Tokyo: Oreimo

"Actually, Yongfu understands too, but Ling Nai's recent situation..."

Mieko hesitated, causing Takashiro Ryosuke to frown.

"Did she get involved with the underworld or borrow money from loan sharks?"

He couldn't help but make the worst-case scenario assumption.

Mihoko quickly waved her hand, "Don't think nonsense, Ryou is a well-behaved child."

"so?"

"It's because when I was cleaning her room, I found a large box of cash under her bed. I didn't count it exactly, but roughly speaking..."

"At least a million yen."

.....

Chapter 2 Money of Unknown Origin

Money of dubious origin?

Such a large sum as one million yen, converted into the currency of the country I remember living in, would probably be worth more than fifty thousand yuan.

It might not seem like much thirty years from now, but in the 90s, it was a large sum of money, enough to be used as a down payment for buying land and building a house.

After watching his mother, Mieko, leave the room, Ryosuke lay down on the bed and stared at the ceiling.

"If I were the father, wouldn't it be better to just ask directly than to do it this way?"

Mieko told him that her father had placed a tracking device inside Lingnai's backpack a long time ago, which could locate her in real time via GPS.

This is a measure he takes to protect his family as a criminal police officer. In case he gets involved with the underworld and Ling Nai is kidnapped, he can get her location immediately.

But now, he has the signal receiver for this positioning.

"Your task is to determine the places Ling Nai frequents, the people she knows, and what they look like. Bringing back this information is enough; Yongfu will make his own judgment."

Remembering his mother's instructions, Ryosuke couldn't help but cover his face.

How is this any different from stalking?

However, he agreed anyway, since he was already planning to go to Tokyo anyway, so he figured he might as well take a look around on the way.

In any case, the tasks assigned by parents are based on their concern.

Society is complex, and people's hearts are unpredictable.

How could a beautiful young girl who hasn't even stepped out of school not be worried?

.....

The next morning.

Ryosuke boarded the train bound for Tokyo.

Takashiro Ryono left home a step earlier than him, taking the JR line, also known as the Shinkansen.

The source of the information was, of course, Takashiro's father.

The difference is that the ticket price is higher, but the speed is faster.

With over a million yen in cash in his coffers, Ling Nai certainly wouldn't be stingy with such a small amount of money.

But Ryosuke didn't receive such good treatment, and he had a habit of saving money.

"What methods are there for a junior high school student to earn such a large sum of money?"

After much thought, Ryosuke still had no clue.

Perhaps from Takashiro's father's perspective, he would unconsciously gravitate towards the flashing red light, since Takashiro Ryouno is clearly a middle school student, yet she knows everything about makeup and skincare, and even has dyed her hair blonde.

In this era, everyone is rebellious enough.

But Ryosuke was already used to it. The pursuit of beauty by girls is an eternal topic, and in young people's social circles, appearance determines status.

After a two-hour journey, Ryosuke Takashiro emerged from the west exit of Shinjuku Station.

Just as I was at the checkpoint, I saw someone holding a sign with his name on it from a distance.

The woman was a young woman wearing a professional pencil skirt, a beige suit jacket draped over her upper body, and gold-rimmed glasses. Her eyes kept scanning the station entrance, as if she was looking for something.

Ryosuke's eyes met hers briefly, but she looked away the next moment.

Until he stood in front of the other person.

...

Hayakawa Rumi stood nervously in the crowd at the station; this was her first time picking someone up at the station.

Normally, such tasks are handled by senior colleagues, but recently the deputy editor-in-chief in the department seems to be considering giving her an important role, and has sent her to assist a winner of the newcomer bounty award.

If you treat them well, it might even affect your year-end evaluation, which could bring you one step closer to becoming a responsible editor.

In the Japanese workplace, seniority is highly valued. Having connections is a shortcut to bypassing this hurdle, so be sure to seize this opportunity!

As Hayakawa Rumi thought this, her gaze wandered among the crowd exiting the station.

The agreed time was approaching, but the person still hadn't arrived.

Suddenly, a boy appeared in her field of vision. He was slightly taller than her and completely blocked her view of the distance.

Out of politeness, Hayakawa Rumi moved her feet and stood in a different position, but the boy followed her like a shadow.

Could it be that he's trying to pick me up? Am I so charming that I can influence a boy this age?

Hayakawa Rumi was so nervous that her brain was almost overloaded.

"Um... is there something you need?"

She noticed that the boy in front of her reached out his hand, as if he wanted to shake her hand.

"Hello, I am Shigsawa Keiichi."

So, he really came here to chat her up?

Hayakawa Rumi couldn't help but scrutinize him for a moment.

With delicate features, fair skin, and bangs covering half of his forehead, this young man was indeed exactly her type in terms of appearance.

And the height seems just right?

But the significant age difference was a factor, and she also had important matters to attend to.

Hayakawa Rumi quickly assessed the situation in her mind.

"I'm sorry, if fate allows, we will meet again. I have other things to do now."

She instinctively refused him, then held up the sign and walked past the boy, continuing to stand still.

"?"

Ryosuke Takagi looked somewhat confused.

What happened? Wasn't she here to pick me up?

Ryosuke walked up to the other person again, looked at the sign carefully, and made sure he hadn't made a mistake.

"I already said I rejected you, so why are you still trying to chat me up?"

Hayakawa Rumi was a little angry; the goodwill she had developed for Ryosuke's appearance vanished instantly.

She could still tell which was more important and which was less important.

Ryosuke was speechless at her sudden outburst.

"You are Ms. Hayakawa, right?"

"Huh?"

Rumi Hayakawa was stunned.

"How do you know my name?"

"Editor Hattori mentioned in his reply that a lady named Hayakawa Rumi would be picking me up."

“…”

Hayakawa Rumi froze on the spot.

Oh right, what did that boy say his name was again?

I didn't hear the last two words, "Shi Yuze".

She looked up stiffly at the nameplate she was holding high in her hand.

.....

"I'm so sorry, I never expected Mr. Shi Yuze to be so young!"

If there were a gap in the car big enough to fit an adult, Hayakawa Rumi felt she would probably crawl in immediately.

The social death mentioned in the award-winning work of the young man in front of me is probably this kind of scenario.

The atmosphere was a little awkward.

"It's alright, Ms. Hayakawa, don't worry about it."

In most people's minds, it is indeed rare to see someone so young who can win the Dengeki Bunko Newcomer Award.

Ryosuke Takagi waved his hand and chuckled lightly; he didn't think anything of it.

He actually had a fairly good impression of Hayakawa Rumi; beneath her professional exterior lay a natural airhead.

Such a character would be considered extremely likable in some light novels written in the early 21st century.

Men like beautiful but stupid women, a view that Takashiro Ryosuke somewhat agrees with.

Therefore, Ryosuke didn't mind offering some words of comfort, but it seemed to have no effect on Hayakawa Rumi at all.

"I mistook the author who was supposed to be helping me for someone trying to chat me up. What was I thinking?!"

"If Deputy Editor-in-Chief Hattori finds out about this, I'll definitely get a severe scolding!"

"Is this the end of my career?"

The immense shame that Hayakawa Rumi felt quickly turned into disappointment.