"Actually... I'm a student at Higashi Middle school..."
Placing his knife and fork back on the plate, Kyousuke rested both hands on his knees and spoke in a calm, serious voice.
From the very beginning, he knew this bombshell would eventually drop.
The fact that it lasted this long without incident already felt like a small miracle. At first, the age gap between them would've made any kind of relationship difficult—but now, that issue no longer existed.
In fact, if handled properly, maybe it could even beco a little... spice for their relationship. Maybe.
Okudera stood up abruptly, staring at the boy across from her in disbelief. So little Shizuka had been right all along.
"...Yeah," Kyousuke nodded and stood up as well.
"This... this can't be real!"
Okudera covered her mouth in shock. What the hell am I doing?!
Her sandaled feet shuffled backward instinctively.
She could barely keep herself steady. All those happy daydreams she'd just played out in her head ca crashing down.
The soft amber light that once felt romantic now lood like a devouring beast.
"Okudera, calm down!" Kyousuke stepped forward and grabbed her arm before she could bolt.
His voice, once so gentle, now trembled slightly.
The bright, cheerful smile he always wore had vanished.
But this was basic math—a top student from Ochanomizu Won's University like Okudera could easily do the calculation.
"Look at , Okudera." Kyousuke gently but firmly gripped her shoulders, making her face him.
Truthfully, even now, he wasn't panicking.
What they had—what they'd built—wasn't sothing that could fall apart so easily.
Proof of that lay in the faint aroma of cigar lingering around her—it was still rich and intoxicating, though now it carried a subtle hint of citrus, like lemon.
He had long since realized that his enhanced sense of sll could pick up the unique scent each girl gave off—one that reflected not just who they were, but how their relationship with him evolved.
If the day ever ca when he couldn't sll that beautiful fragrance from soone anymore, it would an the connection between them had truly died.
And with her... that was unthinkable.
Okudera slowly raised her head, gazing at his still-handso face.
She used to think Kyousuke just looked young for his age... but now she knew—he was actually young.
Yet that smile... it was just as warm as it was when they first t.
She rembered how flustered she'd been back then, caught up in a misunderstanding, but when she saw his smile, all her nerves had lted away.
And now...
'No, no—this is way too much! He's not just younger... he's super younger! This is totally insane!'
Her wide, shimring eyes darted around in disbelief, her expression flickering between shock and blank confusion like a cat realizing the giant fish it had just defeated was actually a plush toy all along.
Seeing the change in her eyes, Kyousuke's heart settled.
'As long as she's willing to listen, this can still work.'
He took her hand and gently placed it over his chest.
She jolted like soone waking from a dream.
"Okudera, does age really matter that much when it cos to relationships between people?" Kyousuke's voice was calm, sincere.
For soone like him, with access to a system, even the loss of beauty over ti wasn't a real concern—it could be fixed.
"The connection we share... the mories we've created... none of that is fake."
"Those things are real. And age shouldn't be what decides whether two people can be together or not."
[TL Note – well tell that to the police -_-]
He held her hand firmly against his chest and used his other hand to gently brush the hair from her forehead, tucking it behind her ear.
His voice grew even softer.
"A person's soul holds far more than what the years alone can asure. And if soone lacks the spirit appropriate for their age, they'll end up suffering the misfortunes that co with that."
"And ...?"
He felt the tension in her hand ease, turning soft and relaxed.
He pulled her gently into his arms. She leaned into his embrace, her body warm and yielding.
"I'm just grateful I got to et you now, at this mont... so the ti we spend together can be miraculously extended."
"So please, please forgive for hiding the truth from you."
Okudera didn't say a word.
It was the first ti she'd ever been held like this by Kyousuke.
His body radiated heat, and she felt as if she was being lit up from the inside.
Surrounded by his familiar scent and soft voice, her thoughts drifted to their shared past.
They had t by chance, through a misunderstanding.
She'd barked orders at him, annoyed by his clumsiness.
He had always smiled and listened, improving little by little.
When she apologized, his only request was to have a al with her.
After work, he'd insist on walking her ho, handing her a coat that always slled of pleasant detergent.
Looking back... she'd fallen for him from the very start.
When she told him her dream, he didn't react like her classmates, who looked at her strangely—wondering why a top Ochanomizu grad wanted to open a tiny restaurant.
Instead, he had said:
"I think you're amazing, Okudera-senpai. You're actually chasing your dream."
She almost cried right then and there.
He respected people's effort.
He supported their dreams.
'How could soone like that be judged by age alone?'
"Let invest in your restaurant. I know you'll make it a success."
That's what he had said.
It sounded like sweet talk, sothing you'd say to trick a naive girl.
But after publishing his hit manga, the first thing he did with the prize money was rush to find her.
"Senpai, it's ti to make your dream take off!"
With that kind of money at his age, any normal kid would've gone straight to Ginza, or splurged on a fancy new motorcycle or the latest phone.
But instead, he showed up on that sa bike he always rode to bring her ho, waiting for her to return from visiting her family.
Even when she told him there was no rush, he smiled and said:
"Honestly, having this much money in my account makes uncomfortable... so, could you help hold onto it for , senpai?"
Only soone like him would say sothing so naive... so adorably childish. Or maybe, so good at tricking girls.
And when he helped her sell her special sauce recipe—he already did enough—but he still felt guilty.
That pouty, sulky Kyousuke had been kind of cute too.
But he really had made her dream co true. And now, here they stood—inside her restaurant, embraced by the man who had made it all possible.
"...Kyousuke, I'm not going to forgive you."
Okudera tilted her lovely face up, lips pursed in a mock pout.
"Ah..."
"From now on, every single week, you have to co here and taste-test my new dishes. That's your punishnt."
Seeing the dumbfounded look on his face, she giggled, biting her lip playfully.
Her amber eyes sparkled again, full of affection.
"Haha, you got it!" Kyousuke's arms tightened around her.
As he looked at her enticing lips, a strong urge to kiss her welled up inside him.
'Knock knock—'
"Okudera-senpai! Are you there~~?"
A cheerful, lodic voice rang out from behind the glass door, full of energy even through the barrier.
"Ah!" Okudera, who had been looking up at Kyousuke with a soft smile, quickly let go of his arm—she hadn't even realized she'd grabbed it.
"It's a close junior from my school days," Okudera explained, straightening out the wrinkles on her dress as she glanced toward the entrance, recognizing who had just arrived.
Thanks to Kyousuke's usual habits, the two of them were tucked away in a quiet corner of the first-floor lounge.
From the entrance, no one could see them.
"It's about ti. We should greet our guests properly." Kyousuke gave Okudera an encouraging pat on the shoulder and whispered so words of support.
"Right!" she replied with a nod.
Okudera took out a small mirror and so makeup essentials from her clutch to touch up her appearance.
With her usual gentle smile back in place, she headed toward the entrance.
"Huh? I'm the first one here? I thought Shizuka-chan would've shown up earlier than ."
"I an, other than school stuff, it's not like she has many dates lined up or anything."
The mont the door opened, a girl with short black hair leapt into Okudera's arms, chattering nonstop.
"Wait—I'm not the first?" Finally noticing the person following behind Okudera, the girl blinked in surprise.
"Ah! Did I interrupt sothing?" Releasing her hug, the girl clapped her hands together in exaggerated apology.
A teasing grin spread across her face as she nudged Okudera lightly with her shoulder.
Okudera's cheeks flushed with embarrassnt.
"Nice to et you. I'm Hojou Kyousuke, a friend of Okudera's," Kyousuke introduced himself with a polite nod, keeping a calm, diplomatic smile.
He knew people like this—flamboyant, energetic types and the best way to deal with them was to smile and not take the bait.
"Oh, how rude of ! I'm Yukinoshita Haruno, Okudera-senpai's junior from Ochanomizu Won's University."
In a complete shift from her previous playfulness, Yukinoshita Haruno pressed her right hand over her left, both palms resting gently in front of her stomach.
She bowed with impeccable grace, so perfectly poised that even the most discerning royal etiquette instructor would find no fault.
When she straightened up, she kept smiling, clearly waiting for Kyousuke to continue the conversation.
Looking at her, a phrase automatically surfaced in Kyousuke's mind:
「立てば芍薬,座れば牡丹,歩く姿は百合の花」
"Standing, she's a peony; seated, a tree peony; walking, a lily."
She certainly looked the part—elegant and striking like a peony when standing.
The poise in her movents and the grace in her speech reminded him of the dignified charm of a tree peony.
As for the lily... well, not the pure and noble kind the Japanese often reference, but rather a golden lily symbolizing freedom and wild charm.
Also, you didn't really need to introduce yourself. I already know your na.
[My Youth Romantic Cody Is Wrong, As I Expected – Yukinoshita Haruno (Supporting Character)]
Today, not only had Kyousuke received a new reward, he also got to et another well-known figure.
Still, whether it was Hiratsuka Shizuka before or now Yukinoshita Haruno, it seed like their "youth" ca fashionably late.
And that Hiratsuka-sensei... she may look like a dependable teacher, but both Okudera and Haruno casually call her "Shizuka-chan" like it's no big deal.
That contrast is... kind of wild.
"Co sit over here, Haruno. I'll bring out so snacks."
Having quickly composed herself, Okudera gestured for Haruno to follow.
Judging from her outfit, she clearly hadn't planned on doing any cooking today—everything was pre-prepared, probably cold dishes, and this was more a casual get-together with friends.
"Yay! I'm so happy. Ever since you retired from the cooking club, I haven't gotten to taste your food at all. I really missed it, you know!"
Grinning brightly, Haruno linked arms with Okudera, completely forgetting the earlier topic.
"Kyousuke, could you keep Haruno company for a bit? I'll go set things up," Okudera said with a natural smile before heading toward the kitchen.
"So, Hojou-san," Haruno began, leaning over the table.
She rested her chin delicately on the back of her interlaced fingers, elbows propped up, her smooth, pale arms showing beneath her white off-shoulder top.
Her eyes sparkled with curiosity, completely unfazed by the fact they'd only just t.
"You and Okudera-senpai—are you two a couple?"
"We're just really close friends," Kyousuke replied, eting her eyes those lovely irises tinged with red and violet with a composed, professional smile.
"Ehh? That's so cold. Co on, tell ! Okudera-senpai and I are super close. We even joked about holding a joint wedding soday!"
Her lips curled up mischievously, her tone growing more playful and intimate—like the distance between them had instantly shrunk from strangers to close confidants.
"I'm one of the investors in this restaurant," Kyousuke replied coolly.
This kind of person was the hardest for him to deal with—mostly because he was this kind of person.
The woman in front of him might look like a cheerful college student, but she clearly spelled trouble.
Unlike the gentle and sensible Okudera-senpai, Haruno was a whole different beast.
"Eh? An investor?" Haruno gasped dramatically, scooting closer until only one seat separated her from Kyousuke.
"So you're trying to win over Okudera-senpai through her stomach, huh?"
"No," he answered flatly, his smile losing so warmth.
"Ahaha, sorry, sorry! I was just joking. But still, the way you and Okudera-senpai get along—it's kind of heartwarming."
That old proverb about the many graceful forms of a woman? It was ant to describe elegance and poise, but this girl... she was just too unpredictable.
The stuff she said could be a little annoying, sure, but it was all part of her ga—testing his relationship with Okudera. What a handful.
"Okudera's prepared so delicious sushi today. Please help yourself."
"Yes sir! I'll make sure to stuff my mouth so I can't talk anymore!"
Haruno zipped her lips with an exaggerated motion, flashing a playful grin as she did so.
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