Chapter 156 Fake

"I'm full." Sora wore a rare expression of genuine bliss, her usually impassive face softening. The premium beef melted on her tongue, carrying a faint, slightly bitter herbal aroma that was quickly overwhelmed by other rich savory flavors.

Sora patted her rounded little belly, but upon noticing Aoki Tsukasa staring at her with a gentle smile, she hastily straightened up, a delicate flush dusting her cheeks.

Busujima Saeko set down her chopsticks, smiled as well, and remarked, "Tsukasa-kun's hot pot is truly amazing. Even the ones I've had at authentic Chinese hot pot restaurants pale in comparison to yours."

Tsukasa wore a proud look. "Hahaha, I spent quite a while searching online to find soup base sold by Chinese international students. This is definitely the authentic taste of China."

"It seems I must definitely take a trip to China when I have the time." Saeko wiped her lips. Her lips appeared even more brilliantly red from the spicy broth, making them exceptionally alluring.

Tsukasa agreed wholeheartedly, "Indeed. We should definitely go see it when we have the chance."

"Ring, ring, ring."

Saeko's phone suddenly rang. Glancing at the caller ID, her expression shifted slightly. She stood up and said, "Pardon me, I need to take this call."

Tsukasa nodded, and Saeko walked a short distance away, answering the call in a hushed voice.

Seeing the troubled look on Saeko's face while she spoke on the phone, Tsukasa furrowed his brow slightly.

Sora watched Tsukasa's reaction, subtly curled her lip, and said flatly, "I want an iced cola."

"Cut back on cold drinks, especially iced ones." Tsukasa looked at her slightly disdainful expression, shook his head helplessly, and stood up to fetch two cans from the refrigerator—one for her and one for himself. He even left a third can near the edge of the table, unsure whether Saeko would want one.

Sora popped open the cola, took a sip, and let out a soft sigh of satisfaction.

Watching her narrow her eyes in comfort, curling up like a cute little kitten, Tsukasa couldn't help smiling as he reached out to smooth down her messy silver hair. "Won't your stomach feel uncomfortable if it's too cold?"

"It won't." Sora let him tidy her hair, taking small, dainty sips with a placid expression before abruptly asking, "Does Tsukasa know that person called Kuroneko?"

Tsukasa was momentarily stunned, then replied, "Ah, her name is Gozen Ruri. By a twist of fate, we got to know each other."

"Oh, she was complaining in the game yesterday about you giving her a troublesome chore." Sora set down the cold cola can, rubbed her chilled hands together, leaned back against the chair lazily, and asked, "Did Tsukasa do something with her?"

Tsukasa withdrew his hand, stood up to clear the dishes, and said, "It's nothing much, just asked her to help look after three stray puppies. By the way, Sora, do you like puppies?"

"They're okay, I suppose. It's just that I'm rather sensitive to certain animal fur." Sora seemed to recall something and added, "Probably because my immune system is a bit weak."

Tsukasa nodded, feeling he had made the right choice not to bring the puppies home. He smiled and said, "I understand. It's fine; once your health improves, it shouldn't be an issue anymore."

"Perhaps." Just as Sora's voice trailed off, Saeko finished her phone call and walked back with her usual composure.

Saeko handed her bowl and chopsticks to Tsukasa with an apologetic look. "I'm sorry, something sudden came up, and I have to leave right now."

Tsukasa hurried to place the dishes in the sink, wiped his hands, and offered, "Shall I walk Senior home then?"

Saeko chuckled softly, pointed to the wooden sword resting in the living room, and said calmly, "There's no need. I'll just hail a taxi. My home is quite far, and the round-trip fare isn't cheap. Doesn't Tsukasa-kun have to work his part-time job tonight?"

"Yes." Tsukasa nodded. Watching Saeko pick up her wooden sword and strap it to her waist, he couldn't help sighing, "Does Senior have to carry a wooden sword with her every day?"

Saeko looked at the wooden sword secured at her martial arts uniform's waist and explained, "I suppose it's just a habit. I always feel like something is missing when it's not by my side."

"Truly worthy of a senior." Tsukasa felt a genuine sense of respect. Perhaps only someone so single-minded, never letting the sword leave their hand, could attain such swordsmanship at this age. If not for his system, he doubted he could ever reach Saeko's level in this lifetime.

Saeko smiled apologetically. "Well then, I'll be leaving. Once my hand heals, please do come over to my house as guests, both of you—Tsukasa-kun and Kasugano-san."

"I'll see you out to the taxi, Senior." Before Tsukasa could finish, he saw Saeko wave her hand and smile at him. "Really, there's no need. I can hail a cab myself. Tsukasa-kun, hurry up and finish cleaning the dishes; it's getting late, so don't be late for your part-time job."

Seeing how resolute she was, Tsukasa only walked her to the doorstep. Watching her instantly flag down a taxi the moment she stepped outside, he waved goodbye and headed back inside.

Sora was just about to head upstairs when, seeing the lingering smile in Tsukasa's eyes, she couldn't help calling out, "Tsukasa."

"Huh?" Tsukasa looked up at her.

Sora's expression was calm, but her words were dead serious: "Stay away from her."

"Why?" Tsukasa frowned slightly.

"She... is terrifying." After saying this, seeing that Tsukasa looked slightly displeased, Sora added an explanation: "Her smile... is a bit fake."

Tsukasa looked at her in bewilderment. "Sora, you don't have to like Senior, but there's no need to say things like that."

Sora didn't say much more; she simply shook her head and walked upstairs on her own.

Seeing Sora's attitude, Tsukasa felt a mild discomfort in his chest, but he chalked it up to Sora being overly defensive and terribly shy around strangers. He thought to himself in mediation, "Senior is a very nice person, Sora. Don't be so guarded against everyone."

Sora didn't reply. She went upstairs, entered her room, and shut the door behind her.

Tsukasa let out a sigh and went back to washing the dishes.

What was so terrifying about Senior? Her smile was so warm. Tsukasa couldn't understand why Sora claimed Saeko's smile was a bit fake; it was probably just that Saeko's customary polite smile made Sora feel a bit unaccustomed.

Once Sora interacted with more people and understood the nuances of social etiquette, she wouldn't say such things anymore.

Tsukasa didn't take her words to heart. The fact that Sora had graciously deigned to share a meal with both him and Busujima Saeko was already a massive step forward. He had previously worried that Sora wouldn't be willing to eat with outsiders and would stubbornly stay locked in her room upstairs.

After finishing the dishes, Tsukasa washed his hands, checked the time on his phone, and stretched lazily. "Okay, time to make some money!"

Changing into sportswear, Tsukasa put on a cap and a face mask, and called out instructions toward the upper floor: "Sora, I'm heading out to work. Call me if you need anything."

As usual, receiving no reply, Tsukasa jogged toward the martial arts club.

Upstairs, Sora sat before her computer, her brow furrowed slightly.

Perhaps she wasn't good at socializing, nor did she know how to make friends, but that didn't mean she had lost her judgment when it came to reading people. Precisely because she was a person of few words, she could often perceive whether someone was being sincere.

Sora genuinely felt that this seemingly perfect girl, Busujima Saeko, was hiding far more than that girl named Teruhashi Kokomi she had encountered before.

"Tsukasa shouldn't be someone I need to worry about." With a self-deprecating smile, Sora pushed the thought aside. She took a sip of cola, shivered pleasantly from the chill, curled up in her chair, and clicked to launch her game.