Meanwhile, just a few tables away, Haruno Yukinoshita stood frozen in shock.
She had quietly followed the pair into the upscale restaurant, securing a discreet booth nearby to spy on the unexpected outing.
Watching her rigid, hyper-professional former teacher interact with a handsome younger man had been an endlessly entertaining spectacle.
Initially, nothing particularly scandalous had happened, and Haruno had even felt a twinge of disappointment at how stiffly and defensively Shizuka was behaving.
That dynamic shattered the moment Haruto slid onto the couch beside her and grabbed her hand.
Haruno's brow furrowed sharply, a wave of dark suspicion washing over her.
Is that brat trying to slip something into her drink or take advantage of her while she's vulnerable?
She had seen plenty of sleazy, manipulative tactics used in corporate and social circles before.
If she hadn't learned to be fiercely guarded in those environments, she might have fallen prey to similar tricks herself.
However, she knew Shizuka had only consumed a single bottle of beer—there was physically no way she'd be intoxicated enough to lose her senses.
Knowing her friend's high alcohol tolerance, something else felt deeply wrong.
Then, she saw Haruto reach his hand down toward Shizuka's lap beneath the table level.
From Haruno's obstructed angle, she couldn't see the ice or his magic at all; she only saw Shizuka's flushed face, her sharp intake of breath, and her startled, shifting expressions.
This isn't right! He's crossing the line! Haruno thought, a protective surge of indignation overriding her usual calm detachment.
Jumping instantly to the worst possible conclusion—that Shizuka was being chemically compromised or harassed right in public—Haruno couldn't just sit back.
She abandoned all stealth, sprang to her feet, and stormed across the dining room.
"Take your filthy hands off her right now!" Haruno shouted, marching straight up to their booth.
The moment the words left her mouth, Haruno realized with mortifying clarity that her aggressive choice of words sounded wildly ambiguous, implying a much more scandalous scenario than intended.
But it was far too late to recall it. In a rush of adrenaline, she lunged forward, grabbing Haruto's wrist to forcefully pull his hand away from Shizuka's lap.
Her fingers closed tightly around the object he was holding—only to find herself grasping something impossibly cold, rigid, and detailed.
Haruno blinked, her hand resting directly on top of the small, perfectly sculpted ice figurine of Shizuka.
"What... on earth is this...?"
Haruno whispered, her sharp intellect grinding to a complete halt as her brain struggled desperately to comprehend the bizarre, frost-covered reality sitting right in front of her.
"Haruno? What on earth are you doing here?"
Shizuka's bewildered voice shattered the heavy tension hanging over the table.
Haruno...
Hearing the name, Haruto raised an eyebrow, a flicker of realization crossing his features.
No wonder this sudden intruder felt so familiar—it was Haruno Yukinoshita, Yukino's fiercely capable older sister.
Aside from the rather obvious, more voluptuous differences in their figures, the family resemblance in their sharp, striking features was undeniable.
"That's completely beside the point right now,"
Haruno shot back, her gaze narrowing dangerously as she fixated directly on Haruto.
"Did you slip something into Shizuka's drink? I sincerely hope you aren't planning anything foolish, young man. Whether you're worried about Shizuka's professional connections or the vast influence of the Yukinoshita family, you really don't want to mess with either of us."
There was an unmistakable, razor-sharp edge of threat in her tone.
Realizing the massive, mortifying misunderstanding that had just taken place, Hiratsuka scrambled to intervene.
"Wait, Haruno, stop!" She stood up hurriedly, placing a firm hand on Haruno's shoulder to halt her advance.
"You've got it completely wrong, Haruno. I wasn't drugged or forced into anything!"
"Not drugged?"
Haruno blinked, her posture remaining skeptical though her tone softened a fraction.
"Then pray tell, what was this boy's hand doing reaching near your lap just now?"
"Uh..."
Hiratsuka hesitated, replaying the sequence of events in her head and instantly realizing just how damning Haruto's actions must have looked to an outside observer.
Her cheeks burned bright red as she pointed a shaky finger toward the intricate, melting ice sculpture resting in Haruto's hand.
"He was just... showing me a little magic trick. Look at this."
Haruto offered a dry, amused shrug. "Well, 'magic trick' is one way to describe it."
Haruno stared at the miniature ice effigy of her friend, her sharp intellect immediately connecting the dots.
Looking closer, she could clearly see that Shizuka was entirely sober, alert, and in complete control of her faculties—meaning Haruno's dramatic rescue attempt had been built on a completely false premise.
Instantly, the tension evaporated from Haruno's posture, replaced by a smooth, unbothered composure.
Without missing a beat, her expression shifted into an easy, apologetic smile.
"My sincerest apologies. I completely misread the situation, Haruto-kun,"
Haruno said smoothly, pouring herself an empty glass from a nearby bottle.
"I'll make up for my abruptness by taking a drink as punishment."
True to her word, she downed the alcohol in one clean, fluid motion, setting the glass down without a single flinch.
"Oh, and don't worry about the bill—I'll cover everything on your tab today as an apology for interrupting."
She was remarkably quick to recognize her mistake, and equally swift in smoothing over the awkward aftermath.
Haruto chuckled, leaning back in his seat.
"I completely understand that you're just looking out for Shizuka as a good friend, Haruno. But next time, it might be wise to verify the facts before charging in with accusations."
He paused, a wicked, confident glint entering his eyes as he added, "Besides, I want to make it clear that I am openly and honestly pursuing Shizuka. I have no need for cheap, underhanded methods."
"Ugh! Don't just casually say things like that out loud!" Hiratsuka shrieked, her face turning the color of a ripe tomato as Haruto's blunt declaration echoed across the semi-private booth.
Overwhelmed by embarrassment, she lunged forward, grabbing his wrist and giving it a sharp, punishing twist.
If Haruto had been an ordinary high school student, her expert grip would have had him yelping in agonizing pain on the floor.
Haruno watched the dynamic unfold with genuine amusement.
"Haha, Haruto-kun, you certainly are refreshingly straightforward," she remarked, a playful smirk touching her lips.
His sheer candor had definitely left a lasting, curious impression on her.
Sensing that the atmosphere had shifted and that her presence was now completely redundant—and quite possibly ruining whatever romantic momentum they had left—Haruno gracefully rose to her feet.
"Well, I won't intrude on your little 'celebration' any longer. Shizuka, just forward the restaurant bill to my office later," she said smoothly.
With a polite nod, she turned on her heel and made a swift, effortless exit, thoroughly refusing to linger a second longer as an unwanted third wheel.
"Haruno Yukinoshita..."
Haruto's dark eyes casually followed the sleek, retreating figure of the older Yukinoshita sister as she walked away, a thoughtful glint in his gaze.
The Yukinoshita family bloodline truly seemed blessed with an abundance of stunning, high-class women.
"Admiring the view, are we?" Shizuka teased, narrowing her eyes at him with a mixture of amusement and sharp skepticism.
"She's definitely an attractive woman," Haruto admitted without a single trace of hesitation, refusing to play dumb.
But the moment the words left his mouth, he turned his gaze back to Shizuka, meeting her playful yet pointedly annoyed glare.
"Still, you and Haruno possess completely different kinds of charm, Sensei."
"Oh, really?" Shizuka replied with a dry, chilly smile, crossing her arms.
"And what on earth is that supposed to mean? Are you trying to soften the blow with some cheap 'older woman' charm?"
She had noticed how Haruto's eyes had briefly lingered on Haruno just moments ago.
For a brief second, she had actually thought the boy was refreshingly straightforward, but it seemed he was just as hopelessly prone to wandering eyes as any other typical male.
•
[Haruno Yukinoshita]
•
*****
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