Haru and Megumi both stepped onto the stage with the same thought in mind... I want that coupon.
Of course, only the two of them knew whether the coupon was truly the reason. Still, their participation was enough to stir up the interest of the onlookers.
Especially the women.
Their eyes immediately locked onto Haru. A few of them couldn't help thinking of their own age, sighing with regret.
Megumi also drew some attention from the men in the crowd. Most found her cute, though not overwhelmingly so.
The couple still on stage cast them a quick look as well. After sizing Haru up, the boyfriend noted his build wasn't as muscular as his own and felt instantly relieved.
"Hey, good luck out there."
The burly man smiled warmly and extended his hand.
Haru returned the smile and clasped his grip. "Same to you."
With the host's energetic countdown filling the air, Haru turned to Megumi. He bent down slightly, holding out his arms.
Megumi understood right away, leaning forward so that he could scoop her up in a princess carry.
Instinctively, she wrapped her arms around his neck.
Their eyes met. Her cheeks flushed.
Haru grinned deliberately. "Focus, okay? If you slip off halfway through, that coupon you wanted for your mom is gone."
"I won't."
Her arms tightened around his neck, and her gaze flickered down, unable to meet his eyes any longer.
"It looks like both pairs are ready. Let's begin the match!" the host cried with exaggerated zeal.
At once, Haru and the other man began squatting with the girls in their arms.
For the first twenty seconds, the muscular boyfriend managed to keep pace, matching Haru's rhythm. But sweat quickly began beading on his forehead, his face turned red as his movements slowed.
Haru, on the other hand... looked as if he hadn't even started. His pace remained steady and smooth, as though the girl in his arms weighed nothing.
The sharp contrast drew murmurs from the crowd. Most marveled at Haru's stamina, while some of the older women found their eyes wandering toward his waistline, their lips curling with the faintest hint of longing.
The vitality of a young man.
Just as men would always gaze at beautiful young women, these women now shared a single, silent thought: so good to look at, can't stop looking.
By the forty-second mark, Haru deliberately slowed down from one squat per second to one every two seconds, careful not to make his strength look too absurd.
In truth, Megumi's weight hardly counted for anything to him. Forget squats... he could have carried her for a ten-kilometer run without breaking a sweat.
That was the luxury of his [Steel Body].
Still, the real reason it felt so easy was Megumi herself. She was light, with a balanced, graceful figure... neither as voluptuous as Utaha, nor as slender as Yukino. She was simply well-proportioned, soft and warm in his arms.
The heat from her body seeped into his palm, and he could feel her growing shyer by the second.
Haru remained calm, but Megumi… wasn't so composed.
The press of his hand against the back of her legs, the gust of his breath brushing her face with every squat... it all made her heart pound uncontrollably.
Even the most composed girl couldn't escape such natural reactions in her youth. Her cheeks glowed brighter and brighter, betraying the fluster bubbling inside.
Her thoughts drifted, far from the contest. She remembered that night when Haru had unconsciously pulled her into his arms in his sleep. Ever since, it was as though something inside her had been switched on, leaving her prone to stray fantasies.
And today, after he'd "played" with her foot earlier… how could she possibly stay calm?
"Time's up!"
The host's voice snapped her back to reality.
Predictably, Haru had won with ease.
Feigning exhaustion, he set Megumi gently down, breathing as though he'd given his all.
Beside him, the burly boyfriend was drenched, his hair plastered with sweat, shirt clinging to his skin.
Too strong… there's no way to beat a monster like that!
Despite the defeat, the man extended his hand, panting. "Congratulations."
"Thanks. You were great too," Haru replied sincerely.
The man gave a wry smile. "You're the great one. You don't even look that strong, but you completely outclassed me."
"That's only because you already went against someone before this match," Haru countered smoothly. "Your stamina was drained, while mine was fresh."
"Huh… now that you mention it, that makes sense."
"See? That's why I said you were impressive."
A round of polite mutual flattery later, Haru had successfully soothed the man's pride.
With victory secured, the host announced the rules: the winners not only received the discount coupon, but also had to take a commemorative photo.
Neither Haru nor Megumi minded. It was only a photo, after all.
They stood a little closer together, the shutter clicked, and the moment was captured.
Afterward, each received their copy, along with the coupon.
To Haru's surprise, the staff also revealed another prize... a small shelf of knitted winter hats.
Nothing fancy, but still a pleasant bonus.
Haru chose a simple black knit cap. Megumi, after taking her time, selected a white hat with little sheep ears.
Leaving the store, Haru noticed the spring in her step. Teasing, he asked, "So, are you this happy because we won, or because you got the coupon?"
Megumi's face remained calm. "Why can't it be both?"
"Of course it can. But don't you think that answer's a little sly?"
"If you insist on seeing it that way, then you're right."
"…You even learned that line?"
"Because I once heard you say it to Yukinoshita. And don't worry, I wasn't spying. Like you all suggested, I've simply been observing everyone in the club carefully."
Haru had no comeback. And it wasn't the first time she'd used his own words against him.
"Shouldn't have said that to you back then," he muttered. Being outmaneuvered by his own past phrases stung more than he cared to admit.
Back in the car, Haru saw Megumi holding the sheep-eared hat with obvious fondness. He asked casually, "By the way, what animal are those ears supposed to be?"
"Sheep," Megumi replied instantly.
"Oh." He didn't think much of it.
When the car stopped at her house, Megumi thanked him before stepping out. She held the sheep hat up, eyes twinkling. "Don't you have something to say?"
Haru blinked, studying the hat. "Like what? That it looks nice? Or that you'd look cute wearing it?"
Megumi shook her head. "Wrong guess."
"Then give me a hint?"
"Next time, definitely."
And with that, she walked away.
Watching her graceful figure recede, Haru leaned back in his seat, still wondering. Was there something special about the sheep hat? Why did she ask me that?
He thought it over the whole drive home but couldn't find an answer.
Just then, a message popped up from Utaha.
It was a photo.
From the angle, it looked like it had been taken on the sly. In the picture Yukino sat on the sofa, head bent in concentration as she repaired that cat-ear headband. With her nimble fingers, fixing a headpiece was nothing.
Utaha had added a caption beneath the image: Miss Meow is hard at work restoring her personal gear.
Haru was about to laugh, then it hit him.
He tapped Megumi's profile picture and sent a message: "Miss Sheep?"
Five seconds later Megumi replied: "Congratulations.... you guessed right."
Haru went silent.
Miss Meow, Bunny-Senpai… and now Miss Sheep. So that was the special thing she cared about?
Then a new message came from Megumi: Observe more. Think more.
Haru stared at his phone. This girl's cheating... she's got a wallhack.
~~~~~~~~~~
You can support me by subscribing on Patreon and read up to 10 chapters ahead.
patreon.com/Ranabir_20