Chapter 45
Chapter 45
"Jiang Li, I want a skateboard."
That afternoon, Kakayan—perched in front of her laptop binge-watching *Detective Edogawa*—called out without warning.
"No money."
"But it'd be super useful when we go shopping," Kakayan pleaded. "It's way more efficient than walking, and I can hop on the bus with it."
Every time they left the apartment, Jiang Li had to shepherd Kakayan down a long stretch of road just to reach the nearest bus stop. To Jiang Li the walk counted as a light workout; to Kakayan it was torture.
Last time they'd come back from the city, she'd already spent the whole day trudging around the shops. Then, after getting off the bus, she'd still had to haul herself the rest of the way home on foot. Her legs had ached for days. She'd needed several meals and a long stretch of bed-rest to recover.
So now she wanted something that would spare her poor calves.
"In that case, why not just grab a shared-bike?"
"A shared-bike?"
"Yep. A bicycle. Google it."
Jiang Li propped his chin on his hand. Come to think of it, Kakayan had never even touched a bicycle before. A pretty girl learning to ride for the first time sounded like prime video content. With her long legs pumping the pedals, the footage would look amazing. The budget was basically zero—just scan any bike downstairs. Perfect filler for his channel.
"A bicycle..." Kakayan frowned, shaking her head. "But a skateboard's cooler, Jiang Li."
"You only want a skateboard because you've been watching Conan."
Jiang Li's mouth twitched.
"That's not true—what do you take me for..."
Kakayan shot him a sulky glare.
"Really?"
Jiang Li stepped closer, deliberately holding her gaze.
...
Sure enough, Kakayan's brows quivered. She turned her head away, violet eyes sliding to one side.
"Fine. I'll learn the bicycle."
"I figured as much. You're a sly one," Jiang Li drawled. "Dragging out that whole 'more efficient than walking' excuse."
"Look who's talking."
Kakayan turned her face aside with a soft click of her tongue.
...
No sooner said than done. Jiang Li led Kakayan downstairs to hunt for a shared-bike.
They left Fantuan Garden and stepped onto a freshly repaved road, wide and empty, nothing like the cramped lanes of the residential blocks. The wind blew stronger here, but the afternoon sun was bright and the breeze deliciously cool.
"There's one."
"Oh."
Kakayan followed Jiang Li's gaze to a deep-blue bike parked at the curb—two small wheels, a black handlebar, almost cute.
Jiang Li opened his phone and scanned the QR code on the bar. A cheery chime sounded.
—Welcome! Hi-Lo Bike.
Two weeks ago, a freshly isekai'd Kakayan would have clapped both hands over her mouth and demanded to know what kind of steed this was. Now she simply circled the bike twice, studying its frame.
She crouched, poked the saddle, then glanced up. "Jiang Li, is this its mouth...? Sitting on it feels kinda gross..."
"..."
Jiang Li pressed his temples. "Bicycles don't have mouths."
"But I heard it talk. The voice came from right here."
Kakayan inspected the bike again.
"What have you even been learning these past two weeks?"
Jiang Li eyed her.
She tapped a finger to her chin, tilting her head adorably. "Three Kingdoms, Gold Miner, Snake, Detective Conan..."
"All right, enough." Jiang Li lifted a palm. "I'll ride it once, then you copy me."
"Okay..."
He swung onto the bike, kicked up the stand, right foot on the ground, left foot on the pedal. One push, both feet up, legs cycling in rhythm. Fifty meters out, balance steady, he executed a neat turn and coasted back. It had been nearly three years since he'd last ridden, yet his body remembered everything. Once you learned, you never forgot.
"Whoa~"
The wind smacked his face; he felt ridiculously good. As pure transport, a bike was unbeatable: cheap, convenient, zero barrier to entry. Once you hit cruising speed, the rush of slicing through the air beat anything a car could offer. Back in school he'd biked everywhere. Reliving it now made him almost nostalgic.
As the *Initial D* ending track auto-played in his head, he drifted to a stop in front of Kakayan.
"It's easy. Your turn."
"Huh..."
Kakayan gave him a sidelong look. "Didn't expect to see that expression on your face."
"What expression?"
He didn't have a mirror, but he knew he was grinning ear to ear.
"Like some seventeen-year-old guy."
Kakayan tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "It's... it's nice."
"What?"
Her last words had been so soft Jiang Li asked again on instinct.
"Nothing."
She fixed her gaze somewhere in mid-air, then swung onto the bike just like he'd done. Jiang Li snapped a couple of photos—her posture looked surprisingly natural. Next he grabbed two stones to prop his phone on the ground and hit record.
He'd barely pressed start when a shriek tore through the air.
"Wha—ah!"
Kakayan stomped hard; the bike shot forward like a startled horse. For the first few seconds everything looked fine. She'd even begun humming the *Conan* theme.
Then the bike wobbled.
"Jiang Li!"
With a cry, Kakayan toppled sideways onto the concrete.
Jiang Li's heart jumped. He rushed over, shoved the bike aside, and helped her up, frowning as he checked for injuries.
She was dusty but unharmed.
"Warn me before you launch off next time," he scolded.
"Okay..."
"What if you'd broken the bike?"
"Huh?" Kakayan glared, cheeks puffed. "Am I less important than the bike?"
"Yes."