Chapter 143 - 143: Haruno Wants to Play

Thirty minutes later, Haru met Haruno down by the front entrance. As always, she looked stunning. But today was different from her usual simple dress style—she wore a well-tailored suit skirt. A sleek black jacket clung to her upper body, and every subtle sway of her waist revealed a soft, graceful silhouette that was uniquely hers. His gaze slid down the curve of her body—on her feet were a pair of black mesh heels, elegant and airy, showing off pale, slender legs that looked almost too perfect. "You took the day off today?" Noticing Haru wasn't in his school uniform, Haruno made a quick guess. He nodded. "Something came up last minute. Just had to take care of it." "And that won't affect your studies?" "I'm one of the top three in my grade, remember?" "Alright, alright, no need to show off," Haruno waved him off with a smile. "Once you manage to beat Yukino, then you can brag to me all you want." She laughed again, then asked, "So, are you busy now?" "No, I just wrapped things up." "Perfect. Come shopping with me." Before he could answer, she had already closed the distance, wrapping her arm around his in a familiar, affectionate motion. It was a little too close for casual friends, but she knew how to toe the line. Not tight enough to press her chest against him, but not so distant that they'd seem like strangers. "You called just to drag me out shopping?" He didn't mind her closeness. After all, they'd known each other for years. They'd had even more intimate moments—hugging, for example. "What else would I call you for? I'm only going to school this afternoon. Come help me shop for a bit, and later, I'll take you to class. Deal?" "To be honest, I'd rather just stay home and game." Haru couldn't help but recall an anime he'd once seen: Haruno Wants to Play. "Haru~ we made a promise, remember?" Haruno gave a cute little wink, playfully teasing. He ignored the act. "So I'm doomed to be your shopping bag holder, huh?" "What can I say? A promise is a promise," she said again with a mischievous smile. Haru felt a strange mix of emotions. He understood her subtext all too well. She was still hinting at that incident—the time he accidentally saw her in the bathroom. They'd both agreed never to bring it up again, and he had kept quiet all this time. But Haruno? She kept tossing in little reminders. She's still as impossible to read as ever. That was all he could think. Since it was still early, the mall was quiet when they arrived, most of the shops free from crowds. Haruno actually seemed to enjoy the emptiness. Arm in arm, she dragged Haru from the cosmetics store to the bag section. She even bought him a wallet. It wasn't cheap either. But the way she casually swiped her card—now that was cool. That wasn't Haru's thought—it was what he read in the cashier's eyes. Beautiful, curvy, rich, generous—girls like her aren't just popular with guys. Even girls fall for her. Then she dragged him into a women's clothing store. They hadn't been inside long when he noticed three guys sitting in the corner, all staring at their phones. Judging by the handful of women browsing the racks, those men were probably just tagging along with their girlfriends or wives. Haru figured he'd soon be joining them. But then Haruno picked out a dress and turned back to him with a charming smile. "Wait outside. And no peeking." He blinked. "Can't I just sit over there?" "Nope." She beamed and shook her head, holding the dress like a joke she was dying to tell. "Tell me, Haru. When a girl tries on clothes, who do you think she wants to see first after changing?" He played dumb. "The mirror, obviously." Haruno's smile didn't budge. "You forget—lying doesn't work on me." Haru scratched his chin, pretending to think. "Ah, I see. You want me to witness the transformation. A magical girl, right?" This time, Haruno blinked, confused. "Magical girl? What are you talking about?" Haru mimicked one of their teachers. "Haruno-san, you've always had top marks, haven't you? Then you should know—chemistry is basically the magical arts of this world. With your grades, you totally qualify to be a magical girl." The salesgirl nearby tried hard to suppress a giggle. Haruno rolled her eyes at him. "Now I'm really curious. When you say this nonsense to Yukino, how does she even respond?" "She usually compliments me, sincerely." He lied without blinking. Haruno let out a soft chuckle, saying nothing more. Haru smirked. "You two really are sisters. Even your cold laughs sound exactly the same." Haruno disappeared into the changing room. Only then did the salesgirl finally laugh out loud. "You and your girlfriend are adorable. The way you two get along—it's honestly kind of enviable." He shook his head. "You've got it wrong. It's her sister who's my girlfriend." "Wait, seriously? But you two seem so close! You really look like a perfect match…" "I'll just take that as a compliment for my looks. But the rest—I'll pretend I didn't hear it." "Aha… ha… ha…" The salesgirl let out a laugh worthy of a daytime variety show. As she walked away, Haru stayed where he was, leaning against the wall instead of heading to the rest area. About three minutes later, the curtain rustled. Haruno stepped out, wearing a fiery red dress that hugged her figure. "Well?" she asked with a smile. He kept a straight face. "Too bright." "You mean the color?" "What else?" "I was asking you to judge me, not the dress." "You look as beautiful as always." Finally satisfied, she nodded with a soft smile. She gave a subtle sway of her hips, then turned in a slow, graceful spin right in front of him. The fitted cut of the long red dress perfectly accentuated her curves—elegant, yet bold. The vivid color added a kind of passionate allure she normally didn't have. It was a different kind of charm—fiery, radiant. Her waistline, hips, and legs were all flawlessly outlined. The smooth skin of her neck, exposed just enough, looked as pure and pale as the first snow of winter. "Clothes really do make the woman," Haru said, keeping his tone carefully analytical. Haruno raised an eyebrow. "That doesn't sound quite as flattering as before." "I'm just saying... the dress suits you, obviously. It's just a different look from what I'm used to seeing on you." "Different in a bad way?" She tilted her head, her voice curious—as if she truly cared about his opinion. "Not bad. Just... attention-grabbing. That kind of bold, unapologetic beauty—it's opposite of your usual elegance." "Now that's something I like hearing." Haruno nodded, her smile smug and pleased. Haru couldn't help but chuckle. "You're only hearing the part with the word 'beauty,' aren't you?" Haruno offered no answer—just an even more satisfied smile. Clearly, she was happy with his reaction. So much so that she decided to buy the dress right then and there. And then... she headed for the lingerie section. She picked out two sets she liked, and as she walked past him again, she deliberately held them out of sight. Haru muttered, "How many times do I have to say it—I'm not trying to sneak a peek." All he got in return was a soft laugh. Beautiful women always take forever when shopping. And when it came to someone like Haruno —someone who lived for elegance and detail—it took even longer. He waited outside for over half an hour, watching as she came out with one outfit, found another, then went back in. On and on it went. After nearly an hour, she was finally done. She didn't wear the new outfit, of course. She kept her previous look, handed him the bags, and hooked her arm through his again. "Let's go. I'm starving." Haru grumbled under his breath, "I swear I'm never going shopping again." "Patience is a virtue, dear Haru." "Respect other people's fate. Embrace a morally bankrupt life," he shot back. "Pfft... hahaha! That doesn't sound like something the 'Hooded Hero' would say." He winced inwardly. That was the persona he'd created for himself—an anonymous do-gooder to farm experience points. And now? That identity was coming back to bite him. Classic boomerang effect. "You've been standing out here over an hour. Tired?" They'd walked a little before Haruno suddenly asked, looking up at him. He wasn't tired at all—but he said, "Yeah. Legs are turning to jelly." "Poor thing. Want a reward for your troubles? I could give you one." She grinned, her tone playful and just a little wicked. Haru didn't flinch. "You're really offering?" "Mhm. I am." Her smile remained as dazzling as ever, but now there was mischief in her eyes. "How about... a kiss from your big sis as a reward? What do you think?" "No thanks." He shot her down without hesitation. Haruno covered her lips in mock surprise. "You're turning down a kiss? I've never kissed a guy before. Are you really okay letting my first time go to waste?" "Let's just get lunch," Haru replied calmly. "It's already come to that point." Haruno pouted, her voice playful and dramatic. "Little Haru is so not cute." Haru pretended not to hear her at all. A kiss, huh? If it were Yukino... or Utaha, he might've been thrilled. But Haruno? Yeah, hard pass. God knows what kind of trap that sly woman was setting up in that scheming brain of hers. If he even hesitated to say yes, she'd probably call Yukino the next second just to mess with him. Totally within the realm of possibility. During lunch, Haruno seemed a little sad that he'd turned down her "kiss reward." She brought it up again—casually, of course. "There were quite a few guys checking me out when we came in earlier," she said, as if making small talk. "That's normal. You're pretty," Haru replied, not even looking up from his food. Haruno didn't get upset at the nonchalant answer. Still smiling, she went on, "There are still guys sneaking glances at me." "Also normal. You've got a great figure." This time, Haru didn't even try to fake interest. Haruno finally gave him a gentle knock on the head with her finger. "Then, tell me —specifically, which part of my body looks good?" Without missing a beat, he muttered, "Classic hourglass figure." Haruno's smile froze, a visible question mark almost popping up above her head. "Hourglass?" She imagined the shape of an actual hourglass and frowned. Did he just say my body looks weird? In truth, Haru meant that smooth S-curve—her narrow waist and the way her hips flared out below. It was hands-down her most seductive feature. But right now? He was focused on eating. Explaining? Not worth the effort.