[Warning 15+]
Part Two~Save That Old Energy Only For Me, Seriously!~Chapter 58I Can't Even Look!
It was a super polite exchange of greetings.
"Let me introduce myself properly again―I am Nikaidō Haruki."
"Wow, Haruki-chan, you've changed so much I barely recognized you."
"Hehe, well, it has been seven years, after all, Dear Uncle."
"How are Hayato and Himeko doing? They haven't been a pain in the neck for you, have they?"
"We've been getting along just great."
As she said that, Haruki gave a graceful little bow with a soft smile.
Back straight as a board, uniform looking crisp and perfect. It was a flawless performance for the head of the house Haruki was visiting. You could even say she'd done a total 180.
Haruki was playing the "refined lady" card so hard that Himeko was actually sighing in pure admiration.
"...Tsk."
"Since the transfer was so sudden, I was worried if Hayato'd be able to handle school okay, but if Haruki-chan is around, then I guess there's no need to worr... ...Hayato?"
"Hayato-kun is doing a solid job at school, too... ...eh, is something wrong?"
"...It's nothing."
As Nikaidō Haruki, her behavior toward her childhood buddies' dad was definitely a perfect 10/10.
And yet, Hayato just couldn't shake this nasty, cringe-worthy feeling.
Looking at Haruki's face as she peered at Hayato with that nervous look just made that muddy, gross feeling that had been simmering in his gut flare up all over again.
Then, Hayato's mind flashed back to what happened right before Haruki and Himeko got home.
◇◇◇
After school, Hayato had been cornered by Mori Iori and a few other classmates.
"Look, I gotta go prep dinner, okay!"
"Wait, Kirishima, you're the one making dinner?!"
With that, Hayato forcibly broke free from Mori Iori and the others' grip.
Hayato could hear their shocked voices fading away behind him.
(Oh, cr*p!)
For some reason, today was just one of those days where nothing went as planned.
Between Hayato's own stuff and everything else going on around him, nothing was clicking, and he was getting seriously frustrated.
Hayato knew he couldn't stay in this funk.
So, to hit the reset button, Hayato took a different route home and decided to pop into a shop he'd normally never set foot in.
It was a coffee bean shop, but they also carried a ton of different imported food items.
"Spice Fair..."
Lured in by the scent, Hayato wandered over to a section where cumin, turmeric, coriander, and red pepper were all lined up. Next to those spices—with names that sounded vaguely familiar—were recipes for chai and curry.
Hayato remembered the recipe he'd gotten from Murao Saki the other day and started cross-referencing it in his head. It'd take a lot of effort, and honestly, the "bang for your buck" factor was pretty low.
(...I guess it's okay to do stuff like this once in a while.)
Either way, Hayato was just in that kind of mood.
Hayato legit loves to cook.
It started out because Hayato basically had to, but he got totally hooked on that feeling of joy whenever Himeko—whether it was his little sis or anyone, really—told him his food tasted amazing. At this point, it's safe to call it one of his hobbies.
That's why tackling new recipes or cooking methods always got Hayato hyped. Just imagining what kind of faces Haruki and Himeko would make later made him so stoked he couldn't help it.
Naturally, Hayato's steps felt lighter as he headed back to the apartment.
"...Wait, what?"
But that upbeat mood vanished into thin air the second Hayato reached the front door.
The door was unlocked.
Hayato was positive he'd locked it before leaving this morning. Was it a burglar? Or some creep targeting Himeko?
Back in the countryside of Tsukinose, tons of people left their doors wide open, but since moving, Hayato'd heard people say "You'll be in deep trouble if you don't lock up in the city" so many times he was sick of hearing it.
Heart pounding, Hayato stepped into the living room and spotted a middle-aged man sprawled out on the sofa.
"Ugh... ...Oh, I guess I drifted off. It's been a while, Hayato."
"...Dad."
It was Hayato's Dad, Kirishima Kazuyoshi. Hayato let out a massive sigh of relief.
Even though they'd moved in, Kazuyoshi barely ever showed his face at home. It had legit been over a week since Hayato'd seen his Dad.
A crumpled shirt was peeking out of a paper bag by Kazuyoshi's feet; Looks like he just stopped by to grab some fresh clothes.
"Man, if that's laundry, just leave it in the washroom."
"My bad. Hey, should I whip up some dinner for tonight at least?"
"Nah, I'll handle it. Himeko's been on a diet lately, so she's super picky about the menu."
"Oh? Himeko is?"
For whatever reason, Kazuyoshi let out a little chuckle.
Taking a good look at Kazuyoshi, the shirt he was wearing and the suit jacket draped over the sofa were all wrinkled, and he clearly had bags under his eyes.
While keeping an eye on his Dad, Hayato lined up the spices he'd just bought and started taking out some frozen chicken and veggies they'd been gifted.
Ever since they lived in Tsukinose, Kazuyoshi had made a living by fixing, ordering, and researching farm machinery, as well as handling the distribution of seedlings and harvests.
Since requesting a transfer and moving here, research had become Kazuyoshi's main gig. Maybe the lab equipment is just that good or the place is just too comfy, but he ends up crashing there most of the time.
(...Though I heard Dad shows his face at Mom's place almost every day.)
Apparently, Kazuyoshi spent every spare second he had visiting his wife. I mean, it's great that they're still such a lovey-dovey couple, I guess. Even if it does give Hayato some mixed feelings.
Thinking about that, Hayato opened up the recipe he got from Murao Saki. Today's star was a tomato-based curry with a nice acidic kick.
Hayato tossed some ginger and garlic into a greased pot to get the aroma going, then sautéed some minced onions until they were caramelized. After throwing in a bunch of chopped tomatoes and cooking them down, he started prepping the spices he'd picked up earlier. That's when his Dad spoke up like he'd just remembered something.
"Hey... ...So, how's school and life over here treating you two?"
"Eh, it's fine. Himeko and I are doing just great."
"I see..."
It looked like Kazuyoshi was still beating himself up over the sudden transfer. Hayato could see the guilt written all over Kazuyoshi's face.
But honestly, neither Hayato nor Himeko had any complaints about it.
"We actually had an unexpected reunion, too... ...Oh, right, Dad, do you remember Haruki? That kid who used to hang out at our place all the time back then? Well, it seems like she's living on her own now, so she's been grabbing dinner with us lately."
"...Wait, what?"
"...Dad?"
It was just casual small talk.
Hayato figured Haruki would probably swing by for dinner tonight anyway, so he was just giving his Dad a heads-up.
And yet, Kazuyoshi looked completely blindsided, his eyes going wide with total shock.
"Are you talking about the Haruki-chan who was staying with Old Lady Nikaidō?"
"Yeah, that Haruki. The one who moved away from Tsukinose when we were kids."
"And you're saying Haruki-chan's all alone right now without her parents or anyone else...?"
"Yeah. It was a standalone house, but Haruki said she was living by herself."
"―That brat!"
"―!?"
That was one loud voice.
A voice just dripping with pure rage.
Hayato could hear his Dad grinding his teeth as he aggressively scratched his head.
Hayato had no idea what was going on.
But, something did click in Hayato's mind.
(Does Dad actually know why Haruki was in Tsukinose back then...?)
Tsukinose is a tiny countryside. A mountain settlement with only about a thousand-something people. It made sense that Kazuyoshi would know the ins and outs of the residents' business.
Come to think of it, there are a million things Hayato doesn't know about Haruki.
Hayato didn't care when they were kids, but looking back now, a lot of stuff feels pretty off.
Hayato'd never even seen Haruki's parents' faces, and they never showed up at the elementary school either.
Hayato doesn't know why Haruki left Tsukinose, or why she's living all by herself now.
And apparently, one of those reasons was something Hayato's Dad—and the other adults back in Tsukinose—already knew.
—I want to know.
But the second that thought crossed Hayato's mind, he also realized that digging into it would be like stomping all over a part of Haruki's life that she probably wanted to keep private.
"...Cr*p!"
Hayato aggressively scratched his head, then tossed the spices he'd prepped along with the rest of the veggies and chicken into the tomatoes, which had finally cooked down.
"Hayato?"
Hayato's voice must've been pretty d*mn loud.
His Dad peered over at Hayato with a puzzled look on his face.
"Wh—"
Hayato was just about to ask, 'Why is Haruki—' when the image of Haruki from that day flashed through his mind.
'And here I am, being such a good girl and waiting, you know!'
Looking back now, those words were definitely what flipped a switch inside Hayato regarding how he felt about Haruki.
If Hayato hadn't heard them, he totally would've grilled his Dad for every little detail about Haruki just to satisfy his own curiosity.
But now—
"—Oh, never mind. I just realized I forgot to buy the yogurt for the finishing touch. I'll just ask Himeko to grab some."
"I see."
Hayato couldn't ask about this without Haruki's okay. With that thought in mind, he brushed everything else off.
Then, Hayato put the lid on and let the curry simmer. It needed time. The finishing touches could wait until the very end.
While trying to talk himself into it, Hayato couldn't help but let out a little laugh.
Still, there was just one thing Hayato couldn't get off his mind.
"Dad, Haru—"
"Keep being good friends with Haruki-chan, Hayato."
"—Oh, got it!"
That concern was cleared up in an instant.
It looked like for Hayato's Dad, Haruki wasn't some unwanted guest or anything like that.
There was zero problem with Haruki coming over—and knowing just that was enough for Hayato for now.
◇◇◇
"Feel free to drop by anytime from now on. I'm counting on you to look after Hayato and Himeko."
"Of course. Thank you for having me."
And that's exactly why Hayato hated the way Haruki was acting.
Even though there was absolutely nothing to worry about here, seeing Haruki put on such a front was just plain irritating to Hayato.
"Ugh, that's it!"
That was the last straw for Hayato. He just wanted to break through that "Nikaidō Haruki" act she was pulling, just like at school. He didn't give a d*mn if his Dad or his little sis were right there watching—
"Ha! What's with the whole 'refined lady' act, huh?!"
"Mya?! Mya-?!"
"H-Hayato?!"
"Big Bro?!"
Hayato grabbed Haruki's nose and gave it a hard tug, then started stretching both of her cheeks with his hands.
And then, Hayato just burst out laughing at the sight of Haruki standing there, all flustered with her eyes welling up.
Author's Notes:
＊Super Important Announcement＊
Yo, your author here is a "Warrior of Light."
A massive update just dropped yesterday.
So, I gotta go on an adventure to save the world, ya know?
Even if the next chapter update ends up being a little late,
You guys better find it in your hearts to forgive me. Alright?
If any of you readers out there are fellow Warriors of Light,
Let's pla— I mean, let's fight together.
If you spot a Miqo'te named Hibari in the Mana DC.
Who says "Meow" as a greeting,
That's probably me.
Meow.
TL Note:
To give you the lowdown on the Author's "secret life," here's what all that gamer jargon actually means:
• Warrior of Light (Hikari no Senshi): This is the official title for the player's character in the MMORPG Final Fantasy XIV (FFXIV). When the Author says they are a Warrior of Light, they're basically saying they are a hardcore FFXIV player.
• The Big Update: The Author is referring to a major patch or a new expansion drop in the game. In the MMO world, a "major update" usually means hundreds of hours of new content, raids, and story quests—hence why they're warning you that the next chapter might be delayed.
• Mana DC: This stands for the Mana Data Center, which is one of the most popular Japanese server clusters in FFXIV.
• Miqo'te (Mikotte): This is a playable race in the game that looks like humans with cat ears and tails. It's a fan-favorite race, which explains why the Author ends the note with "Nyaan" (Meow).
• Hibari: This is the Author's in-game username. They're basically inviting any fans who play on the same server to come say hi (or "Meow") if they run into each other while "saving the world."
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:
It was a super polite exchange of greetings.
"Let me introduce myself properly again―I am Nikaidō Haruki."
"Wow, Haruki-chan, you've changed so much I barely recognized you."
"Hehe, well, it has been seven years, after all, Dear Uncle."
"How are Hayato and Himeko doing? They haven't been a pain in the neck for you, have they?"
"We've been getting along just great."
As she said that, Haruki gave a graceful little bow with a soft smile.
Back straight as a board, uniform looking crisp and perfect. It was a flawless performance for the head of the house Haruki was visiting. You could even say she'd done a total 180.
Haruki was playing the "refined lady" card so hard that Himeko was actually sighing in pure admiration.
"...Tsk."
"Since the transfer was so sudden, I was worried if Hayato'd be able to handle school okay, but if Haruki-chan is around, then I guess there's no need to worr... ...Hayato?"
"Hayato-kun is doing a solid job at school, too... ...eh, is something wrong?"
"...It's nothing."
As Nikaidō Haruki, her behavior toward her childhood buddies' dad was definitely a perfect 10/10.
And yet, Hayato just couldn't shake this nasty, cringe-worthy feeling.
Looking at Haruki's face as she peered at Hayato with that nervous look just made that muddy, gross feeling that had been simmering in his gut flare up all over again.
Then, Hayato's mind flashed back to what happened right before Haruki and Himeko got home.
◇◇◇
After school, Hayato had been cornered by Mori Iori and a few other classmates.
"Look, I gotta go prep dinner, okay!"
"Wait, Kirishima, you're the one making dinner?!"
With that, Hayato forcibly broke free from Mori Iori and the others' grip.
Hayato could hear their shocked voices fading away behind him.
(Oh, cr*p!)
For some reason, today was just one of those days where nothing went as planned.
Between Hayato's own stuff and everything else going on around him, nothing was clicking, and he was getting seriously frustrated.
Hayato knew he couldn't stay in this funk.
So, to hit the reset button, Hayato took a different route home and decided to pop into a shop he'd normally never set foot in.
It was a coffee bean shop, but they also carried a ton of different imported food items.
"Spice Fair..."
Lured in by the scent, Hayato wandered over to a section where cumin, turmeric, coriander, and red pepper were all lined up. Next to those spices—with names that sounded vaguely familiar—were recipes for chai and curry.
Hayato remembered the recipe he'd gotten from Murao Saki the other day and started cross-referencing it in his head. It'd take a lot of effort, and honestly, the "bang for your buck" factor was pretty low.
(...I guess it's okay to do stuff like this once in a while.)
Either way, Hayato was just in that kind of mood.
Hayato legit loves to cook.
It started out because Hayato basically had to, but he got totally hooked on that feeling of joy whenever Himeko—whether it was his little sis or anyone, really—told him his food tasted amazing. At this point, it's safe to call it one of his hobbies.
That's why tackling new recipes or cooking methods always got Hayato hyped. Just imagining what kind of faces Haruki and Himeko would make later made him so stoked he couldn't help it.
Naturally, Hayato's steps felt lighter as he headed back to the apartment.
"...Wait, what?"
But that upbeat mood vanished into thin air the second Hayato reached the front door.
The door was unlocked.
Hayato was positive he'd locked it before leaving this morning. Was it a burglar? Or some creep targeting Himeko?
Back in the countryside of Tsukinose, tons of people left their doors wide open, but since moving, Hayato'd heard people say "You'll be in deep trouble if you don't lock up in the city" so many times he was sick of hearing it.
Heart pounding, Hayato stepped into the living room and spotted a middle-aged man sprawled out on the sofa.
"Ugh... ...Oh, I guess I drifted off. It's been a while, Hayato."
"...Dad."
It was Hayato's Dad, Kirishima Kazuyoshi. Hayato let out a massive sigh of relief.
Even though they'd moved in, Kazuyoshi barely ever showed his face at home. It had legit been over a week since Hayato'd seen his Dad.
A crumpled shirt was peeking out of a paper bag by Kazuyoshi's feet; Looks like he just stopped by to grab some fresh clothes.
"Man, if that's laundry, just leave it in the washroom."
"My bad. Hey, should I whip up some dinner for tonight at least?"
"Nah, I'll handle it. Himeko's been on a diet lately, so she's super picky about the menu."
"Oh? Himeko is?"
For whatever reason, Kazuyoshi let out a little chuckle.
Taking a good look at Kazuyoshi, the shirt he was wearing and the suit jacket draped over the sofa were all wrinkled, and he clearly had bags under his eyes.
While keeping an eye on his Dad, Hayato lined up the spices he'd just bought and started taking out some frozen chicken and veggies they'd been gifted.
Ever since they lived in Tsukinose, Kazuyoshi had made a living by fixing, ordering, and researching farm machinery, as well as handling the distribution of seedlings and harvests.
Since requesting a transfer and moving here, research had become Kazuyoshi's main gig. Maybe the lab equipment is just that good or the place is just too comfy, but he ends up crashing there most of the time.
(...Though I heard Dad shows his face at Mom's place almost every day.)
Apparently, Kazuyoshi spent every spare second he had visiting his wife. I mean, it's great that they're still such a lovey-dovey couple, I guess. Even if it does give Hayato some mixed feelings.
Thinking about that, Hayato opened up the recipe he got from Murao Saki. Today's star was a tomato-based curry with a nice acidic kick.
Hayato tossed some ginger and garlic into a greased pot to get the aroma going, then sautéed some minced onions until they were caramelized. After throwing in a bunch of chopped tomatoes and cooking them down, he started prepping the spices he'd picked up earlier. That's when his Dad spoke up like he'd just remembered something.
"Hey... ...So, how's school and life over here treating you two?"
"Eh, it's fine. Himeko and I are doing just great."
"I see..."
It looked like Kazuyoshi was still beating himself up over the sudden transfer. Hayato could see the guilt written all over Kazuyoshi's face.
But honestly, neither Hayato nor Himeko had any complaints about it.
"We actually had an unexpected reunion, too... ...Oh, right, Dad, do you remember Haruki? That kid who used to hang out at our place all the time back then? Well, it seems like she's living on her own now, so she's been grabbing dinner with us lately."
"...Wait, what?"
"...Dad?"
It was just casual small talk.
Hayato figured Haruki would probably swing by for dinner tonight anyway, so he was just giving his Dad a heads-up.
And yet, Kazuyoshi looked completely blindsided, his eyes going wide with total shock.
"Are you talking about the Haruki-chan who was staying with Old Lady Nikaidō?"
"Yeah, that Haruki. The one who moved away from Tsukinose when we were kids."
"And you're saying Haruki-chan's all alone right now without her parents or anyone else...?"
"Yeah. It was a standalone house, but Haruki said she was living by herself."
"―That brat!"
"―!?"
That was one loud voice.
A voice just dripping with pure rage.
Hayato could hear his Dad grinding his teeth as he aggressively scratched his head.
Hayato had no idea what was going on.
But, something did click in Hayato's mind.
(Does Dad actually know why Haruki was in Tsukinose back then...?)
Tsukinose is a tiny countryside. A mountain settlement with only about a thousand-something people. It made sense that Kazuyoshi would know the ins and outs of the residents' business.
Come to think of it, there are a million things Hayato doesn't know about Haruki.
Hayato didn't care when they were kids, but looking back now, a lot of stuff feels pretty off.
Hayato'd never even seen Haruki's parents' faces, and they never showed up at the elementary school either.
Hayato doesn't know why Haruki left Tsukinose, or why she's living all by herself now.
And apparently, one of those reasons was something Hayato's Dad—and the other adults back in Tsukinose—already knew.
—I want to know.
But the second that thought crossed Hayato's mind, he also realized that digging into it would be like stomping all over a part of Haruki's life that she probably wanted to keep private.
"...Cr*p!"
Hayato aggressively scratched his head, then tossed the spices he'd prepped along with the rest of the veggies and chicken into the tomatoes, which had finally cooked down.
"Hayato?"
Hayato's voice must've been pretty d*mn loud.
His Dad peered over at Hayato with a puzzled look on his face.
"Wh—"
Hayato was just about to ask, 'Why is Haruki—' when the image of Haruki from that day flashed through his mind.
'And here I am, being such a good girl and waiting, you know!'
Looking back now, those words were definitely what flipped a switch inside Hayato regarding how he felt about Haruki.
If Hayato hadn't heard them, he totally would've grilled his Dad for every little detail about Haruki just to satisfy his own curiosity.
But now—
"—Oh, never mind. I just realized I forgot to buy the yogurt for the finishing touch. I'll just ask Himeko to grab some."
"I see."
Hayato couldn't ask about this without Haruki's okay. With that thought in mind, he brushed everything else off.
Then, Hayato put the lid on and let the curry simmer. It needed time. The finishing touches could wait until the very end.
While trying to talk himself into it, Hayato couldn't help but let out a little laugh.
Still, there was just one thing Hayato couldn't get off his mind.
"Dad, Haru—"
"Keep being good friends with Haruki-chan, Hayato."
"—Oh, got it!"
That concern was cleared up in an instant.
It looked like for Hayato's Dad, Haruki wasn't some unwanted guest or anything like that.
There was zero problem with Haruki coming over—and knowing just that was enough for Hayato for now.
◇◇◇
"Feel free to drop by anytime from now on. I'm counting on you to look after Hayato and Himeko."
"Of course. Thank you for having me."
And that's exactly why Hayato hated the way Haruki was acting.
Even though there was absolutely nothing to worry about here, seeing Haruki put on such a front was just plain irritating to Hayato.
"Ugh, that's it!"
That was the last straw for Hayato. He just wanted to break through that "Nikaidō Haruki" act she was pulling, just like at school. He didn't give a d*mn if his Dad or his little sis were right there watching—
"Ha! What's with the whole 'refined lady' act, huh?!"
"Mya?! Mya-?!"
"H-Hayato?!"
"Big Bro?!"
Hayato grabbed Haruki's nose and gave it a hard tug, then started stretching both of her cheeks with his hands.
And then, Hayato just burst out laughing at the sight of Haruki standing there, all flustered with her eyes welling up.
Author's Notes:
＊Super Important Announcement＊
Yo, your author here is a "Warrior of Light."
A massive update just dropped yesterday.
So, I gotta go on an adventure to save the world, ya know?
Even if the next chapter update ends up being a little late,
You guys better find it in your hearts to forgive me. Alright?
If any of you readers out there are fellow Warriors of Light,
Let's pla— I mean, let's fight together.
If you spot a Miqo'te named Hibari in the Mana DC.
Who says "Meow" as a greeting,
That's probably me.
Meow.
TL Note:
To give you the lowdown on the Author's "secret life," here's what all that gamer jargon actually means:
• Warrior of Light (Hikari no Senshi): This is the official title for the player's character in the MMORPG Final Fantasy XIV (FFXIV). When the Author says they are a Warrior of Light, they're basically saying they are a hardcore FFXIV player.
• The Big Update: The Author is referring to a major patch or a new expansion drop in the game. In the MMO world, a "major update" usually means hundreds of hours of new content, raids, and story quests—hence why they're warning you that the next chapter might be delayed.
• Mana DC: This stands for the Mana Data Center, which is one of the most popular Japanese server clusters in FFXIV.
• Miqo'te (Mikotte): This is a playable race in the game that looks like humans with cat ears and tails. It's a fan-favorite race, which explains why the Author ends the note with "Nyaan" (Meow).
• Hibari: This is the Author's in-game username. They're basically inviting any fans who play on the same server to come say hi (or "Meow") if they run into each other while "saving the world."
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: