"Hyaa~"
Hearing this adorable cry, Haruto's gaze softened a bit.
Because Yukino had just made such a cute sound!
Yukino looked at him shyly and said, "Kuromori-kun, what are you doing?"
Haruto put on a serious face: "My hand just itched, is there a problem?"
Seeing his confident look, Yukino looked at him in disbelief.
Suddenly, he poked her waist, but Haruto confidently claimed it was because his hand itched.
This guy really made her angry!
Yukino glared at him and turned away.
She wasn't naive or someone with low emotional intelligence.
Yukino also knew why he had suddenly poked her.
Sometimes, when a friend is in trouble, it's natural to step forward and help without being overly polite.
Because being too polite might seem a bit rude.
Maybe that's what Haruto thought, right?
Yukino calmed down, worry on her face, and said, "Kuromori-kun, won't this get you in trouble?"
Haruto shook his head: "It won't be a problem."
The Yukinoshita family could hardly be considered prominent.
To have a force troubling them would surely not be simple.
This would be a huge issue for anyone, even like a hot potato.
The problem might not get resolved but would certainly be humiliating!
But it was nothing to Haruto.
And Yukino wasn't just a familiar face but a slightly interesting girl with whom he had a good relationship.
So, it was just a favor. Though it might create a debt, it was really insignificant.
Haruto carefully recalled that their relationship hadn't been good initially.
But since he first helped Yukino, she rarely spoke harshly to him, and their relationship had reached a friendly level.
What truly changed their relationship was one night when Yukino encountered an Onmyoji and was in danger.
It was quite a coincidence. When Yukino pulled out her phone, she happened to see Haruto's number.
No need to say the result.
Haruto arrived just in time to help her again.
Due to the intense emotions at that moment and her impulsive reaction, Yukino kissed him on the cheek.
Since then, though nothing major happened between them, they occasionally quarreled, and then he'd eat Yukino's cooking.
But it tasted good.
Haruto looked at the girl in his arms.
"A-Anything wrong?"
Seeing Haruto staring at her, Yukino's body stiffened slightly. Although she pretended to sound calm, her eyes betrayed deep tension and panic.
Haruto averted his gaze and calmly said, "I'm not mad; it's okay to ask for my help. But I have a request, and I hope Yukino-chan can agree to it."
A request?
For some reason, after hearing this, Yukino felt a sigh of relief but also a little disappointment.
Haruto continued, "The request is simple. From now on, my lunch box will be entrusted to you. Remember, no half-hearted effort. Also, I prefer Chinese cuisine."
Seeing Yukino suddenly raise her head and stare blankly, Haruto added, "You didn't think I'd make an outrageous demand, did you? Like…"
"For example, having the super-cute Yukino-chan go home with me, then— Why did you pinch me?!"
Yukino turned her head away calmly, "Sorry, my hand felt itchy."
Haruto suddenly remembered a saying — The path of heaven is reincarnation; no one escapes.
Yukino glanced at him. Sure enough, Haruto didn't disappoint her.
"Kuromori-kun, thank you."
Haruto thought for a moment: "Verbal thanks lack sincerity!"
Yukino bit her lip gently, then lifted herself up and her warm lips touched his cheek.
Though some time had passed, the scene now slightly overlapped with that night.
Haruto continued, "Sorry, I have obsessive-compulsive disorder. If it's asymmetrical, I won't be able to sleep at night."
Yukino: "😐"
Why was he so thick-skinned?
At that moment, Yukino's phone vibrated.
"Sorry."
Seeing the caller ID, Yukino sighed in relief, said something, then stood up and walked aside.
Haruto opened his lunch box and started eating.
He'd glanced at it earlier, and it was the number of Yukino's big sister, Haruno.
So there must have been a change?
On the phone, Haruno's calm voice came through: "Yukino-chan, it's fine."
Yukino was surprised and asked, "Is everything okay?"
"Yeah."
Haruno looked at the blue sky outside the window and sighed softly, trying to keep her tone relaxed.
"It's all right. So, Yukino-chan, please come home tonight."
The call ended.
Yukino clenched her phone tightly and muttered, "It's all right. Is it really all right?"
Hearing this outcome, she should feel relieved or even happy.
But somehow, all she felt was deep unease.
What had happened?
Just as Yukino hesitated and worried, Haruto's voice broke through: "If you want to know what happened, just go ask."
Yukino looked at him: "Go and ask directly?"
"That's right." Haruto patted his side and said, "Come here and eat. Once you're done, I'll go with you."
❀❀❀
Half an hour later, Haruto spoke with Mafuyu, then led Yukino out of Sobu High School.
As soon as they left, a high-end sports car suddenly sped over and stopped next to them.
The window rolled down, and Hiratsuka looked at Yukino, saying calmly, "Yukinoshita, I want to go there too. Let's go together."
As a friend, she couldn't sit idly by after learning Haruno was in danger.
"Thank you, Hiratsuka-sensei."
Yukino said something, then opened the car door and got in, followed by Haruto, but in the next moment, Hiratsuka's voice came: "Kuromori, what do you think you're doing?"