Blake was coming back from the office, utterly exhausted after a hectic day. On his way back to his apartment, he spotted a strange sight—
a girl lying flat on her stomach on the sidewalk.
She wore black sunglasses, a large brown trench coat, and a detective cap.
It was Airi—K's older sister.
The moment was awkward. Blake looked left and right, found no one around, and thought it best to avoid the situation. He tried to walk past as if he had seen nothing.
But before he could escape, a loud stomach growl echoed from the girl on the ground.
"Hey," came her muffled voice, still facing down. "Don't you think when you find a stranger in need, you should help them?"
Blake froze in confusion. "I… would have helped if you dressed like a normal girl, not someone who looks like she's stalking people."
"That's rude, you know," she said—right before her stomach growled even louder.
"Well," she continued with a sigh, "I'll give you a second chance. Be nice and ask me, 'Do you need help?'"
Blake blinked and scratched his head. "Do I really need to do this?" he muttered with a nervous laugh.
"Quick, quick!" Airi urged.
"Do you—" Before he could finish, she interrupted with a loud "Yes!"
---
### At the Café
A few minutes later, they were sitting in a nearby café.
"Um haaaa~" Airi sighed in relief as she devoured a slice of cake, eyes sparkling with satisfaction. In front of her, Blake was checking his wallet nervously. She had already finished four slices.
"One more, please!" she said cheerfully, waving at the waiter.
"This café is so good," she said with a grin between bites. "I always wanted to come here with someone, but my busy schedule never allowed it."
"That's nice and all…" Blake said hesitantly. "But do I really need to be here?"
"Of course! Isn't it suspicious if a beautiful girl like me eats alone? Some bad guy might try to hit on me." She pointed her spoon at him dramatically.
Blake glanced at her outfit and muttered under his breath, "Pretty sure your outfit already scares most bad guys away."
"Did you say something?" she asked, tilting her head.
"Of course not," he said quickly, then added, "Don't you think *I* might be a bad guy too?"
Airi laughed so hard she almost dropped her spoon. "With that face? Please. I bet you've never even held a girl's hand."
"Hey! That's rude! I *have* held a girl's hand before," Blake protested.
"Your sister or your mom?" she teased, smirking.
"…Well," he mumbled quietly.
"Ha! I knew it!" she said triumphantly.
After finishing her cakes, they left the café together.
---
### After the Café
Blake walked ahead with his hands in his pockets, while Airi followed behind at a slow pace.
He turned to her, slightly irritated. "Do you need something?"
"No," she replied softly.
He started walking again, only to realize she was still following him. He stopped.
"Then why are you following me?" he asked, raising a brow.
"Umm…" Airi tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Oh right! You might know him! I'm looking for a boy with silver hair and blue eyes. He's cute, charming, dependable, innocent, and always ready to help others. He's my younger brother, and I'm trying to find him."
"Oh, so *that's* why you looked so lost earlier," Blake said. Then he thought for a moment. Silver hair and blue eyes… those features reminded him of K. But K's personality didn't quite match the "innocent" part.
"Well, I don't think I know anyone like that," Blake replied finally.
"That's troublesome," Airi sighed. "I only have half an hour left before I have to leave. I thought I'd find the place he lives by now, but…" She trailed off, then glanced at Blake and grinned.
"Well then! Since you helped me, I'll give you a *reward!*" she declared dramatically, pointing a finger at him.
"A reward? What kind of reward?" Blake asked skeptically.
"You have the privilege of calling me your girlfriend for thirty minutes," she said proudly, striking a pose.
"What?" He blinked.
Before he could object, she grabbed his arm with both hands and started walking ahead with him.
"Hey! I didn't agree to this!"
"Well, it's a motto in my family," she said with a wink. "If someone helps you, you help them back. It keeps the cycle going!"
Blake paused, suddenly remembering something. That line—it was the same one K had said to him when they first met.
---
### Their Half-Hour "Date"
Over the next thirty minutes, Airi dragged Blake from one place to another like an overexcited tourist.
They took selfies in front of the café sign, with Airi striking detective poses while Blake awkwardly tried to smile. She made him stand near a bookstore, a bus stop, and even in front of a vending machine because she found "the lighting perfect."
"Smile more naturally!" she teased. "You look like you're being kidnapped."
"I *am* being kidnapped," Blake muttered under his breath.
They laughed at street performers, shared a small packet of fries from a stall, and even exchanged a few playful jabs about their first impressions.
As time passed, Blake found himself oddly comfortable around her eccentric energy, even if she was a walking chaos storm.
Finally, they stopped at the train station. The board showed her train arriving in a few minutes.
Airi checked the time and smiled. "Well, Mr. Temporary Boyfriend, our thirty minutes are up."
Blake chuckled. "Good. My wallet needs a break."
"Hmph, I didn't force you to buy *all* the cakes," she teased.
As the train arrived, she pulled out her phone. "Before I go, let's exchange contacts. You never know when you'll need my brilliance again."
Blake raised a brow but handed her his phone anyway. They added each other's contacts.
She glanced at the name entry. "Blake, huh? Nice and simple."
"And you're… Airi, right?"
"Detective Airi," she corrected proudly with a wink. "Don't forget the title."
The train doors opened. She stepped in, waving as the doors began to close.
"Bye, rookie boyfriend!" she called, grinning widely.
Blake stood on the platform, shaking his head with a faint smile. "If K really had a sister like her, life would be a constant struggle for him."