Chapter 338 A Christmas Gift for Mine Shiori
The date with Miyazawa Mana didn't last too long, mainly because his behavior in the dessert shop was too ambiguous.
Although she had already made up her mind to get back together with Sawayama Haruno, after drinking the beverage with her face close to his for a long time, Miyazawa Mana felt that the temperature of her face was abnormally high.
So after hastily finishing her dessert, she suggested going to the fourth floor of the mall to eat. After lunch, Miyazawa Mana, with the shyness of a young girl, covered her hand with the bracelet given by her lover and almost ran away.
She was worried that if this continued, she would not be able to resist dragging Haruno to the hotel in broad daylight.
It didn't matter if she went, what she was really afraid of was being discovered by Maki.
After all, today is Christmas. What if I take up too much of Haruno's time and Maki becomes dissatisfied again?
At this point, Mana could probably understand Haruno's real intention. It was nothing more than a fair approach. She received this bracelet as a Christmas gift, so Miyazawa Maki and Ezaki Suguha should also have similar jewelry, and there might even be other girls to give as well.
After figuring out these things, Miyazawa Mana actually felt relieved. It seemed that continuing to develop according to the current situation was also a good choice. Although she or one of Maki could not monopolize Haruno, Haruno could still take care of them at the same time.
Contented, she no longer seeks for more things. The only thing she looks forward to now is probably the holiday after Christmas.
Just like that, with a slightly longing mood, she was sent to the station by Sawayama Haruno.
After watching the beautiful girl with a happy smile get on the bus, Sawayama Haruno gently waved towards the window.
He let out a slow breath only after the car completely disappeared from his sight.
“There’s still plenty of time.”
Sawayama Haruno stroked his chin and murmured, "So you're shy because you haven't had any intimate things for a long time?"
The feeling is not completely unreasonable, just like what happened with Ezaki Suguha some time ago. She hadn't been intimate with herself for a long time, and suddenly one day Maki was not at home and the two of them could fully heat up. Although her body was longing for it, she felt indescribable embarrassment in her heart.
Well, that's exactly what happened, girls are like that.
Sawayama Haruno withdrew his thoughts, looked at other pedestrians on the street, and began to hesitate.
Mana has been made happy by herself, and the gift has been given out, so the next step is to deal with other gifts.
This time he also brought gifts for the other two people. The one for Mine Shiori was a pair of diamond earrings, and the one for Morikawa Riho was a platinum pendant. Since they were jewelry, they were not too troublesome to carry around and could be placed in the inner pocket of clothes.
As for why he didn't think of bringing out Ayano Yui's share, it was because she was still in school and Sawayama Haruno didn't want to go to Tokyo University of the Arts. Besides, she would come to his house for dinner in the evening, so it would be better to give it to her then.
For now, I should focus my time on the other two people, but I don’t know who to send first.
Morikawa Riho? Or Mine Shiori?
After thinking for less than two seconds, Sawayama Haruno made the most correct choice.
Of course, I’m going to give a gift to Mine Shiori!
What a joke, Miss Morikawa lives in Bunkyo Ward, and it would take me half a day to get there. Besides, it doesn't matter if this guy's gift is delivered late, but Mine Shiori is different.
He has already decided to be responsible for the petite girl. With this reason, I believe Miss Morikawa can also understand why he would save her gift for last, right?
Long live understanding.
Sawayama Haruno repeated this silently in his heart, and then walked towards Mine Shiori's house without hesitation.
Because of the move to Shinjuku, Sawayama Haruno's current location is actually the closest to Mine Shiori's home. Today is Christmas, and Kodansha, backed by the Otowa Group, will give all employees a welfare holiday. I heard that there will also be exquisite small gifts and snack boxes.
Why didn’t the people from Kodansha send me a copy? After all, I am a pillar of the new generation. Isn’t it a bit too much that they didn’t show any expression at all?
Sawayama Haruno secretly made up his mind that after he gave the gift to Morikawa Riho, he would have to ask her to buy him some small gifts from Kodansha as well. It just so happened that he remembered that there were many peripheral stores in Otowa-cho, all of which belonged to the group. With his own status and Morikawa Riho's position, wouldn't it be easy for him to exercise a little power?
I can take it home and give it to Maki Miyazawa. This guy was watching the old anime "Fairy Tail" some time ago.
While he was daydreaming, Sawayama Haruno had already arrived downstairs of the apartment where Mine Shiori lived.
It is more accurately called an apartment or a student dormitory. Most of the people living here are high school or college students.
Although it is not strictly marked, due to the landlord's special requirements, you basically won't see any social personnel living here.
Sawayama Haruno once lived here for a long time when he was in high school. Even Miyazawa Mana came here to visit him many times. When he recalled it, it was basically all youthful memories. Even the first time he and Mana spent the night together was in the apartment above.
"It's just a snap of the fingers."
Sawayama Haruno couldn't help but sigh. After all, two or three years had passed in the blink of an eye. Every time he walked here, he couldn't help but feel complicated.
Before coming here, Sawayama Haruno had already told Mine Shiori that he would be coming here, so he just stood outside and looked at the student dormitory with a slightly nostalgic look, and then strode forward.
After taking the elevator to the corresponding floor, Sawayama Haruno quickly noticed that the door of Mine Shiori's house was ajar, as if it had been prepared in advance.
"Shiori?"
Sawayama Haruno first took off his shoes at the door, then came in and called the other person's name.
From the small kitchen on the left, Mine Shiori's slightly nervous response was heard.
"That's it. I'm washing the fruit. Haruno, please sit down for a moment."
"Ah, you don't have to be so polite." Zeshan Haruno smiled upon hearing that and said casually, "Actually, I'm quite full now and can't eat anymore."
After eating dessert in the morning, he went straight to have lunch. Now he is completely full. Even though fruits don't take up much memory in his body, he can't muster much energy - in this situation, Maki Miyazawa has to come.
“I’ve already washed it.”
Mine Shiori walked out of the kitchen carrying the washed strawberries. She stared at Sawayama Haruno with some resentment, as if the other party's rejection just now was very hurtful.
In fact, this is indeed the case. When she heard that Sawayama Haruno was coming to her house, Mine Shiori hurriedly got up to clean up, and then ran to take out all the fruits she bought yesterday and wash them.
Seeing the other party's expression, Zeshan Haruno touched his chin and said with a smile: "Then I should try to eat something."
"It's Haruno. No need to be polite to me." Mine Shiori put the strawberries on the table. After a little hesitation, she stood up before Sawayama Haruno spoke, and then went into her bedroom without looking back.
What is going on?
Sawayama Haruno was a little confused.
But soon, Mine Shiori, who had returned, appeared in front of him with a small bag.
Her face turned red for some unknown reason and she held the bag tightly in front of her. It was easy to guess who she was, as Sawayama Haruno had just experienced a similar incident this morning.
"Christmas present?" he asked tentatively.
"Um"
Mine Shiori bit her lip and whispered, "I knitted this outfit by hand, but it doesn't have a scarf and it might not be comfortable if I sewed a piece of clothing, so I bought another one outside."
As she said this, her heart was beating fast.
Such a bold plan certainly could not have been a sudden idea of Shiori Mine. In fact, she had been preparing for it since Sawayama Haruno asked her to take care of Salmon Maru. After all, it takes a lot of effort to sew a complete set of clothes, not to mention that her time is very tight.
She usually knits clothes after class or after get off work, sewing them stitch by stitch despite being exhausted.
Although she rushed to prepare this gift in advance, there was a very serious and embarrassing problem before her: what should she do with the underwear?
It's okay to knit sweaters and woolen pants, but it's not okay to knit woolen underwear. You can't just go to the bathroom, take off your pants and make a fuss, right?
Not to mention the safety issue, the noise alone would probably harm Sawayama Haruno. What if his apprentice Ezaki Suguha's happiness for the rest of her life was ruined?
So after some hesitation, Mine Shiori finally compromised and bought a very expensive pair of brand-name underwear online, which cost her nearly half a month's salary.
As for the size issue, well, it wasn't a problem for Shiori Mine either. It would be more like she already knew it.
Because that time in Kyoto, she accidentally saw it when she sneaked into Sawayama Haruno's room, and was so shocked by the size that she was so impressed that she can't forget it until now.
When I think back on it, my face still warms up involuntarily.
"Shiori?"
Looking at Mine Shiori in front of him who suddenly lost her focus and whose face turned red as if she was going to burst into steam in the next second, Sawayama Haruno became more and more confused.
What was the other person thinking about? Why was his face so red?
He was still thinking about taking out the gift he had prepared for the other party, but suddenly, Mine Shiori's condition became abnormal.
By the way, this silly kid wouldn't still be trying those self-punishment things?
Recalling the shocking scene he saw in Kyoto, Sawayama Haruno's face turned a little embarrassed.
He coughed lightly a few times and finally brought the absent-minded Shiori Mine back to her senses. The latter's face turned even redder, as if blood could drip from it.
She looked at Zeshan Haruno and said hesitantly, "Here, if you don't mind, please accept it."
"Of course I won't mind. Thank you, Shiori."
Sawayama Haruno quickly took the gift with some special meaning, and then took out what he had prepared for the other party.
"I also prepared a gift for Shiori. This is for you."
Sawayama Haruno placed the small box on the table, then slowly pushed it towards Mine Shiori.
The petite girl was still a little confused at the moment, as if she had not yet realized what Sawayama Haruno was going to give her. After opening the box with a little hesitation, she was quickly attracted by a pair of earrings shining with silver light inside.
"This"
Mine Shiori's mouth opened slightly and her brain almost shut down.
It was the first time she received such a valuable gift. Generally speaking, no one would rashly give diamonds as a gift, especially between young men and women.
Generally speaking, giving this kind of gift means...
Mine Shiori's breathing couldn't help but become rapid, and her eyes were evasive, not daring to look directly at Sawayama Haruno.
Her thoughts began to gradually become confused, thinking back to the words that Sawayama Haruno had said to comfort her when they were in Kyoto, and how she had been silently watching him for a long time.
She had been patient with herself, but finally she couldn't bear it anymore.
"Um. Haruno, are you serious?"
"Yeah, seriously."
Sawayama Haruno said in a very serious tone: "It's a Christmas present. If you say you don't want it, I will throw it into the trash without hesitation."
Mine Shiori knew he would really do that.
Although she had never seen the other party show that look, she knew Sawayama Haruno's character well. If she really refused this gift, he would definitely throw it away without any reluctance, and would be very decisive.
Such a person will give himself such a gift.
Mine Shiori lowered her head slightly, her bangs covering her eyes that contained complex emotions. At this moment, countless things began to surge into her mind.
The secret love that started in high school, the relationship between himself and Suguha Ezaki, and the twins' entanglement with Haruno.
All these things made her feel uncertain, but after seeing the gift in front of her, she suddenly felt that it was not very important.
If Haruno also has that kind of feelings towards me, wouldn't that be perfect?
Anyway, it's impossible for me to give up my feelings for him. I had been enduring until now only because Haruno had Suguha by his side.
Ever since she found out that there was more than one girl around Haruno, Mine Shiori's mind has gradually become active, so when she realized these "key points", she no longer planned to reject the other party, and these "key points" might even be more beneficial to her.
It's better than in high school. After all, Haruno only had Mana at that time, let alone Mine Shiori herself. She felt that no one could snatch Mana away from her.
Now is the best opportunity
Thinking of this, Mine Shiori slowly breathed a sigh of relief.
She still kept her head down, but her voice suddenly became choked up.
"Then, I'll take it."
"Thank you, Haruno."
(End of this chapter)
