[Warning 15+]
Part Two~Save That Old Energy Only For Me, Seriously!~Chapter 72So, Please Take Good Care of Him
An indescribable awkwardness filled the room.
Even Haruki was acting as quiet as a church mouse, which was totally not like her.
I mean, duh.
When a high school girl—who's supposed to be all shy and sweet—starts spamming the word "Lewd" right in front of her childhood buddies' dad, anyone would be stumped on how to handle that.
"Eh, hey, Dad, what about dinner? I didn't hear you were coming home, but we've got extra."
"In that case, I think I'll have some."
As Kirishima Kazuyoshi took his seat, Hayato gave Haruki a lopsided smile and a little wave like Hayato was saying "my bad," before scurrying off to the kitchen under the pretext of getting dinner ready.
As for Himeko, she practically inhaled her food, and the second she was done, she bolted back to her room.
"Th-Thanks for the meal!"
"Y-You two traitors...!"
Left all alone by her two childhood buddies, Haruki's eyes started to well up. With her face still beet-red, she moped while nibbling on her croquette. The croquette that was supposed to be packed with the sweetness of cabbage and pumpkin somehow tasted a little salty.
Watching Haruki like that, Kirishima Kazuyoshi looked back and forth between her and Hayato in the kitchen, letting out a little chuckle. That only made Haruki's face turn an even deeper shade of red from pure embarrassment.
"Ugh..."
"Haha, sorry about that, Haruki-chan. Honestly, I haven't seen Hayato look like he's having that much fun in a long time."
"…Wait, what?"
That was the last thing Haruki expected to hear.
Caught off guard, Haruki glanced over at the kitchen, but all she saw was Hayato's back as he prepped dinner—a sight she'd been seeing a lot lately. It looked totally normal to her. So, she couldn't help but tilt her head in confusion.
"Here, it's done. Soy sauce, ketchup, whatever—use whatever you like, Dad."
"Thanks. Oh, and about earlier this evening too. Sounds like you dropped everything off at Mom's place in the hospital like a pro. I really appreciate it."
"...The, hospital?"
Haruki's eyes went wide.
This was news to Haruki.
Haruki'd been hanging out at Hayato and Himeko's place for a while now, but Haruki still hadn't met their Mom. It was obvious something was up.
There was no way Haruki wasn't curious. But since Haruki lived alone and had her own complicated feelings about parents, the truth was she couldn't bring herself to pry.
Still, hearing that Haruki was in the hospital was a total curveball.
Haruki looked at Hayato with a face she couldn't hide her shock from, but he just scratched his head awkwardly and looked away.
"...Dad, you back to grab a change of clothes? I left them at the dry cleaners; I'll go pick 'em up."
"Hey, Hayato!"
Once Hayato'd made up an excuse and left like that, it felt wrong to try and force him to stay.
Feeling totally frustrated, Haruki opened her mouth wide and stuffed the rest of the croquette in.
Watching Haruki, Kirishima Kazuyoshi gave a wry smile and shrugged as if to say "My bad." But his eyes narrowed, looking unusually kind.
"Haruki-chan, you're pretty special to Hayato, aren't you?"
"Gwah—?! Cough, cough!"
"Whoa, you okay there?"
Startled by those words, Haruki choked on the croquette she was eating and frantically gulped down some barley tea.
Haruki had no clue what Kazuyoshi meant by that.
But for some reason, Haruki's heart started racing a mile a minute.
Noticing the look on Haruki's face, Kirishima Kazuyoshi's gaze suddenly turned serious as he stared at her.
"Don't you think Hayato is a bit too much of a busybody?"
"Well... ...I do think Hayato's really caring... ...especially when I see how he handles Hime-chan..."
"Hayato ended up with that personality because his Mom collapsed five years ago."
"...Wait, what?"
Haruki caught her breath again. This time, her chest was tightening for a totally different reason.
"I guess Hayato just got anxious if he wasn't doing something. I was tied up taking care of his Mom, and before I knew it, Hayato started looking all stressed out while diving headfirst into chores and looking after Himeko. He even started volunteering to help out the neighbors..."
"Oh, I see..."
Now that Kazuyoshi mentioned it, a few things started to click for Haruki.
Still, to Haruki, she'd just figured, "Oh, I guess that's just how Hayato grew up," so she hadn't really given it much thought.
But hearing it like this from Hayato's Dad, Kirishima Kazuyoshi, Haruki had no idea how to take it.
Ignoring Haruki's inner turmoil, Kirishima Kazuyoshi bowed his head with a dead-serious expression.
"I'm sure the only reason Hayato can show a face like the one he had earlier is because of you, Haruki-chan. So, please, take good care of Hayato from here on out."
"Wha—hold on, I—um, please stop that...!"
Without thinking, Haruki bolted up from her chair with a loud clatter, waving her hands around in a total panic.
Haruki was painfully aware of how much she'd been leaning on Hayato. Lately, it felt like she wasn't just getting help, but was basically a total mooch, which actually kind of frustrated her. That's exactly why she'd been acting the way she had recently.
So, even though Kazuyoshi was bowing and asking Haruki to "take care of Hayato," she felt like she should be the one bowing instead, leaving her completely stumped on what to do.
"I'm home... ...wait, what are you guys even doing?"
"Hayato!"
"Oh, I was just asking Haruki-chan to take good care of you, Hayato."
"...The heck is that supposed to mean?"
Just then, Hayato walked back in.
From Hayato's perspective, he saw his childhood buddy looking like a deer in headlights while his Dad was bowing to her. To Hayato, the whole scene must have looked incredibly bizarre and made zero sense.
Knitting his brows and wondering what on earth was going on, Hayato started stuffing a change of clothes into a paper bag.
"Th-Thanks for the meal! Thanks for everything today!"
Unable to take the awkwardness anymore, Haruki inhaled the rest of her dinner just to play it off.
As Haruki stood up, Hayato set the paper bag down by Kirishima Kazuyoshi's feet like it was no big deal and walked over to Haruki.
"Hayato, make sure you walk Haruki-chan home."
"I know. Haruki, let's go. I'll walk you back."
It was a total routine by now.
"Oh, eh, okay. But hey, if you're busy or whatever, you don't really have to..."
But the second Haruki let those hesitant words slip, Hayato's brows knit together just a tiny bit. At least, that's how it looked to her.
Then, Kirishima Kazuyoshi's words from earlier flashed through Haruki's head.
"...Actually, I think I would like you to walk me home after all."
"Got it. Let me know when you're ready to head out."
With that, Hayato looked a little happy as he reached out and gave Haruki's head a messy little rub, just like he always does with Himeko.
Haruki just stood there and let Hayato do it, a complicated look on her face as she gave him a weak, uncertain smile.
Author's Notes:
\ Meow /
∧_∧
(:<l><l>)
/:::::T
～（::::::|_
TL: Reeze27
ED: Reeze27
PR: Reeze27
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Donations are very much appreciated.
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An indescribable awkwardness filled the room.
Even Haruki was acting as quiet as a church mouse, which was totally not like her.
I mean, duh.
When a high school girl—who's supposed to be all shy and sweet—starts spamming the word "Lewd" right in front of her childhood buddies' dad, anyone would be stumped on how to handle that.
"Eh, hey, Dad, what about dinner? I didn't hear you were coming home, but we've got extra."
"In that case, I think I'll have some."
As Kirishima Kazuyoshi took his seat, Hayato gave Haruki a lopsided smile and a little wave like Hayato was saying "my bad," before scurrying off to the kitchen under the pretext of getting dinner ready.
As for Himeko, she practically inhaled her food, and the second she was done, she bolted back to her room.
"Th-Thanks for the meal!"
"Y-You two traitors...!"
Left all alone by her two childhood buddies, Haruki's eyes started to well up. With her face still beet-red, she moped while nibbling on her croquette. The croquette that was supposed to be packed with the sweetness of cabbage and pumpkin somehow tasted a little salty.
Watching Haruki like that, Kirishima Kazuyoshi looked back and forth between her and Hayato in the kitchen, letting out a little chuckle. That only made Haruki's face turn an even deeper shade of red from pure embarrassment.
"Ugh..."
"Haha, sorry about that, Haruki-chan. Honestly, I haven't seen Hayato look like he's having that much fun in a long time."
"…Wait, what?"
That was the last thing Haruki expected to hear.
Caught off guard, Haruki glanced over at the kitchen, but all she saw was Hayato's back as he prepped dinner—a sight she'd been seeing a lot lately. It looked totally normal to her. So, she couldn't help but tilt her head in confusion.
"Here, it's done. Soy sauce, ketchup, whatever—use whatever you like, Dad."
"Thanks. Oh, and about earlier this evening too. Sounds like you dropped everything off at Mom's place in the hospital like a pro. I really appreciate it."
"...The, hospital?"
Haruki's eyes went wide.
This was news to Haruki.
Haruki'd been hanging out at Hayato and Himeko's place for a while now, but Haruki still hadn't met their Mom. It was obvious something was up.
There was no way Haruki wasn't curious. But since Haruki lived alone and had her own complicated feelings about parents, the truth was she couldn't bring herself to pry.
Still, hearing that Haruki was in the hospital was a total curveball.
Haruki looked at Hayato with a face she couldn't hide her shock from, but he just scratched his head awkwardly and looked away.
"...Dad, you back to grab a change of clothes? I left them at the dry cleaners; I'll go pick 'em up."
"Hey, Hayato!"
Once Hayato'd made up an excuse and left like that, it felt wrong to try and force him to stay.
Feeling totally frustrated, Haruki opened her mouth wide and stuffed the rest of the croquette in.
Watching Haruki, Kirishima Kazuyoshi gave a wry smile and shrugged as if to say "My bad." But his eyes narrowed, looking unusually kind.
"Haruki-chan, you're pretty special to Hayato, aren't you?"
"Gwah—?! Cough, cough!"
"Whoa, you okay there?"
Startled by those words, Haruki choked on the croquette she was eating and frantically gulped down some barley tea.
Haruki had no clue what Kazuyoshi meant by that.
But for some reason, Haruki's heart started racing a mile a minute.
Noticing the look on Haruki's face, Kirishima Kazuyoshi's gaze suddenly turned serious as he stared at her.
"Don't you think Hayato is a bit too much of a busybody?"
"Well... ...I do think Hayato's really caring... ...especially when I see how he handles Hime-chan..."
"Hayato ended up with that personality because his Mom collapsed five years ago."
"...Wait, what?"
Haruki caught her breath again. This time, her chest was tightening for a totally different reason.
"I guess Hayato just got anxious if he wasn't doing something. I was tied up taking care of his Mom, and before I knew it, Hayato started looking all stressed out while diving headfirst into chores and looking after Himeko. He even started volunteering to help out the neighbors..."
"Oh, I see..."
Now that Kazuyoshi mentioned it, a few things started to click for Haruki.
Still, to Haruki, she'd just figured, "Oh, I guess that's just how Hayato grew up," so she hadn't really given it much thought.
But hearing it like this from Hayato's Dad, Kirishima Kazuyoshi, Haruki had no idea how to take it.
Ignoring Haruki's inner turmoil, Kirishima Kazuyoshi bowed his head with a dead-serious expression.
"I'm sure the only reason Hayato can show a face like the one he had earlier is because of you, Haruki-chan. So, please, take good care of Hayato from here on out."
"Wha—hold on, I—um, please stop that...!"
Without thinking, Haruki bolted up from her chair with a loud clatter, waving her hands around in a total panic.
Haruki was painfully aware of how much she'd been leaning on Hayato. Lately, it felt like she wasn't just getting help, but was basically a total mooch, which actually kind of frustrated her. That's exactly why she'd been acting the way she had recently.
So, even though Kazuyoshi was bowing and asking Haruki to "take care of Hayato," she felt like she should be the one bowing instead, leaving her completely stumped on what to do.
"I'm home... ...wait, what are you guys even doing?"
"Hayato!"
"Oh, I was just asking Haruki-chan to take good care of you, Hayato."
"...The heck is that supposed to mean?"
Just then, Hayato walked back in.
From Hayato's perspective, he saw his childhood buddy looking like a deer in headlights while his Dad was bowing to her. To Hayato, the whole scene must have looked incredibly bizarre and made zero sense.
Knitting his brows and wondering what on earth was going on, Hayato started stuffing a change of clothes into a paper bag.
"Th-Thanks for the meal! Thanks for everything today!"
Unable to take the awkwardness anymore, Haruki inhaled the rest of her dinner just to play it off.
As Haruki stood up, Hayato set the paper bag down by Kirishima Kazuyoshi's feet like it was no big deal and walked over to Haruki.
"Hayato, make sure you walk Haruki-chan home."
"I know. Haruki, let's go. I'll walk you back."
It was a total routine by now.
"Oh, eh, okay. But hey, if you're busy or whatever, you don't really have to..."
But the second Haruki let those hesitant words slip, Hayato's brows knit together just a tiny bit. At least, that's how it looked to her.
Then, Kirishima Kazuyoshi's words from earlier flashed through Haruki's head.
"...Actually, I think I would like you to walk me home after all."
"Got it. Let me know when you're ready to head out."
With that, Hayato looked a little happy as he reached out and gave Haruki's head a messy little rub, just like he always does with Himeko.
Haruki just stood there and let Hayato do it, a complicated look on her face as she gave him a weak, uncertain smile.
Author's Notes:
\ Meow /
∧_∧
(:<l><l>)
/:::::T
～（::::::|_
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: