261: Haruno’s Teasing

"You... know each other?"

Seika placed the eel and beef double rice dish she had brought for Chisato on the bar. Her confused eyes flickered back and forth between her employees and her friend's students.

Chisato chose to remain silent, somewhat unsure of the thoughts of the woman in front of him, who wore an obviously unnatural smile.

Haruno answered with a smile, "Strictly speaking, we don't know each other. We just met once. Or, to be precise, we should have met twice."

That's right.

When Chisato had an appointment with Youko and her daughter, he met her once in a restaurant and then again at the front door of his home. 

At that time, he had just arrived home and had not yet entered when the other party happened to come out from the door next door.

Such a vague answer failed to clarify Seika's doubts, but she didn't care too much.

A new round of band performances started on the stage of the exhibition hall. 

She asked Chisato for three bottles of beer and then invited the other two to watch the performance. That was the purpose of their visit to the izakaya.

On weekdays, they were bound and depressed by routine work, so they needed a suitable way to release these pressures.

"Ah, you go ahead; I'll sit here for a while," Haruno said with a smile, waving to the other two as she pulled up a high chair and sat down in front of the bar.

"Don't cause trouble," Hiratsuka warned as she approached Haruno before leaving.

She was very familiar with this former student of hers.

Whenever Haruno showed a meaningful smile, it clearly indicated that she was aroused by something.

This situation couldn't simply be defined as good or bad; it was unpredictable and uncontrollable what Haruno might do next.

This was a shop opened by a friend of hers for many years, and the young man at the bar was also an employee of her friend. 

Therefore, from any perspective, Hiratsuka didn't want Haruno to engage in any behavior that could be deemed "bullying."

Just like she often did with her sister.

"Don't worry, I'm not a devil; I'm sensible," Haruno replied briskly, waving happily as she watched the two of them walk to the long table at the edge of the stage and sit down.

She turned her chair so that her body faced the bar, her eyes returning to Chisato, who was wiping a wine glass.

The cold beer in her hand was placed on the bar. She held her forehead with her left hand while the slender fingers of her right hand gently touched it back and forth in a certain pattern. 

Coupled with the slightly raised corners of her mouth, it was clear that she was in a very happy mood now.

And it was obvious that the source of her pleasure came from the high school student in front of her.

"Good evening," she said as a matter of course.

Chisato nodded slightly, "Good evening."

While answering, he was also considering her purpose for staying here to talk to him.

Did she want to take advantage of the opportunity for the two of them to be alone together to tell him something? 

Was she trying to stay committed to their relationship?

No, considering her current posture and expression, she didn't seem like the type to be overly nosy.

So, was it simply curiosity generated by her personality?

"Do you remember me? We met at that restaurant last time, and we ran into each other at the entrance that night," Haruno said, pointing at herself.

Chisato nodded. "I remember."

"That's good. My name is Yukinoshita Haruno. Suzumiya-kun, could you tell me your full name?"

After a pause, Haruno took a sip of her beer and continued cheerfully, "Of course, if you feel uncomfortable sharing, it's perfectly fine not to say anything."

Chisato shook his head. "There's nothing I can't share. My name is Chisato."

"Chisato..." Haruno repeated softly, her smile growing brighter. 

"What a nice name. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. But Suzumiya-kun, don't you think that what you're doing now isn't very down-to-earth? If you want to find a shortcut, you must be prepared to face the consequences."

It was clear she meant something else... She really came here to have fun with him.

Chisato chose not to engage with that comment and instead turned around to take out a small portion of pre-made mozzarella cake from the refrigerator, pushing it in front of Haruno.

"If you want to bribe me to keep quiet about what you've done, isn't this snack too cheap?"

Haruno crossed her arms, resting her chin on them as she giggled.

He has to say, the woman named Haruno is quite perfect in terms of her features.

No matter what expression or movement she makes, she always looks as beautiful as a painting.

Chisato looked at her seriously and shook his head. "I didn't mean that. Also, I don't think Miss Yukinoshita would do what you just suggested."

Haruno pouted slightly, a confused expression common among young girls crossing her face.

"Oh? This is our first official meeting. Are you so certain of my thoughts and feelings?"

Today, she was wearing a long-sleeved shirt and loose denim trousers, which gave her a more mature and capable look. 

She exuded a mix of beauty and sexiness.

But even so, the expression she wore now matched her well; there was no incongruity—it was simply stunning.

"Because, as seen during our meeting in the restaurant that day, even if it was just a few words, Miss Yukinoshita clearly knows Miss Touma, and she should have her contact information." 

"If you genuinely had the intentions you mentioned, you would have acted on them that day rather than waiting until now."

Chisato easily untangled the logic involved, making it sound reasonable and convincing.

Such a response caused Haruno to nod slightly, a satisfied smile spreading across her face.

She picked up the small spoon that had just been placed in front of her and gently took a small spoonful of cake, placing it into her mouth.

This action also slightly relieved Chisato.

He was on the right track.

Haruno had deliberately stayed here instead of joining the others to watch the band perform because she found something more interesting to engage with.

She had been strictly educated and controlled by her family since childhood, enduring hardships until now, and still couldn't gain complete freedom. 

She could expect her future life to mirror her past, no matter how much she disliked it, but there was nothing she could do about it...

All in all, Haruno was either seeking entertainment or satisfying her own curiosity.

She had a strong interest in things that were unusual and seemingly deviant, as they could bring excitement to her otherwise mundane life.

Chisato, who had inadvertently caught her eye, obviously satisfied this little hobby of hers.

While Haruno did know Youko and had a way to contact her, their relationship had only reached the stage of a preliminary acquaintance; they couldn't be considered familiar at all.

She was merely watching for fun, hoping it would be as entertaining as possible, as long as it didn't affect her or those important to her.

"That's a good answer. To be honest, I had already made up my mind before I spoke." 

"If you had been so embarrassed and spineless as to beg me not to share your story, I might have turned around and contacted Ms. Youko in disappointment. But for now, I think it's better to observe for a while."

Haruno's voice suddenly softened, and a mischievous smile appeared at the corner of her mouth.

"I actually admire people like you who are unreserved."

Chisato remained silent. He felt that Haruno had misunderstood something, but he had no intention of correcting her.

Haruno adjusted her posture, deliberately crossing her legs.

"However, I must remind you of one thing: the fact that Ms. Youko has reached this point does not mean she has the gentle character she displayed during dinner with you that day." 

"If she were to discover how her precious daughter responded to being deceived, her reaction may be quite extreme. Do you understand what I mean?"

"...Thank you for the reminder."

"As a neighbor, it's my responsibility. But if I find myself bored in the future, may I visit your house?"

"...I'm away from home most of the time."

"That's a real shame. I always had a feeling we would get along very well."

Haruno sighed sadly, picking up her beer and cake.

"Then, you can work, and I won't disturb you."

With that, she abruptly ended the conversation and walked to the side of the stage, sitting next to Hiratsuka and Seika.

After she sat down, she faced Chisato's gaze, which had not yet averted, and waved her hand playfully.

In front of the other two, it was clearly a jest.

Chisato also caught Seika's confused look. He smiled awkwardly, lowered his head, and returned to his tasks.

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