Ryan started pedaling with vigor, propelling the bike so forcefully that Keiichi almost lost his balance on the backseat.
"Wow, you've got some strong legs!" Keiichi commented, gripping the bike tightly.
Ryan threw a mischievous smile over his shoulder.
"You just have to tell me where to turn to get to your friend... And, please, hands off my waist, alright?" he teased, with his usual mocking tone.
The ride was a mix of adrenaline and chaos, with Keiichi screaming in shock at every sharp turn and sudden bumps in the road. Finally, after a few intense minutes, they reached their destination.
Keiichi pointed enthusiastically.
"There! That girl with the green hair closing the shop!"
Ryan slammed the brakes hard, making the tires screech on the ground, drawing the girl's attention.
As they stopped, Keiichi jumped off the bike, panting and visibly irritated.
"You ride like a maniac!" He gestured with his hands while glaring at Ryan.
Ryan, on the other hand, simply shrugged, wearing a carefree smile.
"And that's why we made it on time."
When Ryan looked at the girl Keiichi was pointing to, he couldn't help but notice her striking presence. Mion was slender, with long green hair tied into a ponytail and piercing turquoise eyes. She had a confident posture, and her generous bust didn't go unnoticed by Ryan.
Her clothes also drew attention: a yellow-sun shirt with a black turtleneck, a white hoodie tied around her waist, navy blue jeans, and brown leather shoes. However, the most intriguing detail was the weapon in a holster on her shoulder, which made Ryan raise an eyebrow.
Mion looked at them with curiosity, adjusting the strap of her holster.
"Kei-chan? What are you doing here?" She paused for a moment, her eyes now focused on Ryan. "And... who is this?"
Keiichi, catching his breath, responded in his usual friendly tone.
"Well, Mion, this is Masachika Kuze. He's got a little problem, and I thought you might be able to help." He gestured towards Ryan, who smiled politely before speaking.
Mion crossed her arms, intrigued.
"Oh? And exactly how could I help you?"
Ryan stepped forward, crossing his arms as well.
"To sum it up, I came to Hinamizawa as part of a discovery trip. I heard about the festival and wanted to see it with my own eyes." He sighed before continuing. "But the person who was with me just left, leaving me stranded. Now, I have nowhere to stay."
Mion blinked a few times, processing the situation, before crossing her arms thoughtfully.
"Well... considering it was Kei-chan who brought you to me..." She hesitated, pondering. "Maybe I can rent a house for you for the night... But I'll need to talk to my family first."
Ryan smiled with relief.
"Don't worry about the cost. Luckily, I didn't make the mistake of coming with empty pockets."
Mion approached him, now wearing a slightly mischievous smile.
"I'll need your documents."
Ryan tilted his head, surprised.
"Huh?"
Mion kept her smile, but her eyes were serious.
"If I'm going to host someone I just met, even with Keiichi's recommendation, I need to know who you are."
Ryan sighed, exhausted, and took out his wallet, showing his documents. Mion examined them carefully before handing them back.
"Well, what else do you need to resolve this and give me a roof?" Ryan asked, crossing his arms again.
Mion pointed her thumb toward the semi-open store behind her.
"I'll make a call. Give me a moment, and I'll come back with an answer."
She turned toward the store, leaving Keiichi and Ryan behind as she took out her phone.
Ryan crossed his arms, looking at Keiichi with curiosity before asking:
"Does she go to school with you?"
Keiichi nodded quickly, answering with a soft "Mm-hmm" while adjusting his backpack.
A mischievous smile formed on Ryan's face before he responded enigmatically:
"Alright then, Keiichi boy."
Keiichi raised an eyebrow, clearly confused.
"Huh? What do you mean, I'm alright?"
Ryan waved his hand nonchalantly, as if wanting to end the topic before it even started.
"You'll understand… in about a year and a half, give or take."
Keiichi tilted his head, now even more confused, but before he could insist on the matter, Mion returned with a calm smile.
"Done! I got you a place to stay."
Ryan clapped his hands lightly, as if celebrating.
"You're an angel, Mion!"
Mion gave a soft laugh, tucking a strand of her green hair behind her ear.
"Well, I just did what I could."
Turning to Keiichi, she asked:
"Kei-chan, do you know where Rena's house is?"
At the familiar name, Ryan immediately paid closer attention, watching Mion with interest as she continued.
"Two houses after hers, there's a closed property that belongs to my family. We haven't used it in a while..." Mion looked at Ryan with a somewhat hesitant smile.
"But you can stay there for the night."
Ryan shrugged, letting out a light sigh before responding:
"Well, at least I'll have a roof over my head. That's more than I expected."
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