Why is the Demon King like this?

The dinner venue wasn't large, but after Yuto Nakagawa contacted them in advance, the manager reserved two hours for them to have the place to themselves. If needed, they could extend the time. The restaurant provided board games and audio-visual equipment.

"Don't you see my face?" Nakagawa Yuuto said arrogantly, "This is the daily life of someone with the Face-Face Fruit ability!"

"Oh right, I wonder who was scared by Brother Qinggui and ran off to buy a drink."

"You bastard!"

Instead of meeting up early, Keisuke Ao bought a can of iced coffee and sat down in a corner of the courtyard, taking out the book "The Okegawa Stalker Murder Case" and starting to read it.

This is a work of documentary literature.

Compared to the previous book that Keisuke Ao read, this book is easy to understand, with vivid emotions, and can be read in one sitting.

The story revolves around the protagonist, the author, a journalist who becomes embroiled in an absurd and horrific murder case and investigates the truth through his "incident log."

This book strongly criticized the decadent Japanese police force at the time, and even made it to the parliamentary stage due to its special nature, pushing for the enactment of relevant legislation.

In the book, the police are portrayed as second perpetrators, much like the victims.

No wonder Fujiko Hoshino said she was suited to be a police officer; she's such a tactless insult.

Having read about a third of the content in one go, Aoki received a message from Yuki in the morning informing him of a gathering, along with lavish praise on him—

"What did I say? Qinggui-kun~ Yamato falls for that!"

"Let me tell you! Asuka may seem like a very principled person, but if you sincerely pray to her, she will grant your wish, just like a deity in a shrine."

"That's an exaggeration."

"Hehehe~ That's what it means!"

As Keisuke Ao was heading to the school gate, Yuki shared with him a story from the past between her and Arisugawa.

The incident occurred during elementary school. In the morning, Yuki accidentally spilled ink on Arisugawa's textbooks and schoolbag.

Because no one saw it at the time, and she was too scared, when questioned by Arisugawa Asuka, Hayashi Yuki stubbornly denied it.

Arisugawa, who hadn't originally intended to blame her, became furious upon seeing her attitude and declared that he wanted to sit at a separate table from Hayama Yuki.

Upon hearing this, the stubborn Zaojian immediately backed down and apologized for three consecutive days before finally being forgiven.

—From then on, she became convinced that if she ever had a problem, she could always get away with it by apologizing to Arisugawa.

"I think it was a complete mistake for you to be forgiven."

"Qinggui-kun! How could you say such hurtful things!"

Just then, Keisuke Ao walked to the school gate, precisely spotted Yuki's head in the crowd, and gave her a pat.

"Awoo!"

"Let's go!" Yuto Nakagawa waved his hand.

"Oh~!"

Of course, although there were many people, not the whole class was enthusiastic about this activity. Keisuke Ao noticed that some people had already left quietly.

On his way to the restaurant, Keisuke Ao saw Daichi Sakamoto and Ai Komatsu sitting in a coffee shop by the window, seemingly reunited after a long separation, snuggling together affectionately.

Lord Demon King, today we did good deeds together with the club president, and this should be recorded.

As they approached, Yuki stopped Keisuke Ao, protecting her head as she said, "Keisuke-kun, go pick up Asuka, she's already nearby."

"……good."

Upon hearing this, Qing Guijie did not refuse.

Watching his classmates disappear one by one from the door of the family restaurant, Keisuke Ao took out his phone and dialed Asuka Arisugawa's number.

"Hey, Qinggui-kun?"

"Have you arrived yet?"

"Sigh... I'm still looking."

Where are you? I'm coming to find you.

"Huh???"

I met up with Arisugawa Asuka five minutes after I finished the phone call.

The girl stood quietly outside a convenience store, the soft white light illuminating her profile.

Tonight, she wore a bright yellow shirt dress with a belt around her waist that accentuated her slender figure. Her legs were straight, and she wore a pair of cute little women's sandals that revealed her light pink toes.

When Keisuke Ao saw Asuka Arisugawa, she was looking at the magazines in the convenience store through the glass, her eyes focused, and she seemed to be muttering to herself.

Upon getting closer, Aoki Keisuke heard her reading the title she had seen.

"Why don't you go inside and wait while you look around?" he asked suddenly as he walked up behind the girl.

"what!"

Arisugawa Asuka was startled, her cheeks flushing red involuntarily: "Seikei-kun? Really... don't scare me like that."

"Sorry, you seem very focused."

Aoki Keisuke was looking at her, but Arisugawa avoided his gaze and instead focused more intently on the pretty boy from an idol boy group on the magazine cover.

"No, not at all." She shook her head. "I was just worried that if I was inside, Qinggui-kun wouldn't be able to find me."

Keisuke Ao couldn't understand the girl's expression, but he sensed that Arisugawa's words probably didn't just stem from a simple fear of causing trouble.

"Why haven't you come to school these past few days?"

Keisuke Ao led Arisugawa toward a family restaurant called "Manako".

"Ah... I just suddenly feel like I can't face school anymore."

"Dislike of school?"

No, that's not it.

"That makes sense. After all, Arisugawa even said those kinds of things to get me to come back to school."

"Why?"

Asuka Arisugawa lowered her head, recalling the lecture she gave to Keisuke Ao back at the "Hatsukawa" eel restaurant in Taito Ward.

Those things now seem so distant.

Is it because so much has happened in such a short time?

Or is it because there are too many things worth remembering?

Arisugawa Asuka cupped her face in her hands and said, "Is Seikai-kun complaining about me?"

"Of course not, to be precise, I'm thanking you," Keisuke Ao said earnestly. "This time on campus was very enjoyable."

"Ah...I see."

Arisugawa felt her face getting hot. Keisuke's words made her want to cheer and jump for joy. The colorful lights around her seemed to float up into the sky and run towards the moon with her, dancing gracefully inside.

The voices around me sounded like singing.

I couldn't make out what they were singing, but it sounded like they were singing:

"Green May Rain"

A lonely afternoon that evokes endless sadness

Warming the longing for the past that I cannot convey.

It's like a first love where you can't even say "I like you" out loud.

You running around the school after school

I've been searching for it from afar, no matter when.

A fleeting dream, yet unforgettable.

Even while thinking this way, what came out of my mouth was still restraint.

Qingguijun...

Qingguijun...

Arisugawa quietly raised his head, gazing at Keisuke Ao's profile, repeating his name in his heart over and over again, hoping that he could hear him.

I also hope that he is calling out to me.

Suddenly, Keisuke Ao stopped in his tracks. Just as they were about to reach the family restaurant, he said, "Arisugawa, I suddenly feel like eating eel rice."

"what?"

"There's a well-rated restaurant nearby, wanna go?" This recommendation from a classmate was remembered by Qing Guijie.

"But……"

"Abandon your classmates and run away right now, are you going?"

"I……"

Arisugawa noticed that Ao Keisuke was looking at her, and she couldn't understand the emotions in his eyes.

"I'm craving eel rice too! Let me treat you this time!"

"That's wonderful." Aoki Keisuke smiled sincerely.

That smile struck the girl's heart.