Anime Crossover: About How I Spoiled an Angel

Page 109

“I understand, thank you for your help. Also, Ryu is very shy, so I hope that if you find him as soon as possible, please let me know immediately.”

Mochizuki Ritsu first bowed deeply to the Service Club members, then emphasized that if they found Ryu, they must first notify her so she could come and negotiate. Just as the members were about to ask why, Mochizuki Ritsu simply explained softly:

“He has a bit of a violent tendency… I’m worried that his sudden disappearance this time is because he’s in a bad mood, so it’s best if I handle the negotiations.”

Seeing that Mochizuki Riki looked serious and not like she was joking, the members of the Service Club nodded in agreement, indicating that if they saw her, they would not alert her but would notify her immediately.

And so, the Service Club and Mochizuki Ryou split into three groups and went to their assigned locations to find Mochizuki Ryou.

------

Inside a billiards hall, Su Qing and Mochizuki Riri approached the owner and some regular customers to inquire if they had seen Mochizuki Riri.

According to Mochizuki Riki, Mochizuki Ryu is a very shy person, so Mochizuki Riki always accompanies him. They frequent only a few places, with this billiard hall being the most common.

"Wang Yue Liu? He didn't come here today. Did something happen to him?" The billiard hall owner was a middle-aged man with a beer belly and a kind face. He patiently explained when he saw Su Qing asking.

"You haven't been here? I see, thank you." After learning that Mochizuki Ryu hadn't been here, Su Qing expressed his gratitude and prepared to leave, but the shopkeeper suddenly called him back:

"Wait, young man, you're not Ryu's friends, are you?"

"Well, we were just asked by Mochizuki Rika to help her find someone," Su Qing briefly summarized the situation to her boss.

"Is that so... I see." The beer-bellied boss said with a hint of emotion:

"Sigh, those two kids are really strong. It's not easy for them to have come this far from the orphanage."

"Is that so?" Su Qing remained noncommittal.

"They had excellent grades since they were young, and they went to Sobu High School, which is one of the top three schools in Tokyo. Those two kids have already achieved their goals, haven't they? Isn't that remarkable enough?" the boss asked rhetorically.

"From what you're saying, boss, you seem to know them quite well?" Su Qing didn't delve too deeply into this topic. He realized that the relationship between the boss and Wang Yue was more than just that of customers.

"I wouldn't say I understand them, but they come here often, and Mochizuki Ryu is very outgoing and can chat with anyone. The staff, some regular customers, and I all like him quite a bit."

Over time, we got to know each other a little better. The boss had a smile on his face when he mentioned Mochizuki Ryu.

"Really? So, Mochizuki Ryu isn't shy?" Su Qing asked with a smile.

"How could that be? Ryu, in today's terms, would be considered a [company bull], right?"

"So, what's your impression of Mochizuki Rin?"

"Li... she doesn't seem to have said much. She seems to have always been by Liu's side. I don't know her very well..."

Just as Su Qing was about to ask something, Wang Yueli, who had been waiting for Su Qing for a long time, came over and called out to Su Qing:

"Su, it's time to go. Since there are no clues here, let's hurry to the next place."

"Okay." Su Qing nodded, then didn't ask anything more, expressed her gratitude, and said goodbye to the boss.

As they walked out of the billiard hall, Mochizuki Riko walked ahead of Su Qing. Looking at the girl's back, Su Qing's mind replayed frame by frame every word, expression, and gesture Mochizuki Riko had made since she entered, like a slideshow.

Seemingly noticing that Su Qing hadn't followed, Wang Yueli turned around and urged:

"Su, let's go quickly. I'm worried that Liu might be in danger."

The concerned look in his eyes behind the black-rimmed glasses was genuine; everything seemed so real.

Su Qing didn't say anything, and followed after him in a few steps.

[Alright, now let's see who's lying...]

……

Chapter 147 Orphanage

After searching unsuccessfully at the billiard hall, Su Qing and Wang Yueli went to the coffee shop, but unfortunately, they still found nothing.

"Where did Ryu... Ryu go?"

Next, the Hikigaya team and the Yukino team also reported their results through the e-group, but without exception, they found no useful clues.

Upon hearing the news, Mochizuki Riko appeared completely distraught, muttering to herself as she helplessly crouched in a corner outside the cafe. The sleeve of her autumn school uniform slipped down, revealing her pale arms, and…

Some scars?

"These are...?"

Su Qing had been observing Wang Yueli, and after noticing this scene, she tentatively asked a question.

"Ah. These, these are..." When Wang Yueli saw that Su Qing had seen the scars on her arm, she hurriedly covered them with her sleeve and stammered an explanation.

“Didn’t I say… Ryu has a bit of a violent tendency? Actually, actually it’s all because of him…”

Wang Yueli hesitated, her red lips slightly parted, as if she had already said everything, leaving the rest to Su Qing's imagination.

"Shouldn't you take him to the hospital for a check-up, or just call the police?"

Su Qing asked back.

"No! Absolutely not!"

Mochizuki Riki was very excited about this; she seemed to be very sensitive to these words.

"Hospitals... are all liars, they can't cure me at all! And Ryu only does this occasionally, he loves me, he would never hurt me."

[It's all lies and madness; it's nauseating.]

Su Qing listened coldly, offering neither comfort nor agreement; he simply continued to ask:

"If he loves you, why would he disappear now? Assuming these locations are all possibilities, could it be that he has already left Tokyo?"

"That's even more impossible! We've been together since we were little, he would never, ever abandon me, he must be in this city..."

“…Is that so?” Su Qing looked at Wang Yue Li, who was on the verge of emotional collapse, and suggested another possibility:

"Do you think it's possible for Ryu to return to the orphanage you're in?"

"Welfare...home?" Wang Yuelin repeated several times, unsure, "But...the welfare home is abandoned, and it will be demolished in a while. There shouldn't be anyone there anymore...Ryu, what is he doing there?"

"Although there is no one here, there should be memories between you or something else."

"When someone doesn't want to talk to anyone, they often choose places filled with memories and remembrances," Su Qing analyzed calmly.

"Memories...memories?! Yes, yes, Liu must be there. Thank you, Su-kun. Let's go there and check!"

A fleeting hint of morbid madness crossed Wang Yueli's fair face, but it was quickly replaced by gratitude towards Su Qing and excitement at the prospect of finding Wang Yueliu.

"Let's take a taxi," Su Qing suggested.

"Uh... take a taxi? But..." Mochizuki Rin was a little embarrassed, but when she thought about finding Ryu quickly, she gritted her teeth and agreed.

On small islands, especially in bustling cities like Tokyo, taxi fares are quite high, far exceeding those on the mainland, while parking fees for private cars are also quite expensive. Therefore, islanders tend to choose public transportation such as trams as their primary mode of transport.

Moreover, Mochizuki Ryu and Mochizuki Ri are children who grew up in an orphanage. Although it is unknown whether they have done any part-time jobs, they are still college students without jobs, so the cost of transportation is probably a considerable expense for them.

"I'll cover your share, don't worry."

Having grown up in a similar welfare institution, Su Qing chose to help the other party pay for the car fare.

"May I?"

"Stop dawdling, you want to find Liu quickly too, right?" Su Qing hailed a taxi, opened the door, and got into the car without waiting for Wang Yueli.

Seeing this, Mochizuki Rin didn't hesitate and quickly opened the car door as well.

While in the car, Su Qing sent a message to Yui and the others, telling them to meet at the orphanage. After all, if they couldn't find each other at the orphanage, putting aside everything else, the time available meant the Service Department couldn't continue searching.

The rest falls under the responsibility of the island's police.

The welfare home is located on the edge of the city and the suburbs, not far away, and the taxi arrived at the welfare home gate quickly.

After paying, Su Qing and Wang Yue Liu got out of the car.

Rust has crept over the gate of the welfare home, and the hinges have long lost their former smoothness. Every sway left by the wind is like its heavy sigh.

It was clear that the orphanage had been abandoned for quite some time, as Su Qing could see weeds and wildflowers growing everywhere in the courtyard because the gate was open.

"Who opened the door... Ryu must be inside..."

Seeing this, Wang Yueli ignored Su Qing and rushed into the orphanage like a madwoman.

Su Qing didn't pay attention and didn't follow immediately. Instead, he walked in leisurely and silently observed everything about the building.

Broken window frame...

The mottled walls...

And these murals on the walls...

I imagine that this place must have once held the memories of many children in similar circumstances, including Mochizuki and the other two.

[It's just a pity that memories are often black and white; no matter how much we cherish them, we can't paint them with much color.]

Just as Su Qing was feeling somewhat sentimental, the sound of arguing came from inside the house.

"Ryu, why did you leave me? Why didn't you respond to any of my messages or phone calls when I contacted you?"

Wang Yueli's voice was choked with sobs, and it was also a heartbreaking revelation.

"Li... I'm sorry, it's my fault."

But don't you think you've been getting weirder lately?

I... I don't know how to face you anymore... that's why..."

Mochizuki Ryu's expression was complicated, and she ultimately hesitated.

"You're lying! You're lying! What's strange about me? What's strange about me?"

"Then aren't you surprised, Ryu? You used to be content with just me, so why did you start talking to other people? Why are you drifting further and further away from me? Why, why?"

Mochizuki Riki's expression grew increasingly frantic.

Wang Yueliu opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but at that moment she noticed Su Qing coming over after hearing the commotion.

"He...is?" Mochizuki Ryu recognized Su Qing; he had been there during the commendation ceremony speech, but he didn't understand why Su Qing was there too.

"I was entrusted by Mochizuki Rika to come to you. Now that the person has been found, I think it's best to leave this matter to the two of you to discuss properly."

Su Qing shrugged, appearing indifferent, then turned to leave.

"Su, thank you for your help this time. Please tell the others that I have found Liu, so this mission is now complete."

Wang Yue Liu shouted at Su Qing, but Su Qing didn't turn around. She just shook her hand and then closed the door, leaving the two of them alone.

……

Chapter 148 Against the Wishes of the Man

After seeing Su Qing leave, Wang Yue Liu breathed a sigh of relief, took a few steps to Wang Yue Li, and hugged her tightly.

Because of her anger, Mochizuki Riki struggled a few times, but because Mochizuki Ryu was stronger, she ultimately failed to break free.

"Li, listen to me, I'm just having normal social interactions with him/her, just chatting as friends. You're overthinking it," Mochizuki Ryu explained softly, her voice gentle.

“But you used to only talk to me and never looked at anyone else… You used to be very withdrawn and never had so many friends like you do now.”

Perhaps because the boy she had been longing for was holding her tightly, Mochizuki Rin's expression calmed down considerably.

"The past is the past, and the present is the present. People always change. When you go out to work in the future, you will inevitably have to communicate with people, so you can't be like you were before."

Not just me, but you too, Li, you should make more friends at school.

Mochizuki Ryu gently lifted Mochizuki Riki's delicate, fair face, streaked with tears, and softly explained.

"Do people change? Will you change one day, Ryu, and stop loving me...? We used to only have the two of us." Mochizuki Riki's hand gripped Mochizuki Ryu's clothes tightly as she asked anxiously.

"Don't be afraid, even if things change, I will still love you..." Sensing Li's unease, Mochizuki Ryu grabbed her hand, wanting to offer some more comfort, but Li gasped in pain.

"Did you hurt yourself again?" Mochizuki Ryu asked, frowning.

"No……"

When Ryu saw that Mochizuki Rin still wanted to argue, Ryu directly rolled up her sleeve and saw that in addition to the familiar old wound, there were several new wounds.

"Didn't you promise me you'd never hurt yourself again?"

"Don't be angry... Ryu, I was wrong... but it was all because I was scared..."

"afraid of what?"

“I’m afraid you’ll leave…” Mochizuki Rin lowered her eyes and remained silent, as if she dared not look at Ryu.

Mochizuki Ryu sighed softly, and just as he was about to say something more, a crisp "click" sound made him fall silent.

"Li, what are you doing!"