Chapter 162 – Hiratsuka Shizuka's Blind Date
"Because before the exam, Yukinoshita-san was tutoring Yuigahama."
Without any hesitation, Hikigaya Hachiman immediately brought up Yukinoshita Yukino, the great Buddha of their grade. Hiratsuka Shizuka might not believe him, Hikigaya Hachiman, nor might she believe Yuigahama Yui—but she would definitely believe Yukinoshita Yukino, the top student of the year.
"Is that so?"
As expected, just as Hikigaya anticipated, after hearing his explanation, Hiratsuka's face showed an 'I see' expression.
"In that case, let's wait until the results come out before I deal with you."
If it was simply a matter of falling asleep during an exam, Hiratsuka only needed to lecture her briefly. Thus, she waved her hand, signaling Yuigahama Yui that she could leave.
"Hikigaya-kun, where do you think you're going? I only said Yuigahama could leave just now."
Seeing Hikigaya about to follow Yuigahama out, Hiratsuka quickly called out to stop him.
"Sensei, do you need something from me?"
Throwing Yuigahama, who looked worried, a reassuring glance, Hikigaya helplessly turned back to face Hiratsuka again.
"Relax, lately you haven't done anything wrong. Naturally, I'm not here to give you trouble."
Gesturing with her hand, Hiratsuka signaled him not to be so tense. After all, the only reason she had grabbed Hikigaya on a whim was because she was too lazy to go find him later.
"So?"
Hikigaya's expression clearly read: I don't buy it.
"You know about Saturday night, right? Was that your doing?"
Picking out a lollipop from her desk drawer and tossing one to Hikigaya, Hiratsuka unwrapped another and popped it into her own mouth.
"No."
Shaking his head, Hikigaya denied being the culprit. Then he curiously asked how she even knew about the incident.
"Did you forget I have this thing?"
With a look of exasperation, Hiratsuka pointed at the jade pendant hanging at her chest.
Hikigaya followed the direction of her finger—but apart from two towering peaks and a ravine that resembled an abyss, he honestly didn't see anything else. Feeling his face grow warm, he awkwardly turned his head away.
"Tch, virgin boy…"
Seeing Hikigaya get embarrassed after just a few glances, Hiratsuka couldn't help teasing him. Her blind dates, by contrast, always stared straight at her chest as though they wanted to bury their faces in it.
"Old virgin…"
Hearing Hiratsuka call him a virgin—a word that carried the force of a critical hit—Hikigaya blurted out a counterattack.
Whoosh!
A gust of wind from her fist brushed past Hikigaya's ear as Hiratsuka retracted her hand with a smile that didn't reach her eyes.
"What was that you just said?"
Gulp.
Swallowing nervously, Hikigaya frantically waved his hands, insisting he hadn't uttered any forbidden words just now.
"Hmph."
Seeing his frightened expression, Hiratsuka let out a cold snort, folded her arms across her chest, and continued explaining why she knew about Saturday night.
"While I was at a high-end restaurant on Saturday night, all of a sudden the pendant started burning hot…"
At this point, Hiratsuka recalled something and her face abruptly turned red.
Seeing her fall silent, Hikigaya blinked in confusion. Then, remembering where she usually kept the pendant, his face lit up with sudden realization.
"Idiot! Even if you figured it out, don't let it show on your face!"
With her face redder, Hiratsuka chopped the side of Hikigaya's head with her hand.
"So what happened afterward?"
Rubbing his nose, Hikigaya pressed on curiously. He wasn't surprised that a high-class restaurant would continue operating during a
blackout—compared to daily revenue, the cost of generator fuel was nothing. What he was curious about was why Hiratsuka was even eating at such a place.
"When that kind of thing appears, of course the restaurant's power goes out."
After calming herself, Hiratsuka's face returned to normal, though her tone carried a trace of irritation.
"And then that old man I was on a blind date with actually tried to take advantage of the situation and touch my leg!"
Perhaps recalling how furious she had been, Hiratsuka accidentally cursed out loud in front of a student. Fortunately, she spoke quietly, and Hikigaya had discreetly set up a silencing charm, so she didn't need to worry about anyone else in the office overhearing.
"So the blind date fell through again?"
Seeing Hiratsuka's indignant look, Hikigaya already guessed the ending of the lecherous old man.
"Of course. Once the lights went out, I beat him up and left. Just as I reached the entrance, the power came back on. Otherwise, I wouldn't have had to pay for the meal."
A trace of regret flashed across Hiratsuka's face. Clearly, in her mind, that blind date wasn't even worth the price of a good dinner.
"Why would you even blind date someone like that?"
Hearing her complaints, Hikigaya voiced his doubt. With her family background, shouldn't her blind dates be with elite figures of society?
"That's the trouble of being an adult."
Hiratsuka's words carried helplessness. What was the use of a strong family background?
Even though her parents respected her wishes and let her date freely, the other old geezers in her family constantly schemed against her. The suitors they introduced couldn't be refused outright, so she had no choice but to meet them once and then find some excuse to reject them.
"Wait a second!"
As she thought of her family's troublesome meddling, Hiratsuka suddenly raised her head.
"Wasn't I the one asking what happened that night? How did this suddenly turn into a discussion about my blind dates?!"
"Uh, well, I was just curious, so I asked…"
Scratching his head awkwardly, Hikigaya averted his gaze, thinking about how to steer the conversation away.
"Curious?"
Hearing his reply, Hiratsuka suddenly chuckled. A kid like him—still wet behind the ears—was curious about this kind of thing? Wasn't it a bit too early?
"Anyway, back to the main point—are you sure you weren't the one responsible that night?"
Judging from how hot her pendant had become, the number of vengeful spirits present had been considerable. To wipe them all out in an instant—other than an exorcist, Hiratsuka couldn't imagine who else could have done it.
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