Tokyo Psychic

Page 127

Surrounded by LED lights, a girl chews on a fruit gummy candy. As her hands clatter across the keyboard, the secrets of Tokyo begin to flow rapidly on the screen in front of her.

But she clearly had no interest in prying into stories that most people had never heard of.

Sometimes knowing too much can actually get you into trouble...

Adhering to hacker principles, Futaba Sakura is now gossiping and reading the love triangle between "Psychic Thief," "Anwa Tendo's Successor," and "Toyokawa Family Heir" from different perspectives.

"Joker is really lucky with girls, so many beautiful girls like him."

She chuckled as she flipped through page after page of messages hijacked by the virus, her eyes gleaming as she muttered to herself, "A test from a major conglomerate? Greed leading to the 'harem route'? Ms. Ikegi and Ms. Anwa, both members of the Phantom Thieves, plus the twin daughters of her boss at the agency... This plot development, oh my god, it's just—a total scumbag! Hey, I can't wait for the day he crashes and burns..."

Futaba Sakura let out a gasp of surprise, then contentedly destroyed all the files she had just browsed, and erased all traces she had left on the internet.

"But... what's the deal with that 'daughter of the Wakaba family'? Her family is clearly well-off, but all the records make her seem like she's on the verge of collapse."

She pinched her chin, leaned back in her chair, and fell into deep thought.

Never mind, whatever—I'm sure Mr. Phantom Thief will help her.

As for now, let's just pretend we know nothing!

Sakura Futaba thought to herself, then opened the web version of "No Game No Life" in her browser and found her previous reading progress by following the bookmarks.

Hmm, this book is really fun. I never expected a phantom thief to write such interesting content... She crossed her legs, her large glasses reflecting the complex text.

However, it's truly astonishing that the Toyokawa family would secretly mobilize various resources for such a "low-class" work...

The air conditioner overhead was blowing cold air, which inexplicably sent a shiver down her spine in the dark bedroom.

I feel like I've forgotten something really important.

Futaba Sakura looked at the "Phantom Thief Channel" on the side screen with lingering fear.

Her gaze shifted several times before she stopped paying attention to it.

We can't completely trust them yet...

Sakura Futaba moved her lips and used the mouse to bring up Wakaba Mutsu's photo.

Let's observe for a while to see how the "Phantom Thieves" will save this girl.

She mumbled to herself, "A hero who rescues others from twisted desires..."

*

"Of course it's me."

Wearing a straw hat and with her cape swung out, Akira Kurusu struck a pose and walked into the darkness of the dressing room with her back to the camera. The words "Fourth Generation" trembled rapidly under the air conditioner vent along with the cape.

An and Subaru held up their phones, snapping photos frantically as they excitedly chased after Akira.

She loves cosplay, but she's always been too lazy to wear those messy outfits, mainly because she finds it troublesome, and she always feels like others will take advantage of her, giving her a feeling of becoming a "bad girl"—her rather complicated family environment has shaped her conservative yet rebellious and constantly contradictory way of thinking.

Akira Kurusu's appearance fulfilled An and Subaru's longing and desire for this kind of otaku culture.

When the other party first put on the phantom thief outfit, An and Subaru were so captivated by the cool, chuunibyou-esque blend of "justice" and "rebellion" that they lost all sense of reason.

Perhaps in that instant, a fantasy took root in her heart: that one day in the future she could touch and manipulate this boy however she wanted.

Now that they've officially started dating, An and Subaru have finally gotten what they wanted.

"What a hassle..." Akira Kurusu, having removed her wig, walked out of the dressing room, complaining about An and Subaru's capriciousness. "I'm totally not a good match for 'Yellow Flash'-sama, am I?"

"They're all young heroes."

"Compared to those 'heroes' who die young, I'd rather wield twin swords and perform the 'Starburst Stream Slash'—I don't even need to wear a wig, just take off my glasses, put on some fingerless gloves, and wear a dark trench coat."

"No way!" Anwa Subaru immediately refused when he heard Akira Kurusu suggest cosplaying as "Kirito".

She doesn't want her lover to become the kind of "harem protagonist who is monopolized by a rich heiress".

Unless she is reborn into a wealthy family as a young lady.

At that moment, An and Subaru noticed the gazes focused on them from behind and nervously looked at the boy in front of them.

Akira was amused by her nervous appearance, but he went along with her wishes and returned the wig and the costumes to the clothing store clerk who was giving him a flirty look. Then, without saying a word, he grabbed An and Subaru's hands and walked out.

An and Subaru, looking as if they had done something wrong, lowered their heads and followed him out of the clothing store.

As she left the store, she immediately changed her demeanor.

First, she angrily reached out and ruffled Akira's hair, then took out the non-prescription glasses from her school uniform pocket and put them on him, making sure that his good looks were completely sealed off. Only then did she suddenly breathe a sigh of relief, "What a nuisance."

"That's a bit much," Lai Xixiao pinched her cheek, "Why don't you let others look at me more than a few times?"

An and Subaru covered his right hand with both of theirs, saying somewhat dejectedly, "I'm afraid you'll be taken away..."

She looked exactly like the female lead in a tragic love story, haggard as a fallen flower, delicate as flowing water, evoking pity.

The hidden meanings in her words made Akira Kurishi hesitate for a moment, but she still pulled her soft cheek harder, "Don't put on an act at a time like this."

"Huh?" An and Subaru's dejection vanished instantly, replaced by a disgruntled grumbling, "After all, I'm the one pursuing you..."

"What will you do if you fail to win her over?"

"Then keep chasing!" Anhe Subaru glared at Kurusu Akira. "I can't choose anyone else but you!"

Akira Kurusu deliberately looked at the intricate pattern on the back of her right hand, "It sounds like I've kidnapped you."

An and Subaru chased after him, hitting him as they went, "Don't play dumb! That's not what I meant!"

Akira Kurusu lazily turned around, letting her hit her, and then walked straight towards the streets of Akihabara. "Next, let's go to the arcade together."

An and Subaru quickly calmed down, took each other's arms, and walked side by side, asking, "Want to try your luck at the claw machine?"

Akira turned her head to look at the alley beside her. In the alley, a bright blue light gate was open, and Lavenda was sitting on the door, swinging her legs and looking up at the round sun on the horizon.

Noticing the phantom thief's gaze, Ravenda suddenly lowered her head and gave him an encouraging smile.

......

“Claw machines… that’s too expensive,” Akira Kurusu said. “I heard that someone spent a million yen and still didn’t win the grand prize plush toy. In the end, the store manager couldn’t stand it anymore and just opened the machine and took it out for him.”

An and Subaru thought with a troubled expression, "So how should we arrange our time from now on?"

Akira Kurusu played with her slender, long fingers. "Arcades aren't just about claw machines... Don't you really like playing arcade games?"

An and Subaru let Akira do whatever he wanted without caring, but they cautiously looked at his profile. "So you really do like playing games."

Akira Kurusu: "You don't actually think that me spending this morning with you at the internet cafe was just a 'perfunctory' attitude, do you? You've clearly already watched 'No Game No Life'."

An and Subaru: "Hmm... After all, Ren always gives me the impression that he's extremely busy."

Akira Lai: "It's not an illusion."

An and Subaru: "Even with the power of a Persona, they're still completely penniless..."

Akira Kurusu: "There must always be some bottom lines to follow. If extraordinary power is not restrained, it will gradually deviate from human morality."

An and Subaru hugged his arm tightly. "That's great."

"Ok?"

"If we end up living together and you don't let me play games, even I will feel sad," An and Subaru explained softly, their faces flushed.

Why did you suddenly think that way?

"After all, it's embarrassing to admit that your wife likes playing video games, right?"

"You clearly have the face of a national idol, you can be a little more confident." Akira Kurusu examined Anwa Subaru's exquisite face. "Just your advantage in this aspect is enough to make me feel proud in front of my peers."

Anwa Subaru blinked his eyes, "Actually, I also have a 'Yamato Nadeshiko' form."

“It’s an act.” Akira Kurusu said with certainty.

"Of course it's an act... but if you like, you can keep it up all the time," An and Subaru said somewhat awkwardly.

Akira Kurusu paused for a moment, "Actually, Subaru doesn't like acting, does he?"

“I don’t like it at all…” An and Subaru drawled out the last syllable, looking at him with bright eyes and a mischievous smile on their faces, “But being ‘different’ sometimes makes you happy, right?”

Lai Xixiao was speechless. Suddenly, she had a strong urge to pin her down on the sofa or bed and do something naughty to her.

In the end, neither of them went into the arcade.

Instead, they walked back and forth on the street hand in hand, pretending to be a couple.

They chatted aimlessly, occasionally about trivial matters, but more often than not, there was an unspoken understanding, or a silent happiness.

Until sunset.

The shadows of the crowd stretched out and crumbled on the ground, like a gentle river, enveloping lost men and women as they journeyed across the stars and moon to the other side of daylight.

Even the love hotels in Akihabara are filled with elements from various anime and games—

Akira Kurusu knelt beside a table shaped like a mushroom from "Mario," looking at the mahogany lunchboxes on the table filled with all sorts of exquisite sushi, and a beautiful girl in a school uniform sitting opposite her. For a moment, she didn't know where to reach for her chopsticks first.

Anwa Subaru nervously clutched the hem of her skirt, avoiding Kiseki Akira's eyes. Her gaze occasionally drifted to the tatami mat beside her, and to the two neatly folded yukatas in the corner of the mat, her breathing fluctuating between quick and slow.

"It's a bit hot," Anwa Subaru said in a voice so soft it was almost inaudible.

Actually, the room had the air conditioning on, and the temperature was so low it was a bit cold.

"The exam isn't until tomorrow afternoon, so you can't get your school uniform dirty."

“Hmm,” An and Subaru murmured almost, then lowered their eyes, “Well… I’m going to take a shower now.”

Akira Kurusu picked up a piece of eel sushi and put it in her mouth. The crisp sound of her chopsticks hitting the bottom of the food container was probably her answer.

An and Subaru stood up, their legs, encased in black pantyhose, trembling slightly as if they were exhausted, and they could only walk by supporting themselves against the wall.

"Do you need my help?"

Behind her was Akira Kurusu's voice.

An and Subaru bit their lips, looking at him with a tearful expression, "It's so embarrassing."

"If you occasionally come into contact with the entertainment industry, you should know something about that kind of thing, right?" Akira Kurusu put down her chopsticks, picked up a roll of yukata from the bedside, and walked towards her.

“That’s different,” An and Subaru rested their foreheads on Akira Kurusu’s chest, sighing as if they had made some kind of realization, “Let me do it myself.”

She took the yukata from Akira Kurusu and slowly moved into the bathroom.

The bathroom door closed slowly.

Through the frosted glass, you could see a slender figure dancing gracefully, followed by the sound of splashing water coming from inside.

Akira's gaze fell on the gift box next to the mushroom table. She then sat back down, feeling the invisible weight of responsibility pressing down on her, and began to ponder whether her transgression tonight could be considered "correct."

Every second felt incredibly long during the wait.

......

"Mr. Maruki, is this also part of the course practice?"

On the street outside the love hotel, several poor people, whose names were pronounced "graduate students" but written as "oxen and horses," looked tremblingly at the cognitive science expert in front of them.

The man in the white coat calmly handed them a heavy backpack. "Yes, this is part of the course practice."

The rather inexperienced-looking boy carefully unzipped his backpack, which was filled with beautifully packaged small umbrellas and emergency medications with relatively few side effects but high prices.

Maruki Takuto calmly said, "Your next task is to give one to each guest in every room."

What if there are too many?

"The extra ones will all go to the guests in the last room."

He gave these instructions, and seeing the students' pale and ashen faces, he could only sigh.

"Have you watched any anime?" Maruki Takuto asked the students in front of him.

The students looked at each other, then nodded.

Maruki Takuto gazed at the blood-red setting sun and slowly explained:

"When you were 10, you watched anime and fell in love with the 17-year-old protagonist, dreaming of becoming like him. At 16, you were excited, thinking that you would be the same age as him in just one year. At 17, you were full of vigor, and the anime got a sequel, with the protagonist still being 17 years old. You felt as if you were standing with him, experiencing all the passion that this age should have."

"When you turn 27 and look back, the anime is still being produced and updated, the protagonist is still 17, and you have become a corporate slave worrying about making a living. But you are happy because you can now afford to buy merchandise for your favorite characters. You no longer have to live the life of being 16 years old, having your phone confiscated at school, and having to rely on your savings to buy anime merchandise and eagerly looking forward to going home to watch anime on the weekend."

"At 37, 47, and 57, the anime has ended, and even the voice actor of your favorite character has passed away. You look down at your keychain, and there he is, standing there at 17, looking at you, forever 17."

As he said this, he looked up at the last room on the top floor of the lovers' hotel, where a seventeen-year-old boy was busy cleaning up a box of sushi.

The setting sun slowly sank right in front of Maruki Takuto, casting an even lonelier shadow behind him.