"Mom, you're exaggerating. He's only sixteen. He's not as amazing as you make him sound."
Haruno casually increased Takashi's age.
Their mother shot a look at her eldest daughter.
Of course she knew what Haruno was thinking. Massaging her forehead with her fingers, she said, "No need to stress his age—I know."
She felt like there was a generational gap between her and her kids now.
Sometimes, she truly didn't understand what they were imagining.
"I sighed only because it's a shame Yukino and he won't end up together."
"Haruno, that kid is going to be someone impressive. Try to get closer to him."
Their mother's thoughts were simple. Even if her daughter and Takashi couldn't become a couple, they could at least be friends.
Of course, if possible, she'd rather be Takashi's mother.
After all, even Sawamura Sayuri hadn't achieved that.
If she became Takashi's mother, wouldn't that mean Yukinoshita > Sawamura?
Yep, a huge win for Yukinoshita.
"I don't know if he'll be amazing in the future, but this dinner definitely wasn't worth it."
Haruno lowered her head, picked up a piece of tuna sushi, dipped it in vinegar, and ate it as if it were Takashi himself.
The mixture of rice, vinegar, and tuna exploded in flavor in her mouth—rich and delicious.
But Haruno found it tasteless.
She felt like treating Takashi to a meal was worse than feeding the clingy border collie she met yesterday.
At least that one would act cute and rub against her legs.
Their mother picked up her phone, opened something, and placed it in front of her daughter.
"Your mother here—never makes a losing deal."
Haruno glanced at the phone and paused mid-chew.
On the trending list, just above #Takashi Confesses to Kaguya!, a new one had popped up: #Takashi Meets His Future Mother-in-Law. Good News Coming?
"Takashi-kun's very popular now. Since he's spreading rumors about my daughter, using his hype to get your father more votes seems perfectly reasonable, doesn't it?"
Their mother picked up the folding fan on the table and tapped Haruno's head lightly, eyes gleaming with cunning.
Mom here has a backup plan, you know.
Want to leech off the Yukinoshita family for free? No way, Takashi-kun.
"Boss! Two bowls of extra-large Japanese chashu ramen!"
In Nishinomiya City, at a ramen stand on a street corner, Takashi lifted the cloth curtain and shouted loudly.
He sat on a stool and casually poured himself a cup of barley tea.
He downed it in one gulp—the cold liquid slid down his throat and cooled his whole body from the inside.
Yukino, who had walked halfway and was suddenly dragged to eat by Takashi, looked resigned but still sat beside him.
"Don't flatter yourself—both bowls are for me."
Takashi figured this girl was pretty narcissistic.
"Next time your mom treats me to a meal, tell her to skip the theatrics."
"That sushi wasn't even filling. Zero sincerity."
Yukino shot him a cold glare.
"Do you realize how annoying you are?"
"You talk like you're hot stuff. Even if I'm annoying, I have more friends than you."
Yukino didn't want to argue, so she turned to observe the surroundings.
The stall only had six seats.
Two tables were already occupied, both with mixed-gender groups. Some were even in suits—your typical working-class crowd.
They seemed like salarymen attending post-work parties.
As a young lady of the Yukinoshita family, she had never been to this kind of place. Everything was fresh and curious to her.
"Here you go, your ramen's ready!"
The vendor quickly placed two large bowls of chashu ramen in front of them.
Steam rose from the bowls, obscuring their faces.
Takashi reached for Yukino's bowl, but she smacked the back of his hand with the end of her chopsticks.
"What are you doing?!"
He pulled his hand back, glaring at her.
Making him back off put Yukino in a surprisingly good mood. She pressed her palms together, took a spoonful of broth, and found it unexpectedly tasty.
"That's mine! If you wanted some, why didn't you buy your own?!"
Takashi was on the verge of losing it.
Did I say I was treating you?
Who said you could eat?
"Who started the rumor about me?"
Yukino tucked her loose hair behind her ear and took a bite of noodles.
Takashi admitted it was his fault.
He sulked as he wolfed down his food.
Compared to Yukino's elegant eating style, Takashi was downright feral.
As if someone were fighting him for food, he finished his extra-large bowl—broth and all—in under three minutes.
Yukino stared, slack-jawed, as Takashi asked the vendor for another bowl, then looked down at her own ramen.
She had only eaten two bites.
"What are you staring at?"
Takashi looked at her in confusion.
"Are you a reincarnated starving ghost? How can you eat so fast?"
Yukino was used to refined, well-mannered boys. Takashi's way of eating was completely new to her.
"I was hungry—what else?"
"I get hungry too, but I don't eat that fast."
"That's because when a girl says she's hungry, she's just a little hungry. When a guy says he's hungry, he's basically dying."
Takashi accepted the second bowl from the vendor.
This time it was black garlic oil pork bone ramen.
Say what you will, but Japan does know how to cook.
Takashi had spent some time there once and came back ten pounds lighter.
"If a guy doesn't finish something in 30 minutes, it's not because he's slow—it's because the food is nasty and overpriced!!!"
He then started slurping down noodles with ferocious speed.
Yukino, watching the whole thing, saw him inhale the bowl like a black hole.
"Boss, this time I'll take grilled chicken thigh clear broth ramen!"
Even after witnessing it firsthand, Yukino still looked like she was questioning reality.
She lowered her head and resumed eating.
Because of her long hair, she had to brush it aside with every bite.
Takashi, finally unable to watch anymore, pulled out a chopstick, lifted Yukino's hair, wrapped it around the stick, and pinned it up gently from the base of her scalp.
"I'm going to buy a soda."
Feeling a bit greasy, he headed to a nearby convenience store.
He was so practiced that before Yukino realized what was happening, her hair was already neatly tied.
She took out her phone to use as a mirror and checked her hair from top to bottom—she actually thought it looked kind of nice.
"Your boyfriend really loves you," the vendor joked with a smile. "Not many guys are willing to do stuff like that."
Yukino's lips parted slightly. In the end, she lowered her gaze. Her long lashes trembled slightly like butterfly wings, and she said nothing.
But in her heart, she whispered:
He's not my boyfriend.
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