Chapter 60: Lunch on the Rooftop

It was lunchtime break.

Shiina Mahiru, of course, had to eat lunch with Yumiko Miura's group. By the way, they also needed to discuss giving Renji the gift they had prepared.

Renji arrived at the rooftop with his lunchbox. When he got there, Sumireko Sanshokuin was already sitting on a bench. The girl still had her twin pigtails and wore thick, black-rimmed glasses. Her Soubu High School uniform was paired with a long skirt that covered her entire thighs and calves.

In fact, the Soubu High School girls' uniform skirts were of a moderate length. However, to better highlight their femininity, the girls would shorten the top part of their skirts to be more eye-catching. Skirts that could cover the entire body, paired with a pair of slender legs and wearing white socks or knee-high socks, perfectly showcased the youth and beauty of the girls.

After all, this was youth. If it wasn't a student council inspection day or another major event, the disciplinary committee would surely turn a blind eye. Girls shortened their skirts to add charm and show off their figures. And Sumireko Sanshokuin wore a long skirt that didn't reveal her legs, which made her even less popular. She was like someone with a country aesthetic blending in among girls who all pursued fashion. This resulted in Sumireko Sanshokuin having no friends, and girls didn't want to communicate with her too much, afraid of being labeled old-fashioned.

However, Renji, who knew she was truly beautiful and had seen her true beauty, was not deterred by her disguise. "Sumireko, good afternoon, I'm here." He walked over, greeted Sumireko, and sat down to eat his lunchbox.

"Alright, good afternoon." Sumireko Sanshokuin smiled, returned his greeting, and began to eat her lunchbox. Although there wasn't much communication, just that brief companionship was enough to warm her heart. So when she ate her lunchbox, the girl smiled the whole time. She looked very happy.

When she finished her lunchbox, she wrapped it in cloth and put it away. Renji leaned towards her and rested his head on her lap. His legs naturally lay flat. Sumireko Sanshokuin didn't react. This man was already enjoying the sensation of resting his head on her soft lap. He closed his eyes calmly.

"This is what you promised me yesterday, Sumireko. I won't get up until your leg goes numb," Renji murmured, his voice slightly hoarse. Listen to what he said? I've really been thinking about it since yesterday.

Sumireko Sanshokuin covered her mouth and laughed quietly, but didn't push him away. "Why, wasn't Shiina Mahiru-san's lap pillow enough to satisfy you?"

"Mahiru is Mahiru, Sumireko is Sumireko, I won't be satisfied, after all, I'm a very greedy person," Renji replied honestly. "However, I'm in trouble because of Mahiru. Sumireko, are you willing to listen to my woes?"

"Oh, then I must listen to what kind of trouble your excellent classmate, Shiina Mahiru, could give you," Sumireko said, her tone teasing. "Come on, tell me and make me happy."

Renji didn't care about her teasing. After lying comfortably on her soft lap, he inhaled her captivating scent and spoke slowly. "Mahiru asked me to pursue Yumiko Miura in my class." He added, "By the way, Mahiru and Miura are good friends."

"Oh, shouldn't you be happy? Shiina is willing to let you pursue someone else for yourself," Sumireko said, implying a hidden meaning.

"Yes, I am very happy, but I don't want to make Mahiru sad." Renji sighed. "I'm touched that she can consider my greed, but I don't want her to hide her feelings and fulfill my cheating desires."

Sumireko Sanshokuin smiled faintly, "Renji, the fact that you can think like this proves that Shiina didn't make a mistake." She stroked Renji's hair. "Tell me in more detail, why did she ask you to pursue Miura?" Sumireko narrowed her eyes slightly. "Oh, my bad for being nosy. I already told Mahiru some things."

"Sumireko, do you know Yukinoshita Yukino from International Class J?" Renji asked, looking at her.

"I know, last time you used a cat to coax her into going home with you," Sumireko replied casually.

Renji opened his eyes in surprise and looked at her smooth chin. She hadn't said anything startling! Yes, she really bound her chest. Otherwise, how could it be so flat, and she could still see her chin?

"First of all, I didn't coax her with a cat. She herself was enchanted by the cat and insisted on sending the cat home with me," Renji corrected. "Also, please don't interrupt me."

"Alright, continue," Sumireko Sanshokuin poked his cheek mischievously, smiling charmingly.

Renji rolled his eyes helplessly, pondered for a moment, then continued. "Remember the car accident that didn't happen at the beginning of school? The people in that car were from the Yukinoshita family." He explained, "That's why I was noticed by the eldest daughter of the Yukinoshita family, Yukinoshita Haruno-onee-san."

"Oh, so that was Yukinoshita Haruno-onee-san who kissed your cheek this morning at the school gate?" Sumireko responded, her eyes sparkling.

"Sumireko... are you following me? Why do you know so many things?" Renji asked, his expression surprised.

"Hehe, who knows? Maybe I'm just observing you. After all, you're a potential boyfriend, and I have to observe you carefully before deciding to make you a permanent one," Sumireko replied, teasing.

"You win, you're right, the beautiful older sister this morning was Haruno-onee-san." Renji conceded. "Let me explain briefly so you don't cut me off again."

"Yukinoshita Yukino and our classmate Hayato Hayama are childhood sweethearts who have followed Yukinoshita Haruno-onee-san since they were young." Renji explained the sequence of events. "Hayama likes Yukinoshita Haruno-onee-san, and to get closer to her, he learned her way of interacting with people." He continued, "And Mahiru's friend, Yumiko Miura, has been secretly in love with Hayato Hayama since middle school, and then befriended Hayama until now."

"But Hayato Hayama has always liked Haruno-onee-san, and he definitely won't agree to Miura's confession. He clearly knows that Miura likes him, but he just treats her as a shield." Renji sighed. "Knowing that Hayama is still determined, Haruno-onee-san used the opportunity of our morning encounter to drive Mahiru and me to school, and let Hayama see her kiss my cheek."

"This morning, I noticed that Hayama has been making use of his face, always looking at me inadvertently, probably wanting to ask about my relationship with Haruno-onee-san," Renji concluded. "Mahiru feels that Hayama's way of treating Yumiko is too cruel to Yumiko, so she used a friend-of-a-friend story to get advice from Miura."

"The ultimate conclusion is that I, who Mahiru thinks is the best guy, have to pursue Yumiko Miura and make her forget Hayama." Renji ended on a desperate note. "And I have to tell Yumiko about my true nature as a playboy, and she has to stay with me and accept Mahiru."

"...Uh... I didn't expect Shiina to be so devoted to you, so don't disappoint her," Sumireko Sanshokuin thought for a moment and said so, her expression turning more serious.

Renji was speechless. "Of course, I won't disappoint such a beautiful Mahiru, is that all you have to say?"

"What else? Are you not confident? Do you think you're not as good as Hayato Hayama?" Sumireko challenged him.

"Of course not! If I wasn't confident, I wouldn't hesitate to ask for Sumireko's lap pillow, and I wouldn't keep hugging Mahiru and wouldn't let her leave me," Renji replied proudly.

"Isn't that enough? Since you're confident, go and tell Miura to prove it to Shiina, and also prove it to me, your confidence in your cheating thoughts," Sumireko said, her tone testing.

Renji looked at her in surprise. "So Sumireko, you support Mahiru?"

"Yes, after all, love is selfish, and no girl is willing to share the man she likes with others." Sumireko sighed. "Since... you're too perverted, Shiina and Ogiwara had no choice but to accept it, don't disappoint them."

"How do you know mine is perverted?" Renji asked, amused.

"...That's not important!" She glared at him, her cheeks flushed.

"It is important! Sumireko, you're not spying on me..."

"Shut up, do you want to rest your head on your lap?" Sumireko threatened.

"Alright, I'll shut up!" Renji closed his mouth, rubbing the back of his head against her leg, a peaceful expression on his face.

Sumireko Sanshokuin pouted and snorted. "You big scoundrel and big pervert!" She muttered softly, "But if you really have the ability to make girls willingly accept you, then you're a good scoundrel too." She added, "Still a scoundrel though..."

"Aren't you a scoundrel?" Renji teased her.

"Yes, I am a scoundrel!" Sumireko gave in, a small laugh escaping her lips.

"Hmph~!"

No more words were exchanged afterward. It was almost time for class, so he could only make the most of this lap pillow. Seeing him rub his thighs with an annoyed expression, she stepped forward and hugged him gently.

"Thank you, Sumireko," Renji whispered.

"Idiot, be yourself. You are the person Shiina is most obsessed with when you are confident," Sumireko advised. "Why did she choose you to pursue Miura-san? Isn't it because she believes in you?" She paused. "Or don't you like Miura-san?"

Renji smiled confidently. "The only thing I don't like about Miura is that she likes Hayato Hayama."

"That's fine. Do your best. Go on, Mr. Scoundrel!" Sumireko teased, a playful smile on her face.

"Hmph, you called me a scoundrel again. I'll be the first one to embarrass you!" As he said that, Renji kissed her cheek tightly before letting go.

Sumireko Sanshokuin glared at him and rubbed her cheek in disgust. "What else can you do besides slobber on my face?"

Renji raised his eyebrows. If you say so, then I have more ideas.

Sumireko Sanshokuin had just provoked him and immediately quickened her pace to flee from there, a blush on her cheeks.

Renji smiled and shook his head. Sumireko was also very cute. The most important thing was that she didn't seem to dislike his current lifestyle. Yes, anyway, he was very serious and very attentive to any girl. Sumireko was the same. He wouldn't disappoint Sumireko.

Alright, let's try to bully Hayama first. You don't know how to cherish Yumiko, I will cherish her!

Thinking this, Renji suddenly looked towards the corner of the rooftop. "Come out, Saki Kawasaki-san."

The beautiful girl with the high silver ponytail was stunned and walked out helplessly, her shoulders slightly slumped. "Actually, I came here first. I've been here since the beginning." She explained, her tone flat. She just wanted to find a quiet place to eat her lunch and enjoy the sea breeze. She didn't expect to meet another couple flaunting their affection. She saw Renji lying on the lap of his classmate Sumireko Sanshokuin and felt that she shouldn't have been in the corner, but in a crack in the wall.

It was fine to show affection. What else did she hear later? The scoundrel then started planning to get a girl? The scoundrel was still the queen of the live-action group in the class who liked Hayama, Yumiko Miura?

Looking at the feigning calm Saki Kawasaki, Renji narrowed his eyes, thought for a moment and said, "I knew you were here from the beginning, so I deliberately let you hear it and told you my true colors."

"Huh? Why would you do that?" Saki Kawasaki didn't understand, her eyes widening slightly.

"Because I want to find something I can use against you," Renji said, pulling out a wad of banknotes from his pocket. "This is 1 million yen, your hush money!"

"I don't want it, can't I just promise not to tell anyone?" Saki Kawasaki shook her head quickly, refusing the money. "Actually, I also think what Hayama did was very dishonest, playing with the heart of a girl who likes him, too shameless."

It would be better to let Renji pursue Miura. After all, he was a scoundrel, but he never hid it from any girl. If she heard him correctly, it seemed that Shiina had taken the initiative to ask Renji to pursue Yumiko Miura. What exactly was going on between these two people, had Shiina had a mental breakdown, let's ignore this for now. The fact that Renji could be recognized by Shiina and Sumireko and not get angry at all was enough to prove his charm.

Saki Kawasaki didn't like scoundrels and didn't want to date scoundrels, so she saw things from an outsider's perspective and would not have any opinion against Renji. On the contrary, it was Hayato Hayama. The more she thought about it, the more she felt that this person was hypocritical. The bright smiles he usually put on, all of them were fake. Moreover, if Renji's words were true, then every smile Hayato Hayama had now when facing Yumiko Miura would turn into the sharpest blade, piercing the heart of his classmate Miura after rejecting Yumiko Miura.

Renji looked at his classmate Kawasaki and said with a serious face, "I don't believe it. If you tell, wouldn't I be socially dead at school?" He emphasized. "So, you must accept the hush money! Otherwise, I don't believe you can keep this secret." He put the money into her embrace, stared at her intensely, then turned around, leaving a shocked Saki.

Saki Kawasaki was dumbfounded. She had never touched that much money since she was a child. Her family was not rich to begin with. She had a younger brother who was still in elementary school, and his middle school tuition next year would be even higher. Her sister was also still in elementary school, and she needed money for school fees. Her parents always worked outside, although they always said they didn't need to worry about money. However, the sharp-eyed Saki Kawasaki knew that the money she earned from working was not enough to cover the college tuition and living expenses of her three children. Moreover, she was still attending Soubu High School, which had a very high deviation value. For a family that was already struggling, it was even worse. Saki Kawasaki had secretly been working part-time nearby, and she knew how difficult work was.

Looking at the money in her hand, her heart stirred. But she still planned to return it to Renji. Because she thought of something. Just now Renji said that he deliberately let her know his true colors. He also said that he wanted to get a hold on her. But it was clearly he who had gotten a hold on her. If he said that, there was only one possibility. This cheating man, not content with Yumiko Miura yet, and not satisfied with his classmate Shiina, was now eyeing her, Saki Kawasaki! This money was too hot to handle...