Chapter 351: Understanding Kazumi Shimizu
“Courage-testing event?”
The post-meal activity organized by classmates interrupted the small intimacy between the young boy and girl. The black-haired girl held a pair of brown wooden chopsticks, lightly tapping them in a random pattern on the bowl and plate, mumbling something unintelligible.
Her jet-black eyes, like dark holes, coldly gazed at the tall girl surrounded by enthusiastic classmates in the distance.
During an age filled with hormones, it’s always hard to refuse those fresh and stimulating things. The idea of exploring a small grove by the seaside at night was already very appealing, especially with the addition of a living witch, which added a touch of mystery. Such an adventure game was completely irresistible for this group of fifteen or sixteen-year-olds.
Excited classmates, especially the boys, gathered around Mai Shinomiyai’s dining table, chatting animatedly about ghost-related topics.
The girl maintained her usual graceful and seemingly elegant demeanor, which, in reality, conveyed a deep sense of detachment, and responded with a smile to her classmates’ questions.
“Disgusting.”
She quietly spat, pulling her gaze back from the temporarily spotlighted Mai Shinomiyai to glance at her obedient golden retriever beside her. Even though this guy wasn’t very smart usually, compared to the loud and brainless boys around, obeying her was enough.
“Do you want to go?”
Casually picking up a piece of food from the bowl and bringing it to her mouth, Sato Shinichi sat there dumbly, seemingly lost in thought. The girl gently shook her head and asked with a hint of curiosity.
For Kazumi, this so-called courage-testing event was just an optional post-meal entertainment activity.
The girl, with a combined age of around thirty from her two lifetimes, naturally wasn’t very interested in such childish games. Moreover, considering her current state, whether she could even feel “fear” seemed to be a question worth examining.
Let alone, if we were talking about terror, the cute little ones in her territory would be a total different level of experience compared to the boring little shikigami of Mai Shinomiyai.
She was more concerned about her dog’s willingness, after all, such adventurous experiences would be quite exciting for a boy with a not-so-advanced psychological age.
Like a master putting a collar on their dog before heading out for a walk, she was delighted to hand over the choice of walking location to the golden retriever nudging at her pants.
“Hmm? Can you, Kazumi?”
Her girlfriend’s call jolted the boy from his worrying thoughts. With a familiar smile on his face, he asked the coldly seated adorable girl beside him.
“Anything’s fine.”
Kazumi replied bluntly, giving him a dissatisfied glance. Hmm, he actually passed the question back to her; it seemed her usual guidance was still a bit lacking.
“Well… let’s go… it shouldn’t be too scary…”
Kazumi’s response surprised the boy. Considering the girl’s past and her aloof nature, it was indeed the indifference she should have shown.
Sato Shinichi nodded stiffly, but his hesitant speech and different tone seemed to lack confidence.
“Don’t want to go?”
Her heart flashed a “oh”, the previously uninterested girl became alert due to Sato Shinichi’s response. A playful expression appeared on her cold little face as her scrutinizing gaze fell on her golden retriever.
Kazumi was somewhat taken aback; this usually carefree, straightforward boy seemed quite afraid of ghostly things.
“No! I… I’m just worried that you might be scared, Kazumi! Because I’ve seen Mai’s shikigami… it might not be what you think…”
For any male creature, showing weakness in front of the opposite sex is completely unacceptable, commonly known as “a man cannot express weakness.”
This principle seemed particularly applicable to Sato Shinichi; originally a bit anxious, the boy straightened up and earnestly explained to Kazumi, looking as if he were ready to battle supernatural beings any second.
“Alright, I believe in you.”
A small hand rested on Sato Shinichi’s fluffy golden mane, and the black-haired girl smiled, soothing the blushing boy who appeared shy.
Her jet-black eyes blinked a couple of times, as if recalling something, the smile at the corners of her mouth deepened as she picked up a piece of fried chicken and brought it to the boy’s mouth, leaning slightly forward, her usually cold voice whispering in his ear.
“If you really don’t want to go, that’s fine. We can just hang back and stroll around the backyard… but this opportunity is rather rare…”
Tilting her head back, she lovingly offered the food to the boy, her faintly misted eyes lowering in slight disappointment, her brows furrowing as her left index finger gently grasped the boy’s clothing, twirling it.
Despite her words filled with concern for him, the subtle hints of grievance and reluctance hidden beneath her cold expression, and the small coquettish gestures her petite body made, were all captured by Sato Shinichi’s keen perception.
“Fine! I really want to go!”
The girl’s soft words, mingled with a faint fragrance, lingered in his ear, and the little expression of grievance on her face that only he could interpret tugged at his heartstrings, prompting his words to spill out unconsciously.
Which boy could resist such a thoughtful girlfriend who cared enough to consider his feelings? In truth, Sato Shinichi simply subconsciously didn’t want to embarrass himself in front of someone he liked; however, upon seeing the pitiful look on his girlfriend’s face, he felt there was nothing he couldn’t agree to!
“I’ll go talk to them.”
Taking a deep breath to calm his slightly agitated emotions, the boy squeezed his girlfriend’s small hand, then turned and resolutely walked towards Yoshida Jo, surrounded by a group of classmates.
Meanwhile, the understanding Kazumi Shimizu picked up her tea cup from the table, watching the boy’s gradually receding figure with a heavy silhouette, her tightly furrowed brows slowly relaxed, revealing a subtly delicate expression.
Her pale pink lips parted, gently blowing away the tea leaves floating on the surface of the tea, as the bitter yet slightly sweet taste melted on her taste buds, the girl’s cold gaze unwittingly narrowed in contentment.
“Hu— Good tea.”
