Chapter 109: Sliding to the Knees in Seconds

Chapter 109

Hattori Heiji's first reaction was that Miya You was lying.

Putting aside the question of whether Kurokawa Kaoru is such a person or not, the main reason is... there is probably no other guy in Japan who is as bad-tempered and slow-witted as Miya Yu, right?

Thinking of this, Hattori Heiji coughed twice and looked at Miya You hesitantly.

Gong You:?

Why was Heiji staring at me? Was there something on his face?

"Let me make it clear first, I only like Kurokawa and there's no way I can respond to your feelings."

"Idiot, what's going on in your head?"

He couldn't help but punch the man in the head. Seeing him shield his head in pain, Hattori Heiji snorted coldly and continued, "Based on my understanding of Kurokawa, I don't think he's the type to use a double. After all, it's disrespectful to both the double and the person being replaced."

“You don’t understand…”

"Why don't I understand? Don't underestimate me."

“…It’s hard for me to explain this to you.”

That's right. Miya Yu nodded. He was worried that Kurokawa Kaoru might think of him as a substitute for himself, even saying it out loud.

Since he is his own stand-in, there is no question of disrespecting anyone. Although Gong You does not think that he and the "Gong You" of ten years later are the same person, no one can guarantee what Kurokawa Kaoru himself thinks.

The more he thought about it, the sadder he felt. Gong You sighed and fell silent.

Hattori Heiji naturally saw Miya Yuu's expression. Seeing the frustration on his face, he raised his eyebrows and said disapprovingly, "Even if Kurokawa really is using you as a stand-in for someone, doesn't that mean you're more likely to succeed in his confession than anyone else?"

"So I'm really a substitute?"

“…”

Isn't he just making an analogy? Gong You, this guy, really doesn't listen to everything he says, does he?

Thanks to Miya Yu, Hattori Heiji's patience, which was not great to begin with, was finally stopped. Finding that no matter what he said, the other party seemed not to hear him, Hattori Heiji's breathing became rapid, and he raised his fist to hit Miya Yu in the face... but was stopped.

"Since you came to Hyogo Prefecture, why did you tell me? I said I would treat you to a meal."

Hattori Heiji and Miya Yu were both used to playing around, so when he threw a punch, he didn't expect to be stopped. It took him a few seconds to react to what happened. His eyes widened and he looked at the person who spoke: "...Kurokawa?"

How come this person is here?

"Are you so excited to see me?"

The boy who suddenly appeared was naturally Kurokawa Kaoru. He glanced at Hattori Heiji with a smile, raised his hand to call the waiter to have him served a glass of iced milk, and then pulled a chair and sat between Hattori Heiji and Miya Yu: "Long time no see, Hattori."

"It's been a while... When did you start listening?"

"It starts with this guy complaining that your methods aren't working at all."

“…”

Didn’t you hear all of this?!

Almost instinctively, Hattori Heiji took a deep breath, raised his hands, and gestured to the other person, indicating that it had nothing to do with him. Seeing the smile on the other person's face, Hattori Heiji shook his head and finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Is this just my imagination? Hattori Heiji thought to himself.

At that moment just now, he actually felt that something bad would happen if he didn't "cut off ties" with Gong You.

Seeing Hattori Heiji's reaction, Kurokawa Kaoru raised the corners of his lips, as if he had thought of something. He turned to look at Gong You: "Aren't you going to explain to me about the 'substitute' thing?"

"Hei, Kurokawa."

Miya You laughed dryly twice and cast a desperate look at Hattori Heiji, as if asking for help: "Is it because Heiji said... Heiji?"

"Come to think of it, I just remembered that I have a case waiting for me in Hyogo Prefecture. I may not be able to have dinner with you today."

"Hello!"

"It's a shame, but I'll have to wait until next time."

As if he had forgotten the existence of Miya Yu, Hattori Heiji stood up and said stiffly to Kurokawa Kaoru, "Next time I come to Hyogo Prefecture, I will tell you in advance."

"When that time comes, I'll treat you to a meal."

“That’s a good feeling.”

Hearing the meaning behind Kurokawa Kaoru's words, Hattori Heiji heaved a sigh of relief, and his expression became much more normal: "See you next time, Kurokawa."

"See you next time."

“…”

Did this guy Heiji really just abandon him like that?

The ally who had originally intended to help him share the firepower had abandoned him so easily. Looking at the direction where Hattori Heiji left, Miya You swallowed his saliva and looked at Kurokawa Kaoru stiffly.

"Actually... I can explain."

"Explain what?"

"Explain...explain..."

"Explain that you don't like me? Or explain that you never thought I was using you as a substitute for someone else?"

Don’t you like Kurokawa?

Gong You was stunned for a moment, and didn't even hear the next sentence, and then he spoke.

"I don't!"

"I don't dislike Kurokawa!"

“Puff.”

“…”

Eh?

Instead of the anger he'd expected, the boy's shoulders shook, his eyes filled with a smile. The moment his gaze met Gong You's, it felt as if he'd been struck by something powerful, and even his breathing quickened.

Plop, plop—

Here it comes again, Gong You thought to himself. It was that uncontrollable, racing heartbeat again.

"Kurokawa."

Miya Yu had wanted to say this a long time ago: Kurokawa Kaoru's smile was truly beautiful. He stared at her intently, his fists clenched, his expression more serious than ever.

"As for me... can't I like Kurokawa?"

Hearing Gong You's voice, Kurokawa Kaoru's expression froze, then the corners of his lips rose, and Gong You's figure was clearly reflected in his eyes.

"Did anyone say no?"

Gong You was stunned for a moment: "It seems not."

"That's it."

"But just now..."

"I just asked you to explain the 'stand-in' thing, right?"

A substitute? Gong You's expression shifted slightly before he realized what was going on.

Oh, and there’s also the matter of the stand-in!

"I say that because—"

"Because you're wondering if it's because of Gong You in another world that I didn't reject your intimate behavior, right?"

"right."

Gong You blinked: "How do you know such things?"

"You're too good at guessing, idiot."

Seeing the confusion on the man's face, Kurokawa Kaoru lowered his eyes. The moment he lowered his head, his body tensed up, almost making people see his equally disordered heartbeat.

This is bad, Kurokawa Kaoru thought to himself.

Although he had practiced in his mind what to do when such a thing happened, when he actually became the person involved, he found that it was not the case at all.

Is it such a happy thing to be confessed by the person you like?

Feeling his heartbeat like a drum, Kurokawa Kaoru clenched his fists and raised his head after a while: "If it's Gong You, my answer is... Of course."

"real?"

"Um."

"Very good!"

Almost the moment he nodded, Miya You hugged him and rubbed Kurokawa Kaoru's neck like a large dog. Finding that the other party did not show any rejection, he simply hung his whole body on Kurokawa Kaoru.

"Then can I hold hands with Kurokawa like before?"

Kurokawa Kaoru's expression changed slightly: "Of course."

"How about staying overnight at Kurokawa's house? I mean, sleeping in the same bed."

"Haven't you been there many times?"

"Will you still lend me your pajamas in the future?"

"...With our body shapes, don't you think there's something wrong with wearing my pajamas?"

"Kurokawa—"

"If you don't mind."

"I knew Kurokawa would agree to me."

Hearing a satisfactory answer, Gong You's lips curled up and he narrowed his eyes in satisfaction: "Next time someone comes to confess to Kurokawa, I can tell them that you have already promised me to let me like you."

"That's wrong."

"What's wrong?"

Gong You was a little confused: "Didn't you just say it was okay? You can't be planning to go back on your word, right?"

“…That’s not what I’m talking about.”

From the moment he realized he had fallen in love with her, Kurokawa Kaoru had already guessed that his future life would be filled with helplessness. Seeing the confusion on her face, Kurokawa Kaoru smiled, and the meaning of his words was clearly heard by her: "What you just said... can you repeat it again? The one about whether you can like me?"

Repeat?

Hearing what Kurokawa Kaoru said, Gong You blinked and said honestly: "Can't I like Kurokawa?"

"Did anyone say no?"

"Didn't you just say this..."

"after all--"

Smiling, he interrupted Gong You's words, and the corners of Kurokawa Kaoru's lips rose, and he casually threw out the next sentence: "In this regard, Gong You and I have the same idea."

TBC.