"I refuse."
Haruto grabbed her wrist: "I remember your house is nearby."
Seeing that he wasn't moved, Ayako felt a bit desperate.
Honestly, after acting impulsively, Ayako regretted it, but if she went back like this, it would definitely be embarrassing. Therefore, she initially planned to find a place to stay for the night and then return.
Unexpectedly, not long after she left, she ran into Haruto.
Ayako had planned to go home with Haruto, after all, they were close and he was trustworthy.
Ayako didn't expect to be rejected, especially since he said it so straightforwardly!
She didn't think it was unacceptable. After all, at her age, it was kind of embarrassing not to have a boyfriend.
Every time she interacted with younger sister's friends, they laughed at her.
It was really embarrassing.
In fact, Nanako's older brother was very handsome. Moreover, he also smelled nice. So, she didn't dislike him at all.
After walking past an alley, the two of them arrived at the apartment building in two minutes.
"Ayako!"
At that moment, an anxious voice sounded, and shortly after, a woman who resembled Ayako came running frantically.
Haruto looked at her: "Do you still think your mom doesn't care about you?"
Ayako pursed her lips and unconsciously grabbed her clothes.
Haruto took out a pendant, handed it to her, and said, "This is for you. Don't be so impulsive next time."
"Huh? A birthday gift?"
Ayako didn't refuse, and to her surprise, it was a frog pendant she really liked.
"Thank you, Onii-chan."
Ayako looked at him, and suddenly her heart felt warm. She gazed at Haruto without blinking and suddenly felt her heartbeat quicken.
The girl thought for a moment, then waved: "Onii-chan, please bend down."
"Rejected!" Haruto said expressionlessly, then turned around and left.
Ayako puffed up her cheeks, unconsciously looking at her body, then immediately down at her toes.
The reason? Because her chest was too small!
Ayako lowered her head in frustration and muttered, "That aunt is really in great shape."
"Ayako is obviously super cute!"
"Ayako, are you okay? Who was that boy earlier?"
"He's Ayako's boyfriend!"
"What?"
"Mom, what are you doing?"
"Call the police!"
"I'm an adult already!"
"Since you haven't changed much since middle school, I almost forgot Ayako is nearly an adult."
"Mom!"
Listening to the conversation behind him, Haruto sighed slowly.
These things weren't trivial.
Since they were all close friends, Ayako remained one of Nanako's best friends. Now that they had met, of course, he wouldn't just stand by.
Humans are prone to emotions.
Once you become emotional, you're likely to act impulsively and make decisions you'll regret for the rest of your life.
Even if you regret it the next moment, sometimes you might make mistakes due to so-called "face" and step into a deep abyss!
Hiratsuka patted his shoulder and said with a half-smile: "Kuromori, take note that starting in three years, the maximum penalty could be death~"
'You're overthinking it. Neither Nanako nor Ayako are within my range, okay! They just look a bit younger, but in reality, they're almost at the legal age to marry!' Haruto grumbled in his mind.
Hiratsuka sighed: "At first, I thought she was a girl with a bad reputation online. Fortunately, that wasn't the case. You handled this well."
"But…" Hiratsuka said with a disgusted look in her eyes: "You really hit on girls at every opportunity. If you keep this up, you'll be suspected of harassment!"
Haruto said confidently, "The facts prove that the results are quite good."
"Good?" Hiratsuka gritted her teeth and said, "Believe it or not, I'll call the police!"
Haruto glanced at her: "It feels nice."
Hiratsuka was stunned for a moment, then suddenly a flush appeared on her face. She raised her fist, narrowed her eyes, and looked at him with a smile: "What did you just say?"
"It feels nice."
"You really make me mad!"
"Thanks for the compliment."
She couldn't argue anymore, and threats didn't work.
What could Hiratsuka do?
If she could, she would really pounce and bite him.
But thinking about Mafuyu, Hiratsuka firmly abandoned that plan.
"We're here!"
"Huh? An izakaya?"
"That's right."
Hiratsuka crossed her arms and squinted: "What, are you scared?"
'Believe it or not, I'll convince you soon and take you to a love hotel!'
Haruto raised his eyebrows and followed her.
Since the other party wasn't afraid, what was there to fear?
Turn around and leave?
Impossible.
A real man should move forward bravely!
At this moment, there weren't many people in the izakaya, but it wasn't too empty either.
Most people who chose to drink at an izakaya weren't wealthy. They often drank alone late into the night with a plate of salted peanuts and a few glasses of sake.
Some say there is no hell, but surely there is heaven.
Because this world is hell.
Life is never easy.
Therefore, most of the people drinking late at the izakaya were social animals drowning their sorrows.
Haruto glanced around, then followed Hiratsuka to sit in a corner.
Hiratsuka poured a glass of sake and drank it all in one go. Since she drank too quickly, a drop of the liquid slowly trickled from the corner of her mouth, down her elegant neck, and disappeared into the depths.
"Hoo~"
Hiratsuka put down the cup, wiped the corner of her mouth with the back of her hand indifferently, then looked at Haruto with bright eyes, "You can order a beer or a cup of tea here, do whatever you want."
"I don't want tea." Haruto shook his head, then poured himself a glass of sake and took a sip.
Hiratsuka asked with interest, "Is this your first time drinking? How does it taste?"
"It's quite bland, but it tastes pretty good."
"Even though it's light, it's still alcohol. Just keep drinking." Hiratsuka reminded him.
"I won't get drunk."
Hiratsuka waved her hand: "That's what everyone says before they get drunk."
As she said this, she downed another glass.
Haruto: "😐"
'No wonder you dragged me here, but want me to take you back?'
After thinking about it, Haruto didn't say anything to remind her.
After all, Hiratsuka wasn't a child, and it was just sake. After a few glasses, she wouldn't get drunk and pass out, right?
But...
Haruto soon realized he had overestimated Hiratsuka's drinking capacity.