Chapter 81: Hesitation

Reluctantly, Yukinoshita Yukino placed the cats from her arms onto the roadside near the school gate. Her gaze lingered on their soft fur, a clear longing visible in her eyes.

"Since you like cats so much, do you want to keep them?" Renji Kamisaka's words reached her ears, breaking the morning silence.

However, Yukinoshita Yukino showed a cold expression, like a frozen mirror. "I like them, but I don't need to keep them." Her voice was flat, without discernible emotion.

"Is there another reason? For example, a family member who is allergic to cat fur?" Renji asked, his tone casual, as if the question carried no weight.

"Are you that curious about my affairs?" Yukinoshita Yukino raised an eyebrow, turned around, crossed her arms over her chest, and looked up and down at the boy in front of her. It wasn't that she was wary, more that she was accustomed to it. The fact was, since she was little, boys who approached her were always captivated by her beauty and wanted to date her. And she was always harsh towards such boys.

Renji Kamisaka wasn't deterred by her cold aura, but said frankly, "I think many boys at Soubu High School aren't interested in you."

"That's right. After all, I look very sweet." Yukinoshita Yukino raised her hand to brush back her hair, showing a hint of veiled pride. But her face remained cold, flat. As if the person who had been holding cats earlier, with a gentle and joyful face, wasn't her. This gave people a strong sense of contrast, an interesting paradox.

Renji's mouth twitched in amusement. "After all, you're cute. Don't you think that's a bit narcissistic?"

Yukinoshita Yukino said confidently, "I'm not bragging." Her gaze was sharp, full of conviction. "I've been beautiful since I was a child. All men who approached me wanted to approach me because of my beauty." She paused, a faint smirk appearing on her lips. "From elementary school to junior high, my indoor shoes and recorder were hidden dozens of times." A dry chuckle escaped her. "My indoor shoes were hidden by teachers several times, and by dogs several times." She sighed, as if it were a heavy burden. "Thanks to these people, I was able to bring back my indoor shoes and recorder every time I went home." After she finished speaking, she showed a clearly sarcastic expression.

"So, what happened to the teacher who hid your indoor shoes?" Renji Kamisaka couldn't help but ask curiously, a little intrigued.

"You're really paying attention to this? It seems your ideas are very dangerous..." Yukino frowned, as if Renji had just said something indecent. "However, it's good to tell you that the teacher was ruined and lost his job in the end."

"That's it?" Renji asked, slightly disappointed.

"Isn't that miserable enough? He can no longer work as a teacher, and decades of work experience are gone. No one will hire him again, and he has to face ridicule from his relatives and friends around him." Yukino explained, her tone cold yet laden with judgment.

"Well, social death is still miserable," Renji Kamisaka touched his chin and nodded, acknowledging. "But why did a dog take your indoor shoes? Was it because of the smell?"

"Ouch!" Even the well-mannered Yukinoshita Yukino couldn't help but raise her small leather shoe and step on Renji's foot. "Your indoor shoes stink! I wash them regularly. It's really rude to guess about a girl and say it out loud!"

Renji Kamisaka, however, smiled, unfazed by her anger. "I'm just kidding. I thought Yukinoshita wouldn't get angry. Well, she looks cute when she's angry."

Yukinoshita Yukino's tone faltered, her face slightly flushed with both anger and embarrassment. Then she said coldly, "If you want to get my attention this way, I guess you succeeded in making me angry." She sighed, her tone becoming more serious, a boundary being drawn. "I really don't like joking, so if you want to be friends with me and get close to me, please allow me to refuse."

Renji Kamisaka waved his hand, his expression turning serious. "You're overthinking it." He looked into Yukino's eyes, honesty radiating. "I don't have a habit of constantly being cold to others. I just thought that we might have more opportunities to meet in the future, so I wanted to build a good relationship first." He paused. "Since Yukinoshita feels it's unnecessary, I'll excuse myself now."

After that, Renji Kamisaka turned and left, his steps steady, without the slightest hesitation.

Yukinoshita Yukino opened her mouth, slightly bewildered. This person left so suddenly that she didn't have a chance to continue her attack. So, this man doesn't want to get close to her because of her beauty? Come to think of it, he already has Mahiru Shiina by his side. If he's still thinking about her, wouldn't that be too unreasonable? Mahiru Shiina would definitely get angry too. However, he said he would meet her more often in the future. What did he mean by that?

Renji Kamisaka meant that they would meet at the end of the month. As expected, he would be engaged to Haruno-onee-san. And Yukino would definitely be there, so he would soon have a sister-in-law with an odd personality. Renji Kamisaka didn't think there was anything wrong with Yukinoshita Yukino's coldness and wariness. Anyway, with that cat bag, he had many ways to bait Yukino, he thought slyly. When the time comes, let the tool cat lead his sister-in-law, create a few coincidences, and then cause some beautiful accidents. Yukino would soon fall into his arms by coincidence. He was truly despicable! Renji grinned inwardly.

After returning to class, Renji Kamisaka's image still flickered in Yukinoshita Yukino's mind. What exactly happened that made him meet her so often? Could it be that this man wanted to join her club? And she refused him? Yukinoshita Yukino regretted confronting him like that.

Actually, if she thought about it carefully, Renji Kamisaka had no ill intentions. He just wanted to build a good relationship with her. But she was instinctively wary of people who approached her, especially boys. If Renji wanted to join the club, she would still agree after a little hesitation. After all... in such a large school, there weren't many people she could talk to. And... he was loved by cats. If Renji joined the club, she would have more reasons and more opportunities to play with cats.

Yukinoshita Yukino thought of Renji's back before he left without hesitation, and felt a little guilty. Did I say too much? However, she also felt Renji was wrong. He was willing to tell her about his own affairs. But he said that the shoes she wore indoors smelled bad, so the dog took them. How could they smell? She was a girl who loved cleanliness, so she washed her indoor shoes regularly! I'm sure any girl would be angry if she was suspected of having dirty, smelly shoes, Yukino thought, her cheeks warming again with irritation.

Renji Kamisaka didn't know yet. His words had angered Yukinoshita Yukino, and she was starting to get tangled up in her own thoughts. If he knew, he would surely burst out laughing. It's a good thing Yukino got angry. That proved she still cared about his words. If she didn't care and ignored him completely, it would be truly miserable, and there would be no chance to touch her heart in the future.

Back to Yukino. She was genuinely curious about Renji's words. Remembering Haruno-onee-san's two visits to the school to see her, she couldn't help but send a message to her sister.

Yukinoshita Yukino: "Onee-san, are you there?"

Yukinoshita Haruno replied in seconds: "Wow, what a surprise, Yukino actually took the initiative to message your sister, wow, sister is so touched!"

"What's wrong with Yukino? Onee-san will tell you everything." Her words were full of affection for her sister, but Yukino knew there was a teasing undertone.

Yukinoshita Yukino only felt a headache coming on. She had already experienced countless pranks from her sister since she was little, so she wasn't happy with her sister's teasing, but subconsciously she was wary.

Yukinoshita Yukino: "Onee-san, what do you think of Renji?" She tested the waters first, cautiously. If her sister was truly interested in Renji, then Renji would be miserable. He would definitely be played by her sister.

Yukinoshita Haruno saw the message and her mouth curved into a wide smile. Renji Kamisaka is truly good at this. He could actually make the usually cold Yukino ask her a question on her own initiative.

Yukinoshita Haruno: "He's a very handsome boy. I like him very much. But... if Yukino also likes him, then I can only give him to you."

Seeing this message, Yukinoshita Yukino almost dropped her phone. She was furious.

Yukinoshita Yukino: "Onee-san, please don't say such strange things, and I don't like him either." She immediately retorted.

"But he said he wants to build a good relationship with me and that we might meet often in the future. Do you know what's going on?"

Yukinoshita Haruno: "Xiao Yukino is truly perceptive. Renji is right. You will meet often in the future. I can't tell you the details. You'll know by the end of the month."

"By the way, my mother told me to tell you to try your best to build a good relationship with Renji."

Seeing that, Yukinoshita Yukino suddenly felt depressed. Forget my sister. Why does my mother also want me to build a good relationship with him? But she just said something to him and made him run off. Yukinoshita Yukino suddenly felt guilty.

Of course, she didn't want to be pressured. Do what Mother tells you to do. After all, it was her own business to choose who she would associate with, so no one else needed to interfere. But, she actually had a good impression of Renji. She envied his cat-loving figure. So... it wasn't impossible to try communicating with him...

Thinking like this, Yukinoshita Yukino's cheeks flushed. A little shy. After all, she was just such a self-righteous person; if he wanted to be friends and close to her, he would definitely refuse.

Yukinoshita Haruno: "That's what Mother means, but it's up to you, Yukino. If you don't want to, forget about it. Anyway, I like Renji."

Yukinoshita Yukino: "He has a good relationship with Mahiru Shiina. Don't mess around."

Yukinoshita Haruno: "Oh, are you worried about him? Yukino, you're not being honest."

Yukinoshita Yukino: "I don't understand what you're saying."

Yukinoshita Haruno: "Just hold back. You're cute for saying one thing and thinking another."

"..." Yukinoshita Yukino ended the message exchange in anger. This stinky sister. What are you thinking? She just didn't want her sister to destroy the relationship between Renji Kamisaka and Mahiru Shiina. She's a sister who's good at causing trouble, Yukino thought, letting out a long sigh.

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