Hair Tie!

Chapter 45: Hair Tie!

"Thank you."

Kawasaki Saki relaxed her tense shoulders with a sigh, extended her fair hand, fingers gently hooking under the instant soup container, and accepted the soup.

"You're welcome," Luke continued eating his lunch.

Kawasaki Saki's firm and slender legs lightly rose onto tiptoes, lifting her legs higher; she carefully placed the instant soup between her thighs, slowly brought her hands together, and sandwiched the bread and soup between them.

Her fingernail gently tore open the plastic packaging of the bread.

Kawasaki Saki opened her mouth slightly and took a tiny bite, using her teeth to break off a small piece of bread, chewing it gently and slowly.

Her eating manners were very cute and ladylike.

In comparison, although Luke was also careful, trying his best not to drop crumbs, his speed was more than twice as fast, appearing quite hearty.

The two finally fell into the desired silent atmosphere, munching and rustling as they ate lunch.

Luke looked into the distance, calculating his work schedule in his head.

Compared to before, he had indeed relaxed quite a bit recently.

He also had his own time for leisure or essential rest;

This way, he wouldn't have to nap under the teacher's nose during class;

However, along with the reduced workload came reduced remuneration...

Haven't had a big case in a long time.

He really wish for some fat sheep~

'I Haven't bought gifts for Mikasa and Annie in ages.' Luke sighed inwardly.

There was an unwritten rule in their industry: charge based on the client.

For ordinary families, his fee was around ten thousand yen.

But if they encountered certain rich families, it could only be described as: one big job feeds you for three years.

Moreover, these wealthy clients often became repeat customers.

All they needed to do was: help the client see the evil spirit before the exorcism.

This way, these security-lacking rich people would... mm.

Luke quickly finished the food in his hands, turned his gaze to the blue-haired girl who was still nibbling on her bread, and noticed her bread was only half-finished, and the instant soup hadn't been touched at all.

Kawasaki Saki faced forward, her large eyes uncomfortably darting towards him.

Her gaze met his, and startled, she quickly turned her head away, her long ponytail almost whipping him.

"Oof~"

Under his gaze, her eating speed slowed even further.

Did the bread she just ate contain the Slow-Slow Fruit?

Allowing his gaze to slow people down.

Luke thought speechlessly.

"Kawasaki-san..." he called softly.

Kawasaki Saki, who had just relaxed slightly, instantly straightened her slumped posture, asking dryly, "Wh-what?"

"Where did you buy this hair tie? I want two," Luke gently fiddled with the bluish-green hair hanging down Kawasaki Saki's back using his finger.

The hair tie holding her ponytail had lace, was very fluffy, and when tied back, looked like a flower blooming behind her head from the front.

Both the color scheme and shape were quite nice... in his personal opinion.

"It wasn't bought..." Kawasaki Saki's neck turned stiffly like rusted metal, turning her head just enough so Luke could only see her profile.

Wasn't this one a big block of ice just now?

Why has she turned into such a shy girl now...

Although this look was cute, honestly, the cold Kawasaki Saki from before, radiating a 'don't talk to me' aura, actually felt somewhat cool and dashing.

Wait!

Why do I think the big block of ice is cuter?

Luke pinched his chin, thinking suspiciously.

Could it be Yukinoshita Yukino's influence...

He thought about it and felt it probably wasn't.

Both Mikasa and Annie had calm personalities, they could also be considered cold ice beauties.

He should have been molded by them; otherwise, he wouldn't be getting drained every day.

"Hey, hey~ Your gaze... um, makes me a little uncomfortable," Kawasaki Saki shrank her shoulders, looking at him uneasily, almost tucking her head into her neck.

"Oh, sorry," Luke snapped back to reality:

"This sentence seems a bit familiar, feels like more than one person has said it to me."

"How many people are going to say this to me?"

"That's because you're too unrestrained..."

Kawasaki Saki muttered softly, putting down her bread.

She took the hair tie off her head, letting her long hair scatter loose before him.

The smooth hair fell down silkily, like the sky unfolding before him.

The smell... mm, a very fresh scent, Luke detected from the fragrance wafting towards him.

"Here, for you~ I made this myself," Kawasaki Saki handed the hair tie to him.

Luke lowered his eyes, looking at the hand suspended in the air, and at Kawasaki Saki hiding her face...

"Kawasaki-san, I wanted to buy two to give as gifts... Since it wasn't bought, forget it..."

Kawasaki Saki reacted after a moment, suddenly crying out, "Ah—!"

She blushed furiously, quickly retracting the hair tie, frantically trying to put it back on her scattered hair, chattering nonstop:

"Why didn't you say so earlier! Ah—"

"I was just about to... Careful!" Luke watched the flustered Kawasaki Saki; the instant soup on her lap wobbled precariously.

He quickly sprang forward, throwing out one hand to steady the soup, the other hand pressing on Kawasaki Saki's thigh to support himself.

Kawasaki Saki stared stiffly at the hand sinking into the flesh of her thigh.

"Be careful, don't get startled like that," Luke placed the instant soup properly.

But Kawasaki Saki had already jumped away from the chair in fright... causing the chair to fall sadly onto the ground.

"Who asked you to say such misleading things? Also, why did you t-touch my leg?" Kawasaki Saki said, turning her head away, her legs rubbing together nonstop.

"That's your misunderstanding. And, would you rather have the instant soup spill on your skirt or this?" Luke said speechlessly, gathering his trash.

"Neither," Kawasaki Saki replied softly.

"..." Luke was speechless for a moment.

"Good answer... But you were so cold before, why are you acting so innocent now?"

"None of your business!" The blue-haired girl glared at him.

"Alright, I've finished eating. I'll leave this place to you," Luke tied up the trash bag and said to Kawasaki Saki.

"Take care of your own trash when you're done."

Kawasaki Saki nodded but deliberately turned her head away, not looking at him.

Reaching the stairwell door, Luke held the trash bag and waved at Kawasaki Saki.

"Goodbye."

Kawasaki Saki sat back down on the chair, holding the instant soup in one hand, unsure what to do with the other hand placed on her chest.

Hesitating whether to say goodbye, she finally extended two fingers, curling the others, and gave a small wave.

"...Goodbye."

Her voice was so soft he could only make out the general meaning by reading her lips.

...

---

Read More With Pictures (30+ Chapters In Advance):

p@treon.com/U22

Replace '@' with 'a' on your web browser.

(NOTE: Apple charges 30% more if you buy a Patreon membership through the iOS app. So, I suggest using a web browser to buy the membership from Patreon. You can then use the app to read chapters. Of course, if you don't want to save money, then ignore my suggestion.)