Chapter 231: Competition

The next morning, as Lei Yin pushed open the sliding door of the room, a soft body rushed towards him and hugged him tightly.

Lei Yin placed the tray he was holding on the nearby table, then wrapped his arms around her slender waist, saying, “Awake? I didn’t want to wake you, so I went outside to get some breakfast.”

“I… I couldn’t see you when I woke up, I was scared.” Naoko said softly, her head bowed like a child who had done something wrong.

“Silly. Let’s eat breakfast. Have you washed your face?”

“Oh, sorry, I haven’t brushed my teeth or washed my face yet. Wait for me.” Naoko hurried into the bathroom.

Lei Yin smiled, arranging the breakfast from the tray onto the table.

After freshening up, Naoko, with a slightly flushed face, sat across from him at the table.

During breakfast, Naoko ate little, instead, she kept glancing at him from time to time.

“What’s wrong, doesn’t it taste good?” Lei Yin asked, puzzled.

“No, no, it’s nothing.” Naoko quickly lowered her head and started eating.

Everything is good, nothing has changed, he’s still the same towards me. 

A few glistening drops fell from Naoko’s face into her bowl, unnoticed by Lei Yin because she kept her head down.

After breakfast, while watching the news on TV, Lei Yin said, “Too much has happened lately; we haven’t really enjoyed ourselves since coming here. Let’s explore around these next few days. I remember you went to elementary, middle, and high school in Nagoya; how about showing me around your old schools?”

Naoko’s eyes lit up, her face beaming with excitement, “Really?”

Lei Yin nodded with a smile.

Naoko, thrilled, hugged his arm tightly, almost cheering.

Once they left the hotel, unlike other tourists, they didn’t head straight for famous Nagoya attractions but instead wandered aimlessly around the city on local buses. They would get off to explore when they spotted something interesting, then either continue on foot or hop onto another bus, enjoying themselves leisurely.

Although Naoko had spent many years studying in Nagoya, due to her frail health as a child and rarely going out, she hadn’t visited many parts of the city aside from her schools and the area around her grandmother’s house. After Lei Yin asked her for directions a couple of times without success, he decided to take matters into his own hands and checked the map himself, leaving Naoko somewhat embarrassed.

Despite the aimless wandering, they managed to visit places like Nittai-ji Temple, Atsuta Shrine, and Osu Shopping Street. They spent the most time at Osu Shopping Street.

This shopping street has a long history and still retains the vibrant “shitamachi” (downtown) atmosphere. Apart from electronics and computer shops, there are many clothing and second-hand clothing stores. With its variety and affordable prices, it’s usually bustling with people, even more so on holidays.

There, Naoko excitedly looked at stalls selling local specialties and crafts not commonly seen in big cities. Later, they ate sushi at an old sushi shop, which had been in business for sixty to seventy years, with its decor and utensils exuding a sense of history. Lei Yin, who neither particularly liked nor disliked Japanese sushi, found the signature dish, “unagi-don” (eel rice bowl), at this shop intriguing. Although it wasn’t technically sushi, good food transcends such classifications.

Lei Yin enjoyed life’s pleasures, and good food was a significant part of that. He had tried unagi-don in Tokyo before, but it didn’t compare to this one. With great appetite, he ate three bowls. 

Naoko also found the dish delicious and, seeing Lei Yin’s enthusiasm, humbly asked the chef for the recipe.

Actually, the preparation of unagi-don is quite simple. You first grill strips or slices of eel over charcoal, then coat it with sauce, and finally place it on freshly cooked rice. Though it sounds simple, the grilling time, sauce composition, and timing of removal from the heat all critically affect the taste of the eel.

Since this dish was the shop’s signature, the recipe couldn’t be shared. However, the young chef was completely enchanted by Naoko’s looks and her humble demeanor. He answered all her questions straightforwardly, like an obedient new student. Fortunately, he didn’t reveal the secret of the family sauce recipe in the end, not because he was still conscious of his duties but because the sushi shop owner, coughing like he had tuberculosis, was constantly reminding him from the side.

When they left the sushi shop, it was already past six in the evening.

Not wanting to return to the hotel so early, they wandered the streets.

Walking leisurely through the bustling, vibrant street, Naoko, leaning on Lei Yin’s shoulder, felt a kind of blissful intoxication. 

Compared to visiting famous sights, she preferred doing nothing like this, just comfortably leaning on him as they walked.

“Lei, I’m really happy,” Naoko said softly.

Lei Yin replied, “If you like it, we can find more opportunities to travel to other places in the future.”

“It’s not that. I’m content just to be with you like this; we don’t necessarily need to go elsewhere.” Naoko looked at him with eyes full of affection.

Lei Yin smiled, “Since you like strolling, once we get back to Tokyo, let’s make more time for it, okay?”

Naoko nodded happily.

Seeing a cinema ahead, Lei Yin suggested, “How about we watch a movie?”

“But I don’t want to watch a horror movie,” Naoko said with a smile.

“Uh, then let’s watch a romance. But I can’t guarantee I won’t fall asleep halfway through.”

“It’s okay, I’ll wake you up.” Naoko chuckled and happily rested her head on his shoulder.

※※※

“Kazumi, would you do me the honor of having lunch with me?” Ashiro Hideyuki asked as he walked over.

Kazumi glanced at him, then coldly said while packing her books, “Sorry, I’m not used to eating with strangers.”

“Strangers? That’s hurtful. We’re in the same department, and I’m your senior. How can we be strangers?” Ashiro Hideyuki looked hurt.

Sadly, Kazumi completely ignored his act, picked up her bag with her books, and walked past him. Takeshima Shinobu, who was behind her, gave Ashiro a look and quickly followed her out.

Watching Kazumi walk further away, Ashiro smiled and slowly followed.

Seeing all three of them leave, several girls showed expressions of resentment.

Since last week, this third-year student named Ashiro Hideyuki had suddenly appeared in Kazumi’s life, approaching her enthusiastically and clearly pursuing her. This made the girls, already upset due to the situation with Ogata Yasuda, even more annoyed.

“What’s so great about that woman? Even Ashiro is like this,” one girl said angrily.

“Didn’t expect this quiet, plain girl to be so good at seducing men. One Ogata-senpai was already too much, now even Ashiro-senpai,” another girl said sourly.

“I really can’t understand. If it were just any guy, fine. But why would guys like them go for that cold woman? Has every other woman in the world died?” a tall girl cursed.

The first girl who spoke looked disdainful, “I feel like throwing up every time I see her acting all high and mighty.”

A male student nearby who overheard their conversation said, “The resentment of women is truly terrifying.”

His companion added, “But speaking of which, Gennai-san has gotten a lot prettier lately.”

“Her personality, though, is still as unapproachable as ever.”

“I agree.”

In the hallway, Takeshima Shinobu looked back and whispered to her friend, “Kazumi, he’s following us.”

“Ignore him,” Kazumi kept walking.

As they exited the school building, a handsome man in high-end casual wear approached, “Kazumi, Shinobu, hello.”

“Hello,” Takeshima Shinobu greeted him. After months of frequent encounters, she had grown accustomed to Ogata Yasuda’s presence and no longer felt uncomfortable as she once did.

Yasuda turned to Kazumi, “I’m here to pick you up after class.”

“Thanks for the thought, but even elementary school kids don’t need to be picked up by adults anymore. I shouldn’t be worse off than them,” Kazumi said with a dismissive tone.

“How is that the same? Picking up the girl you like after class is a normal thing to do,” Yasuda replied nonchalantly.

Kazumi frowned, “Please don’t casually say such flippant things to me. It only makes you seem shallow.”

“I’m just being honest, not flippant.”

“Unfortunately, your so-called honesty looks just like flippancy.”

“That’s just because you don’t know me well enough. If you were willing to get to know me better, you’d find I have many virtues.”

“Sorry, I’m not interested in doing something so pointless.”

Yasuda chuckled as he observed this sharp-tongued girl with her cool expression. He was increasingly enjoying the light-hearted banter with her.

Compared to three months ago, she seemed less hostile towards him, not as icy as before. Although she still didn’t give him a warm reception, he considered this progress. The more he interacted with her, the more he was drawn to her unique charm. There had been several times when he almost couldn’t resist hugging her tightly, wanting to melt her cold expression with his lips. But he held back because he knew that any such move would undo all his efforts so far, and he’d lose any chance of getting close to her in the future.

“Yasuda’s here too, what a coincidence,” Ashiro Hideyuki said as he approached slowly with a playful smile, his appearance equally outstanding.

Seeing Ashiro was indeed there, Ogata Yasuda’s eyes showed a trace of wariness.

The main reason Yasuda came to pick up Kazumi was because he had heard about Ashiro Hideyuki’s actions. Although he didn’t know why this guy was suddenly pursuing Kazumi, knowing his character, Yasuda had a bad feeling about it, so he wanted to check things out.

For a moment, the two equally striking men standing together attracted much attention from the passing girls.

“I won’t interrupt your reunion,” Kazumi said indifferently, then pulled the slightly dazed Takeshima Shinobu away.

After one last look at Ashiro Hideyuki, Ogata Yasuda turned to follow.

“Yasuda, is this girl your target this time?” Ashiro Hideyuki suddenly called out to him.

Ogata Yasuda stopped, turning back to look at him, “Ashiro, I warn you, if you have any ideas about her, I won’t let you off.”

Ashiro Hideyuki laughed lightly, “Tsk, tsk, tsk, I didn’t expect the mighty Ogata Yasuda to say something so unrefined. That’s not like you at all. But seeing how tense you are about this girl, I’m starting to get more interested in her.”

Yasuda’s anger intensified, “Ashiro Hideyuki, you better not provoke me.”

Ashiro laughed, “Do you think I’m really scared of you? Honestly, I wasn’t that interested in this game, but if you’re my opponent, it’s a whole different story.”

Yasuda said coldly, “Why are you doing this? There’s no benefit for you.”

“That’s not for you to worry about. But speaking of which, you’ve really failed. It’s been over three months, and you can’t even handle a girl like this; that’s not like the Ogata Yasuda I know. I hope you won’t make it too easy for me to win; otherwise, it won’t be any fun.”

Ogata Yasuda smirked, “I don’t mind competing with you if you play fair. But if you dare to mess with Kazumi, I’ll make you regret it.” With that, he turned and left without another glance.

Watching Yasuda’s retreating figure, Ashiro Hideyuki wore a triumphant smile.