Chapter 21 - Branch

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"And that's the last one! Congratulations everyone! We survived the night!" Yuki-san announced.

After that entire night of defending the front lines from an army of hardware hungry gamers... we finally...

and I mean finally.... finished today's task...

Throughout the night, we've sold over 450 copies of HorizOne.

"We can finally.....go home...." I said.

But glancing over at the clock, it's actually already pretty late. It's like 10:54 PM, and it's pretty dark outside.

"Hold on for just a minute everyone." Yuki-san said.

She took out 5 copies of HorizOne from under the counter.

"Here. Take these." Yuki-san said.

Everyone tilted their head in confusion.

I took one of them and asked Yuki-san.

"Uhh... where do you want us to put these?" I asked.

"Idiot... I'm giving it to you guys...." Yuki-san said.

"EHHHH?!?!" We all said in unison.

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We know for a fact that the HorizOne is a pretty big deal and a pretty sweet piece of technology. We we're all watching the livestream earlier today after all. The price of one hardware is still pretty overwhleming but....

To just give them away???

"Look, I'm not giving it away for free okay? Y'all helped us out today. The owners and I wanted to give you guys a little token for sacrificing a Sunday for us and staying up so late." Yuki-san said.

Well... if she puts it that way then....

"But are you really sure about this?" Shuuna asked.

"I wouldn't be standing here practically begging you lot to take these if I wasn't sure." Yuki-san said.

"But this is still something very difficult to just take..." Ako-chan said.

Ako-chan has a point...

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"How about....we all agree that we should help out at the shop whenever we can for the rest of the year...? That way... we can atleast slowly repay this act of kindness..." Shirokane-san said.

"That's a great idea Rinrin!" Ako-chan said.

"Yes... I think we can all agree to that." Shuuna said.

That does sound much more assuring.... We can help out anytime we can! That way, we can also spend more time as friends! And then... we can totally.... make more memories.

"It's just a suggestion..." Shirokane-san said.

"But it's a good suggestion! Yuki-san, can we atleast agree on that?" I asked her.

"What am I gonna do with you all.... Okay! I'll have you help out at the shop whenever you can! No complains, you got that?!" Yuki-san declared.

Why is she suddenly acting like a captain???

"Yes!!" We all answered in Unison.

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"Now the only question left is how am I going to take you all home?" Yuki-san said.

It's a little over 11:20 PM now.... and sending us highschool students home at this hour is a little dangerous.

Well....atleast for the girls.

"Ako, your sister said she's going to pick you up." Yuki-san said.

"Onee-chan said so? But what about Rinrin?" Ako-chan asked.

"Let's see.... Rinko, which way is your house from here?" Yuki-san asked.

"It's to the west from this shop..." Shirokane-san replied.

"What about you two?" Yuki-san added.

"South." both Shuuna and Saito said.

"This might be troublesome..." Yuki-san said.

Technically.... Saito doesn't live close to Shuuna I think... but from this shop... they do go the same way but will probably have to separate ways halfway through...

So maybe bringing Yuki-san with them would be the wiser option.

So then...that means it's all but Shirokane-san.

Although I do go the same way as Saito and Shuuna but....

Agghhhh!!! Why am I hesitating?!

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"Yuki-san, please escort Saito and Shuuna home. They probably don't live that far from here either." I said.

"Then what about you?" Yuki-san asked.

"I'll walk Shirokane-san home." I said.

I cannot believe the day that I would say that I'll walk her home would come so early.

"Rinko, you okay with that?" Yuki-san asked her.

"I-It's not a problem!!!" Shirokane-san responded.

"Then it's settled, as soon as Ako-chan gets picked up, we'll all go home." Yuki-san said.

"I'm sorry about this Rinrin!" Ako-chan said.

"It's really okay Ako-chan!" Shirokane-san replied

"But isn't this nice? You get to talk to Anon-kun all the way!" Ako-chan said.

"W-What do you mean?!" Shirokane-san asked.

She's getting a little flustered.

"I know you've been wanting to talk to him personally for a while now. Now's your chance!" Ako-chan said.

"But..." Shirokane-san said.

Our doors swung open, and in comes a pretty red haired lady.

"I'm Udagawa Tomoe, Udagawa Ako's sister. I'm here to pick her up." She said.

"Onee-chan!" Ako-chan said as she ran up to her elder sister.

"Shall we head home now?" Tomoe-san asked.

"Yup!" Ako-chan said.

She takes a second to look around.

"Ah! Rinko is here too! Rinko! want to come with-" Tomoe-san was trying to suggest something but Ako-chan stops her by covering her mouth as if she was gonna kidnap her.

"We really should get going now Onee-chan! Mom and Dad might get worried!" Ako-chan said.

"Ako?! But Rinko-chan-" Tomoe-san said.

And then they just left like that.

Somehow, I feel a little bad for Ako-chan's sister...

"Well then.... let's go, Shuuna, Saito." Yuki-san said.

"You better take care of Rinko-chan you hear me? If anything happens to her..." Shuuna said.

"No need to worry, I wouldn't put her in danger." I said.

"Anon! You can do this!" Saito said.

"What's that supposed to mean?!" I retorted.

And so, we waited until Yuki-san fully closed the shop down before we headed off our own paths.

And this.

Is probably the most nerve wracking part for me.

"Ready to go, Shirokane-san?" I asked her.

"Yes... I'll be in your care..." She said.

And thus begun, a long trip back to her house. And that night was probably one of the longest of nights that I've ever experienced in my entire life.

- To be Continued -

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