Chapter 184: Watching... These two people are actually a perfect match. ...
Jinpei Matsuda originally just wanted to buy a pack of cigarettes.
For various reasons, he consumed much more cigarettes today than usual. The cigarette box in his pocket, which originally had few left, was emptied by him alone - in the past, Hagi would always come and take a few cigarettes with a playful smile, but today he smoked them all by himself.
Because Kenji Hagiwara is quitting smoking.
As he stood alone in front of the convenience store counter, he suddenly thought about why Hagi quit smoking.
This reason for quitting smoking was well-known—no, not really. Hagi was always considerate and discreet, not letting "others" know that there was a single woman staying at his house. For such a romantic who was always seen as very high-profile by others, such protection was undoubtedly quite serious.
So the only person here is Matsuda... He knows better than anyone why Hagi changed.
Well, you're a great lover. If Inspector Megure finds out that Hagi is living with the young girl he "rescued," he'll probably be complaining about it for a long time.
Matsuda complained in his heart and grabbed a few bags of potato chips and put them in the shopping cart.
Before I knew it, the shopping cart was already half full: puffed foods, jellies, lollipops, and even mints for Hagi. Of course, that little girl also loves mints; she seems to eat everything, so I had to buy more.
What a troublesome little brat, all she does all day is eat... But considering how much effort she put in today, it's reasonable to buy her more as a reward.
Despite his thoughts, the curly-haired young man honestly added two more bars of hazelnut chocolate to his shopping cart. He remembered she had a sweet tooth, like pudding, ice cream, and cake—she couldn't stop eating them... She ate all that every day and didn't seem to gain weight. Should he take her for a checkup later?
...But he shouldn't have to worry about this kind of thing; Hagi will definitely take care of it. Hagihara Kenji was already very nervous about that brat, and after this incident, it will definitely get worse...
Jinpei Matsuda stood there expressionlessly, staring at the label of the hazelnut chocolate as if flowers had grown on it.
Once this thought came up, he couldn't control his thoughts at all - although he didn't try to control them. Today... or recently, he had actually been thinking about this matter.
What will become of the relationship between Hagi and that brat?
He knew Kotaniran very well and had a subtle sense of their developing feelings. It was just that Hagiwara Kenji used to be more reserved, and he seemed to have stopped acting these days.
Before, Hagi helped her more, and coupled with the age difference, the relationship between the two might not be equal. But now, Chaomu has become Hagi's savior, and they are even. But Hagi is more worried.
In short, without considering any external factors...
...One is full of energy and loves to act naughty, the other is always tolerant and loving, one is willing to fight and the other is willing to be beaten, these two people are actually a perfect match.
When this thought came to his mind, Jinpei Matsuda rolled his eyes, not knowing whether he was looking at the smug smile of Hagiwara Kenji in his imagination, or at his sour self - yes, they were a perfect match, his opinion didn't matter at all, but he was still here being so jealous for no reason.
But it's impossible not to consider external factors. Hagiwara and Asami's overly intimate reaction today is definitely not normal...
...suspension bridge effect.
After experiencing extreme danger, people can mistakenly interpret the resulting physiological excitement as affection for those around them. Being pulled back from the brink of death by a mysterious woman, and watching her struggle to save him over and over again...it's only natural to develop feelings for her.
This is how Jinpei Matsuda analyzed it.
He used this psychological term to build a defense for himself, trying to analyze everything in front of him with reason. But there are always feelings in the world that reason cannot explain or soothe - and he couldn't use reason to look away.
The temperature was not high at night. He stood at the door of the store, shopping bags in hand, staring at the two overlapping figures. The cold wind blew on his face, scratching his cheeks a little.
They should have been standing under the same sky and in the same night. He was standing under the light at the door of the convenience store, while Hagiwara and Asami were in the ambiguous rainbow light.
They are indeed a perfect match.
There was a sticky tension between the man and woman that no one else could interfere with. His exceptional eyesight allowed him to see the girl being held in the arms of the tall young man, her legs resting on his waist.
Sweet and inseparable.
...It's really, really unbearable to watch.
Seeing the two people finally separate, Matsuda finally looked away. He lowered his head and fumbled with the lighter in his pocket. The metal casing was a little cold, and his fingertips trembled.
With a click, the orange flame flickered in the night breeze. He leaned in and took a deep breath. The acrid smoke rushed into his lungs, bringing a familiar, slightly tingling sensation.
The pain gave his chaotic thoughts an anchor to rest on. He exhaled a puff of white smoke, which swirled and dispersed before his eyes, blurring the figures of the sticky couple in the distance.
I'm probably a little jealous.
Matsuda thought.
He was jealous of Youjunran's frankness and bravery, jealous that he could so easily express his love and hold her in his arms. But he himself could only stand far away like a coward, hiding all his surging emotions with complaints and impatience.
What was this? Were they... together? No matter how he thought about whether Hagiwara was experiencing the suspension bridge effect or something else, if they were in love, he couldn't say anything...
...What does he want to say?
He couldn't say anything.
He just quietly finished his cigarette before walking towards the couple who had just separated. He deliberately increased his pace and coughed: "I just went to smoke a cigarette. Have you been waiting for a long time?"
"It wasn't long." Chaomu wiped his mouth and replied naturally, "Matsuda-kun arrived just in time."
Her attitude was perfectly natural, as if she wasn't the girl who had just hugged Hagiwara Kenji's neck and bit him until his lips were raw. She wiped her mouth like a raccoon after stealing food. Compared to her, Hagiwara looked quite stiff, his cheeks flushed, his hands and feet trembling, and his eyes full of guilt.
...How did things turn out like this... He was the one who took the initiative to kiss her, but in the end, Xiao Chaomu took the initiative... That's too lame, Hagi-chan!
The young man with half-long hair groaned in his heart, feeling that the mature image he was proud of had been eaten up by her tonight without leaving even a residue.
But no matter what the atmosphere was like, they were going home together. Asami and Hagiwara lived together, and Matsuda lived next door to them. They sandwiched Asami on either side, keeping a certain distance, and walked towards home in silence.
The street lights stretched their shadows very long, and then shortened them under the next street light, repeating the cycle over and over again.
…an awkward silence.
Hagiwara Kenji thought.
The timing of Xiao Zhenping's arrival was strange... His smoking addiction wasn't so severe that he'd smoke one right outside the convenience store after buying one. Besides, when he was walking with Chaomu, he'd actually been mindful of this...
So did Xiao Zhenping see it? Did he see him and Xiao Chaomu...
Shame and another subtle emotion swelled within him. While the half-long-haired young man didn't betray any impropriety on his face, his toes couldn't help but dig into the soles of his shoes. "How shameful... How much did Xiao Zhenping see? How did things get to this point..."
He looked completely autistic. His cheerful and talkative self had disappeared without a trace, leaving only a smile welded on his face, pretending that nothing had happened.
Chaomu felt that Xiaohagi was still too shy, so she considerately refrained from provoking him for the time being. She fixed her eyes on the large bag of snacks Matsuda was carrying. She leaned over, parted the handle, and looked down. "Matsuda-kun bought a lot of snacks. Are you having a snack party tonight?"
"...There's no such thing... Hagi and I still have to go to work tomorrow." Matsuda was annoyed by her and said coldly, but he didn't stop her from digging around. "Besides, what the hell is a snack party? An elementary school reunion? How old are you?"
"Kids can't eat that many sweets and puffed foods, and they don't have that much pocket money. A snack party is too advanced for them," Chaomu argued. "For financially independent adults, it's just right!"
The main thing is that the game's physical experience is very realistic in every way, and the food tastes great. After all, players can eat without getting fat or sick, so of course they can indulge in as much as they want.
She spoke so confidently that Matsuda was speechless. He wanted to say a few words to her, but then he remembered the physical examination he had just thought of, and then he thought of Hagi... The young man who should have said this was wandering away in the back, looking absent-minded and as if he had been kissed silly.
...Is it that serious? It was just a little kid kissing him. Hagi usually looks so skilled, why is he so lame today?
Jinpei Matsuda scoffed at this.
If it were him, he wouldn't be in such a passive position... At least he definitely wouldn't let that brat hook his arm around her neck and kiss her. She was so small, he could easily hold her in his arms and lift her up...
...No, that's not right, what is he thinking?
He almost shook off the bad associations from his mind as if he was electrocuted, and looked down to see that Chaomu had taken the can of mints from his bag and slipped over to Hagiwara - this nasty kid actually used the candy he bought to please Hagi... and Hagi was really coaxed by her, and seemed to have recovered a lot.
"If Xiao Chaomu wants to have a party, we can do it for a short while." The latter seemed to have regained his usual ease and caressed the girl's head lovingly. "If Xiao Zhenping doesn't want to join, I can accompany you for a while."
"Isn't Matsuda-kun coming? He bought the snacks." Chaomu still hadn't completely forgotten Matsuda's contribution. "Although I could have just requisitioned him..."
Matsuda Jinpei: “…………?”
He slowly formed a question mark in his mind.
Reason told him that ignoring them and not being a third wheel for the young couple was the best option. But when he saw Chaomu running back, standing in front of him and looking up to ask him if he wanted to join, the little devil in his heart seemed to stir again.
"...I'll go," he said finally. "I can stay with you for a while... It's not impossible. Just for a while."
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The author has something to say: I didn’t even write the corresponding plot, I will turn into a puppy in the next chapter.
Today, due to anxiety, procrastination and sleepless nights, I woke up to find that my roommate had returned from her trip and had looked at two houses... She is simply superhero!
I think we should go together tomorrow to take another look and confirm it. Since we are moving in the same residential complex, it seems that we only need a small cart and ant moving tools. If everything goes well, I will update as usual tomorrow.
By the way, Nuan and Stardew Valley are going to collaborate... God knows I even have their icons together on my computer desktop... Looking forward to it...!
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