Chapter 313: Chapter 311: The Night Before School Starts
As a return favor, when Shirakawa Sawahei passed by a beverage shop, he casually bought two cups of iced lemon juice for the two of them to slightly alleviate his guilty feelings for freeloading off Miss Kaori.
"School starts tomorrow, any thoughts, Shirakawa?"
The girl with the delicate features spoke slowly, "Are you planning to choose liberal arts or science?"
"Science, it’s a bit simpler."
Shirakawa Sawahei paused, suddenly remembering the three-party meeting in the second semester of sophomore year. For some Neon high school students who have no home or lost parents, such things are usually glossed over, even omitted altogether in the timelines of their lives.
Although his guardian is his aunt, who had previously visited, Higashino Rin, she lives in a remote village, making it a bit of a hassle to specially come for this...
If only there were a way to settle this issue... it would be best not to trouble Higashino Rin to come over.
"By the way... what subject did Hayakawa choose?"
"Science."
"That’s quite a coincidence."
"Not a coincidence."
The girl glanced at him, her tone clear and cool, "I specifically followed you."
"..."
He met the gaze of the Little Arrogant, noticing that she subtly narrowed her eyes, almost like the dangerous glow a cat’s eyes emit before pouncing on its prey. Unable to resist, he remarked, "Hayakawa really never gives up, huh."
"I’ll take it as a compliment."
"It was a compliment, but you should give up early, Hayakawa."
"Why?"
"Because... you can’t beat me."
Shirakawa Sawahei smiled, not quite sure if he was chuckling at Hayakawa Kashi’s childishness, or at his own similar childishness with Hayakawa Kashi.
"Well, you’re still as confident as ever, Shirakawa. Sometimes I see a shadow of myself in you."
"Same here, I occasionally see myself in you, Hayakawa."
"So, you mean I’m the female version of you, Shirakawa?"
Shirakawa Sawahei pondered for a moment and earnestly replied, "Whether I’d be as cute as you in female attire, I don’t know, but you’d definitely be more handsome than me in male attire."
Miss Kaori slightly turned her head, her beautiful profile clearly illuminated by the street lights at night. She gently pressed her lips together, a subtle charm shimmering in her eyes.
Having spent so much time with Miss Kaori, Shirakawa Sawahei had come to understand some of her little quirks. For instance, at the opening ceremony last semester, when he teased her on the spot, her face wore a faint smile. But in truth, that was the Little Arrogant’s expression of disdain and sarcasm. When she was in a good mood, she’d purse her lips like she did now, reminiscent of the scene at Ocean Park watching the dolphin show.
"Hayakawa seems to be smiling."
"No, it’s just your imagination."
"Is it? I thought my cold joke just now was quite good."
"I take back what I said," the Evil Little Arrogant calmly stated, "What you have isn’t confidence, Shirakawa, it’s childishness."
"In that regard, we’re quite the same."
The two walked down the road for a while before arriving at the spot where the Hayakawa family’s car was parked. After getting in, Miss Kaori nodded slightly at him, and then the window slowly closed, moving out of Shirakawa Sawahei’s sight.
Holding a file folder, he turned and slowly made his way toward the train station. Hayakawa Kashi’s warning was quite helpful. At the very least, it made him vigilant in advance, preventing him from being caught off guard.
Shirakawa Sawahei carefully reflected, and realized that since crossing into this world, he hadn’t offended too many people. The uncle-nephew duo, Oga Masato, was one possible group, but both had been taken care of by the Evil Little Arrogant, and with their status, they couldn’t bypass the Hayakawa family’s scrutiny to harm him...
If it’s not someone I offended...then who could it be? If I were to take the initiative, where should I start?
This might be trickier than expected, as Shirakawa Sawahei pondered for a moment and recalled the Evil Little Arrogant’s words, he couldn’t help but smile.
Within her capabilities, will the Hayakawa family protect him indefinitely...? That’s quite a valuable card...
No wonder he’s the most reliable guy among my study partners, all that music skill experience didn’t go to waste...
This guy, he could show a coquettish side occasionally... Even though it’s just a tiny bit, for Miss Kaori, who’s modeled after Long Aotian, it was extremely rare.
And she even proactively asked me about my subject choice... In Neon anime, isn’t this usually a lovey-dovey scene? How come when it’s Hayakawa Kashi, she asks so naturally, without any of the anticipated shyness and hesitation?
The experience is really lacking. With Miss Kaori, there’s no chance, and I wonder if in my lifetime, I’ll ever get to experience being asked about my subject choice by a cute, shy girl...
Asano Nazuki? Forget about her, knowing her true nature, she’d have nothing to do with the word "cute girl" from then on.
Temporarily setting aside the mysterious forces, Shirakawa Sawahei returned home, casually bringing along some oden.
As expected, the lazy girl was at home, most likely busy playing games, reading manga, or watching anime, relying solely on snacks to fill her stomach.
"Eh? Shirakawa, you’re back!"
"Yeah, brought you something."
"Yum! Shirakawa, you’re the best... How did you guess I didn’t have dinner?"
"Does that even need guessing?"
"Yum... Delicious... Oh right, Shirakawa, about helping me with my summer homework..."
"What summer homework?"
"???"
The lazy girl’s dango suddenly dropped onto the table with disbelief on her face.
"Shirakawa! You flaked on me! Didn’t you say as long as I obediently listen to you and meet all your needs... you’d promise to help me?"
"..."
"Don’t make it sound like some weird movie plot." Shirakawa Sawahei quipped, "I was just scaring you... how much homework do you have left unfinished?"
"I see..." The cute little Ise Yu nodded, relieved, "There’s just a little bit left, just need a bit of help, Shirakawa..."
"Then let’s start in a bit, do you want to take a bath first?"
"Of course! Such an important task definitely calls for a bath first for convenience!"
"Oh, then I’ll wait for you in the room."
"In Shirakawa’s room?"
"Is there a problem?"
"...No... not really, just feels odd not being in my room... Why not we go to my side instead... being alone in an unfamiliar environment with a guy... girls usually feel uneasy..."
"..."
This guy, is it deliberate, intentional, or outright purposeful?
...
"You didn’t do this?"
"Just a little bit..."
"You didn’t even do this???"
"Just accidentally forgot..."
"You???"
"Stop nagging, it’ll make me brain-dead if you continue..."
A whole night passed, aside from the random whimpering of the lazy girl, the last night before school started was extremely quiet...