Chapter 3 - Wandering in the Wisteria

The decision made with courage changed the mood of both of them, but not the situation.

Ziongzong thought that Mizuo would tell him something after crying, but it turned out to be different, and Mizuo still didn't say anything.

-- "Always see you again, don't you? Don't forget the weekly commitments, Ziongzong ~"

Ziongzong took Mizuo's words as a promise when he left and went back home.

All around was silent, but only Ziongzong's heart could not be quiet. In order to divert his attention, he took the bedding he had laid for Mizuo back to the closet and began to arrange his own pajamas and bedding.

On the arm of his pajamas, there was a light stain. It seems to have been soaked once and then dried up again, turning into a small, somewhat hard piece.

The soreness on his arm tingled Ziongzong's nerves.

This is the place where he made an arm pillow for Mizuo last night.

-- She, crying?

--it's hard.

--There is a feeling of breathlessness.

To this little child who is not at all frank, Ziongzong failed to see through anything.

The uncle heart felt that he could not just be looked down upon.

He is the god of his world.

If you don't do something about it, won't you just be a good-looking ornament.

Ziongzong re-energized and put his room in order when Yukino-san's voice appeared at the right time.

"Little Zongzong, it's breakfast ~~~~"

---In three days, it's the day of the appointment with Mizuo.

--In the park, I'm sure I'll be able to meet her.

--An intelligent child like that, nothing will happen.

It's not going to happen.

Ziongzong used such lame excuses to comfort himself.

Life is time, it will move on even pretend not to know .

Slightly bad mood, directly affected Ziongzong's face.

Originally always warm greeting with Ziongzong's flirtatious man Hayamizu Eiji, today to Ziongzong also a little distant.

Not to intervene or indifferent or, these are the methods of self-protection of people.

And give up this self-protection Ziongzong, will be recognized as a hot-blooded idiots? In fact, when people despise to criticize something, perhaps, more is the envy of it. After being domesticated by the world's dogma, after always betraying themselves when faced with making decisions, when someone appears in front of them who can ignore the rules and regulations of the world, that unwilling devil will turn envy into malicious attacks.

Ziongzong, who is the god of his world, is fearless of the external world and faithful to his heart, not to the foolish dogma of certain classes.

The parting with Mizuo in the morning was unavoidable, because there was a goodbye in three days as an excuse, a reason, a backing.

But this hesitant attitude is not Ziongzong's style.

That's why he turned back to Mizuo in the morning.

That's why he didn't leave the question until the next minute, the next hour, or tomorrow.

What is tomorrow, tomorrow is the ostrich buried his head in the sand left by the pit, but in fact, the ostrich is not so stupid, so that the pit does not exist, and that everyone can use as an excuse to deceive themselves as a place to avoid trouble tomorrow, in fact, also does not exist.

So, Ziongzong has already started thinking.

The preoccupation made him not listen to the class all morning.

Lunch is also tasteless, even, even what exactly ate lunch, Ziongzong also can not remember.

He just felt that in the dark, he had come to the rooftop, a place that he had fallen in love with at first sight at the beginning of the school year.

It's just that thinking is often a time of adversity.

The wind on the rooftop, the wind that usually always makes Ziongzong feel fresh, is now blowing on him, just like a knife, making him uncomfortable. Always calm, and Ziongzong playful wind, blocking the passage of breathing, so that he produced a kind of unpleasant suffocation.

Ziongzong sitting on the upper edge of the wire fence, looking out over the city, everything is so small, not worth mentioning.

--They always feel like they can see.

The winding road overlapped with the logical trajectory in Ziongzong's mind, and vaguely his idea had begun to take shape.

"Hey! Zizongzong-san, don't jump! "

So, at a time like this, there's always someone to mess things up.

The panicked voice from behind Ziongzong came from the head of the 2(C) class, Ito Tomono.

--That's right ...... everyone is so fussed.

"If you were a little louder, I would have been scared down by you."

Ziongzong turned around and looked at Ito Tomono who was still in shock.

"That's good."

Although she said that, Ito Tomono still looked like she was trembling.

"I often come here because the scenery is so nice. "

I say often, but it's only been a month.

"Yes, is it ......"

The class president settled down a little and walked towards Ziongzong.

After all, it is the class president who is strong, or the class president who has to act strong no matter what, Ziongzong thought that if it was Yui, although it was the second time to look at it, it would be hopeless to wait for her to ease up until after school in the afternoon.

"I'm looking for you, Uesugi-senpai. "

Since Ziongzong joined the Kyudo Club she founded, Ito Tomono often spoke to him in a matter-of-fact manner, without the respect that a junior should have for a senior.

"What is it?"

"The application for the Kyudo club was approved ......"

"Well, that's good."

Ziongzong's reaction was too flat and too natural, which made Ito Tomono not know what to do, because this kind of attitude was not within her expectation.

"It's true ...... but, at this stage, it's just a fellowship ......"

So her little plan just fell apart.

"That means you haven't gotten any other members besides me?

"...... Yes."

Ito Tomono dropped her head with weakness, and then clenched her fist again, trying to put up a strong fight.

"But, but, I tried so hard too! It's just that those guys don't see the potential of our club! "

"I don't see that kind of people anyway!"

--I'm not sure I'd see that kind of guy anyway.

"Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. "

Like an adult teasing a child, Ziongzong's tone was a mixture of levity and playfulness, which was not his intention nor his character, it was his reason forcing him to relax his recently over-stressed heartstrings in this way.

"Don't call me class president, I'm not in that kind of relationship with you! "

-- That's strong enough. Even a joke must be negated so strongly. The text must be written with an exclamation point at the end.

Ziongzong secretly added the label of "exclamation point little sister" to this "class president", and then, found something worth flirting with, this little sister is always too serious I can't help but want to bully.

"What kind of relationship is it? "

Ziongzong, with his hands in his pockets, carefully adjusting his weight with his feet and buttocks, navigated the wire fence with ease, waiting with interest for Ito Tomono's reaction.

"Of course I'm saying that you and I aren't ......"

opening refutation to here, Ito Tomonai realized that she was verbally taken advantage of by Ziongzong, half angry, half shy, a sentence stuck in the throat, swallowing nor saying it, but can only resent unhappy glare at Ziongzong.

"Even seniors are You can't do such things to your junior with impunity, don't do it again! "

Ito Tomono's embarrassment ended with this last line, which was rather lacking in strength, and fled the rooftop in a mess.

"......"

left the speechless Ziongzong on the rooftop.

--Not so much, am I too casual or is she too serious?

Ziongzong was a bit puzzled and rethought the conversation, thinking for a moment, and then suddenly laughed.

--The little girls nowadays, really should not be underestimated.

Special note: Those who understand the above paragraph are the big bad guys.

"37......38......39......"

After Ito Tomonai left, Ziongzong remained on the rooftop, using his knee sockets and heels as support, he hung himself Hanging upside down from the wire fence, he did sit-ups one at a time, while planning in detail for what he planned to do in the afternoon.

The sound of a door being opened, followed by the sound of something like a book falling down, Ziongzong hung upside down and looked at the place where the sound was coming from. The first grade girl is looking at herself with a very surprised look.

It's true, if you open the door to the rooftop and see a fitness freak doing something, you'll probably have this dumbfounded look with your mouth open and eyes wide open.

"Sorry! I didn't see anything! Please continue!"

Then, with another exaggerated reaction, the schoolgirl grabbed the door and ran away, snapping away.

During the whole process, Ziongzong did nothing but look.

"Hoo ...... forty."

Ziongzong took a deep breath, finished the last one, let go of the knee nest that clamps the top of the barbed wire fence, so fell backwards, before landing on the barbed wire fence with a foot stomp, to complete a flip, stable feet on the ground.

--Do a five sets is almost enough.

After casually twisting his waist and bouncing a few times to relieve the soreness in his abdomen, Ziongzong picked up the notebook that had fallen to the ground, an item dropped by the timid schoolgirl.

"......Kurashige Yui"

This name is written on the title page of the notebook.

--It's a nice name.

--That idiot, Hayamizu Eiji, seems to have mentioned this name, the first year librarian.

Putting the notebook away, Ziongzong pushed open the rooftop door and felt something hit the other side of the door.

"Ouch, Ouch, Ouch ......"

Ito Tomono, covering his head, crouched on the ground with an expression that probably looked like this">__<".

"Yo, isn't this the class president, what are you doing here, the toilet isn't here. "

Ziongzong's bad words immediately earned him a blank stare from Ito Tomono.

"I'm just kidding, it hurts, I'm sorry, I was too careless. "

This obvious change in attitude caused Ito Tomono to freeze for a moment and then stiffen up.

"Don't get so close! ...... bastard.''

Ito Tomonori stood up abruptly, Ito Tomonori quickly pulled away from Ziongzong and hid by the wall.

"He still seems to be in good spirits, so he's fine, well, that's good."

The meaning of Ito Tomono's every move, Ziongzong could see very well, the more awkward people are, the easier it is to be read.

"So, what is it that you've come back to me for. "

Ziongzong sat down on the armrest and kept a distance from Ito Tomono that he felt the other person could accept.

"Really ...... doesn't look like a senior."

Ito Tomono was unhappy and bristled, her tone was discontented.

--And just a little kid.

"There's nothing to do, because it's just a fellow club, so it's impossible to use the Kyudo-dojo for practice, there's only a small room. "

"Until we have enough members, you should learn the basics of Kyudo by yourself, there are many reference books in the library. "

Hearing Ito Tomono say that, Ziongzong also understood her subtext in general.

"What about club activities?"

"Let's suspend it for now, but of course, it's okay if you want to check it out."

"I understand, if you need my help, just ask."

"I'm not going to be polite even if you don't say anything, so I'll leave now."

Ito Tomono gave a strong "hum", but when she was about to pass Ziongzong on the way down the stairs, she dodged away with trepidation.

"Walk carefully, don't hit anything again.

Ziongzong, as well as Ziongzong's uncle heart, agreed that it was fun to tease and tease this 'class president'.

Away from the crowd, people who can be chaotic become calm, but also people who can make chaos more chaotic.

Paranoid dean once said so to Ziongzong.

Therefore, to deliberately stay away from the crowd in order to calm oneself, that is just a formality, not an act that can essentially bring help.

The afternoon session seemed just as boring to Ziongzong, who had met with Katagiri Mai several times over the past few days and felt that their relationship had not improved as a result of the incident that day, but had instead grown colder.

--If it was just a stranger's level before, now it's like treating a homeless person on the roadside.

--If there hadn't been so much going on, life wouldn't be in such a mess as it is now.

But it is this situation that makes Ziongzong feel that life is interesting and that life needs to be on fire.

Ziongzong's help to Koga Mizuo last night was not just about following traditional Chinese virtues, but more importantly, if he had ignored her presence and walked past, Ziongzong would no longer be Ziongzong.

Although there is a possibility that taking the initiative will hurt, Ziongzong feels that taking the initiative once in a while is not bad, since she, Koga Mizuo, has also said so.

--The first thing you need to do is to take the initiative.

The meeting in three days can't wait.

Ziongzong wants to see her now.

This is certainly not a crime, because it has nothing to do with romantic feelings.

He decided to go to the city elementary school in the afternoon after school.

--Ziongzong was in good mood and even the scenery outside the window became brighter in his eyes.

"Uesugi, answer the second question."

"Yes."

It is always better to act than to wait.

Even though there was no club activity, when Ziongzong arrived at the city elementary school, the elementary school students who had gone home, followed by their parents, were already scattered in twos and threes in the streets.

--Nothing other than the fact that she was in the sixth grade.

-- And there was no way to determine if this information was true or not.

With the actual battle on the horizon, Ziongzong had the benefit of hindsight about the oversight he had committed earlier.

--Although he said he had asked Yuuki to check, if he had investigated beforehand, it was possible to pretend to be another person's existence.

--" Koga Mizuo" "Short, about my height, and cute. " "She's wearing a double ponytail," "a red hair tie," "a cute person.

--This is the "Koga Mizuo" that Yuuki said.

--It's easy to impersonate someone with this kind of information.

--It's better to wait at the entrance than to go to the school.

This time, Ziongzong made sure that the schoolchildren would only come out of the school gate and there was no other diversion.

And Ziongzong together with the door waiting for some parents to pick up their children, worried about the safety of their children, it is normal. Although often heard that the higher the quality of the population, the lower the crime rate.

But in fact it is not so.

It is not to look down on or self deprecation and self pity, Japan's population quality, per capita education, indeed higher than the China. But, for almost a month, Ziongzong thinks it is enough to explain the problem based on the number of crimes he saw in the newspaper. Although there are also factors of media control, but the real is often hidden in the details.

The higher the quality of the population, the more fierce the competition in society, and the more complex and diverse the means of competition. The people who act in an open and honest manner, the people who talk with honey, the people who are two-faced, all kinds of people, have become more terrible because of the improvement in quality.

And the same is true of crime.

It is true that society is developing at a high speed, but the high speed is not the only good side of the development.

Not waiting long, Ziongzong saw in the distance, a large force led by Yuuki was marching towards the door.

Until here, Ziongzong hadn't realized that he had forgotten something quite important.

-- Really hard work, Yuuki.

Ziongzong admires the two sides of Yuuki, entrusting her weakness to her family and doing her best to be a strong, independent person who can be relied on outside of her family.

--Go for it.

This kind of occasion is not suitable to open the mouth and shout out the fleshly support, so Ziongzong just silently gazed at her with his eyes, and coincidentally, met with Yuuki's eyes unintentionally.

What Ziongzong couldn't quite understand was that Yuuki panicked and averted her gaze, not in a shy way, but with a criminal fleeing feeling.

--what's wrong?

The important information that was ignored by Ziongzong still didn't make it to the surface and was pressed into the depths of memory.

It didn't take long for Yuuki to be escorted out of the school by the stars. Because he had already seen it once, Ziongzong was not surprised, but what surprised Ziongzong was that the parents standing around him not only showed faces that were used to it, but also mixed with looks of approval and gratitude.

-- What's going on?

-- No matter how you look at it, at this moment, Yuuki is no longer a mere 'child king' type of class, and isn't this kind of class-defined team action disgusting to these parents?

"What's wrong with those kids? "

"Huh? Did you come to pick up your younger siblings?"

"Ah, yes, yes."

"That child is called Uesugi Yuuki, and she is famous here."

The parent next to Ziongzong was not suspicious of his identity and talked to him with a smile on his face.

"You didn't live here before, right?

"Well, yes, I just moved here a month ago."

"No wonder you didn't know, since last year, almost a year ago, there have been more than a dozen cases of children being abducted in this neighborhood, one in a month on average. "

"The school has taken many measures and contacted the police, but to little avail. "

As the parent said, all the children were picked up by their parents, except for the students who followed the group.

"The school has recently revised some of the details of how the teachers take the students home."

"And then, the child named Uesugi Yuuki, however, made a plan that satisfied all the students in her class. She researched the addresses of the children who lived in the neighborhood and created a team homecoming route. "

"So, every time she went home, there was a large group of children, and it was hard not to attract attention, so it was hard for crime to happen, and parents were relieved to leave their children with her. "

"The child is admired by everyone, and as you can see, she is a very good leader. "

After a long and detailed speech, the parent still seemed to have more to say, so Ziongzong hurriedly seized the gap and politely interrupted her, because he needed enough information already.

"So that's how it is, she's really something, at a young age."

"Yeah, huh hahaha."

Because that's the case, those children weren't sent, but they took the initiative to show their affection to Yuuki.

--Yuuki is a lot more capable than I thought, as expected of Yukino-san's child.

The number of students leaving school gradually decreased, and they had been waiting for half an hour, but Ziongzong still didn't see Mizuo's shadow.

The bell of the clear school rang with the bell, the electric school gate slowly closed.

Until the end, Ziongzong also did not see Mizuo.

The most crucial detail, he still failed to remember, otherwise, he would not have fallen into this kind of trouble.

The people around are gradually leaving.

Ziongzong, standing outside the school gate, watched the bright lights of the classrooms in the school building go out one by one, feeling as if it was a countdown.

--There was a sense of incongruity.

--I seem to have missed something.

After Ziongzong turned in circles for a long time, he finally saw a cog in the precision machinery that was stuck. After realizing what he had caught, Ziongzong decided to organize his thoughts first.

-- until the school closed he has not seen Mizuo, then, there are only two possible cases.

--The first is that she has cleverly used the information about the characteristics of the person 'Koga Mizuo' to fool me once again.

--Second, she left before I arrived, or she didn't come today.

--It seems that the school was going to use it for an event or something. (Koga Mizuo)

---Yes. The school is holding an external event. (Uesugi Yuuki)

Because of Yuuki's affirmative answer, Ziongzong didn't doubt this statement.

But just now, didn't the schoolchildren go out normally after school?

--What's going on?

-- Mizuo lying to me is acceptable, but why even Yuuki ......

one is to say no need to school, and then also no one can be seen.

The other one said she didn't have to go to school, but she came to school normally.

And both of them used the exact same excuse.

"......"

Ziongzong knew it was too late and understood that it was a negative effect of his emotional state.

There is no use just thinking alone here, Ziongzong pick up the mood and start taking action.

After talking to the gatekeeper, Ziongzong entered the city's elementary school under the pretext that he was a graduate visiting a teacher. After a few twists and turns, he found the class teacher of Mizuo's class. It was a man with a face in his forties, but with a full head of gray hair, who was packing his briefcase and preparing to leave work.

"Hello, I'm a friend of Mizuo Koga. "

"Mizuo's friend?"

He did not react too much to Ziongzong's unexpected guest, but simply gave Ziongzong a look, as if he already knew this day would come. And he quickly accepted Ziongzong's self-proclaimed identity as "Friend of Koga Mizuo".

"Yes, last night, I found Mizuo covered in bruises on the roadside, but she did not explain the reason to me, I am very concerned about this, and want to talk to you about it. "

"...... "

And he didn't show his surprise about Mizuo's injury, Ziongzong was very concerned about it.

"Okay, come with me. "

Most of the teachers in the office were off duty, and in the empty office, only Ziongzong and the class teacher were left.

The dappled sunset cast a dark red shadow on the curtains, the quiet atmosphere made the air gradually settle down, the homeroom teacher sat down on the chair, the aging chair made a creaking sound, raised his hand, gestured Ziongzong to sit down.

"I'm Ziongzong Uesugi, and I'm sorry to bother you like this. "

"Just call me Honda."

"Mr. Honda, I'd like to ask you what kind of person Mizuo was at school. "

The answer to this question is only one of Ziongzong's purposes, he would like to achieve another purpose, is to use this question to understand this Mr. Honda's person, because his previous behavior makes Ziongzong very concerned.

"Mizuo...... how to say it, is a naughty boy, right."

Mr. Honda's brow was naturally furrowed, like a father, speaking of his playful children in general, although dissatisfied, but also through a loving.

'She likes to interrupt during class, and always says something irrelevant, or amusing ......'

Speaking of which, his frown relaxed and his face got more of a smile.

"But still a good kid overall.''

"What you just said actually happened to me once."

--It's really not the first time.

Mr. Honda's words had a lot of weight to Ziongzong's ears.

"She didn't tell me anything, even though I asked her again and again. "

"Didn't you contact her family?"

"Yes."

"But after informing the other parent, I didn't hear anything back. ...... I thought it was settled."

Mr. Honda's somewhat gloomy expression was once again visible.

The cold wind blowing from the window sent a shiver down Ziongzong's spine.

"Do you know about Mizuo's family background? "

Ziongzong knew it was against common sense to ask this rashly, even as friends, there are things that can be asked, and things that cannot be asked.

"......"

Mr. Honda hesitated for a moment.

"This kind of privacy is not to be told, right? "

Ziongzong could only smile bitterly at this logical outcome, but what he did not anticipate was that Mr. Honda raised a hand, signaling that he had something more to say.

"But there are not many people who can care about Mizuo, so this is the only time. "

After a soft sigh, Mr. Honda gave Ziongzong a smile of an encouraging nature.

"She is a single-parent family, with only her mother."

--"What kind of people are Mizuo's parents?

--"Well ...... dad works all the time and mom is a wise housewife."

"However, mother and daughter have a good relationship, but they have some financial difficulties.''

--Yeah?

Ziongzong had a hard time believing that.

"If it's convenient, can you show me the information about Mizuo's mother? "

And that, moreover, was a request that bordered on an inch.

Mr. Honda looked at Ziongzong's face as if he was looking at something very interesting.

"...... okay."

What he handed me was a class home school contact book, made with great care, each student occupying a separate page, and on the page number of Mizuo, there was a mother-daughter photo together.

The first thing that caught Ziongzong's attention was the picture of Mizuo, which was indeed the twin ponytail that Ziongzong knew, Koga Mizuo. The doubts that had been hovering in Ziongzong's mind were finally lessened.

Secondly, it is Mizuo's mother.

She is a dazzling, charming woman at first sight.

Her name is 'Koga Shie'.

But that's it, no workplace or personal phone number. There is only a photo, name, and home phone number, which makes people suspicious. Mizuo's family is obviously different from "Dad works all the time and mom is a wise housewife." This description did not match, which fulfilled Ziongzong's vague fears, but what he wanted to know was why Mizuo was lying.

"Mr. Honda, did Mizuo come to class today? "

Although discussing the solution with the teacher was a simple and effective solution, Ziongzong did not use it, and the reason for that could only be attributed to the boy's stubbornness and the conceit of his uncle's heart.

Asked about Mizuo's attendance, Mr. Honda was a little surprised that the junior high school student's attack on Mizuo was beyond his expectation.

"No, it's not."

"Is it usually like this?"

"No, it's the first time I've missed class this semester, and I've never encountered such a situation before. "

But the truth was on the table, for Mr. Honda, as Mizuo's homeroom teacher, he was not only academically inclined, but he was also obliged to lend a hand when there was a discordant note in Mizuo's life, but just as Ziongzong had chosen to forgo his teacher's help, Mr. Honda, who was already over forty years old, did not include Ziongzong as someone to ask for help.

"That's right."

"Well, yes."

So this conversation, with its huge difference in status, ended in the nature of an exchange of information, which, of course, neither of them thought, much less recognized, as a desecration of the original purpose of their action.

--That was pretty much all the information that could be obtained from Mr. Honda.

Ziongzong gathered and organized the information he had just received and decided not to tell Mr. Honda what had happened in the park. Not to distrust him, in fact, Mr. Honda is above Ziongzong's imagination, a very good teacher.

I'm sure he is also a very fond of children.

Just ......

"Then, I'll leave you, Mr. Honda."

"Uesugi, wait a moment."

"What is it?"

Ziongzong realized that he would be called, most likely because of his other identity.

"Uh ...... Do you have a sister?

"Hmm."

"Name? "

"Uesugi Yuuki."

And things went just as Ziongzong had expected.

"...... What a coincidence. Do you know how it happened that Yuuki didn't come to class today? "

Only, it turned out to be far more than he expected.

"She didn't come to class? "

"Yes, not just my class, it seems like she didn't come all day."

"I just saw her leave the school when I came over. "

"What? ...... Are you sure you saw her correctly? "

"Yes."

"That's really strange. ...... Yuuki has always been a good kid, would you please go back to her and find out what's going on? "

"Okay, I understand."

Ziongzong was confused, he didn't know what was true and what was not from what he heard from Yuuki.

"Mr. Honda, if I may ask, are Mizuo and Yuuki both in your class? "

"No, Mizuo is in my class, and Yuuki is in the next class. Anything wrong?"

"No, it's nothing, I'm sorry to bother you today, thank you very much."

"Well, take care on your way."

Ziongzong said goodbye to Mr. Honda and left the city elementary school.

When he left the school, the sky was already dyed by the setting sun. Although he had gotten a lot of useful information, the things that were clear were also disturbed a lot.

--What exactly is Yuuki doing.

Ziongzong's originally simple thoughts were disturbed by Mr. Honda's words.

--not going to school? Going home from school with her classmates? There is an external event at school today, no class?

--No, there is too little information, can not think of a reason at all.

--I think I've found a breakthrough by talking to her mother. ...... It's just a question of how to find out.

The paper and pen were taken out, and Ziongzong wrote down the phone number of Mizuo's house in the contact book by memory.

--And, between Yuuki and Mizuno, there should be something.

--I don't believe in such a coincidence.

As I was walking home, Ziongzong turned the corner and saw a man and woman embracing each other. The man had his hands around the slender waist of the girl, while the girl was nestled in the man's arms with a happy face.

Generally speaking, this should be a scene that passersby need to avoid, which is the subversion of common sense, the shy should not be passersby, but should be the parties who are 'working', but all this does not matter because.

Because, one of the people Ziongzong know.

--To walk past pretending not to know?

Ziongzong immediately approved of this option, and unfortunately, the one he knew had already seen him.

"Yo, Uesugi! "

"...... what a coincidence, Hayamizu."

Would anyone normally say hello to a friend passing by while making out with his girlfriend?

Ziongzong felt sad for the girlfriend of this philandering handsome guy.

In addition, the girl that Hayamizu is now holding in his arms is not the same as the one Ziongzong met last time.

Ziongzong does not want to guess how many girlfriends he actually has.

Maybe this guy is no longer a matter of having a few boats ......

Maybe he can form a fleet or something if he has time ......

"So, babe, that's it for today. "

Hayamizu actually left his girlfriend behind.

"Uesugi, let's go home together."

...... just to go home with Ziongzong.

It was like that last time too!

No, no, it's nothing to get excited about, if you get excited it'll be like you've approved some kind of relationship instead.

Anyway, the good thing is that the sexual orientation of the Hayamizu is very clear, character in addition to some stupidity, is considered masculine and righteous teenager, and does not have special hobbies ......

otherwise Ziongzong certainly keep a distance from him.

This is not a discrimination against a certain orientation, any orientation should be respected, but forced together then always will not be happy, so before any party is hurt or early clear position is good.

The above is purely, well, a joke.

"You're a little late today, Uesugi."

"Uh, I'm a little late on something."

From Ziongzong's point of view, it wasn't a pleasant experience to go home with Hayamizu because girls on the side of the road were always looking at us.

Of course, the eyes were all directed at Hayamizu.

Although he was handsome, in Ziongzong's eyes, this guy was just a simple idiot.

"Nah, Hayamizu, I'll tell you a story, and then you can tell me what you think. "

"I want to hear it, I want to hear it!"

That's the reaction of an idiot.

"There is a junior high school student, because of coincidence, met a girl in the sixth grade, one night ......"

Ziongzong slightly modified the character and then told the Hayamizu what happened in the past two days, of course, he such a fool can not know that this matter and Ziongzong related.

"Hmm ...... really twisted and bizarre ah."

"And then, what happened?"

"There was no more."

"Eh?

"What do you think?"

"It's complicated."

-- Alas such idiot

Ziongzong felt that he was also a fool for expecting the Hayamizu.

"Let's just say your guess. "

"Ah ...... you're not torturing my brain cells ......"

Hayamizu was biting his finger, his face was torn with an expression.

After he hesitated and hesitated and grimaced almost to the point of eating his finger, he finally emptied the sewer like a drain that can't be defecated all at once and dipped.

"Because the family is very poor, so the girl must have owed a lot of money to the yakuza, and then live all day to be hunted, not to eat. Junior high school student's sister, because of sympathy for that girl, so lend a helping hand, in order not to implicate that junior high school student, the two girls colluded confession, using the time of school, illegal work to earn money to support the family ...... oooh ...... "

a certain called Hayamizu The handsome man said his imaginary story, while can't help but start a snotty face ......

actually can be moved to tears by the imaginary story, this fool is really unexpectedly simple.

Only, this story is too much imagination, the role of factual basis have not been able to play, in terms of reference value, can not say no, but is also minimal.

Here, Ziongzong remembered the blond man he saw wandering in the alley that night, and vaguely felt fishy.

'Don't cry there, Hayamizu, it's time to go.'

But what concerned Ziongzong more was the fact that Mizuo and Yuuki had adopted the exact same excuse, and he didn't think it was going to be some mere coincidence.

--I remember, she seems to be in the next class, and I often see her.

That night, that was how Yuuki described Mizuo, and now, to Ziongzong, it was clear that Yuuki didn't just 'know' Mizuo.

--If only it were really as simple as what Hayamizu said.

Ziongzong's unconscious sentiment took reality too lightly, to the point of ignoring his own abilities.

"Oi, Uesugi, go inside and take a look."

Hayamizu stopped in front of a convenience store with an oversized poster of a popular female porn star posted outside. Without waiting for Ziongzong to say yes, this idiot already walked in with glowing eyes, like a raven with a greedy mouth seeing bone-in meat on the ground.

--Convenience store door posting such things......

Ziongzong is not yet able to adapt to this kind of business culture in Japan. The convenience store wasn't very big, and he caught a glimpse of some idiot with his head stuck in the adult magazine section. The clerk seemed to be used to it and showed no signs of trying to stop a minor.

Ziongzong looked around idly, his brain not analyzing what he saw, but thinking about what lies beyond the 'now' instead of his vision.

"Hey, Uesugi, look at this! "

Hayamizu's face had been attacked by a lustful expression, and Ziongzong looked at the page he pointed to while worrying if he might accidentally drool.

--Although there is nothing wrong with the Japanese language of life, there is really a lack of research on the terminology specific to the erotic industry.

--Even though I didn't understand it very well, I was able to read the general content.

The column features a full-body close-up of a sexy actress, which seems to be the one posted outside the door. To say that the temptation of teenagers, naturally, is inevitable, heartbeat accelerated or whatever is normal, after all, these are irresistible factors and from a theoretical point of view, is unable to resist this physiological reaction.

Only, Ziongzong is not in that mood now.

'Sorry, I don't really want to see this kind of stuff right now.'

He pushed away the hand of the Hayamizu and wanted to leave the still spring animal to go home first, but ......

"Wait a minute! "

Ziongzong quickly pulled back the hand of the magazine that was trying to put it back.

"What, you still can't stop your desire? Ah, I understand, it is better not to pretend to be a gentleman at this time. ......"

Hayamizu water alone to explain to himself, and Ziongzong did not even bother what she was saying, in the corner of the magazine, Ziongzong saw a familiar face. Although it is said that the makeup is painted and the hairstyle is different, but there is no doubt ......

This woman is who is called Koga Shie.

--Aid intercourse? ......

This kind of speculation is not unheard of.

Poverty, single-parent families, disharmonious family relationships.

Ziongzong silently jotted down the URL and phone number in his mind.

'Hayamizu.'

He interrupted some idiot who was still talking to himself.

"Ah, what? "

"Do you have any contacts in this area? "

"What about ......?"

Hayamizu confused at first then suddenly opened his eyes wide, opened his mouth and pointed his index finger at Ziongzong and struggled for half a day to say something.

"Uesugi you do not want to ......"

"first answer me, there is any way you can?

Ziongzong knew that for the Hayamizu, there was no need to explain the details of it.

"Well, there may are some ways."

And the result was just as Ziongzong had hoped.

It's a shame that he's already like this in his third year of school, and that he'll become a lost youth and be arrested by the police.

"Are you free tonight? "

"So urgent?"

"Are you free?"

"Yes."

The guy was embarrassed and scratched his hair. It was surprising that he was embarrassed.

"Actually, I've been looking for a change of pace recently ...... but I didn't expect Uesugi to be one of them."

This is obviously just a misunderstanding.

After that, on the way home with Ziongzong and Hayamizu, they agreed on a time and place. The most important thing right now is the Koga Shie clue.

Mizuo did not go to school, no contact information, three days too long ...... even to say she is now unaccounted for is not too much. Ziongzong think maybe tonight will be able to catch a break ......

- - hope it goes well.

"Like this kind of thing, usually after seven o'clock in the evening to start the appointment."

With his arms clasped to his chest and a look of "I am an expert", Hayamizu sat on a swivel chair with his feet up and explained to Ziongzong enthusiastically.

At this moment, Ziongzong was staying in the room of Hayamizu, waiting for the computer to start up together with him.

"After several improvements, it is now common to make a reservation online and choose a love hotel or other place to meet."

Because it was at the home of the Hayamizu, they uniformly replaced the aid intercourse with "such a thing", and as for Uesugi's home, Ziongzong used the excuse of "overnight at a classmate's house" to muddle through.

I hope that with all this fuss, I hope it doesn't turn out to be a pointless game.

The Hayamizu skillfully logged into the website, while searching for what he needed on the page.

"You usually pay when you're done, right? "

"Yes."

The adult magazine he bought from the convenience store was spread out on the table, and then he suddenly looked at Ziongzong with a subtle grin.

"Uesugi, you're not still a virgin, are you? "

If it was a scrappy male protagonist in a light novel, he would be stammering and unable to say anything because he wanted to maintain his poor self-esteem.

"So what if I'm a virgin, so what if I'm not. "

Ziongzong has been immune to the word "virgin" since he was a child, because the paranoid dean always taunted him with "You're just a little virgin, what's there to be proud of." Besides, a third-year junior high school student has nothing to be ashamed of if he's not a virgin.

If not, that's the problem.

For example, Eiji Hayamizu.

"Okay, I'm done."

The website was much larger than Ziongzong expected, and after flipping through dozens of pages, he finally found the familiar face and booked.

"I can't tell, Uesugi, do you have an Oedipus complex?"

Hayamizu expressed a considerable degree of incomprehension at the result of Ziongzong's choice, just a bit inappropriate in wording.

--This idiot really knows what "Oedipus complex" means ......

Ziongzong looked back at Hayamizu without making any statement, indeed, Koga Shie, despite her makeup, was no longer young, the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes that were not well powdered The wrinkles at the corners of the eyes, as well as the aging neck, all ruthlessly betrayed her age. She is very far down the list of appointments, which has something to do with her old age. In the introduction below the photo, it says the nickname she uses, Wisteria.

--The mother of the girl is really doing this kind of thing ......

until the moment of clicking down, Ziongzong could not let himself believe this speculation.

-- We can only meet and see.

After using Hayamizu’s account to book there is still one more thing that Ziongzong must do on his itinerary. it is now 7:20, and the scheduled time is 8:00 at the couple's hotel in Kikuya-cho. Ziongzong made up a random excuse to put off the Hayamizu, made an appointment with him to meet again, and left the Hayamizu house in a hurry.

"I'm back~"

"What's wrong, Zongzong? Didn't I say I'd spend the night at my classmate's house?"

"I'm sorry, I forgot my things, I'll leave soon."

"Don't be in such a hurry, dinner is just about ready, do you want to eat before you go?"

"No, Yukino-san, you guys eat, I have a date with my classmate."

Ziongzong rushed back to Uesugi's house, and went to his room without stopping.

--Then, before going to find Koga Shie, the rest of the day's business has ......

He pulled open the bottom drawer, in the drawer about a third of the way deep there is a layer of concealed panels, which Ziongzong himself processed and made, and after pulling out the concealed panels He took out what was hidden inside.

Wig, high imitation human face, hidden height boots, cheap adult style shirts, pants.

If he wanted to camouflage, he wouldn't choose the Uesugi family, so Ziongzong bagged these items and took them with him, found a public restroom that wasn't too crowded, and transformed himself into what he imagined to be a completely different person in appearance, voice, and habits.

Yoshihiro Itou.

"I'm Yoshihiro Itou. I'm here for the first time today, so please advise me. "

The young man with a head of 5'8", with a thin body, spoke in a rather casual tone with a somewhat hoarse voice, although his words were polite. He walked into the small company with one hand in his pocket and one hand carrying his bag behind his back. The people were busy with their own business, no one paid any attention to him, and he was not embarrassed by the tension.

--This man ......

In Yoshihiro Itou's mind, flashed the street scene he saw through the window one night.

This man with blond hair.

"You are the boss, right? What do I need to do and in what way will my salary be settled?"

Yoshihiro Itou walked straight up to the blond man with a nonchalant attitude. After a moment of silence, the blond man held a cigarette in his fingers and, intentionally or unintentionally, shook the ashes on Yoshihiro Itou's boots.

"I'm the boss here, call me Akao, new arrivals go to work as porters, get an ID card at the front desk, swipe the card at the machine at the front desk when working, and settle the day's wages by hour, understand and go to work. "

"Yes, boss."

Yoshihiro Itou replied without a trace of seriousness, but before he turned to go to the front desk, he took a paper towel from his pocket, wrapped the ashes on his boots and threw them into the trash before leaving. The blond man named Akao took this in his eyes and secretly began to pay attention to this person, Yoshihiro Itou.

After finishing his part-time job, Ziongzong changed back to his original appearance and found Hayamizu Eiji.

Since it was not very far, they went there on foot. On the way, the Hayamizu nagged and chattered about some nonsense. Something like, "Why don't we just get a room and have a threesome? "How about swapping partners after two sessions? "Do you need to lend you props" ...... and other such boring topics.

Ziongzong listened to the meaningless words of the Hayamizu while walking, and soon arrived at the destination. No ID card is required, even the identity of being a student is no obstacle, Hayamizu easily opened two rooms.

Ziongzong was quite worried about the declining society.

"Hayamizu, can even underage students come to this kind of place to get a room easily now? "

"Of course not."

Eiji Hayamizu smiled mysteriously, this was his complete domain, and Ziongzong became a fool instead.

"This hotel is not a regular business, so you should not worry too much about the details. "

The two of them sat down side by side on the sofa in the lobby, and although they were not wearing school uniforms, two underage teenagers, appearing in a hotel like this, which was almost synonymous with an erotic place, could not help but attract the attention of the guests coming and going.

"Young people's sexuality is really open these days, and even such young children come to this kind of place to spend money. "

"No, you're too naive."

"The other day I met a 13-year-old girl who had played more H-games than me. "

Not only were the customers whispering, but even the counter staff were curious and talking intensely about the two of them. Sharp gazes, like sharp knives stabbing at the body, made Ziongzong uncomfortable. Contrary to Ziongzong, the Hayamizu in turn is not bothered at all, enjoying the situation with self-congratulation.

--Can only say that ...... is really worthy of the Hayamizu .

After waiting , the face that Ziongzong wanted to see finally appeared at the front door, and while he hesitated, the Hayamizu already greeted him warmly.

The two women showed a slightly surprised expression and an ambiguous smile after realizing that the guests were just two children.

The situation on the other side of the Hayamizu Ziongzong had no time to pay attention to, he knew that tonight he had to make a breakthrough from Koga Shie.

For the sake of Koga Shie who cannot live well as a mere schoolboy.

Koga Shie tonight wearing a purple dress, dotted with white flowers, just like the gorgeous wisteria, in the middle of this dark night, blooming extraordinarily bewitching. For Ziongzong and her, each other, are meeting for the first time, but she does not know who Ziongzong is, while Ziongzong knows her identity ...... This is Ziongzong's chess game tonight.

--For those who have not fought and have won the calculation, they have gained a lot of calculation; those who have not fought and have not won the calculation, they have gained a little calculation.

After a brief exchange, Ziongzong and the Hayamizu, with their respective 'partner', went into their respective rooms.

After letting Koga Shie into the room first, Ziongzong did not make a sound, inserted the chain into the groove, locked the door, this action is quite hidden, so that Koga Shie did not notice at all.

The room is not large, a seemingly rotatable double bed, as well as a peculiarly shaped round bathtub occupies almost all of the space.

The trinkets hanging on the walls, slightly pink color tone, and the sound of the saxophone playing in the stereo, with the melodic tone of the sex hormone, so that the first time to spend in this kind of place Ziongzong, experienced the true meaning of the hotel for couples.

Koga Shie elegantly sat down on the bed, her crossed feet letting the hem of her skirt slip to one side, revealing her white, clear and plump thighs, with a teasing look on her face.

For an inexperienced, love-sick boy, the temptation of this look is undoubtedly huge.

It's just that, compared to lust and sexual desire, which are physical instincts born for reproduction, sadness, grief, and worry, which are acquired feelings, have the ability to dominate the brain ...... at least in Ziongzong's opinion.

The look-alike that could not be affirmed in the website photo was affirmed after actual confirmation.

-- unless there exist two people who look exactly alike.

"What's wrong, little brother, shy? "

Because Ziongzong was concerned with thinking, it made Koga Shie feel impatient. Only because she was professional, she didn't show it, but knocked from the side, hoping Ziongzong would hurry up.

--Perhaps, there are other customers who have made reservations after me.

--It's not a happy job to sell your body for pay, is it?

--No one would want to do such a thing if they had any other choice.

Ziongzong still remembered that even the paranoid dean had helped a prostitute to lead a normal life again during a business trip abroad.

And afterwards, he said to Ziongzong that it was foolish to condemn the prostitute.

--- 'What can such broad and feeble condemnation really do for someone who understands that he is doing something wrong and has to do it.'

This kind of words, like after-dinner gossip, which can hurt people invisibly but cannot help those in need, are spoken freely from a high position, which is not only an insult to the target, but also dehumanizes the speaker himself.

And now, Ziongzong is facing a mother who is engaged in the practice of social assistance.

"You are, Koga Shie, aren't you?"

Ziongzong turned off the music in the room and said the name to her in clear words.

"You're Koga Ziyoshi, right? "

In the room, the originally ambiguous atmosphere cooled down all of a sudden.

The corners of her mouth, which was smiling, stiffened on her cheeks.

Koga Shie stretched her legs and sat on the bed, while Ziongzong stood a few meters in front of her.

After several minutes of this stalemate, she patted her stiff cheeks and then squeezed out a smile at Ziongzong.

"This little brother, you're kidding, I don't quite understand who you're talking about."

"No."

"Koga Mizuo, it's your daughter, right? "

"......"

Ziongzong didn't slow down the pace, he drove Koga Shie to a craggy cliff with no way back in an almost aggressive manner, and the words "Koga Mizuo" turned this into the worst kind of joke.

The white polished surface of the bathtub reflected the light, leaving eerie patterns on the wallpaper.

She, Koga Shie, after silence, first stared at Ziongzong for a long time, after which she annoyingly ruffled the bangs in front of her eyes, put her legs down, her head deeply lowered and buried in her thighs.

Ziongzong heard the sound of her deep breathing, and then, Koga Shie raised her head.

Already realized that this is not work, Koga Shie, completely relaxed look, the skin on the cheeks a little loose, eyes also because of fatigue, sunk into the eye sockets.

It was as if a new person had changed.

Not only is it a lowly job, but it is also a job where both the body and the mind are tortured.

"What do you want me to do?"

Her voice was a little weak.

"I want to talk to you about something. "

"Yes?"

She looked at Ziongzong as if he were an absurd creature, then abruptly stood up, took a big step, and ran straight to the door.

"Wait."

The corridor was small, and Ziongzong's whole body was between her and the door.

"I won't keep you too long."

The way out was blocked off, and the couple's hotel was extraordinarily well soundproofed.

Koga Shie was powerlessly silent.

"......"

Even though it was only a junior boy and a bit thin, it wasn't easy for a female to ignore his blockage to pass a door that was locked with chains. She gave an undisguised sigh, then returned to the room, picked a comfortable spot, and sat down.

Completely different from the dusty woman she was just now, the current Koga Shie emitted an aura that repelled others from entering outwardly.

"I'm very sorry for causing you trouble by doing this kind of thing without permission. "

"But because Mizuo's recent situation is really worrying, I had to do such a thing. "

At this point, Ziongzong's attitude eased, the oppressive communication was not what he wanted, but only for the situation to go in the direction he wanted it to go.

Poverty, single-parent families, mothers who have no choice but to take menial jobs, mothers and daughters who are dependent on each other.

While some people are living the happy lives they take for granted, there are others who are still struggling to reach this ordinary life. While most people pick and choose what they want to eat for their next meal, there are a billion people around the world who don't know if the next meal still exists.

Ziongzong wanted to help Mizuo because Ziongzong felt it was something he could do and something he wanted to do. After getting in communication with Mizuo's mother, he hopes to be more convenient and help their lives from the root.

However.

Koga Shie, however, mockingly, let out a dry laugh.

This laugh, like a pair of scissors, cut the pre-drawn image in Ziongzong's mind into pieces without mercy.

The "Mizuo , called so affectionately, that stinky girl when to catch you?"

--Hey, wait a minute, wait a minute!

---That shouldn't be the answer!

Koga Shie's expression didn't become gentle at all, not even a little, because of the mention of her daughter.

"Please don't call your daughter that way, okay?"

"This is my freedom."

On the contrary, her attitude became even colder.

"You know, she was injured the other day and fell alone on the night road! "

"Oh, so what?"

"It's not a matter of 'so what', is it? "

"Then what do you want?"

"Don't you care about this kind of thing as a mother?"

"What's there to care about?"

She waved her hand unconcernedly, talking about Mizuo in the same manner as a pimp in a kiln talks about her chicks.

This woman, she doesn't take Mizuo seriously at all.

-- I was completely wrong, from the beginning of the direction, the wrong choice.

Ziongzong imagined the pair of dependent mother and daughter, by the cold voice of Koga Shie, completely torn.

The one sitting on the bed now was not a mother struggling to make a living, but just a middle-aged woman who was tired of life.

"You don't care about Mizuo's life at all? "

"I don't even have time to take care of my own life, so what is there to care about her? "

Such a one-sided, wishful thinking conversation made it impossible for Ziongzong to go on.

"What kind of identity do you have with Mizuo? "

"As a mother, or as a guardian with no feelings? "

As if Ziongzong had asked a silly question, Koga Shie laughed unconcealed.

The violent breathing caused by the laughter made the windpipe of her throat, like the cracked land on the jagged plateau, reveal deep furrows on her neck. Sharp laughter, echoed in the room ...... even though this small space, has been placed full of objects, but at this time it gives Ziongzong empty, nowhere to land at ease the illusion.

Like a thing stuck in the throat, Ziongzong felt a revulsion.

The dim desk lamp left a smear of orange on the ceiling, and the black shadows that ran by unnoticed seemed like a ghostly, demonic dance.

"What are you talking about? "

"That guy is just a mere liability to me. "

Because she laughed so hard, she pressed her hand to her chest, and with some strain, gasped for breath.

"If I don't pay my living expenses, that sharp-tongued girl will do anything. It's not impossible to take me to court. "

--Wait a minute, why are you ......

-- Wait, why are they mother and daughter and...

These dialogues mercilessly destroyed everything that he had envisioned.

"Don't you live together?"

"Live together? Don't be ridiculous, I'd rather sleep in a pigsty if I lived with that kind of bratty and willful person.''

--So, you're letting Mizuo, who's only an elementary school student, live alone?

"She's only in Primary 6, she's not capable of living alone, right? "

"What do I care about her? She should be grateful that she gets her money on time."

--I can't communicate with her anymore.

"Do you have any idea about Mizuho's beating?"

"I don't know."

Koga Shie averted her gaze and looked at the watch on her wrist.

"...... I don't have time for your nonsense."

She stood up from the bed, grabbed her satchel, and squeezed past Ziongzong as the chains that had been opened made an intermittent crunching sound. The door opened silently, then with a loud bang, was closed with great force.

Ziongzong had no reason to stop her, and no position to do so, and let her go in this manner.

Tonight, it can be said that he knows a lot, it can also be said that he does not know anything.

Ziongzong's wishful thinking became shattered in this way, Mizuo's family environment is much worse than he thought.

The hardships of material life began to eat away at the family from the outside, gradually penetrating deep into the core; while broken affection, from the beginning, it is on the inside, the family from the root of the destruction.

--This thing ...... has been outside of my ability?

The quartz clock behind him, the second hand chasing the minute hand, the minute hand chasing the hour hand, constantly catching up, beyond, and then catching up.

Any way you look at it, it's just a funny one-man game.