When Shinra received the message and arrived at the lobby, Yukino was already waiting in the souvenir shop inside the ryokan.
Yukino, who had just taken a bath, still had a faint blush on her face. Her fair and delicate skin gave a faint illusion of glowing under the light. Her shoulder-length hair was also tied up, revealing her smooth and slender neck. She also changed into casual clothes.
Also because she had just taken a bath, the girl wore no makeup, bare-faced, but it didn't diminish her charm at all; instead, it highlighted her youth and beauty.
While waiting for Shinra, Yukino wasn't idle either. She had been browsing the souvenir shop for a while. At this moment, she was standing in front of a display cabinet full of panda dolls, looking solemn, as if thinking about something extremely important.
But Shinra knew the other party should be thinking about which one of so many panda dolls to choose, and whether she could bring them all back if she bought them all. After all, she also had to bring souvenirs for her family...
Perhaps because Shinra's gaze was too hot, Yukino seemed to sense something and suddenly turned her head to look in Shinra's direction.
After seeing Shinra, the girl's originally solemn expression instantly turned into an imperceptible smile, then as if thinking of something, she moved a step away from the display cabinet quietly.
Isn't it a bit too late to move now?
And we are so familiar; is it necessary to pretend not interested in panda dolls?
Shinra remembered the 'cat' type dolls in Yukino's house were so many that the bedroom couldn't fit them. Going to her house, on the surface, it looked like an ordinary exquisitely decorated apartment, but looking closely, one would find 'cat' elements hidden everywhere in the living room, kitchen, and balcony. At this point, one would understand that the owner of the house was an out-and-out cat slave.
Seeing Shinra walking over, Yukino spoke first: "You came."
"Shouldn't I come?" Shinra played a meme subconsciously.
But unfortunately, Yukino couldn't understand this meme and tilted her head in confusion.
However, fortunately, it wasn't the first day Shinra suddenly said some weird things. Yukino didn't think much and returned the room card in her hand to Shinra.
"Returning the room card to you. Also, your clothes in the washing machine are washed; remember to collect them."
Shinra took the room card and glanced at the bag Yukino was carrying, which should contain her changed clothes.
"Do you want to use the washing machine in the room too? It should be hard to queue for the public washing machine."
Not only hard to queue, but also charging fees. The most critical thing was even with fees, cleanliness couldn't be guaranteed. Don't know what the previous person washed in the washing machine.
If it was just washing underwear and socks together, it would be fine, but Shinra had heard of the divine operation of washing shoes in public washing machines.
"Might as well."
After a little thought, Yukino nodded and agreed.
However, agreeing aside, before throwing clothes into the washing machine, she had to classify the changed clothes. It must be known that besides the changed coat, her bag also contained intimate inner wear.
Seeing Yukino agreed, the two returned to that guest room again.
While swiping the card to open the door, the door next to them was also pulled open coincidentally. A woman wearing a coat and sunglasses walked out.
The other party saw Shinra and Yukino, stunned for a moment. Seeing Shinra's action of swiping the room card, the pupils under the sunglasses trembled instantly.
Then her gaze swept over the changed clothes carried by Yukino, and her body shook even more.
"Yukinoshita, Mori, what are you doing?"
"Mm? You are... Hiratsuka-sensei?"
Yukino turned her head upon hearing the voice, frowned and scrutinized for a while, then said somewhat uncertainly.
"It's me." Hiratsuka Shizuka took off her sunglasses, then revealed an unprecedented serious expression and said in a deep voice: "What are you doing here?"
Although knowing you two are in love, isn't opening a room now a bit too hasty?
If causing a 'human life' (pregnancy), how should I explain to Yukinoshita Haruno and the head of the Yukinoshita family?
Yukino didn't understand why Hiratsuka Shizuka suddenly became so serious. She followed the other party's gaze to look at the changed clothes in her hand, then looked at Shinra beside her. Could it be...
In a flash, Yukino guessed the reason.
"Hiratsuka-sensei, you misunderstood." Yukino looked calm, speaking unhurriedly.
"Misunderstood? Coming to this, what misunderstanding?" Hiratsuka Shizuka was amused by Yukino's answer.
During the school trip, not staying in their own rooms, running out to open an extra room.
The key was not one person, but two people opening one room together, and the woman also brought changed clothes. Where in the world is such a misunderstanding?
If it were just an ordinary couple, fine, but the key was these two were students she was proud of.
How could Hiratsuka Shizuka be calm?
"I just came to borrow the washing machine in the room." Yukino lifted the clothes in her hand, then elbowed Shinra beside her, signaling him not to play dumb and explain quickly.
Shinra coughed lightly, "I came to collect clothes."
Hiratsuka Shizuka looked suspicious after hearing this, "Really?"
"Sensei, wouldn't you know if you come in and take a look yourself?" Shinra had swiped open the door. True or false, one look inside would tell.
Seeing Shinra like this, Hiratsuka Shizuka believed a bit in her heart, but to ensure nothing went wrong, Hiratsuka Shizuka still chose to enter the room to find out.
...
"So you opened a room just to take a bath?" Hiratsuka Shizuka widened her eyes.
"And washing clothes." Shinra threw the clothes into the dryer, "And not just me using it."
"Wait, you mean Yukinoshita did it too? You two together?!" Hiratsuka Shizuka was so scared her tone changed.
"How is it possible? Of course staggered. Sensei, what are you thinking?" Yukino said dissatisfiedly.
Could it be in Hiratsuka Shizuka's eyes, I am someone so easy to give myself away?
"Hard to say."
Hiratsuka Shizuka looked strange. Don't you have a clue in your heart whether you give yourself away or not?
Yukino took a deep breath and asked back: "Rather, Sensei, why did you appear next door to us? If I remember correctly, the staff rooms shouldn't be here, right?"
"...I, I just wanted to live more comfortably."
Actually not. Mainly because there were too many consecrated magic weapons (souvenirs) invited from temples. If other female teachers saw them, maybe some strange rumors would spread, so simply opened a room alone.
Anyway, she didn't lack this money.
"Sensei, you have the nerve to talk about me." Shinra said grumpily.
One opened a room for bathing, the other for storing souvenirs. Six of one, half a dozen of the other.
"Cough, is that the same?" Hiratsuka Shizuka indicated she was an adult; what's wrong with wanting a separate space?
"Where is it different? And Sensei, going out so late? Dressed like this too." Shinra asked.
"Um... this..." Hiratsuka Shizuka stammered.
Shinra and Yukino looked at each other. Could it be that the marriage god really worked? Withered tree meeting spring, old tree blooming?
"Actually... I plan... to go out to eat ramen..."
This person is hopeless.
Coincidentally, this thought popped up in Shinra and Yukino's minds simultaneously.
Just going out to eat ramen, making it look like an underground party meeting. Who are you showing it to?
Those who know think you are going out to eat ramen; those who don't think you are going to commit adultery.
"Just in time you two came. Want to go out to eat ramen together? Consider it hush money."
Is there a possibility that you are the one coming, Sensei? Besides, what's there to hush about eating ramen? Using ramen as hush money is a bit too cheap.
Shinra complained crazily in his heart.
However, complaints aside, hearing Hiratsuka Shizuka say this, Shinra really felt a bit hungry. Okay, actually a bit craving.
Shinra liked eating noodles quite a bit. Moreover, he hadn't tasted ramen in Kyoto yet. Heard it seemed good?
"Seems not bad. What do you say, Yukino?" Shinra looked at Yukino beside him.
Yukino hesitated a bit. She looked down at the clothes in her hand.
Although came to borrow the washing machine, it didn't mean she would leave all her changed clothes here. She had to take some intimate clothing back to her room...
"If borrowing the washing machine, just come to my room. Taking a bath later too." Hiratsuka Shizuka spoke, "Although knowing you have a good relationship, the school trip is a collective activity after all; still have to pay attention to the influence."
"Would it be too troublesome for Sensei?" Yukino was a bit embarrassed.
Hiratsuka Shizuka rolled her eyes upon hearing this and said bluntly: "You are afraid of troubling me, but not afraid of troubling him?"
...Seems reasonable?
Yukino fell into silence. Since when did her relationship with Shinra become so intimate that she didn't feel any problem taking a bath in his room?
Seeing the girl fall into silence, Hiratsuka Shizuka couldn't help sighing in her heart that this kid Shinra was really capable of boiling frogs in warm water (gradual change). Even a cold temperament like Yukino was softened by him like this.
Originally Hiratsuka Shizuka thought even with her assist, it would probably be after graduation for these two to achieve a positive result. But now it seemed she overestimated Yukino's defense a bit.
Daring to take a bath in the room Shinra opened now; she didn't dare to think about what to do next!
Next step probably staying overnight in Shinra's bed.
Of course, Hiratsuka Shizuka wisely didn't say this directly. She didn't know if Yukino would be anxious, but she dared to guarantee this kid Shinra would definitely blame her for meddling.
Some things are fine if not pointed out, but once pointed out, one can't pretend not to know, especially for the current two.
Does Yukino know Shinra is boiling the frog in warm water? Obviously she knows, and is even willing to cooperate actively. Otherwise, just by a verbal agreement, could Shinra make Yukino prepare snacks for him every now and then?
Dream on!
Moreover, Shinra is playing the routine of love growing over time with Yukino; isn't Yukino doing the same?
Force is mutual; love growing over time is the same.
Who can refuse a beautiful girl preparing delicious snacks for you every day?
For most people, don't even need to prepare snacks; just being a beautiful girl is enough.
"Settled then. Go, follow me into the room."
Thoughts gathered, Hiratsuka Shizuka pulled Yukino into her room involuntarily. When coming out again, Yukino had no bag in her hand.
Mm, Yukino washed intimate clothing in Hiratsuka Shizuka's room too.
Previously didn't wash in Shinra's room because the other party was opposite sex. Now changing to Hiratsuka Shizuka, obviously no need to worry about this point.
"Okay, let's go."
Hiratsuka Shizuka touched her belly. She couldn't wait to eat a bowl of ramen to warm her body.
...
The autumn night in Kyoto was cold and windy. Fortunately, as an adult, Hiratsuka Shizuka considered this before departure and took another coat for Yukino to drape over.
As for Shinra, Hiratsuka Shizuka also asked, but got the answer that young people have strong fire (energy).
What does it mean? Hinting that I, Shizuka, am old?
Shinra received two old punches.
Unfortunately, if it were the previous Shinra, even with 19 points of constitution, he might feel a little discomfort facing Hiratsuka Shizuka's monstrous strength. But now Shinra's constitution was as high as 21 points; these two old punches were no different from tickling.
"Eh? Can't see it, but you guy are quite sturdy." Hiratsuka Shizuka clicked her tongue in wonder.
It must be known that half a year ago, this boy in front of her was still looking weak leaning on crutches. Now her two punches on him felt no different from hitting a steel plate.
Very robust!
Don't know if Yukino can stand it in the future? Hiratsuka Shizuka muttered.
"I exercise often." Shinra said this without guilt at all. Since Control Current was upgraded to Electric Current Push, he had been diligent daily, exercising to exhaustion every day without a single day of slack.
"This is a good thing." Hiratsuka Shizuka nodded in agreement. Having a healthy body is better than anything.
Soon, Hiratsuka Shizuka hailed a taxi.
It is worth mentioning that Japanese taxis, maybe because the rear doors open automatically, default that as long as the back row is not full, no one will sit in the front row.
Therefore, Shinra, Yukino, and Hiratsuka Shizuka squeezed in the back row.
Fortunately, all three had standard figures, especially Yukino, who was a model of slender, delicate, and easy to push down. Therefore, Shinra didn't feel the space was cramped.
Mm... rather, Shinra hoped the space in the back row of the taxi was smaller.
"To Ichijoji." Hiratsuka Shizuka told the driver the destination name.
After speaking, she turned back and explained to Shinra and Yukino like a gourmet.
"Ichijoji is the holy land of Kyoto ramen. Many famous ramen shops open nearby. Anyway, going there for ramen won't be wrong!"
If Yukino is a cat encyclopedia, then Hiratsuka Shizuka should probably be a ramen encyclopedia, right?
Shinra, listening to Hiratsuka Shizuka chattering all the way, thought so.