Winter nights were not as restless as summer nights, and there was a sense of death everywhere.

Kitagawa Tera called Kitagawa Eri.

After knowing that she was still on her way home, he cautioned her to be extra careful outside.

Kitagawa Eri was apparently still oblivious to the police following her around and maintained her normal state.

As soon he hung up, Kitagawa Tera noticed Kamiya Mirai's curious gaze.

"Is there something on my face?" Kitagawa Tera asked coldly.

Kamiya Mirai did not answer Kitagawa Tera immediately. She stared at him thoughtfully for about two minutes before saying with envy, "Terkun has never used such a gentle tone with me."

"Really?" Kitagawa Tera answered indifferently. He also knew that was his personality and could not change for now.

"See! That tone again!"

"Instead of being concerned about my tone, listen carefully to what I'm going to say." Kitagawa Tera dived into the topic straightaway. "I'll soon be heading to Ha.s.san City for at least two days, but it might stretch to four or five days. I won't be able to fulfill today's agreement."

"Eh?!"

Compared to Kitagawa Tera's expressionless face, Kamiya Mirai's reactions were much more vivid, and she almost jumped off the car seat. "Are you in such a hurry?"

Kamiya Mirai originally wanted to ask Kitagawa Tera about the contents of today's notepad but suppressed her question now.

"…" Kitagawa Tera glanced at her in silence.

"Ahem Ahem…" Kamiya Mirai apparently also realized that her question was a little dumb.

If a murderer with a knife was loitering around your house day and night, and you suddenly had the means and ability to catch them, would you not spring into action immediately?

"It's best if you can understand. As long as I catch… have headway on the culprit, I won't need to worry about meeting danger." Kitagawa Tera wanted to say catch the culprit bluntly, but considering the police officer in front, he changed the subject smoothly and naturally.

In fact, Arano Ryoko heard it.

Kitagawa Tera could even see her baring her teeth in an unhappy grin in the rearview mirror.

However, Kitagawa Tera did not mind. His gaze landed on Kamiya Mirai's, wanting to hear her reply.

"Even if you want me to understand…" The always optimistic Kamiya Mirai showed a rare awkward side.

It would be absolutely impossible for her to go back home to sleep alone. Judging from the current situation, going home alone might be heading right into the lion's den.

"You can stay at my house." Kitagawa Tera suddenly offered while Kamiya Mirai was still lost about what to do.

"Can I?!" Kamiya Mirai was even more surprised. She did not expect Kitagawa Tera, who had been so cold, to say such empathetic words.

"If you want to go home alone, I don't have any opinions."

Upon hearing this, Kamiya Mirai expressed her stand immediately. "No! It's better to stay at Terkun's house than mine!"

There actually came a day where Kitagawa Tera is concerned about me.

Kamiya Mirai felt like she was. .h.i.t on the head by a big surprise, and her head was spinning. She only detected Kitagawa Tera's outstretched palm after a while.

She looked at his palm and blinked suspiciously. "What?"

"A good house rents for a hundred and fifty thousand yen a month, which means five thousand yen per day. I'll just charge you thirty-five thousand yen. I think that's rather reasonable," Kitagawa Tera responded expressionlessly.

Pupu

Arano Ryoko, who had been listening in front, could not help laughing.

Hearing Arano Ryoko's laughter, Kamiya Mirai's mouth twitched. "… Kitagawsan."

"What?"

"Do you know that your words don't match your expressionless face at all?"

"Really?" Kitagawa Tera glanced at Kamiya Mirai and said with a straight face, "However, I personally prefer a contractual relations.h.i.+p with money as the basis."

This blockhead!

Kamiya Mirai's pretty face was turning purple from Kitagawa Tera's att.i.tude of letting things drift as if they did not affect him.

This person always managed to break her beautiful illusions about him when he opened his mouth.

Kitagawa Tera stared at her without a word, seeming to be waiting for her answer.

Kamiya Mirai bit her lips and said grudgingly, "I'll pay."

Kitagawa Tera nodded and said frankly with clear eyes, "I'll still be home for the next three to four days. I estimate that it'll take that amount of time to finish up miscellaneous school matters and obtain leave. No one will be able to hurt you these few days. It's the same no matter whether you are at school or at my house. So, strictly speaking, you're still profiting."

I profited?

Yes! I profited! I'm about to hand over all the money I saved all these years to you!

Thinking about how she still had to pay another fifty thousand yen to Kitagawa Tera as his reward for getting rid of the grudge today, Kamiya Mirai felt like she was bleeding.

She had nowhere to vent. Kamiya Mirai could discern that Kitagawa Tera was not taking advantage but expressing his views from his heart.

Kamiya Mirai's self-esteem would be unable to tolerate staying at Kitagawa's house even if Kitagawa Tera could put up with her.

From a certain point of view, Kitagawa Tera said those words proactively because he had seen through her.

Kitagawa Tera's straightforwardness made her uncomfortable and unable to swallow it.

…

Kitagawa Tera was unbothered about Kamiya Mirai's feelings. After receiving her promise, he closed his eyes and concentrated.

After Kitagawa Tera's breathing steadied, Arano Ryoko's voice came from the front. "This kid Kitagawa has always been like this.

"He might have a sharp tongue, but this guy… this guy…"

Arano Ryoko frowned, trying to think of good things to say about Kitagawa Tera.

However, after thinking about all the things that happened after she met Kitagawa Tera, she turned the steering wheel fast all of a sudden and gnashed her teeth. "Actually, this guy is just a rascal! He has a sharp tongue and isn't willing to suffer a disadvantage!"

"…" Kamiya Mirai.

"I'm not asleep yet." Kitagawa Tera did not care that Arano Ryoko was speaking badly about him. He merely turned back and looked at the street.

The car had turned into a residential area, and the Kitagawas' house was just in front.

Arano Ryoko quickly drove the car to the door and stopped. She had a face full of disgust and wanted to kick Kitagawa Tera out of the car as soon as she could.

But in the end, she withdrew her feet in anguish and did not forget to caution Kitagawa Tera. "No matter what, Kitagawa, you have to be careful if you really want to go to Ha.s.san City to investigate alone."

Perhaps she was the real softie at heart.

Kamiya Mirai sighed.

"I'll be careful," Kitagawa Tera replied.

"No matter what, I always only have one sentence for you, your house—" Arano Ryoko's pupils suddenly shrank, and she shouted loudly, "Be careful! Kitagawa! Behind you!"

Behind him, a s.h.i.+ning metal bat was coming at his head!