The Great Detective of Gensokyo, but surrounded by Shura Field!

The blonde apologized again.

Seeing her sincerity, Chu Bai didn't pursue the matter any further.

After all, his purpose was not too pure. The main reason for contacting the girl was to get some points.

"It's okay, just be more careful next time."

"My name is Chu Bai. I'm a newcomer who just arrived in Gensokyo today. I'll probably be staying in the human world for a while."

The blonde girl nodded slightly:

"My name is Alice Margatroid, and I currently live in the Magic Forest."

Chu Bai nodded confidently:

"I've got that, Miss Maserati Levante..."

"It's Margot Lloyd!"

Alice almost choked:

"You only remembered one word, didn't you? If you can't remember, you can just call me Alice!"

"Oh, then Miss Alice."

Chu Bai coughed twice:

"I just saw that you seemed to be struggling. Are you in trouble?"

Speaking of this, Alice's expression froze slightly again.

She looked away with a complicated expression:

"It's true that we've encountered quite a troublesome situation."

"How about talking to some kind passersby?" Chu Bai pointed at himself.

"Um…………"

Alice was silent for a while, and finally spoke softly:

“Actually, I’m a little bit insecure about interpersonal communication.”

"Interpersonal communication?"

"Yes."

For some reason, after getting close to Chu Bai, Alice always felt an inexplicable atmosphere of intimacy.

Although it was their first meeting, she already had the urge to confide in Chu Bai.

And before that, let alone men.

She had never been so close even to women of the same age with whom she had a good relationship.

"I need to buy some materials for weaving dolls at the village craft store."

"But the new store manager doesn't seem easy to get along with..."

I looked in the direction Alice pointed.

Chu Bai immediately spotted the new store manager with a leopard head, round eyes, a broad back and strong waist, a three-foot-long beard, and arms hanging down past his knees.

To be honest, it is indeed scary just from the appearance, and there is always a sense of mystery and confusion.

"Actually it's not bad."

Chu Bai smiled faintly:

"This look is at most enough to scare people..."

"This is quite serious!"

Alice rarely made a complaint that was out of character.

Chu Bai continued to analyze rationally:

"But after all, this boss is a businessman. He's out to do business, not to fight."

"No matter how fierce he looks, he will definitely not make things difficult for his customers."

"really?"

"Really. Let's go together. I'll give you some encouragement."

As he said that, he took Alice's arm and led her to the front of the prop shop.

Alice was startled and instinctively wanted to run away.

She has always been a lonely and cold person, and the main reason is that she is not good at socializing.

Although puppet shows are occasionally performed at banquets, they are just attempts to attract attention because they don't know what to do.

The result did attract attention, but her cold image became more and more popular, and others were even more afraid to talk to her.

Unexpectedly, she met the enthusiastic Chu Bai today, and for some reason, she didn't feel the slightest bit disgusted by Chu Bai's overly close behavior.

Could it be that this newcomer gets along well with her?

According to the vampire girl, this is the intersection of fate?

Alice was lost in thought, and when she came to her senses, she was already being led in front of the prop shop manager.

"Welcome, miss."

The muscular store manager crossed his arms across his chest. Although he was just an ordinary person, he exuded the pressure of a strong man:

"Excuse me, what would you like to buy? By the way, the old store manager is not here recently, so we are not accepting any illegal business."

Wow, what is this black business? It’s so scary.

Not to mention Alice, even Chu Bai felt a little creepy.

But perhaps because of Chu Bai's company, Alice seemed to have more courage.

Her expression was as cold as ever, and her tone was quite calm:

"I need to buy some materials, here's the list."

"Hold on."

The macho store manager took the list and went back to the back room.

Then there was the sound of sharpening a knife, chopping something, and something falling to the ground, splashing an unknown liquid.

Chu Bai couldn't help but swallow his saliva:

"Don't be afraid, Xiao Ai. I will definitely protect you..."

"Then why don't you hide behind me!"

Alice looked at Chu Bai hiding behind her with shame:

"And what's with Xiao Ai? I don't remember having a name like that?"

"Isn't this just a name between friends, like 'Hey' or 'Hey So-and-so', a more casual nickname..."

"It's not casual at all! And it doesn't sound like something you would call an ordinary friend, does it?"

Alice complained subconsciously, her nervousness gradually disappearing.

After she got the materials and paid, she realized that the transaction she had been a little dreading had ended.

"How about it, simple?"

Chu Bai smiled slightly:

"That's how relationships are. The more you care, the more tension there is."

“As long as you relax, the interaction will be much easier.”

"……Been taught a lesson."

Alice took the materials and thanked him sincerely:

"Anyway, thank you so much for today."

"You're welcome. We're all villagers, so we'll see each other sooner or later."

Chu Bai looked at the sky and it was already late.

If I don’t find a house now, I’m afraid I’ll have to sleep on the street at night.

So he was about to wave goodbye:

"Then I'll go get down to business. We can talk again when we have time."

"Please wait a moment."

Alice suddenly quickened her pace and came in front of him.

She took out her wallet, pulled out a handful of bills from it, and handed it to Chu Bai with both hands.

A rough count showed that the amount was at least 10 yen.

"……This is?"

"Friends' fee."

Alice said seriously:

"If that's not enough, I have more at home."

"Can you please be my friend and teach me more about relationships?"

Chu Bai looked at the serious-looking girl with a puzzled look:

"Xiao Ai, interpersonal relationships cannot be measured by money."

“Friends bought with money are meaningless. Only those made with sincerity can be considered true friends.”

He smiled and took Alice's hand.

"Besides, don't you think we are already friends?"

"Besides Reimu, you're the first friend I've actually made in Gensokyo."

Hearing Chu Bai say this, Alice's heart was moved:

"Actually, you are also my first friend of the opposite sex..."

Chu Bai responded with a smile:

"That's quite a coincidence."

"I'll be living among humans from now on. If you have time, walk around more often. If you have any problems, feel free to come to me."

"it is good."

Alice said this, gradually realizing something was wrong:

"...So can you please let go of my hand? Or rather, let go of this money in my hand?"

Chu Bai lowered his head and suddenly found that his hand had grabbed the money at some point and was stuffing it into his pocket with force.

Suddenly he was shocked and took a breath of cold air:

"He actually locked my hand without anyone noticing? Is this Xiao Ai's magic? It's so terrifying..."

"There's no magic at all! It's obviously your own greed!"

Alice couldn't help but complain, but the corners of her mouth unconsciously raised slightly.

Lively, joyful, and free to chat.

This is what it feels like to be with friends.

But just as the two were talking, a dissatisfied voice suddenly sounded beside them.

"That's really impressive, Chu Bai."

"You can't even recognize all the roads, but you've already made new friends..."