"Miku is terrible at lying."
Yotsuba leaned against the wall, lowered her head, and tapped the ground with her toe. "Miku, don't wait if you're feeling unwell. We all get worried if we can't find you."
Miku pouted and whispered, "Yotsuba, I'm sorry."
Because she wasn't feeling well and her phone battery died, she left without saying goodbye to them, and she didn't think much of it.
She hadn't expected it to make everyone so worried.
Judging by the time, she should have already returned home.
But she didn't. Instead, she came to Haruto's apartment.
"It's fine~"
Yotsuba smiled. "We're all equally important. If something happens again, don't keep it to yourself."
"Actually, Nino was the most worried about you."
Yotsuba added, "Nino didn't go shopping today; she came back really early."
"That's true."
Yotsuba changed the subject, moving closer to Miku with curiosity, her eyes wide. "Miku, tell me right away, why are your lips swollen? Was it really because you ate chili?"
Miku pouted again. "Yotsuba, you're so annoying."
Yotsuba teased, "Clearly, Miku feels guilty. Yesterday, it was Nino, and today it's Miku. What are you hiding?"
Miku tried to act calm and said, "It's nothing. Okay, I'll grab my clothes and take a shower."
As Miku entered her room, Yotsuba raised her chin and tilted her head. "Can eating chili really make your lips swell? At first, I thought Miku was hurt, but I always feel something is off."
"By the way, didn't Kuromori-san say he wanted to punish me? Did he forget?"
She thought for a moment, then quickly shook her head.
"Only an idiot would bring that up. Nino already said Kuromori-san's punishments are terrifying."
Yotsuba's expression dropped, and she mumbled, "I always feel like Miku, Nino, and Kuromori-san are getting closer lately. And it was me who met him first."
❀❀❀
Haruto left the supermarket and walked toward his apartment with the groceries he'd bought.
There was no Nanako or Sora today, so he planned to call Mafuyu for dinner and then tidy up the room.
In exchange, the knee pillow wasn't too expensive, right?
But as Haruto was thinking about this, his phone suddenly vibrated, and it was Mafuyu's number.
Haruto felt uneasy. When he answered, Mafuyu's voice came through, "Haruto-kun, I'm sorry, I might be late getting home today."
"I don't want to hear it!"
Haruto's voice was stern. "I worked hard preparing dinner at home, and I'm just waiting for you to come back."
"If you don't come home today, don't come back at all!"
"Insult!"
Mafuyu said angrily, "I won't talk to you anymore."
Haruto actually sounded like the head of a family, but the two weren't married or in an official relationship yet.
"Mafuyu-chan, I'm sorry!"
Haruto apologized sincerely. "I was just simulating married life. Please don't mind it."
Without thinking, Mafuyu responded, "I won't come home late and make you wait for me."
She suddenly realized that saying this made it seem like she agreed to marry him in the future.
"Insult!"
"That's clearly your fault."
"Wrong choice, stop talking!"
Mafuyu was so upset that she was about to hang up.
"Wait."
Hearing Haruto's voice, Mafuyu paused. "What do you want now?"
"Something serious!"
Haruto said awkwardly, "Did Hiratsuka-sensei ask you to accompany her on another blind date today?"
"Yes." Mafuyu looked a little troubled and said, "I couldn't help it, and I don't know what's going on. Shizuka's mother pressured her, and Shizuka's father was diagnosed with heart disease again, so Shizuka couldn't refuse."
It was really hard for Hiratsuka to get herself married!
However, Haruto could understand Hiratsuka. After all, she was a great woman, but the blind dates she went on weren't always ideal.
The last time, she met a top-tier man who made her really angry.
Moreover, as people age, both mentally and in terms of lifestyle habits, they tend to lean more toward being single.
In other words, the older someone gets, the harder it is to find someone who matches them.
This is why there are so many elderly single men and women.
Some people are just picky, some are overwhelmed by life's pressures, and some get used to living freely on their own.
Hiratsuka, based on her situation, didn't really care about someone's family background, job, etc. She just wanted to find someone she liked and who was pleasant to be with.
Unfortunately, for whatever unlucky reasons, after so many blind dates, Hiratsuka was still stunned that she hadn't met anyone she liked or found pleasing.
And now, with her father diagnosed with heart disease, it was even more stressful.
Haruto sighed and said, "Remember to drink less. I'll come pick you up when it's time."
"Okay."
After ending the call, Haruto continued walking toward his apartment.
When he reached a secluded area where no one was around, he threw the groceries back to the apartment.
It was still early, more than an hour before evening, and Mafuyu was also busy with many things, including accompanying Hiratsuka on her blind date tonight.
So Haruto planned to take a walk.
As he passed a bookstore, he thought for a moment and entered.
He walked past the shelves and stopped at the comic section, his eyes scanning the titles.
"Project Genji comic."
Haruto picked up the comic.
On the cover, there was an image of a woman with long, straight black hair sitting on the floor, and in front of her was a boy. The text next to it wasn't very clear, so he didn't pay much attention to it.
However, the art style was surprisingly beautiful, with no noticeable flaws.
Yes.
It was a doujinshi, and it was also an adaptation of Genji.
Haruto flipped through it casually. He wasn't particularly interested in this, let alone in carrying out any "Genji plans."
Even if he wanted to, he'd start the Genji plan right away.
"Not bad."
Haruto showed a satisfied expression.
Whether it was the beautiful art style or the well-crafted plot, it was all very good.
"I've decided, I'll give this comic to Hiratsuka-sensei as a gift tomorrow."
"Who asked her to drag Mafuyu-chan around all day?"
Haruto left the bookstore, and then a voice called out.
"Kuromori-kun?"
Haruto: "😐"
The last time he bought a doujin, he ran into Nino, and today he met another acquaintance?
Does he have some bad luck attached to him?
"Woof woof~"
A familiar bark was heard.
Yuigahama called out, "Sable, slow down, don't run so fast!"