Tokyo Psychic

【Toyokawa Shoko: Be sure to go to the clinic and ask the doctor.】

[Big Universe Man is really scary: I heard that a fever is a precursor to awakening the Stand. Have you ever found a ghost-like guy in the room? ]

[Big Alien is really scary: Oh, by the way, it seems that the phone system has been updated recently. Why don't you check the "Other World Navigation App" on your phone? Maybe it will work.]

[Big Universe Man is really scary: Come to think of it, I still can't open that weird app. You should be the same, right?]

【...】

Jing Qinrencai quickly grabbed a napkin, sneezed, and then coughed several times in succession.

It was so cold and uncomfortable... She turned over and wanted to cover her head with the quilt and scream in frustration, but she didn't have the strength to do so.

I had no choice but to look through all the photos and videos in Line in a depressed mood.

Finally, he stared at Kurusu Akatsuki's chat box, and finally couldn't help but switch the screen to the main interface of the phone, looking at the software icon composed of the enchanting and weird eyeballs.

"AU's independently developed 'AR' navigation software..." Jing Qinrenai sniffed, muttered, and then stretched out her index finger to press it.

Just when she thought that this "Other World Navigation App" would remain unresponsive as usual, she saw the radiating patterns around her eyeballs suddenly magnify.

There is no navigation software location acquisition prompt, nor does a map or search box pop up.

She saw dozens of bright red, spike-like blocks of color suddenly expand and lengthen without warning, quickly surpassing the constraints of the app icon and occupying the entire screen until they pierced the phone, breaking the constraints of space and time. Like a huge net, it swept over her head without any explanation, completely enveloping her.

pat.

The phone fell on the empty bed, emitting a faint light.

The "Different World Navigation App" on the screen has disappeared.

After a while, in the dark house, the door of the mysterious room deep in the corridor on the second floor opened.

A girl with a slightly hunched back tiptoed out of the room, a bit like a rat in a dark sewer trying to avoid being hunted by a cat.

She moved very slowly towards the stairs.

During this process, he stared at the guest room at the bottom of the stairs, carefully distinguishing every sound in the silent atmosphere.

After confirming that the noisy creature called "Jing Qin Rencai" was definitely not in the house, the girl breathed a sigh of relief and walked down the stairs boldly.

She wanted to find something to drink in the kitchen refrigerator.

But as soon as her hand touched the refrigerator door handle, overwhelming fear instantly ran through her body.

Jing Qinrencai had a high fever and should have stayed in bed all day.

I clearly heard the sound of water running in the toilet on the first floor just now...

Sakura Sojiro's daughter, the girl named "Sakura Futaba", immediately fled back to her room in panic, slammed the door shut and locked it.

Then she took out her cell phone, found Sakura Sojiro's phone number, and sent a text message for help with some trembling.

*

After the concert.

The girls in the band went home with their own gains.

Toyokawa Shoko found inspiration for a new song, Ijichi Nijika received the gratitude of her fellow Morfonica fans, and Yamada Ryo gained better sleep...

Momoka Kawahara found a high school boy who was willing to drink with her.

Of course, she drank alcohol and Kurusu Akatsuki drank Coke.

It was that old white van again, jolting along the highway outside Shibuya.

Through the car window, you can see the green belt that has almost been reduced to a shadow. This is an empty highway. On weekday nights, you can occasionally see a few cars speeding past in the cool breeze.

The pollen blowing in from Yoyogi Park filled the air, making the nose feel a little itchy.

This should be the "cedar pollen" emitted by the cedar trees in the artificial forest during the flowering season of spring and summer, which can easily cause allergic reactions in the human body.

It is said that more than 40% of people in Japan are affected by this pollen, which can cause "hay fever."

The onset of "hay fever" begins in February every year, worsens sharply in March, and lasts until June before subsiding.

Hay fever symptoms are similar to those of a cold, but more severe. They typically include an itchy nose, a stuffy and runny nose, and continuous sneezing. Some people also experience itchy eyes and throats, and even headaches. Persistent hay fever symptoms can make life "worse than death."

This can be considered as Japan's "national disease".

According to current world history, Japan has very few native cedar trees. It seems that large-scale planting of cedar trees only began in the country after World War II. At that time, the entire country was in ruins, with construction everywhere and a desperate need for wood.

Therefore, the fir tree, which has a short growth cycle, straight trunk, is practical and durable, and can be widely used in various construction projects, was immediately favored and began to be promoted and planted on a large scale across the country.

But people at that time did not know that the cedar trees would produce a large amount of pollen after growing up, which could cause allergic reactions to the human body... By the time the government consciously wanted to curb this trend, it was already too late.

Decades later, plantations dominated by cedar trees have come to comprise a significant portion of Japan's forest area. The implementation of a policy of free timber imports has led to a sharp drop in local cedar prices. Coupled with a shortage of forestry workers, the trees have been left to grow unchecked, resulting in a spectacular annual pollen bloom.

The only thing the local government can do is to start producing masks in batches and quantities with tears in their eyes, and then call on residents to buy a few more packs and keep them at home as backup during the annual pollen outbreak, and to wear masks when traveling, and by the way, promote various "pollen protection kits".

She wanted to sneeze several times, but the feeling of a volcanic eruption quickly cooled down after a tremor at the tip of her nose, turning into an awkward and uncomfortable feeling of "stopping for an inch" - Kawahara Momoka turned on the car's air conditioner.

"I almost thought I was going to catch a cold too," she couldn't help complaining.

Kurusu Akatsuki wasn't feeling much better. "Hay fever is such a hassle."

It's the end of April, and hay fever is already at its peak.

Coincidentally, Yoyogi Park in Shibuya district is nearby. The dense artificial forest releases a plague of cedar pollen... Every time passers-by breathe, it's like they've caught a can of spilled pollen on their face. How can they not cough and sneeze?

Momoka Kawahara parked the car on the side of the road, opened the center armrest, took out a mask and handed it to Kurusu Akatsuki, then took out another one and put it on herself.

"Those politicians back then were so greedy."

"Every year when hay fever breaks out, everyone seems to rant like this."

"Does Ms. Kawaharaki live far away?"

"Ah... Chiyoda's Iwamoto Town."

At this point, Kawahara Momoka, who hadn't been to school for nearly four years, finally realized, "I'd better take you home now. You should be going to school tomorrow."

"It's okay. Tomorrow is Friday, and the school is conducting 'campus safety training', so classes will be suspended for a day."

"I remember now. It was the big Ishihara disappearance case."

"Yes, anyway, after all the negotiations, the school management compensated Ishihara's family and apologized very sincerely. I heard that when this 'campus safety training' is carried out, there will be a lot of reporters on campus to broadcast it live, and I'm not used to that kind of situation."

"Ready to take a leave?"

"I have to take leave."

At this point in the conversation, Kawahara Kimoka felt less guilty.

The van drove away from Yoyogi Park and drove on the bridge across the bay.

The dark sea surface keeps folding in the evening breeze, like coffee liquid swirling in a moka pot, reflecting the star-like lights of the distant city.

The voice of Momoka Kawahara suddenly broke the quiet atmosphere in the car that had lasted for a while.

"Let me be clear in advance: minors are absolutely not allowed to drink!"

"Got it, long-winded adult."

*

The sky was already dark, the moon faintly visible through thin clouds. Chiyoda, at this moment, exuded a poetic and melodious bustle. Crowds thronged the streets. Beneath the retro Showa-style signs of taiyaki shops, shop assistants expertly filled dough with red bean paste and patted it into custom molds. Tourists, waving colorful round fans, strolled through the streets. A riot of flowers against the vibrant lights of the red-light district to the right, and to the left, high-rise buildings reflected the dazzling light like prisms.

Kurusu Akatsuki and Kawaharaki Momoka were walking deep into Kitanomaru Park, carrying a basket of beer.

The streetlights cast a warm hue over the deserted, dimly lit streets. Unlike the bustling city beyond, this place seemed peaceful, save for the occasional rustling of a stray cat as it rummaged through the bushes for food.

The inky black water carried scattered flashes of light, the shadow of the metropolis across Kitanomaru Park, a scene of dazzling lights. A wide, time-worn path flanked by deep green lawns, ancient cherry trees with gnarled, sturdy trunks drooped their dense branches toward the artificial lake below, their petals blazing like flames.

Yachts, accompanied by the hum of their engines, slowly approached the distant city on the starry artificial lake. Ripples of varying sizes pushed pink cherry blossoms everywhere. The lights and the night sky, reflected in the inky black lake, shimmered and shimmered like clouds, creating a breathtaking, enchanting beauty.

The ring on the can was ripped open, and bubbles and the aroma of wheat rushed out of the narrow space, making Kawahara Momoka close her eyes in a state of intoxication.

"You're not drunk, are you?" Kurusu Akatsuki followed her to sit on the bench by the artificial lake, lowered his head and told Sakura Sojiro on the phone that he would be staying overnight at a classmate's house today - actually, he planned to go back to LeBron very late, but that would make people worry too much, after all, he was still a minor.

At this time, the benefits of being the top student in the grade with almost full marks in all subjects will be reflected.

Whether facing other classmates' parents, teachers at school, or even his own guardian... whatever Kurusu Akatsuki says is highly credible.

How could he be a bad high school student who stays out all night to get such monstrous grades?

Of course, if his performance was like that of Ryuji Sakamoto, and he didn't go home after midnight, he would probably face a barrage of phone calls from his mother.

Momoka Kawahara raised her beer, tilted her head back and took a big sip.

"Don't worry, I can drink a lot."

"Really, really, you can drink a lot..." In Kurusu Akatsuki's impression, everyone who boasted about their alcohol tolerance would almost always pass out on the table after two or three bottles, or they would have a very bad drinking habit and would easily lose their temper or do some funny and embarrassing things.

"40% guitar, 40% part-time job, 20% alcohol - this is my life in Tokyo!" After saying that, Kawahara Momoka drank the remaining half bottle of wine in one breath.

Kurusu Akatsuki estimated, said two words, and then drank 600 milliliters of beer.

After all...why should I go out drinking with her?

The Phantom Thief began to reflect on himself.

It was because he was worried that this woman, whose dream was so pure that it could not tolerate any impurities, would drink alone outside.

The young and beautiful twenty-year-old lead singer of a former well-known rock band fell drunk on the street... Don't overestimate human self-control.

Thinking of this, he looked at Kawahara Momoka with a bit of resentment in his eyes, "Can't you just go back to your own rental house and drink?"

"No, it's troublesome to clean. And there's not much ventilation. It will be very hot if you drink too much." Kawahara Momoka said lazily.

A gust of night wind blew by, and a few cherry blossom petals fell on her head and stuck to her hair.

She looked at the lake in front of her, the mist in her eyes thickening, "Amamiya, you probably live alone too, right?"

"I said that during the day."

"Yeah, now I remember. I lived in the attic of the coffee shop."

"The bed is a disassembled sofa, the desk is a raised wooden box, and the miscellaneous items are piled up like a small mountain. There's also a workbench for furniture processing and a bookshelf with some comic books and two pots of succulents."

"Tsk." Suddenly, Momoka Kawahara made a very bad smacking sound.

Then she put her arm on Kurusu Akatsuki's shoulders, moved closer, and asked, "Do you feel lonely and scared?"

"There's nothing to be afraid of."

"In this huge city, alone, lying in bed tossing and turning, unable to sleep, with confusion about the future, is there such a thing as this?"

It did happen during the first few days of traveling through time, but now I can rely on Lavenda in my dreams when I fall asleep.

Kurusu Akatsuki looked at Kawahara Ki Momoka's eyes that were full of stories and nodded.

Momoka Kawahara forced a smile that was uglier than tears. "I really feel sad. I left behind my friends and the small house we rented. I'm wandering around Tokyo alone. No matter where I live, I can't seem to find a sense of belonging. No matter how hard I work, I can't figure out how to pick myself up again."

"Come to think of it, it seems Ms. Kawaharaki never explained how she left Diamond Dust."

She took another sip of wine, her eyes slowly misting over. "I'll make my own CD, perform, and officially debut soon. And then I'll quit."

"that's it?"

"The deeper reason was probably the record company's demands for a change in the band's style and positioning... We were told to wear idol costumes for performances, strike all sorts of poses like teenage idols, and do some simple dances. At the time, the band was broke, and everyone was working part-time, but still couldn't afford a larger-scale concert, so we accepted the company's arrangement."

"But, in the end, I still couldn't stand that kind of performance..." Kawahara Ki Momoka stretched out her right hand and gestured in front of her.

The thin and slender palm, which should have been beautiful, was broken by some dark calluses, which destroyed its beauty.

Then it put it in its pocket, took out a mobile phone with a cracked screen, opened the photo album, and played a photo.

The photo shows four girls with sweet and bright smiles, exuding happiness, innocence and romance.

Kurusu Akatsuki picked up a can of beer at some point, pulled the pull ring and took a sip.

"We were both members of the light music club at the same high school. We had similar interests, recognized each other, and shared an immense love for rock music. We then discussed dropping out of school together and formed a band."

Kawahara Ki Momoka was completely immersed in her own world, saying this with nostalgia, and even when she saw Kurusu Akatsuki take another sip of beer, she showed no reaction.

"We clearly all agreed that even if we became old white-haired grandmothers, we would still play in the band together and never quit. We wouldn't pursue musical styles or personal opinions... That was the band's sole goal."

"As I was accepting all the advice the record company gave me and trying to change, they kept saying things like, 'Just bear with it for now,' 'Keep climbing up,' 'You'll be able to do what you want one day.'... They kept saying that until the very end, trying desperately to convince me. Despite all that, I still chose to quit."

Momoka Kawahara threw the empty beer can at her feet.

Kurusu Akatsuki also cooperated by throwing the empty beer can in his hand to the ground.

Amidst the clanging sounds, Kawahara Momoka stood up and opened her arms as if to embrace something extremely huge but untouchable.

A hysterical scream was caught in his throat.