Chapter 181: Couple Ride!

When passing the Children’s Park, Himekoji suddenly felt that Mashiro seemed to be resting her head against his back.

Then, some kind of bad premonition instantly shot through him. Himekoji looked back—

Sure enough, just as he thought!

Shiina Mashiro had fallen asleep again!

How could she fall asleep sitting on the bicycle’s back seat?

Really!

The girl’s eyes were peacefully closed. Each time she breathed regularly, her shoulders rose and fell slightly.

To be honest, Shiina Mashiro looked quiet and beautiful when asleep.

But—

“Don’t sleep!”

He couldn’t let her keep sleeping just because she looked quiet and pretty!

An accident could happen! It was dangerous!

“I’m not sleeping.”

So, she was just resting her eyes?

“Okay, good. Please don’t sleep.”

Himekoji pressed hard on the pedals, the scenery on both sides flowing past rapidly.

…

“What were you talking about with Nanami?”

Mashiro still had her eyes closed but suddenly spoke up like this when Himekoji rode around the next corner.

“What?”

“After school this afternoon. You two seemed to be talking about something.”

“After school? Oh, that… It wasn’t anything much. We talked about Hikari. That little cat you drew yesterday. That cat is one Nanami is fostering at my place.”

“Just that?”

“Yeah, just that. Why? What’s wrong?”

“That’s good.”

“Huh? I don’t see anything good about that.”

Mashiro was actually steering the conversation herself? Super rare, very strange!

“Akito and Nanami have a good relationship.”

“We do not! Where did you get that weird conclusion?”

Himekoji denied it on reflex.

“No need to explain yourself.”

“I’m not explaining!”

Himekoji couldn’t be bothered to dwell on this and simply changed the subject:

“Alright then, my turn to ask. Why did you suddenly decide to take a bath right before dinner?”

In the few days Mashiro had stayed at his place, she always bathed around eight or nine in the evening.

Nanami had asked about it earlier. To be honest, he found it strange too.

Was it because she was going out?

Or was it… something else?

For example—

Because Nanami was here, she deliberately washed to assert her status as the lady of the house in front of her?

…

No, no! What dumb thoughts were these?

Himekoji shook his head hard, chasing away all these messy ideas in his mind.

“I wanted to.”

Mashiro’s cheek pressed against Himekoji’s not-very-broad back. She spoke, seemingly without any emotion.

Wanted to…

Yeah, she just wanted to, that’s all.

Right, this was just a typical Mashiro-style answer.

…

Red light.

The bicycle stopped at the intersection.

While engaged in this odd conversation with Mashiro, Himekoji waited for the traffic light to change.

Then, at one point, Himekoji’s eyes accidentally met those of a young police officer waiting nearby.

Seemingly, he was also waiting for the green light.

They looked at each other briefly, instinctively nodding in greeting.

“Ah, hello, Officer.”

Most of the time, this Pervert Himekoji was quite polite and well-mannered.

“Hello. Waiting for the red light too?”

The officer replied cheerfully.

The light was still red.

The police officer, who looked around twenty years old, glanced over at Mashiro sitting on the back seat. He seemed a bit taken aback.

As everyone knew, it wasn’t allowed to carry passengers on a bicycle back seat because no one could guarantee an accident wouldn’t happen.

Just as the young officer was about to speak, Himekoji, quick with his eyes and mouth, started chatting with him first.

“Nice weather today. The moon is lovely.”

“Ah… Y-yes, it is.”

The officer answered instinctively, the words he’d meant to say catching in his throat.

“The moon… huh? Wait, it’s only evening now. Where’s the moon?”

The young officer realized belatedly.

But at that moment, the light turned green.

Perhaps it was too late?

“Well, we’ll be going now. Goodbye!”

Himekoji politely said goodbye, then pretended not to know anything and kicked hard on the pedals.

“Okay, goodbye. Please be careful on the road… Hey, what? Wait! No, stop! Hold it right there! It’s too dangerous having two people on that bicycle!”

The officer quickly came back to his senses and called out loudly to Himekoji and Mashiro.

“Himekoji!”

“I knew I couldn’t get away that easily!”

As Himekoji complained, the young policeman stopped smiling. He charged forward angrily, legs pumping furiously.

The head start Himekoji had gained was disappearing fast.

Disappearing?

Wait! Why was it disappearing?

Himekoji glanced back and panicked.

What on earth?

Even a super-fit cop shouldn’t catch up that fast, right?

Himekoji was riding a bike! Two wheels!

Sure, carrying Mashiro and pedaling hard had worn him out, but he shouldn’t lose to two legs!

“Please let us go!”

Seeing how serious the cop was, Himekoji tried begging.

A smart person knows when to surrender—he didn’t need extra trouble.

“The law must treat everyone equally!”

Whoa, so serious? All he did was give someone a bike ride!

“This really doesn’t feel like something that needs such dramatic words!”

“You can explain yourself at the station!”

“Darn it!”

Himekoji knew arguing was pointless. He hunched low, stomping the pedals wildly. Full speed ahead!

“Stop! Don’t run!”

“Officer, please give us a break! We’ve got something super important! Can you take responsibility if we’re late?”

“That’s not my job! Catching traffic violators like you is!”

“What a shame. Seems we can’t understand each other.”

The bike flew faster. Himekoji pushed to his absolute limit!

“Akito.”

Even in this life-or-death chase, Mashiro’s voice stayed totally calm.

“Later! I’m busy right now!”

“It’s urgent.”

“Then be quick!”

“A strange person is catching up.”

Thump!

Himekoji almost choked.

“You think?! That’s literally why we’re running for our lives!”

Mashiro’s delayed reaction time was truly legendary…

“Should we call the police?” Mashiro suddenly asked.

“HE IS THE POLICE!”

The cop kept chasing the fleeing pair relentlessly.

“Stop! How many times? Stop right now! You there! Cozying up with your girlfriend on a bike—STOP!”

“She’s not my girlfriend!”

Even mid-escape, Akito reflexively shouted back.

“Then what is she?!”

“Akito is my Owner.” Mashiro answered helpfully.

“Oh come ON! Give that ridiculous idea up already!”

Himekoji wanted to scream.

“Huh?! Wh-what kind of enviable relationship is that?! Are you mocking my gloomy school days at an all-boys high school?! Unforgivable! Absolutely unforgivable! I won’t let you escape, you jerk!”

Someone else got much angrier, though.

The twenty-something cop yelled, fueled by some weird personal fury.

“Officer! What kind of battle spirit is this?! If this is duty, leave your private grudge out!”

“Don’t think you’ll get away! I’ll have you know, I was famous in school as the outdoor club’s ghost member! A guy drowning in social mixers!”

“None of that sounds very impressive!”

Himekoji, on the other hand, was used to playing the Pervert who ran daily. Plus, he’d been on the soccer team in middle school—his fitness was solid.

Having Mashiro slowed him down slightly, but he refused to lose.

No, at this point, he absolutely couldn’t lose!

Getting caught here?

Way too embarrassing!

After five frantic minutes, the cop was wheezing badly.

“W-wait! Just… please… wait for me…”

His speed dropped noticeably.

This was it—the final moment!

Himekoji gritted his teeth. His thigh muscles screamed, burning with lactic acid. His legs felt like lead, barely moving. Still, he squeezed out every last bit of strength. Accelerate!

“I’m… not angry anymore… just s-stop… stop already…”

A weak plea drifted from behind… and grew fainter.

The pursuer was left far behind.

……

“Akito, you are amazing.”

Mashiro gave this praise calmly, clinging to his waist throughout the ride.

“Yeah, right…”

Himekoji didn’t even know how to respond.

What was this?

Hit-and-run?

It annoyed the hell out of him.

……