Her heart sped up slightly, her pores opened, and the biting cold wind didn't make her shiver; instead, it dispelled a trace of warmth from her heart.
Both mentally and physically, she was relaxed, enjoying this moment.
What is this feeling?
A heart flutter?
Her smiling face, her small face, her delicate nose, small mouth, and lovely hair were all so cute.
But I myself am a girl, how could I possibly... have a heart flutter for another girl?
Ichiko looked away, this was purely a subconscious act of self-preservation.
No, perhaps it's because Haruko's actions reminded me of things from my childhood.
Falling into recollection and a daze caused this kind of reaction.
Just then, Haruko's voice suddenly rang out beside her ear, "Do you like it?"
"What?"
Ichiko paused, then became flustered once again.
What did Haruko mean by asking that?
Does she like her?
Not just this time, she had asked several times before.
Will she demand an answer? What should she do if she shows her yandere side again?
Her thoughts became chaotic, and Haruko's voice sounded again, "Little steamed buns, Ichiko, do you like them?"
What, so she was asking about the little steamed buns.
Ichiko quickly nodded, "Mhm, mhm, I like them."
"Is that so, as long as Ichiko likes them~"
Haruko looked back and smiled, then stepped forward again.
Her strange tone, slightly drawn-out final syllables, Haruko's actions had always left Ichiko a little puzzled.
She was just talking about the little steamed buns, what did she mean by that?
Following beside Haruko, Ichiko's gaze was fixed on Haruko. After taking two steps, she suddenly paused.
Her gaze lingered on her chest for a few seconds, then quickly moved away...
Her steps became hurried.
Haruko had no idea how much Ichiko was thinking; she was very happy right now.
Simply because the System had just sent a notification she had been waiting for.
[Detected that the female lead Ichiko has developed feelings of heart flutter towards the host]
[Emotion Points +100...]
Since it was the first time such an emotion had occurred, the Emotion Points gained were undoubtedly a huge sum.
It wasn't in vain that she had worked hard for half a month; she finally managed to make Ichiko change her perception!
If she could resolve Sento next, she would have even more time.
However, for the current Ichiko, such a date could only serve as a seasoning.
She needed to do something more intense.
At least, she needed to put more pressure on her, like back on the rooftop or in the dark room.
—What should she do?
They didn't chat along the way as before; each lost in their own thoughts, they quickly arrived at Moonlight Cafe.
Perhaps because the cafe's air conditioning was constantly on, it finally had several customers, unlike its usual deserted state.
Rinko saw the two of them approaching and greeted them with a smile, "Miss Chi, Miss Su, what coffee would you like?"
"Coffee starting at 100 yuan, I can't afford it." Haruko shivered, squinting her eyes at the warm air blowing from the air conditioner.
Shopping in winter was indeed suffering.
Immediately after, a clear voice came from beside her ear, "I'll treat you to coffee, but Haruko, aren't you being too lazy? I asked you to watch the cafe, and you skip work three out of five days."
Inari came down from the second floor of the cafe, arms crossed, pretending to be displeased as he looked at Haruko.
Seeing Inari there, Haruko's intermediate acting skills made her rein in the slight dependence she showed towards Ichiko, and she replied timidly, "I was sick those few days. If you don't believe me, ask Ichiko, she was taking care of me."
Ichiko's smile stiffened.
Those days she skipped work, weren't they in the dark room?
"Is that right, Ichiko?"
Ichiko didn't dare to meet Inari's gaze and nodded gently, "Yes... Haruko... is always relatively frail."
She wasn't actually good at lying. If it were Shin, he could tell Ichiko was hiding something just by paying a little attention to her micro-expressions.
But Inari just looked at Haruko helplessly, not doubting Ichiko's cover-up at all, "Although the cafe is the same with or without you, next time you need to take leave, remember to report to Rinko in advance, got it?"
Haruko nodded like a pecking chick and then asked cautiously, "Mister, are you concerned about me?"
"Huh?" Inari's tone was mocking, "I'm just afraid you'll actually have a problem and then frame me for it. Someone who doesn't know might think I'm a black-hearted boss."
As soon as he said this, both Haruko and Ichiko looked at him strangely.
Inari's expression froze, feeling a bit awkward, "This... why are you looking at me like that? I was just speaking the truth."
He quickly changed the subject, "I heard Sento was bullying you two?"
Ichiko gently shook her head, "Not really, we just had a little spat with him."
"He was bullying me!" Haruko mustered her courage, looking like she was complaining to a parent, "Mister, you don't know, Sento actually said he wanted to snatch Ichiko away. I... I wanted to beat him to death!"
A flash of fierce light flickered in her eyes, but her intermediate acting skills made Haruko appear soft and cute.
Seeing this, Inari was greatly moved.
That little bastard Sento, he even said Haruko liked Ichiko and would be dangerous?
Looking at this, Haruko clearly likes this Young Master!
She knows I like Ichiko, and she's even willing to sacrifice herself to stop Sento from approaching Ichiko!
If this isn't liking me, what is it?
She likes me so much, yet she still hides herself behind the scenes, supporting my relationship with Ichiko.
Truly, I could cry.
Inari's heart ached. Ever since confirming that Haruko's true nature was that of a naive little idiot, he found her more and more pleasing to the eye.
Emotions surging, Inari immediately clenched his fist and thumped his chest, "Haruko, you're my employee. Next time Sento dares to bully you, report him to me. He's got some nerve bullying my people!"
Then he looked at Ichiko, "Ichiko, same for you. Next time Sento yells at you, just ignore him. I'll handle everything."
After speaking, he quickly added, "Of course, don't misunderstand. It's not that I care about you two that much. I just can't stand that guy Sento. As your Mister and friend, I'm just supporting you incidentally."
"That's all. If you need anything, Massenger me. I have something else to do first."
Inari walked out of the cafe with light steps, hands in his pockets, humming a cheerful tune.
Clearly, he was in a very good mood.
Watching his departing back, Haruko's acting faded, and she couldn't help but exclaim, "Inari is really a good person!"
Ichiko nodded beside her, "He's always been a warm-hearted tsundere."
Seeing his Young Master praised by two beauties, Rinko, who was sitting at the counter, couldn't help but show a proud smile, "Young Master has always been like that. Usually, when the family gives him a large sum of money, he'll donate a lot to the mountain areas."
Haruko nodded gently.
If such a character setting wasn't on the opposing side, there really would be nothing to criticize.
However, although this Inari is a bit silly, he seems to still have some good feelings for Ichiko.
Haruko ordered a cup of coffee from Rinko, then leaned closer to Ichiko's ear and asked, "Ichiko, you shouldn't like Inari, right?"
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