episode_0162

The calculations were Rain’s job.

Because Shine and I didn’t have any money.

After leaving the cafe, we went into a nearby alley and checked the contents of the document.

“Um…”

I checked the list of people in the documents.

It was to choose who to visit next.

From a grumpy old man to a nice-looking old woman.

The list was varied.

Flipping through the documents one by one, I was able to select the person who stood out the most.

“I think this person would be good.”

A man with a plump build.

My name is Ben

Age 40

The ability is that of a low-level reinforcement ability user.

“Jeff. You chose it because of the candy?”

I shook my head at Shine’s words, hiding the documents behind my back.

“Oh, no!”

Ben’s occupation was a handmade candy maker.

I didn’t choose him after finding out that he was making and selling handmade candies in a small workshop nearby.

It just seemed right.

There was absolutely no other meaning.

Shine looked at her with suspicion.

I swallowed hard and put the documents in my bag.

Now that the destination has been chosen, it’s time to set off.

“Let’s go!”

On the way to the handmade candy factory, away from the cafe, cross the crosswalk with the traffic lights and walk along the long sidewalk.

The surrounding houses were all luxurious.

Perhaps because it was a housing complex, there didn’t seem to be any unnecessarily large, high-rise buildings.

“Hmm.”

I unfolded the map and checked the route.

It would have been okay to walk straight ahead, but if you took the side road, you could have gone to a large park.

“What should I do?”

I asked Shine and Rain for their opinions.

“Where there are lots of people, there is bound to be a lot of information, so it would be better to go to the park.”

I nodded to Rain’s words, which gave off a sense of experience.

Shine didn’t refuse to go to the park either.

That’s how we ended up on a side road.

I checked my watch and wrote in my notebook.

9:00 am.

There are a lot of people in the park.

The crooked writing was written in small letters.

The three of us stood at the entrance to the park and looked around inside.

No one seemed particularly strange.

After entering the park, we headed towards the fountain in the center.

Near the fountain, there are people walking their dogs and feeding pigeons.

There were many different people.

I started checking if any of the people in the documents in my bag were in the park at that moment.

No matter how many people there are, if the three of us check it, it will be over in no time.

“Check if the people in the documents are there.”

I sat on a small bench near the fountain and looked around for a while.

An old woman sat next to us holding a small envelope.

I was nervous.

Could it be that someone noticed that we were on a mission?

I moved a little to the side, hugging my bag.

But my worries were unfounded, as my grandmother took out a small handful of seeds from the envelope and scattered them around.

Then, the pigeons that were scattered everywhere came flying in as if they had been waiting.

The sound of pigeons’ wings flocking in from all directions disturbed the surroundings.

“Did you find it?”

“No. I don’t think so.”

“I couldn’t find it either.”

Unfortunately, it didn’t seem like the people on the list were out at this time.

We got up from the bench and started walking around the park.

I stood on a nearby lawn.

Because there were people lying down and resting on the green lawn.

Some of them had their faces covered.

My goal was them.

Stealthily, the three of us approached the man whose face was covered.

He seemed to be in a deep sleep, snoring.

The thin book covering his face seemed to be intended to block the sunlight pouring down from the sky.

I quietly reached out and pushed the book away.

Then the man’s face was revealed.

His face was grim, and even with his eyes closed, you could tell what his personality was like, his face did not look like a good personality.

I swallowed dry saliva.

“Ugh!”

He groaned and rubbed his face with his hands.

“Damage!”

Me, Shine, and Rain ran away from the man who was trying to get up.

I ran quickly, hid behind a large tree, and watched his movements.

He got up from his seat, touched his face, picked up a book that had fallen nearby, and placed it back on his face.

I breathed a sigh of relief.

“That person wasn’t on the list.”

Unfortunately, that guy wasn’t on the list.

We repeated this action several times.

But unfortunately, we couldn’t find a single person we were looking for.

Leaving our regrets behind, we left the lawn.

It was when I was walking around the park like that.

-♬

A familiar melody is suddenly heard.

I started running towards the sound.

Shine and Rain also started running like me.

This is because they were also familiar with this melody.

The closer I got, the louder the music became.

Even the sound of clapping that accompanies it.

This is it.

This is…

It was kickboxing music!

When we arrived at the place where we followed the sound, there was a wide open space.

Children doing gymnastics on it.

And there was even a woman moving at the very front as if directing them.

“Gasp…”

I held my breath as I looked at the woman teaching the children at the front.

I saw that guy on YouTube.

Yes, that YouTuber who made the gymnastics videos we watch every day was that woman.

The three of us approached as if possessed and joined the gymnastics line.

My, Shine’s, and Rain’s movements were perfect.

Perform gymnastics with perfect movements.

It was a good thing I didn’t do gymnastics today.

The kids around us glanced at us who had suddenly interrupted, then started doing gymnastics again.

It seems that such sudden interventions were not uncommon.

“Okay. One, two. One, two.”

The woman clapped her hands and corrected the posture of the children around her.

Lift your feet and spin around in place.

And clap your hands.

Clap clap-

The body moves so naturally that it moves on to the next action.

“Last~”

match!

The final gymnastic pose is performed with a female voice.

The music also slowly slowed down and reached the end.

After finishing gymnastics, we looked at each other.

A gaze that met Rain Shine.

The eyes of the two girls, entangled in the air, wavered in confusion.

I was confused as well.

Oh, what should I do?

Wouldn’t it be suspicious?

The three of us started walking slowly.

“Hello!”

Then, the woman standing at the very front waved at us.

All eyes around me are drawn to it at once.

Even if you wear a bracelet, once you recognize it, the feeling of being blurry gradually disappears.

“Oh, hello.”

I stiffened as I greeted the woman.

“New friends. Nice to meet you!”

The woman greeted vigorously.

It was just like what I saw in the video.

I desperately hid my trembling hands behind my back.

I almost waved in excitement.

This is a big deal. The kids around us are starting to show interest in us.

I grabbed Shine and Rain’s hands and started running out of the park.

As we were running, a woman’s voice flew behind us.

“Come see me again next time~”

I thought you might come.

“Habits are truly scary…”

Lane looked down at his hands and muttered softly.

I nodded to her words.

After leaving the park, I wrote the information down in my notebook.

If you go to the park at 9 am, you can do gymnastics.

After leaving the park, we walked towards our original destination.

After walking for a while, we arrived at a candy factory filled with small, cute decorations.

[Ben’s Candy Heaven]

It was a very intuitive name.

The sweet smell wafting from the entrance made my mouth start to water.

I opened the door right away and went inside the store.

The inside of the store seemed to be kept at a lower temperature than the outside.

The slow-blowing wind from the air conditioner gave a slightly chilly feeling.

The counter was empty.

I checked the small sign attached in front of it.

[If you are not at your seat, please ring the bell. We are making candy.]

As written on the notice, there was a small bell next to the counter.

We slowly looked around.

From lollipops to small lollipops.

Cute character candies decorated the shelves.

My gaze was fixed on one of the large swirl candies.

“Rain, Rain.”

“Huh?”

“Buy me that.”

I grabbed Lane’s arm next to me and pointed to the swirl candy.

A candy so large that you can’t fit it all in your mouth.

It looks really delicious.

“Jeff, we’re here to gather information.”

“Yeah, I know. But I have to win her favor first.”

“Be honest. You came here because you wanted candy, right?”

“Oh, no!”

I shook my head, avoiding Rain’s gaze that was looking at me with suspicion.

“Do you think I like everything sweet?”

“… wasn’t it?”

“That’s too much. Rain likes sweet things too.”

Rain nodded at my words.

It was mature to admit it right away rather than deny it.

I swallowed hard and said.

“So buy it.”

“… Okay.”

Eventually, Lane picked up three large tornado candies.

Now that we had decided what we wanted to buy, it was time to pay.

I walked up to the counter, lifted my crowbar, and rang the bell.

Ting ting-! A few clear and cheerful sounds were heard, and then Ben walked out from inside.

“Welcome~”

Ben’s gaze was naturally directed downward.

I was able to confirm one fact here.

The main customers who visit this store are children like us.

“Hello!”

I said hello to Ben.

This guy is on the people list, so I thought he might have some important information.

I had to make a statement with him.

“My name is Shasha! This is Charles, this is Jane!”

A small smile appears on Ben’s face at my introduction.

“My name is Ben. So, are you here to buy candy?”

I nodded and looked back.

Then, Lane walked forward and held out a card, showing three large candies.

“Please calculate it.”

After paying with Rain’s card, we left the store.

“Please come again next time~”

Ben’s voice from behind slowly dissipates.

I held the tornado candy in my hand with shining eyes.

A long stick with a giant candy stuck on it.

The clear plastic wrap covering it doesn’t bother me.

As soon as I opened the package, I stuck my tongue out and licked the candy.

It was really delicious.

“Jeff. You didn’t get any information.”

“You can’t get full on the first drink.”

Rain reluctantly nodded to my answer.

The three of us walked along the street eating candy.

I took out my notebook and filled in some information about Ben.

How often should I visit?

Every day? Or once every two days?

“I think it would be better to visit every day.”

I made a schedule.

After stopping by Valentine’s Cafe, do some gymnastics in the park.

Next, stop by Ben’s Candy Factory and eat some delicious candy.

It was a perfect plan.