Chapter 053: The Strange Scene
"Lin, it's good to have confidence, but being overly confident is not. From what I know, many boys have had a crush on my sister since childhood. She doesn't need to chase after anyone," said Hina Tachibana.
"I see. You think I'm not charming enough, huh? Well, you're right! A foreign student like me, who has lost many memories, really doesn't have much appeal," Lin Ye responded, his mood visibly dropping.
In the blink of an eye, Hina Tachibana noticed Lin Ye falling into a state of self-doubt.
"Hey! Lin, that's not what I meant at all! You're an outstanding and excellent student. You really showed great courage protecting me. I'm sure you're very popular with girls," she hurriedly explained, reaching out to hold his hand.
"Really?"
"Really. The thing I meant is that when it comes to relationships, boys should be more proactive. Honestly, I can't imagine my sister chasing you."
"What if it happens?" Lin Ye asked with a hint of challenge.
"I'll ask Yukino, and if she's willing, I'll introduce you," Hina Tachibana replied.
"Why not… you introduce yourself?" Lin Ye teased.
"No way! Don't joke with me, I'm going to get angry," Hina Tachibana pouted in a mock protest.
"Oh, I understand," Lin Ye replied, realizing she wasn't being serious.
"Alright, that's enough. The opportunity was there for you, but you turned it down. Don't regret it when you see my sister later."
Lin Ye shook his head, signaling he wouldn't regret it.
Yukino, his sister, was a bit eccentric, if the original story remained unchanged.
"By the way, teacher, about the game…"
"Game? What game?"
As expected, Hina Tachibana didn't receive an invitation for the "strange game," which Lin Ye had suspected. If she had, she would have definitely talked about it on the way to the apartment. If she had refused, she would have also forgotten about the "task."
But Hina Tachibana neither mentioned it nor forgot about the strange event.
So, people caught up in "regular tasks" wouldn't receive such an invitation after the task ended. Whether that was lucky or unlucky, Lin Ye wasn't sure.
"Oh, I didn't tell you? I just bought a new game called Splatoon and was wondering if you'd like to play it with me," Lin Ye said.
"Ah, that's what it was! Sure," Hina Tachibana replied after a brief pause. If she had rejected him, Lin Ye might have been disappointed. Being alone in a foreign country, he must have been lonely.
"Thanks," Lin Ye said.
Just then, the phone rang, breaking the silence in the room.
A pink phone vibrated on the table.
Hina Tachibana picked it up and saw the incoming call from "Shizuka-senpai" before answering.
"Shizuka-senpai, it's me," she said.
"How's it going? That boy didn't cause any trouble, did he?" Shizuka asked.
"No, everything's fine. I think Lin Ye is doing well now. He could be a good student," Hina Tachibana replied.
"Oh!" Shizuka drawled, "He's probably just trying to impress you, a beautiful teacher. I've seen many students like that."
"No, no! Lin Ye isn't pretending. After his memory loss, he's really quite good. Honestly, you'll see when you talk to him tomorrow," Hina Tachibana explained.
"Alright, I hope you're right," Shizuka said, a bit more hopeful.
"Thanks for everything today. I'll treat you to yakiniku next time," she added.
"No need, no need, senpai. Really, it's fine," Hina Tachibana said quickly, but as she hastily denied it, she subconsciously moved her foot, and the wound grazed the hard floor, causing her to make a soft, pained sound.
"Eh?"
"I accidentally kicked my foot," Hina Tachibana said, embarrassed.
"Oh, I thought you were talking with your boyfriend," Shizuka teased.
"Huh?"
It didn't take long for Hina Tachibana to realize what Shizuka meant. Her face flushed as she explained, "Shizuka-senpai, I'm single. I don't have a boyfriend."
"Hahaha, better find one soon! My personal advice is to find one early, or it'll be harder later," Shizuka chuckled, clearly speaking from experience.
After a few more pleasantries, they ended the call.
Since Lin Ye was nearby, Hina Tachibana felt a bit constrained, worried they might end up discussing something embarrassing.
"Teacher, why don't you stay here tonight?" Lin Ye suggested.
"This...?"
"I can take you back to your apartment, but it's almost 10 o'clock now, and it would take quite a while to get there!"
Given Hina Tachibana is current condition, it wouldn't be ideal for her to walk. The only option would be for Lin Ye to carry her.
Hina Tachibana began considering her options. She couldn't just stay here, could she?
The thought of sharing a room with a high school boy made her feel embarrassed.
"Well, I guess it's okay," she said, albeit hesitantly.
"Alright, teacher, you rest here. I'll go to a nearby hotel for the night," Lin Ye offered.
"Ah!" Hina Tachibana was startled.
"Teacher, you don't think I'll stay here with you, do you?" Lin Ye asked, confused.
"That's not possible. For my reputation, I can't share a room with you. If Mai hears about it, she'll get upset," Lin Ye continued.
Hina Tachibana: ???
Was he implying that Mai was his girlfriend?
"Good luck! I look forward to hearing about you and Mai getting together," Hina Tachibana teased, smiling.
Lin Ye was an interesting boy, albeit a little too talkative and flirtatious. Hina Tachibana didn't mind; in fact, she found it amusing.
In the end, Hina Tachibana stayed the night at Lin Ye's apartment, and Lin Ye, at her request, made a bed on the floor.
The reason? "Once Lin Ye starts dating Mai, I'll make sure they break up by telling them about tonight."
After the lights were out, the room grew dark, with only the faintest glimmers of light creating a serene atmosphere.
Meanwhile, three streets away, at the Chiba Police Department, officers had set up a cordon. The flashing red and blue lights were starkly visible and blinding.
This was the street where strange events had been happening, linked to the mysterious appearance of charcoal.
At that moment, several men dressed in black suits were busy, operating equipment that emitted beeping sounds.
They claimed to be from the Chiba Police Headquarters, but in reality, they belonged to the Japanese Public Security Commission's Special Operations Division, Section 6.
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