T/N: Sorry, Translator san is running on 100% pure caffeine right now.
And yeah, sorry in advance.
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"What... did you say?"
Hiratsuka Shizuka felt like she must be hallucinating.
"I said, do you want to date?"
Haruto repeated himself.
A light flickered in Hiratsuka Shizuka's confused eyes, but she still suppressed her restless heart and asked again,
"But... why?"
Haruto shook his finger.
"Because last night, a certain Miss Shizuka desperately complained to me about the anxiety of being single and the struggles of being older. And she clung to me tightly, saying something about marrying me, or else she'd smash her purple clay teapot or something."
"Also, this Miss Shizuka once said that after graduating from university, she wanted to find the most handsome and most talented man in the world as her boyfriend. I think I can qualify for that, so, even though it was said while drunk, as the saying goes, 'drunk words are true words.'"
"So, Miss Hiratsuka Shizuka, do you want to date?"
With each sentence Haruto spoke, Hiratsuka Shizuka's face turned redder, and the panic in her eyes deepened.
By the time Haruto repeated his invitation again, Hiratsuka Shizuka averted her gaze in a fluster, fiddling with the tips of her hair in embarrassment.
"Um... is it really okay? I'm not very feminine, I drink and smoke, and my punches hurt a lot."
Haruto twitched the corner of his mouth.
"You're already at this age, and you're still acting like a shy little girl?"
Hiratsuka Shizuka: !!!
The age remark hit her hard, and she immediately pounced on Haruto to punish him.
However, after a brief struggle, Hiratsuka Shizuka ended up defeated, wrapped up tightly in a blanket.
Breathing heavily, she stared at Haruto.
"So... I have a boyfriend now?"
Haruto nodded.
"If you agree, then yes."
Upon hearing this, Hiratsuka Shizuka could no longer contain her joy.
"I have a boyfriend! I'm finally not a saintess anymore!"
She was so excited that she blurted out whatever came to mind.
Watching Shizuka beam with happiness like a young girl, Haruto couldn't help but think how adorable this long-haired beauty was.
Since no one in this world had taken her away...
Then I'll do it.
"No going home sober! I finally found a boyfriend!"
Shizuka raised her hand in a cheer, having completely forgotten the pain of her hangover.
Haruto flicked her forehead.
"After getting so wasted last night, did you learn nothing?"
Shizuka stuck out her tongue, showing none of the composure of an older woman. She whispered softly,
"But isn't it great? I found a handsome boyfriend."
Haruto rubbed his forehead.
"So, are you planning to get drunk again to find another one?"
Hearing this, Shizuka quickly shook her head, afraid that Haruto might get upset.
"Anyway, let's go have breakfast first."
Haruto rubbed her cheek before pulling her towards the entrance.
Shizuka obediently put on her shoes, but suddenly, a few images flashed in her mind.
Her face immediately turned bright red.
Haruto, puzzled, asked,
"What's wrong?"
Hiratsuka Shizuka quickly shook her head but secretly marked those images in her mind, mentally tagging Haruto's XP system.
A boyfriend should be satisfied, after all!
Haruto, clueless about her thoughts, opened the apartment door.
The morning breeze swept in.
Its crisp coolness instantly woke them up.
Shizuka shivered, hugging her arms.
Unfortunately, this apartment was a place she hadn't lived in for a long time, so she had no extra clothes here.
At that moment, Haruto took off his coat and draped it over Hiratsuka Shizuka's shoulders.
Feeling the lingering warmth in the coat, Shizuka instinctively buried her face in it, a sweet feeling blooming in her heart.
So this is what love feels like!
Shizuka found it somewhat addictive!
She even thought to herself, If only Haruto had been born ten years earlier, then I could have experienced this sweetness much sooner.
It wasn't until they had walked quite a distance that Shizuka realized—Wait, I'm supposed to be the older one here!
"If you give me your coat, won't you be cold?" she asked.
Haruto shook his head.
"That coat was originally prepared for you. Even last night, I had it ready—I just didn't expect to use it again this morning."
Hearing his words, the sweetness in Shizuka's heart intensified.
After breakfast, Shizuka secretly took a few photos and posted them on all her social media accounts.
How could she not show off her hard-earned boyfriend?
However, she did place a cute sticker over Haruto's face.
One reason was that Haruto was still technically a high school student.
Plus, Shizuka knew that Haruto possessed extraordinary skills and a career far beyond his age.
She didn't want her actions to bring him any trouble.
But more importantly—
She thought, This incredibly handsome boyfriend of mine is way too precious to share with everyone!
It would be best if she could keep him all to herself.
At that moment, someone happened to notice her post.
Yukinoshita Haruno stared at the picture.
Even though the boy's face was covered with a sticker—
The more she looked, the more she felt that it was their president.
The reason was simple, Haruto's figure was too outstanding, and he carried a unique aura.
After making her guess, a strange emotion flickered in Haruno's eyes.
She liked the post and left a comment:
"Shizuka finally got a boyfriend?"
It didn't take long for Hiratsuka Shizuka to reply:
"That's right! I finally have a boyfriend!"
Haruno's mouth twitched.
President!
On a side note, Haruno was actually one of Hiratsuka Shizuka's former students.
It had been mentioned before that Haruno was a graduate of Sobu High.
The two of them had a rather unique relationship—
Back in school, Haruno had been the student that gave Hiratsuka Shizuka the biggest headache.
But after graduation, that same troublesome student somehow became the only one who still stayed in contact with Hiratsuka Shizuka.
It was that kind of relationship.
And "Shizuka" was a nickname that only Haruno ever used.
After breakfast, Shizuka clung to Haruto as they wandered around town.
She thoroughly enjoyed this date-like outing.
Having been single since birth, every moment with Haruto was new and sweet.
Until—
They spotted a student from Sobu High.
Shizuka hurriedly pulled Haruto aside to hide.
Now that she thought about it, yesterday had been Friday, and today was Saturday...
That was why she didn't have to go to work, but the students also didn't have school.
Her sense of crisis skyrocketed.
At this moment, Shizuka suddenly felt relieved that Haruto had transferred schools this semester.
Previously, she had complained about it.
But now?
If Haruto were still in her class...
Even if he didn't actively flirt with her, she might not be able to resist sticking close to him sometimes.
If the students found out—
It would be a disaster!
After finishing their nerve-wracking yet fulfilling date, the two returned to Shizuka's apartment.
"Come to think of it, Shizuka, you don't usually live here, do you?" Haruto asked curiously.
During their conversations earlier, Shizuka had mentioned Haruno and the nickname "Shizuka."
So, Haruto had simply started calling her that as well.
Though Shizuka felt a little embarrassed, she still accepted it. Hearing Haruto's question, she sighed.
"After starting work, I moved closer to Sobu. This place..."
Hiratsuka Shizuka hesitated, as if she wanted to say something but stopped herself.
This place was far too girly—it didn't match her image as a teacher.
She usually acted carefree and kept a stern expression most of the time, partly because of her role as an educator.
Haruto, however, understood.
As she sighed, Shizuka subconsciously reached into her pocket.
Feeling the cigarette pack in her hand, she suddenly froze and looked at Haruto.
She knew that Haruto didn't smoke.
Besides, female smokers were relatively rare—it might even make Haruto dislike her.
Seeing her hesitate, how could Haruto not understand what she was thinking?
"I don't mind. Do whatever you like," Haruto said honestly.
Cigarettes, and the nicotine in them, posed no threat to him whatsoever.
With his body modified by the Blacklight Virus, secondhand smoke—heck, even carbon monoxide at 1.6% concentration made no difference to him.
Hearing his words, warmth spread in Shizuka's heart.
The boy in front of her genuinely accepted her flaws.
She opened the cigarette pack, then closed it again. In the end, she didn't take out a cigarette but instead tossed the entire pack into the trash.
Even though Haruto didn't mind...
If she wanted kids in the future, she had to quit smoking!
That was what Shizuka thought.
Haruto, however, was a little confused.
"Um... since we're already dating, does that mean we can..."
Shizuka murmured softly.
Haruto was momentarily speechless but eventually nodded with a wry smile.
It was only in moments like these that Hiratsuka Shizuka showed her maturity.
The moment Haruto agreed, Hiratsuka Shizuka lunged at him.
Haruto: !
Clearly, he had underestimated the pent-up desires of someone who had been single for nearly thirty years.
She was practically starving!
Meanwhile, Hiratsuka Shizuka found herself enjoying the thrill of "bullying" a younger partner.
Uh... and that just made her even happier!