NOVEL NEXT Chapter 90: Chapter 86: Refusal Starts with Him, Her, It
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"Ah? Haruka, was this made by someone in your family? It looks so delicious!!!"
Mizutani Nozomi eyed the bento in the boy's hand with great envy.
The lunch box Reiko Onodera had prepared for Haruka Yuzan today was indeed quite lavish.
Bright red shrimp meat enveloped in sauce, the rich ribs soup boasted a milky color while broccoli drizzled with minced garlic dressing glistened with a verdant sheen.
Beside it was the main dish for noon, curry beef rice.
A balance of meat and veggies, it was a feast for the eyes, nose, and tongue.
Seeing this, Mizutani Nozomi couldn't help but gulp down her saliva, her delicate neck moving as she did so,
Why does this teacher act so much like a little girl?
"Mm, it was made by my family."
Just thinking of his wife's tender figure, Haruka Yuzan couldn't help but reveal a gentle smile.
Now, it was family.
"That's nice!" Mizutani Nozomi sighed, seemingly a bit aggrieved and unhappy, "No one in my family makes me lunch..."
Comparing her convenience store-bought instant ramen to Haruka Yuzan's meal was downright pitiful.
Truly pitiful, she thought, deserving of some comfort.
"The cooking is really good, I've decided, from tomorrow on I'll also make bento for myself!" Mizutani Nozomi clenched her little fist and declared seriously, "If no one loves me, then I'll create love for myself!"
Despite being a teacher, she was somehow able to exhibit such a cute demeanor, which was truly...
"That's not something someone who just got married should say," Haruka Yuzan said, somewhat speechless.
For some reason, in front of Mizutani Nozomi, Haruka felt like he was the elder one.
Thinking about her lively character in class, it was somehow understandable.
After all, to start reminiscing about her youth smack in the middle of a lecture, with that beautiful face, plus being scatter-brained and big-chested but brainless...
"It's unrelated. A person needs to love themselves at every moment. If you can't even love yourself, how can you expect others to love you?"
Mizutani Nozomi slurped her noodles with a look of utter satisfaction.
The afternoon sun cast down lazily, warmly lighting up Mizutani Nozomi's rosy cheeks, giving her an aura of tranquility.
"Fair point." Haruka Yuzan then began to enjoy his own bento lunch.
He didn't pry into other matters, but considering Teacher Mizutani had only been married for a short while, her reactions seemed somewhat strange.
Chopsticks in one hand, lunch box in the other, his slender and elegant fingers were devoid of any adornment.
No wedding ring?
However, Mizutani Nozomi didn't notice the boy's gaze and just continued slurping her noodles.
.....
"Ah... I'm so full."
Mizutani Nozomi packed up her lunchbox and leaned back in her chair, patting her belly contentedly,
"I don't have any classes this afternoon, time to slack off again."
"You're saying that in front of a student, not setting a very good example, are you, Teacher Mizutani?"
Haruka Yuzan was somewhat speechless; in private, he found that Mizutani Nozomi had an immature and childish side.
"You little brat, don't use that adult tone to lecture me!" Mizutani Nozomi pouted, a bit annoyed, and rapped on the boy's head with her hand.
"And besides, I'm still very young, okay? I'm only twenty-four!"
"I get it!"
Haruka Yuzan surrendered with hands raised.
"But, to think you're so sensitive, just some teenage angst, yeah? Although I'm also surprised, why such a big reaction?"
Yuzan's reputation at school had always been that of being handsome, sunny, and approachable.
It was unexpected that such a boy would have a bout of teenage angst, which is why Mizutani Nozomi was so taken aback.
"As you said, everyone goes through that phase," Haruka Yuzan replied with a hint of resignation.
"You, you almost scared me to death just now."
"It was nothing really, just that you, Teacher Mizutani, overthought it."
"Still, your expression back then seemed like you lost hope in life, how could I not be scared?"
"It's not because of that, it's because..."
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"Because of what?"
"Can we skip this topic?"
"No way! You tell me right now, what's it because of?" Mizutani Nozomi suddenly drew close to the boy, her large eyes blinking with curiosity, eager to know,
"The teacher exists to assist students in their queries, so tell me quickly!"
Her delicate face was so close, a faint floral scent seemed to permeate the air, her rosy lips looking plump and tempting...
Mizutani Nozomi seemed completely oblivious to the problem at hand, persistently inquiring—it was quite... Let's just say very... unreserved.
"Teacher Mizutani, can you please restrain that gossipy heart of yours," Haruka Yuzan said, a bit exasperated.
"Ah?" Mizutani Nozomi finally caught on, looking somewhat embarrassed, "I was just trying to help."
She lowered her head and stuck out her tongue playfully, looking rather adorable.
"Don't act cute!"
"Haruka, I have to criticize you for that, girls are always cute!"
"Alright, alright....."
"Eh, by the way, you and Otome... you two..."
"Teacher, I think you might be more concerned about my..."
.....
A warm breeze drifted by, very comfortable, coupled with a faint floral scent, it could almost lull one to sleep.
Yawning, Haruka felt somewhat helpless about the weight on his shoulder,
They were chatting just moments ago when suddenly Mizutani Nozomi said she wanted to nap, and before Haruka could respond, he felt his shoulder sink.
Upon looking back,
Teacher Mizutani had already fallen asleep on his shoulder.
Her peachy cheeks, her dainty nose, and her long eyelashes quivered in the air.
She trusts me that much?
His gaze fell upon her tightly clad upper body in white, her long legs in black stockings gently pressed together under a body-hugging skirt that defined the Absolute Territory.
Darn it, Haruka Yuzan, you can't go on like this, starting from tomorrow, refuse the allure of women, starting with, her, him, it!
He sighed softly and closed his eyes as well.
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