Jhin was well aware that Kita Ikuyo's parents did not support her playing in a band, so he had specifically asked Nymph to keep an eye on her movements for the day. However, he hadn't expected Kita Ikuyo to actually resort to running away from home.
"Gabriel, I'm going out for a bit. You can go back now."
"Oh?! I can get off work?" Gabriel's face instantly lit up with joy, and the force with which she hammered Jhin's shoulders increased a few notches.
"Hurry up and get off work, you lazy maid."
Gabriel punched Jhin lightly, unconvinced. "I, an angel, am serving as your maid; is there still anything you're dissatisfied with?"
Jhin spoke with feigned hypocrisy, "Ah, I am truly so happy."
Then he grabbed an umbrella and left the house. His hurried appearance made Gabriel mutter in her heart.
This guy, he isn't going out for some girl again, is he?
Based on the real-time location provided by Nymph, Jhin quickly found Kita Ikuyo, who was walking aimlessly in the rain, soaked to the bone. He rushed over and held the umbrella over her head.
"Kita, coming out for a walk on a rainy day isn't a good idea."
"Jhin?" The familiar voice caused Kita Ikuyo to raise her head. Her wet red hair was plastered against her forehead, and droplets—indistinguishable between rain and tears—dripped continuously from her face. She blinked her lifeless eyes, then immediately lowered her head, afraid to face Jhin.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing..." Kita Ikuyo didn't want him to know about the situation at home, nor did she want him to continue seeing her in this embarrassing state. "I... I have things to do. I'm leaving first."
Kita Ikuyo had just taken a step when a warm, large hand pressed on her shoulder, stopping her from leaving.
"Where are you planning to go?"
Kita Ikuyo's mouth opened soundlessly, unable to name any destination. She didn't know where she could go next. The hand Jhin pressed on her shoulder made her realize just how cold her body and heart were.
"Let's go. I'll take you home."
Home? No! I can't go home. If Jhin and Dad meet now, things will definitely get worse.
Kita Ikuyo grabbed the corner of Jhin's clothes and pleaded in a low voice, "I don't want to go home today. Is that okay?"
Faced with the girl's pitiful request, Jhin nodded in agreement. "Alright, then let's find a hotel to stay in. You're soaked through; you have to change clothes or you'll catch a cold."
Kita Ikuyo nodded, not saying anything more. Her mind was in a chaotic mess, so she didn't stop to think about why Jhin would be staying at the hotel with her.
Jhin took Kita Ikuyo to the most luxurious hotel nearby and booked a double room. Walking into the room, Jhin immediately inserted the key card to turn on the air conditioning. Kita Ikuyo sneezed several times and was urged by him to hurry and take a hot shower to warm up.
Once she entered the bathroom, Jhin finally made a call to Kazami Kazuki.
"Hello, Kazuki? Trouble you to go and negotiate with Kita Ikuyo's parents. Just like I said before, they don't approve of the travel plan."
"Then what method should I use to persuade them?"
"Use whatever method you want. I won't be returning to the dorm today."
"Little Brother, you aren't staying in a hotel with Kita Ikuyo, are you?"
"Yeah, what about it?"
"No, nothing." Kazami Kazuki had originally been considering when to test Kita Ikuyo's attitude again, but she hadn't expected her brother to already be sharing a hotel room with her. This would save a lot of effort. "I'll go find her parents right now."
regarding how to persuade Kita Ikuyo's parents to agree to this Antarctica trip, Kazami Kazuki had made preparations after being informed by Jhin in advance that minor accidents might occur. Picking up the documents at hand, she hailed a taxi and arrived at Kita Ikuyo's home.
Kazami Kazuki rang the doorbell. The look of pleasant surprise on Mrs. Kita's face vanished when she saw a stranger standing outside instead of her daughter. "Excuse me, you are?"
"Hello, my name is Kazami Kazuki. I have come to negotiate matters regarding your daughter's trip to Antarctica." Kazami Kazuki handed the documents she was holding to her. Her unhurried and calm attitude made it difficult for Mrs. Kita to gauge her exact identity, so she had no choice but to invite her inside to sit.
Kita Ikuyo forced her body, weak from the cold, to wash up. She walked to the mirror, dried herself off, put on a bathrobe, and placed her clothes in the dryer.
She walked out of the bathroom, only then realizing just how inappropriate it was for her to run to a hotel and get a room with Jhin. Leaving aside his status as Hitori Gotoh's boyfriend, just the fact of a boy and a girl getting a hotel room together was already dangerous enough.
Jhin... he shouldn't do anything out of line, right?
Kita Ikuyo couldn't be sure about such things either. she could only tighten the bathrobe around her body again, ensuring she wouldn't expose any allure that might cause Jhin to lose his reason and unleash his beastly nature, before moving her feet cautiously.
Compared to the nervous wreck that was Kita Ikuyo, Jhin appeared incredibly relaxed. He had only come over to ensure Kita Ikuyo wouldn't meet with any accidents, not because he was deliberately targeting her body.
My heart and actions are utterly unclouded. They are all those of 'Justice', okay?
"Kita, I've already asked Kazuki to go over and communicate with your parents. You don't need to worry."
Outside the window, a continuous drizzle was still falling. Kita Ikuyo stood blankly in place. She never expected Jhin to see through her worries. The sound of rain beating against the glass pane was like drumsticks striking her heart, causing her heartbeat to grow faster and faster.
Her lips were pale and trembling slightly. Many words rushed to her mouth, but she didn't know how to begin, making her feel extremely stifled.
Jhin took out his phone and showed her the picture Kazami Kazuki had just sent. It showed the consent form signed with Kita Ikuyo's parents' names. "Look, it's already settled."
"Thank you..." A thousand words converged into a single sentence of gratitude. Kita Ikuyo slowly sat down on the floor, sobbing softly.
Jhin walked over and gently wiped away her tears. "Don't keep your troubles bottled up inside. If it's not convenient to tell Bocchi-chan and the others, you can come find me. If I hadn't come to find you this time, were you planning to spend the night out in the rain?"
"I-I'm not that stupid." Kita Ikuyo turned her head away in embarrassment. She really had run out of the house on impulse without making any plans.
"You're so cute; walking outside alone at night in the rain, be careful or you'll be targeted by people with bad intentions."
"B-But didn't you come over..." Startled by Jhin's words, Kita Ikuyo began to reflect on her actions. "I-I will be careful in the future."
"You still want there to be a next time?" Jhin laughed involuntarily and patted her little head twice. "You aren't allowed to be this reckless in the future, understand?"
"Mn."
"It's getting late. Go to sleep. I'm going to take a shower and sleep too."
In the middle of the night, in a daze, Jhin felt someone hug his waist from behind, and a fragrant, soft body pressed against his back.
____
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