Sitting in the café, Ryoko Nakazato submitted a return and exchange application on Amazon to the store where she had previously purchased the puppet according to Naruse's request.

"No reply......"

"Maybe I didn't pay attention to the news on the platform."

Naruse glanced at the time, explained and explained, after delaying for a while, there was not much time left for the lunch break, but fortunately, Takikawa Hikaru remembered to order some food for the little sister of the middle school student, so that she would not be hungry in the afternoon.

"Nakazato students should go back to school first, I will stay here in the afternoon. If she replies, be sure to get her to agree to the return and ask her to give you an address to receive the goods. ”

"Uh-huh."

Ryoko Nakazato nodded, looked at the three of them again, and left the café with a few steps back.

Naruse leaned back, exhaled, and slid down a bit.

"It should be fine now......" he muttered.

"Wait a little longer." Hikaru Takikawa squeezed his hand and calmed him down.

"Well, that's all there is to it."

"Then again, this middle school student is too easy to fool, and she will believe whatever Haruhi says...... It's no wonder that in middle school, teachers always stressed to girls not to talk to strangers. ”

"Hmmm......"

Naruse shook his head, "But if Nakazato-san's vigilance is too strong, then it will be a big trouble." ”

"After all, what Chunhai did today can be regarded as a deception of middle school students. If she called the police, Chunhai would definitely be taken by the police for questioning. ”

"Then you are also an accomplice."

"Eh......"

There was no snow here in Tokyo, but it was cloudy and it was just as cold outside, so the three of them sat in a warm café all afternoon, cup after cup of coffee.

At about three o'clock, Ryoko Nakazato, who had finished school, came over again.

"Brother Naruse's girlfriend agreed to return it!"

She then added: "She originally said that she would send me a new puppet directly, and I said that I liked the previous puppet very much and hoped that she could fix it for me, and she agreed." ”

"Ryoko is so smart." Hikaru Takikawa said next to him.

She smiled shyly, rolled her eyes, and looked at Naruse again.

"That's a huge help." He certainly didn't skimp on his gratitude.

"Hey, hey."

"Brother Naruse will see for himself." Ryoko Nakazato took out her phone and asked him to check the address sent by Naoko herself.

“……”

Looking at the address information on his phone, Naruse pursed his lower lip.

He guessed correctly, Naoko was indeed in Takayama City.

"Ichinomachi Post Office ...... Takayama City"

It's just that the address she gave Ryoko Nakazato was not her own residence, but the post office, and it was obvious that even if she believed the words of the first customer of the store, she still didn't want to reveal her address easily.

And this location, still some distance from the area he used to look for last week, no wonder no one has seen her.

It's hard to say where she really lives now.

Naruse thought for a moment and said, "Nakazato-san, please send her something." ”

"Huh? Good ......"

"Now."

"Huh...... Then I'll go back and find something to send over. ”

"There's no need to go back."

Naruse got up and went to the front desk of the café, swept his eyes, and bought one of the several cartoon commemorative coasters sold in this café, "Let's go to the post office and send it now." ”

"Good ......"

The four of them left the café and went to the nearest post office, where Ryoko Nakazato packed the unopened coasters in a box and sent them by express mail at Naruse's request.

After everything was over, Naruse let out a sigh of relief, and did not forget to express his gratitude to his junior high school sister again.

"I really don't know how to thank you, Nakazato-san."

"I didn't do anything."

"Do you have any gifts you want?"

"Eh, no, no, no......"

It's not appropriate to give money directly, and there is no time to invite her to dinner for the time being, Naruse thought for a while and asked: "Then do you have any favorite stars, as long as it's not the kind of retirement, I can basically get you an autograph." ”

Starfish and Hikaru Takigawa both looked over.

"Huh? Are you sure? Ryoko Nakazato's eyes widened.

"It's not a 100% guarantee, but it shouldn't be a problem for most people." Naruse said.

There are quite a few people he knows, and even if he doesn't know each other, he can ask someone else's relationship to convey it on his behalf, anyway, it's just to ask for an autograph.

Ryoko Nakazato quickly spoke: "I like to see Koji the most!" ”

“……”

Naruse raised his eyebrows, "Does Nakazato-san like that kind of uncle?" ”

"It's very charming! Not...... Isn't it okay? ”

"No, it's easy."

Others don't talk about it for the time being, and asking the ex-stepfather to sign his name and write a few words is as simple as it doesn't even need to go through Song Qianqiu.

Naruse pointed to the post office behind him, "Wait a little two days, and I'll have someone send you a photo of his signature." ”

"Really?"

He smiled, "I promise you." ”

"Thank you!"

The things that need to be done have been done, and the three of them didn't stay at Setagaya for long, and said goodbye to the reluctant Nakazato sister, and went back to Yoyogi's apartment.

At four o'clock in the afternoon, Song Qianqiu had already returned to the apartment after finishing his work, waiting for them at home.

"I'm going to Takayama City." Naruse said.

"What...... Found Naoko? ”

"I'm almost there."

Song Qianqiu looked at the three children, "Go over now?" ”

"Hmm." Naruse also looked at the two girlfriends behind him and added, "I'll go alone." ”

Starfish and Hikaru Takikawa were not surprised, and on the way back, he had already explained to them.

"I don't know how many days it will take to bring Naoko back, so Starfish and Hikari can't wait here forever. I went to Takayama, and they went back to Aomori and continued their schooling. ”

Song Qianqiu was silent for a moment, didn't say anything, and asked them to pack their bags first - there was nothing to pack, just a few clothes that they had changed yesterday.

Hurried over, hurried away, and the three of them didn't even have a full day in Tokyo before they were leaving again.

When he arrived at Tokyo Station, Naruse's Shinkansen to Nagoya set off first, and he was about to enter the station, and several people sent him to the platform.

"After finding Naoko, remember to contact Naoko's parents as well." Song Qianqiu said.

"I know."

"Also, when Harumi brings Naoko back, let's stop for a day in Tokyo."

Naruse looked at her, "Hmm." ”

She wanted to say something, took a breath, shook her head again, and looked at Hikaru Takikawa and the starfish.

"Be sure to bring Naoko back." Hikaru Takikawa said.

Naruse nodded.

Starfish looked at him, "You must come back yourself." ”

He smiled, "Of course." ”

As the train enters the station, Naruse waves his hand and turns around to get on the train.

"Ah, by the way, the autograph of Mr. Daiji......"

"I see." Song Qianqiu waved his hand, "I can send it to your middle school student tomorrow." ”

"Okay."

Naruse got in the car.

Moments later, the train departed and sped towards Nagoya.

Buzz –

Kazuha: How's it going?

Naruse: I'm on my way to find Naoko.

Kazuha: Can you find her today?

Naruse: I'll probably have to wait until tomorrow.

Kazuha: What about light and starfish?

Naruse: In half an hour, they'll be leaving Tokyo and returning to Aomori.

Kazuha: Good luck.

Naruse: Good luck to us.

Two hours after departing from Tokyo, the Shinkansen arrives at Nagoya Station.

After nearly three hours of transferring to the train, Naruse returned to Takayama City, where he had just left the night before.

After five hours of running, coming out of Takayama Station, the time came late at night again.

It's not the tourist season either, so you don't need to book in advance, and you can easily find a hotel with available rooms, so Naruse simply stayed at the same hotel he came to last time.

Looking at the expression at the front desk, he estimated that the other party already knew him.

After checking in, he came to his room, and Naruse sent a message to Matsu Chiaki and his three girlfriends, reporting that he was safe, and then went to the bathroom to put hot water.

Whoop –

The hot water was running and the water level in the bathtub was gradually rising.

He stood by the window, looking out at the city lights and then at the night sky.

The last time I came and left, it was raining all over the city, but after two days, Takayama City was clear again, and some stars could even be seen in the night sky.

Raising his hand and pressing it against the cold glass, Naruse slowly exhaled.

"Naoko ......"

“…… Spring Sea. ”

Naoko's shoulders shook, and she woke up from her brief slumber.

Looking at the half-finished puppet on the table in front of her, she rubbed her eyes, only to find that her eyes were moist.

“……”

Wiping the water stains from the bottom of her eyes, she stood up, walked to the window, looked at the starry sky outside, and slowly hugged her arm.

"It's cold."

(End of chapter)