356: Alone When the Elevator Stops (3)

"Due to her personality, her sister was bullied rather severely by her classmates. My friend was very concerned, but instead of stepping in immediately, she chose to observe the situation for a while." 

"Eventually, she indirectly reached out to a younger boy she knew who was in the same grade as her sister, asking him to help." 

"But the results… Well, let's just say they were far from ideal. In the end, it was their mother who intervened, resolving the situation through the school with an adult's authority."

"…"

"My friend never explicitly stated why she didn't help her sister right away, but I have my own guess." 

"She probably realized that she wouldn't always be around to protect her, so she wanted her sister to try and handle problems on her own." 

"That way, she could face reality and gradually become independent rather than relying on her too much."

"…Hah."

This time, Haruno finally made a sound—an exhale, deep and slow.

Her voice turned cold.

"And what else do you know?"

Chisato pretended not to understand and continued speaking.

"A lot. My friend and I talk about everything. She even told me about the way her mother raised her." 

"It sounded rather ruthless—she was taught to always find a rival and continuously surpass them. Honestly, if I had grown up in such a high-pressure environment, I doubt I could have endured it." 

"But my friend not only persevered, she became an incredibly capable and independent woman. I can't help but admire her. She's truly impressive."

Suddenly, Haruno reached out, grabbed Chisato's collar tightly, her expression completely void of her usual playful ease. Even her voice carried a chilling sharpness.

"You sure do know a lot. Funny thing is, I don't recall ever telling you any of this."

Chisato met her gaze without fear, slowly wrapping his fingers around her wrist.

"I think you're misunderstanding something, Miss Yukinoshita. As I said from the very beginning, everything I just told you happened to a friend of mine." 

"While her situation may resemble yours, please don't assume the story is about you."

"That's quite the coincidence, then. What are the odds that someone else's life could mirror mine so perfectly, as if it were copied directly from my own experiences?"

Chisato let out a helpless sigh.

"The world is vast. No matter how similar two situations might seem, I don't find it surprising in the slightest."

"Then, what's your friend's name?"

"That's private information. I'm afraid I can't tell you."

"..."

Haruno stared at Chisato for a long time. When she couldn't read anything from his face, her aura suddenly deflated. 

She pouted and put on a pitiful expression.

"It hurts…"

"???"

"I said, it hurts! Chisato-kun, you grabbed my wrist way too hard!"

"Ah, sorry."

Chisato quickly let go. Haruno pulled her hand back and examined it closely. A red mark had already formed around her slender wrist.

She looked even more dissatisfied now, pouting as she complained with a hint of grievance.

"Honestly, is it really necessary to use so much force on a pretty girl?"

Chisato adjusted his collar and replied, "Others might either underestimate or be overly lenient toward women, but I'm different." 

"I believe in true gender equality. Even if it's a woman, I'll respond with my full strength. Besides, Yukinoshita-san, you've trained in Aikido." 

"And just now, you had that terrifying expression, as if you were about to make me stop breathing the next second. There's no way I wouldn't be on guard."

That argument was flawless—impossible to refute.

So, Haruno chose to let it go and instead brought up another topic, one that made Chisato's expression change slightly.

"Tell me, Chisato-kun, what do you think of me as a person?"

"…Huh?"

"Was my question not clear enough? I'm asking if I match your aesthetic preferences."

"…You're definitely drunk, Yukinoshita-san."

Chisato had heard of the suspension bridge effect before.

In simple terms, it describes a psychological phenomenon where a person's heart races when they're in a tense or thrilling situation, such as crossing a suspension bridge. 

If they happen to meet someone at that moment, they might mistake their accelerated heartbeat as romantic attraction, leading to the illusion of love.

But in their case, they weren't in any dangerous situation, nor had they just experienced anything thrilling together.

There was no reason for such an effect to occur.

That left only one explanation—this was a deliberate test from Haruno.

As for why she was doing this, it was obvious. 

She had realized that Chisato's earlier words were alluding to her own situation, so now she was trying to probe him further and gather more information.

"You really don't need to be so cautious around me," she said with exaggerated sincerity, pressing a hand against her ample chest. 

"I truly just find you interesting, Chisato-kun. That's why I'm asking."

Her tone was almost convincing.

"Since you won't answer, let me set an example first," she continued. 

"My first impression of you wasn't bad at all. You're good-looking, and I quite admire the way you carry yourself and speak. So I thought, wouldn't it be nice if we became friends through this opportunity?"

"..."

How did things end up like this?

Chisato felt a headache coming on. 

His original intention was merely to subtly warn Haruno, making her more cautious of him in the future—perhaps even keep some distance. But somehow, everything had backfired.

"Don't just stay silent. You like pretty girls, don't you? Otherwise, you wouldn't have approached so many," she teased, tilting her head playfully. 

"And I'm not trying to boast, but I'd say my qualities are at least above average in today's society. I don't think I'd be outright rejected, right?"

"…No, no, Yukinoshita-san, you're seriously underestimating yourself."

"Oh my, was that a compliment? How delightful. I'll take that as your answer, Chisato-kun!"

Haruno leaned in again, this time much closer. With Chisato's back already pressed against the wall, if he moved forward even slightly, their faces would touch.

Of course, more captivating than her fair complexion were her soft, rosy lips, practically inviting someone to lean in and steal a kiss.

"Got it~"

Seizing the moment when he was slightly distracted, Haruno swiftly took his phone and, after a few quick taps, called her own number.

With that, she now had his contact.

She tossed the phone back to him casually.

"Well then, Chisato-kun, I'll be counting on you from now on. You're an interesting guy—I have a feeling we'll get along just fine."

Just then, the elevator resumed operation and stopped at the floor they had originally pressed.

The two stepped out together, and as they reached their respective doors, she waved energetically.

"See you tomorrow! Bye-bye~"

"..."

Chisato didn't want to respond, but out of basic courtesy, he gave her a slight nod.

At that moment, the door in front of Haruno opened.

"Nee-san, why are you…"

"Sorry, sorry! I won't be going home tonight. I'll be staying over at your place~ Mwah~"

Right before stepping inside, Haruno, still tipsy from the alcohol, sent a playful air kiss in Chisato's direction without a hint of hesitation.

Yukino peeked out from behind her sister. The moment her gaze met Chisato's, her expression instantly darkened.

"What's going on here…?"

"Alright, alright, don't ask so many questions. Let's go inside~"

Haruno playfully pushed her sister back into the apartment, and the hallway returned to silence.

Chisato lightly tapped his forehead, let out a silent sigh, and turned the handle to enter his own apartment.

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50 advanced chapters on p@t re on (.) com/SenatusTheta

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