"Woof!"
Wangcai barked excitedly, tail wagging even harder as he nuzzled his owner's leg.
Hayashi Shuichi called toward his little cousin's room, then led the already-impatient, circling Wangcai out the door.
The morning sun was warm but not harsh. Hayashi Shuichi stretched lazily. Just as they reached the shopping street, Wangcai suddenly pricked up his ears, sniffed the air, and bolted forward.
Caught off guard, Hayashi Shuichi stumbled a few steps before steadying himself.
"Senpai?"
Orihime Midori appeared ahead in sportswear.
"Woof!"
Pudding, who had been walking in front of Midori, quickly hid behind her when it saw Wangcai charging over.
Wangcai still wanted to pounce and lick his "fairy." Hayashi Shuichi yanked the leash with both hands, holding the dog back.
"Wangcai really loves Pudding, huh," Midori said, covering her mouth with a light laugh.
"To Pudding, Wangcai's more like a pervert," Hayashi Shuichi said helplessly, glaring at the struggling mutt.
"…By the way, Senpai," Midori bit her lip, hesitating before speaking. "Today's the kendo tournament semifinals. Would you like to come watch?"
Afraid of misunderstanding, she quickly added, "I originally invited Mayuki and already bought the tickets, but she suddenly had something this afternoon and couldn't go. I can't refund her ticket, so I didn't want it to go to waste…"
"Who's Osaka University playing today?" Hayashi Shuichi asked curiously.
"Tokyo University," Midori said excitedly. "It starts at four in the afternoon. It won't affect the izakaya's evening hours. If Ikenami-senpai and the others win, they'll make the finals."
"I'm taking Reiko to the science museum this morning," Hayashi Shuichi thought for a moment. "If I can make it this afternoon, I'll come."
"Then I'll wait for you at the gym entrance!" Midori beamed.
"If I'm not there ten minutes before it starts, I can't make it," he reminded. "Don't wait too long."
"Okay!" Midori nodded vigorously, her ponytail bouncing.
They chatted a bit more before parting ways.
Even after Midori and Pudding disappeared from sight, Wangcai kept staring longingly in their direction.
Hayashi Shuichi gave the dog's butt a light kick. "Move it. Time to go home. Pudding ignores you, and you're still drooling. Are simp dogs really this pathetic?"
Wangcai whined pitifully, lowered his head, and slowly trudged back toward the Mouri building.
8:30 a.m., Rice Flower Science Museum entrance.
When Hayashi Shuichi arrived with Reiko, plenty of parents with kids were already there.
"Pretty lively," Hayashi Shuichi remarked, looking around.
"If the school hadn't required it, no one would come," Reiko pouted. "These science exhibits are boring."
"How are they boring?" Hayashi Shuichi lectured. "Learning about scientific progress is good for kids like you."
"This gentleman is absolutely right. Science is the foundation of societal progress. Without it, there'd be no industrial revolutions," a chubby man with curly hair, round glasses, and a wrinkled lab coat chimed in cheerfully. "The future of technology depends on children like you."
"Uncle, do you think elementary school teaches the Industrial Revolution?" Reiko snapped. "Besides, kid-oriented science fairs aren't deep or complex—just simple tricks to entertain children."
"I'm not quite old enough to be called 'uncle' yet, am I?"
The man's mouth twitched, then he proudly shook his head. "Today's exhibit won't disappoint you. Once you see my invention, you'll be shocked!"
"We'll see about that!"
Reiko rolled her eyes. She finally had a date alone with Onii-chan, and this fat guy had no sense—just barging in as a third wheel!
"Onii-chan, cotton candy over there!" Reiko grabbed Hayashi Shuichi's arm and dragged him away.
Hayashi Shuichi gave the young man an apologetic smile before being pulled to the cotton candy stall.
"What flavor do you want?"
"Hmm…"
Reiko tilted her head, finger on her chin, agonizing over the colorful choices. Finally she decided, "Strawberry and apple!"
When the vendor handed them over, Reiko took a bite of the strawberry one and squinted happily. "So sweet~"
Then she eyed Hayashi Shuichi's green one hungrily. "Onii-chan, is yours good?"
"It's alright." He took a bite. "Want to swap?"
"Yeah!" Reiko nodded eagerly.
They exchanged. Just as Hayashi Shuichi took a bite, a boy nearby sneered, "Swapping cotton candy with a guy? So shameless—and you're a discipline committee member?"
Hayashi Shuichi turned. The speaker was a crew-cut boy in a plaid shirt, about Reiko's age.
"A classmate?" Hayashi Shuichi frowned slightly.
"Yeah," Reiko answered flatly. "Onii-chan, let's go over there."
"Haha, scared now that I called you out?"
The boy quickly blocked their path. "Wait till Monday—I'm telling the whole class. No, the whole school!"
Hayashi Shuichi's face darkened; he was about to teach the brat a lesson.
But Reiko stepped forward and shoved the boy to the ground without a word.
The boy landed on his butt, mouth opening to speak.
Reiko cut him off coldly. "Had enough? You think bullying me will make me notice you more or talk to you?"
"Let me be clear: I already like someone—my Onii-chan. We're going to get married someday!"
"You have zero chance. Stay away from me!"
She turned back to Hayashi Shuichi with a sweet smile. "Onii-chan, I'm thirsty. Let's buy water."
"…Okay." Hayashi Shuichi glanced pityingly at the stunned boy and took Reiko's hand toward the supermarket.
The boy stared after Reiko, noticed the adults stifling laughter, and finally burst into tears, snot and all.
Hayashi Shuichi, still within earshot, asked the expressionless Reiko, "How'd you know he teased you because he likes you?"
"I'm not stupid," Reiko huffed, waving a tiny fist. "He's always popping up, finding excuses to talk to me. I've put up with him long enough!"
Hayashi Shuichi chuckled. He'd thought his little cousin was being bullied—turns out the truth was the opposite.
Simps really are everywhere… even in elementary school.
"Onii-chan, isn't that a teacher from your school?" Reiko suddenly stopped and pointed.
Hayashi Shuichi followed her gaze and froze in surprise. Why is she here?
"Onii-chan, let's go this way!"
Reiko didn't want another third wheel ruining their rare date and tugged his sleeve to detour.
But the woman turned at that exact moment, her golden hair shining in the sunlight.
Seeing the siblings, her expression grew complicated. "Last time you said we'd never meet again. Yet here we are."
It was the American superstar, Sharon Wynyard.
Today she wore only a simple white shirt and jeans, yet still radiated beauty.
"Yeah," Hayashi Shuichi replied, his own feelings just as tangled.
Reiko looked back and forth between her brother and the blonde beauty. Something's off…
"Onii-chan, isn't she Sharon-sensei from your school? She came to the izakaya before, right?"
Hayashi Shuichi remembered Sharon's cover and was about to nod.
But Sharon spoke first: "I already quit. I'm no longer his teacher."
Reiko instantly sensed trouble. She was terrified the woman would say, "Now that I'm not your teacher, nothing stands between us anymore."
Panicking, Reiko blurted, "That's not okay! Onii-chan, bow to sensei properly!"
"She just said she's not a teacher at Teitan anymore," Hayashi Shuichi tried to dodge.
"Onii-chan, our teachers say 'once a teacher, always a teacher,'" Reiko insisted, face stern. "Didn't you teach me to be polite?"
Hayashi Shuichi sighed in defeat and reluctantly bowed. "Sensei."
Sharon hadn't expected their reunion to go like this and couldn't help laughing.
Just as Hayashi Shuichi stood awkwardly, nine o'clock struck. With a harsh feedback squeal from the microphone, several suited government officials stepped to the museum entrance and began speaking.
Sharon listened while discreetly scanning the crowd, clearly looking for someone.
No way… the Organization is targeting this event?
Hayashi Shuichi's internal alarms blared.
He leaned close to the blonde and whispered, "What are you doing here?"
As a seasoned actress, Sharon instantly read the tension in his jaw and wary eyes.
Irritation flared inside her. Even after I hinted last time that I'm not a good person, do you have to be this guarded?
"I have my own business here," she huffed. "Why should I report to you?"
"Hey, more than half the people here are kids," Hayashi Shuichi warned gravely.
So in your eyes I'm the kind of monster who'd harm children?
Sharon glared, hurt flashing in her blue eyes, then turned away and ignored him.
Hayashi Shuichi mistook her silence for guilt—he'd hit the mark.
He rose on tiptoes, scanning the surroundings like a hawk, calculating where the Organization might strike if they were planning something.
Time ticked by; the speeches were ending, yet he spotted nothing suspicious.
As his anxiety grew, the official announced, "I won't keep you any longer—the science exhibition officially begins!"
The glass doors opened; the waiting crowd flowed in, filled with children's laughter and gasps of wonder.
"Onii-chan, why are you standing still?" Reiko tugged his arm. "Let's go inside."
"Right." Hayashi Shuichi snapped out of it, glancing involuntarily at Sharon.
Did I misunderstand? Is she really just here by coincidence?
Feeling his apologetic gaze, Sharon suddenly felt a twinge of guilt—she was indeed here on Organization business.
They stared at each other silently, the air thick with awkwardness.
Reiko quickly wedged between them. "Onii-chan, hurry! It'll get crowded!"
She pushed him toward the entrance.
Hayashi Shuichi could only nod to Sharon before being dragged inside by his sister.
As soon as they entered the hall, Reiko pouted sourly. "Onii-chan, you're amazing—picking up even foreign teachers."
"Don't talk nonsense," Hayashi Shuichi said, pinching her soft cheek. "We're just… acquaintances."
"Save that excuse for Yukiko-nee," Reiko grumbled, clearly unhappy. "You promised to spend the day with me, yet you were flirting with another woman!"
"Alright, my fault," Hayashi Shuichi apologized quickly. "I'll go wherever you want, okay?"
As Reiko had said, the exhibits were aimed at elementary students—simple, easy-to-understand experiments, nothing too advanced.
After making a round, they arrived at a lively booth.
To their surprise, the chubby guy from earlier wasn't bragging. He stood on stage demonstrating his invention: a device with a huge speaker.
"Everyone, my voice sounds normal right now, yes?"
He adjusted the machine, then boomed, "How about now? Still the same?"
Gasps erupted from the children. Reiko's eyes widened; she grabbed Hayashi Shuichi's arm. "Onii-chan, amazing! His voice completely changed…"
(End of chapter)
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