Chapter 351: An Eye for an Eye, a Tooth for a Tooth #2
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 351: An Eye for an Eye, a Tooth for a Tooth #2
Hiyori, seeming to have quickly forgotten the incident in the theater, started chattering away again as soon as the movie ended.
No, maybe she hadn't forgotten.
Perhaps the reason she went to the restroom in the middle of the movie was to cool down her flushed face.
“Senpai. I’m hungry.”
She said, all the buttons on her shirt now fastened.
“You said you suddenly weren’t hungry when I suggested that conveyor belt sushi place earlier,” I replied as we walked out of the theater down the long hallway.
“That was then, this is now.”
“You’re hungry after eating almost all that popcorn?”
“Yep.”
“How are you so skinny when you eat so much?”
“You think I’m skinny?”
Saying that, Hiyori looked down at her own chest, hidden by her shirt.
One of the reasons I often find myself flustered when dealing with her is because of sudden, explicit actions like that.
She just comes at you without any warning. Of course I’m going to be flustered.
As I seriously debated whether or not to scan my eyes over her immodest, blessed body, I spoke.
“For your size, yeah, you’re skinny.”
“Really? I feel like I’ve been gaining a little weight lately...”
“Then work out.”
“I’m planning to. I need to sign up for a gym.”
“You’re really going to work out?”
“Uh-huh.”
“That’s not something you, who’s always looking for ways to skip PE class, should be saying.”
“I don’t do it every day.”
“Is that so? You’re not going to go to the gym for a few days and then quit, are you?”
“Do I really seem that lacking in grit?”
“More or less?”
“What’s with that vague answer? Haven’t you seen the grit I have when I’m running away from Hanazawa-senpai?”
“Can you really call that grit?”
Did my negative response get to her?
Her crimson lips formed a pout, and a wrinkle appeared between her brows.
“So, are we getting sushi or not?”
“Let’s go. But don’t you have plans this afternoon? Do you have time?”
“Yes.”
“Where are you meeting them?”
“Downtown.”
“Near here?”
“Not that close, but it’s only about five stops away.”
She seems happy that her travel time has been cut down, but you’ll have to stop by your house first.
I can’t let you go out dressed like that.
Starting today, I’m going to exude some extreme boomer energy and completely remodel your sense of modesty.
“Really? Well, let’s go to the sushi place first.”
“Okay. Just trust me and follow along.”
Hiyori said confidently, taking the lead.
I matched my pace to walk beside her and playfully poked the ahoge sticking out from her hair with my finger.
My childish prank made her narrow her eyes as she looked up at me.
“Hey, why are you doing weird stuff...!”
“I wanted to touch it.”
“But why?”
“It’s fun. Does it pop back up even if I press it down?”
“Yes.”
“That’s amazing... Sorry if it’s a sensitive spot for you.”
“I don’t have any of those.”
Her confidence is nice to see.
“Then I’ll keep doing it.”
Poke, poke.
Did she find me, poking her ahoge like a little kid who’d found a new toy, absurd?
Hiyori looked up at me with a blank expression, then shook her head from side to side.
It didn’t seem like she disliked it... I guess she was just dumbfounded by me acting like a child.
But what can I do? It’s genuinely fun. The tactile feedback was surprisingly addictive.
I should do this whenever I think of it.
* * *
The conveyor belt sushi restaurant was quite crowded.
We sat at a table and began choosing our sushi using the touchpad.
Tuna, cuttlefish, eel...
As I tapped all the decent-looking options, I asked Hiyori, “Is this really a conveyor belt sushi place? Aside from the fact that the sushi you order comes on a rail, it’s just like a regular sushi restaurant. The rail is even a dedicated one.”
“You know how there are those immature kids who play pranks on the sushi? They said they temporarily switched to this ordering system because of them.”
“Ah, is that right?”
“Yeah. But Senpai. You weren’t about to say that I’m one of those immature kids, were you?”
“You’re being paranoid. I never thought that.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. You might be immature, but you’re not a bad enough person to do something like that. Right?”
When I casually, yet with a sincere tone, indirectly complimented Hiyori’s character, she let out a small, dry cough as if embarrassed.
Then, in a pleased tone, she said, “That might be true... but why would you say that to my face?”
“It’s a compliment, so of course I should say it to your face. Should I say it behind your back?”
“Well, no... I guess you’re right, but...”
The way she shyly lowered her head and twirled her hair with her finger was cute.
It was just like Hiyori to be weak to compliments, though not as much as Renka.
However, I can’t give compliments like this every day. She’d get used to them.
It’s better to make her do cute things on her own, hoping for my praise.
With that thought, I finished adding my sushi choices to the order on the pad and asked, “Aren’t you ordering?”
“Ah, I should. Is that all you’re getting, Senpai?”
“I’ll eat a few pieces first and then decide if I want to order more.”
“Are you trying to be a gourmet?”
“Stop saying weird things and pick your food. I’m hungry.”
“Should we share some soba noodles?”
“You can’t finish one on your own?”
“I want to eat curry udon, too.”
“Then get both.”
“Let’s share the crab meat tempura, too. It comes with two pieces, but they’re really long, so it’s a lot.”
“Sure.”
“You’re not having salmon? The salmon here is a popular item, so it sells out fast. Should we each get one?”
“I get it, so just order already.”
“Hey, I’m asking because it would be a waste if we ordered it and couldn’t finish. Why are you getting mad?”
She had a point.
Nodding at her reasonable argument, I patiently answered Hiyori’s barrage of questions—I couldn’t tell if she was teasing me or not—and we finally finished ordering.
As usual, Hiyori talked nonstop throughout the meal.
How was what I was eating, could she have just one bite, the curry udon was amazing and I should try some...
Her mouth moved without rest, but I didn’t find it annoying at all.
In fact, Hiyori, who was munching on her sushi and clinking her chopsticks together as if to show how delicious it was, was so refreshingly cute that it was harder to resist the urge to keep looking at her.
In any case, the food was delicious overall.
As expected of someone who likes to wander around, she knows all the good spots.
From now on, whenever I come downtown with Hiyori, I should use her as a human GPS.
It seems like if I just tell her what I want to eat, she’ll guide me there.
After finishing our meal, I stepped out of the restaurant and looked up at the sign.
Just then, Hiyori poked my arm with her index finger and asked, “Why are you looking at the restaurant’s name? Are you planning to come back?”
“Yeah. It was good.”
“I bet you’ll forget by tomorrow.”
“Just because you have a bad memory, don’t assume everyone else does, okay?”
“Are you making fun of me for being dumb?”
“If you want to think of it that way, I can’t stop you.”
“Can you not answer so vaguely?”
“Manners.”
“Sir?”
She was being even more playful than before.
She must be in a good mood after feeling full.
You’d think she’d be tired after eating so much... but it seems she uses all her energy for talking.
Still, it’s better than watching her pick at her food to maintain an image, so I’ll let it slide.
“Are you heading straight back, Senpai?”
“I should. I’ve got nothing else to do here.”
“Then let’s hang out.”
“No.”
“You’re so shy, aren’t you?”
She tried to tease me while rubbing her stomach.
Resisting the urge to mess up her hair, I answered by poking her ahoge and pointing in the direction of the public parking lot.
“Stop messing around and let’s go.”
“Where?”
“The parking lot.”
“Why? Are you going to give me a ride to my meeting spot?”
“Yeah.”
“Then I’ll shamelessly accept your offer~”
“I didn’t know a shameless person like you knew how to say that.”
“Hey, what are you talking about...! Here, eat this.”
Hiyori slapped my hand, which was dangling loosely as I walked, and placed something small and hard on it.
I looked to see what it was and found a Suichu candy, Hiyori’s favorite, sitting in my palm.
When did she even buy this? She must have had it with her.
But why did "eat this" sound like an insult?
It was probably because of her strong tone.
After getting in the car with Hiyori, I drove slowly in the direction she indicated.
Every now and then, I glanced over at her.
“What is it? Why do you look so displeased?”
Hiyori asked, having caught my gaze.
I shrugged and answered, “If you walk around dressed like that, weirdos are going to hit on you again.”
“I’ll be hanging out where there aren’t any entertainment districts, so it’s fine.”
That’s not the problem. The problem is that it pisses me off when other guys look at you.
I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but it happened a few times today, too—on the way to the theater and while we were eating sushi.
“Keep your buttons done up.”
Trying to restrict her clothing might be going too far.
But what can I do? I already made up my mind today. I’m going to remodel Hiyori’s sense of modesty.
Like I thought before, it’s fine if she only shows this side to me, but she can’t show it to anyone else.
It would be great if Hiyori liked my conservative behavior, which pops up without warning, but it doesn’t matter if she doesn’t.
“Haaah... If you’re that worried, then give me a ride home. I’ll get changed.”
She must be saying that because she thinks it’ll be a hassle for me... but you’ve made a mistake.
I decided to take her joke seriously and turned the steering wheel.
The car immediately pulled into the next lane.
She must not have expected me to actually change direction, because Hiyori’s eyes went wide.
“Wait... are you really going?”
“You told me to.”
“I was just kidding... I’ll be late for my plans if I have to go back now.”
“Go change and come out. I’ll give you a ride.”
“Are you really going to be like this?”
“Yeah.”
“I’ll keep my buttons done up properly.”
“I’m sure you will.”
“I’m serious.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“Really, I will.”
“Okay. Let’s go to your place and talk.”
“Ugh, why are you going this far...!”
Hiyori whined at my firm stance.
The words I wanted to hear had just come from her pretty mouth. I had to stay calm.
The important thing was to make her think about the meaning behind my answer for the next few days.
After a brief pause, I glanced at Hiyori and said in a casual tone, “Because I want to take care of you.”
At that, Hiyori’s mouth, which had looked ready to spill a torrent of words, snapped shut as if by magic.
Did I reveal my feelings too plainly?
No, seeing her confused face, wondering if I meant I wanted to take care of her as a woman or as a junior, I don’t think my answer was too blatant.
Seeing Hiyori’s reaction, I was confident my intention had gotten through.
Go have fun with your friends, and then go home and think long and hard about it.