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"Did I get more handsome?"
Max touched his face with a mock-innocent look.
"Playing dumb, huh?"
Hiratsuka Shizuka shot him a sideways glance.
No way this kid hadn't looked in the mirror.
"What do you mean playing dumb? I've always been handsome. Maybe I just never noticed."
"But then again…"
Max's lips curved, a mischievous glint flashing in his eyes.
"They say beauty's in the eye of the beholder. Shizuka, if you think I've gotten more handsome… could it be that you…"
He trailed off, staring at her with a deliberately suggestive look.
Then he leaned in closer, locking eyes with her.
For a second, neither of them blinked.
Shizuka's heart gave a nervous lurch.
A faint flush crept across her face.
His words echoed in her head, and her heartbeat picked up speed like a startled deer.
To cover it up, she clenched her fists and glared at him, snapping,
"You brat, what nonsense are you spouting? No respect at all."
"Daring to tease me—are you looking for a fist in the face?"
She raised her right hand and shook her clenched fist like a threat.
She had a nickname: the Iron Fist Teacher.
After some students caught her teaching two delinquents a painful lesson off-campus, the name spread like wildfire.
Now, most kids were pretty terrified of her "fist of justice."
But Max? Not intimidated in the slightest.
He knew she wasn't the type to just swing at people casually.
Well—unless you pushed her too far. Then all bets were off.
"Wow, that fist is as big as a sandbag. I'm sooo scared."
Max covered his face dramatically with both hands, then peeked through his fingers to look at her.
That grin of his was so cocky, not even an AK could suppress it.
"😣😣😣"
That look made Shizuka's face darken instantly.
Her fists hardened.
Right as she was about to explode—
"I'll go grab something."
Max tossed the line over his shoulder with a grin and strode upstairs toward the master bedroom.
"Damn brat…"
Shizuka muttered with a laugh, shaking her head as she watched him retreat.
She stayed by the entrance instead of going inside, waiting.
But then, the scene from earlier replayed in her mind.
That quickened heartbeat… that strange thrill.
The memories of all her time with Max flashed before her.
"Could it be…?"
She caught herself, disbelief flashing across her face.
No way. She'd always thought of him as a little brother.
There was no way she could feel that way about him.
Impossible. Absolutely impossible.
It had to be because of that stupid teasing of his. He'd gotten into her head, that was all.
Her cheeks felt hot. She lightly patted them with both hands, muttering under her breath,
"All your fault, you damn brat. No respect at all. Even dared to flirt with your teacher…"
"Next time you try that, I'll definitely teach you a lesson."
"I'll make sure you learn why they call me Iron Fist."
After grumbling to herself, she took a few deep breaths and slowly forced her thoughts back under control.
Meanwhile, upstairs—
Max grabbed his phone, wallet, and keys.
After hesitating for a second, he tossed his earbuds into his pocket too.
He came back down, put on his shoes, and flashed a smile at Shizuka, who was glaring at him just a little too softly.
"Alright, let's go."
Shizuka glanced at him but said nothing, walking straight out.
"???"
Max blinked, confused.
Why'd she suddenly act like he was some distant relative visiting?
Was she mad about earlier?
Didn't seem like her style, but oh well. He shrugged it off with a smile and followed.
Soon enough, he slid into the passenger seat of the Aston Martin, buckled in, while Shizuka started the car and pulled away.
Max pulled out his phone.
A flood of messages—Moka Akashiya, Satania, and a bunch more.
He replied to them one by one, while Shizuka kept her eyes on the road.
She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye but didn't say a word.
Half an hour later, in Shinjuku—
Shizuka parked in the lot of an upscale restaurant. Together, they headed inside.
A staff member guided them upstairs to a private room they'd reserved.
Shizuka opened the door.
"You made it."
A young woman already sitting at the table smiled at them in greeting.
Then she froze for a beat, eyes widening as she stared straight at Max.
"…Am I imagining things?"
For some reason, he looked way more attractive than before.
Max shut the door behind him and smiled warmly.
"Long time no see, Haruno. You've gotten even prettier."
Her full name was Haruno Yukinoshita—the eldest daughter of the Yukinoshita family in Chiba.
And, of course, older sister to Yukinoshita Yukino.
Shizuka, walking toward the table, frowned faintly at Max's words.
This brat…
Haruno blinked, then let out a soft laugh, eyes sparkling with surprise and curiosity.
"Max, you haven't secretly been hitting a beauty salon, have you?"
The last time they'd met was half a month ago.
"Told you."
Shizuka pulled out a chair and sat down, muttering, "The brat really has changed a lot."
"Not at all! This is all natural, okay? I was just born with good looks."
Max grinned as he sat to Haruno's left. Shizuka took the seat on her right.
The moment he sat down, Haruno leaned in and reached out with her hand—
Pinching his cheek gently.
Her eyes widened. "Just like I thought. Your skin is ridiculously good."
"How do you even take care of it?"
Smooth, soft, flawless.
Honestly, even better than her own, and she spent serious time on skincare.
Shizuka's gaze slid toward Max too, curious.
Even if she usually acted rough around the edges, she was still a woman—of course she cared about things like that.
Max chuckled. "That's the thing—I don't do anything."
"…Seriously?"
Both Haruno and Shizuka looked skeptical.
"Why would I lie?"
"…Fine."
They exchanged a glance and, faced with Max's "I'm totally honest" expression, let it go.
Then Haruno used both hands, kneading his cheeks like mochi, sighing,
"I'm so jealous…"
Max narrowed his eyes at her. "Haruno, are you just messing with me on purpose?"
"Oops, you caught me."
She pretended to panic, then gave him a sly, playful smile—her hands still gently squishing his face.
Shizuka's eyes narrowed slightly at the scene, a faint flicker of emotion flashing across her face.
But she stayed quiet, just watching.
"....."