[Warning 15+]
Author's Note:
After getting some feedback in the comments, I went ahead and added an explanation about the "debts" between Hayato and Haruki to Chapter 5.
It's not something you absolutely have to read, but I think it'll help you get a better handle on the story and make it more interesting.
Updated on June 17, Year 2 of Reiwa (2020), PM.
Part One
~She Only Acts Like Her Old Self When She's with Me... Wait, Hold Up!~Chapter 13I'm No Match for You
Lunch break. At their usual secret base.
Haruki was sporting a smug look, bragging about her performance in the basketball game.
"So, what'd ya think of my big plays? I’m pretty legit, right!"
"…Yeah, sure."
In response, Hayato just wore a sour expression, acting like he was barely even listening.
Truth is, Haruki had been watching Hayato closely when he was getting clowned by all those feints and techniques during soccer. Because of that, she figured he was just acting salty because he was frustrated, which only made her even more full of herself and smug.
But Hayato's situation was totally different. Every time something reminded him of what happened earlier, he felt like he was about to start seeing Haruki as an actual girl.
"So."
"So?"
"How'd the game go? I didn't stick around to see the end."
"It was close, but we lost. Which team were you rooting for, anyway?"
"…"
"…"
Haruki answered Hayato's question with another question. With that mischievous look on her face, it was obvious she was just messing with him for kicks.
Since she was probably still burning up from P.E., Haruki had ditched her socks and even her summer knit sweater. She'd even loosened the collar of her blouse and was fanning herself with her hands to get some air in there.
In a way, Haruki looked pretty provocative, but at the same time, she looked so messy that she couldn't show herself like that to anyone else. This was a side of her she only showed to Hayato.
(Well, that's Haruki for ya.)
Thinking that made Hayato feel like an idiot for being so worked up.
The frown on Hayato's face finally started to fade.
"Hey, are you even listening?"
"Yeah, yeah, I give up. I lose. I'm no match for you, Haruki."
"Oh, finally admitting it, huh? So, I guess that means you owe me one debt, right?"
"What kind of debt is that supposed to be?"
"A bet on who hyped up the crowd the most?"
"Hyped them up? …Man, you're quite a performer, aren't you."
"…A performer, huh."
"…Haruki?"
Suddenly, the air around Haruki shifted.
The playful lightness from just a moment ago vanished, replaced by a heavy, somber atmosphere.
Even though Haruki still had a smile on her face, she looked distressed, as if she were holding back some kind of pain. It was the kind of look that made your heart ache just by seeing it.
Hayato had no idea how it had come to this. But the fact was, he realized he'd just stepped on a massive landmine, and he was totally rattled.
"…You know, Hayato, you're completely different from me."
"Whoa, wait, Haruki!?"
Before Hayato knew it, the look in Haruki's eyes changed, and she started crawling toward him on all fours like a predator stalking its prey.
Then, Haruki pressed her hand against Hayato's chest and began moving her fingers suggestively, as if she were checking for something.
"It's so firm right here… …Is this muscle? Do you work out? Or is it just because you're a boy? You didn't used to be that much different from me back in the day."
"S-Stop it, Haruki…!"
"Why?"
"What do you mean 'Why?'?! Just stop it already…!"
Hayato's face turned beet red thanks to Haruki's fingertips.
Those supple, soft fingers moved independently, almost like they had a mind of their own, tracing Hayato's chest and occasionally slipping inside his shirt to brush against his bare skin.
There was no way Hayato could hold out against the strange, new sensations being triggered by his childhood buddy's touch.
"That tickles, cut it out!"
"Ah!"
Hayato forcibly pulled himself away from Haruki, glaring at her resentfully with tears pricking at the corners of his eyes.
As for Haruki, after blinking a couple of times in surprise, she suddenly burst out laughing.
"Aha, my bad, my bad! Was it really that tickly?"
"Give me a break already."
"But, you know… …Hayato, what do you think about me acting like this and fooling everyone?"
"Nothing much. I just think, 'Well, that's just Haruki for ya.'"
"…I see."
Squinting her eyes, Haruki pulled out her lunch as if the conversation was officially over.
It was Haruki's usual jelly drink, and today it looked like she had an onigiri too. Seems like she rotates between that and sandwiches.
Following suit, Hayato pulled out his own lunchbox.
"Oh, right. To make it up to you, want a bite? You want some of this jelly drink? Or maybe the onigiri?"
"Nah, I'm good, I got my own. You're always drinking that stuff, aren't you, Haruki?"
"Well, it's an easy way to get some nutrients~"
"From a convenience store?"
"Yeah, I stop by every morning. Now that I think about it, Hayato, you always bring a lunchbox… …wait, whoa, what is that?!"
"What do you mean 'that'… …it's just a rice croquette."
Inside Hayato's lunchbox, four rice croquettes—each about the size of a fist—sat prominently. There weren't any other side dishes, so it was no wonder Haruki was shocked. However, they definitely looked like they'd hit the spot.
Hayato'd prepped these the night before since he knew they had P.E. today.
Hayato'd sautéed minced onions, eggplant, and bite-sized pieces of bacon, then tossed in some leftover cold rice and seasoned it with salt, pepper, and ketchup. Using plastic wrap, he molded them into shape, making sure to stuff some cheese in the middle.
After coating them in flour, beaten egg, and breadcrumbs, Hayato rolled them around in a frying pan with just enough oil to cover them until they were done.
By the way, Himeko had chewed Hayato out for it, saying, "Fried rice?! Think of the calories! Are you trying to make me fat, Big Bro?!" But even though she complained, she still managed to snag three of them for herself.
"Wanna trade half that onigiri for one?"
"For real?!"
"Here."
"Alright, me too then."
As soon as Hayato offered the rice croquette on the lid of his lunch box, Hayato stuffed the onigiri into the empty space in exchange.
"Oh, wait—the chopsticks."
"It's fine, I'll just use my hands… ...Mmm~~, so good! The bold seasoning is exactly what we needed after P.E., and the cheese is killer! Where'd you get these? Are they frozen?"
"I made 'em."
"You did, Hayato?!"
"What, you surprised?"
"Yeah…"
With that shocked look on her face again, Haruki stared intently at Hayato. Her eyes looked like she was having a hard time wrapping her head around it.
"Wait, so have you been the one making all your lunches this whole time?"
"Yeah, that's me."
"…Man, seven years really is a long time, isn't it?"
"Haruki—"
Haruki muttered those words with a smile that looked somewhat troubled.
Hayato tried to find something to say to Haruki, but— —the words just wouldn't come, and he felt his breath hitch in his throat.
"Anyway, let's hurry up and eat. Lunch break is almost over."
"Yeah, you're right…"
But that only lasted for a second; Haruki immediately snapped back to her usual mischievous, charming smile.
Something was gnawing at Hayato's heart, and to cover it up, he glanced out the window.
The early summer sky was a deep, brilliant blue—so perfect it was actually kind of annoying.
TL: Reeze27
ED: Reeze27
PR: Reeze27
If you like our work, please consider supporting us on Ko-fi. 🙏
Support Us: https://ko-fi.com/ninjacross
Donations are very much appreciated.
Your donations really support us to finish this novel from here until the end, so please consider to support us.
Follow Our Official WhatsApp Channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaRa6nHCsU9OAB0U370F
Read in other languages: