Seishun Buta Yarou Series - Volume 13 - Chapter 4.2

2

The next morning, New Chitose Airport had far more snow than the weather forecast had predicted.

Enough that Sakuta woke up, saw the snow, and feared their flight would not take off.

“That’ll be fine. Might be a bit of a delay, though.”

Sakuta and Ikumi had been staring out the window in horror, but Takumi was from Hokkaido—he was used to snow.

It took a while to clear the runways, but Takumi was right—the flight took off after an hour delay.

They left New Chitose Airport at eight thirty.

The flight itself was approximately an hour and a half, and they landed at Haneda Airport just after ten AM.

A bus took them to the arrivals lobby, and by the time they reached the gates of the Keikyu Line, it was past ten thirty.

They boarded an express bound for Yokohama and sat down together.

The ride ended at their usual station—Kanazawa-hakkei.

From the roundabout outside, they hailed a cab and gave the driver Nene’s address.

It had been a ten-minute walk.

So the taxi got them there in less than five.

They looked up at the three-story building where Nene lived.

Sakuta had been here just yesterday.

“You two go on ahead. I’ll pay the driver,” Ikumi said.

Sakuta and Takumi were out the doors the moment the car stopped.

Up the stairs to the second floor.

Room 201.

Sakuta hit the intercom button at full speed.

The bell rang inside.

But they heard nothing else.

No one answered.

Didn’t sound like anyone was home.

“Azusagawa, move.”

One hand in his pocket, Takumi gave Sakuta’s shoulder a shove with the other. Sakuta ceded the ground, and Takumi pulled out a thin metal object. Two keys on one key holder—and one went in the lock on the door.

“You had a spare?”

“I’m her boyfriend.”

“Jealous.”

“Is this the time?”

Takumi turned the key and opened the door.

“Nene, it’s me. Can I come in?”

Paying lip service to courtesy, Takumi stepped right on into the room.

Sakuta followed.

The doormat hadn’t changed.

But the place felt empty.

No sounds came from within.

The lights were off.

“Nene? Are you home?” Takumi said, opening the door at the back of the kitchen. “Huh? Ha?!”

He made some very odd noises.

Takumi seemed to be stuck in the doorway, staring at the room beyond in disbelief.

Mind blown by the overwhelming Christmasness inside it.

Sakuta had been just as shocked.

But they didn’t have time for this.

“She’ll likely be wearing a miniskirt Santa outfit, so don’t let that freak you out.”

Best to warn about these things.

“That, I’m looking forward to.”

“My man.”

As they talked, they were looking around. The toy block lodge was on the folding table, completed. She’d finished Sakuta’s work.

“It did not look like this the last time I was here,” Takumi said, moving a tiny tree on her desk. “This is where she kept the trophy,” he added, pulling out the trophy and putting it back in the seat of honor.

As he did, his sleeve brushed the open laptop. This shook the screen and woke it from sleep. There was a whir of the fan, and the screen lit up.

“Uh, Azusagawa…”

Takumi pointed at the laptop.

It was open to the Fujisawa official account—and the post about Mai Sakurajima serving as police chief for the day.

The event would be held in the outdoor space by the mall in Tsujido. Same place Sweet Bullet had once given a concert. Today, at two PM.

“Like Futaba said.”

“Nene’s not really gonna do anything to Sakurajima, is she?”

“We can’t be sure, so we’ve gotta find her.”

“Do we stake out the venue?”

Sakuta had been hoping they could catch her here.

If only the flight hadn’t been delayed, he thought, heading for the door. Then his eyes caught the drying rack in the kitchen. There was a mug on it, and it was still visibly wet.

He glanced at the electric kettle by the stove.

The lid was open.

The water inside still steaming.

“This means…”

Sakuta and Takumi exchanged glances.

“She’s not far off,” Sakuta said.

Takumi nodded. “If she’s headed to Tsujido—the station?”

“She borrowed a car to get to Motomachi. Might be doing that again.”

“There’s a car-share place by the station!” Takumi said. “Nene would totally borrow one!”

They threw their shoes on and ran out the door.

Down the stairs, they found Ikumi giving them a searching look. But Sakuta’s eyes were on the cab they’d taken here—which was caught at a red light.

“Give us another ride!” he yelled, waving both arms.

The light turned green.

The taxi’s blinker went on, and it pulled over.