Qinwa seems to be really unwilling to go to school, and tries to bargain to get the college entrance examination over with.
However, just as it doesn't care about the player's wishes, Hojo Natsuki doesn't really care about its true thoughts. He can give in to the frog on many unimportant matters, which is a privilege he gives to the little frog; and he is now really looking forward to the frog going to a prestigious school or something (because it sounds interesting), its weak but firm resistance was just lightly ignored.
In the blink of an eye, it was the end of December, and then January. The New Year in the game had passed, and there were only six days left before Qinwa's college entrance examination.
Of course, Hojo Natsuki remembered the college entrance examination support gift package he bought at a special price. He originally wanted to print a silhouette of the Kototo Frog on the background of the big screen, with some words like "Good luck in the college entrance examination", but he changed his mind and decided not to make it too obvious.
One is Qinwa, a small frog that habitually reduces its presence, probably not willing to be noticed or widely discussed, and the other...
A few days ago, some GuaGua and its driving companions were targeted by the traffic police for driving without a license and speeding many times.
Hojo Natsuki thought about it and felt that Jundong Dagua couldn't be imprisoned so easily, so he removed the original cheering background and replaced it with something else.
These past two days, he was looking forward to getting into the University of Tokyo, and he felt more motivated when slacking off at work. He even nodded to Dazai Osamu easily and followed him to Lupin for a drink after get off work.
The bartender saw him and asked with a smile, "Is it milk today too?"
Hojo Natsuki was interrupted, so he could only say modestly, "No, I'd like a non-alcoholic drink."
"Don't be embarrassed." Dazai Osamu teased, "Everyone knows you can't drink."
Xia Shu: "If you keep making noise, I'll go back."
“Don’t.” Dazai said, “We finally got together, and you’re going back so early, it’s such a bummer.”
Lupin's alcohol-free special blend is a blind box, and the bartender is free to play with it. What flavor you get is purely a matter of luck. At the counter, the bartender rubs the ice cubes with a three-pronged ice pick and skillfully makes hand-cut ice balls. The sound of the ice is very regular, which makes Hojo Natsuki's mind diverge unconsciously.
He heard all the sounds around him: Dazai chatting with Sakaguchi Ango and Oda Sakunosuke, the clinking of wine glasses, and the rubbing of wine bottles against the tabletop of the bar... So, what did Dazai want him to do
He couldn't have been dragged here for such ridiculous reasons as 'wanting to introduce a good friend to a new friend'. To be honest, the friendship among four people was too crowded, and Dazai Osamu would not do such a 'normal' thing.
Natsuki began to recall his recent missions, starting with the most important one: helping the Port Mafia obtain the business license of the Special Powers Division, tracking down the recently entered foreign criminal group Mimic... He put all of them together, and suddenly figured out Mori Ogai's plan to obtain the [Special Powers Business License].
He glanced at Oda Sakunosuke. The red-haired young man was listening to Dazai Osamu's nonsense very seriously. The last time they met, Oda Sakunosuke revealed his special abilities to him.
Xia Shu thought calmly: "Oda Sakunosuke, this man will die. ... It makes sense. This is the cheapest way to get the 'Supernatural Business License'."
Dazai Osamu was busy with other tasks and did not follow up on the mimic incident, so he probably didn't know much and probably hadn't thought about Chief Mori's plan yet.
He had to drag him out to meet these two friends, perhaps out of intuition, or because he got some information from other channels and had some ideas... It was really difficult to figure out this person's thoughts, so Hojo Natsuki was too lazy to think deeply.
He took two sips of the alcohol-free special drink that was delivered to him, and said to Oda Sakunosuke, "You should be careful recently."
After these words were spoken, Oda Sakunosuke and Sakaguchi Ango were both stunned, but Dazai looked calm, playing with the crystal clear wide-mouthed wine glass.
"I have something urgent to do. I'll go back first." Hojo Natsuki left a few 10,000 yuan bills at the bottom of the cup. "No need to see me off. You guys continue drinking. Good night."
After saying that, he put on his coat again, walked along the spreading light and shadow, and left Lupin.
Oda Sakunosuke watched him disappear through the door
I looked at her from behind and asked, "Telling me to be careful... What does that mean?"
Dazai smiled and said, "Literally, you may be in trouble in the near future."
Odasaku: “…”
Is Dazai's friend also a Riddler-style? Is this some kind of same-sex attraction thing
Dazai finished his drink and fiddled with the ice ball in the glass with his fingers: "Have I ever told you how Natsuki-kun and I met?"
Oda Sakunosuke thought he was going to tell a story, so he answered honestly, "No."
Dazai replied: "Ah, I am too lazy to talk now. It is tiring to talk. Just understand it."
Odasaku: “?”
Sakaguchi Ango: “?”
"I'm not kidding this time. You'd better remember what he said." Dazai Osamu said in a lazy tone, but his eyes were heavy, as if he was thinking about something. He was silent for a long time, and suddenly curved his lips and said very cheerfully, "… Because Xia Shujun is the one who can influence the rules of the game, the so-called chosen one - do you like playing games?"
Odasaku couldn't understand his off-line thinking at all, so he just followed up with, "... Uh, not much."
Hojo Natsuki, who was waiting for the driver at the intersection, didn't know that he was labeled as a "riddler" again. He made up his mind not to get involved in this matter. If Dazai Osamu asked Lupin to come again, he would not go.
Please, being dragged to socialize really affects his gaming.jpg
What could be more fun than bullying Frog... and more fun than playing games!
Vodka, male, whose real name is Uozuka Saburo, is 24 years old and a freelance mercenary.
I took a job that paid well and required little work, driving and running errands for others.
'Vodka' is the nickname that Uozuka Saburo gave himself. After all, he can't use his real name in this line of work. He loves drinking vodka, so he is called Vodka.
Because of this nickname, employers often asked him if he was a member of a mysterious black organization. Vodka was confused at first, but later found out that although this organization was low-key, it was powerful, extremely evil, and extremely deadly.
For this reason, he once considered whether to change his code name to "Bird Vodka" or something like that, so as not to offend the organization. Fortunately, the organization was proud of its top status and didn't pay much attention to him. No one ever bothered him, so the nickname "Vodka" was continued to be used.
When Vodka heard that the job required him to be a driver and errand boy for a 17-year-old boy, he refused in his heart. However, when he saw the transfer amount, he nodded faster than he could draw his sword.
While waiting for the young man designated by the employer, Vodka thought of a few names, such as "Master XX", "Mr. XX" and so on...
Then, Kurosawa Zhen suddenly appeared.
The silver-haired boy wore a well-cut black windbreaker, with a tall and straight figure, waist-length hair hanging behind him, and a well-proportioned waist. His eyes were dark green, lingering with emerald coldness, and just standing there, a sense of oppression came over him.
Vodka was glanced at by the other party, and he forgot all his thoughts on the spot, and shouted very firmly: "... Big Brother!"
Kurosawa Jin didn't respond to the title and sat in the passenger seat... without wearing a seat belt.
Vodka was a little embarrassed, so he took out his lighter and asked, "Brother, do you want to smoke?"
Kurosawa Jin said simply: "Drive."
The eldest brother (17-year-old version) is a ruthless person who doesn't talk much. He mostly speaks in an imperative tone and you basically don't chat with him.
Vodka discovered that the employer might have some misunderstanding about Big Brother, because the employer described him as "an ordinary minor without a driver's license." He followed Big Brother for half a month and watched him solve several targets cleanly and neatly, fully demonstrating the qualities of a professional killer.
Vodka thought, this is not normal, but he is just a driver. Since he has been paid, he should just do his job well. Curiosity kills the cat.
After driving for him for a while, Vodka felt that Big Brother was someone who would achieve great things in the future. He was ruthless enough and quite smart. He would definitely become a top killer in the future... If he was unfortunately sent to prison, he would be the most vicious criminal! It would be a shame to society if he was not sentenced to life imprisonment.
That kind of thing! —Therefore, Vodka called him "Big Brother" more sincerely.
In late January, Vodka received an order to send his eldest brother to a middle school.
Even Vodka, who pays more attention to gossip than social news, knows that the national college entrance examination is taking place in the next two days.
"Brother went to the examination room, he must have a mission, assassination or planting a bomb." Vodka thought, "The country has dispatched armed police to maintain law and order. He is alone, without a bag, where is the bomb hidden? Will it be difficult to escape?"
Vodka was a little worried, but he didn't ask because his eldest brother had his own ideas.
Anyway, it’s impossible for my brother to go to take the college entrance examination!
While waiting for the traffic light, Vodka saw that the big screen in the shopping mall on the street was playing the college entrance examination support video in a loop. This kind of public welfare support is not uncommon, and the script is also quite standard... But why is the background green, and the accompanying picture is an amulet with a frog silhouette printed on it
It's really a bit weird.
It might be an advertisement for some amulet, but why is there a frog printed on the amulet
Vodka couldn't figure it out, and seeing the traffic light flickering, he just drove away obediently without thinking about it any further.
A cordon was set up around the middle school. Within a hundred meters, only candidates were allowed to enter and exit on foot. Vodka parked his car not far away and watched his elder brother leave. His elder brother wore a dark-colored uniform, as if he was ready to blend into the crowd of candidates. In fact, his cold temperament was still so out of place... Oh, his elder brother actually blended in! He is indeed the elder brother!
So Vodka walked around, observing the situation around him and waiting for his brother's orders.
The first day passed uneventfully with nothing happening.
The next day, the last exam was almost over, and some parents came to the door half an hour early, chatting in pairs, waiting for their children to come out. Seeing that the time was almost up, Vodka thought that his elder brother was probably going to come out with the students, so he also got into the crowd.
Then he heard several people talking in low voices. Vodka, holding a hamburger and sipping a Coke, leaned over stealthily to eavesdrop.
"It's the boss's order..."
"Two days have passed... What on earth are you asking us to do..."
"To be honest, I don't quite understand it." Someone complained, "This is too incoherent. If they just say that if a riot happens near the school, we should stop it in time, isn't that what the police will do..."
"—Shh, keep your voice down, do you want to die?"
"Okay." The man responded, but his voice didn't lower at all, "Could it be that the boss's pretty boy is taking the college entrance examination?"
“That makes sense!”
“That’s right!”
"Correct, reasonable..."
Vodka couldn't hear clearly at the beginning, he only heard "the boss's pretty boy is taking the college entrance examination", and the others echoed him.
He realized that perhaps this was related to his elder brother's mission and he must tell his elder brother this information.
So, when Kurosawa Jin came out of the examination room and sat in the passenger seat, he heard Vodka asking for credit: "Brother, I got a piece of information."
Kurosawa remained silent, thinking that this idiot couldn't provide any useful information.
"I heard," Vodka said, "that a certain organization's boss's gigolo is taking the college entrance exam in this examination room."
Kurosawa Jin: “…”
He had a strange feeling, as if he was being implicated, but not being.
Kurosawa stared at Vodka's smug face expressionlessly. After a few seconds, he felt that there was no need to believe the idiot's news, so he didn't say anything and closed his eyes and pretended to sleep.
Ten minutes later, he said, "Pick me up at nine tonight."
Vodka knew that his elder brother was going to be sent to the mission location again. He had just finished completing the tasks related to the college entrance examination and was still working overtime in the middle of the night. He was really efficient and amazing.
So he nodded: "Okay, big brother."
[Congratulations, [Qinwa] won the championship and achieved excellent results! ]
[College Entrance Examination Volunteer System] will be opened within 30 days for a period of three days. Please play
Please pay attention to the message reminder and don’t miss the opportunity to fill in the application form for Gua Gua.]
Hojo Natsuki: “!”
Is this so fast? Looking at the game date, didn’t the exam just end
There were several more things in the mailbox.
[In the smokeless battle of the college entrance examination, [Qinwa] defeated 99% of the candidates nationwide! ]
[[Qinwa] obtained the silver achievement [Student God]]
[Reward: Clover*9999…]
[…]
They are all rewards! It's a lot of money! ... Although it's nothing compared to the amount of krypton gold he spent.
Xia Shu clicked on the [College Entrance Examination Volunteer System], and the column [[Qinwa] Transcript] was filled with question marks and a stamp saying 'in process of grading', which meant that the actual results had not yet been announced. However, the system was a system after all, and it gave him a spoiler that Qinwa had done very well in the exam, and issued the reward in advance.
It’s okay, but it lacks the anticipation before the results are announced.
Two more messages popped up on the system.
[Ding! Congratulations on unlocking the postcard—[Frog·Lights Fading]]
[Please go to [Planet Flip · Limited Mail] to check]
Probably as a reward for my college entrance exam results, I actually unlocked a [Limited Receipt] card.
Hojo Natsuki's mouth twitched, thinking of the painful experience of opening the "Kin Tadpole" in [Kinto Frog·Childhood Memories] last time. He didn't have any expectations in his heart, and the extremely deceptive name "Dim Lights" did not arouse his interest...
The lights are dim... Hot pot
Help! Will the bullfrog appear this time
Hojo Natsuki looked at the new postcard in "Planet Flip·Limited Mail" waiting to be opened and hesitated.
Another Tokyo.
In the deep winter, the night wind is biting and cuts people's skin like a knife.
Suddenly, there was a flash of lightning in the sky, and the rumbling sound disturbed the cumulonimbus clouds, and it began to rain.
The raindrops, after being washed by the cold air and riding on the icy night wind, seemed to be carrying out a traceless torture on pedestrians who forgot to bring an umbrella.
After completing his mission, Kurosawa Jin covered the wound on his side and walked slowly through the dark alley.
Today's target was struggling to survive and I accidentally injured him. The wound was a bit deep, but it's not a big deal.
Such injuries were commonplace for Kurosawa, and he could endure them easily - even though he looked very embarrassed, with blood dripping down his silver hair. When blown by the cold wind, the blood froze soon, staining the corner of his jaw with scarlet.
But this weather is too cold.
He finally reached the alley entrance. Across from him was a shopping mall. The circular LED screen on the outside was still playing advertisements. It was late at night. There were a few windows of office buildings in the distance with lights on. Most people in the city had fallen asleep.
The light from the LED screen flickered depending on the content of the advertisement, giving his distinct outline a light edge.
Ten minutes ago, Kurosawa Jin had sent a message to Vodka, asking him to come here to pick him up.
He touched his left pocket and found an unopened pack of cigarettes. Kurosawa didn't smoke before, but the driver Vodka mistakenly thought that he didn't like cheap cigarettes, so he bought him a pack of expensive ones out of flattery. In addition to the cigarettes, there was also a plastic lighter in his left pocket.
The rain was getting heavier, and the water droplets formed a regular prelude on the eaves.
This night, the raindrops are faintly visible.
Kurosawa Jin opened the plastic seal of the cigarette box, took out a cigarette, and held it to his lips. This kind of thing was very easy for him to do, and he didn't need anyone to teach him at all - light it, smoke, and then puff out the smoke.
He held a cigarette between his fingers and looked up at the large screen that was too dazzling in the night.
Two young men who were walking on the street late at night put on their hoods, shivering in the wind and rain, and ran quickly down the street.
The light from the screen illuminated the small street scene clearly and made his silver hair look as bright as moonlight.
Kurosawa Jin looked up nonchalantly, letting the scrolling images flow through his dark green eyes frame by frame, and the light drizzle fell on the brim of his hat, shoulders and silver hair.
Yes
Then his eyes suddenly stopped.
It was a fairly ordinary college entrance exam support advertisement. The only unusual thing was that there was an amulet with a frog outline printed on it next to the words.
Most people would think of it as "so weird" or "weird but kind of cute".
Kurosawa Jin stared at the advertisement for a long time, and his teeth unconsciously exerted force to flatten the cigarette holder.
He reached into his other pocket and touched the amulet that he always carried with him for practical purposes. Its transparent plastic cover was stained with his body temperature and felt gentle to the touch.
This thing probably has no use in praying for good luck, otherwise he should be unharmed now, instead of standing at the alley with a bleeding wound, exposed to the cold wind and rain, looking miserable.
There are tens of thousands of people passing through the intersection of the commercial street every day. This "public welfare blessing" that seems to be directed to everyone is played repeatedly day and night, tirelessly. Many people look up and catch a glimpse of it, or stop to take a picture, or just glance past it. It passes by them, but never stops for anyone.
It is a blessing that is widely publicized, but also a secret that belongs only to two people. It is hidden in the cloak of a "public service advertisement" and runs day and night just to convey the emotion to another person who understands it tacitly.
Until now, the secret words that had been circling in place finally fell into Kurosawa Zhen's eyes.
Kurosawa pinched the amulet but did not take it out.
This self-proving useless prayer waste should have been thrown away by him without any regrets like all useless things.
But now, his wound began to hurt for no apparent reason, so he decided not to think about it for the time being.
He took another puff of the cigarette and felt a faint burning sensation in his lungs. Fine wisps of mist dissipated from his lips and melted into the night.
Kurosawa has a high pain threshold and is naturally indifferent to pain and the emotion of suffering, which is also a strong proof of his "cold-bloodedness".
But now, it hurts.
The pain is so fresh and alive that the skin and flesh are torn apart.
(End of this chapter)