Chapter Six Hundred and Thirty-Five
After
Sato
Shinichi walked out of the gate of Kazumi’s neighborhood. The night breeze brushed against his cheeks, carrying the distinct coolness of late summer. Streetlights cast long shadows behind him as the young man walked with his hands in his pockets, his knuckles unconsciously rubbing against the seams of his pants.
Scenes from tonight kept flashing through his mind.
Kazuomi’s reddened eyes.
Her appearance, holding back tears in the KTV corridor, her slender fingers trembling as she clutched her clothes; and then, when he said they were going to get engaged, the cute white steam that appeared above her head… “It’s a little too early to bring this up now!”
Hamano Tsubasa’s words also echoed in the young man’s mind. But in the end, the young man just shook his head and stopped, looking up at the exceptionally bright moon in the night sky.
Was it an impulse? Perhaps. Sato Shinichi couldn’t deny that. Especially after seeing how sad his girlfriend looked, even if he had to do it ten thousand times over, the young man would still make the same choice as he did then.
However, at this moment, Sato Shinichi strongly agreed with what his master said.
Indeed, Kazuomi’s upbringing had led to her current sensitive and inferiority-ridden inner personality. Even after spending so much time together, she had become cheerful and confident in front of him, and there was no sign of the cold little girl she used to be. But that inner personality was deeply ingrained in Kazuomi’s heart, like a brand.
Sato Shinichi could understand the girl’s feelings. If he were in her shoes, a poor boy encountering a woman who was outstanding in both family background and personal ability, that inner sense of inferiority would indeed make one afraid to look the other person in the eye.
Coupled with the girl’s naturally more delicate heart, and the appearance of Hishibe Sakura, a woman who was excellent in every aspect, Kazuomi’s reaction seemed very reasonable to the young man.
“This also proves that Kazuomi likes me…”
Sigh…
He let out a silent breath. After spending a long time together, Sato Shinichi knew that Kazuomi was actually a very mature and strong person internally. Under normal circumstances, such emotions wouldn’t arise. Her inner strength was such that she was never disturbed by external matters, always focusing on her goals with clear objectives.
And yet, this girl, so mature that she didn’t seem like she was of this age, made a reaction like a little girl and threw a childish tantrum because of him.
The young man never felt that it was his girlfriend’s problem, nor did he feel unhappy because of her twisted little temper. Instead, he earnestly reflected on himself, realizing that ultimately, it was his failure as a boyfriend that made Kazuomi so sad.
This was all his fault.
“Just like the old man said, these are things I will have to face in the future. I can’t hide them from Kazuomi forever. Letting her know about them gradually is also a good thing, it will temper Kazuomi’s personality.”
“The old man was right. I can’t assume that others’ ways of treating things and their thoughts are the same as mine, especially girls. I should take more care of Kazuomi’s feelings. This is something I have always overlooked.”
A fire burned in the young man’s chest, as if he was annoyed at his own previous shortcomings in handling matters.
“But the old man’s reaction… he probably agreed. But regarding the hero qualifications…”
A glimmer flashed in Sato Shinichi’s eyes, then quickly disappeared. He lowered his head and began to ponder the matter of hero qualifications.
Although, under Hamano Tsubasa’s arrangement, Sato Shinichi had been involved in some hero activities in advance under the identity of “Kirinari.” However, according to Hamano Tsubasa, he had not yet reached the level of an independent professional hero in all aspects. Therefore, all of Kirinari’s hero activities were carried out under the guidance of one or more experienced professional heroes.
Even so, Sato Shinichi often made many mistakes due to his impulsive nature. Although he was lucky enough to avoid any major incidents each time, he couldn’t avoid being lectured by Hamano Tsubasa when he got home and had never received his master’s satisfactory approval.
“Hoo— No, I can’t rush things like this. I also need to consider Kazuomi’s feelings…”
He let out a long breath and patted his cheeks forcefully. His hero activities over the years had taught the young man that the worst thing in such matters was being too anxious. This was not only irresponsible to himself but also irresponsible to the citizens he protected.
With this thought, the young man decided not to continue thinking about these things on the road. He raised his head and took a step in the direction of home. Suddenly, his muscles tensed. His ears twitched as he caught the sound of unnatural rustling of branches and leaves in the green belt to his right. Almost instinctively, Sato Shinichi turned sharply, his fists crossed in a fighting stance, veins bulging on his sturdy arms.
“Who?!”
He shouted sternly, his voice exploding in the quiet street. Under the streetlight, the taut muscles of the young man’s back were clearly visible through his clothes. He was like a drawn bow.
“Oh dear, I’ve been found!”
A familiar voice with a playful intonation rang out. Hishibe Sakura poked her head out from behind the bushes, a few leaves still clinging to her pink hair.
“Sakura-nee? What are you doing here?”
Seeing who it was, Sato Shinichi breathed a sigh of relief. He slowly relaxed his tensed body and turned to look at Hishibe Sakura, who was emerging from the bushes, a look of great confusion on his face.
“Humph, why am I here? I’m here to demand an explanation!”
She didn’t know which person lightly said, “Help me stop them,” and rushed out. Do you know how tired I was chasing you behind you? I also had to explain the situation to the patrolling heroes one by one. If I hadn’t brought up my old man, I probably would have been arrested as an accomplice!”
Hishibe Sakura crossed her arms and stomped her foot indignantly, her pink ahoge trembling with her movements. The halo of the streetlights illuminated her flushed cheeks, making her look particularly lively. “Well… Sakura-nee, I’m sorry…”
Hishibe Sakura’s accusatory demeanor made Sato Shinichi feel a little ashamed. At the same time, what she said was actually true. It was indeed a bit difficult for her when he had casually asked for such a difficult favor. It was fortunate that it was Hishibe Sakura who agreed to his unreasonable request. He quickly apologized to the pink-haired girl in front of him.
“Hahaha, hahaha, I know, I know. I was just teasing you.”
Seeing Sato Shinichi’s earnest apology, Hishibe Sakura waved her hand and couldn’t help but laugh. Then her expression turned serious, and her crimson eyes instantly became focused as she looked at the blond young man in front of her. “But, to be honest, I should be the one apologizing.”
