Chapter Thirty-Eight: Little Rumi's Superb Acting / Chapter Thirty-Nine: I Turned a Blind Eye to the Performance You Wanted Me to Play

Who wants to marry you?

Yukino's cheeks flushed red.

Didn't we already get married once?

Hachiman teased.

By the way, how did you persuade your mother back then? Hachiman asked, somewhat puzzled.

Yukino thought of how she had cried, thrown a tantrum, and threatened to hang herself, and was too embarrassed to say it aloud.

While the loving couple was being affectionate, Mother Yukino withdrew her gaze from the window, the corners of her lips carrying a faint smile.

It reminds me of the days back then.

Recalling the days when she had been in love with Yukino's father, Mother Yukino, who had always been calm and composed, couldn't help revealing a hint of girlish charm.

Mother Yukino quietly left just like that, taking Haruno, who had wanted to peek, with her and leaving the couple inside to themselves.

Chapter Thirty-Eight: Little Rumi's Superb Acting

With the genius Mother Yukino and Haruno having left one after the other, the enormous estate was left with only Yukino, Hachiman, and the other necessary servants.

The two stayed in the courtyard for a while, but Hachiman felt that he couldn't take it anymore,

and hurriedly took off his jacket.

Yukino quickly took out her handkerchief and wiped the sweat from Hachiman's forehead.

Why did you come dressed like this? Isn't it hot? Yukino looked at Hachiman's soaked back and said with concern.

It's not too bad. It wasn't that hot, but I was a little nervous just now.

Hachiman smiled and indicated that he was fine.

I couldn't exactly dress the way I usually do, right? Otherwise, what would your mother think?

Hachiman undid two buttons and shook his collar, trying to use the airflow to carry away some of the heat.

All right, let's go inside.

Yukino hurriedly pulled Hachiman into her bedroom.

Hmm, no one's lived here for a long time.

Hachiman looked around at the surroundings.

A year or two, I suppose. After I started high school, I moved out and lived alone.

A nostalgic expression appeared on Yukino's face.

Although no one had lived there for a long time, the room was still kept very clean, without any hint of decay.

It looks like none of this has been moved.

Yukino glanced at the arrangement of the objects in the room.

Hachiman followed her as he looked around. Like Yukino's apartment near Sobu High School, it still had that plain style without any decorations.

On Yukino's bedside table, Hachiman saw a picture frame turned backward. He walked over and picked it up, only to find a photograph of Yukino when she was young.

When was this taken? Hachiman looked at the Yukino in the picture, dressed in a school uniform with white socks and little leather shoes, and asked the person behind him.

Oh, this? I think it was when I was in fifth grade.

Yukino touched her chin and thought for a moment.

She looks exactly like Little Rumi.

Remembering the little girl from that morning, Hachiman smiled.

Hmm, now that you mention it, they really do look alike.

Yukino took her photograph and remarked in surprise.

I suppose that's what you'd expect from mother and daughter, huh? Hachiman joked.

Yukino said nothing. She merely gave Hachiman's calf a light kick and shot him a coquettish glance.

Hahaha, you were pretty cute when you were little.

Hachiman praised her, seeing a picture of Yukino as a child for the first time.

I believe I've told you before, haven't I? Every elder praised me for being cute when I was little.

Yukino accepted Hachiman's praise without the slightest hesitation.

I feel like you've been getting less and less modest lately.

Hachiman shook his head helplessly.

Why should I be modest with you? Yukino asked in confusion.

Fine, fine, don't be modest. Then I won't hold back either.

Hachiman pounced directly, knocking Yukino onto the bed.

Hey, what are you doing! she asked irritably after landing on the bed.

Didn't you say you wouldn't hold back?

Hachiman pressed a hand against Yukino's shoulder to keep her from sitting up.

Why are you so annoying?

Although Yukino said that, a smile remained on her face.

Be serious. No smiling. I'm being a hooligan right now, understand? Hachiman stared coldly at Yukino.

So you mean I have to play along with you?

Yukino was speechless.

Straddling Yukino, Hachiman's eye twitched. He seemed to feel that his explanation had been somewhat inappropriate as well.

At a loss for words, Hachiman could only continue his actions in embarrassment and anger. Yukino let him tease her, a faintly mischievous smile on her face.

My hair.

Yukino suddenly cried out in annoyance.

Hachiman lifted his hand and was just about to continue.

Yukino cried out again. Watch it—hey, my hair!

Sorry, sorry.

Hey, what exactly are you trying to do?! You broke my hair.

Yukino unhappily lifted her hair and spread it across the pillow.

Hachiman looked at Yukino in extreme embarrassment.

So, can you be careful or not? Yukino looked at Hachiman irritably.

Now I'm not in the mood to continue.

Yukino ignored Hachiman and sat straight up, looking ruefully at the few strands of hair scattered across the bed.

Hachiman was breathing heavily, but he gently embraced Yukino and whispered into her ear.

All right, it was my fault. Just forgive me. At worst, I'll be gentler next time.

No matter what you say, that's impossible this time.

Yukino smiled at Hachiman, her smug expression overflowing from her face.

Why? Hachiman asked, somewhat puzzled.

Because I got my period~ So even if you hadn't pressed on my hair, continuing would have been impossible anyway.

Hachiman felt his mentality shatter. He had been tilling the fields like a peasant for so long, working so hard, only for her to announce that the red dragon was dancing.

What is it? Are you angry? Yukino poked at Hachiman's vigorous, indescribable bulge with her finger.

Seeing it restlessly raised, she blushed slightly.

How could I be angry? It's just that someone said last time that she would make it up to me, and now she's doing this again. So I'm merely wondering what someone actually wants. Hachiman spoke in an agitated tone.

How about this, then? Shall I help you take care of it?

Feeling somewhat sorry for Hachiman, Yukino extended her hand.

No, I don't want to use your hand.

Then what do you want? Yukino asked, somewhat puzzled.

What do I want? As he spoke, Hachiman directly pinched Yukino's cheek.

You—mmph.

With her mouth blocked, Yukino could only make a sound like that.

As a qualified servant, Yuriko was meticulously cleaning her master's home when she suddenly saw Second Miss, her face flushed red and one hand covering her mouth, hurrying toward the bathroom.

Feeling somewhat baffled, she instinctively followed, wanting to see whether there was anything she could do to help Second Miss.

When Yuriko drew closer, she discovered that Second Miss was rinsing her mouth.

Are you all right? Yuriko couldn't help asking with concern.

I'm fine.

Although Second Miss said she was fine, Yuriko still felt that something was off about her complexion. In the end, her professional discipline overcame her curiosity.

Since you're fine, I'll be going downstairs.

Only after seeing Yukino nod did Yuriko return to continue cleaning.

Hachiman, looking refreshed, got out of the car from the Yukino Family. As he stepped through the front door, he felt as though he had forgotten something.

When he entered his room, he saw Little Rumi sitting there expressionlessly. The little girl glanced at Hachiman's empty hands.

Seeing Rumi coldly operate the phone in her hands, Hachiman suddenly felt that something bad was about to happen.

Mom~ Dad kept licking my feet just now.

Rumi looked at Hachiman coldly, but her tone sounded exactly like Yukino when she had been teased into arousal.

I'm doomed.

That was what Hachiman thought.

Chapter Thirty-Nine: I Turned a Blind Eye to the Performance You Wanted Me to Play

Hachiman had never felt that life was so bleak. In front of him, Komachi, Yukino, and Rumi stared coldly at him, creating the scene of a three-person tribunal.

Hachiman knelt in seiza, while the three women stood with their arms crossed, glaring down at him with expressions that seemed to say he was scum.

I really didn't expect this, Hachiman-kun. I can't believe you could do something like this.

Yukino had rushed over after receiving Rumi's call and said this.

While Yukino was speaking, Rumi leaned into her arms with an aggrieved expression.

In a tearful voice, she said, Dad even bit me with his teeth.

Looking at her daughter's tear-streaked face, Yukino immediately felt anger rise from the depths of her heart. She slapped the sofa, intending to vent her fury, only to strike a hard corner.

Yukino shook her hand in pain, her beautiful features scrunched together.

Are you all right? Hachiman hurriedly stepped forward and took Yukino's hand, examining it carefully.

Only after discovering that Yukino wasn't seriously hurt did he let out a sigh of relief.

Who told you to stand up? Get back there and kneel.

Yukino glared at him, and Hachiman immediately shrank back, obediently kneeling on the cushion and lowering his head as he pretended to be a good boy.

Yukino blew on her reddened hand, then slapped the sofa cushion again.