Chapter 630: Miss Shimizu Finally Bringing Up the Breakup
Feelings…
Is there something wrong? Kazumi, are you
still angry about what happened before?
I can explain, Sister Sakura.
She didn’t say it back then; those words were mostly out of jest.”
Satō Shin’ichi leaned forward abruptly, the soda can in his hand creaking as it was squeezed. His blond hair shifted slightly with his hurried movement, creating fleeting golden arcs under the neon lights.
When he arrived, the young man had a rough idea of why the girl’s mood wasn’t that high. However, he hadn’t expected Kazumi to be so bothered by his acquaintance with Kusakabe Sakura to this extent. Her words truly startled Satō Shin’ichi.
“Idiot, am I that petty?”
Kazumi rolled her eyes at the young man good-naturedly. She shook her head, but the strange emotion in her eyes didn’t disappear. She continued to look at the flustered Satō Shin’ichi before her and replied.
“Ah… so it’s not that. Sorry, I got a bit carried away.”
Her words finally loosened Satō Shin’ichi’s tense shoulders. He slumped onto the bench like a deflated ball. He tilted his head back and took a gulp of soda. His throat moved as he swallowed, and a few drops of cold liquid trickled down his chin, leaving dark stains on his shirt collar.
“I thought you were going to say…”
The young man breathed a sigh of relief. The girl’s expression and the surrounding atmosphere had given him a bad premonition. But no matter what, as long as it wasn’t the worst outcome, if his girlfriend was angry, all he had to do as her boyfriend was to apologize sincerely and cheer her up.
“Shin’ichi, do you still remember how long we’ve been together?”
Kazumi wasn’t moved by Satō Shin’ichi’s sudden change in expression. Instead, she shifted her tone, her voice soft and somewhat calm. Looking at the young man before her, she slowly asked.
“Yeah, if we start counting from the day we officially got together, it’s four months and fifteen days. I remember all these words clearly.”
Kazumi’s expression, which remained as usual, made Satō Shin’ichi straighten up in his seat. He looked at Kazumi and replied.
“Then, what do you think of our relationship?”
Kazumi’s lips curved slightly, but it didn’t form a complete smile. Her fingertips gently rubbed the edge of the soda can. Her lowered eyelashes cast shadows beneath them, making her obsidian-like eyes appear exceptionally deep.
“Our relationship is naturally great! Why are you suddenly asking these things? Did something happen…?”
Satō Shin’ichi’s voice suddenly raised a few decibels. He unconsciously tightened his grip on the edge of the bench. The young man’s mind raced, trying to recall if he had done anything recently that might have displeased his girlfriend, prompting her to say something like this now.
His blue eyes flickered with unease under the neon lights. His Adam’s apple bobbed. The young man keenly sensed that although Kazumi’s tone was gentle, it felt like there was a layer of glass between them, preventing him from touching her true emotions.
“I’m just an idiot, don’t overthink it. I’m just thinking,”
Seeing the young man’s flustered appearance, Kazumi finally let out a soft laugh and reached out to brush away a stray blond strand from his forehead.
“If I have to say it, today’s incident with Sister Sakura served as a reminder. It’s indeed time to think about these things. I can’t be like you, just foolishly being in love.”
“A reminder? Kazumi, what are you thinking about? Why don’t you tell me, and we can think about it together? Maybe I can help you a little.”
Satō Shin’ichi asked urgently, his body leaning forward involuntarily. He could smell the faint orchid fragrance from Kazumi’s hair but couldn’t decipher the complex emotions in her eyes.
“Shin’ichi, Grandpa Sato talked to you for a long time again this morning, about you and me.”
The girl didn’t directly answer Satō Shin’ichi’s question but brought up a new topic instead. She turned her face slightly, letting the neon light cast a shallow shadow beneath her nose. The curve of her eyelashes appeared exceptionally soft in the light.
“The old man? Did the old man say something to you?” Satō Shin’ichi asked, a hint of confusion on his face, and continued to probe.
“Grandpa Sato told me that your current training level and their future plans are not just about becoming a simple staff fighter at an agency anymore. You have a high chance of becoming the successor to a professional hero who relies on physical abilities.”
“What Grandpa means is that I should also know these things. He’s worried that Grandpa’s departure for special training might affect our relationship.”
“Sigh, the old man actually told you directly? He always told me not to say anything, didn’t he? I’m sorry, Kazumi. I always wanted to tell you, but because Grandpa didn’t allow it, I never did. I didn’t intentionally want to hide anything from you.”
Satō Shin’ichi was somewhat surprised by the content of their conversation. He hadn’t expected Hamano Tsukasa to simply tell Kazumi this secret that he had sworn to keep. He scratched his head in confusion but soon realized something, and his entire body became excited. He leaned even closer towards Kazumi.
“Then doesn’t that mean the old man completely approves of us, Kazumi? He’s even willing to tell you about this.”
The blond young man’s expression instantly became excited, as if it wasn’t Kazumi but he himself who had received Hamano Tsukasa’s approval. The young man’s bright blue eyes sparkled under the neon lights, as if filled with tiny starlight. He excitedly grabbed Kazumi’s hands, the warmth from his palms hotter than a summer night.
“That’s great, Kazumi! The old man never tells outsiders these things!”
Satō Shin’ichi’s voice also became excited. He had always been worried about the old man’s attitude towards Kazumi. The old man, who had spent his life fighting the [Dark] Organization, truly hated his enemies. In the beginning, when Kazumi was implicated in the [Dark] Organization’s affairs due to her uncle’s identity, the old man’s attitude towards the girl wasn’t very good. He had worried that Hamano Tsukasa would object to them being together!
But unexpectedly, without him knowing, Hamano Tsukasa’s attitude towards the girl had changed so drastically.
But speaking of which, it made sense. Kazumi had such a wonderful personality. As long as people got to know her truly, Satō Shin’ichi believed no one wouldn’t fall for this girl.
This could be considered Grandpa Sato’s acceptance and approval.
“I was going to say it, but it’s not about these things, Shin’ichi.”
Kazumi shook her head, forcing herself to stabilize her emotions lest she be swayed by Satō Shin’ichi’s heightened mood. A flicker of resolve crossed her eyes, and finally, she let out a long breath and continued.
“This is also the main reason why I’m thinking about these things now. Shin’ichi, you have family support, and your own talent is outstanding. You have a bright future as a professional hero. The friends you’ve known since childhood are also exceptionally outstanding. Whether it’s Sister Sakura or Shinomiyai, they are both outstanding individuals among their peers.”
“But I’m different from you. My family is very ordinary, and I even thought I was involved with the [Dark] Organization because of my uncle. Maybe our relationship is good now, but so what? After the fresh excitement of new love passes, what we have to face is the cruel reality. Can someone like me, even just being by your side, bear immense pressure? How can I compare with others?”
The girl’s emotions sank with each word she spoke, finally seeming to fall into the deepest part of the abyss.
Kazumi slowly lifted her head. Her eyes, still calm and devoid of emotion, met the young man’s shocked gaze once again.
“So, now, shall I give you a different new choice?”
