Chapter 103 - 103: Your Ignorance Is a Lie!

"Logically speaking, a skill upgrade should provide more than just this effect." Haru reflected on the sensation he had just experienced. If a person's self-control was weak, they would easily sink into it. That state of pure contentment, free from all worldly desires, could appeal to people of all ages. But if that was all there was to it, then [Drugging] was significantly inferior to his previous two skill upgrades. After pondering for a moment, Haru decided to test it again. As soon as the food entered his stomach, the Sage Mode reactivated. This time, however, he didn't immediately force himself out of it. Instead, he resisted the urge to simply lie down and do nothing, choosing instead to walk around the house. The sensation remained just as strong as before. Then, as he began boiling water for tea, he made an important discovery. Brewing tea wasn't a separate skill; it was categorized under [Cooking], meaning he had always been quite proficient at it. But at this moment, under the influence of Sage Mode, he could clearly sense the tiniest improvements in his tea-brewing technique. Even the most minute details—he could notice them. To verify this theory, he headed to his home gym. [You are training. (Steel Body) EXP +271.] [You are training. (Steel Body) EXP +287.] The experience gain was noticeably higher than usual. Haru kept running on the treadmill as notification after notification scrolled past, confirming his hypothesis. While in Sage Mode, any activity he performed granted significantly better improvements than normal. The only problem was that the effect was too strong. He had to constantly fight against the overwhelming desire to do absolutely nothing and instead focus on tasks that could help him grow. Haru concentrated for a moment, and [Steel Body Lv2] allowed him to break free with ease. Turning off the treadmill, he returned to the living room to continue eating. This self-inflicted buff felt like a blatant bug exploit. But he had to admit—it was an incredibly efficient way to grind experience. So, Haru decided to pull an all-nighter. Cooking meals in the middle of the night, immediately using the [Drugging] skill boost to grind more EXP—he repeated the process over and over. By the time dawn arrived, he had figured out the duration of [Drugging]. "Around 30 minutes, give or take." Feeling refreshed, Haru headed to school. The all-nighter didn't leave him fatigued at all. And thanks to his efforts, he had leveled both [Combat] and [Jumping] up to Lv9 in a single night. After greeting his classmates upon arrival, Haru had just taken his seat when Furukawa and the others arrived. Furukawa had a new hairstyle today, and the moment Haru saw him, his expression turned… odd. "What? Is there something wrong with my hair?" Noticing Haru staring at his hairstyle, Furukawa chuckled a bit awkwardly. "Your new haircut reminds me of someone from the past," Haru said calmly. "Seeing you resemble him even slightly… makes me feel sentimental." "Who?" "You should check out Koji's stream later. He's been dancing with the same hairstyle lately. You might learn something from it." "Huh? Oh, you mean Koji the streamer? He's a huge deal now." A Dinner Invitation That afternoon, during club activities, Yukino brought up the dinner at Haru's place. They decided on Thursday, since Haruno was busy the next few days. Naturally, Haru welcomed the idea. "You'll be the one cooking. I won't help." After some thought, Yukino decided to give him an early warning. Haru immediately thought of his [Drugging Lv1] skill and nodded without saying much. Considering the self-control of the Yukinoshita sisters, they should be able to break free from Sage Mode. If they could resist the urge to lie down and instead focus on productive tasks, they would gain even more from it. In that sense, it might actually be beneficial for them. Just then, a pleasant fragrance wafted through the air. Both Haru and Yukino turned their heads simultaneously— Utaha had approached them, leaning forward slightly and resting one hand on the desk in front of them. "Yukinoshita, did you tell him about it?" Yukino instinctively frowned. Standing before them, Utaha lowered her head slightly, her clear, glossy eyes carrying just the right amount of curiosity. It looked like a casual question— But it wasn't. Because at that moment, she was also subtly emphasizing something else. The way she leaned forward, the way her hands rested on the desk—her already impressive curves were now accentuated even further. Her uniform's top, already snug, seemed to be straining under pressure, as though the buttons could pop off at any moment. Meanwhile, her long, well-proportioned legs, wrapped tightly in black stockings, extended smoothly beneath her skirt—drawing attention with their graceful contours. Had Yukino not deliberately lifted her gaze, she would have been staring directly at Utaha's chest. And since she was seated next to Haru, he was in the same predicament. So Yukino quickly shot a glance at Haru. "Why are you looking at me?" Haru remained composed. He had instinctively glanced at Utaha for a split second before immediately averting his gaze. He might be an expert at reconnaissance and detecting traps, but he wasn't foolish enough to walk into one right in front of Yukino. Instead of answering him, Yukino turned to the woman in front of her, eyes narrowing slightly. "...You did that on purpose, didn't you?" "On Purpose?" Utaha blinked in confusion. Following Yukino's gaze downward, she saw her own chest and chuckled. "I'm not that petty." Yukino remained expressionless. The underlying message was clear: I don't need to show off on purpose. "I've already told Haru —he'll be cooking tomorrow." Yukino didn't bother dwelling on Utaha's subtly flirtatious posture. "Then I'll let my parents know when I get home," she replied. Utaha nodded. As Hashimoto and the others waved at Haru, calling him over, Utaha seized the opportunity the moment he left—immediately taking his seat. Yukino eyed her warily. "Something on your mind?" Utaha parted her lips, hesitating. Yukino disliked roundabout conversations. "Just say it." "Well… Yukinoshita…" It was rare for Utaha to be so hesitant in front of her. After a few seconds, she finally asked in a quiet voice, "Have you been keeping up with exercise these past few years?" Yukino's brows furrowed slightly. "Yes." "Have you seen much improvement?" "What exactly are you trying to ask?" "It's nothing. I just wanted to know… between us, who's in better physical shape?" Yukino's tone cooled instantly. "Senpai, if you insist on lying, at least make an effort. Take a moment, think of something more convincing, then come back and try again." Utaha looked a bit embarrassed. She knew her excuse had been weak, but still—some things were just too awkward to say outright, even for her. The real issue was… what if Yukino was actually better than her at that sort of thing? That would be another hit to her pride. "Forget I asked," Utaha muttered, deciding to retreat for now. But Yukino, now intrigued, wasn't about to let her escape so easily. "Are you sure you don't want to explain yourself properly?" "I haven't figured out how to phrase it yet." "Oh?" Yukino casually picked up her notebook. "So it's something difficult to talk about?" Utaha sighed. "Yeah." Remaining composed, Yukino pondered for a moment. "Things that typically make girls uncomfortable… aside from periods, the only other thing I can think of is bra size." She glanced briefly at Utaha's well-developed figure. "If it was just about size, why would I need to ask you?" Utaha laughed lightly. "Fair point. If you were trying to brag about that kind of fat, I'd think you were an idiot." "…Well, thanks for the vote of confidence." Hearing Yukino's detached response, Utaha could only offer a helpless smile. Honestly, if things were different, she wouldn't mind teasing Yukino by flaunting her figure. But things were different now. She was entangled in Haru and Yukino's relationship. Bragging about something so trivial didn't suit her current position. In the end, Utaha simply concluded, "I'll ask you when I figure out how to say it." As she walked away, Yukino's usually cold expression shifted—just slightly. — After club activities wrapped up, everyone headed home. Utaha had just said goodbye to Haru moments ago. Yet, when Haru arrived home, taking his time, he was surprised to find her already waiting at his door. "Surprised?" Noticing his expression, Utaha's lips curled into a playful smile. "Of course I am. You literally just told me you had to head home early," Haru replied. "And because I left early, I got here ahead of you." She had a way of being alluring without even trying. Haru understood immediately—she probably just wanted another excuse to show off her dedication to studying. The two had barely stepped inside when the sound of light rain began pattering outside. It wasn't heavy, and it looked like it would pass soon. "You're not eating at home today?" Haru asked while tying his apron. "Of course I am." Her unexpected response caught Haru off guard. As he turned toward her with a puzzled look, she bit her lip and smiled softly, her cheeks flushed. "But I did tell my mom I'd be home later than usual tonight." Thud. Haru closed the refrigerator door. Dressed in an apron, he turned around thoughtfully. "So, should I start cooking now?" "If you don't think cooking is a waste of time, then go ahead." Utaha shifted her posture, turning her body slightly. Her long legs sprawled out casually, and as she leaned back against the sofa, her arms naturally followed suit. The rain outside drummed softly, its sound crisp and clear. Yet, it did nothing to quell the fire in her eyes—if anything, it burned even fiercer. She had been holding back for days. Haru met her gaze, finally piecing things together. "So back at the club, you were standing like that on purpose?" She lifted her chest slightly, tilting her chin upward. Her cheeks were flushed, but her lips curled into a seductive smile. "What do you think, Sensei?" Lies! You totally knew! Haru's mind screamed: Charge! Attack!