A Scientific Urban Detective.

Chapter 786 Tears of a Helpful Person

"What would you like to drink? It's on me!" Despite Frenda's tempting words, she noticed that Saten Ruiko was still glancing towards the window from time to time. Frenda added, "Alright, stop worrying about that person. It's rude to stare at her like that."

“You actually lectured me, Frenda…” Saten Ruiko’s expression turned complicated.

After thinking for a moment, Frenda explained, "There was indeed a brief moment just now when I thought that girl was one of 'our' people, so I was a little wary. But upon closer inspection, I realized I was wrong."

Frenda shook her head: "In the end, at most, the research projects she participated in were a bit strange, right? She hasn't really fallen into the other side yet."

“Is… is that so?”

Saten Ruiko can now understand what Frenda didn't fully express, but she still doesn't know how to react.

Fortunately, Frenda didn't care at all and just continued buying drinks according to the plan.

After paying for their drinks, Saten Ruiko noticed a girl with a peculiar appearance by the window talking on the phone.

Because the keyword "fireworks festival" appeared in the topic, it naturally caught Saten Ruiko's attention.

“…I will watch it, the fireworks display,” the girl said. “No, you can see it from here too. I’ve calculated that the height of the buildings here is just right, so they won’t block the fireworks when they reach the top, and there will be no difference.”

"No, there must be a difference, right?" Unable to contain herself any longer, Saten Ruiko muttered under her breath.

Opposite the convenience store is the other side of the shopping street, which is also a row of three-story shops.

Behind the shops are student apartments in the residential area and office buildings in the office area.

From this angle, you can probably only see a few fireworks that fly the highest.
"So, is Saten going to see the fireworks tonight?" Frenda asked.

“Yes, with the Nameless Senior and the others.” Saten Ruiko nodded. “Why don’t you come along too?”

"Then forget it." Frenda shook her head. "Perhaps Kinuhata would be interested? We can see the fireworks from our hotel, so we don't have to go that far."

Compared to the cramped and narrow convenience store, the presidential suite on the top floor of the hotel where one of the "props" headquarters is located is truly the "best viewing spot".

If it weren't for the large group of friends who were also there, Saten Ruiko might have chosen to visit Frenda's "home".

After thinking it over carefully, Frenda suddenly changed her mind: "If... Ruiko invites me, I can go with you to watch the fireworks."

“Great, then it’s settled…” Saten Ruiko was saying when she was suddenly interrupted by a commotion behind her.

"I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry! I really lost my wallet by accident..." came the voice of a girl on the verge of tears.

Saten Ruiko couldn't help but turn around to look.

A girl was seen bowing and apologizing profusely in front of the cashier.

The shop assistant next to her looked at her with a troubled and helpless expression.

The girl had light flaxen hair that flowed down her shoulders, and she was wearing a sailor uniform, which was probably the school uniform. She was slender and thin.

For some reason, Saten Ruiko felt that her uniform looked dirty, as if she had fallen somewhere.

You can even notice some scars on the girl's exposed hands and feet.

—You must have lost your wallet by accident when you fell down, right?

Saten Ruiko thought.

The girl didn't want to buy much—just a sandwich and a carton of milk. Even the most expensive combo in the convenience store wouldn't cost more than 600 yen.

So Saten Ruiko took out her wallet.

“Saten, you wouldn’t be thinking of…” Frenda noticed her movement. “What does it matter? It’s not much money anyway,” Saten Ruiko said.

……

Amidst the girl's profuse bows and expressions of gratitude, Saten Ruiko left the convenience store.

“You’re such a good person,” Frenda said.

“It’s nice to do a good deed within your capabilities,” Saten Ruiko said. “Even if it’s just for your own satisfaction, that’s good too.”

“Speaking of which,” Saten Ruiko added, “Muke-senpai’s friend, Kamijou-senpai, is also such an unlucky guy, always losing his wallet, and Mumei-senpai always lends him a hand…”

Ultimately, it wasn't just about self-gratification; Saten Ruiko's real motivation was actually "to imitate Lin Wuming."

……

Inside the convenience store, the girl, who had received timely help from Saten Ruiko, clutched the food she had finally managed to get and was about to leave with her head down.

As they passed the dining area by the window, Ryoko Misaki, a girl with black and white hair and distinctive "patches" on her skin, suddenly spoke up.

"Ellie."

"..." The girl stopped in her tracks, but didn't dare to look up at Misaki Ryoko.

"Sigh..." Ryoko sighed helplessly, "Don't be so afraid of me, I've never bullied you..."

Still receiving no response, Ryoko Misaki shook her head: "You can't keep going like this. Honestly, I advise you to transfer schools as soon as possible."

"...Thank you." The girl called Ellie hurriedly left those words, then continued running out with her head down.

Ryoko Misaki stopped paying attention—she had already done more than enough.

If they hadn't met here, Ryoko Misaki would never have bothered with such a thing—she hadn't taken her eyes off the paper she was reading the whole time.

After finishing her simple brunch, Ryoko Misaki still showed no intention of getting up to leave, just as she had said on the phone earlier—she would stay here to watch the fireworks display.

In other words, you have to stay until at least dark.

Since being discharged from the hospital, she has been a regular customer of this convenience store. She knows that the store doesn't have a large customer flow, so even if she stays there for an afternoon, it won't affect the business.

Compared to bustling coffee shops, these secluded little shops with almost no customers are the best places for quiet research.

It's a bit unfair to the shop owner to say that...

Shaking her head, Ryoko Misaki put the little incident from her mind and focused her attention back on the paper in front of her.

Time slipped away, bit by bit...

Saten Ruiko took Frenda back to her apartment, and then, urged by the blonde beauty who knew nothing of politeness, changed into her pajamas and apron and went into the kitchen.

Bearing the expectations of her friends, and a touch of excitement from the depths of her heart, Saten Ruiko examined the kitchen knife in her hand.

Then he nodded: "Okay, let's begin!"

A small cheer came from behind her.

Saten Ruiko smiled – Did the nameless senior feel the same way when he was cooking in the kitchen?

Because she received the compliment of "having the demeanor of an unknown senior" from Uiharu Kazari this morning, Saten Ruiko was full of fighting spirit.

(End of this chapter)