Chapter 162: A Boy?

"Please enjoy!" The waiter placed a small chocolate cake on the table, followed by two cups of iced coffee with straws already inserted in front of Aoki Tsukasa and Teruhashi Kokomi. He cast a covert look of deep admiration at Teruhashi Kokomi before turning to leave.

Teruhashi Kokomi stirred her coffee with the straw, looked at Aoki Tsukasa, and smiled, "Does Tsukasa-kun have anything to do this afternoon?"

Aoki Tsukasa was already sipping his coffee slowly through the straw. Hearing this, he raised his head and replied casually, "I don't think so. Why?"

"Nothing much..." Teruhashi Kokomi's cheeks flushed slightly, her flawless skin tinted with a soft blush that left the surrounding customers instantly spellbound.

*Hmph, that makes twenty-seven "Ooh-fu"s in total, right?* Teruhashi Kokomi's ears twitched slightly as she absorbed all the murmurs of awe around her, yet she still felt a tinge of dissatisfaction: *Tsukasa-kun still hasn't ever gone "Ooh-fu" for me!*

*Why? Is it because he has better self-control?* Teruhashi Kokomi narrowed her eyes imperceptibly: *No, an exclamation like "Ooh-fu" is a bodily instinct; how could anyone just hold it back so easily? Could it be that I haven't reached the limit of Tsukasa-kun's endurance yet?*

She had momentarily doubted whether her charm was fading, but the reactions of other people didn't look that way at all...

Sure enough, Tsukasa-kun was just different from everyone else!

"He's here?" Aoki Tsukasa suddenly looked toward the entrance, his eyes lighting up.

Curious, Teruhashi Kokomi turned her head to look as well.

A cute girl with short black hair was walking into the coffee shop.

The black-haired girl wasn't extraordinarily pretty, but she could definitely be called cute. Moreover, she was around one meter seven tall, with a curvaceous figure—especially the curve of her back, which was exaggerated to a degree that hardly seemed fitting for a sixteen or seventeen-year-old girl. Although she was dressed somewhat casually in jeans, sneakers, and a neutral black jacket, it only added a touch of dashing coolness to her aura.

Overall, she truly fit the aesthetic standards of a stunning young beauty in Japan.

As soon as she entered the cafe, she began looking around. Her gaze lingered on Aoki Tsukasa for a moment, causing her to shudder in fright, before she spotted Fujiwara Miao sitting by the corner.

Fujiwara Miao waved at her eagerly, calling out softly, "Salted Fish-chan."

Salted Fish-chan flashed him a bright smile, quickened her pace, and sat down opposite Fujiwara Miao.

Aoki Tsukasa couldn't hear what they were discussing very clearly, but seeing Fujiwara Miao looking somewhat shy and the two of them chatting back and forth harmoniously, he could tell the situation seemed to be progressing quite well.

"Well, this doesn't really look like it requires my presence anymore," Aoki Tsukasa couldn't help muttering internally. "Why does that girl tremble all over when she looks at me, but smile so happily when she looks at Fujiwara Miao? Where is the difference between the two of us? Is it our hairstyles?"

Even when it came to facial features, Aoki Tsukasa didn't feel he was lacking anywhere, and like Fujiwara Miao, he was completely bald. He really had no idea how this charm attribute was supposed to work.

Seeing his expression, Teruhashi Kokomi offered some comfort, "Actually, Tsukasa-kun is very handsome... it's just that you look... a bit too aloof."

*Aloof? Are you trying to say I look unapproachable?* Aoki Tsukasa's mouth twitched slightly as he forced a wry smile. "Where on earth do I look aloof?"

When looking at himself in the mirror, Aoki Tsukasa always felt he just looked a bit cool at most. Frowning might be a little intimidating, but he never thought he looked as fierce as other people perceived him to be.

"It must be your aura, right?" Teruhashi Kokomi thought for a moment before answering earnestly. "When I first met Tsukasa-kun, I also thought Tsukasa-kun looked terrifying... but now I don't feel that way as much anymore. At most, I just think, um, I think..."

As she spoke, Teruhashi Kokomi's voice grew much softer, and she lowered her head shyly. "I think you look a bit cold and stern."

"I think the reason people are afraid of Tsukasa-kun is probably because your aura is just too... overwhelming." Feeling that her description might be a bit too abstract, Teruhashi Kokomi offered an example: "Just like a general from ancient times—even without a single expression, he would make people around him tremble with fear and feel impossible to approach."

"Still, I feel that once you get to know someone, that feeling goes away. But you know, if Tsukasa-kun could change his hairstyle, that feeling would definitely weaken a lot. If you had a nice hairstyle like the stars in TV dramas, Tsukasa-kun's aura would surely change quite a bit."

At this point, Teruhashi Kokomi's face grew a shade redder: *Still, to me, even though Tsukasa-kun is still bald, just hearing him speak makes one feel as refreshed as a spring breeze, and staying by his side brings such peace of mind... Is this what they call a sense of security?*

Aoki Tsukasa nodded thoughtfully.

"Well, it looks like it can't be improved in a short time." Aoki Tsukasa smiled wryly and took a sip of his coffee. Of course he wanted to change his hairstyle, but that wasn't something he could just decide on!

While they were talking, Fujiwara Miao and Salted Fish-chan stood up and walked together, chatting and laughing, toward the restroom inside the shop.

*Tsk, how did their conversation lead all the way to the restroom?* Aoki Tsukasa watched as Fujiwara Miao secretly shot him a thumbs-up gesture indicating mission accomplished, and curled his lip in annoyance.

*If that's the case, does that mean I'm free now?* The mere thought that he could finally go home and take a lazy afternoon nap made Aoki Tsukasa's eyes light up involuntarily.

Taking a few sips of coffee, Aoki Tsukasa smiled and said, "Kokomi-san must be very busy this afternoon, right? Since you always go to cram school after school on weekdays, your weekends must be packed too, aren't they?"

As long as Teruhashi Kokomi said she had things to do that afternoon, he would smoothly use that as an excuse to say goodbye and slip back home.

Teruhashi Kokomi smiled faintly. "I don't have to go to cram school every day, you know. I don't have anything special to do this weekend either. Is there anything Tsukasa-kun wants to do this afternoon? How about we go shopping together?"

*With super-beauty me making such a suggestion, Tsukasa-kun will definitely be so happy he'll go "Ooh-fu"! He asked me that—did he already figure out where to go play? I should have known better than to suggest shopping; maybe Tsukasa-kun already had a plan.*

Teruhashi Kokomi's heartbeat gradually accelerated.

Aoki Tsukasa was momentarily at a loss for words, falling into distress: *If I just say I'm going home, wouldn't that be a bit too heartless? After all, Teruhashi Kokomi only came here because of me. But if I accompany her shopping this afternoon, won't I just end up being stared at like a circus monkey again?*

Being stared at like a monkey was a minor issue; if he ended up summoning Officer Friendly again, it would be another half-day of trouble.

*Tsk, beauty is a curse; the ancients did not lie to me.*

"Well... if I go shopping with you, I'm afraid I'll have to prepare a face mask first," Aoki Tsukasa said with a wry, veiled refusal.

However, Teruhashi Kokomi's train of thought was completely different from Aoki Tsukasa's. She assumed Aoki Tsukasa was praising how immense her charm was, and immediately covered her mouth with a soft chuckle. "Tsukasa-kun is exaggerating too much. At most, people just go 'Ooh-fu', they aren't going to do anything."

*No, they totally will.*

Aoki Tsukasa's smile turned even more strained.

Assuming Tsukasa-kun was feeling a bit insecure, Teruhashi Kokomi offered a gentle and sympathetic comfort, "It's fine! If Tsukasa-kun is really bothered by it, I have a disposable face mask right here. Although it's just for dust and doesn't look very nice, it should work."

"I... I... Thank you." Seeing Teruhashi Kokomi pull a white disposable mask out of her small handbag, Aoki Tsukasa accepted it with a stiff smile.

Just as Teruhashi Kokomi was about to speak, she noticed Aoki Tsukasa suddenly frown, looking past her with a worried gaze.

She turned her head to see a dejected Fujiwara Miao staggering toward Aoki Tsukasa, wearing an expression of utter devastation and eyes filled with absolute despair. The girl who had been sitting next to him was nowhere to be seen.

Aoki Tsukasa stood up, walked over to Fujiwara Miao with concern, and asked anxiously, "What happened to you? Weren't you doing pretty well just a moment ago? You even walked her to the restroom, didn't it work out?"

With a vacant stare, as if his soul had left his body, Fujiwara Miao spoke in a trembling voice, "Boss... Salted Fish-chan... No, Salted Fish-chan... turns out to be a boy..."