The woman carrying a bit of booze smell, dressed in black skinny jeans, white high-heeled casual shoes, and a white T-shirt, was an old acquaintance of Natsuhiko's.
"Rapids crash on the rock, split helplessly in two. Sooner or later we meet again, worries and love grow deeper." (PS: A waka from the Hundred Poems anthology, it shows up in "Crimson Love Song.")
"Shizuka cutie, running into each other is fate. Tonight is bound to be another night that's hard to put into words."
Hiratsuka Shizuka spotted her problem student too, and the corner of her mouth curved up a bit.
"Rushing rapids hit the rock and split into two streams against their will. The poem uses this image to describe a faithful romance between man and woman hitting obstacles and being forced apart."
"The last two lines say that no matter what, after flowing past the rock, the two streams will join back together in the end."
"It expresses how, like flowing water, you can overcome hardships, break through life's barriers, and achieve your dreams."
Hiratsuka Shizuka's eyelids drooped a little, and a hard-to-read smile appeared on her face.
Natsuhiko, are you here to prove you're taking Japanese class super seriously?"
Natsuhiko waved his hand, meaning he had no such intention at all.
"Can't you tell, Shizuka cutie? I'm expressing my deep admiration for you. You're pretending not to know again." He gazed at her lovingly, then added, "By the way, are you here alone, Shizuka cutie?"
"Or is it with Haruno?"
He knew Shizuka cutie always went around by herself. If you counted her actual friends on one hand, Yukinoshita Haruno was one of them.
There probably weren't any others.
Maybe.
When he asked that.
Natsuhiko suddenly noticed that Shizuka cutie's eyes looked a bit helpless, even tired.
But it was just a flash, gone in an instant.
Her expression quickly went back to normal.
"Me?"
"I'm here to drink and eat grilled meat, what else?"
At that point, her smile turned gentle all of a sudden.
"What about you? Oh, are you here for a romantic candlelight dinner with your Mai? But your Mai just became a big star, so she's probably too busy..."
It was a clear change of subject.
Natsuhiko sneered.
"Mai and I get along great in every way."
"But Shizuka cutie, you're not here drinking alone and sulking, are you!"
Clearly, Shizuka cutie's body shook a little.
Whatever, Natsuhiko decided not to push her.
"Shizuka cutie, come to our table and grab some food. It's no fun alone."
He took the lead and invited her.
"Hm? No problem with the invite, I'm happy about it. But I got kicked out of the mixer, so I should at least let the others know..."
"Plus, crashing your dinner isn't great."
Looks like that encounter in Shibuya last time was still on Hiratsuka Shizuka's mind.
But he had just heard two words.
"Group mixer?"
"Kicked out?"
Natsuhiko raised his voice!
Only then did Hiratsuka Shizuka realize too late that she had let something slip.
"Hmph, I want to get married, I want to tie the knot. But why do I fail at every mixer, not even able to chat a few sentences!"
Angry flames flickered in her eyes.
"But wasting time alone like this is pretty boring too, right."
Natsuhiko landed the finishing blow right on time.
Listen to that.
Was that even human talk?
The older single female teacher looked heartbroken.
Hit the bullseye.
Fine.
Hiratsuka Shizuka brushed back her hair and let out a helpless sigh.
It looked like she was about to say goodbye to her mixer friends.
Natsuhiko followed close behind her.
When they got to the spot, she realized her friends' booth wasn't far from theirs.
As Shizuka cutie walked up to the door, she suddenly crouched down by it.
Normally, the booths had good soundproofing.
But right now, by total chance, the door was left with a small gap.
Shizuka cutie stood up weakly.
"Hah, they're all liars, full of lies... Nothing but chit-chat when I'm there, but the second I leave, they start talking marriage and sound so happy... Normies... all of you blow up and die..."
She choked up while cursing.
"Let's go, we're leaving!"
Natsuhiko was surprised.
"No hello?"
Shizuka cutie shook her head weakly, her face full of despair.
Natsuhiko was happy Shizuka cutie got booted from the mixer group, but he couldn't just let her leave in such low spirits.
He grabbed her around the waist as she turned to go.
"Natsuhiko, what are you doing?"
Hiratsuka Shizuka never expected Natsuhiko to be so bold.
She tried to struggle free, but his arm held her tight. Only then did she realize Natsuhiko was about 1.8 meters tall—still someone she had to look up at. If it came to a real tussle now, she really couldn't handle him...
Natsuhiko smiled.
"Come on, Shizuka. We'll say bye to your friends and go."
"WTF?"
Natsuhiko boldly pushed open the booth door.
When the two of them came out of the booth, Natsuhiko finally let go of the arm around her waist.
"Natsuhiko, you've gotten bold!"
Shizuka cutie's face was still flushed.
"Who said you could tell them I'm your boyfriend?"
Natsuhiko spread his hands.
"Who handed over her business card first?"
He shrugged.
When my friends asked how you fell for me, you answered straight up???
"Not only do you not see me as some tall rich handsome guy, but you're the fun woman who gropes me all the time?"
"That's it! What the heck is a 'fun woman'?"
Her voice got loud.
Natsuhiko pretended to scratch his head. "Shizuka cutie, you don't know?"
"Know what?"
"'Fun woman, you've caught my attention' is the hot new line from this July's anime season."
"Ah~ yeah right~ like hell it is. It's only April now, where's this July anime from this year? You're messing with me!"
Shizuka cutie roared.
"You fixed my embarrassment for today, sure, but you ruined my future mixers. No one will invite me next time. My marriage dream! How are you gonna make it up to me?"
Natsuhiko put on a heartbroken look.
"Shizuka, I won't let you grow old alone. I'll take care of you!"
"Take care of my ass!"
"Natsuhiko, grit your teeth."
Hiratsuka Shizuka threw a passionate punch today too.
...
After taking Shizuka's loving iron fist, the battered her finally agreed to eat grilled meat with Natsuhiko.
When they opened the booth door.
And saw the five familiar pretty girls.
She started to regret it.
She felt like she could still salvage this. Kneeling back to her drinking table now might still work!
"Huh, Hiratsuka-sensei, what a coincidence!"
Tomori Nao spotted the extra person.
Hiratsuka Shizuka was on the verge of tears, ORZ.
"What a coincidence, Yui!"
"I knew Hiko took so long to come back. So that's what's up!"
What do you mean "that's what's up"...
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