A movie that was not too long, for both Kurenai and Aoba, it felt somewhat prolonged.
After the movie ended, Kurenai had intended to leave without a word, but someone got up and left even faster than she did.
Because she was sitting in the front row near the exit, as soon as the movie ended, Yakumo and Hinata bolted past her like a gust of wind.
She had no idea where they were headed and felt a bit dazed, momentarily forgetting to move her feet.
In the end it was a familiar voice that snapped her back.
"Kurenai-neesan, we're going to get lunch. Want to come?", Aoba's voice made Kurenai's body shiver slightly.
But when she turned to look at him, her gaze clearly showed embarrassment and annoyance.
'Have lunch together?'
'What, after trying the movie theater, are they planning to pick another special scene to torment me?'
'Why does this bastard only single me out to mess with?'
As she thought this, Kurenai bit her lip, her heart unavoidably a little resentful.
"Kurenai-neesan, a new restaurant opened over on the shopping street. The food's pretty good. I also have something I want to talk to you about…", Aoba continued.
He of course did not have the idea Kurenai imagined, and Hinata's condition really couldn't handle another round. He also truly had something to say to her. He'd been busy carrying duties lately and forgot to go find her. Today he happened to run into her.
But Kurenai was clearly trapped in her own loop of logic and had no interest in listening to Aoba.
"No thanks, I have things to do later."
After decisively refusing, Kurenai left her seat and intended to head straight out.
"Kurenai-neesan, I—"
"No time. Maybe next time!"
Kurenai answered decisively and disappeared from Aoba's sight without looking back.
Aoba watched her retreating figure helplessly.
He still needed to check on Hinata and Yakumo, so he could only wait until the date was over to go see them.
Having made up his mind, he walked toward the restroom.
———
At that moment Hinata and Yakumo were washing their hands in the restroom; Yakumo even rinsed her mouth.
If she hadn't forgotten to bring a spare pair of stockings, she might have even washed her feet.
Originally Hinata was supposed to be the female lead in the morning's movie, and Yakumo only meant to serve as the backdrop and provide the stage.
But Hinata really lacked experience, so if she had been left to her, the movie might never have ended.
So Yakumo had to take over midway.
And as Yakumo had said earlier, whether they could keep shopping in the afternoon depended on Hinata's condition.
Hinata, whose brain had retaken control of her body, did not faint again this time, which already counted as growth over the years.
She was now constantly splashing water on her face with the faucet, trying to cool herself down.
Yakumo seemed much more normal.
Her heart was filled only with the novelty of unlocking a new scene.
After rinsing her mouth, she looked at Aoba standing by the restroom door and asked curiously.
"Kurenai-sensei?"
Aoba shrugged helplessly and said, "She said she has something to do later and left."
Yakumo blinked, suddenly seeming to understand something, then said, "When Hinata pushed my head earlier, I think I suddenly lost a bit of control over the genjutsu. Kurenai-sensei must have sensed something."
"?", Aoba felt speechless.
He felt like Yakumo was doing this on purpose.
He'd originally thought Kurenai hadn't moved past last time's awkwardness and didn't want to say a word to him.
Now it seemed even more awkward.
Yakumo looked at him with a half-smile and teased, "Are you sure nothing happened between you and Kurenai-sensei?"
Aoba rolled his eyes and answered decisively, "No."
He really hadn't done anything last time.
Yakumo tilted her head. Seeing his complete certainty made her even more curious.
'Could the problem be with Kurenai-sensei?'
'No, more likely it is Anko!'
The three walked out of the theater.
The midday sun shone on them, not hot but warm, just right to sweep away the dampness from inside the theater.
"This is perfect timing for lunch!", Yakumo said happily.
After exercise, you need food to fill your stomach.
Her words, however, made Hinata, who had been looking down, lift her head.
Her cheeks were still flushed, but her gaze passed over Aoba and landed on Yakumo's face.
To be precise, it landed on her tender lips.
'That mouth doesn't look very big, so how come—'
But what surprised her more was that Yakumo had just eaten so much, so how could she be hungry again so quickly?
"Hm?"
Yakumo noticed Hinata's gaze, leaned forward slightly, and looked at her in puzzlement.
"Hinata, why are you staring at me like that?"
Aoba also looked at her with curiosity.
"N-no… nothing?"
Hinata hurriedly lowered her head again.
An evil smile appeared on Yakumo's face; she released Aoba's hand, moved to Hinata's other side, and hooked her arm through hers.
Leaning to her ear, she whispered, "Hinata, since we already tried it in the movie theater, want to try it at a restaurant next?"
The words made Hinata's brain freeze.
She was, after all, a traditional girl and couldn't understand Yakumo's line of thought, speaking of such things as if perfectly reasonable.
"Ah!"
During her shock, Yakumo suddenly cried out in pain.
Aoba pulled his hand back in a chop and said displeased, "Don't bully Hinata too much!"
Yakumo pouted, "Aoba, you just like to pamper Hinata."
"She's such a good girl, of course she should be pampered," Aoba said as if it were obvious.
Hinata's face grew even redder at his words.
Yakumo stuck out her lips, "So you mean I don't deserve the pampering?"
"When your are obedient, of course I'll pamper you, but when you are mischievous, you'll get punished," Aoba said with an implied meaning.
"Hmph!", Yakumo didn't say anything this time, just snorted. Her cheeks were a bit flushed. Both of them knew what that punishment meant.
Well, compared to pampering, she actually preferred the punishment mentioned by him.
After all, Aoba's water-style skill was better than hers.
"Aoba-kun, do you often… do this kind of thing with Yakumo when you're out?"
Hinata snapped out of the happiness of being praised by Aoba.
For Yakumo to say such things so naturally, it could only mean they had done it many times before.
"Of course not. I only sometimes tease Aoba with my feet. It's not as comfortable anywhere outside as at home," Yakumo said with righteous confidence.
"Use… use your feet?"
Hinata's eyes widened, then she seemed to understand, "Karin said something like Aoba-kun especially likes girls' feet…"
Saying that, she looked down at her little leather shoes. Her feet did look pretty.
Then she felt a bit regretful.
'I should have worn sandals if I had known.'
═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═
[email protected]/AmbitiousTranslator
🥳Joining P@treon keeps me motivated and eager to work diligently, so please consider joining.🥰 You can access upto 20 advance chapter through P@treon.