"Seriously, my dear brother! You're dying to see your beautiful sister, aren't you?"
Ryan laughed as he read Yuki's messages on his phone, quickly typing in response:
"Honestly, sis… I didn't think I'd miss you this much this quickly."
Almost immediately, Yuki started replying:
"Huh?! Are you telling me you DIDN'T miss MEEEE?!"
She sent an image of an annoyed bunny along with more messages.
"Well, at least you realized it's impossible to be away from your amazing sister! Hehe. When are you coming back?"
Ryan sighed, thinking for a moment before replying:
"Well... I thought it would take longer to figure out some important things here, but I ended up hitting the nail on the head. So, maybe I'll be back sooner than I thought."
Yuki sent a thumbs-up emoji with a cheerful message shortly after:
"I knew it! My brother is simply the best of the best!"
Ryan smiled, somewhat foolishly, as he looked at the sky already starting to darken.
"Oh, Yuki… this way you even make me forget that I'm alone, abandoned in a village in the middle of nowhere…"
Before he could continue lamenting, his phone vibrated again in his hand. Yuki had sent another message, along with a photo.
"To give you some more motivation for your work! 😉"
Curious, Ryan opened the photo and gulped as he saw it. Yuki was wearing a casual pajama set, consisting of a light pink t-shirt and loose shorts with delicate matching prints. Her expression was smug, with a hint of mischief, and she was slightly lifting the t-shirt, revealing a part of her belly.
Ryan stared at the photo for a few seconds before murmuring, with a somewhat stiff smile:
"Yeah, sis… looks like you really took my advice seriously."
Shortly after, a new message appeared on the screen, along with a teasing emoji sticking out its tongue.
"I said I'd take notes, hehe~."
Ryan, still smiling, was snapped out of his thoughts when he noticed a boy walking in his direction. The guy had short brown hair, slightly messy, with some spiky strands giving him a carefree look. His large, deep blue eyes reflected a friendly and curious expression. He wore a typical school uniform, with a slightly misaligned white short-sleeve shirt, revealing a red t-shirt underneath, and black pants. His posture was relaxed, with a black backpack casually resting on one shoulder, while his other hand was in his pocket.
"Hey, kid, can you help me out?" Ryan called, his voice carrying a mix of hope and subtle desperation.
The boy stopped and looked at him attentively, responding in a receptive tone:
"Sure, what do you need?" He took the backpack off his shoulder and held it by his side, showing willingness to listen.
Ryan sighed and made a slightly defeated expression before explaining:
"Well… I'm not from Hinamizawa, and let's just say… I don't have anywhere to stay tonight. Is there a guesthouse or any place to rent around here?"
His eyes searched for any sign of relief on the boy's face as he waited for a response.
The boy placed a hand on his chin, assuming a thoughtful expression as he considered the situation.
"Ah, great, I'm going to end up stranded..." Ryan murmured to himself, already preparing for the worst. But before his pessimism could take over, the boy finally responded:
"Actually, I think I can help you!" He gestured enthusiastically.
Ryan raised his eyebrows, surprised, and replied in a disbelieving tone:
"Really?" A brief pause preceded the smile that formed on his face. "Man, you're amazing!"
The boy let out an awkward laugh, scratching the back of his neck.
"I have a friend who should be getting off work about now. If we hurry, maybe we can catch her!" He paused again, putting his hand to his chin. "Actually, we can swing by my house, which is on the way. That way, I can grab my bike, and we'll get there faster!"
Ryan sighed, feeling the relief spread through his body.
"I don't even know how to thank you. I was already analyzing which bridge would be the most comfortable to sleep under..." He straightened up, extending his hand, changing his tone. "But, hey, what should I call you, kid?"
The young boy smiled and gave a playful thumbs-up.
"I'm Maebara Keiichi! First-year high school!"
Ryan raised his eyebrows, an ironic smile forming on his lips.
"Ah, then call me Masachika Kuze. Second-year." He struck an exaggerated pose and ended with a wink at Keiichi. "Which means I'm your senpai."
Keiichi broke into a fun smile and shot back:
"Well, we'd better pick up the pace, or Mion's already going to be gone when we get there!"
Ryan nodded, adjusting the hoodie at his waist before replying:
"Just show me the way."
Keiichi began walking, striking up a conversation along the way.
"So, where are you from? And what brings you to such a small village like Hinamizawa?"
Ryan responded casually, inventing a simple excuse:
"I'm here to check out the festival that's going on. I thought it'd be interesting."
The two walked for a few minutes until they reached Keiichi's house. He pointed to the door enthusiastically.
"Wait here. I'm going to grab my bike so we can get to the place faster."
Soon after, Keiichi appeared pushing a red bike that seemed a bit small for two. He smiled excitedly:
"Here it is! You can sit on the back seat."
Ryan raised an eyebrow, analyzing the bike with a mocking look before saying:
"I drive…"
Keiichi tilted his head, confused.
"Huh? But you don't even know the way. It'll be faster if I pedal."
Ryan kept his sarcastic smile, crossing his arms as he repeated, emphasizing:
"I drive."
Keiichi sighed, visibly resigned.
"Alright, alright… Just promise you won't flip us over, okay?"
Ryan got on the bike, taking control with a victorious smile.
"Relax, kid. I've driven things faster than a bike."
Keiichi rolled his eyes, holding tightly to the backseat.
"Great, that makes me super confident…"
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