Volume 1 Chapter 23 Encounter I – The Misunderstood Criminal
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Oi, Suzuri-chan. How ’bout we head to Umeda next week?”
”…Is that some kind of code?”
”Why’s it gotta be a code?”
Last week, Suzuri had this exchange with Kazuramichi Naoshi, who was like an older brother to her when they were young, and now he was also her mentor and the person she had her first crush on.
Usually, Naoshi visited the Kazuramichi house in plain clothes for training, but today, Suzuri showed up in a white knit top and a long checkered skirt, wearing low-heeled pumps instead of her usual sneakers, ready for a date.
She took out a hand mirror from her handbag to check her appearance one last time in front of the open gate, trying to ignore the mixed expressions of the Kazuramichi family members who seemed both amused and a bit pained by the sight.
”Okay.”
She took a deep breath and stepped over the threshold of the gate.
After walking a good distance, she reached the entrance where a black limousine and Naoshi were waiting.
She felt a bit disappointed that he was dressed almost the same as usual, looking like a student, but she knew he usually wore nice clothes.
”Sorry to keep you waiting, Nao-nii.”
With excitement, she called out to him.
”──Oh, Suzuri-chan! Ya look real cute today!”
Her efforts to dress up for today were quickly rewarded with his compliment.
Even though there was always a hint of suspicion about Naoshi’s intentions, hearing him praise her made her heart race.
”R-Really?”
”Yeah, really! You look cute!”
”~~~~~! Th-Thanks! Since I’m going out with you, I thought I should wear something different than usual.”
”Your usual confident look is nice too, but this suits ya well.”
”Really!? I’m so glad! You know, my friends said you seem like a smooth-talking host type, so they told me you definitely prefer a more innocent and pure look! I’m glad I believed them!”
”Sometimes I wonder if ya really like me.”
”If you want to know that, ask me when we’re alone, okay? Then I can tell you as much as you want!”
”Do ya even know where this conversation’s goin’? Ain’t ya gettin’ a bit too excited? But it’s fine. I’m glad ya put so much effort in.”
”Yeah! I wanted you to be happy too──so, so, what do you think?”
”You look cute. It’s nice seein’ a pretty girl all dressed up. If ya could just grow a couple more years, then it’d be perfect.”
”Don’t ask for the impossible! Plus, isn’t a young wife something most guys like?”
”You’re not my wife. But since it’s a special day, how ’bout we link arms?”
”Yes!”
Feeling more excited than ever, Suzuri took Naoshi’s arm
She followed him to the car, happily resting her head on his shoulder.
She didn’t notice the Kazuramichi family members watching them with teary eyes or the driver glancing at them through the rearview mirror.
”──Nao-nii, where are we?”
Now, in front of Suzuri, a vast space opened up.
The hallway they entered led down to a large area that felt as big as a gym.
The sounds of revving engines and the smell of gasoline filled the air.
Except for the straight path lined with balloon-shaped lights and the corridor visible ahead, everything else melted into darkness, making it hard to see where one thing ended and another began.
It felt like a huge underground construction or mining site.
”This is Umeda, right? Ya saw Umeda Han, didn’t ya?”
”Where in Umeda did you bring me?”
”The Umeda underground dungeon. Never heard of it?”
”Are you joking about the underground town?”
”Yeah. It’s like a joke that became real. The story got around too much, and now there’s actually an underground town with an entrance open.”
Leaning against a simple railing made of 3 parallel iron pipes, Naoshi dramatically spread his arms wide.
”Well then, instead of blockin’ it off and makin’ it all weird again, we decided to stabilize it. The boundary between ‘over there’ and ‘over here’──ya could call it an artificial otherworld. That’s where we are, the Umeda Underground Dungeon──!”
”──This isn’t a Umeda date!!”
”Ugh.”
While shouting, Suzuri slammed her handbag hard against Naoshi’s chest.
”Ouch… Nah, I never said it was a date, did I? I just said let’s go to Umeda.”
”That’s true, but…!”
”I knew Suzuri-chan might misunderstand and get all excited, but I couldn’t help but wanna see that reaction.”
”How can you say such a terrible thing and then act all ‘sorry’! You idiot! Go die!”
”That’s harsh, don’t ya think?”
”What’s harsh about it! You’re playing with a girl’s feelings, you jerk! I’m so mad!”
”Then what about a love that lasts a hundred years…?”
”It won’t cool down!”
”Whoa, you tough or what! Well, I made sure to put on some nice clothes so they don’t get dirty, and brought my usual sword.”
”That’s just a confession of a planned crime!”
”By the way, when we finish up here, I booked us a hotel room and a restaurant.”
”Huh!? Who would be fooled by that──hotel?”
Suddenly, Suzuri’s energy stopped.
After staring at each other for a good ten seconds, Naoshi repeated the same words in response to Suzuri’s silent question.
”Hotel.”
”…Two rooms?”
Suzuri’s response was much quicker than before.
”Nah, just one room. It’s pretty expensive, though.”
”Must be a twin, right?”
”I booked a double, but would that be better for you?”
”No, one bed is enough. Yeah, that’s right. Oh, but if we’re staying out, I need to tell my family…”
”I already got permission. I told ’em I’m takin’ a young lady out, though Shiun-san really gave me a hard time about it.”
”I see, yeah, yeah… but Nao-nii, why didn’t you say that earlier?”
”I thought it’d be cute watchin’ Suzuri-chan get all worked up.”
”You jerk──! Bully, elementary school boy! Mean! Human trash! Trash!”
”Ya don’t need to call me trash three times, y’know?”
”Are you saying it’s not true, you idiot!”
”Well, it’s true, so I can’t help it… but if ya don’t like it, I’ll make sure ya get home before curfew, alright?”
”You really make me say things like that, I really hate it…!”
”That hurts… Well, I ain’t lettin’ ya go home tonight, so forgive me for that.”
”Tell me that first──idiot.”
Pouting, Suzuri nodded slightly to show her agreement.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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