[Warning 15+]
Part Five
―Even If, I Can't Treat You with That Same Energy Anymore
Chapter 191
We Can't Just Sit Around!
―Even If, I Can't Treat You with That Same Energy Anymore
Chapter 191
We Can't Just Sit Around!
On a Sunday, the city center was bustlin' with crowds headin' out to shop and play.
However, since so many people were headin' toward Shine Spirits City as well, a natural flow formed on the sidewalk in that direction, makin' it easy enough to move around.
"Ema-san, did you two seriously have zero contact before you started datin'!?"
"Well, once you hit upper elementary school, boys and girls rarely interact anymore, right? So because of that, or rather..."
"But still, there had to be somethin' that brought you both super close all at once for you to start dating, right!?"
"Um, well, about that... ...yeah, there was..."
In the middle of all that, Isami Ema was sandwiched between Himeko and Saki, gettin' grilled with questions as if they wouldn't let her escape. Apparently, Saki was just as intensely curious about this kind of topic as Himeko was.
On the other hand, Haruki, who wasn't great with this sort of talk, was watchin' the scene from a bit behind with a troubled smile alongside Hayato and the others.
Every now and then, both Himeko and Saki would look back as if checkin' somethin' durin' their chat.
Whenever their eyes landed on him, Iori would shyly hide behind Hayato and the others' backs, promptin' squeals of "Kya~!" from the girls.
Hayato and the others gave dry, sympathetic laughs toward Iori, whose face was bright red as he tried to make himself small.
Looks like their romantic girl-talk wasn't goin' to cool down anytime soon.
"...Oh."
"...Haruki?"
Just then, Haruki let out a soft murmur. Her voice carried a trace of loneliness.
When Hayato turned a puzzled glance toward Haruki to ask what was wrong, she only then realized she'd let out a sound, her face turnin' awkward as if sayin' 'Oops'.
Knit her brows and hesitating for a split second, Haruki hesitantly pointed toward a certain shop.
"Um, over there."
"Rescue Cat Café Hidamari?"
"Well, it just made me think of Tsukushi-chan..."
"Oh..."
Tsukushi—the kitten found and rescued in the dilapidated Nikaidō Family Storehouse in Tsukinose, in what used to be Haruki's room.
Recallin' the situation back then and seein' Haruki's unexplainable expression, Hayato went quiet too.
Noticin' Hayato's face, Haruki scrambled to slap on a smilin' mask to cover it up—but Hayato instantly jumped in, cuttin' her off with his words before she could.
"That photo of Tsukushi that Saki-san posted in the group chat the other day, with him lyin' flat on his back showin' off his belly, he had such a relaxed face it made you feel happy just lookin' at it, right?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah, Tsukushi-chan was super cute. Apparently both Shinta-kun and Uncle are totally doting on him, too."
"Uncle sends pictures practically every day, doesn't he?"
"Yup, exactly. Saki-chan was even complainin' that her Dad cares more about how Tsukushi-chan is doin' than his own daughter who moved to the city."
"Well, that's on Uncle."
"But Saki-chan said thanks to Tsukushi-chan, she talks to her Dad way more now."
"Ahaha, guess we all owe it big time to Tsukushi then."
"Fufu, yeah."
They looked at each other and shared a laugh.
The usual atmosphere returned.
After laughin' for a moment, Hayato turned back forward and softly murmured in a casual tone.
"Still, bein' able to laugh like this is all thanks to Haruki findin' Tsukushi and tryna save him in the first place."
"...!"
Haruki stopped in her tracks for a moment, her eyes blinkin'.
"...I see."
Then, placin' a hand over her chest, Haruki let a warm smile seep out as she followed after Hayato.
◇◇◇
Where they arrived was the exhibition hall in Shine Spirits City.
Even from afar, a huge banner readin' 'Final Summer Clearance Sale!' caught the eye, with crowds of female shoppers packed tightly together.
Even when they came the other day, they were surprised by how crowded it was, but today was on a whole 'nother level.
Makes sense—with this many people, usin' this event hall definitely made more sense than the specialty store district.
"""...Whoa, insane."""
The trio from the Tsukinose group—Hayato, Himeko, and Saki—couldn't help but murmur that out loud.
Looking around at the crowd, it was all female shoppers with glintin' eyes. Like hunters goin' after treasure, radiatin' a tense, sharp aura.
That alone showed how much of a battleground this bargain sale really was, makin' them gulp hard.
However, unlike Hayato who was slightly intimidated, Himeko, Saki, and Isami Ema were firin' up their fightin' spirit instead.
"We can't just sit around! Let's go, Saki-chan, Ema-san!"
"Yeah, let's hurry, Hime-chan! If we don't move fast, all the good stuff will get snatched up!"
"I-chan, let's meet up around here later! Gotta hunt down some hidden gems!"
"Come on, Haru-chan, hurry up too~!"
"Myah!?"
Haruki, who was shrinkin' back a bit just like Hayato, got dragged inside by Himeko as if bein' pulled along.
The three boys—Hayato, Kazuki, and Iori—who were stunned by the girls' fierce enthusiasm, looked at each other and shared a dry laugh once they snapped out of it.
"Shall we head off on our own then?"
"Yeah, let's just be glad we didn't have to tag along with all that."
"Haha, Ema takes forever once she starts pickin' out stuff, too."
And without a word from anyone in particular, they turned their steps toward the hall.