Among all the girls Shizuka had ever t, Utaha was the one who left the deepest impression on her in terms of both figure and beauty.
Of course, there were other well-developed girls at school. But none had Utaha's balance of height and curves. Those who were tall lacked her shape, and those with curves lacked her elegance and stature.
And when it ca to "curves," it wasn't just about her chest—it was her hips as well.
If Utaha wore a fitted pencil skirt, she would beco the kind of woman capable of delivering a fatal blow to any man's heart.
As a mature woman herself, and more than familiar with her own allure, Hiratsuka still had confidence in her waist-to-hip ratio. Yet, compared to Utaha, the sheer youth, charm, and freshness radiating from her made Hiratsuka feel utterly defeated.
Youth. Seduction. Grace. Sensuality.
Before eting Utaha, Shizuka had never imagined that all these qualities could exist in a single girl.
If Yukino was the most flawless beauty she had ever seen, then Utaha was without question the most dangerous—the one with the greatest power over n.
What was that saying again?
Cute was nothing when faced with sexy.
Another phrase floated into Hiratsuka's mind, this ti in Chinese:
A woman dresses up for the one who admires her.
Today, Utaha embodied that perfectly.
Having known her for so ti, Shizuka understood that Utaha wasn't the type to suddenly blossom for no reason. Which left only one question—
If Utaha was dressed so strikingly today, was it really just because of a birthday?
Hesitation flickered across Shizuka's face. With others still around, she held back the probing question on the tip of her tongue.
But the mont she left the kitchen, Utaha leaned close and whispered, "Yukino, did you notice?"
Yukino gave a small nod.
She had seen Shizuka's subtle change in expression as clearly as day.
"Do you think she's figured sothing out?"
Utaha's gaze flickered toward the kitchen, where Haru was busy cooking. For the first ti, a trace of nervousness showed on her face.
If her secret were discovered by a peer, she wouldn't panic too much. But Shizuka was different. She wasn't just an upperclassman—she was a teacher. The thought of being found out by her… Utaha didn't even want to imagine it.
"From what I know of Hiratsuka-sensei, she's only in the early stages of suspicion," Yukino said calmly.
That calmness was sothing Utaha had always admired in her. Feeling slightly reassured, she asked, "So, I don't need to worry yet?"
Yukino's beautiful eyes swept over Utaha's figure. "If you keep showing up here dressed like a butterfly, she'll definitely catch on."
"...A butterfly?" Utaha's expression twitched.
Yukino let out her habitual, quiet laugh. "Ah, I misspoke. I should say a showy bunny-senpai. That idiom fits your style today even better."
Utaha was about to fire back when Haru's voice cut through from the kitchen.
"If you two want to bicker, take it outside."
Both girls turned their heads.
Haru, wearing an apron, carried a dish over with unhurried ease. "For a chef, the biggest taboo is being distracted while cooking."
Utaha and Yukino both opened their mouths, ready to argue, but Haru spoke first—
"By the way, the eggplant and tofu hotpot is ready. Do you two want to try it?"
Haru handed over two pairs of chopsticks, placing them neatly in front of the two girls.
Both beauties froze for a mont, lowered their eyes at the chopsticks, then exchanged a glance.
The sa thought flashed through their minds: What a smooth combo move of control!
First, he had stolen their attention, leaving them no chance to retaliate. Then, with the simple excuse of tasting his cooking, he disard their fighting spirit completely.
And the worst part? It worked—because they really were hooked on his food. Otherwise, such tricks would never have been effective.
After a pause, Yukino was the first to pick up her chopsticks. "I'll try it."
Utaha followed suit, giving Haru a playful smile. "You've gotten more and more skilled, Haru. Should I praise you for that?"
"You two calling a ceasefire just to turn against together—that's also getting more and more natural, isn't it?" Haru shot back.
Both girls stiffened.
They glanced at each other again—this ti, their expressions awkward before they quickly turned away.
It was true that they'd fought side by side, and even fought against Haru on more than one battlefield. But the word "teamwork"? They had never considered it seriously.
And yet… with all the ti they'd been spending together—on the battlefield and in much more private places—that bond between them had indeed been growing.
Rembering those embarrassing, shaful monts, neither of them dared to continue the topic. After all, both had been defeated by Haru.
If there was any difference… Utaha's "defeat" had been all sultry allure, while Yukino's was shy and irresistibly cute.
One after another, they tasted the eggplant and tofu hotpot and imdiately praised it.
"I want another piece," Utaha admitted, unsatisfied.
Haru gestured with a light wave of his hand. "Help yourself. Just rember to put the lid back when you're done."
Satisfied, Utaha stood to serve herself, then asked casually, "When Hiratsuka-sensei wanted seconds just now, why didn't you agree?"
"You two aren't the sa as her," Haru replied.
That simple answer ward them both.
Even Yukino, who had intended to stop eating, leaned forward again with interest.
But then Haru added lightly, "She's older. She has to watch her weight more strictly. Otherwise, blood pressure, blood sugar, gout—those problems are bound to follow."
Utaha froze mid-motion, her expression turning odd. "…So what you really ant was her weight?"
Yukino's eyes sharpened. "If you're trying to complint us, Haru, don't do it in such a baiting way."
"Baiting?" Utaha blinked at her.
Yukino's tone was cool. "He loves this kind of 'fake-out' move. First, he throws out the bait. Then, just when you're about to bite, he reels it back in."
"I didn't," Haru protested. "In my eyes, you'll always be the most beautiful Bunny-senpai and Miss ow."
Utaha deliberately put on a stern face. "I feel like kicking him. Yukino, what do you think?"
Yukino raised her long leg and gave Haru a swift kick.
Her answer was action.
Utaha followed suit, stretching out one black-stockinged leg to aim a playful kick at him. But before it landed, Haru caught her slender calf with lightning speed.
The next instant, he pulled, yanking her off balance.
Utaha stumbled forward, too startled to even gasp before Haru's left hand released the ladle, slipped down, and scooped her up by the thigh. In one smooth motion, he lifted her into his arms.
"Ah!"
Utaha's voice finally burst out, her arms instinctively wrapping around his neck.
And at that mont, Yukino's eyes went wide. "Do you two have any idea how shaless you look right now?"
Especially since that position—she and Haru had used it too…
Utaha's face flushed, but she said helplessly, "Yukino, you've got it wrong. I'm the victim here."
"Then why don't you let go?" Yukino shot back coldly.
Instead, Utaha tightened her hold on Haru's neck, chuckling softly. "Because it feels nice like this."
"...???"
Yukino almost lost control then and there, her leg twitching with the urge to kick them both straight out of the kitchen.
What sort of wicked words were these?!
She could tell with absolute certainty—knowing Utaha's shaless personality—that she had said it on purpose.
"Didn't I already warn you? Don't distract a chef while he's working, or the consequences will be serious." Haru, of course, had caught the suggestive undertone in Utaha's voice.
But he kept his composure, calmly setting her back down.
"Serious, huh?"
Utaha tilted her head, a sly smile curving her lips. "By 'serious,' you an… do?"
Haru froze. "…You even know that term?"
Yukino frowned. "What does 'do' an?"
Utaha's cheeks turned pink, but her smile only widened. "Why don't you ask him? He clearly knows."
"Forget it," Haru muttered, shaking his head. "I'll explain later. For now, let finish cooking."
Yukino didn't press further.
From their reactions alone, she could already guess what it ant.
And she couldn't help but wonder—if it had just been the two of them in the house today, would Haru have ended up "cooking" sothing entirely different right here in the kitchen?
_ _ _ _
Dinner ended on a warm note, everyone enjoying themselves thoroughly.
The "sage-ti" buff left the group lounging in that ultimate lazy comfort, the kind where no one wanted to move a muscle.
Haru had even prepared a birthday cake. Once the haze of satisfaction lifted, Shizuka led everyone in singing the birthday song. Afterward ca the gift exchange.
Both gumi and Shizuka wanted to see Utaha open her presents right away, but she declined. Her reasoning was simple: Yukino hadn't told her in advance what she'd prepared, which made her suspicious. With Yukino's personality, the gift was bound to be anything but ordinary.If it turned out to be sothing embarrassing, opening it in front of everyone would be social suicide. She wasn't about to risk one mont of bravery costing her a lifeti of dignity.
By six-thirty, Shizuka suggested they all go out for a stroll—after all, what girl didn't like shopping?
But Utaha refused.
"I'd rather stay here," she said plainly.
Shizuka was caught off guard, but before she could ask, Yukino spoke up:
"Then I'll go with you. Kato-san, let's keep her company."
Shizuka almost thought she'd misheard.
Did Yukino just volunteer to go shopping with ?
gumi looked just as surprised, glancing between Yukino and the unusually reluctant-to-go-out Utaha. Did these two make so kind of secret agreent?
Haru, of course, stayed behind—he had "serious business" planned for tonight.So in the end, Shizuka left with Yukino and gumi.
The house grew quiet. Utaha felt both pleased and curious, turning to Haru.
"Why did Yukino go along so easily? Did you persuade her?"
She ant about the private photo shoot. Utaha had wanted Haru to take her pictures, and she very much preferred Yukino not to be there watching.
"To be precise, she brought it up herself," Haru admitted.
Utaha blinked, eyes softening in surprise. A slow, enchanting smile spread across her lips.
"When I ntioned it to her before, she was fiercely against it. I thought for sure she'd try to sabotage it today. But to think she actually… helped ."
She sighed, as though touched.
"My instincts were right. Yukino really is a gentle person."
Haru: Uh-huh, sure…
In truth, Yukino had barely stepped out the door when his phone buzzed with her ssage:
Yukino: Find a way to distract her. I'm going to hide inside the bedroom wardrobe.
Haru: No way. With your personality, that kind of thing is way too childish.
Yukino: True, it's childish. But my curiosity won out over my rationality. I want to see how you'll take her photos.
Haru: It's just a simple photoshoot. Not worth spying on.
Yukino: Maybe to you it's simple. But can you guarantee she won't try anything strange with you during it?
Then ca another:
Yukino: From what I know of her, she enjoys teasing you. The thrill excites her.
Haru set his phone down, torn between exasperation and amusent. He hadn't expected his offhand joke to make Yukino break her own rigid style and pull sothing this bold.
"Who are you texting?"
Utaha, in high spirits, was cuddling the orange tabby when she asked curiously.
"It's Yukino. She asked if I want her to bring anything back," Haru lied without batting an eye.
Utaha didn't doubt him. After all, Yukino had gone out with Shizuka.
Since no more ssages ca, Haru realized Yukino was serious about hiding. He casually found an excuse to nudge Utaha toward the bath.
"You're really pushing to go wash up first… you're not planning anything, are you?" Utaha teased, eyes deliberately flicking downward for effect.
Her aning was obvious.
"Please trust the professionalism of your photographer," Haru replied, completely straight-faced.
Finding no cracks in his composure, Utaha brushed her hair back, her smile dripping with charm.
"Did I forget to ntion? I already showered before coming here."
"Then you can shower again," Haru said smoothly.
Utaha blinked. "Again? Why?"
Sure, she might wash her face after dinner, but a second full bath? That was unnecessary—her body was perfectly clean.
But Haru doubled down, inventing a reason to cover Yukino's sche.
"Because I want to bathe too."
Utaha froze, then pressed a hand to her forehead with a sigh.
"You're really that impatient?"
"You misunderstand. I only ant… a soak together."
Utaha rolled her eyes, half-amused, half-exasperated.
"I went out of my way to dress up today. Did it never occur to you that I planned on staying over anyway?"
Her words carried an unspoken ssage: You don't need to rush things.
She genuinely enjoyed playing duo matches with Haru.
Not just enjoyed—she truly liked it.
But that didn't an she wanted to do it anyti, anywhere.
At least right now, what she longed for was a rare mont of just the two of them together. She wished Haru would talk with her a little more. Even if all they did was play gas side by side, she would still feel perfectly happy.
~~~~~~~~~~
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