"Huff~"
After walking off the pedestrian path, Shoko sighed in relief, gently patting her chest, then looked at Haruto and asked curiously, "Kuromori-kun, was what those people just said true?"
It might be true, or it might be false.
After all, it's news from the internet, and its authenticity is still debated. However, there might indeed be some abnormal situations outside Chiba City.
While talking with Shoko and practicing her speaking skills, Haruto kept his ear on the sounds around them.
This place was still within Chiba City, so unusual situations basically wouldn't happen here.
These anomalies actually came from outside Chiba City.
Some had noticed them and wanted to know the truth; others still found it hard to believe, and some were skeptical, simply going with the flow.
The oddity problems had disappeared for a while, but new issues in the world had started to arise again.
The gods had vanished, spiritual power was gone, and a certain balance had been disturbed.
However, that balance hadn't been completely destroyed.
So, it wasn't a major issue yet.
But what was the reason behind this?
Haruto looked in a particular direction.
Maybe he should go take a look this time?
❀❀❀
Time passed.
In the afternoon, Haruto escorted Shoko home, greeted Nishinomiya's mother, then said goodbye and left.
After walking a bit away, Haruto sensed something. Looking back, he saw Shoko standing near the window on the second floor, watching him.
Shoko paused for a moment, then showed a calm and gentle smile, raised her hand and waved it softly, then, without realizing it, lowered her gaze.
Shoko noticed that Haruto seemed a bit off today and was always looking elsewhere.
He seemed to be thinking about something on his own.
Was it because she was too boring?
Because she couldn't even speak properly, and she got strange looks from others.
"Shoko."
"Eh-?"
The sudden voice from behind startled Shoko. She was about to scream instinctively, but the next moment, a hand wrapped around her waist from behind, and at the same time, another hand covered her mouth.
Shoko tensed up, her eyes wide, and turned around in disbelief.
'Kuromori-kun? Wasn't he already gone?'
When Shoko regained her senses, she felt a large hand on her waist and a warm chest, and her heartbeat suddenly raced.
'Kuromori-kun suddenly came back and hugged me. There's no one else in the room now. Yuzuru is taking a bath, which will take at least half an hour. Mom won't come up unless something's wrong.'
Seeing Shoko's cheeks suddenly flush, Haruto coughed lightly and said, "Sorry, I suddenly forgot something, so I came back. I didn't scare you, did I?"
Shoko quickly shook her head.
At first, she was very startled, but after realizing it was Haruto, she actually relaxed and even felt a bit pleasantly surprised.
'But, what did Kuromori-kun forget?'
Shoko's breathing was irregular, as the hand on her waist pressed against her lower abdomen. The warmth continued to spread through her clothes, gradually making her legs weak.
"Shoko, do you remember the place with the red moon you visited last time?"
"..."
Of course, Shoko remembered.
At that time, she accidentally ended up in a strange place. There was no one, it was very cold, there were city ruins, but it was deathly silent.
It seemed like it was the only place left in the world.
The feelings she had back then would never be forgotten for her entire life.
Because when she wanted to give up, at that moment, after Haruto found her, her heart was truly touched.
Because Haruto cared about her.
Because Haruto wouldn't abandon her.
Shoko turned around, raised her face, and looked at him without blinking with a pair of beautiful eyes that seemed veiled by a layer of mist.
"Yes, I will never forget that for as long as I live."
Shoko's voice was clear and soft, incredibly pleasant to hear.
Haruto looked directly into her eyes and said, "So, if you get lost again in the future, can I add a buff to help you?"
Shoko didn't understand what a buff was, but she understood his concern, so she nodded seriously.
"Then I'm here."
Now that Shoko agreed, Haruto didn't hesitate any longer.
He lowered his head, softly biting the girl's glossy pink lips as Shoko's eyes widened in surprise.
But that wasn't enough.
Haruto lifted his head, looking at Shoko, who stared at him blankly with wide-open eyes, and slightly curved the corners of his mouth.
'Even though your eyes are beautiful, staring at me wide-eyed like that makes me feel a bit guilty, okay?'
However, Haruto was always thick-skinned, so he wasn't fazed at all.
He gently pinched Shoko's waist.
"Mhm~ Kuromori-kun?"
Shoko woke up from her trance and looked at him shyly.
Haruto said firmly: "What we did just now isn't enough. You have to cooperate."
Cooperate?
Shoko's heart pounded, and she glanced at him, then suddenly turned her face away, biting her lip in embarrassment.
Haruto actually wanted her to actively cooperate?
No way she could do something like that!
However, Haruto wasn't lying, as some buffs indeed required cooperation.
Shoko clenched her teeth tightly, making it impossible to continue, so Haruto could only take the initiative to speak.
To apologize?
As long as he had thick skin, he could be confident.
Initially, Haruto planned to take things slowly, like with Nino, Miku, and Itsuki, but the sight of Shoko watching him from the window earlier made him feel he needed to do something.
Haruto said seriously, "Shoko, I swear, everything I said was true. I didn't mean to tease you at all."
Shoko's heart was very tender, especially when facing someone she liked. So, after hesitating for a moment, she blushed and replied softly.
"I-I know."
"Alright, lift your head and look at me, don't hide. Open your mouth first, just like that."
Then Shoko couldn't take it anymore and used the martial art every girl is born with—The Pinch!