Around 10 AM, Hoshimi got off the train, blending into the bustling crowd. Just stepping onto the platform made his head ache—there were far too many people! Everywhere he looked, it was a sea of humanity.
Being in such an environment made him once again experience the "prosperity" and noise of a major city.
"Sigh..."
Hoshimi sighed silently as he rubbed his temples and stepped into the throng.
Shinjuku Train Station, the busiest station in the world, has over 200 exits. Just by the sheer number of exits, one could imagine the volume of traffic and the complexity of the station's interior.
For a first-time visitor like Hoshimi, his previous life experience in big cities helped him avoid getting lost, though it did slow him down. He spent quite a bit of time just standing in front of a map, figuring out the correct exit.
Fortunately, persistence paid off, and he eventually found the exit closest to Kinokuniya Bookstore.
Some time later, Hoshimi, along with the crowd, exited the station through the East Gate and flagged down a taxi by the roadside, heading toward Kinokuniya Bookstore.
While in the taxi, Hoshimi took out his phone and noticed that Kasumigaoka had sent two more messages.
9:25 AM: "Hoshimi, are you still awake?"
9:58 AM: "Hoshimi, are you awake?"
Hoshimi glanced at the messages but didn't reply, planning to surprise Kasumigaoka when he arrived at the bookstore.
He put his phone away and closed his eyes to rest.
"Hey, kid, we're at Kinokuniya Bookstore."
At some point, the driver woke up the now-sleeping Hoshimi.
Hoshimi shivered as a chill ran through him. He rubbed his arms for warmth while taking out his wallet and asked, "How much?"
The driver gave the fare, and Hoshimi paid before getting out.
The taxi quickly drove away, leaving Hoshimi standing alone in front of the bookstore.
Staring up at the eight-story Kinokuniya, Hoshimi fell silent.
He had heard that there was an additional underground floor, making the bookstore a total of nine floors.
"..." Hoshimi stayed silent.
Maybe the surprise wasn't worth it? Perhaps he should just message Kasumigaoka and have her come down to meet him. Climbing through all these floors to find her would be exhausting.
After a brief moment of contemplation, Hoshimi decisively pulled out his phone and sent a message to Kasumigaoka.
"Utaha, I'm downstairs at Kinokuniya Bookstore. Where are you?"
He also attached a photo of the bookstore's entrance.
"What?! You're already here?!" came the instant reply, followed by another message almost immediately.
"Wait there! I'll come right down!"
Less than two minutes later, Kasumigaoka, dressed in blue, appeared at the bookstore entrance, looking around.
After a moment, she spotted Hoshimi standing at the street corner.
Hoshimi smiled and waited for her to approach.
Kasumigaoka locked eyes with Hoshimi and instinctively began moving toward him, her elegant legs in black stockings carrying her forward at a brisk pace.
Fifteen meters...
Ten meters...
Five meters...
Three meters...
Finally, Kasumigaoka stopped about 70 centimeters in front of Hoshimi.
Before she could speak, a fragrant scent reached Hoshimi.
He sniffed the air slightly—roses. Unlike the subtle scent Kasumigaoka had in his dreams, this was likely perfume.
The fragrance was quite nice, very gentle, and pleasing to the senses—definitely a high-end perfume.
As for the specific brand, it was unlikely he, a man with no knowledge of fashion, would be able to identify it.
"Hoshimi?"
Although they had known each other intimately in his dreams, this was the first time they were meeting in real life. Seeing Hoshimi's familiar face, the normally calm Kasumigaoka found herself feeling a bit flustered, almost not daring to believe it was really him.
"It's me." Hoshimi nodded.
Taking advantage of Kasumigaoka's momentary confusion, he discreetly observed his alluring old friend.
Today, Kasumigaoka was dressed in a light blue fitted top with a navy cardigan over it, a light blue skirt, and her signature black stockings.
Her upper body, with the fitted top showcasing the impressive curves of her chest, was further accentuated by the cardigan, highlighting her ample assets.
Her lower body didn't need much description—her glossy, fine black stockings paired with her "legs for years" were always the most eye-catching part of her, even more so than her face or impressive figure.
After scanning Kasumigaoka from head to toe, Hoshimi suddenly realized that women with a figure like Kasumigaoka's were indeed the best...
Just looking at her was a feast for the eyes. Yukino and Kotoko were also quite pleasant to look at, but they lacked something, a certain flavor that didn't have Kasumigaoka's direct and powerful appeal.
"Hoshimi..." Kasumigaoka called his name softly once more.
"Mm-hmm? It's me~" Hoshimi opened his arms, maintaining a gentle smile.
He expected Kasumigaoka to throw herself into his arms, savoring the rush of dopamine.
However, his expectation was off—Kasumigaoka didn't do that. Instead, she suspiciously studied his face, scrutinizing it carefully.
"What's wrong, Utaha? Don't you recognize me?" Hoshimi blinked and turned his head slightly, matching her gaze.
"No, I know you're Hoshimi, it's just..." Kasumigaoka hesitated, stepping closer.
She looked at his pale face and asked with concern, "Hoshimi, what's wrong? You don't seem to be in good shape."
"Uh..." Hoshimi paused, instinctively touching his cold face.
He wasn't in the best condition today. After cranking up the air conditioner and taking a cold shower in the morning, his body felt a bit off.
Then, after being jostled in a crowded train for a while, his head was in a constant fog due to the lack of oxygen.
It wasn't until he got out of the train station and took a taxi that he began to feel better.
"It's nothing, just a bit of travel fatigue. I'll be fine in a bit." Hoshimi smiled reassuringly.
Under normal circumstances, he should be exaggerating his suffering to create an atmosphere of sympathy, embodying the saying, "A crying child gets milk."
But as he was about to speak, an image of Yukino's concerned expression when she saw him sick popped into his mind, and for some reason, his words took a different turn, becoming words of comfort instead.
"Are you sure you're okay?" Kasumigaoka asked, still uncertain.
"I'm fine~" Hoshimi laughed it off and said, "Utaha, let's not talk about that. Where do you want to go first?"
"Go somewhere?" Kasumigaoka scanned Hoshimi from head to toe again and asked, "Hoshimi, have you had breakfast?"
"Not yet."
"Then let's go eat breakfast first. I know a good restaurant."
"Alright."
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