章 55: Chapter 55 - Everyone Here Is Strange
Excited to learn more about the supernatural, Hiratsuka asked, "So where do we need to go for me to join you?"
"Hold on. Give me a minute," Jin replied. He then flew around the neighborhood and used the memory-replacing lighter on anyone nearby who might have witnessed the event.
The moment Jin returned, Hiratsuka warily asked, "What was that about?"
"Needed to instill some alternate memories of the incident. I'm not sure what they'll think happened, so just go along with whatever the neighbors ask you about."
"Is that… okay? To just replace somebody's memories so easily?"
"It is standard procedure for a reason. It'll make more sense once you've seen more."
"...If you say so."
"Anyway, I need to head back to my house to get my body before we go anywhere else. Do you want to meet me over there or somewhere else?"
"I'll just follow you there on my bike."
Shaking his head, Jin replied, "That probably won't be fast enough. Give me your contact info and I'll send you the address."
Eyes widening slightly, Hiratsuka asked, "A motorcycle isn't fast enough? Is that floating board that fast?"
"Faster than a car at least."
"Wow. Alright, then, can I see your phone?"
Jin reached for his pocket. Then, he frowned. His phone was currently unsummoned. Sighing, he summoned it into his hand behind his back before holding it out. Their phones touched and exchanged contacts.
After that, Jin sent her his home address before floating into the sky. She watched him fly away wondering if she would one day be able to do the same. Too excited to wait longer, she sprinted toward her family's garage, hopped on her motorcycle, and sped off into the street. If speed limits were just a suggestion, then it was advice she spit in the face of.
Jin quickly arrived home and entered his body again. Instantly, he felt sore all over. Groaning a little, he sat up and forced himself to stand.
"I didn't realize it was this bad. I should rest until I have to meet Konan later."
Scratching his head, he ambled downstairs. Before he even reached the last stair, he heard tires squealing to a stop outside the house. Pursing his lips, he shook his head and walked toward the front door.
When Jin opened the door, a wild Hiratsuka with messy hair greeted him. Behind him, he heard footsteps running down the stairs as well.
"Did you want to ride on my bike, Hideyoshi-kun?" Hiratsuka asked.
Jin turned his head to look at who was running down the stairs while answering, "Nah. We'll take my dad's spare car."
While he spoke, his mom ran into the room. She halted upon seeing Hiratsuka standing at the front door.
"Eh? Jin? You're home?"
"Yeah. I'm surprised you are, though. Did you leave the tea house early?"
"Yes, but… aren't you the Hiratsuka girl?"
"Um…" Hiratsuka narrowed her eyes and grabbed her chin as though she recognized Jin's mother. Then, her eyes widened, and she replied, "Aren't you the owner of that Tea House my mom goes to all the time?!"
Nodding, Jin's mother answered, "Yes. What brings you here?"
"You two know each other? Small world," Jin mumbled, raising a brow.
"Sort of. We've probably only met a few times at most," Hiratsuka answered.
"That is true. Her mother is one of my most regular customers, though," Jin's mother explained. Then, she narrowed her eyes and asked, "What is going on here? …Are you two dating?"
"No! Absolutely not!" Hiratsuka vehemently denied with a terrified expression.
"She's a new teacher at my school, and I'll be helping her with something for a bit before we go out for dinner, if you don't mind," Jin clarified.
"Oh, I see," Jin's mother said, frowning. Then, she quietly added, "One boy's a philanderer and the other refuses to flirt. Did we do a bad job teaching them about girls?"
Jin raised a brow at his mother's disappointed tone. Then, he waved and said, "I'll be back in a bit."
"Alright. Drive safe… Well, I guess it's fine since you drive like more of an old man than your father."
"..."
Jin shrugged off the comment he knew she didn't mean it as an insult and dragged a slightly blushing Hiratsuka toward the garage.
"Your mother isn't going to misunderstand and get me fired, right?"
"Definitely not. She'd more likely try to set up an arranged marriage between us than try to get you fired."
"..."
Hiratsuka stared holes in Jin's back to the point that he could actually feel her gaze.
"If you actually want to marry a student, then at least wait a year," Jin dully commented in response to her silent contemplation.
"I'm not that desperate!" Hiratsuka retorted.
Jin sidestepped out of the way of her fist. He briefly raised a brow since the punch was quicker than a normal person could achieve.
Not long later, Jin drove toward Urahara's shop. He glanced over at Hiratsuka. She rested her chin on her palm and stared daggers at the passing buildings from the moment they left.
After some time of silence, she offhandedly asked, "You already have your license?"
"First thing I did when I turned eighteen."
"Huh. I'm surprised, considering you seem to ride the train to school."
"My parents tend to keep this car as a spare in case another breaks down, so if I wanted to drive, I'd have to get my own car."
"I see."
The conversation died for a little bit. At one point, Jin parked and fired a Hado #1: Sho at a small hollow before performing a Konso to send the Plus it was attacking to Soul Society. He took the opportunity to explain the process to Hiratsuka and informed her about the existence of Shinigami and Hollows. All of it blew her mind. Afterward, though, her eyes lit up with realization.
"Wait. I just realized, but is this the community service you took time off for?" Hiratsuka asked.
"Well, sort of. It's my part-time job."
"Wow. This is like a shonen."
"Well… I guess you're not totally wrong, but I'd recommend not looking at it through rose-tinted glasses if you don't want to lose an arm or something. Also, we're here."
Jin pulled up and parked in the nearest available spot to Urahara's shop. The two of them exited the car, and Hiratsuka followed him down the alley leading to it. While they walked, a black cat jumped down from a nearby wall onto Jin's head. The appearance of the cat startled Hiratsuka, but Jin didn't even flinch.
"How's it going Yoruichi?"
"Nya."
"You can sense her Reiryoku, right? I plan to take her under my wing so that hollows don't attack her later."
"Hm. In that case, I'll just talk."
"Uweh?! A talking cat?! Cool!"
"You brought a strange one, huh?"
"Everyone here is strange, to be fair."
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