# 684
Chapter 685: Shinsaibashi
In the end, Yuzuri Nana decided to return to Tokyo with Matsuri Takuya.
Before leaving, Yuzuri Nana had specially invited Lin Qiye and Amemiya Haruki to go with her, but Lin Qiye still needed to go have the 【White Slash】 repaired and would naturally not leave with her. The same went for Amemiya Haruki.
Letting Yuzuri Nana go to Tokyo alone, Lin Qiye was somewhat worried, but considering that she was now the wielder of 【Thousand Cranes】 and had Crane Granny by her side, enough to handle the vast majority of situations, he felt relieved.
The next morning, the Matsuri family's convoy arrived once again at the Black Murder Group's building.
Yuzuri Nana had changed back into that old black cherry blossom kimono, her hair pinned up with a light pink cherry blossom hairpin. She had the snow-white 【Thousand Cranes】 at her waist, standing in front of the Matsuri family members, and bowed deeply to Lin Qiye and the others.
Looking at the Matsuri family members bowing behind her, Lin Qiye couldn't help but feel a pang of emotion.
That little girl who once hid in the Yokohama shipping containers had now become a formidable expert who could stand on her own. She had always been clever—what she lacked was merely some tempering and experience.
"Seven Nights Brother, when you're done with everything, you must come find me in Tokyo!"
Yuzuri Nana waved goodbye to Lin Qiye with evident reluctance, then turned and got into the back seat of the sedan. Matsuri Takuya closed the door for her and got in from the other side.
A dozen or so vehicles started simultaneously, and in the humming of engines, they gradually disappeared from everyone's sight.
Once the Black Murder Group members dispersed, Shen Qingzhu walked up to Lin Qiye and asked:
"What's your next plan?"
Lin Qiye glanced at Amemiya Haruki beside him and said to Shen Qingzhu, "I'm going to find someone to repair my blade. I might need to take a trip. Do you want to come along?"
Shen Qingzhu hesitated for a moment, then shook his head. "The Black Murder Group needs me here to hold down the fort. Besides, I've already had them searching the entire Kansai region based on the portraits. If there's any news, I can contact them quickly."
Lin Qiye didn't push the matter. After all, Shen Qingzhu's position as Grand Group Leader was indeed very useful. Abandoning it rashly would be a loss for them.
"Did you keep the phone? If you hear anything about the others' whereabouts, remember to call me."
Lin Qiye took an old-style flip phone from his pocket and waved it at Shen Qingzhu.
This phone was something Yuzuri Nana had gotten from the Matsuri family. Both the phone itself and the SIM card inside belonged to other people. Moreover, it wasn't a smartphone, so it could avoid tracking by the Oracles and enable long-distance communication.
"Mm."
Lin Qiye and Amemiya Haruki left the Black Murder Group building. Standing at the foot of the stairs, they gazed at the city before them and let out a long breath.
"Where to next?" Lin Qiye turned to look at Amemiya Haruki.
"Shinsaibashi."
"Is the blade repairer at Shinsaibashi?"
"No. I should be at Shinsaibashi."
"...?"
Noticing Lin Qiye's confused gaze, Amemiya Haruki patiently explained: "We agreed beforehand. You were supposed to go to the fishing boat teahouse at Osaka Shinsaibashi, put a 50-yen coin in the potted plant by the entrance on the left side, and then I would appear."
Lin Qiye spoke in bewilderment, "But... aren't you right next to me now? Why do I need to go to Shinsaibashi to find you?"
"This is unexpected." Amemiya Haruki said seriously, "If I hadn't happened to go to that host club and become a host alongside you, we shouldn't have met here in the first place... I hope you can forget that I was a host... Of course, I'll forget that you were a host too. Let's just pretend none of this happened, let everything get back on track, and handle the real business."
"..."
Lin Qiye looked at him strangely. For some reason, listening to all this from Amemiya Haruki, he suddenly got a déjà vu of "let's break up, pretend none of this ever happened, and you can chase me again"... It seemed Amemiya Haruki was working really hard to cover up this black mark from his host club days...
Lin Qiye's expression turned微妙.
"Fine, let's go to Shinsaibashi first."
...
Half an hour later.
The two arrived at Shinsaibashi by car. The moment he got out of the vehicle, Amemiya Haruki left on his own, saying he needed to make some preparations.
Lin Qiye吐槽ed in his heart while following the agreement, placing a 50-yen coin in the potted plant at the fishing boat teahouse, then sat nearby to wait.
A few minutes later, a handsome young man in a black kimono and wooden sandals walked in with his head high and chest out. His composed gaze swept across the teahouse, and he walked to the table where Lin Qiye was sitting, settling down slowly across from him.
"You're two days late from the agreed time." he said calmly.
Lin Qiye's lips curved upward slightly, his voice raised a notch. "My sincerest apologies, Amemiya of Dotonbori, Osaka—the Phenic of the Host World, the Rising Star Host, the Mrs. Killer, Mr. Haruki."
Amemiya Haruki: ...
His mouth twitched violently. He grabbed Lin Qiye's wrist and lowered his voice, saying, "You—you're spouting nonsense! Come, let's go outside and talk!"
Amemiya Haruki pulled him out, passing by the bewildered gazes of many patrons, and they walked outside.
"Didn't we agree not to mention that?"
"Amemiya." Lin Qiye said unhurriedly, "When it comes to being a person, you shouldn't forget your roots. We did make quite a bit of money at Black Wutong, so how could you not acknowledge your identity?"
"You..." Amemiya Haruki took a deep breath. "Fine. You wait and see. Someday when I get the chance, I'll expose your host club past in front of others too."
"Feel free."
Amemiya Haruki harrumphed coldly, then took an ancient red token from his pocket and tossed it to Lin Qiye.
"What's this?"
"A token of passage to find the blade repairer. Without this, you won't even be able to find his doorstep."
Lin Qiye held the token in his palm and examined it carefully for a moment before realization dawned. "So that's why you came back?"
"Did you really think I was that bored?" Amemiya Haruki shot him a glance. "I couldn't possibly carry something this important while working as a host, so I've been keeping it stored here this whole time."
"I guess I misunderstood you then."
Lin Qiye tucked the token away. "So where exactly is the blade repairer?"
"Hokkaido." Amemiya Haruki paused, then continued, "I've heard things have been rather unsettled in Hokkaido lately."
"Unsettled?"
Lin Qiye was stunned, then his lips curved into a slight smile. He patted the 【Black Rope】 at his waist and said slowly, "The one thing I love most... is an unsettled place..."