466: Chapter 7: Dreams of the Past_2 466: Chapter 7: Dreams of the Past_2 “Sigh, sigh, so boring!” Ayane, tired of washing halfway through, smeared shampoo on the doctor, “It’s such a hassle to wash, when did Little Manaka grow so big!”
It had only been half a minute ago that she had said long hair was nice.
“I haven’t grown since high school.”
“Liar~”
The petite Ayane, suddenly passing her hands under the doctor’s armpits, gripped firmly and asserted, “Definitely gotten bigger!”
The doctor was neither angry nor shy, just helplessly said, “Body size has no meaning to me, Ayane.”
The girl’s flat chest pressed against her back, arms wrapping around her neck.
“It does, it does, no matter how much it changes with abilities, it has to revert back to the original.
Otherwise, Ayane won’t recognize Little Manaka!” Ayane giggled, “It reminds me of the old times!”
The doctor closed her eyes, murmuring softly, “…Ah.”
“Back then, Little Manaka was as small as Ayane, we all worked hard together, encouraging each other, getting through each day.
Thinking back, it’s really happy~”
The grotesque adults, the crying children.
Pitiful wails, frenzied screams.
Blood, flames, corpses…
The mad laughter that rang out under that terrifying sky.
Old friend’s words resurrected the deliberately forgotten past, the doctor’s voice trembled slightly.
“Ayane, stop it.”
“Oh?
Alright.” The girl’s voice sounded regretful, as she turned to another topic, “How have you been recently?”
The doctor remained silent for a while before speaking.
“It’s the same as always.
Work, research, bit by bit accumulating wealth and networking…
Surviving in this city.”
“Just like always.”
“Yes, just as before.”
Scenes from childhood flashed before her eyes, gradually replaced by images of life after coming to the city in the sky.
She was no longer on Zero Island.
This is the city in the sky.
Repeating this to herself, the doctor slowly relaxed.
“How about you, Ayane?
Things were quite chaotic at the end of April on Zero Island…
I was really worried about you.”
“Ayane?
Went to a party,” Ayane said cheerfully, “Danced with a blond handsome guy!”
“…Hard to imagine.”
What kind of handsome man could naturally dance with the diminutive Ayane?
“Hmph, hmph…
The height difference was quite significant,” the girl said ambiguously, “There are all sorts of people, you get to see all sorts of reactions, that’s the fun of the outside world.”
“What’s so great about a prison in the sky?
Listen, Little Manaka.” The girl leaned in close to her ear, “Why not leave with Ayane?”
The doctor smiled inwardly.
Ayane was still too naive, she had no real understanding of the true power of the city in the sky, still thinking that with a clever plan, the two of them could leave together.
But she could not share the true information with her friend.
Knowing too much would only put Ayane in danger.
Even with her special experiences, Ayane was just an ordinary Impermanence Law Enforcer now.
She had no access to the real world, much less the ability to handle such powerful forces.
“I really like my life now, Ayane.”
Therefore, the doctor simply held her friend’s hand gently.
“Ah, ah!
Little Manaka, you’ve become more and more boring!”
Her close friend lamented as before.
“Well then!
Ayane is going to stay here for a long~ time this time.
A few days?
A few weeks?” Ayane nuzzled her cheek, “I have some time, might as well meet some of Little Manaka’s friends, right?”
The doctor was startled, as Ayane usually only stayed for a very short time and even then seldom met up with her.
Having such a long time to spend together was unprecedented.
She turned around, joyfully looking at her old friend.
“Don’t embarrass me, okay?”
“Little Manaka is actually very timid and afraid of loneliness!
That’s what Ayane will say,” the girl laughed.
“That’s mean.”
“Haha.” Ayane narrowed her eyes, licking her lips, “Who told Ayane to be a bad kid?”
·
Late at night, in the standalone garden house.
An old cartoon from the 90s played on the big screen, with the handsome hero roaring passionately as he piloted a giant robot, but due to the mute setting, no actual sound came out, making it look as silly as a silent movie.
The information broker lounged on the sofa, holding a cell phone with his right hand and nonchalantly tapping on the laptop keyboard with his left.
“What’s the matter, Dr.
Staner?…
Each to their own trade, we information sellers value our reputation the most, how could I deceive you?
Look, I’ve sent you the data.”
The information broker hit the enter key, stifling a laugh, “Captured clear as day, the one who stole the Invisibility cloak from your school’s third auxiliary laboratory was indeed a, ah, young maid…”
“Thieves dressing up as maids isn’t too strange, after all, this is the city in the sky…
Do you need me to continue investigating for you, should take about ten minutes…
This will do?
Okay, okay, I always respect client privacy.
Then, welcome to patronize again, find me anytime when you need.”
Yuankai ended the call, truly laughing a few times.
“Goodness, really…
What are these newcomers up to?
So funny.”
He checked his phone, thinking of calling Ah Ce again to check up on things, then thought better of it.
Mr.
Yan had said he was extremely tense, too much concern might just add pressure, better to let things take their course.
It was about time to rest.
Just as he was thinking this, the house’s security system alerted him.
Someone was visiting.
Yuankai looked at the surveillance footage on the screen and was surprised.