Halfway through the meal, Miss Mira suddenly stared into Hikari's eyes and said, "Hikari-chan, how come you seem a bit haggard lately?"
Hearing this, Hikari smiled, "Do I?"
Miss Mira nodded, "Yes. Look, you even have slight dark circles under your eyes."
As she spoke, she reached out and touched Hikari's cheek.
Feeling that soft, boneless hand gently caressing his face, a warm feeling rose in Hikari's heart and cheeks alike. He smiled and said, "It's not that bad, just that I slept a little late last night."
No excuse. Last night, Natsuha, Akane, and Ruri, those three Gyarus, insisted on battling him to the end, even if it meant they'd be unable to move or even get out of bed all day today.
By the time it ended, it was almost dawn. He really didn't get much sleep.
After touching his face for a while, Miss Mira withdrew her slender hand and smiled, "Later, I'll make you some chicken soup, Hikari-chan. I just bought a few old hens."
Hearing Miss Mira's words, Hikari, although a bit unwilling, still spoke up, "Um, Miss Mira, I need to go to a classmate's house later…"
Hearing Hikari's words, Miss Mira immediately understood.
She didn't look angry at all, still full of gentleness, just smiled and said, "Alright then, I won't make you a late-night snack. It's fine if you don't eat."
"But you must come home to sleep tonight. No staying overnight elsewhere, okay?"
Hearing Miss Mira's words, Hikari nodded, "Okay."
Anyway, it's just a dinner invitation at Serizawa Yukiha's house. Coming back to sleep at the Tsubakihara house at night is no problem.
Natsuha, Akane, and the three Gyarus were all fed well yesterday.
They're probably swollen all day today.
So there's no need to worry about them.
That's why Hikari confidently agreed to Miss Mira's request to return home to sleep.
After finishing the meal, Hikari turned to leave.
But just as he had put on his shoes, he found Miss Mira standing at the entrance, blocking the way out.
"Miss Mira?", Hikari blinked, slightly surprised as he looked at her smiling face.
"Hikari-chan, before you go, aren't you forgetting something?", Miss Mira said with a smile.
'Forgetting something?', Hikari frowned slightly. He didn't think he forgot to bring anything.
But Miss Mira wouldn't say this without reason.
Looking at Miss Mira's stunning, almost-smiling expression on her beautiful face, Hikari's eyes widened slightly, and he finally remembered.
He put down his schoolbag and placed his hands on Miss Mira's rounded, fragrant shoulders.
Miss Mira also cooperatively tilted her face slightly.
With a soft smack, Hikari kissed her smooth, baby-like cheek.
After the kiss, Miss Mira finally smiled.
"Hikari-chan, next time you must remember our family's goodbye kiss, okay? Don't make me remind you again," Miss Mira said happily, patting Hikari's shoulder.
Hikari smiled without saying a word.
It was only after Miss Mira reminded him that he remembered.
What Miss Mira meant by "forgetting something" wasn't about a schoolbag or phone.
But rather the goodbye kiss she'd mentioned before.
Something the newly moved-in neighbor lady had taught her.
Saying it could bring family members closer or something like that.
At the time, Hikari thought she was just joking and would forget after a couple times.
Unexpectedly, she remembered it so clearly and even wanted to make it into a routine ritual.
But it wasn't really a big deal.
Hikari would naturally oblige Miss Mira.
Miss Mira also pouted her pink lips and hugged Hikari, pecking him on the cheek before letting him go.
"Remember to come home to sleep tonight!"
"Got it."
Hearing Miss Mira's repeated reminders, Hikari smiled and agreed again.
Standing at the doorway, watching Hikari's departing figure, Miss Mira reluctantly closed the door, a smile still lingering on her pink lips.
"Today Hikari-chan's little Hikari-chan seemed really pent-up… Maybe I should help him relieve it tonight when he comes home…", Miss Mira gently stroked her smooth chin, a strange smile flashing in her beautiful eyes.
———
[Serizawa Residence]
Wearing an apron, Serizawa Yukiha stood in the kitchen, smiling as she stir-fried vegetables.
After plating another meat dish and placing it with the four or five dishes already prepared, Serizawa Yukiha wiped the sweat from her forehead, tucked her messy bangs behind her ears, and revealed a happy smile.
Although she doesn't cook often due to school and library work, and wasn't very skilled, today she worked pretty hard.
But she didn't feel tired at all. In fact, she felt genuinely happy.
Because today she invited Hikari over for dinner.
Just the thought that Hikari had accepted made her overjoyed.
After being saved by him twice, Serizawa Yukiha's heart was already full of gratitude toward Hikari.
Plus, after a few chats, she had a good impression of him. That gratitude naturally turned into deep affection.
And due to the trauma of almost being violated before, she felt unsafe around others, only next to Hikari did she feel safe and warm.
This teenage girl, for the first time, held the image of a boy in her heart.
So even if cooking was tiring, she wasn't unhappy at all.
After cleaning the pan, Serizawa Yukiha stretched, easing her tired body.
Under her clothes, her curvy figure outlined a seductive silhouette.
Especially her overly developed, proud bosom, pushing up her apron high, as if her body was showing a strong welcome to the upcoming man she liked.
After taking off her apron, Serizawa Yukiha sat on the sofa and turned on the TV.
At the moment, her favorite variety show was playing.
But today, Serizawa Yukiha couldn't focus at all.
All she could think of was the scene of Hikari coming soon.
She imagined them eating together, watching anime afterward, or talking about books maybe playing games or even watching some movies.
If it got too late, maybe she could let him stay the night.
Such closeness might help their relationship deepen, and let her keep this sense of security.
Just imagining getting closer to the only boy who could make her feel safe made Serizawa Yukiha excited.
'Spending a night with Hikari-kun—hehehe…', Just thinking of his handsome face made her heart race wildly, and she got super nervous.
This was the first time she had ever invited someone to her house for dinner. Let alone a boy.
Naturally, she was really nervous.
As she aimlessly switched through channels, her mind started to go blank.
Suddenly, there was a knock at the door.
Hearing the knock, Serizawa Yukiha immediately jumped off the sofa.
"Coming!", There was uncontainable joy in her voice.
Serizawa Yukiha rushed to the entrance.
Thinking Hikari had finally arrived, she was elated.
In her excitement, she even forgot her usual habit these past few days.
Without checking the peephole, she directly opened the door.
"Huh?"
Seeing the scene outside, Serizawa Yukiha was stunned.
Because outside the door, it was completely empty. Not even a shadow of Hikari.
A breeze blew, scattering a few dead leaves from a tree nearby. Not even a bird in sight.
This scene was completely different from what Serizawa Yukiha had just excitedly imagined.
"Did I mishear because I was too anxious?"
As Serizawa Yukiha shook her head, thinking she imagined it due to missing Hikari too much, and was about to shut the door and return to wait, suddenly, a hoarse, duck-like voice sounded.
"Yukiha-chan, long time no see!", A figure emerged like a ghost from the shadow outside, standing in front of Serizawa's door like a wall.
Looking at this tall, muscular, but hideously ugly and sleazy middle-aged man wearing a hat, Serizawa Yukiha's eyes widened and her body trembled.
As if she saw a ghost.
She cried out, "Kitou Masami?"
"It's me," the ugly man chuckled wickedly, eyes filled with greed as he looked at the pure-faced, curvy Serizawa Yukiha.
This hideous, sleazy man who suddenly appeared was none other than Kitou Masami, the janitor who had tricked and tried to assault Serizawa Yukiha at school.
Seeing this nightmare-like figure suddenly appear again, Serizawa Yukiha's delicate body began to tremble uncontrollably…
"You were the one who knocked? How do you know where I live?"
Now she realized, she hadn't imagined the knock.
Someone really had knocked.
But it wasn't Hikari, it was that damn Kitou Masami.
She had been cautious the past few days, always checking the peephole and surveillance for deliveries or neighborhood visitors.
But today, excited about Hikari, she let her guard down and opened the door without checking.
Seeing the fear on her face and trembling body, Kitou Masami smirked evilly, "How do I know where you live? Yukiha-chan, do you know what it means when they say heaven helps those who persist?"
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