Chapter 167

It would still be slow going, but it was better than trying to run in the snow. I pulled my bicycle up to the front door and got on. “Hurry, Hina!” “But Ryou, we can’t ride togeth—” “It’s an emergency!” That didn’t make it legal, but after a moment of hesitation, Fushimi joined me. Thankfully, the snow was melting, and you could already see the street in places. There were no cars around to get in our way, and we were able to choose the easiest places to ride. I pushed down on the pedals and took off. Hina clung to my waist as we gained speed. “Please don’t run into the police please don’t run into the police please don’t…” I ignored her pleas and sped up. “You’re going to your first job straight from a man’s house.” Objectively, this made her sound like quite the delinquent. “I think that makes you worse than Mana,” I said. “Aw… B-but… I wanted to be intimate with you.” It was a real shame I couldn’t see her face as she said that. She’d worded it in a roundabout way, but it was clear what she meant. “So you did want to.” “Yes, shut up!” Hina slapped my back. “Okay, okay. Sorry, I wasn’t trying to be mean.” My breath was getting ragged from talking. That was when I noticed I was still in my pajamas. Hina jumped off the bike as soon as we reached the station. “Thanks, Ryou! I think I’ll make it!” “Good luck.” “Bye!” She waved and disappeared into the station. The train she needed was just arriving. Right on time. I sighed in relief and was just starting to turn back when I saw a gyaru walk out of the same building. “Oh, Bubby! Are you here to pick me up?” she asked, waving. My little sister looked pretty energetic for someone who’d just pulled an all-nighter. It didn’t seem like she’d seen Fushimi on her way out. Let’s roll with it. “Yeah.” “That’s so funny. You’re in your jammies, and look at that bed hair! I think you coddle me a little too much.” She was still in party mode. “How did you even know what train I got on? Were you just waiting here for me?” “Uh, well, you see… Yeah.” I was trying to dodge her question, but to her, it probably just looked like I was embarrassed. “You waited for me in the cold right after waking up? You’re so adorable, Bubby!” She ruffled my hair. Stop treating me like a loyal dog. Mana sat on my bike’s luggage tray without hesitation. Guess she doesn’t care. Unlike Hina, who was losing her mind the whole way here. “Let’s go,” I said. “Ahoy! Go, Bubby, go!” Thinking I’d waited for her in the cold must have made Mana pretty happy. She had even more energy now than when I first saw her.