Chapter 153: Playing with a Young Girl’s Feelings

Chapter 153: Playing with a Young Girl's Feelings

"Hayasaka Ai, I like you."

"I will definitely take you back from the Shinomiya family."

"No matter how difficult it is, no matter how many obstacles stand in my way."

"You, and the entire Hayasaka family—I will take them back with my own hands. Definitely!"

"As long as I can help Hayasaka live a free life in the future, without having to struggle like this anymore, I am willing to do anything."

Yukima Azuma's voice was soft, yet incredibly resolute.

Each word, each sentence reached Hayasaka Ai's ears clearly.

She felt the warmth of his hand placed gently on her face.

Hayasaka Ai's breathing was completely thrown into disarray.

If one observed carefully, they would surely notice she was only pretending to be asleep.

But at this moment, Hayasaka Ai no longer had the mind to worry about such trivial matters.

Her mind was now filled only with Yukima Azuma's words.

He likes me?

Not Hasaka.

But Hayasaka Ai!

Just realizing this—

The strange occurrences over the past two days, Yukima Azuma's unpredictable changes in attitude—

Everything, everything could now be explained.

Because from the very beginning, Yukima Azuma had recognized her.

Even though she used the false name Hasaka and deliberately displayed a completely different personality—

Yukima Azuma could still talk to her so naturally.

Simply because this boy liked Hayasaka Ai.

Hayasaka Ai didn't know what her mother had said to the boy in front of her.

But most likely, he had already learned about the Hayasaka family's past.

He knew that the Hayasaka family had become vassals of the Shinomiya clan.

Perhaps, he even knew that she was not only Shinomiya Kaguya's close maid, but was also forced to spy for Kaguya's older brother.

Hayasaka Ai didn't know when Yukima Azuma had started liking her.

But she knew one thing—

The boy before her had undoubtedly seen through all of her masks.

He had recognized her true self.

And because of that, he was now trying his best to help her break free from those facades.

So then, why did such an outstanding boy have to struggle so much?

Hayasaka Ai suddenly felt a sense of unreality.

For her?

To stand against the colossal Shinomiya family?

To reclaim the Hayasaka family and Hayasaka Ai?

This affection—was so overwhelming that it made Hayasaka Ai's nose sting.

"Today, Hayasaka is especially cute, but she seems to be plotting something."

Yukima Azuma's tone became lighthearted again.

"Whether it's an annoyed Hayasaka or a slightly mischievous Hayasaka, both are adorable."

"So much so that I can't help but want to tease her—am I being too mean?"

"When Hayasaka wakes up later, will she confess to me? Most likely, yes."

"In retaliation, she might even dare to use seduction against me. What should I say to her?"

"Should I take this chance to agree to her confession?"

"If so, then I'll be able to date Hayasaka… No, wait, it should be Hasaka."

At this point, Yukima Azuma's voice hesitated slightly.

"What am I even thinking? Hayasaka is already exhausted." His voice now carried clear self-reproach and gloom. "Yet here I am, selfishly making her do even more… What kind of person does that make me?"

The young man sighed. "I should probably turn her down later."

He was clearly talking about rejecting a confession.

Yet these words were sweeter than any confession could ever be.

The boy's hand left Hayasaka Ai's cheek.

But she could still feel the lingering warmth, her face burning.

....

After some time had passed—

Hayasaka Ai followed through with her plan and pretended to wake up.

She groggily lifted her head.

"Ehh? Did I fall asleep?"

She mumbled in surprise, simultaneously glancing at the watch on her wrist.

"No way! Three hours have already passed?!"

Realizing this truth—

Hayasaka Ai raised both hands to cover her face, as if feeling embarrassed for having dozed off while reading with Yukima Azuma.

On her beautiful, fair cheeks—paler than most—an unmistakable blush had spread.

This wasn't an act.

It was genuine embarrassment.

Only the reason and the way she expressed it were slightly different.

As if she was finding an excuse to release her emotions, making it feel all the more real and touching.

"I was going to wake Hasaka up, but I figured you must be really tired, so I let you sleep."

Yukima Azuma smiled as he spoke.

"So embarrassing... uwu..."

Hayasaka Ai buried her face in her hands, letting out a soft whimper.

She waited until the embarrassment faded just a little.

Then, she spoke the line she had already prepared in advance:

"Someone like me... You could have just ignored me and gone home, you know."

But the moment the words left her lips, she realized their meaning had changed completely from what she originally intended.

"There's no way I could leave Hasaka alone."

Yukima Azuma replied with the exact line that Hayasaka Ai had planned for him.

"Azuma-kun..." Hayasaka Ai lifted her head.

On her face was the expression of someone falling hopelessly in love.

It was a look that, with just a glance, made it clear—he was different from everyone she had met before.

This was an expression Hayasaka Ai had practiced many times.

But now, the pure, love-filled gaze she gave him—

Was more real than any of her rehearsals.

"Ne, Azuma-kun, would you like to try dating me?"

A confession too difficult to refuse flowed from her lips.

"I know, we haven't known each other for long, so this might seem sudden."

"But we can try it—ninety percent as friends, ten percent as lovers."

"If Azuma-kun likes someone else, you don't have to feel guilty. Just go ahead and pursue her."

"Think of me as a backup girlfriend or something. I wouldn't mind."

Hayasaka Ai spoke words laced with ambiguous affection.

Every single one of them had been rehearsed in advance.

But according to her original plan—

She was supposed to flash a sweet smile.

Look Yukima Azuma straight in the eyes as she said those words.

Yet at this moment, Hayasaka Ai lowered her head, squeezing her eyes shut.

This was a trial where she already knew the verdict.

But when the moment of judgment truly arrived—

Her heart still felt like it was being crushed.

No matter what Yukima Azuma said next—

Her emotions would be thrown into turmoil.

If he rejected her—

She would wonder, just how much does this boy actually like her?

Like her so much that he would rather turn her down just to spare her from exhaustion?

If he accepted—

She would wonder, just how much does this boy actually like her?

Like her so much that he let his emotions override his reason, plunging in despite knowing it was a mistake?

"I'm sorry, but... I already like someone else."

Yukima Azuma's answer rang out.

Hayasaka Ai lowered her head in silence.

After a while—

She placed her hands on the table, pushed herself back, and stood up from her seat.

Then, she quickly walked toward the bookstore's restroom.

Her steps grew faster and faster—until she broke into a small run.

Behind her, she left a trail of silent tears.

Crystal-clear droplets fell onto the floor, shattering into countless tiny fragments.

...

Watching Hayasaka Ai's retreating figure as she ran off—

Yukima Azuma clicked his tongue.

Had he been too harsh?

He had messed with her emotions, then struck directly at the heart of a girl who was only pretending to be asleep.

Doing something like that… He felt a little cruel.

After all, Hayasaka Ai had willingly walked into this situation.

Thinking for a moment, Yukima Azuma let out a small sigh.

Oh well. In the end, he had only spoken the truth.

It wasn't a complete lie meant to toy with a young girl's feelings.

His intention to take the Hayasaka family back from the Shinomiya clan—that was real.

And when that day came… Maybe he'd bring Hayasaka Ai over to his side as well.

As for what would happen after that—

He'd think about it when the time came.

With that thought, Yukima Azuma gathered his belongings.

Then, picking up the first volume of The Legend of the Phantom Blade, he made his way to the bookstore's checkout counter.

By the time he left Ginza and returned to the Yukima house—

His phone chimed with a notification from LINE.

Hayasaka Ai—or more precisely, Hasaka—had removed him from her friends list.

Yukima Azuma swiped the red notification dot to the side.

Then, he let go.

With a soft pop, the unread message indicator vanished without a trace.

After a brief moment of thought—

He opened the chat window with Hayasaka Ai on LINE.

Azuma: "Hayasaka, good evening. Have you eaten?"

Hayasaka: "Azuma onii-chan, do you need something?"

Azuma: "Why so cold?"

Hayasaka: "Because that's the extent of our relationship now."

Yukima Azuma closed the LINE app and stretched.

...

Meanwhile—

At the Shinomiya mansion.

"Hayasaka, what's wrong?"

Shinomiya Kaguya eyed her maid with suspicion.

Though, calling Hayasaka Ai her maid—

Kaguya had practically grown up with Hayasaka Ai.

In reality, her feelings toward Ai were far closer to those of siblings than a master and servant.

If anything, Kaguya felt more like the younger sister, while Ai was the elder. Something like that.

And today, Hayasaka Ai had requested leave to go out.

After returning, she hadn't immediately reported to Kaguya.

Instead, she locked herself in her room.

On top of that, when they finally met, Shinomiya Kaguya noticed clear traces of tears on Hayasaka Ai's face.

She hadn't even finished wiping them away.

Naturally, Shinomiya Kaguya couldn't help but worry.

"Kaguya-sama, I'm fine..."

Hayasaka Ai replied in a hoarse voice.

That answer was completely unacceptable.

Someone who was actually fine would never say, "I'm fine."

That much was common sense—something Hayasaka Ai definitely knew.

But when her voice was still raw from crying, what else could she even say?

Shinomiya Kaguya furrowed her brows deeply.

Had someone bullied Hayasaka?

That was absolutely unforgivable!

First, she had to investigate—

Then she would exact revenge tenfold!

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