Sitting on the sofa, which felt incredibly familiar, Hayakawa Yuki glanced at Watanabe Yu beside her, then at the television screen playing an Urban Drama, feeling momentarily awkward.
After exchanging brief greetings with Watanabe Yu, Mother returned to the Kitchen to busy herself, leaving her sitting foolishly alone on the sofa.
This was the first time she had invited a boy her own age to her home as a guest, and she had absolutely no experience in how to start a conversation with him.
All the witty remarks she had simulated countless times in her head, at this moment, were like gears missing oil—they sputtered twice with a clicking sound during a trial run, and then abruptly jammed.
“Hayakawa.”
Watanabe Yu withdrew his gaze from surveying the Surroundings and turned to look at Hayakawa Yuki beside him.
This girl seemed a bit nervous; even though she was sitting on her own sofa, her back was held rigidly straight.
“Yes!”
As a Conditioned reflex, as if being called upon by HR during an interview, Hayakawa Yuki subconsciously straightened her Back and responded.
The chest area of her loose White short-sleeved shirt tightened slightly due to her movement.
“Don’t be nervous. When you get nervous, it makes me nervous too.”
Watanabe Yu paused, and a familiar image suddenly popped into his head.
A relaxed male player, a slightly reserved female player, a brief pre-game interview, intense physical contact, skillful dribbling techniques, crude trash talk, and then, after breaking through the paint, a clean and decisive violent dunk.
Tsk! Kiriyama Kazuma is truly a bad influence!
Even he, the Goblin High Priest, had been unconsciously contaminated by the useless junk in the other's head!
“... I’ll try my best.”
Hayakawa Yuki glanced at Watanabe Yu and responded quietly.
“This is your home, Hayakawa.”
Watanabe Yu coughed lightly, reminding her.
“I know, but I just don't have any experience being in the same room alone with a boy my age!”
Hayakawa Yuki bit her Thin lips and explained with a wronged expression.
If she didn't even have experience, wasn't being nervous and awkward the most normal thing in the world!
“It’s fine, you have it now.”
Watanabe Yu sighed internally.
To be fair, System Bro’s hint was spot on, it’s just that the degree of ‘excessive innocence’ was a bit too much.
“Why do I feel like you, Watanabe, look quite experienced?” Hayakawa Yuki tilted her Little Face, a hint of suspicion appearing in her Eyes, “As if... you’ve dealt with many girls alone before.”
When dealing with girls at school, he always appeared completely at ease.
Even more so when acting as the emotional mentor for the Classmates who were boys.
So experienced that it was almost excessive.
“Do you know the three great illusions of life? Someone is calling me, he/she likes me, and imagining things that don't exist at all.” Watanabe Yu paused for a moment, “Hayakawa, you right now are the classic third one.”
“...” Hayakawa Yuki didn't rush to Join the conversation. After a moment of silence, she lowered her Eyebrows and apologized, “Sorry, I was indeed overthinking it.”
Although she said that, the suspicion in her heart hadn't completely dissipated.
Perhaps it was a woman's intuition; she was certain she wasn't overthinking it.
However, from her Stance, whether Watanabe Yu answered 'yes' or 'no,' she had no right to comment on it.
But...
Judging by the way he kept his distance from girls in class, even if he had experience, it must have been in the past.
The feeling he gave off now was that his heart was colder than steel.
Even if a beautiful girl stood at his door, begging him to Take in, he would close the door without a second glance.
“Did you design your home’s interior yourself?”
Watanabe Yu didn't pick up on that Topic but threw out a new one instead.
From the moment he walked in, he had felt the difference. Compared to the decoration styles of other Detached Houses, the Hayakawa Residence’s style was incredibly new, following a modern Minimalist style.
It was a timeless style that wouldn't look outdated even from the aesthetic perspective of later generations.
Of course, the construction cost probably wasn't cheap either.
“My Mother hired a Designer to do it.”
Hayakawa Yuki nodded. According to her Mother, she had gone to great lengths to hire that very famous Designer.
“No wonder.” Watanabe Yu raised his Line of sight, admiring the Living Room layout with appreciation, “Compared to those traditional decoration styles, I much prefer this one; it looks much more comfortable.”
“Did it catch your eye?”
Perhaps because of Watanabe Yu’s earlier words, “This is your home,” or perhaps because Watanabe Yu was praising something she herself was most satisfied with, Hayakawa Yuki shed her previous timidity and instantly returned to her usual natural self.
“Yes.”
Watanabe Yu nodded slightly, giving a firm answer.
Seeing such a modern Minimalist style wouldn't be surprising in a Tower, but seeing it in a Detached House, where traditional styles are prevalent, was a completely different matter.
“I also really like our home’s decoration style; it looks very relaxing.”
Hayakawa Yuki’s tense Back relaxed. She picked up a cushion nearby, hugged it to her chest, leaned back slightly, and settled into the comfortable sofa as usual.
Their home’s style didn't give off a cold feeling; although Minimalist, it wasn't Cold and aloof.
“Mm-hmm.”
Watanabe Yu responded casually, but his Line of sight unconsciously fell upon the row of photos placed in front of the TV cabinet.
The majority of those photos were of Hayakawa Yuki at various stages of her life. The next most numerous were photos of a woman who shared about seventy percent resemblance to Hayakawa Yuki’s Little Face, but whose temperament and Eyebrows were far more Mature, holding various Musical Instruments.
If there were no surprises, that should be Aunt Hayakawa when she was young.
“Those photos are all from when my Mother was young.”
Hayakawa Yuki noticed Watanabe Yu’s scrutinizing gaze and began to explain.
“Auntie was a music enthusiast when she was young?”
Watanabe Yu asked tentatively.
“Music enthusiast?”
The moment she heard that adjective, Hayakawa Yuki’s expression flickered strangely.
So there really was someone who didn't recognize the youngest Diva of the Music Scene.
“My information has always been rather blocked, so...”
Watanabe Yu naturally sensed the emotion in Hayakawa Yuki’s Words and immediately explained.
After his Transmigration, he hadn't really looked into the Japan Music Scene of this parallel world; he had only searched for the famous Japanese songs in his head.
After confirming they didn't exist, he hadn't bothered to look into it further.
“When my Mother was young, she was quite a famous Singer in the Music Scene. Back then, she was known for being versatile—she knew every Musical Instrument and could handle any style of song.”
Hayakawa Yuki thought for a moment and decided to replace Diva with Singer.
Being humble never hurt.
However, she was only half-humble. As her daughter, she was extremely proud and boastful of the achievements Hayakawa Naoko had made in the Music Scene.
“And then?”
Watanabe Yu hesitated for a moment before asking.
Descriptions like that usually signaled the standard beginning of a story with 'a twist.'
“Later, Mother Retired for love.”
Hayakawa Yuki sighed, secretly adding the rest of the sentence in her mind.
At the peak of her Career.
“I see.”
Watanabe Yu looked at the photos, then at the Group photo of Aunt Hayakawa and Hayakawa Yuki, and already had a general outline of the subsequent story in his mind.
She thought she had finally met the right person, but it turned out to be someone she shouldn't have trusted.
After the Marriage ended in Divorce, Aunt Hayakawa raised Hayakawa Yuki alone.
Financial hardship probably wasn't an issue, but the psychological pressure must have been considerable.
“Mom divorced that Scum.”
Hayakawa Yuki’s fair Little Face tightened, and the hands holding the cushion unconsciously clenched tighter.
She didn't actually need to tell Watanabe Yu this, but she couldn't help herself.
“...Mm.”
Watanabe Yu was silent for a moment, then nodded in response.
He knew very well that Hayakawa Yuki was saying this now simply because she needed someone to listen.
“But it’s also for the best. At least Mom and I are both free now, and we feel much more relaxed.”
Hayakawa Yuki looked up and forced a smile.
It wasn't that she couldn't come to terms with the event, but rather that she couldn't accept the strange looks and gossip directed at her Mother from the Surroundings during that time.
“That proves the decision was the right one.”
Watanabe Yu comforted her.
“Yeah!”
Hearing this, the tension in Hayakawa Yuki’s smile eased considerably.
Watanabe Yu’s Words brought some Relief to the emotions in her heart.
“Dinner is ready!”
Hayakawa Naoko’s voice came from the Kitchen, interrupting the atmosphere of their conversation.
They exchanged a look, stood up, and walked toward the dining table.
1/2