After washing his sore body, Higashinohara changed into the school uniform of Takehara Minami High School - a white long-sleeved shirt, a brown two-button suit jacket, and an embroidered school emblem on the left chest.

After putting on long gray-blue trousers, Higashinohara picked up a black handbag. When he went out, he took out a clean tie from behind the door. The lower part of the tie had a pattern of intertwined white lines. He tied it carefully in front of the mirror.

As the saying goes, people are made of clothes.

When we arrived at Higashinohara, even though the uniforms of Takehara Minami Private Academy were well-customized, they had a more aristocratic and refined look when worn on Higashinohara. No one could tell at first glance that he was from a small fishing village in Hokkaido.

country boy.

When I was going down the stairs, I happened to meet Shunsuke Nishimaru on the same floor, and Miria Nishimaru, who was rubbing her face and looking sleepy, and carrying a somewhat shabby doll with rabbit ears in her hand. The two of them were washing up in the corridor.

Higashinohara couldn't help but look down at the time on his phone - 5:42, and couldn't help but feel a little confused.

Why are you up so early?

Shunsuke Nishimaru works in a nightclub and doesn't get up before twelve noon on weekdays.

Nishimaru Miria's elementary school requires students to arrive at school only at 8:30. Children are growing up at this time, so getting enough sleep is very necessary.

However, since his father was with him, it was hard for an outsider to say anything to Higashinohara, so he shook his head and continued downstairs.

...

Deng Deng Deng -!

Just as he reached the third floor along the stairs, a rush of footsteps suddenly reached his ears. Higashinohara did not turn his head, but a 360-degree picture suddenly appeared in his mind.

The all-round perspective of [Nine Eyes and Six Paths].

In the picture, a straight black girl wearing a navy blue windbreaker uniform and boots is seen. She holds a briefcase under her arm and a sandwich in her mouth. She holds her headband with her right hand and skillfully pulls up the hair on the back of her head.

With her hair tied into a ponytail, she rushed from the corridor on the third floor with swift strides.

Under normal circumstances, the girl would be unable to stop the car due to inertia, and she would probably collide with Higashinohara on the corridor.

Hmm...it fits the plot of a Wano country morning drama.

But what storms have Higashinohara not seen?

I saw him holding the black briefcase in his hand with his backhand, turning around and taking a small step forward quickly with his left leg, followed by his right leg, squatting down, holding the "shield" with both hands, and quickly struck upward at a 45-degree angle, instantly making

A classic explosion-proof "top block" posture.

...

"Oops! I'm going to be late! Damn it! My smelly dad insists that I come back once a week!"

In the corridor, Mai Aragaki was walking in a hurry, muttering to herself, and the moment she turned the corner, she was about to sprint down the corridor as usual.

She has lived in this apartment since she was a child. When she was in junior high school, she could sprint down a dozen floors in three strides.

However, in the next moment, her whole body froze, and a black... handbag appeared in front of her eyes?

All this sounds complicated,

It doesn't happen like a flash of lightning.

It was too late to shout.

Bang!

As expected, Mai Aragaki, who did not stop the car, was hit on the face, and her facial expression of "a beautiful girl embracing the new day in the morning" was instantly distorted.

It doesn't hurt at all, just a little annoying.

Who is this?

...

"Mai-senpai?"

At this time, a calm voice sounded from behind the handbag.

Higashinohara put down his handbag and said with a polite smile, "Good morning."

"Ah, it's you."

Mai Aragaki naturally recognized Higashinohara. She also graduated from Takehara Minami Private Academy in Tokyo. She knew Higashinohara when he first moved into the apartment, and even went to say hello before graduation.

She just didn't expect that this guy had repeated a grade in school for two consecutive years. If he couldn't graduate next year, he would be expelled from the school. This made her feel embarrassed to say hello to him occasionally because she was afraid of hurting the other person's self-esteem.

But today... this "Senior Mai" was called "Senior Mai" with a refreshing and friendly voice, and her smile was generous and natural, making people feel like spring breeze. It was completely different from the impression she had of her being lifeless and dull all day long.

Well...if you look closely, this guy looks quite handsome when he smiles.

strangeness...

Why didn't you notice it before?

Reminds me of our chance encounter at Shibuya Station last night...

Aragaki Mai also had a smile on her face and said hello, "It's Higashino-kun, good morning. You acted very bravely last night. It's really thanks to you that we caught that guy."

She couldn't help but not ask...

Why did you slap that thing in my face just now?

"Uh... this is what every enthusiastic citizen of Neo-Tokyo should do, and you are also working very hard." Higashinohara said politely, and suddenly remembered the cross-section of Charlie that he saw in his mind last night, and couldn't help but ask

, "What happened to the... female thief last night? When is the trial?"

Unexpectedly, when this was brought up, Aragaki Mai became very angry and said angrily, "How do we have the right to judge heavenly beings? The people from the judgment department of the heavenly being government made a fuss all night last night, but it was the captain who forced them to stop.

Hand the person over...but I definitely have to hand over the person today.”

When she said this, her voice became a little discouraged and she looked slumped and powerless.

Higashinohara can understand this, as none of the newcomers in their field have any ambitions and ideals.

But reality is reality.

The Celestial World Government has ruled the world for more than a thousand years with powerful force. Although in the past century, with the rise of strong human beings and the arrogance and licentiousness of the descendants of Celestial Being, its cruel and tyrannical treatment of humans has aroused the resistance of countless allies.

, the rule is far less stable and reliable than it used to be.

But the centipede is still dead, and the World Government is still a behemoth weighing on the heads of many allies.

The country of Wano currently maintains a relatively stable relationship with the World Government among the many allies. However, unless it really comes to the point of breaking out, the Third Investigation Team will face the strong recommendation of the World Government's Judgment Department. They will be forced to affirm under pressure.

It has to be handed over to someone.

According to past practice, those who were born into a well-known family or had a background in crimes were usually judged and tried internally by the Celestial Government - but the arbitration trial of the Celestial Government is a joke in the world, and most of them will be released on bail after going through the motions.

"Hmph! That girl from the Tmall tribe must have some background, otherwise the guys from the Judgment Division wouldn't be so active." Mai Aragaki complained.

Then you guessed wrong.

Higashinohara Shindo.

He saw Xia Li's autopsy last night - that mixed-race idiot who couldn't even figure out whether he was a Tmall or a Tianhu. He was just a poor guy who took a train from Okinawa to New Tokyo to work. What could he do?

The background is weird.

Although he was also a little confused as to why the people from the Adjudication Department would save that guy, it was hard to say and it was not his business.

So she could only echo Aragaki Mai's complaints, and then curse a few people in the World Government's Adjudication Department - Aragaki Mai suddenly became more and more pleased with this new and handsome junior.

The two walked along the corridor and chatted out of the apartment. Mai Aragaki was going to work at the Metropolitan Police Department in Chuo District, and she and Takehara Minami Private Academy did not take the same tram line, so the two said goodbye at the door.

"Come on, Higashikata-kun! You will definitely be able to do it next year."

Aragaki Mai ran for a few steps, suddenly turned around, clenched her fist hard towards Higashinohara and said.

Under the morning light, the ponytail girl's face seemed to be coated with a layer of brilliance, as warm as grease, and full of vigor and vitality.

Higashinohara was stunned for a moment, feeling a little infected inexplicably, and said with a smile, "Thank you! Come on, Mai-senpai!"

"Haha, I won't tell you that I'm going to be late, bye!"

The girl turned around and trotted all the way, her pony tail rising and falling with her steps, and her silhouette in the sun was so full of vitality.

Higashinohara stood there and stared for a while, when he suddenly noticed someone approaching behind him, and a lazy voice sounded in his ears.

"Hey kid, isn't my daughter pretty?"

Uh...it's quite beautiful.

Higashino thought to himself, but said, "Good morning, Aragaki-san, I'm going to school. Goodbye!"

After saying that, he left without waiting for the other party's reaction.

At the door, Aragaki Satoru, who was holding a chicken coop on his head, looked at the boy's back, scratched his crotch, and said with some confusion on his face, "Strange, why does it feel like this kid is getting more and more enlightened recently?"

...

After riding the train for a few stops, I got off the train and walked a short distance to Higashinohara. After going up a hill, the gate of Takehara Minami Private Academy appeared in my field of vision.

Although Takehara Minami Private Academy is not one of the four universities in New Tokyo known as "Academy City", it can be regarded as a first-class private academy for superpowers under the four universities - it is said that the school board of directors has been

The plan here is to let Takehara Minami High School get outstanding results in the [New Tokyo Academy Super Battle] held in Koshien in the summer, so that she can successfully join the four major campuses.

Hmm... If it doesn't work, "Fifth University Park" will do.

For this purpose, Takehara Minami Private Academy is not limited to Tokyo, but casts a wide net nationwide to expand the source of students, and even lowers the score limit for cultural courses.
To be continued...