Shirakawa Natsu froze for a moment, looking at Nao Jingomiya, who was grinning mischievously. Then he smiled and said, "I like you a lot too, Miss Jingomiya."
It wasn't a polite or formal way to say it, but Nao Jingomiya's charm—her beauty, her vitality—made it seem effortless. Associating with her could wash away any trouble; it had nothing to do with her preference for black stockings.
"Ugh…" Yazhikui suddenly covered her mouth.
"Hey, are you feeling okay?" Natsu asked, turning to see her eyes slightly glazed and her cheeks flushed. She had only had a glass of water after drinking with Kimura Momo earlier. It was clear she hadn't fully recovered.
"I'm fine, not drunk," Yazhikui waved him off and stood up. "I'm going to the bathroom."
"Hee hee, I'll come with you~" Nao Jingomiya said cheerfully, standing up as well, not forgetting to carry two skewers in her hands.
"No need," Yazhikui replied, her tone emotionless as always.
She pushed open the door and left, her steps steady, one hand in her pocket. She didn't look drunk at all.
Natsu watched her go, silently admiring her determination. Yazhikui's unyielding nature was well-known—he wasn't at all worried that she might be compared unfavorably to Kimura Momo when it came to drinking.
"Wow… what a scary sister," Jingomiya Nao murmured, shoving a skewer into her mouth. "I thought she might beat me up."
"That girl's actually a very nice person," Natsu said with a small smile, defending his friend quietly. He didn't add that she could be terrifyingly sharp when she wanted to.
"By the way, you don't have my number," Jingomiya Nao said, grinning, holding out her hand. "Give me your phone; I'll make sure you don't lose it."
"There are call records," Natsu said, turning and noticing her insistence. He handed her his phone.
Nao Jingomiya quickly typed into the address book and handed it back with a smile. "There you go."
Natsu took it, a little bewildered, and casually pocketed it, glancing at Kimura Momo out of the corner of his eye.
After Nao Jingomiya appeared, she quietly ate yakitori, only speaking when prompted by conversation before skillfully steering the topic away. Natsu noticed she seemed to be observing everyone quietly, which struck him as unusual.
"Why hasn't she come back yet?" Natsu checked the time. They were about to leave, but Yazhikui hadn't returned. "I'll go see."
"I'll come too. I've already finished eating anyway," Nao Jingomiya said, picking up the last two skewers. Seeing Natsu about to speak, she grinned. "You going into the women's bathroom, Natsu?"
"Exactly," he muttered, patting his own head. He hadn't expected Nao Jingomiya to be so perceptive despite her carefree attitude.
Kimura Momo stood, smiling. "I'll go pay first."
Natsu's mind raced as he worried Yazhikui might have collapsed somewhere. But as he followed the sound, he saw her sitting in a private room, flanked by two office women dressed in smart suits, all laughing and smiling around her.
He quickly pulled Yazhikui out from between the two women, whose suggestive looks were quickly dismissed by Natsu's firm "no." Jingomiya Nao watched, smiling from the side.
The four of them exited the restaurant. Jingomiya Nao bounced ahead, then turned, grinning. "You two have a really good relationship."
Natsu shrugged, putting a hand on Yazhikui's shoulder to steady her. Fortunately, she wasn't too drunk; with a little support, she could walk on her own.
"Remember to call me tonight," Jingomiya Nao said, miming a phone gesture and waving before disappearing into the crowd without waiting for a response.
"Does this girl have stealth skills or something?" Natsu muttered, glancing at Kimura Momo.
After Nao Jingomiya left, the atmosphere grew awkward.
"Let me take Natsu and your friend home," Kimura Momo said, pointing to the Hummer in the parking lot. "She probably can't drive right now."
"Thank you," Natsu said, helping Yazhikui into the car.
The ride was quiet. Kimura Momo drove calmly, while Natsu sat in the back, supporting Yazhikui's head on his lap as the car rocked gently.
The vehicle stopped in front of her high-end apartment. After polite goodbyes, Natsu finally helped Yazhikui inside.
"I'm exhausted, this girl…" Natsu flopped onto his own bed. Yazhikui, tired, immediately fell asleep without even taking a bath. He nudged her twice to encourage her to go, but she just kept her eyes closed.
She slept as though she had never drunk a drop of alcohol, perfectly still.
Natsu reached out, brushing her smooth cheek, muttering to himself, "Even when she's silent… she's beautiful."
He studied her lips and gently touched her canines with his fingers. They were sharper than he'd remembered, and as he ran his fingers along them, he could feel the hollows at the center. He realized her teeth weren't just long—they were noticeably sharp.
Yazhikui stirred slightly, frowning, then stuck out her tongue and licked his finger, as if to push it away.
"Is this girl a dog?" Natsu muttered, withdrawing his hand. But a bold idea occurred to him—she'd drunk little today and hadn't eaten much; maybe supplementing her protein wouldn't hurt.
Still, he shook his head, grabbed the quilt, covered her, and left the room.
It was still early. He sat alone on the sofa, browsing an online store for dental props—the ones used to keep a patient's mouth open. He turned off the phone, leaned back, and listened to the lingering echoes of Nao Jingomiya's chirpy voice in his head.
Her incessant energy had worn him out, and now the quiet only made it more vivid.
"Habits are terrible," he muttered, recalling her request to call her tonight. He sat upright, opened his contacts, and dialed.
A gentle voice answered: "Mr. Natsu, is there something you need?"
Natsu froze, embarrassed. "Sorry, Ms. Momo, wrong number."
"It's fine. See you tomorrow," Kimura Momo said, hanging up.
Back in her study, Kimura Momo glanced at a photo of Nao Jingomiya and Shirakawa Natsu together, smiling. "When two interesting people meet… what kind of drama will unfold?"
"Crazy!" Natsu yelled, finding the call records from the restaurant and dialing them.
The line connected.
"Hello, hello~ Hee hee, is that Natsu?" Jingomiya Nao's voice was lively, full of her trademark cheer.
"Hey, you little brat, why did you put Ms. Momo's number in your phone as yours?" Natsu asked.
"You like Teacher Momo, don't you~"
"Ah?!" Natsu's face twisted in confusion.
"Idiot, it's written all over your face. When you eat yakitori, your eyes are always sneaking glances at Teacher Momo."
"No, I…" Natsu tried to protest, realizing she was right—though it wasn't out of desire, just caution. He'd been robbed of his childhood sweetheart and was wary, not because of romantic interest.
"And Ms. Momo likes you too~" Jingomiya Nao said with a laugh. "Love only requires bravery. Saying 'I love you' is often harder than memorizing classic literature."
"I think you just don't know classic literature well," Natsu muttered, rubbing his forehead. "Anyway, mind your own business."
"Why~ I just want to see lovers finally together~" Nao Jingomiya said. "Just imagine Ms. Momo in love—it would be hilarious! Let me help you express it."
"So… you just want to watch the chaos," Natsu grumbled. Jingomiya Nao lectured him endlessly on love, before finally hanging up.
"That little escapee…" Natsu opened the Huangmao app on his phone, secretly planning to scold Jingomiya Nao later. She was simple-minded and perpetually cheerful. After a moment, he set the phone aside. Life was full of illusions, and she might not even like him back.
Meanwhile, in an abandoned warehouse in Tokyo, a young woman in a kimono and wooden clogs glared coldly at the grisly scene before her.
The faces of her subordinates were pale; two covered their mouths, barely holding back nausea.
"Who did this?" the woman asked, her voice icy, emotionless.