When the Ning arrived at the airport, they picked up their baggage and proceeded to move to the arrivals hall.
I'll look around. The airport was crowded, but with Tsurgi, you'd soon find out. Nearly 190 centimetres long, the usual atmosphere. It's convenient at times like this.
"... that?
I don't have Tsurugi. That's crazy. Ning tried to check the time. It's definitely the time of arrival I was telling Tsurgi. I can't think of anything like that loyally thick guy coming late.
The Nings had only told Tsurgi the date and time of their return this time. The headquarters asked me, but I can't make a clear decision because it's a mess. Coming soon. I was answering.
That's because for some reason, I thought it would be troublesome if a large number of metallic people came out and were greeted, like when I was traveling to America.
Sometimes I have to meet with Tsurugi early, so he was supposed to pick me up this time...
Did something happen to Tsurugi?
I get anxiety. He's one of the top fiends in Metallica, but there should be a lot of danger for that.
Ning took out his cell phone and called Tsurgi. Fortunately, he came out in a normal voice.
"Oh, boss. Have you arrived? Welcome back. '
For one thing, ho, while Ning asks.
"Thank you. You, where are you now? You're not in the lobby?
But Tsurgi's answer was unexpected.
"Well, there's a little bit of a situation, and I can't go anymore."
"Is something wrong? Is this a dangerous situation?
It is unusual for Tsurugi to break his promise to the Ning people. The Ning made his expression look worse.
"No...... Right. Hangover, that's the one. Oh, don't worry. Really, I'm asking you to take my place. Well, here I am."
That said, Tsurgi unilaterally hung up the call.
Hangover? But Tsurugi should have been a fine man to open a litre of sake. I didn't sound very much like that in the first place.
……
I didn't know what it meant, and often Ning stood up with his cell phone in sight. Right there.
Hey. And someone's been touching my shoulder. So the Ning looked back for now.
"... that? Maki-san?"
There was Mitsuki, who joined the company at the same time and now belongs to the Development Office.
"You've been right around since just now, and you don't notice at all. Isn't that a no!
Maki said that, he made it look a bit like he was kidding. Is it off today on Saturday? Maki is in private clothes. Short boots in a pale cherry blossom coloured piece. The luxurious physique and serene face were somewhat fresh in the eyes of the Ning people, feeling different from the flashy, glamorous women they were used to seeing in New York.
"Uh, no. Yeah. Right. I was alarmed. I'm glad you're not an assassin."
"That's not what this is about....... hmm. Enough."
Words were backwards. Maki smiled. It's kind of unexpected, I miss it. Ning also laughed when he was followed.
"Oh, yeah! Welcome back, Ning Man."
Maki's words were warm and sober. Just like the first time we met.
"Yeah.... I'm home. I'm sorry, Tsurugi asked you to do this, didn't he? I'm on vacation. He didn't have to bother asking Maki..."
"Yeah. That's okay! I was free. And... nothing."
Maki waved, strangely blushing. What the younger girl was thinking was not even well understood by the Ning called the devil's schemer. Especially this guy. I have no idea.
"? Then. Fine..."
"Oh, I'm sorry. I have some luggage, but I stood by. I'm driving here. This way, sir."
To delude something, Maki took Ning's hand only for a moment and left the crowd. I was just surprised.
The shaking hair was beautiful and smelled kind of good.
It's been five years since I joined the company, and I know that it's unlikely that I and her will be more than colleagues in the future, but Ning people still get nervous and excited about it just because they're so nervous. And you're one set to the point of laughing at yourself like that.
Arrive at the airport parking lot and have them take you to Maki's car. Ning people weren't excited about cars, but they were rounded and small, cars with unusual designs.
"Sorry. I need you to get me out of the car. It'll help."
"No! Well, let's go"
Come to think of it, this was the first time I'd ever sat in a passenger seat in a girl's driving car. Life up to the age of twenty was scattered because of what that father did and what his mother did afterwards, and I haven't had time for that since I got into Metallica. No, even if I had time, I wouldn't have been able to do that.
The car leaves the airport and heads to the city. Ning people were scheduled to stay at the hotel today. We were supposed to have a meeting with Tsurigi, but if he's not around, the job starts tomorrow enough. And that's the only way to do it.
In the car is a song played by a female foreign artist who seems to be Maki's hobby. Ning people didn't know whose song to say, but the melody was very comforting to their ears.
A car that goes further.
The Ning people looked at Maki. She was driving, so she never had eyes open and was comfortable. She was supposed to be in her early twenties now, and she tried to be prettier than she was when we met.
"Hmm? Duh, what's wrong? Ning ren-kun."
Noticed. The Ning turn a blind eye in advance.
"It's nothing. Oh, you finished the new Tokyo Tower. Ooh. Really higher than Skytree. Amazing."
"Why is that a tribute?
"Nothing."
"Heh, it's weird. Oh, speaking of which, right? That Oodle Shop, we've finally even started ramen!
"Heh. That's right. Delicious?"
"Awesome!"
I had that conversation. It was mostly a conversation with no other love, but at least the Nings found it fun.
Fun, me? Doesn't that sound like a normal person to you?
And I think so.
"How has Maki been these past six months?
Ning tried to shake the subject. She was also her, and seemed pretty busy developing a silhouette series where new modified humans, or Ning people, became prototypes.
"That was tough. Amazing."
"That's not true. Because it's my choice."
The look on Maki's face answering so was sincere. An understated and serene girlfriend, but there was a Rin look.
"... well"
Ning knows why she entered Metallica. I swore I would fight with her like that. But.
"Oh, it's not that hotel there, is it? Excuse me. It's nighttime."
Two cars going into the hotel grounds. Ning thought softly.
Ning people were grateful that Maki had come to pick them up.
Of course, I was tired of flying long distances without taking the train, but it was more of a mental part than that.
The Ning people were going to report on their next job, Tsurugi, and prepare for the M meeting soon, and there was also a case in the US that made them feel quite tingly. I felt that I had been forgotten all sorts of things.
Of course, it's an illusion, Ning people are only determined where they want to go and never leave the road to go. I know that. But I was grateful to her for giving me that illusion. That's why I was thinking. I wanted to thank you.
Of course, I'm not going to be any closer to her in the future, given the path I've taken so far, the path I'm going to take. But that's different from this.
Yeah, it's not unnatural, is it? I mean, I'd rather be rude not to say this in this situation. It's not because we're lovers, or because we're after each other. As a co-worker in sync, that's normal, right? I want to thank you. That's not why you feel so bad, is it?
Ning opened his mouth frightened.
"... thanks for sending me. Would you like to thank me for dinner? Oh, I'm coming, too, and my new name says this hotel is pretty tasty."
"... Huh?
A soprano voice and a moment of silence in the middle of nowhere that sounds with unexpected nuances.
I'm a Ning who should be working out a lot when it comes to spiritual toughness, but this silence has been hard.
"Are you sure?!? Then I'll go!
The Ning were heartily horrified by Maki's bounced voice.
The hotel restaurant where Maki entered with the Ning people, even modestly, was quite high-class.
Beautiful halls, tasteful tablecloths and glittery glasses. Even the letters on the menu seemed luxurious, and Maki was amazed.
"... Ning ren-kun, this place is amazing..."
"Ugh, yeah. It was a little worse than I expected."
The two of us are unfamiliar with this kind of place, so we started the meal without a scratch.
"How about an aperitif?
A waiter man came to the two tables and asked for an order. Maki wasn't sure what to do with the order and it was mundane, but surprisingly Ning answered first.
"I'll have Gibson."
I never thought Ning would ask for that kind of alcohol. It was as if I had made up my mind from the start. Is it western wine?
Oh, that? That's crazy. Ning ren-kun started asking for something other than yam shochu and beer.
"Yes, I did. Who's this customer?
"Yes. Um, um... Anything, recommendations, anything?
"Right. If it's wine..."
Explanation continues.
Mr. Waiter seemed to be Mr. Sommelier, not Mr. Waiter.
Is that it? Me in the first place, it was a car today! Maki couldn't understand the situation of dining with Ning people, which had been around for a long time, or the atmosphere of unfamiliar shops.
"Maki-san, do you drink?
They also care about Maki being able to car. He looked worried.
Yeah, I sound like an idiot. For Christ's sake, Maki was Shun.
"Oh, no, that, I..."
Is it okay to say to Mr. Sommelier on these occasions, Wollon tea after all, or something?
Yeah, when I was a student, I just studied, so I don't know.... Ha, no. Me.
When Maki thinks that way, the Ning people have said something unexpected.
"Do you have plans for tomorrow morning?
? I wonder what that means? I answered honestly because I wasn't sure about Maki.
"No, nothing."
"Well, if you stay. So have a glass of wine."
"Huh!?
For a moment, Mitsuki's time stopped.
Why don't you stay? Here, in a hotel!? Huh? Huh? Huh? Is that... Huh!?
Ning ren-kun, what's wrong? Yes, I couldn't help but think.
"Um, that's, uh... Is that okay?
"? Fine. Oh, no, I hope Maki does."
The Ning man had an indescribable look. It was a word and deed I didn't think he was ever shy.
Maki's heart rate increases. My face is hot even though I haven't drunk yet. Stay, I mean, is that what this is about?
What should I do? Maki thought with a confusing head. Guru comes up with a lot of ideas.
Maki realizes as much about what he thinks about Ning people. While he was in the US, I thought about him all the time, and even today I picked him up with my chest removed. The meal is very pleasant and fun.
But this is too rapid. The atmosphere in the restaurant was the first thing, but Maki has no experience with that either. Someone favored me during the MIT era, but in the end it was nothing.
"... Customer?
Waiter, who was listening to the interaction between the two of them, asked me again in the middle of nowhere with a look that was making me laugh. It was the limit already.
"Yes. Okay, well, I'll have some wine!
"Yes, I did. Now, Pinot Noir's …"
"Please do that!
"... pup, excuse me. Okay, we'll take it."
Now it's like Mr. Sommelier laughed...... That was about the middle of nowhere I realized, but not if I cared about it in the circumstances.
Of course, with him, it's not like I've ever thought about it before. But...
"Maki?
"Hiya!
Ning people looked at this one wonderfully. I noticed myself thinking too much and being silent. We need to talk about something.
"Oh, Gi, what kind of alcohol is Gibson? It's stylish!
"Uh, yeah. Something's got onions in it. It's delicious."
"Heh. Really?"
"I've been taught by some annoyingly good-looking guy."
In the middle of the conversation between the two, a sommelier comes and decanters on the wines of the middle century, tasting them, etc., and sips them.
The wine was delicious. It was a middle of nowhere I was too familiar with, but I found the scent to be wonderful. Thanks to you, I fell asleep.
Ning ren-kun keeps changing every time he stays away for a while. Is this change one of them? I can't believe I asked myself out like this...
That's where I came to think of it.
He was going to America. Speaking of America, it's an open country.
Could there have been something in some country that would get used to girls? Speaking of which, Annis was there with you.
It doesn't happen to him, I think, but once I care, I'm very concerned. The meal goes on, but even as Maki chatted unrelated, that didn't get me out of my mind.
It was a step to the end of the meal, and Maki asked at the slightest timing between the last cups of coffee. It's a subtle body.
"Speaking of which, Ning Man, how was America? You and your new name, oh, Anis, were you close?
……
Maki waited nervously for an answer, but there was an intermission, so I looked at Ning's face.
"... ah"
I've never seen that look before. No, the expression has only really changed. He's very good at hiding those emotions. But Maki found out. The emotions behind it.
Looks sad somewhere. Looks very spicy. That was the look on his face.
"... Ning people, kun..."
The look on his face, which is not hidden, looks too spicy.
Maki forgot everything he cared about until then. I just wanted to touch him.
All in all, I put my hands up and nearly swept into his hands.
But at that moment, Ning pulled his hand under the table, and laughed.
"Yeah, there was a lot going on. Right. The anise seemed fine."
A Ning man who was silent for a moment, but when he opened his mouth, he was already in his usual face. I was back in a very normal conversation, like nothing.
"Really..."
So Maki couldn't ask Ning anything more. I really want you to talk. But I'm sure he won't talk to me.
It's only natural if you think about it. His behavioral philosophy and ability, and the result of putting Crimson to rest. That it means. I don't know exactly about Maki, but if he did, there must have been something very big behind it.
How could you not take that into account?
Maki self-loathed.
"Oh, you're late. I'm sorry. Wait a minute."
Ning called the waiter and received the card key.
"Yes, this is Maki's room, on the 50th floor. Because I have done my accounting. You can leave when you wake up in the morning. By the way, I'm in the 45th floor room, so let me know if you need anything."
"Yes.... thank you"
Oh, well. That's right. I thought that Maki was so embarrassed.
He didn't even think about it from the beginning. Come to think of it, that sounds like him.
Finished a cup of coffee and the two broke up in the elevator.
Maki, alone, turned his thoughts around as he saw the night view in his room.
At first, I thought he seemed like a gentle, disgusting boy about him. But soon I realized something different from the normal person he had.
We knew that 'it' might be an element to disgust. But Maki was worried about him with two faces. He said he would take the past revealed by Maki and fight with me.
He keeps' it 'flowering and keeps rising without stopping up.
Every time I see him, he changes. It doesn't break, it doesn't bend, it doesn't stop.
I have a self that makes him attractive like that.
And they noticed me again today. Every time he keeps changing, he thickens the walls. A wall that was nagging from the beginning. between the Ning Man and himself. It is now too thick to touch him.
But as much as that, there's something in the middle of nowhere I know. He goes up high and high, he has a wall that doesn't lean against him trying to get close. In its walls, it can hurt and tremble. But he doesn't want to be hugged.
Maki noticed tears spilling out of her own eyes reflected on the windowsill with the night view.
And I realized it.
Oh, I am. That guy. There's something about him that's going to break me right now with a strong heart running up high.
Unbreakably. So much so that I cried.
So much, that I like it.