Endless Silver Machine

"It's rare that I'm in the mood to ask you out. Have you done your homework beforehand?"

"No……"

"...I know it without asking. Don't worry, I won't be angry over such a trivial matter."

Ling turned her head and looked out the train window. Although she said this, and her tone was as calm as ever, the side face she specially left for Aika conveyed her mood at the moment very well.

"Because I have never left the academy before, and I have no experience of going shopping with others, so there is nothing I can do about it."

"Has it never happened before..."

"When I was in Pufa Town and the Imperial Capital, I went out with you every time. When Luoluo and Wei Xi were there, I just helped carry the luggage..."

"So, is this your first time hanging out with a girl other than Luoluo?"

"Didn't I say that from the beginning?"

"Hmph..." Ling finally looked away from the car window, "That's really something that can't be helped..."

She read quietly.

"Forgive you."

"Aren't you angry?"

Then Ling glared hard at her, and she looked out the window again with her chin raised.

…………

The cause of the matter should be traced back to last night, when Luoluo and Wei Xi visited Aika's room without telling Ling.

"Why didn't you talk about such an important thing earlier?"

"Shh-" Luo Luo quickly covered her brother's mouth, "Don't let Sister Ling hear it."

"Actually...Sister Ling didn't let us say..."

Wei Xi added from the side.

"Why?"

"Probably because we have just settled down and there are still many problems that have not been resolved. Judging from Sister Ling's character, she must not want us to worry about her." Of course, this is just Luoluo's personal opinion, "And... …”

She hesitated to speak.

"Is there any other reason?"

"Well..." Luo Luo obviously seemed to have thought of something, but she still deliberately kept silent, "Anyway, brother, please stay with Sister Ling all day long tomorrow!"

"But we have never asked Ling if he is willing?"

"it does not matter……"

"Xiao Xi!"

Luoluo hurriedly interrupted Wei Xi's words. Wei Xi showed a confused expression at first, and then immediately turned into a panicked expression as if she understood.

"That...that..."

"Brother, don't worry, just remember this matter!"

Luoluo pushed Wei Xi out of Aika's room without any explanation.

"Be sure not to oversleep tomorrow."

Before closing the door, Luoluo gave a special warning.

An hour later, Ling knocked on the door of Aika's room.

"Go out with me tomorrow."

With that said, she closed the door behind her back, but did not take another step into the house.

Ling, who had her hands behind her back, stared at her feet and pressed the toes of her shoes against the floor in seeming boredom.

"...Well, when are you leaving?"

"Even if you make excuses not to go..." Ling suddenly reacted, her slightly red cheeks showing up unprepared, "Why did you agree so readily?"

"I don't have any other plans for tomorrow anyway."

"That's it..." Ling coughed slightly and readjusted her mood, "Then don't forget it, that's it."

Not intending to wait for Aika's reply, Ling hurriedly left with her head lowered.

…………

In this way, Aika and Ling would be sitting on the train heading to the neutral area business district like this.

——Don’t let Sister Ling notice that you already know that today is her birthday. You must pretend to be unaware.

Before going out in the morning, Luoluo quietly told herself this.

The train gradually slowed down, and the arrival announcement sounded in the car. The two of them followed the flow of people getting off the bus and entered the platform of the business district.

The last time I took the train from the port directly to Shuoyue Academy, it only stopped for a moment at the platform in the business district. At that time, Aika didn't pay attention to the scenery outside the window.

"I came here with Luo Luo and Wei Xi before. I just bought some daily necessities and then went back."

Ling quietly glanced at Aika, then immediately looked back.

"I thought you had already walked around here. It seems I can't ask you to lead the way."

"You actually still have such low-ambition expectations? This is an appointment..." Ling almost couldn't help throwing the bag in Aika's face, "Forget it, even though I know you are... I won't say it. "

"But this is just right. The two of us can just treat it as our first time here and take a stroll around."

"Two people……"

"Isn't it?"

"That's right..."

Ling suddenly muttered and started walking forward in small steps, and his steps were getting faster and faster.

"Hey, wait for me!"

"Ah, I'm sorry..."

Ling, who was stopped by Aika, stopped in a hurry and turned her head to look at him who was chasing him.

Ling's smile, at this moment, was deeply imprinted in Aika's heart.

Realizing that he was fascinated by the smile she showed unconsciously, Aika quickly hid her smile deeper in her heart, regrouped her mentality, and caught up with the girl who was waiting for her from afar.

…………

Comparing the difference between the commercial district in the Bisi Empire capital and the neutral area, the biggest difference is that the latter blends the cultures of various countries and races. Wandering there, feeling the leisure atmosphere, you have the illusion of being in another country.

This time, Ling did not keep a distance from Aika, and the two of them moved side by side along the flow of people.

She would stop and admire the stalls she was interested in, and occasionally chat with the shopkeepers.

"This should be..."

Every shopkeeper will pay attention to Aika next to Ling, and then tease the relationship between them, and Ling will be the first to respond.

"This guy is my friend, just a classmate."

Fooled over like this.

Aika thought boredly while waiting. Apart from being a friend and classmate, does he have any other meaning to Ling? People living together? That seems to be the case, but that's all.

Although Ling is very excited when shopping, she basically doesn't use money to buy things. The proof is that it's almost noon, and Aika is still empty-handed.

Aika put his hands in his pockets and tried his best to respond to the topics Ling threw at him, but he still couldn't keep up with the girl.

Whenever this happens, Ling will puff up her cheeks and look dissatisfied, and then she will immediately see something new and say this and that to Aika.

At lunch time, Aika didn’t know which shop around was more suitable. So after struggling for a long time, Ling directly pulled him into the restaurant closest to him.

"Is it really okay here?"

"You have the nerve to ask? Isn't it just because you were hesitant that I helped you?"

"Sorry, it would be nice if you knew something about this place before coming here."

"After all, it's because I brought it up to you last night. I also have the responsibility..."

"But it's pretty nice here."

Aika looked around the store. Different from the family restaurant like Qiu Ke's, the atmosphere here is more elegant.

Melodious music is playing in the store, and the second floor has a similar layout to the first floor we just passed.

Ling chose a seat near the window.

Because we have lived in the caretaker's cabin for a long time, everyone seems to be accustomed to sitting at the table by the window.

Thinking of this subtle common ground, Aika couldn't help but chuckle. Ling looked at Aika who suddenly laughed with a puzzled expression.

"What are you laughing at? It's so disgusting..."

"No, no..." Aika took a deep breath to calm down, "I was just thinking that we have lived together for a long time."

"Hello!"

There were constant glances from around him, and Aika noticed the mistake in his expression.

In the eyes of people around them, Aika and Ling are both students of Shuoyue Academy. They lived together when they were students...

"Um, you two..."

The male clerk who originally walked towards them became very embarrassed because of this, and ran away in a hurry after the two of them stuttered and placed their orders.

"I said……"

"you shut up."

Afterwards, the two spent a special lunch time under the teasing gaze of the surrounding people.

…………