Chapter 42
"Okay, okay~"
For Aki's sake, she'd just chew gum all day today! As for the future… she'll make Aki keep coaxing her!
Stiff muscles relaxed. A natural smile finally curved at the corners of Hayakawa Aki's mouth.
Aki pinched a half-cigarette from the pack with his fingers and extended it toward her.
Under Himeno's puzzled gaze, he said:
"Step by step. I'll quit with you. This is today's quota."
Oh my Getting all romantic now
Himeno eagerly took it from his hand. Since Aki had agreed, she was definitely going to smoke it all right now...
Fingers flipped the lighter once—perfectly catching it in her palm. Thumb flicked. Flame rose—only for Aki to add:
"Whoever has fewer cigarettes left by the end of the day has to grant the other person one request. Effect lasts at least one full day."
Himeno's hand froze instantly. The white paper had barely caught; the tobacco hadn't even ignited.
After realizing what she'd just agreed to, she immediately blew out the tiny ember with force.
"Deal."
With that, Aki put on his coat and headed for the door.
"Where are you going?!"
Damn it—you're not seriously going to work right now, are you? Workaholic demon!
"To buy breakfast. Why?"
"Oh… nothing, nothing."
Himeno suddenly didn't know what to do with her hands—awkwardly flustered.
Outside the room.
Aki pulled out his phone. Last night he had already applied for leave for Himeno on her behalf.
Approved.
He had also drafted a leave request for himself—but still hadn't sent it.
Even now, he couldn't bring himself to decide.
Not just because he still carried the hatred for the Gun Devil… but also because he genuinely felt responsible for this job.
The screen lit up. New message:
[High-Risk Mission]: Preparing to dispatch multiple members of Public Safety Special Division 4. (Open for details)
His footsteps paused.
The stairs ahead led down into shadow and darkness. The corridor behind him stretched back toward light.
A small flame sparked, hovered, held steady.
A thin thread of smoke rose. A tiny star glowed.
The pinpoint of fire brightened and dimmed with each breath.
"Tch… couldn't hold back after all."
Aki took one drag, then lowered it.
He raised his hand—fingers pinching the cigarette—eyes fixed on that little flame.
Like holding up a torch, he stepped forward into the dark…
…
"What? He already left?!"
When the nurse arrived with breakfast, Himeno already sensed something was wrong.
After a quick inquiry—sure enough.
"That gentleman already left, but don't worry—he paid everything in advance…?
Ma'am, what are you doing?"
Before the nurse finished, Himeno had already yanked the IV needle from her hand.
"Damn it—when I catch that stinking man, I'm gonna fuck him up!"
She jumped out of bed, grabbed the bag containing her Public Safety uniform, and stormed into the bathroom to change.
When she emerged, every trace of the fragile patient was gone—replaced by the sharp, dashing Public Safety senpai!
Passing the nurse, Himeno couldn't resist teasing:
"Don't worry—I won't fuck him hard enough to send him to the hospital~"
She came like the wind, left like the wind.
The nurse stood holding the breakfast tray, shouting after Himeno's cool, retreating figure:
"Your breakfast!"
An echo floated back down the corridor:
"Keep it~"
…
Time skip forward.
Because his uniform was too torn and ragged, Aki had gone home midway to change.
When he came downstairs, Denji and Power were already leaning against his car waiting.
"Yo~ You look especially energetic today, Aki."
For some reason Denji's smile felt… off. Aki gave a suitably confused look.
Denji subtly pointed somewhere.
Aki reflexively touched his neck—felt a hot, itchy sensation.
He checked the car's side mirror—his neck was covered in deep and shallow, big and small "strawberry marks"…
Hi-me-no-sen-pai!
"Aki-kun—"
Himeno, already waiting near the mission site, sneezed.
"Who's cursing me?"
She rubbed her nose and muttered quietly.
Then she spotted the soft, delicate figure approaching from afar, carrying breakfast.
"Yay! Breakfast's here~"
She waved cheerfully, then proactively stepped forward.
Once close to the soft figure, she pulled her into a hug and rubbed affectionately~
"As expected, little Aka-chan is the best to me~"
"H-Himeno-senpai, please don't… like this~"
The voice was soft and sweet—enough to melt hearts.
The delicate figure clearly still wasn't used to such closeness and instinctively shrank away.
Though dodged, Himeno didn't mind.
She knew the other's personality—wouldn't hold a little avoidance against her.
Taking the breakfast from her hands, Himeno sat back at the table, opened it, and began devouring happily.
Only now did the tall figure who had come along finally speak up:
"Himeno-senpai, didn't I hear you were on leave?"
Himeno—cheeks stuffed full—mumbled through her food:
"Who told you that?"
"Uh… Hayakawa-senpai messaged us saying today he would…"
The honest voice was cut off.
"Tch, don't listen to him. He's still basically a rookie and already trying to act like the boss?"
"…"
The true "rookie" who had only recently joined didn't dare comment on Hayakawa-senpai, who had three years of service.
A little more time passed—right before the meeting time.
Aki's group of three finally arrived near the mission site.
Aki—neck now covered in bandages—spoke ahead of time as they approached:
"I'll introduce you to two colleagues later."
"Two? But there are three colleagues over there. Is the one you're not introducing someone you don't get along with~?"
Denji deliberately teased mischievously.
Hearing that, Aki turned to look—immediately locking onto that woman's figure.
Why is Himeno-senpai here?
Didn't I put her on leave?
Mind full of questions, his hand unconsciously touched his neck again; the corner of his mouth twitched slightly.
Both groups drew near.
Aki's face stiffened as he looked at Himeno-senpai.
Himeno deliberately leaned low, hand resting on Aki's firm chest, looking up at him with a "provocative" expression~
Meanwhile, a sleepy Power clung softly to Denji's side.
Denji reached over to support her—making sure she didn't slide down from lack of balance.
Then he turned his head, looked at the delicate figure beside Himeno-senpai, and flashed a bright, gentle, perfect smile~
The smile was warm, handsome, very pleasing to the eye—but the girl instinctively shrank away from Denji's gaze.
The tall figure beside her noticed the interaction between Denji and his partner—and immediately felt this blond guy was unpleasant.
Eyes about to glare in warning—until they met the Blood Fiend's palm, where a blood blade thick with killing intent had already formed.
Intimidated by that terrifying aura, the man's body instinctively felt fear. Whatever warning glare he'd intended was instantly forgotten…
Tch—mere lowest-tier human dares glare at this great one's favorite Denji?
If Denji weren't here watching, this great one would crush you like an ant!
After inwardly cursing, Power followed Denji's gaze and also noticed the timid, delicate figure.
Perhaps because she sensed almost no threat from her, Power didn't immediately "huff."
Besides—this great and peerless Lady Power also has magnanimity, okay~!
Compared to a bad woman like Makima, this little "weakling" radiating "prey aura" was obviously much easier to handle.
If Denji was interested…
Power's big beautiful eyes spun mischievously, who knows what she was thinking…
What an interesting scene~
Far away, on a rooftop, a crow with golden-ringed pupils watched everything below.
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