Chapter 6, First Time, Difficult to Win Over
On the way back, Nara Shikamaru glanced at her out of the corner of his eye and snorted, "You really are a strange person."
"Strange? Me?" Haruko Hayama pointed to herself, puzzled. "Why would Shikamaru say that?"
Nara Shikamaru raised an eyebrow, answering her in his mind.
After all, he seemed nonsensical, and what he said was shocking; he acted like an idiot.
Haruko Hayama, completely unaware that she gives the impression of being an idiot: ?
Nara Shikamaru laughed when he saw her expression that said, "Why are you looking at me like that?" He said, "Hey, are you an idiot?"
Nara Shikamaru thought this, and he said it aloud.
"Huh?" Haruko Hayama was a little confused as to how her label had suddenly changed from weird to stupid.
"Go back quickly."
Nara Shikamaru quickened his pace as he spoke, but his relaxed eyebrows revealed his joyful mood.
"Okay! So why does Shikamaru call me an idiot?"
"That's why an idiot is an idiot."
"Shikamaru!"
...
"Hey, how did you and Naruto meet?"
Nara Shikamaru approached Naruto Uzumaki when Naruto was not around and asked her the question that had been troubling everyone.
Haruko was reading a book when she was overjoyed to find that a friend she hadn't spoken to in a long time had taken the initiative to talk to her. She called out his name.
"Shikamaru!"
"what?"
Nara Shikamaru awkwardly rubbed his nose. Was he really that happy just because he initiated the conversation...?
Of course I'm happy!
Haruko Hayama, deeply entangled in the main characters' relationships, was so excited when she saw her ordinary and unremarkable best friend that she wanted to hug her and shout: This is the kind of friend I should have!
Nara Shikamaru, an ordinary and unremarkable person: ?
After bringing food to Naruto Uzumaki for the first time, Naruto followed her around under the guise of being a "friend".
It even developed into a habit of picking her up from school every day, sticking to her and making noise after class, and going straight to her house to eat together after school.
At first, Haruko thought it wasn't too much to bring him some food, chat with him, or help him tidy up, etc. So, although Naruto didn't undergo a dramatic transformation, he looked clean, smelled sweet and soft, and had an adorable smile.
Iruka Umino was also pleased with this situation. The number of times Naruto Uzumaki misbehaved decreased dramatically as he stayed by her side, which deeply moved him.
Iruka Umino even called her out and shared his feelings of satisfaction.
Thanks to teacher Iruka Umino, when Haruko was basking in the glory of her success, she suddenly realized how close she had become to the protagonist.
Oh my god! What is she doing?!
Haruko clutched her head in anguish.
Following behind her, Naruto Uzumaki, his dog furtively peeking out, nodded in agreement: "Yeah, yeah! I've taken good care of Haruko too!"
Thinking of this, Haruko was overcome with sadness again, and replied in a dejected tone, "I met Naruto on my way to run errands, so I invited him to my house... What's wrong, Shikamaru?"
"No, it's nothing." Nara Shikamaru put his hands in his pockets and pursed his lips.
This idiot, you just take it home every time you see it? It's not like it's a kitten or puppy.
Seeing that Nara Shikamaru was about to leave after asking his question, Hayama Haruko quickly called out to him, "Shikamaru, are you free tonight?"
"Yes, but what do you want to do?" Nara Shikamaru asked cautiously, fearing it might be something troublesome.
"Shikamaru, would you like to come over for dinner tonight? My mom and I miss you so much!" Haruko Hayama extended a dinner invitation.
My mother seems to really like Nara Shikamaru. For a week after returning from Nara's house, she kept talking about him to Hayama Haruko. She mainly regretted not bringing her camera with her when she went to Nara's house, missing the chance to take a picture of Hayama Haruko and Nara Shikamaru together.
Just then, Nara Shikamaru took the initiative to contact her, reminding her of this incident. She wanted to seek comfort from her ordinary friend, so Haruko quickly extended an invitation.
"...If you say anything weird, I'll just go."
Nara Shikamaru turned around so that Hayama Haruko couldn't see his expression, but the tips of his slightly red ears completely gave him away.
Unfortunately, the oblivious Haruko Hayama not only failed to notice, but also kept happily watching from the sidelines.
Very good!
Speaking of which, if Shikamaru were developed into the protagonist's friend, would she be able to get away with it?
But wouldn't she lose a like-minded ordinary friend in the process?
Haruko was torn, but in the end she decided to let things take their course and leave it to the protagonist's attraction. After all, the invitation had already been sent out, so she could leave the rest to fate.
Shikamaru might just have the luck of a protagonist!
...
"So, why is Naruto here too?"
Nara Shikamaru felt deceived. Although Haruko Hayama had only extended an invitation and said nothing else, Nara Shikamaru inexplicably felt cheated.
"Huh? I should be asking you why you're here!" Naruto Uzumaki retorted defiantly.
Haruko, sitting among them, explained, "I invited Shikamaru to my house, and Naruto has been eating at my house all the time, so tonight it's everyone together!"
Seeing that they were still deadlocked, Haruko felt a little embarrassed.
They originally planned to take this opportunity to deepen their relationship, but unexpectedly, the two of them ended up arguing.
Nara Shikamaru was taken aback after hearing her words. "So you not only bring him lunch during the day, but also take him home for dinner at night?"
This idiot isn't actually treating this like a pet cat or dog, is he?!
"Hahaha..." Haruko laughed awkwardly a few times. Could she say that she was forced to do it?
The thick-skinned Naruto Uzumaki kept bragging from the side, "Haruko and I are the best of friends!"
Click!
"Oh my, this is the first time Haruko is being fought over. Both little boys are so handsome. I wonder which one Haruko will choose?" The mother excitedly held up her camera to record the moment.
“…Mom, this shouldn’t happen again.” Haruko Hayama sighed and rubbed her forehead.
"Waaaah... My little Haruka hiccup... She's so young and already has to face the issue of choosing a partner... Daddy can't bear to see you get married!" Earlier that morning, Daddy had been drinking a few bottles of wine and started rambling incoherently.
“…Dad, I’m only six and a half years old.” Haruko Hayama felt she really couldn’t stay in this house any longer.
Nara Shikamaru was silent for a few seconds because of his parents' strange thought process in the morning, while the clueless Uzumaki Naruto didn't understand what they were saying at all.
You mean the same thing as me, right?
"I absolutely cannot let that Shikamaru take away the most important place in Haruko's heart!" Naruto thought bitterly.
"Alright, alright, let's eat!" Haruko Hayama chose to skip the topic and urged them to eat.
Dinner was an exceptionally difficult meal.
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