Seeing that Akichi Aya had seen through his disguise, Uesugi Kazuki didn't try to deny it.
After all, neither the mask on his face nor the belt around his waist and the cape behind him were for anything more than aesthetics and fun.
He hadn't considered whether these items were ergonomically sound if the user needed to sprint hundreds of meters while wearing them.
Of course, a normal person wouldn't have the need to sprint hundreds of meters in such an outfit.
Seeing Akichi Aya refuse his offered tissues, Uesugi Kazuki removed the mask from his face and the cape that had nearly strangled him while running.
Looking at Akichi Aya's calm expression, as if she wasn't the one who had almost been abducted by her mother and offered to a cult, then sprinted several hundred meters, he asked,
"When did you realize it was me?"
"I knew since yesterday."
Akichi Aya looked into Uesugi Kazuki's eyes and asked the question again.
"Uesugi-kun, why exactly did you help me?"
Casually tossing the mask and cape aside, Uesugi Kazuki then removed the belt that had been painfully hammering his abs during the run and threw it aside as well.
He looked at Akichi Aya, who was silently watching him shed his disguises, scratched his head, and replied in a tone as if he had just helped an old lady cross the street.
"As for the reason... it's probably just because I'm a rider driven by interest..."
"Driven by interest?"
Upon hearing Uesugi Kazuki's answer, Akichi Aya first lowered her head, her long bangs obscuring her eyes.
Then Akichi Aya looked up again, a polite, sweet smile gracing her face, like a porcelain doll.
"Then, Uesugi-kun, could I trouble you not to help me anymore?"
"Why?"
Uesugi Kazuki asked, surprised by Akichi Aya's words.
Akichi Aya just smiled, without answering.
After bowing deeply to Uesugi Kazuki with her hands clasped in front of her, she turned and walked back the way they came.
Looking at Akichi Aya's retreating back, Uesugi Kazuki scratched his head again.
Then he hurried forward, intending to stop Akichi Aya.
But as he blocked Akichi Aya's path, Akichi Aya simply stepped to the side, trying to get around Uesugi Kazuki.
So, Uesugi Kazuki could only stretch out one hand to block Akichi Aya's path, just as Akichi Aya had done to him in the "wall slam" incident.
Akichi Aya, blocked by Uesugi Kazuki, turned and looked at him.
"Hey, you..."
As Uesugi Kazuki began to speak, Akichi Aya pressed her index finger to his lips.
"Shhh... I understand. If Uesugi-kun wants it, it's okay~"
Akichi Aya, with her head slightly tilted, withdrew her hand and began unbuttoning her school uniform.
"I don't have experience, so you'll have to bear with me, Uesugi-kun."
"That's enough!"
Akichi Aya had just unbuttoned two buttons on her school uniform when Uesugi Kazuki grabbed her hand, which was about to unbutton the third.
"I didn't help you for this. Button up your uniform."
"Then why did you help me, Uesugi-kun?"
Akichi Aya still tilted her head, looking at Uesugi Kazuki.
"Uesugi-kun, you can help me once, twice, or even three times, but one day you won't be able to appear in time, and I'll have to face my destiny."
"So... Uesugi-kun, you don't have to help me anymore. Thank you."
Uesugi Kazuki released Akichi Aya's hands, which he had been holding, and instead pinched her chin.
"Listen, you, don't look down on people. About that Future Happiness Cult, tell me everything you know."
At Uesugi Kazuki's words, a smile blossomed on Akichi Aya's face.
"There's no need for that, Uesugi-kun."
Akichi Aya re-buttoned her school uniform.
"I know you're a good person, and I'm very grateful for your help, but you can't fight them. They have connections with politicians. I'm already happy that you could help me twice."
After buttoning up her school uniform, Akichi Aya cupped Uesugi Kazuki's face with both hands.
She leaned in and pecked him lightly on the lips.
"This is my thanks for these two times."
Akichi Aya's clear eyes gazed into Uesugi Kazuki's.
"Or do you want more?"
"I..."
Looking into Akichi Aya's clear eyes, Uesugi Kazuki was momentarily speechless.
Akichi Aya said nothing more. She just closed her eyes and leaned in again.
Seeing Akichi Aya's pretty face drawing closer, Uesugi Kazuki also closed his eyes.
But the imagined kiss didn't come.
Uesugi Kazuki, who had been waiting for the kiss for quite a while with his eyes closed, opened them.
Akichi Aya, who had been so close just moments ago, had now vanished.
Damn it! Is this girl going to do something foolish?
Thinking of Akichi Aya's earlier words, Uesugi Kazuki quickly turned and ran out of the alley.
Not long after Uesugi Kazuki ran out of the alley, Akichi Aya emerged from behind a refrigerator, abandoned there by who-knows-who.
Looking at the bright autumn sunlight at the alley's entrance, she smiled faintly and then turned towards the other end of the alley.
Uesugi Kazuki, who had run a whole block without seeing Akichi Aya, ran back into the alley and searched around but still couldn't find her.
Feeling that Akichi Aya's words earlier were extremely dangerous, Uesugi Kazuki ran to the fast-food restaurant where he worked yesterday but still couldn't find Akichi Aya.
Finally, Uesugi Kazuki calmly thought for a moment. After eliminating all possibilities,
Uesugi Kazuki wondered, Could Akichi Aya have gone back to school?
So, Uesugi Kazuki walked back towards the school. As he passed the convenience store where he bought his 'study materials' yesterday,
Uesugi Kazuki went in again and conveniently bought another one of those long-handled umbrellas.
Although it was an umbrella, its feel and lethality were far better than the anime-style wooden sword that broke after two swings.
However, at the checkout, Uesugi Kazuki encountered his unnamed good friend from yesterday working the shift.
"Shelf C, good stuff."
The communication between gentlemen was always this trustworthy and straightforward. Hearing the cashier's tip,
Uesugi Kazuki went to shelf C again, and indeed, he found a lot of good stuff hidden in the corner.
So, just like yesterday, besides buying an umbrella, Uesugi Kazuki also purchased a batch of 'study materials.'
Carrying the umbrella and study materials, as the streetlights came on,
Uesugi Kazuki returned to the school gate.
Normally, as a student of the school, Uesugi Kazuki would have tried to use the excuse that he forgot something at school to enter and see if Akichi Aya was hiding there.
But the grumpy security guard firmly refused Uesugi Kazuki's request.
"Kid! Rules are rules! If you forgot something, come back tomorrow!"
Seeing the gatekeeper's resolute refusal, Uesugi Kazuki had no choice but to see if the skills he honed during his truancy in his past life could still be put to good use.
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