Chapter 26: What Is Truly Valuable

“Th-this is really okay…”

Komuro Ayumi went to wash up and changed out of her pajamas into clean, neat loungewear.

“Oh~ She really does look much cuter like this.”

Aoba Tomoyo couldn’t help exclaiming in admiration as she pinched the ends of her own light red hair.

Xiaomu Dianzhang watched his cute daughter from the side but said nothing, turning his head away.

“All right, she’ll be here soon.”

Hiiragi Shuichi checked the time on his phone.

It should be about right, so he immediately went downstairs to greet her.

Speak of the devil, the shop’s wind chime rang.

Under the red sunset, a blue-green figure swept into Asahi Bakery like raindrops.

“Shuichi?”

Kawasaki Yuki was wearing a green-and-white tennis outfit with a racket strapped to her back.

In her hands, she also carried various hair-washing, cutting, and blow-drying supplies.

There were thinning shears, a cape, a spray bottle, and the like.

“Thanks for your hard work at practice. Sorry for suddenly calling you over.”

Hiiragi Shuichi greeted her that way, but Kawasaki Yuki simply shook her head.

“It’s fine, Shuichi. Today’s practice ended a while ago…”

“So, who do you need me to cut hair for?”

Hiiragi Shuichi smiled knowingly.

“Come with me.”

Second floor.

As soon as Kawasaki Yuki stepped onto the stairs, she froze in place.

She and the Aoba sisters exchanged glances, both feeling a little awkward.

She then greeted Teacher Shiraishi, trying to cover up the awkwardness.

Komuro Ayumi’s brows clearly furrowed.

‘Why is there another woman…’

‘Oh, right, she’s that Kawasaki Yuki who follows Hiiragi Shuichi around all day long.’

“Yuki, it’s this student. Let me show you her past photos for reference.”

“Ah, n-no need…”

“I know, it’s Komuro, right?”

“Komuro’s short hair used to look so refreshing!”

Hiiragi Shuichi hadn’t expected Kawasaki Yuki to actually know her.

But then again, they were classmates.

Wasn’t it normal for her to know Komuro?

Hiiragi Shuichi suddenly doubted himself.

Why could he forget Komuro Ayumi?

As expected, deep down, he really couldn’t be bothered with other people.

Otherwise, when he had forced himself to memorize the student roster back then, it wouldn’t have felt so difficult.

Before long, Komuro Ayumi’s shoulder-length hair had become the clean, crisp boyish short hair she used to have.

She looked like a complete tomboy.

As the black hair fell to the floor, night gradually drew its curtain.

Soon, it was time for Hiiragi Shuichi’s shift.

Seeing that the task was essentially complete, Teacher Shiraishi explained the final arrangements for returning to school to Xiaomu Dianzhang and prepared to leave.

She asked the other three girls if they wanted a ride in her car.

She could give them a lift, but the three girls clearly didn’t see eye to eye.

Komuro Ayumi had never encountered such a situation before and didn’t dare say anything from the side.

“N-no need, Teacher Shiraishi. I can go back by myself.”

Kawasaki Yuki was the first to politely decline the invitation.

Aoba Tomoyo had a private car coming to pick her up, so she wasn’t worried about getting home.

But Aoba Toshie…

She lived alone, so obviously, no one was coming to pick her up.

Aoba Tomoyo hadn’t yet managed to teach her sister a lesson.

“Rishi…”

Aoba Tomoyo slowly walked up to Aoba Toshie.

“Mother said earlier that she wants you to go back for a visit.”

“The timing is just right today, so why don’t we go back together?”

“Go back?”

“Tell that woman to apologize to me, or there’s no way.”

Aoba Toshie was firm, absolutely refusing to go back.

“‘That woman’?”

“Call her Mother.”

Aoba Tomoyo arched her brows, equally firm.

At that moment, Hiiragi Shuichi had just changed into his employee uniform and came to stand behind the front counter.

Hiiragi Shuichi really didn’t want to deal with them right now.

He even thought that if they left quickly, his work shift could become some alone time with Komuro Ayumi.

Komuro Ayumi could only get used to places with few people.

If they were all there, it wouldn’t be good for the next step of his plan.

Aoba Tomoyo glanced at Hiiragi Shuichi’s indifferent face, and her mood suddenly turned gloomy.

She dispelled the gloom and looked directly at Aoba Toshie.

“As a descendant of the Aoba family, you should know that matters decided by the family aren’t up to you, right?”

“So what?”

“Why is it that you, Sister, can relax without a care, but I can’t?”

Faced with her sister’s answer, Aoba Tomoyo sighed helplessly.

“Little Rishi, Shu has already met Mother with me, you know?”

“If there’s a suitable candidate, don’t you want a chance to make Mother give up?”

“?”

Aoba Toshie’s eyes widened sharply before immediately dropping.

‘Maybe it’s just Sister bluffing.’

“Sister, is it really okay to spout such nonsense?”

“Did you ask Shu’s opinion?”

“I’m not spouting nonsense, you know?”

Now, it wasn’t just Aoba Toshie who was confused.

Kawasaki Yuki cast an astonished look toward Hiiragi Shuichi.

Komuro Ayumi wore a helpless expression as if to say, “This person is truly steeped in sin.”

‘As expected, I should give up those weird ideas…’

Hiiragi Shuichi raised an eyebrow and replied calmly.

“I did meet her to discuss rent.”

“For that matter, I have to thank the chairwoman for her help.”

“I’m deeply grateful.”

Hiiragi Shuichi gave a perfectly standard and proper answer.

He didn’t deny the facts, but he also didn’t admit to any of the implications.

Then, he settled the matter by framing it as a favor owed.

Impeccable.

Teacher Shiraishi sighed and stepped in to mediate.

Kawasaki Yuki also let out a sigh of relief, showing an expression that seemed to say, “Thank goodness.”

Seeing her like that, Komuro Ayumi couldn’t help but sneer.

“Huh?”

“Komuro…”

“Wh-why are you laughing…?”

“Nothing…”

“Just laughing at how you’re like an idiot…”

Komuro Ayumi spoke so bluntly that the smile on Kawasaki Yuki’s face could no longer hold.

But Kawasaki Yuki didn’t quite understand why Komuro Ayumi had suddenly called her an idiot.

‘If she means being foolish for love… hehe, that doesn’t seem entirely wrong…’

‘Huh? Right now, this look does seem pretty idiotic.’

“Komuro…”

“Wh-what does that mean?”

Seeing that she wanted to ask, Komuro Ayumi didn’t think much of it and said it straight out.

“No way, you’ve been by his side for so long and haven’t noticed?”

“That guy Shu clearly doesn’t like anyone, right?”

Kawasaki Yuki’s smile faded.

She said nothing and simply turned her head to look ahead.

In the cozy shop, there were no other customers.

There was only a pair of sisters arguing endlessly…

Hiiragi Shuichi completely ignored them.

He simply busied himself tidying the front counter and preparing to start work.

Perhaps Kawasaki Yuki had been staring at him for too long.

Hiiragi Shuichi noticed her gaze and only then gave her a faint smile.

But Kawasaki Yuki wasn’t happy at all.

She furrowed her brows.

“Ah, Kawasaki, you finally noticed?”

“But it’s not too late to notice now…”

“Liking him won’t lead anywhere.”

Komuro Ayumi said this while tilting her head.

Kawasaki Yuki glanced at Komuro Ayumi’s matter-of-fact expression and didn’t continue the conversation.

She lowered her head, said a gentle goodbye, turned around, and walked straight out of Asahi Bakery.

Hiiragi Shuichi silently watched her leave.

He suddenly wanted to rush after her.

“Yu-Yuki!”

Hiiragi Shuichi left the front counter, completely ignoring the Aoba sisters and Komuro Ayumi beside him, and walked out of the shop.

But outside on the street, moonlight had already begun to fall.

Under the brightly lit streetlights, Kawasaki Yuki’s figure was nowhere to be seen.

Hiiragi Shuichi quickly returned to the shop and asked Komuro Ayumi.

“What did you say to her?”

“Wha-what?”

“Why are you acting so concerned about her?”

“I asked you, what did you say to her?!”

Hiiragi Shuichi’s voice became somewhat urgent.

Only in the next second did he realize that he had gone a little too far.

“S-sorry…”

“That’s not what I meant…”

Even though he apologized in time, Komuro Ayumi had been snapped at.

Her astonished expression held a trace of anger.

“What the hell!”

“If you really cared about someone, don’t just call them over to help and leave it at that!”

“I…”

“Why did I even agree to come out for you…”

Komuro Ayumi was very sad.

All sorts of things kept telling her that the person before her was hypocritical and detestable…

But why did her heart have such a fervent craving for him?

‘Am I crazy?’

The Aoba sisters exchanged a glance.

Aoba Toshie chose to do nothing, while Aoba Tomoyo asked Teacher Shiraishi.

“Wh-what should I do now?”

Teacher Shiraishi clutched her forehead in distress.

She felt as though her nerves were about to explode.

“Tomoyo, why don’t you just discover it on your own through practice?”

“Even I don’t understand…”

Meanwhile.

“Listen up, Hiiragi Shuichi!”

“That kind of fake relationship, fake feelings…”

“I just feel it’s unfair for Kawasaki!”