Chapter 445: Hiratsuka Shizuka's Intuition; Mashiro: I'm Good at Studying
The rich aroma of grilled beef filled the air, punctuated by the satisfying sizzle of fat rendering on the hot metal. Sengoku Chihiro took a long, slow sip of her beer, setting the frosty mug down with a soft thud. She tilted her head, a lazy, teasing smile playing on her lips.
"So, Shizuka," she began, her voice dripping with amusement, "tell me more about this super handsome guy you supposedly ran into at the bookstore today."
Hiratsuka Shizuka nodded emphatically, her eyes sparkling with renewed hope. "Mm! He was! Incredibly handsome! And he had this amazing charisma, so polite and refined!"
Sengoku Chihiro's smile widened. "Huh? Well, look at you, Shizuka. Attracting admirers left and right."
The comment made Hiratsuka Shizuka's expression darken. She ground her teeth. "Yeah, I was! But before my little tree of love could even sprout a single leaf, you, senpai, came along and ripped it out of the ground—roots, soil, and all! Then you stomped my poor sapling flat for good measure!"
Sengoku Chihiro gave her a look of deep apathy, her signature 'dead-fish eyes' completely devoid of emotion. "Hey, hey, hey… what kind of brutal assessment is that? But let's be realistic, Shizuka. Even if you think love has finally arrived, would your family approve? They'd have to consider the man's financial situation, after all."
"That's true," Hiratsuka conceded, "but I don't think that would be a problem. None of the clothes he was wearing looked cheap, and he had this aura… it's not something an ordinary person could possess."
Sengoku Chihiro mulled this over for a moment. "Hmm… that does sound pretty good. But if he's that exceptional, wouldn't he already have a girlfriend?"
Hiratsuka Shizuka snatched a slice of perfectly grilled beef from the mesh, popping it into her mouth. She chewed with a grumpy expression. "It's not impossible he's single. Just look at Shion, and you'll know what I mean."
"Hmm, you have a point," Sengoku admitted. "But I've always been curious how Shion and her man… her fiancé, I mean… actually met. Every time I ask, she gets all evasive. I have a feeling it's not exactly a fairy-tale story."
"We can just ask her fiancé tonight and find out. Anyway, Shion is completely under her husband's thumb, so she probably can't say a word. Speaking of which… why do I suddenly feel a little nervous?"
"You're just going to her fiancé's restaurant for dinner. What's there to be nervous about?"
"You're asking me? Who am I supposed to ask? Do you always know the reason you're feeling nervous?"
Sengoku Chihiro considered this, then nodded in agreement.
Hiratsuka Shizuka let out a long sigh, a dreamy look returning to her eyes. "I just have this feeling I'm going to meet him again. It has to be fate. It absolutely is."
"I'll grant you that much," Sengoku said, picking at her own food. "But Shizuka, why do I get the feeling that even if you do meet him, it won't make much of a difference? I mean, you said yourself that the blind date partners you met before were all pretty decent, right?"
Hiratsuka Shizuka shook her head vehemently. "Senpai, you just don't get it. This was a true, thrilling moment. Something you've definitely never experienced. And I'm telling you, this time is completely different. He crushes it on hardware alone, okay? He's so much taller than me!"
"Eh? How tall are we talking?"
Hiratsuka Shizuka stood up from her seat, craning her neck as she tried to visualize his height against the wall. After a long moment, she sat back down, a little uncertain. "Probably almost one-ninety. Factoring in his shoes, his actual height must be over one-eighty-five."
Sengoku Chihiro's eyes widened in genuine surprise. "Good heavens, Shizuka. Are you even half his height?"
The question left Hiratsuka stunned for a second before she exploded. "Idiot Senpai! I'm at least one-sixty!"
"Just kidding, just kidding," Sengoku said with a dismissive wave. "But he really is tall. Definitely well above average. If you don't wear high heels, Shizuka, he'd have to crane his neck down just to see you."
"Senpai, what are you even talking about!" Hiratsuka shot back, exasperated. "Even if I wore high heels, he'd still have to look down at me!"
"Tsk… what's with that proud look on your face…"
Hiratsuka rested her chin in her hand, her brief anger deflating into a helpless sigh. "In short, he's tall, handsome, considerate, and has an amazing presence. I don't know about his finances for sure, but I have a good feeling about it."
Her eyes lit up again. "So if I can just meet him again, I'll definitely have a shot at finally finding a partner!"
"Uh… putting aside what your family might think," Sengoku said dryly, "shouldn't you at least consider the other person's feelings in this equation?"
Hiratsuka Shizuka replied with casual confidence. "Am I not pretty?"
"Then why are you still single?!"
"Those men just lack taste!"
"Airtight reasoning!"
Though Sengoku's interruption had soured her mood, Hiratsuka Shizuka didn't press the issue. She held onto a sliver of hope. If she could meet him once, she could surely meet him again. That was the thought she clung to.
Meanwhile, in another part of the city, Kasugano Sora found herself momentarily frozen. She and Soryuin Akemi had just arrived at their meeting spot when a figure approached them. It was Shiina Mashiro, her expression a perfect blank canvas, her pale eyes fixed solely on Sora. She walked with a quiet, deliberate pace, stopping directly in front of them without uttering a single word.
Kasugano Sora swallowed nervously. "Um… that is… Mashiro… san…"
The moment Shiina Mashiro heard Sora address her, something seemed to awaken within her. A flicker of deep realization passed through her placid eyes. She immediately reached out, her cool fingers gently closing around Sora's hand.
"Mm…" she whispered, her voice barely audible. "Sister…"
Kasugano Sora tilted her head, a puzzled look on her face. She felt like something was slightly off, but she didn't say anything. After all, she knew Shiina Mashiro was exceptionally innocent.
Sakura Hibiki just laughed. "I didn't expect Mashiro to like Sora so much! But I guess it's normal. A lot of people in our class are really interested in Sora, too."
Sora started, her eyes wide. "Eh?! Why are they interested in me?!"
Uehara Ayaka smiled warmly. "Of course they are! Sora, you're always being told by classmates that they want you as a younger sister or to keep you as a doll."
Gina Boyd nodded in agreement. "Mm… I can vouch for that. It proves that cuteness is a quality that simply cannot be hidden."
Kasugano Sora sighed dramatically. "What a bumpy academic life… And I even have to deal with Hiratsuka-sensei at school. I… I'm having such a hard time!"
Soryuin Akemi chuckled softly. "Hiratsuka-sensei is actually quite nice. But speaking of which, it seems you were struggling with your homework before, weren't you, Sora?"
"What can I do… I'm helpless, too… But I'm at least at a passing level!"
Hearing this, Sakura Hibiki tilted her head. "That's what you say… but why do I feel like you're talking about me, Sora? That can't be right. I can already pass my classes."
Uehara Ayaka rolled her eyes. "Give it a rest. Could you try having some higher goals, please?"
"Sigh… Wait!" Hibiki's attention suddenly snapped to Mashiro. "Mashiro, your studies should be very good, right?"
Still holding Kasugano Sora's hand, Shiina Mashiro tilted her head, gave the question a moment of thought, and then gave a small, certain nod.
The gesture was performed right under Soryuin Akemi's disbelieving gaze. A muscle in Akemi's eyelid began to twitch. She desperately wanted to take Mashiro at her word, but every memory she had of the girl screamed otherwise. Mashiro's entire universe revolved around her art; she showed a deep lack of interest in practically everything else… and that most certainly included her other school subjects, didn't it?
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