Chapter 56 (1/2)

Chapter 56

Neito arrived at the airport with his luggage After doing the necessary procedures, he headed off into the airport lobby

He looked around him The airport was crowded but he should’ve no trouble spotting out Tsurugi froht of 190 centimeters and had an aura that no other man could have Sometimes those characteristics of his come handy in these kind of moments

[…Huh?]

Tsurugi wasn’t there He looked at his watch He was sure he told hi at this hour There was no way that i was the only person he infor back to japan “I heard from the i said The reason why Tsurugi was the only one informed was because he didn’t want to create a coned to pick him up at the airport but…

Maybe so happened to him?!

He orried As a top-class member of Metallica, there was no doubt people would be after hii’s nui picked up and answered in a causal tone

[Aah, Good day Boss Did you arrive safely? Yes, Welcome back]

Neito sighed in relief

[Thank you Where are you now? Are you in the airport lobby?]

Tsurugi’s response was unusual

[About that boss, so happened and I can’t come and pick you up]

[What happened? Are you in trouble?]

If Tsurugi couldn’t contact him himself, then he was definitely in trouble Neito’s expression changed

[No… Well It’s just a hangover Don’t worry aboutnow]

Tsurugi then ended the call

Hangover? There’s no way that Tsurugi would be that drunk When we drank together, he seemed fine after many bottles of Sake

[……?]

Neito didn’t understand He was lost in his thoughts, looking at the screen of his phone, but then

Tap tap

Somebody tapped his shoulders Neito turned around

[…Eh? Maki-san?]

His co-worker and researcher fro behind him

[I’ve been standing here for quite a while, and yet you didn’t notice me You’re too cruel Neito-kun~!]

As Maki said those words Neito looked at her intently Today was a Saturday and Maki’s day off She earing a Sakura colored One-piece dress paired with short boots She had a slender build and a mellow face, different from the women he saw at New York She looked fresh in Neito’s eyes

[Ah- yeah Sorry about not noticing you I’lad weren’t an assassin]

[That not what I et it]

Despite her words, she was sic Neito also smiled in return

[Oh I alot! Welcome back, Neito-kun]

Maki’s words arm and pure Just like the time when they first met

[Yeah… I’ht? I’m sorry, today is even your day-off He really didn’t need to bother you to do this…]

[No, it’s okay! I was free and… no, it’s nothing]

Maki waved her hands and tried to dis called the reincarnate of the devil, Neito still couldn’t figure out what girls of her age were thinking

[Hm? Well, if you insist…]

[Ah I’e Let’s head off to my car]

As if she wanted to avoid the topic, she quickly headed off into the crowd and towards the exit Ne

ito was surprised for a bit

Her hair was flowing in the air and it was very fragrant

Five years had already passed since he first entered the coht go further than being just friends, but thinking about it only made him nervous and e that situation could happen

They arrived in the airport’s parking lot He got on into Maki’s car He wasn’t familiar with cars, but her car was small and round, an unusual shape

(TLN: Probably a Volkswagen Beetle)

[Sorry, you even had to walk to the parking lot…]

[No no It’s no problem Shall we?]

It was his first ti Until his twenties, as he was under his (abusive?) father and his late mother He had no time for leisure until he entered Metallica No, even if he had the ti

(TLN: The literal translation says “as he was under his father doing those things” Whether it’s abuse of so, I’ll leave it to the readers)

The car departed from the airport and headed into the citiesNeito was scheduled to stay over at a hotel for the day Normally he would’ve ii was absent, he decided to put it off until tomorrow No, more like he had no other choice

The radio in the car was playing a song by a foreign artist He didn’t knoho the artist was, but the song she sang was very heart-war

The car drove on

He looked at Maki She was focused on the road ahead He was glad their eyes didn’t meet She must be now in her mid-twenties and she looked even more beautiful than when they first met

[Hm? What’s the matter Neito-kun?]

She found out Neito panicked and averted his eyes from her

[Ah, No, it’s nothing… Ah, the new Tokyo Tower already completed? It’s definitely taller than the sky tree, it looks beautiful]

[Why are you speaking in a formal tone-?]

[……]

[Fufufu~ You’re weird Ah! Yes, that Oden shop started selling Ramen!]

[Really? Is it good?]

[Very!]

That’s how their conversation went on for the rest of the ride They weren’t discussing hile things, but he still enjoyed the conversation

Enjoyed? Me? For alike a normal person…

He tried changing the topic,

[Hoas your six months Maki-san?]

Maki was still Maki, she went on discussing the various new models for modified humans and modifications on the prototypes for the Silhouette series It seemed like she was very busy for the last six months

[That ]

[Not at all, after all, it’s so I chose for myself]

Maki’s expression was sad yet mellow She was a kind individual, but at times she showed those kind of emotions

[… Is that so?]

He knehy Maki entered Metallica He vowed to fight alongside of her but,

[Ah, that’s your hotel right? I’otten this late]

The car entered into the hotel’s preht for a little bit

He wanted to thank Maki for picking him up at the airport It was already scheduled that he would ride a train fro Cri he was invited to For a little bit, he was relieved of those worries

Of course, he wasn’t planning on neglecting them He would never deviate from the path he decided onto himself He knows, but just for a bit, he wanted to thank her Thinking about the past and the onco on her froe in the future, but that’s a different matter

Yes It wouldn’t be too strange right? No, on the other hand, it would be completely rude if he didn’t thank her this situation It isn’t because he was hitting on her or whether they were dating, they were just co-workers He just wanted to express his gratitude She won’t be disgusted right?

Pondering on his thoughts, he called out to her

[… Thanks for picking me up As a thanks, won’t you join et one, and… Niina said that their food tastes great…]

[…Eeeh?!]

Maki’s soprano pitched voice echoed in the car Neito was prepared for the worse answer, but this took him back a bit

[Is it really okay…?! Then I’ll take up on your offer!]

With Maki’s ehed in relief

The restaurant they both entered into ith a glance, a high class restaurant The halls were beautiful, the table cloth hite and fancy, even the silverware and menu showed a touch of class Maki was taken back

[…… Neito-kun, this is really a…]

[Y-yeah… it’s ]

Both of the It was their first in dining in such fancy restaurant

[What will you have as your aperitif?]