Chapter 84 - 84: Still under review

Dinner passed uneventfully. Yukino and her mother barely spoke, while Haru chatted with Mr. Yukinoshita. Haruno didn't return, as she was out having dinner with her classmates. After the meal, Haru had wanted to help with the dishes, but the Yukinoshita couple politely refused. And so, the living room was once again left with just him and Yukino. As always, she sat inside the coffee table area, while he sat outside. On the table were snacks, fruit, and some rather expensive tea. "You really ran all the way back earlier?" After watching TV for a while, Yukino suddenly asked. Haru nodded. "You're still thinking about that?" Expressionless, Yukino replied, "Because it's not very scientific." "This is the result of years of disciplined training. Just like when I made you a workout plan—you improved noticeably, didn't you?" "...That's true." Hearing the word 'stamina', Yukino's mood worsened. She was well aware that, even with regular training, her physical endurance wasn't at the top tier among girls her age. But it should still be decent. And yet, every time they… did that, she always lost far too quickly. Now, seeing how he had run all the way back without even breaking a sweat, she realized—her boyfriend… no, this guy's physical capabilities were practically inhuman. There was even a time when a ridiculous thought crossed her mind—if she alone couldn't satisfy him, would that mean she'd have to let him have someone else on the side? That absurd idea lasted only a second before she threw it away. Because she knew very well that her personality would never allow a third party to step in. And yet, here she was now—watching her once unthinkable thought become a reality. Yukino felt a deep discomfort. Just then, she noticed a hand extending toward her, holding a strawberry skewered on a toothpick. "Want some? I tried it earlier. It's really good, no wonder it's so expensive," Haru said. "Fruits like these are never cheap." Yukino parted her lips and gently bit into the strawberry. Just like that, he slipped back into his usual rhythm of feeding her. Like feeding a cat. Yukino sat there quietly—elegant, beautiful, and carrying a distant air, just like a cold and aloof feline. Haru continued, knowing she was still upset. She wasn't just angry—she was frustrated because she liked him. And worst of all, that frustration carried a sense of grievance. She might never say it outright, never show it on the surface, but deep down, she felt wronged. "...Sorry." His voice rang out in the quiet living room. Yukino's eyes trembled slightly. She refused the next piece he offered. "I don't want any more." "Alright." Haru complied without hesitation. Yukino no longer focused on the television. She turned her chair around, her bare face looking directly into his. "I'm starting to doubt my own judgment now." "For example?" "What kind of girls do you even like?" "...Huh? Where did that come from all of a sudden?" Yukino gazed at him, her expression complicated. "I'll admit, Senpai is very beautiful. But did you really turn yourself into a jerk just because of her? Was it just for her chest?" Haru almost choked. This was bad. This was really bad. They say love makes people dumber, and Yukino had never shown any signs of that before. But now? She was putting her own intelligence to the test. Noticing his expression, Yukino subconsciously tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. Clearly, she had also realized what a foolish question she had just asked. If he were really that shallow, he would've gone after her sister from the start. "Forget what I just said." Yukino forced herself to maintain a stern expression. Haru nodded swiftly. "Got it. Already forgotten." The atmosphere grew a little awkward. Yukino turned away, her cheeks tinged red. "If you had just lied to me that night, you wouldn't even need to apologize right now." Haru spoke seriously, "I couldn't, and I wouldn't, ever lie to you when it comes to feelings." That same answer. Yukino felt a whirlwind of emotions. Should she be happy? At the very least, he didn't try to hide it, didn't turn into a complete scumbag without an ounce of responsibility. Or should she be angry? After all, her boyfriend had gone and gotten entangled with another girl. Her thoughts were a mess. At that moment, she noticed Haru checking the time. Without thinking, she asked, "You're not planning to stay?" "No. You're still mad at me, so it's probably better if I head back tonight." A tightness rose in Yukino's chest. Wasn't this guy supposed to be smart? How could he be this dense and cowardly now? If I really didn't want to see you, would I have waited for you at the door after leaving you behind? She kept a cold face and was about to say something, but then he added— "I'll come back tomorrow." Just like that, the little bit of momentum she had gathered collapsed instantly. Yukino felt like he was doing this on purpose. Seeing him deliberately avoid her sharp gaze and stuff a strawberry into his mouth only confirmed her suspicion. He was doing this on purpose! Yukino rubbed her temples. "You know I'm mad, yet you're still trying to irritate me? Haru, your courage is surprisingly flexible." Haru put on a shy act. "I have no choice. If I weren't a little flexible, you'd think I wasn't smart." "Idiot." This time, she didn't hold back, her insult crisp and direct. Then, she stood up and walked off. "I threw your clothes in the washer. They should be dry by now." A moment later, she returned with his clothes. Haru thanked her and went to the bathroom to change back into them. "I'll walk you out." Yukino looked at his side profile and spoke up first. "Alright." By the time they stepped outside, the sky had already darkened, and the temperature had dropped considerably. A cool night breeze swept past them, ruffling their hair. Yukino accompanied him to the main gate, when suddenly, something occurred to her. "Wait, why isn't your driver here?" Her eyes filled with surprise as she continued, "Don't tell me… you actually ran all the way to Chiba today?" Haru let out a helpless chuckle. "Do you really think I'm that reckless? If we hadn't traveled to Hokkaido together last time, would you have assumed I swam across the sea to get there?" Yukino crossed her arms, her tone indifferent. "So, you just had your driver wait somewhere else?" "Yeah." "Where?" "At his own house." "..." This time, it was Yukino's turn to be speechless. She knew full well that he was teasing her, and suddenly, she felt a headache coming on. "My intolerance for stupidity is flaring up again." "I'll shut up, I'll shut up." Haru grinned sheepishly. Yukino stood beside him, her eyes following the flow of traffic in the distance. "How are you planning to get home?" she asked. "I'll take the subway," Haru replied matter-of-factly. Yukino nodded, satisfied that she hadn't heard something as dumb as "I'll just run back." Then, as if recalling something important, Haru spoke in a low voice. "The guy you mentioned before—the one who had bad luck on the cruise, Hisada—did you hear about him from your mother?" Yukino paused for a moment. "Yeah. They've met a few times because they move in the same circles, but she never really interacted with him." "I got word from the police. His son has been acting strangely. He's been secretly stirring up public opinion online, trying to turn people against the Hooded Vigilante. Looks like he wants revenge for his father." "What?" Yukino's face instantly turned serious. "Is he investigating you?" "Not yet. The police are helping me cover my tracks, so he shouldn't be able to trace anything back to me." Even though Haru spoke calmly, Yukino frowned, deep in thought. After a moment, she couldn't help but ask, "Should we talk to my mother about this?" "No need. It's just a small issue. I've already looked into the Hisada family." Haru didn't mention that this family had legal access to firearms. Yukino stared at him intently, her concern obvious. "What are you planning to do?" "If he doesn't come looking for trouble, I won't go after him. Don't worry, I can handle it." Haru smiled. Yukino found herself momentarily dazed. She had always liked this side of him—the way he stayed calm no matter what, always confident that he could resolve any situation. And yet, it never felt like arrogance. It was because she was by his side. Because he wanted to reassure her, he always made sure to show this unwavering reliability. Suddenly, Yukino wanted him to stay. But in the end, she didn't say it out loud. She was still mad. And, in truth, she felt wronged. After he left, she remained standing at the entrance. Only when his figure completely disappeared from sight did she turn around and go back inside. When she entered the living room, she saw her mother sipping tea leisurely. Mrs. Yukinoshita glanced at her. "So, you two made up?" Yukino replied softly, "Still under review." "To be able to answer so decisively instead of looking lost like before… he really is good at coaxing you." Mrs. Yukinoshita's casual remark made Yukino feel a little embarrassed. But she didn't press the topic further. Instead, she gestured for Yukino to sit beside her. "There's something I forgot to mention," she said. "Back in Hokkaido, he had a conflict with the heir of the Asai family." Yukino's eyes widened. "You mean the guy who was chasing after my sister?" Mrs. Yukinoshita nodded. "Yes. He mistook him for your suitor and stepped in aggressively, even getting into a fight with the bodyguards." "Was he hurt?" This time, Yukino was genuinely worried. The bodyguards on that cruise had to be top-tier professionals. They weren't people an average karate club member could take on. "He was fine." Mrs. Yukinoshita's eyes held a trace of surprise. "Honestly, I was shocked. His physical abilities and combat skills far exceeded what I knew about him." Yukino, however, wasn't particularly surprised. "He's been good at fighting since elementary school." Recalling the time he fought off bullies for her, wielding a mop against multiple opponents, she couldn't help but smile. Seeing this, Mrs. Yukinoshita chose not to say anything else. She had originally intended to tell Yukino that the massive damage to the cruise ship might have been Haru's doing. It was something she had suspected for a while, but with no evidence, she couldn't say it outright. Not even to her husband. But seeing Yukino's current expression… she lost interest in bringing it up. ------- "I could probably take down the entire karate club by myself." On the subway, Haru was on a call with his senior, Oyama. "That sounds like an exaggeration… No, wait. Considering your monstrous strength, I feel like you might actually pull it off." "Want to learn? I can teach you." "Yeah, no thanks. Your so-called 'resilience training' is just self-inflicted torture!" Oyama still remembered the excuse Haru had once used to justify his absurd training methods. After ending the call, Haru casually brushed off a few bold-looking girls trying to strike up a conversation with him before getting off the train at Shinjuku. The recent online chatter had been on his mind—if the rumors were spreading that fast, there was a chance something was happening in real life, too. Sure enough, after wandering around for just a few minutes, he stumbled upon an unusual scene. A large crowd, dressed in all sorts of styles, had gathered around a young man who was addressing them with enthusiasm. Three imposing bodyguards stood nearby, clearly there to prevent anything from going wrong in such a lively district. Haru lingered at the back of the crowd, listening. The message was crystal clear: since the Hooded Hero had often been spotted in Kabukicho, there was now a substantial cash reward for anyone who could provide information on his whereabouts. The mention of money had already attracted a swarm of eager participants. As the crowd began to disperse, the young man's gaze landed on Haru. His eyes flickered with recognition, and he paused. "Amamiya?" "You are?" Although Haru had already obtained information on the guy, he pretended not to know him. "It's not surprising you don't recognize me. I'm Keisuke Hisada. I met your parents a while back—they mentioned you, so I got curious and did a little digging." With a friendly smile, Keisuke stepped closer. "What brings you here?" Haru put on the kind of knowing look only men understood. "I wanted to see what Kabukicho is really like." Keisuke burst into laughter. "Well, you're in for a disappointment. A minor like you won't be getting into any paid attractions around here." "That so? What a shame." With that topic settled, Keisuke's expression turned serious. "I've heard about you at school—you're impressive. If you're willing to do me a favor, I can make it worth your while." "What kind of favor?" "You've got influence at school, right? Don't deny it—I heard all about your exploits in the karate club. If you can get your classmates to help track down that Hooded Hero who's been all over the internet, I'll pay handsomely. No matter how many people you involve, I'll make sure they're rewarded." "That's pretty generous of you, but I'm not interested in internet celebrities." "Internet celebrities? No, no, you misunderstand. The Hooded Hero isn't just some online sensation—he's a recognized hero. Even the police acknowledge him, and he's got a massive fanbase." "Sounds like a social media star to me. Not interested." Haru waved dismissively, completely uninterested, and walked away. Keisuke's smile vanished instantly. As he watched Haru disappear into the crowd, his expression darkened. "So, that guy's really that arrogant, huh? What the hell do the Yukinoshita family see in him?"