SWNOVELXO Chapter 156 What do you want to do?_2
"The things you're saying are very dangerous, you know? This is advice, and it applies to everyone, not just you!"
"Yeah, okay, I get it."
The conversation echoed in her ears as she, a stunningly beautiful schoolgirl, walked quietly along the street with her schoolbag in hand.
Her words invigorated the thoughts of many uniformed boys in the vicinity...
Unfortunately, her icy calm demeanor stopped them in their tracks. After adjusting her hair, Chiba Shimizu looked up, her eyes like autumn waters carrying a touch of desolate indifference,
Today... had she said too much?
Walking home alone after school, the usual narcissistic and presumptuous voice was absent, which calmed the girl down,
Starting from the lunch break,
she had made an unexpected move, and after school, she had said those words to Otome... Was it really to appease Yumeko?
No... it seemed more like she was harboring her own little schemes.
If Haruka Yuzan likes you, why should you be afraid? Or does it mean Haruka Yuzan doesn't truly like you?
It was hard to believe that she had said such things.
The tranquility in her eyes was laced with a hint of confusion as she looked at the scattered petals nearby, the world seeming to languish in the twilight,
Blowing in the night breeze alone, at this moment, was always the most rational time to analyze the whole event,
Why had this situation arisen?
Had she really been spending too much time with Haruka Yuzan?
Going to school, attending classes, spending lunchtime together, and even... walking home together after school, it seemed... the shadow of that boy was everywhere in her life now...
Was that why she'd been influenced?
More confused... For the first time, a trace of bewilderment appeared in the girl's eyes.
These things couldn't be found in books; the charming words she usually found comfort in couldn't reveal the picture to her.
Facing the most complex emotions in life... even the lofty and aloof goddess could have a day when she falls from grace and cannot see clearly...
But it should be pure and simple... right... it should be so...
...
With the sky still tinged with a beautiful twilight, Chiba Shimizu also returned to the villa,
Upon opening the door and taking a sniff, she could smell the faint aroma of beef, perhaps?
Having spent a lot of time in the kitchen, Miss Chiba could barely discern what was for dinner by its smell.
"Shimizu, you're finally back!"
The one who always greeted her enthusiastically was the ever-jubilant little rascal. Even though she could be quite lazy at times, Misaki Saki, who knew she was hopeless at life's practical aspects, was always eager to please.
Only then could her own little life be even more wonderful.
"Yeah, I'm back..."
Chiba Shimizu nodded, the confusion and sorrow in her eyes seeming to disappear the moment she stepped into the villa.
Despite her usual chilly gaze, for the young lady, there appeared an added sense of ease.
Read latest stories on empire
"Hehe, we've been waiting for you to have dinner! Let me help you with your schoolbag!"
Misaki Saki laughed heartily and efficiently approached the girl, extending her delicate hands.
"No need, Misaki, I can do it myself." The schoolbag wasn't heavy, but Chiba Shimizu was not accustomed to troubling others.
Entering the living room,
she found it was just as the little one had said, everyone was waiting for her,
The dining table was set with steaming dishes, Haruka Yuzan stood to the side, bending over as if arranging bowls and chopsticks, while Arisugawa Hoshina and Reiko Onodera had just come out of the kitchen, carrying two plates with several large beef burgers on them...
Everyone was busy with their own tasks for the sake of the home, a serene and comfortable atmosphere filling the room,
Perhaps, this was the reason she felt at peace? Often, it's this simple, uneventful life that is most precious...
"Shimizu, hurry up and wash your hands, dinner is ready."
Seeing the refined girl, Mrs. Onodera showed a delighted expression.
Chiba Shimizu nodded to the three, but when she looked at the boy, her eyes clearly rippled with complexity. However, before she could ponder further, the cute little rascal had already pushed her into the bathroom.
"Dinner's ready!!"
"Meow!"
The youthful, clear voice added cheer to the villa's atmosphere, making everything feel so comfortable...
...
Outside the window, cicadas incessantly announced the arrival of summer, and the twilight sky, after all, closed its curtains.
Was there a homeless girl sitting under the streetlight? Like a protagonist in a stage play, lighting up the path forward for both parties involved.
"Look at that, what a beautiful way to put it," remarked Haruka Yuzan after the meal.
Haruka Yuzan sprawled lazily on the sofa, watching a TV commercial about the "Shaving Girl," and couldn't help but click his tongue in astonishment.
To describe a shave ice seller in such lofty terms was quite something, but sadly, the reality was that the vast majority of these vendors just saw you as an easy mark and weren't actually going to do much for you...
Deals as good as the ones from Hokkaido War God had become rare...
"Learn a thing or two about how to promote, that's the art of language and writing!"
The bustling sounds from the kitchen reached his ears; even Arisugawa Hoshina had joined in to help, obviously addressing those words to Misaki Saki, who was slacking off with him.
*Burp*...
After a loud belch, the little guy slouched on the sofa in an unflattering pose, her fair little hand incessantly patting her belly. Clearly, she had eaten too much,
"All that is just false advertising, Misaki-dono would never stoop to such cheap tricks," she stated.
As she spoke, she managed to reveal a dismissive smile, waving her hand as if she was rather proud of herself for this statement.
Glancing at the slumped small legs dangling off the sofa, Haruka Yuzan, aware of her Little She-Devil bluster, couldn't help but smile wryly.
"Actually, not all commercial slogans are false, after all, it did save Sayu, didn't it?"
"Eh? Now that you mention it, it does seem to make sense..."
Misaki Saki, who had previously been coaxed into working for free by Haruka with just a few words, once again lived up to expectations, changing her mind with a single sentence.
After all, expecting too much from that simple little brain was asking for a bit too much...
However, the little slacker, who had been quite listless before, suddenly sat up, looked towards the kitchen to see that the three people hadn't come out yet,
and scooted over to Haruka's side, her cautious demeanor resembling that of a mini secret agent...
"What are you up to?"
Looking at the sneaky little one, Haruka Yuzan had a bad feeling in his heart.
"Hehe."
Just as expected, Misaki Saki giggled sinisterly, her innocent face seemingly about to transform, her whole body trembling with excitement as her eyes locked on to Haruka with a cunning glint,
"Little Haruka..."
Being called 'Little Haruka' by someone who seemed like a middle schooler was somewhat insulting to Haruka Yuzan, "What's up?"
"What's the deal with you and Hoshina?"
Of course, the little one could not resist such gossip.
Just as he was about to educate her, advising her not to make wild guesses, the words died on his lips, as if he had thought of something. Haruka Yuzan flashed a faint smile and whispered,
"Do you want to know?"
"Yes, yes, I do!" To her surprise, her approach was met with ease, and Misaki Saki couldn't help but nod.
"Although it's not a big deal, I can't just tell you outright, can I?"
"Um..."
"There's no such thing as a free lunch in this world."
"There is!"
"That's a metaphor, dummy!"
"Ow, ow, so what do you want me to do?"
"Finally getting smart, eh. Didn't you buy a set of sukeban clothes last time?"