 'I don't know if we are friends,' wouldn't he be angry? You can't ignore other people's kindness."

Xingchuan and Ming's first reaction was shock.

If even Toru Amuro, his best friend, says this, does Date Kou really consider him a friend?

If that's the case...

Thinking of the burly and serious Date Kou suddenly getting angry, Hoshikawa Kazuaki swallowed involuntarily.

He immediately straightened his body and asked Amuro Toru solemnly:

"Mr. Amuro, please forget what I said before and don't tell Brother Date. I must have lost my mind to say that. Actually, I... I..."

Xingchuan and Ming suddenly felt their throats dry and were unable to speak for a moment. They felt that what was happening before their eyes seemed to have become unreal.

He looked blankly at Toru Amuro who was smiling the whole time. The other's eyes were full of encouragement and expectation.

Such pure friendliness almost made Xingchuan and Ming think that the person standing in front of them was not a dangerous member of an organization or a cautious public security undercover, but just an ordinary older brother next door.

Being stared at like this, Xingchuan and Ming suddenly felt that they could speak out what they really thought. So he straightened his expression and said to Amuro Toru seriously:

"It is a great honor for me to be friends with Brother Date."

After saying this, he pursed his lips, suddenly let out a long sigh of relief, and held his forehead with one hand, looking ashamed.

Amuro Toru chuckled, and then apologized before Hoshikawa and Minghen could get angry:

"I'm sorry, I just suddenly found Mr. Hoshikawa's reaction very interesting. He just lacks confidence in himself, so he has such thoughts. In fact, many times, as long as you are willing to face your true thoughts, you will see many things that you didn't notice before, and you can avoid many wrong decisions made because of fear and avoidance."

Perhaps Toru Amuro was counseling Hoshikawa and Akira based on his years of experience, but Hoshikawa and Akira immediately thought of Date Kou.

I have always insisted on treating every person I come into contact with as a tool to help me complete my comics, but I have never thought that I have actually developed feelings for them.

If I insist on using deception to get along with him in order to use Ida Kou's secret to open the copy, will I really not regret it if he finds out the truth or causes him to suffer any harm?

Xingchuan and Ming were silent for a while.

He began to quietly tidy up the utensils on the kitchen counter. Seeing this, Amuro Toru also went to the side to wipe the coffee table, leaving Hoshikawa and Akira enough time to think.

Hoshikawa Kazuaki was indeed thinking, but it was not about how to face his inner problems as Toru Amuro thought. He was thinking about how to complete his mission.

Completing the comic task is something you must do, but there are many ways to complete the task, and you don't have to complete it in a way that you might regret.

Taking advantage of Ida Kou, who already considered him a friend, was undoubtedly something that was not necessary but would definitely make him regret it.

He could calm his chaotic mood by tidying up the kitchen counter, but that couldn't alleviate the fear that was spreading in his heart.

He couldn't help but feel lucky. Fortunately, it was just a small attempt and he didn't have the time to really do anything.

"Don't do this again in the future."

He whispered to himself.

"What are you talking about, senior?"

Amuro Toru, who was wiping the table, suddenly asked.

Hoshikawa Kazaki came to his senses immediately and replied with a natural expression:

"I mean, Mr. Amuro, please stop calling me like that. Just call me by my name."

However, Hoshikawa and Ming were thinking in their hearts, what an amazing Toru Amuro.

After just one meeting, I couldn't help but feel a liking for him even though I knew his true face. I even said so many of my inner thoughts without realizing it.

He is worthy of being the strongest undercover agent in the entire scientific world.

Seeing that he was no longer worried, Amuro Toru smiled with relief and replied:

"Okay then, Hoshikawa. Please just call me Amuro and don't use honorifics anymore."

Xingchuan and Ming hesitated for a moment.

"Should I call you by your name? But Mr. Amuro is much older than me. Isn't it a bit inappropriate to call him by his name?"

Amuro Toru's expression remained unchanged, and he even looked a little curious:

"How does Xingchuan know that I'm much older than you?"

Seeing Xingchuan and Ming looking at him in surprise, he even added a little explanation:

"I know your information, Xingchuan, because when I came here to apply for the job, I knew that a waiter predecessor had a serious illness and needed to be recuperated, and he was a high school student who worked part-time to pay for his studies. But today is the first time you have met me, and I believe that the store manager will not specifically tell you my age when he agrees to let you return to work. And I look young, and many people even think I am a college student at first sight. So, how did Xingchuan know in advance that I am much older than you?"

The author has something to say:

I stole the police chief's big cat. I'm proud (arms on hips)