Akira is commissioned by Cheryl to take a walk in the slum together.

A well-armed boy and a girl in slightly more advanced clothes.

The thought of fledgling hunters and their encirclement is not unusual.

Despite this, the people around him cast interested glances from time to time.

Someone found some kind of meaning in this scenario.

Led by Cheryl, tour various slums.

After a circular around Sifia's territory, places far away from there are also included in the walk.

Slums have their own size, and gang turf of different sizes are intertwined.

These territories operate according to their own order, and it is dangerous for those who do not know the order and those who are not incorporated into the order to wander around rashly.

What used to be an alley paved by Akira was also the territory of a certain gang for the time being.

Akira is in some sense overlooked only because it is not an important place to exclude any occupant.

Akira also has that level of awareness.

And Akira tries not to go to places that he doesn't know, so although Akira has lived in the slums for many years, there are many places I don't know.

"I've never been to this area, but as a slum, it's so beautiful. ”

There are a lot of buildings around that look sturdy.

There are also a lot of stalls, and the shops display a variety of items of unknown origin.

For example, a pistol that looks badly repaired, a knife with a notched blade, and simple ornaments.

The appearance of the guests is also different.

This scene is not only evidence of the economy, law and order that maintains the business environment, but also a proof of the power of the gangs that use it as a territory.

Cheryl explained with a smile as Akira set her eyes on the unfamiliar place.

"I heard that the buildings in this vicinity were built by the city to expand the subdivision.

But it was shelved due to frustration and was later occupied by gangs in the neighborhood. ”

"Oh. ”

Akira was amazed at the fact that she lived in the slums in the alley and Cheryl, who knew about it.

Then I inadvertently asked Alpha.

"Did Alpha know the story just now?"

"No, I don't know. ”

"yes? Alpha also doesn't know about it. ”

I always feel that Alpha knows everything.

For Akira, who thought so, it was a bit surprising not to know this answer.

That surprise loomed on his face.

But as soon as he heard the follow-up to the story, his expression immediately changed.

"There's something I don't know.

By the way, the setback in the development of this area was originally predestined to be like this.

As for the city, there was never any serious intention to develop the area in the beginning.

Still, if the city is the leader, it's easy to force development, as long as someone decides to do so. ”

“...... Don't you know?"

"What I don't know is how that is usually conveyed.

If someone illegally occupies these places, then what do they do behind the scenes?

Including work that allows the person involved to evade responsibility even if these things are discovered. ”

Why does Alpha know about information that is not ordinary?

Akira, though a little concerned about that, decided not to listen to these things for the time being.

Because it's just a waste of energy.

Alpha is an absolutely abnormal being.

In addition to being the only one who can perceive it, if you think about it a little, you will find a lot of things that you don't understand.

But Akira deliberately didn't care about that.

The important thing for Akira is that Alpha is his partner.

Undoubtedly, a very elusive existence.

But the element of being on your own side is very important.

For the dirty children in the slums, no one will lend a helping hand to them.

No one can help themselves.

Akira has always thought so.

And now too.

Just know that there are extremely rare exceptions that do not change the perception of the world to this extent.

Because of this, Akira didn't care about the exception, the anomaly of Alpha.

If you lose your alpha because you care about this, you choose to run away.

At least, not now.

Suddenly, Alpha smiled mischievously.

"Then again, Akira and Cheryl walked side by side, just like on a date. ”

Akira chuckled softly and couldn't help but turn her gaze to Alpha.

The person who suddenly appeared and turned his gaze to a place where no one was in the middle was a very suspicious person, and Cheryl did not react.

Because Akira had already told me not to ask.

If she took her eyes off these doubts and could find peace every day, Cheryl would not be silent no matter what.

"Isn't that what dating looks like?"

"No, that's right. The rebuttal is very casual, but it is reckless to challenge me to discuss. ”

Looking at Akira, who showed a subtle expression but gave up rebuttal, Alpha smiled happily.

"So, since it's a date, let's buy something for Cheryl. ”

“...... I know. What should I buy?"

Akira didn't intend to resist reluctantly.

It's not a dangerous thing either.

Even if you don't know its intentions, you can satisfy Alpha with just a little money on hand.

Above all, avoid the hassle of stubbornly retorting and constantly explaining to Cheryl the benefits of gift-giving.

Akira thought as she walked to a nearby stall.

Cheryl followed Akira as well.

The stalls are cluttered with a variety of goods.

The rearmament that was placed there looked like a suspicious gun, and did not attract Akira's attention.

Master: In the slums where security is not good, guns are indeed important and important things.

(...... No, isn't it?)

Akira shook her head slightly.

If you send such a gun, and it happens afterwards, you are asking for trouble.

And it's not a gift for each other on a date.

Thinking about it so much and looking for something safer.

But because I don't have the experience of giving things to others, I don't know what is in line with them.

After worrying for a while, I decided that I couldn't come down and asked Alpha for help.

"Alpha, which one should you choose?"

"Think for yourself. ”

Alpha, who answered the question with a happy smile, Akira's dissatisfaction was put in the rhetorical question.

“...... Didn't you say that if you were asked something you didn't understand, you would tell me?"

So the answer? Akira gave her what she chose, and that's the answer. ”

"This kind of thing, this kind of thing, such a problem?"

"That's it, that's it, that's the problem.

Sending strange things and making subtle expressions is also a kind of learning, so come on. ”

Alpha is smiling happily.

Akira sighed inwardly, gave up the inquiry, and resumed her search for merchandise at the stall.

"Looking for what?"

Cheryl just greeted him with an understatement.

In contrast, Alpha has a slightly unacceptable expression and hesitant tone.

“...... What's here, what do you want?"

"Huh?"

"Ah, look, I favored Cheryl in yesterday's note...... No, I know her...... No, what's that?"

"We're on good terms, aren't we?"

"Yes, that. Do you have proof?

I said I had a relationship to give you something accordingly.

What gift I'm going to give you, you take it as evidence.

I don't know how much I can help. ”

Alpha began to tell himself that he was going to choose for himself, but asked the grantee about it anyway.

So, using this as an excuse, Akira has decided to ask directly to himself.

Sending strange things, a subtle expression on his face, Akira also wanted to avoid it.

Cheryl was taken aback.

Didn't you choose the gift yourself, the gift didn't come to mind.

Cheryl didn't think he was a person with such concerns at all.

The character's look was correct, and Akira was just being told by Alpha to do it.

Cheryl didn't see it clearly when she got there.

This surprised Akira greatly.

“...... So, which one to choose?"

Cheryl came to her senses at the urging of Alpha and smiled happily with a somewhat exaggerated expression.

"Well, if it's a gift, can Akira help me see it? ”

Truth be told, Akira wanted to answer for the highest possible price.

The more expensive the item, the higher the effect of the gift as evidence of friendship.

You can also exchange money later if you need to.

But in the current relationship, there are things that are rashly and impulsively demanded too high-priced, and there are only things that will make people unhappy.

Coupled with open-air goods, the price ceiling is also well known.

So Cheryl decided to attack from the other direction.

Something you have chosen seriously for me.

That's happier than anything else.

From the atmosphere that the tone and expressions and movements convey strongly, Akira began to gain high sensitivity.

The expression and voice that carried the strong affection of the fresh girl, too, Akira's face relaxed, but something more distressed changed.

However, those subtle subtleties have not yet reached Akira.

Even when she was pointed at by the beautiful girl with a strong and kind expression and voice, Akira did not relax her face, but became more annoyed.

「...... I see. So don't complain if I choose something weird, if I choose it myself, it's what I'm doing now, right?"

Cheryl was an unexpected reaction in the other party's heart, very unexpectedly.

Judging by Akira's tenacious desire for final confirmation, it is true that he does not usually feel a certain reaction, a response with an increase in favorability, etc.

Even so, from the desperate look of Akira, you can simply know that you want to avoid choosing your own taste as much as possible.

While hiding the weird thoughts in your heart, she showed a little thoughtfulness and smiled to match the other person's reaction.

"I don't complain about anything it is, yes?

So, can you help me pick an ornament? Because something like this seems to be better. ”

"Really?"

Akira was slightly relieved.

(...... Guns still don't work?)

Akira is narrowed down the choice, the strange choice may be reduced, relieved as well, slightly relaxed expression, choose a gift to start over.

After that, I hesitated for a while......

If you want to take a break and look more expensive pendants, Cheryl chooses a gift.

It is a jewelry category, and it is selected from the criteria that if you bring it to the acquisition office, you will sell it at a high price.

"Thank you, thank you. Treasure. ”

"Ahh Forget it, whatever you want. ”

Cheryl smiled as happily as she could.

But feeling exhausted and wasted, Akira's reaction was rusty.

After that, Akira also wandered around the ghetto for a while, disbanding at the beginning of sunset.

As Cheryl left, she bowed her head deeply to Akira.

"Akira. Thank you for today. Thank you for your kind attention in the future. ”

"Ahh Cheryl be careful, go back."

"Yes. Akira also pays attention to this. ”

Cheryl reluctantly smiled and left.

I almost regret that there is almost no income in Akira's favorability in the heart, and at the same time I got the evidence and the product of the business first and was satisfied. Then the evasive hacker began to seriously think about the future, showing his face.

Although it is a pity in my heart, I almost did not get Akira's favorability.

However, I am satisfied with the work that has been assisted by Akira and has become a sincere evidence.

Then, after turning his back to Akira, he thought about the future and showed a serious expression.

If Akira wanted to take a break, she silently watched Cheryl.

Then Cheryl's figure disappeared, and she wouldn't go back directly.

Looking at Akira's appearance, Alpha asked curiously.

Akira. Won't you go back?"

'Well, a little. ...... By the way, it's the first day again, well, just for the sake of prudence'.

Akira replied and walked in the opposite direction from the hotel.

After the defeat of the Sibiara gang, the territory became a blank slate, and it did not belong to any party at all.

The armed forces in the vicinity will not suddenly carry out armed suppression.

Poor imitation will only provoke a struggle between the party and the masses and increase unnecessary losses.

First of all, there will be consultations between the surrounding parties, and then there will be interest adjustments such as dividing up the empty land.

The all-out scramble came after a fancy bickering on that negotiating field.

The bleeding was after that.

The building that was once the stronghold of the Sibels is the center of the empty space.

The colony collected money and supplies from the Sibels.

But the survivors of the gang took most of the gifts with them when they joined the other gangs, so what little was left was of little value.

Still, the value of the building itself remains.

If it is occupied by the inhabitants of the slums, the benefits are enormous.

But now it is not popular, and it is very deserted.

Because, if someone enters without permission, the surrounding crowd will think that other people are starting to occupy the building.

This sparked a protest.

People who do not belong to any party, it is dangerous to lie there.

In the temporarily unoccupied building, Cheryl was waiting for someone.

It's not waiting for a particular person, it's not calling him, maybe it won't come at all.

But she judged that it was very likely, so she suppressed her nervousness and waited quietly.