Because the three of them were all related to the welfare home, they must have met several times. Tsukiyama Asari simply set up several aliases to get to know each other. According to his many years of experience in wearing aliases, this would actually help solve some emergencies.
"...Asari?"
The boy's clear voice came to the other end of the phone. Tsukiyama Asari prepared to make more cookies. He held the phone with his other hand, which was washed clean. The oven in front of him was working hard. Under the warm yellow light, the half-baked cookies were emitting the unique aroma of butter and flour.
[You call yourself and it really looks like a split personality. ]
The system on the screen also showed the steps for making mango mousse.
'What can I do? Since I need to let Kasugawa Shugo get to know me in this identity background, I can't just not contact him forever. I'll do it in full. '
In the character setting he created, the fifteen-year-old Kasugawa Shugo spent half a year in the welfare home with Tsukiyama Asari, who had been there for five or six years, and then left in a hurry. However, this special period of time together was enough for the two to become close.
Tsukiyama Asari, who was arguing with the system in his mind, replied to the young man's casual chat on the other end of the phone with a gentle expression, and his hands kept making cakes. It was obvious that he was used to this kind of multitasking situation.
[After you retire, you won't become a split personality because you don't have a vest anymore, right? ]
'That's not the case.'
Tsukiyama Asari retorted. But it is certain that there will be a period of time when you are not used to it. You will probably feel uncomfortable for a while, just like Sherlock Holmes who suddenly has no cases to think about.
"Me? I'm making desserts for the children," he said, looking at the cookies that were almost finished, his expression softened, "I wanted to wait until you graduated before telling me, I plan to open a cafe, and Xiao Wu has been successfully adopted by me."
[Hey, what's that disgusting expression you have? ]
'Really disgusting? ' Tsukiyama Asari showed a hurt expression.
[...I don't feel disgusted, but it's too weird for you to make such an expression to yourself on the other end of the phone. ]
'I'm making this expression to the mango mousse, and I can't see it on the other end of the phone. '
[What's the expression you're making to the dessert? ]
'You don't understand~ Seeing my gentle expression, they will definitely work hard to become more delicious! '
The system seemed to be speechless and stopped talking.
While the two were arguing, the vest on the other end of the phone still exclaimed dutifully, "Eh? Cafe? Asari isn't going to school?"
After repeating the same words to Kudo Shinichi just now to Kasugawa Shugo, seeing that there was no response from the other end, he continued, "So I've been studying desserts seriously recently. Although I will ask experienced chefs to prepare desserts and light meals, I still want to learn some myself, and," Tsukiyama Asari smiled, "this is also my wish, to have a home of my own."
This is indeed his wish.
There is a place that belongs to me. It is not a temporary residence during countless missions. I know I will leave after completing them, so I don't want to add any items related to myself. It is not a short-term role during countless missions. I know we will definitely be separated in the end, so I am unwilling to move forward. It is a real home.
"Ah..." Kasugawa Shugo was infected by this emotion. The guy in the police school student vest remembered his wish, softened his expression, and said with a gentle smile, "It's home."
The two chatted for a few more words, and the sound of the oven was heard. Kasugawa Shugo saw that the time was almost up, so he hung up the phone.
The young man with chestnut curly hair put his phone in his pocket and was about to look at the sunset that had disappeared behind the tall building when he was suddenly grabbed by the neck by a hand and his chestnut curly hair was ruffled.
"Who are you calling, Shugo?" Hagiwara Kenji came over and winked at him, "You smile so gently, is there a relationship?"
"Tell me the truth, do you have a girlfriend?"
Matsuda Jinpei had a wound on his face, his hands in his pockets, and an expression of watching a good show.
"Why are you all here," Kasugawa Shugo waved away Hagiwara Kenji's hand on his shoulder, looked behind him and counted with his hands, "One, two, three, four... You all came together, are you ready to enjoy the beautiful sunset together? It's so romantic?"
"It was this guy from Furuya who said that you were always smiling lately, and something must have happened, so they asked us to eavesdrop," Matsuda Jinpei sold out his teammate without hesitation, "Don't change the subject, tell me the truth."
Hagiwara Kenji crossed his hands, clenched his fists and placed them under his lips, imitating his tone and expression just now.
"Eh——I'm getting goosebumps," Kasugawa Shugo shuddered, "was my expression just now so hateful?"
"Your expression just now was even more exaggerated than this," Furuya Rei continued, "If I must say..."
He remembered the scene he had just seen. Under the afterglow of the setting sun, the boy's expression was gentle, and the golden sunlight fell on the ends of his hair and between his eyebrows. His already dazzling eyes projected the red sun in the distance, as if they contained the whole world. The words he uttered were lighter than the wind, but people could hear the seriousness and joy in them.
"...It really sounds like the gentle tone of a confession or a proposal."
Kasugawa Shugo blushed, "No way!"
Narcissus! !
"Okay, Zero," Morobushi Kagemitsu said with a smile, "If Shugo tells the truth, they won't make blind guesses."
The other four nodded, and even Date Kou stared at him with a sharp gaze.
"It's a friend I met before. He said he was going to open a cafe and asked me to go over after the holiday," he had to explain.
"That's all?" Matsuda Jinpei put away his excited expression, "Boring - I thought there was something interesting."
"Wait, why do you use the word home when talking to good friends?" Hagiwara Kenji was obviously not going to let him go.
"Ah, because he..." Kasugawa Shugo recalled the background set for the character. The original few short lines of words turned into a memory that lasted more than ten years. He saw the narrow single bed, himself and the black-haired child under the tree, and the short but profound time they spent together.
"He always wanted to have his own family, and wanted to take the child he had tried so hard to protect back home," he laughed, as if he really saw the kid chewing bread and looking forward to the future in front of the welfare home, "I didn't expect that he really did it, that guy. It makes me want to go home and take a look, but it's been so long, it should be gone..."
That small but warm safe house where he and his father lived together.
Kasugawa Shugo had a smile on his face, but the others just looked at him in silence.
Finally, it was Matsuda Jinpei who hooked his shoulder first, "If you want to go, you have to take us with you."
"You can leave Jinpei, but you have to take me, Shugo-chan," said Hagiwara Kenji. Before he could finish his words, Matsuda Jinpei punched him and he shouted half-jokingly, "It hurts!"
"Take me with you too!" Date Kou hugged his neck and messed up his curly hair that he had managed so hard to style.
"And us--"
Furuya Rei and Morofushi Kagemitsu said together.
"Of course I'll take you," Kasugawa Shugo said with a smile, "After all, you are my favorites..."
He quietly dodged the hands of several people and aimed at the wide-open rooftop door.
"My beloved sons--"
He quickly ran down the rooftop, shouting loudly as he rushed.
"You bastard!"
"Give me your life!"
"I won't let you catch me—" Kasugawa Shugo ran down the stairs, he smiled and covered his heart that was beating like it was about to burst out of the ground. It seemed like something was filled in, and it was flashing hotly and passionately.
It was a small gap deep in the memory.