Chapter 32: Nishinomiya Shouko
"Nishinomiya Shouko has a congenital hearing impairment and doesn't have a father. She comes from a single-parent family and has a younger sister named Nishinomiya Yuzuru."
Service Club.
Haruto could only sigh as Yukino calmly read out the information about Shouko.
This was wrong.
So very wrong.
Hiratsuka wasn't wrong at all.
So why was the Service Club involved if this matter could have been easily resolved on its own?
Hearing Haruto's sigh, Yukino paused briefly, looked at him with cold eyes, and said calmly, "Kuromori-kun, do you know that interrupting someone is very rude?"
"Or are you the type of person who does that?"
"..."
Yukino's words were as sharp and direct as ever.
She was displeased by Haruto's brazen attitude, and then she drove him away. It was something Yukino was particularly concerned about.
And the second time they met, they didn't gain any advantage either.
This made her feel uneasy.
Beside her, Yuigahama quickly said, "Yukino-chan, what's next?"
"Please call me Yukinoshita or Yukino."
"But Yukino-chan sounds more intimate, don't you think, Kuromori-kun?"
Haruto nodded and said, "I think so too."
"..."
Yukino sighed helplessly, ignoring the two of them, and continued, "Nishinomiya Shouko is currently studying at a school for children with special needs. What we need to do is learn more about her situation."
"Anyway, let's go take a look first!"
As she spoke, Yukino glanced at Haruto and said, "Hiratsuka-sensei said that everything is under my control, so please, Kuromori-kun, don't fool around, so as not to cause any problems."
Haruto said, "Yukino-chan decides."
Yukino stepped back two paces, folded her arms defensively, and said with an expressionless face, "Kuromori-kun, it seems we're not that close. Your name makes me feel like my virginity is threatened, so please call me Yukinoshita or Yukinoshita-san."
Haruto continued with a blank expression, "Yukino-chan decides."
"Oh, do you really want to get closer to me?"
Yukino said bluntly, "Give it up quickly! We are not compatible at all."
Haruto couldn't help but complain, "You're just a regular person, who would like you?"
Yukino took a deep breath and suddenly said, "Sorry, I was wrong. It's all because of my inability to understand your dirty and lewd thoughts."
"No, you're right."
Haruto said seriously, "It's all my fault. I made you misunderstand and create the illusion that I like you."
Their eyes met, as if an electric current passed through the sky.
Beside them, Yuigahama shivered and said flatly, "We should get going."
Yukino took a breath, held back the urge to continue mocking, and turned to leave.
Yuigahama sighed in relief and quickly followed.
❀❀❀
Nishinomiya Shouko's school wasn't far; it only took ten minutes to reach the nearest station by train.
After getting off the train, Yukino took out a map on her phone and looked at it, then pointed forward, "Go this way, it only takes ten minutes to get there."
After taking a few steps and seeing that neither of them was following her, she stopped and looked back.
Yuigahama laughed flatly and said cautiously, "Yukino-chan, I think it's this way."
Haruto spread his arms, suppressing a smile, and said, "This time, Yui has the final say."
Yukino: "😐"
Her face slightly flushed, and she couldn't help but glare at Haruto, then she took a breath and said calmly, "I understand, let's go!"
Soon, the three of them arrived at a bridge.
As they passed, Haruto noticed a pink-haired girl near the bridge.
How to put it... Some people are hard to forget after seeing them once.
Maybe it was her cute appearance, maybe it was her outstanding figure, or maybe it was her unforgettable demeanor.
Yukino fell into this category.
The girl near the bridge could be considered cute, but what really caught people's attention was her quiet and gentle temperament and the deep sadness suddenly visible in her eyes.
It was a gentle sadness.
Haruto thought of a phrase, 'This world is never gentle, let alone treating you gently.'
Because he had experienced it, he could feel it.
However, there are always some fools in this world. Even if they are bruised and battered, they still face everything gently and keep all the pain to themselves.
People like that are very cute and foolish.
Although Haruto didn't agree with such gentleness, he wouldn't mind it.
And the girl was feeding fish with bread near the bridge.
Would she be that kind of fool?
Haruto called Yukino and said, "Go gather information. I'll handle Nishimiya Shouko."
"Huh?" Yukino followed Haruto's gaze and quickly locked onto the girl near the bridge: "That girl..."
Yuigahama took out her phone, found the picture, and said in surprise, "Right, that's her."
Yukino slightly raised her eyebrows, looked at Haruto, and said, "Sorry, I don't trust Kuromori-kun right now, so I can't leave it to you."
"Haha..."
Yuigahama laughed flatly and quickly said, "Yukino-chan, Kuromori-kun, let's go together."
Haruto said speechlessly, "Yukino-chan, please trust me more."
"Sorry."
Yukino's face was expressionless, and her eyes showed disgust as she said, "I don't think there's any trust in a man who enjoys teasing girls."
"Okay, okay..."
Yuigahama quickly grabbed Yukino's arm and dragged her away. She turned back, stuck out her pink tongue, and said with a smile, "Kuromori-kun, we have the advantage in chatting with girls, so just leave it to us."
'You're biased. Maybe it would be better for a guy to start the conversation?'
Haruto walked to the side and waited quietly because Yuigahama was right; it wasn't appropriate for a guy to recklessly approach a girl.
However, before Yukino and Yuigahama got close, a boy with spiky hair and a girl with long straight black hair began communicating with Shouko somewhat excitedly.
Haruto frowned and stepped closer.
Since he had accepted Hiratsuka's commission, it was impossible for him to turn a blind eye.
At the same time, Yukino quickened her pace, grabbed the straight black-haired girl's hand, pushed her away, and she fell to the ground.
"Ueno."
The boy was shocked and immediately helped Ueno, glaring angrily at Yukino, and said, "What are you doing?"