Lin Yi's smile showed that the woman had woken up.
He gently tapped Kimi Nishino's cheek, telling her not to pretend.
Kimi Nishino opened her eyes slightly, her cheeks blushing either from love or shyness, she wasn't sure.
"I have to go to Kamii University. I've already extended my investigation time. I need to finish it as soon as possible."
"Well, your work is important." Kimi Nishino helped Lin Yi get dressed and advised him, "Make sure to stay safe."
"Don't worry, I'll be fine. I'll be back with you in the evening," Lin Yi reassured her.
He hoped that Kimi Nishino could move out of the academy. First, she was about to graduate and didn't have any more necessary courses there. Second, Lin Yi's work was risky, and he didn't want any threats to endanger Kimi Nishino's safety or attract the attention of dangerous people.
Living in the CCG branch's housing would be safer than the school dormitory and more convenient for certain matters.
By "certain matters," Lin Yi meant having Nishino become his assistant.
Naturally, Nishino agreed to everything. She didn't want to be separated from Lin Yi even for a minute. Being closer to him and helping with his work was her desire.
After taking care of Nishino's matters, Lin Yi left in his car. Once inside, his smiling face turned serious.
There was a folder on the passenger seat containing information about Nishio Nishiki. Nishio Nishiki had orange hair, a handsome face, and was an athlete at Kamii University.
He was an influential figure at the school.
Lin Yi sighed. If he hadn't time-traveled and only read the original work, he might have thought Nishio Nishiki didn't deserve to die.
But as an investigator, seeing the lists of missing persons in the cases, knowing that these people had become the enemy's prey, he couldn't just stand by.
Changing the original plot wasn't his main concern. He followed his instincts, seeking justice and resolving conflicts.
Lin Yi arrived at Kamii University, where the commotion was much smaller than on the first day.
People were less curious now. Initially, they could only see investigators on TV during reported achievements or battles.
However, wherever Lin Yi went, there were always people watching.
"Wow, Investigator Lin is so handsome."
"So this is an investigator? It's not what I imagined."
"Look, Investigator Lin just looked in our direction."
There were many infatuated girls at the college age, especially with someone like Lin Yi, who was good-looking and exceptional.
However, Lin Yi wasn't there to flirt with girls. He bypassed them and approached a young man with short orange hair.
The young man had been on the outskirts of the crowd, seemingly just joining for fun. Now, seeing Lin Yi approaching, he furrowed his brows, appearing somewhat uneasy.
"Are you Nishio Nishiki?" Lin Yi asked.
"Uh, Investigator Lin knows me?"
Nishio Nishiki quickly adjusted his expression, smiled cheerfully, and touched the back of his head, looking a bit lost.
"Before coming to Kamii University, I watched your school team's match. You performed quite well, Nishio Nishiki," Lin Yi made up a sentence.
"Investigator Lin, don't make fun of me. I'm only average in school," Nishio Nishiki replied, feeling embarrassed. "Senior, did you find me just to say this?"
Lin Yi glanced around, realizing there were too many people present. They exchanged a glance without speaking and walked towards a secluded corridor.
Although it was only a few steps, Nishio Nishiki walked absentmindedly.
He thought he hadn't shown any flaws in his usual behavior, but being suddenly approached by an investigator made him worry.
With no more onlookers around, Lin Yi spoke up.
"Well, here's the thing, Nishio Nishiki. There have been frequent cases of disappearances lately, but we haven't made any progress. I noticed your skills, so I want to ask for your help as my assistant."
While speaking, Lin Yi patted Nishio Nishiki's shoulder. "Don't worry, CCG will ensure your safety."
Nishio Nishiki let out a sigh of relief, patting his chest and quickly replying, "That's great. I've always wanted to become an investigator. It's my dream, and I would be grateful to help you."
"Nishio Nishiki, you're too kind. With your help, my work will be much easier," Lin Yi smiled. "Let's go, I'll arrange for you to take leave from school. I have a lot of information in the car, and I'll introduce it to you gradually."
Nishio Nishiki agreed.
Although it was their first meeting, Nishio Nishiki was talkative, and Lin Yi enjoyed sharing interesting stories about CCG with him. As they chatted back and forth, they felt like close friends.
When they got into the car, Lin Yi started driving. Only then did Nishio Nishiki ask, "Senior, where are we going now?"
"At this hour, where else can we go? It's late, let's find a restaurant and have a casual meal. Since you're helping me, I can't let you go hungry," Lin Yi said generously.
Nishio Nishiki's heart sank.
The restaurant Lin Yi chose was a famous Japanese restaurant nearby. They had reserved a small private room for two, and soon various sushi, sashimi, and desserts were served.
"Mmm... The sashimi in this restaurant is so fresh. This special sauce makes it impossible to get tired of eating," Lin Yi commented as he savored a piece of sashimi with a relaxed expression, his face filled with delight. Then he glanced at Nishio Nishiki, his gaze slightly teasing.
Unfortunately, Nishio Nishiki was too nervous at the moment and didn't notice the change in Lin Yi's eyes.
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