Chapter 67 - 67: Kasumigaoka is Evolving

Yukino's filming was going smoothly. Utaha was able to keep up with her pace, and Kato Megumi maintained her usual honest and friendly demeanor. Everything was progressing in the right direction. "We should be able to finish all the outdoor scenes today in one go." During the break, Yukino wiped the sweat from her forehead with a handkerchief, a satisfied expression on her face. Utaha flipped through the script beside her. "I was thinking the same. The weather's getting hotter. The sooner we wrap up the outdoor scenes, the easier things will be later." Yukino nodded in agreement. "As expected, you've been thinking ahead. You did really well today—have you been practicing at home?" "Yes, I occasionally rehearse in front of a mirror and have also been reading highly rated books on acting," Utaha replied. "Taking actual steps to improve yourself is always a good start." The school's top first-year student and top second-year student got along surprisingly well. As long as the topic didn't involve Haru, they could match each other's rhythm effortlessly, quickly understanding each other's thoughts. Both Yukino and Utaha were pleased with this dynamic. In a way, they both suffered from an aversion to dealing with people who just didn't get it. Especially when faced with classmates who couldn't grasp their point no matter how many times it was explained. Like Haru, who had just returned with drinks—only to get sidetracked. Under the gaze of the two beautiful girls, Haru was engrossed in a conversation with Hashimoto and the others about Kamen Rider. The discussion grew more animated, to the point where he seemed to have completely forgotten about delivering the drinks. "Does Haru really like tokusatsu?" Kato Megumi appeared beside them without a sound. Yukino and Utaha both fell silent for a second. Honestly, even after knowing Megumi for so long, they still hadn't gotten used to her appearing out of nowhere like this. At least today's shoot was in a public park. If they had been filming in a secluded valley or forest and she suddenly showed up beside them, the atmosphere would've instantly shifted to that of a horror movie. "Haru does like these kinds of shows." Yukino lowered her handkerchief and answered. Megumi watched Haru from a distance. "Some of the guys in my class have said that the coolest thing about Kamen Rider—besides the stylish suits—is its core theme of fighting for justice." Utaha didn't think much of it. But Yukino narrowed her eyes slightly at Megumi, sensing some hidden meaning behind her words. Before she could dwell on it further, Haru finally returned with the drinks, interrupting her train of thought. "Sorry, I almost forgot I had a part-time job as a water delivery guy." The girls accepted the drinks, thanking him. Yukino spoke first. "I thought you had already forgotten." "No way! I just didn't expect Hashimoto to be into Kamen Rider too, so I got caught up in the conversation." Haru sounded impressed. In his own class, barely any girls were into tokusatsu, but apparently, there were fans in other classes. Yukino wasn't particularly interested in the topic and simply took a small sip of water to moisten her throat. "Your scene is up next." "Got it. I'm ready." Yukino had full confidence in him, but she still maintained her usual meticulous approach. "Right now, the relationship between the two heroines is strained. As your character passes by, you casually chat with Kato, and then Utaha joins in. You'll act as the bridge that helps ease the tension in their friendship." Haru was about to say he already understood, but Yukino turned to Utaha. "As a ghost watching over her best friend, you need to act happier than Kato when Haru appears. You see him as someone who can help mend things between you two." Then, she turned back to Haru, still maintaining her precise explanation. "At first, you're unaware of Utaha's true identity, but your curiosity leads you to ask questions, unknowingly stepping into their awkward situation. Got it, Matsushita?" Utaha nodded. "Understood." Haru pointed at himself. "You suddenly called me by my character's name—I almost didn't react in time." "As long as you got the message, that's what matters." "But what if I get too into character and start thinking I'm Matsushita all the time?" There it was. Both Yukino and Utaha had the same thought at the same time. Their aversion to stupidity was triggered. Yukino stared at him expressionlessly. "You really are perfect for this role. It's practically a self-insert." "Honestly, he does give off an idiot's vibe." Utaha added with a sigh. Megumi, on the other hand, remained gentle as always. "Amamiya-san is great at lightening the mood. Especially when playing the fool—he's absolutely flawless." Haru: "…" Though he had suddenly found himself under fire, looking at how dedicated everyone was to the project—and how rare it was for them to be so united—he decided to let it slide. After another round of shooting, Yukino had a sudden spark of inspiration and used lighting effects to add a hidden Easter egg to the scene. By now, it was nearly dinnertime. Yukino gave the group a short break before wrapping up the final outdoor shots. "Now that the budget is secured, I don't have to look for sponsors anymore, right?" Haru joked as he rested on the grass with Yukino. "Sponsoring yourself doesn't count," she replied, recalling his past suggestion with amusement. "Hey, sponsorship is sponsorship. But if the principal hadn't approved the budget, what were you planning to do?" "I have a habit of saving money," she said confidently. "Of course. You had your little treasure chest ready all along. I should start saving some secret funds for myself too." "…Idiot." Yukino blushed and scolded him softly. Using the term "secret savings" so casually—was he hinting that she should start saving up for their future children? Thinking about the future made her heart flutter. Her usual serious demeanor softened slightly. She glanced at her boyfriend, who was already sweating from the heat, and gently picked up a handkerchief to wipe his face and forehead. Haru closed his eyes, enjoying her touch for a moment, but the heat was relentless. He stood up and casually invited her along: "A handkerchief won't do much. I'm going to splash some cold water on my face. Want to come?" Yukino shook her head. She was sweating too, but it wasn't unbearable. Haru walked over to the familiar outdoor faucet and was immediately stunned. The broken faucet had fallen to the ground, and standing there, drenched with water droplets on her face and damp hair clinging to her skin, was Utaha. Haru stifled a laugh. "You okay?" Utaha wiped her face in annoyance. "Why hasn't anyone come to fix this yet?" "Probably procrastination?" Haru bent down, turned on another faucet, and let the cold water splash over his face. Instantly, he felt much better. "You had that look on your face… don't tell me you already knew this faucet was broken?" she asked suspiciously. "I had no idea." Haru put on an innocent expression. He couldn't admit it now. She already looked embarrassed enough. A delicate white hand suddenly appeared beside him, holding a tissue. "Here, dry off." "Thanks." Haru took the tissue and wiped his face. As he turned, he finally noticed—Utaha's shirt was also wet. She already had an impressive figure, and with the summer heat making things even stickier, she had unbuttoned a few buttons. As she bent down to wash her hands, a glimpse of purple lace came into view. Haru immediately averted his gaze. The first glance was instinct. The second glance, however, would be a choice. Utaha, of course, noticed everything. She calmly finished washing her hands, buttoned her shirt, and flashed a casual smile. "It's normal for teenage boys to have… certain thoughts. This was just an accident and a coincidence, so no need to feel awkward." Haru froze for a moment. Wow. She's evolved. The last time something like this happened—during that rainy day—she had been teasing and aggressive, but still maintained a careful balance. But this time was different. She was composed, natural, and even managed to ease the awkwardness effortlessly. She really seemed like a mature and friendly senpai. This has to be at least a major evolution. Haru thought to himself. As for the ultimate evolution… she probably needed a little more training. "Are you staying here to rest? I'm heading back first," Utaha said with a smile. "Go ahead, I'm going to check out this faucet a bit more," Haru replied absentmindedly. She paused for a second, as if she wanted to say something, then sighed. "Do all guys have such weird attention spans?" Without waiting for his response, she turned and left. The moment she turned away, the relaxed smile on her face disappeared, replaced by a quiet sigh. Just now was a perfect chance to be alone with him—a rare moment where she could indulge a little in her feelings. But unfortunately, she couldn't joke around with him like she used to. I should focus on becoming better first. Quickly regaining her composure, she reverted back to her usual confident self. Returning to the filming location, the first thing she saw was Yukino sitting on the grass. Their eyes met almost instantly. Utaha spoke first. "I'm ready to continue filming." Yukino's gaze lingered on her chest for a couple of seconds before nodding. "We'll start once he gets back." Yukino made no effort to hide her observation, and Utaha, of course, noticed. But she knew—it wasn't because Yukino was envious of her figure. Most likely, she was just wondering why her shirt was wet. Yukino stood up and made the final preparations. Just then, Kato Megumi walked over. "Looks like Senpai fell for it." "Hm?" Yukino tilted her head slightly. Megumi adjusted the camera lens while explaining, "One of the faucets here is broken. I almost got caught by it last time." Yukino nodded in understanding. With Haru back, they wrapped up the last scene smoothly. On the way home, Yukino spoke seriously. "Senpai is getting better and better." Haru knew exactly what she meant and replied, "You being so outstanding must have motivated her." "Just me?" Yukino gave him a sharp glance. Haru crossed his arms dramatically. "If you want to compliment me, feel free to go all out." Yukino turned her head away immediately. "No, it's just me. You're too dumb." "You rejected me that fast?" Ignoring his complaints, Yukino gazed into the distance. If she didn't have those kinds of feelings for him, we probably could've been friends. The thought crossed her mind but was quickly discarded. She knew very well why Utaha was working so hard to improve. The more effort she put in, the more she wanted to change, the clearer it became that she hadn't given up. And she wouldn't give up. When it came to rivals in love, Yukino's stance had never changed. She had to be decisive. Later that evening, Yukino and Haru stopped by her house first. She grabbed… stockings. Skin coloured, white, black—she had them all. Haru looked delighted. She rolled her eyes at him, her cheeks slightly flushed. Arriving at Haru's house, she changed into slippers and sighed. "I'm starting to think I'm indulging you too much." "Why do you say that?" Haru played dumb. Yukino rested her chin on her hand, deep in thought. "If this continues, you might start revealing some… strange preferences." "I'm not a pervert." "But from my perspective, you're already heading down that path, Haru." "What's wrong with me liking you in stockings? It'd only be weird if I wore them." "Oh?" She smiled beautifully. "That's actually not a bad idea." She had a beautiful smile. Amused, Haru waved his hand. "No way, I'd rather die than cross-dress." Yukino gave him a scrutinizing look. "I just said it was a good suggestion, and you're already letting your imagination run wild?" Haru remained unfazed. He knew her well enough—at most, she'd use the topic to tease him for a bit. Cross-dressing? Even if he were willing, Yukino would probably step on him with disdain and give him a look that screamed, garbage. "How long are you planning to stare?" Yukino had already noticed his gaze lingering on her legs. Haru answered with a straight face, "I remember you showing off your drawing skills when we were kids." "So?" Yukino raised an eyebrow. "You're just going to keep staring?" "I was just thinking... if you taught me how to draw, you'd be the perfect model." "You want to draw my legs?" "If you're willing, I can draw other parts too." "I suddenly feel like having a nice chat with Aunt Amamiya." "...I surrender!" Ever since they started dating, Yukino had gained a powerful trump card against him. Since both of them had been sweating quite a bit that day, they each took a shower after dinner. Rather than changing into pajamas, Yukino opted for a clean and simple sportswear set. Because she suspected they might have a visitor. Her lightweight nightgowns and loose, low-cut pajamas were reserved for Haru's eyes only. Even when her sister had stayed over that night, she had worn modest, fully covered sleepwear. At precisely 6:50 PM, the doorbell rang. Haru and Yukino exchanged glances. "It's probably Officer Yuto." Haru got up to answer the door. Yukino followed. When the door opened, a man in a police uniform stood outside. Noticing Yukino beside Haru, he offered a polite smile. "Apologies for dropping by unannounced—I wanted to ask you about shogi." As he spoke, he handed over a neatly packed bag of fruit. Haru accepted it with a nod of thanks, setting out a pair of indoor slippers. He smiled. "No need to be so formal, Officer Yuto. This is my girlfriend, Yukinoshita Yukino." "Nice to meet you," Yukino greeted politely. Officer Yuto's gaze flickered slightly before he nodded with a smile. "I see. In that case, let's get straight to the point." Haru had introduced Yukino right away, making it clear he wasn't going to play along with the shogi excuse. The three of them moved to the living room. Yukino motioned for Haru to stay put and took it upon herself to pour tea and prepare some snacks. Watching her, Officer Yuto chuckled. "Are you two already preparing for marriage?" Yukino's cheeks were slightly flushed, but her tone remained composed. "You're here to discuss something important with Haru. Of course, I'll take care of these small things." "Thank you." Officer Yuto accepted the tea, then looked at Haru. "It seems you're already aware of the situation." Haru nodded. He decided to lighten the mood with a joke. "So should I call you Amamiya-kun now? Or 'Justice Partner Hooded Hero'?" "Let's stick with the first one. That second title is... a bit embarrassing." "Haha, I thought so too." The two of them laughed as they talked, while Yukino quietly sat down beside Haru. She didn't say anything, but her sharp gaze never left the officer. Haru had already explained everything about the "Hooded Hero" incident to her, including the officer's connections with their families. For him to be this friendly and sincere… it must mean he needs something from Haru. Yukino sat still, but her mind was working quickly. She had already stepped into the role of a "wise and supportive partner." Of course, there was also that infuriating Mr. Koga. She intended to take this opportunity to gather some information from the officer.