Haru's hands had always been quick.
So when Haruno's video call request popped up, he declined without hesitation.
There was no need to guess—she'd definitely want the full story about the stockings.
But there was no way he could give her an answer.
A lie might work on others, but not on Haruno. Not when the three of them him, Haruno, and Yukino had grown up together. They knew each other too well.
The only thing he could say was that single line: "Your stockings are dead."
As soon as he rejected the call, Haruno shot him a question mark.
Haru replied with an exclamation mark. Conversation over. They could talk later.
He wasn't worried about Haruno barging over either. That wasn't her style. Even if she had suspicions, she would probe at her own pace, testing the waters step by step.
And her options for digging were limited. Other than Yukino, there was only Shizuka.
One wouldn't tell her the truth. The other didn't even know it.
Safe.
The rest of the morning passed quietly at home. Haru didn't do much just helped the two girls refine plans for their next shoot, or killed time training the family cat.
Thanks to his [Hypnosis] skill, his fat orange tabby could not only follow commands like a pro pulling off flashy wall jumps but also stay perfectly calm even with sticky notes attached to its paws.
He'd picked up the sticky-note trick online.
Most cats in those videos panicked the moment something clung to their feet, flailing wildly like they were about to take flight.
But with Haru's hypnotic suggestion, his cat remained unbothered, happily accepting Yukino's treats while demonstrating its new "performance."
Naturally, with the cat being so cooperative and cute, Yukino and Utaha refused to leave the house all day, filming short clips of it over and over.
The leisurely atmosphere lasted until four in the afternoon, when Haru announced he was heading out to buy groceries.
Just before leaving, he teased the two girls:
"Want to come along? There's a women's boutique near the market. They sell stockings too."
A cushion flew straight at him courtesy of Yukino.
Utaha just pressed a hand to her forehead with a sigh.
"This guy definitely just wants to rip our stockings again."
So Haru went out alone, in excellent spirits.
As he walked, he mulled over dinner options and tested how wide he could extend his [Perception] skill how many voices he could pick up at once without his thoughts turning into static.
The result was impressive. Even when multiple streams of sound poured into his head, his mind remained sharp and orderly. A bit noisy, sure, but no real drawback.
Leaving the supermarket, he kept his senses open, catching all sorts of chatter: stray cats bickering over territory, high school girls planning which café to scope out cute boys at, even the faint squeaks of a hamster stuffed in someone's backpack.
And then, amidst the flood of voices, he caught a familiar one.
Soft. Gentle.
Megumi Kato.
She sounded like she was on the phone.
A few steps later, he spotted her slender figure outside a convenience store.
She noticed him too. The calmness in her eyes wavered, just slightly.
Haru raised a hand, signaling for her to finish her call and not mind him.
Megumi nodded, but her gaze didn't leave him. She only lowered her phone once he walked over.
"Shopping too?" he asked.
"Yes. But I ran into a little problem."
She turned fully toward him, her eyes steady on his.
"I was wondering if I should ask you for help… and then you appeared."
"Help? What happened?" Haru frowned. His [Perception] was still active, but he hadn't sensed anything unusual.
Megumi's tone stayed even.
"Earlier, I ran into a streamer on this street. He had quite a few fans trailing him. They were moving quickly."
"And?" Haru prompted.
"He wasn't paying attention. Two of his fangirls bumped into me…"
Her voice softened slightly.
"They both fell to the ground, and I twisted my foot."
Realization dawned on Haru.
"You were calling someone for help just now?"
"Yes. I was about to ask classmates. But then I saw you."
"Then let me call my driver and have you sent home."
While dialing, Haru's gaze fell to her legs wrapped in stockings.
"Which foot is it?" he asked gently.
"My left. But I don't think it's really twisted just sore. I'll be fine after some rest." Her eyes lingered on him.
"I'll check it once we're in the car," he said.
No way she'd pull off her stockings here in the street.
Megumi's voice turned almost tender.
"Alright."
Soon, the car arrived. Haru helped her into the backseat.
"Want me to take off your shoe, or will you?"
"I'll do it myself," she whispered, her cheeks faintly pink.
The driver overheard and nearly laughed. He had been about to ask their destination, but after catching that line, he quickly changed his mind.
"I'll step out for a smoke. You two talk."
With the car quieter, the mood shifted subtly.
Haru didn't dwell on it. He simply watched as Megumi slipped off her shoe and sock, revealing her small, pale foot. For a second, his thoughts scattered.
Aside from Yukino and Utaha, no other girl's feet had struck him as… beautiful.
Megumi wasn't plain not at all. If you paid attention, she had a quiet allure that belied her "background character" reputation.
Her left leg was bare now, the pale calf smooth and soft. Her foot was delicate, the heel rounded, the toes like a string of pearls.
Higher up, the curve of her thigh pressed against fabric, showing off a trim waist without an ounce of excess.
"Let me check."
Haru gently cupped her small foot. Despite her slender, elegant appearance, her skin yielded under his touch, plush and warm.
I'm the criminal, and she's the warden.
The thought struck him unbidden.
Megumi lifted her leg slightly to make it easier for him, her eyes sliding toward the window, unfocused. A curtain of hair fell across her face, swaying faintly with each unsteady breath.
~~~~~~~~~~
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