Sett Chapter 20: Haruno's trouble, Crying_emoji.jpg (Patreon)

Meanwhile.

Tadashi put down his phone, unfazed by Yukino's refusal.

So what if she rejected him?

He would just visit her place again tomorrow!

...

...

Afternoon.

At Soubu High, Hiratsuka Shizuka was getting ready to leave work when her phone buzzed with new messages.

[Haruno: Hey Shizuka, are you free tonight?]

[Haruno: Want to grab dinner together?]

[Haruno: Cute_kitty_emoji.jpg]

“Haruno... again?” Hiratsuka sighed, feeling a headache coming on. “Is she here to vent again?”

She wasn’t exactly looking forward to it.

In the past, these meetings were a mutual exchange. Haruno would complain about her struggles with business partners, while Hiratsuka would share her disaster stories from failed matchmaking and lament the lack of good men in society.

Two people wallowing in their frustrations, seeking comfort in each other.

But now that Tadashi was in her life, Hiratsuka didn’t feel like she needed Haruno anymore.

[Shizuka: Busy tonight.] She replied coldly.

Ding!

[Haruno: Waaa! Shizuka abandoned me.]

[Haruno: Crying_emoji.jpg]

[Haruno: Crying_emoji.jpg]

[Haruno: Crying_emoji.jpg]

[Haruno: Crying_emoji.jpg]

[Haruno: Crying_emoji.jpg]

...

Her phone vibrated non-stop with Haruno's barrage of crying emojis.

Hiratsuka’s eye twitched, and she reluctantly gave in.

[Shizuka: Fine, fine! Stop it!]

[Haruno: Crying_emoji.jpg]

[Shizuka: Where and when?]

[Haruno: 6 PM tonight, at the Torii restaurant we usually go to in Nimotou.]

[Shizuka: Got it.]

[Haruno: Looking forward to seeing you (cute.jpg)]

Slam!

Hiratsuka smacked the table, feeling utterly exasperated.

This sly student of hers always managed to get her way.

Resigned, she messaged Tadashi, letting him know she had plans tonight and wouldn’t be home for dinner.

...

...

Nightfall.

The city lights sparkled as Hiratsuka parked her car outside a small barbecue restaurant and walked into the private dining room they had reserved.

“Ah, you’re here, Shizuka!”

A short-haired woman was already sitting inside, her face lighting up with a cheerful smile as she waved energetically at Hiratsuka. Her refined and radiant appearance, paired with a sunny disposition, made it easy for people to take a liking to her.

“Did you order yet?” Hiratsuka, however, wasn’t impressed, and sat down without sparing her a glance.

She knew better than anyone that despite Haruno’s sunny exterior, her personality was downright awful, with a heart blacker than coal.

More than once, Hiratsuka had been tempted to punch her in the face.

“So cold, Shizuka…” Haruno dragged out her words, feigning a pitiful look.

“Waiter, one of everything from the meat section!” Hiratsuka ordered without looking up. “And bring me two bottles of Kirin Ichiban beer!”

*Tsk!*

Haruno clicked her tongue in disapproval.

The downside of being close with someone is that they see right through your act and don’t play along.

‘I miss Yukino…’

‘At least she gets mad at me, hehe…’ Haruno thought, smiling stupidly to herself.

“Hey, your expression’s getting dumb,” Hiratsuka teased. “You’re such a sis-con. Careful, or one day Yukino’s going to get fed up and outsmart you.”

“Hmph, that will never happen!” Haruno lifted her chin, smiling confidently.

“What’s there to be proud of?” Hiratsuka shot back sarcastically.

“Those without sisters wouldn’t understand!” Haruno replied with a smug look, her eyes filled with pity.

Hiratsuka’s lips twitched in frustration.

She simply couldn’t comprehend the logic of a sis-con.

“Fine, whatever. Let’s drink!” Hiratsuka gave up trying to understand and cracked open one of the beers, taking a big swig.

Haruno smiled, more refined in her approach as she poured herself a glass before drinking.

The two clinked glasses, and after a while, their faces grew flushed as they relaxed.

“Shizuka, I’m so tired!”

Sure enough, Haruno eventually started venting her frustrations.

Hiratsuka mentally sighed, listening attentively as Haruno poured out her grievances.

“The construction site I’m managing had an accident last month. Three people died!” Haruno groaned.

“What happened?”

Hearing about fatalities, Hiratsuka sobered up a bit.

“They investigated. Turns out three guys broke safety protocols, played cards all night, and it led to the accident…” Haruno waved it off with a sigh. “I mean, these days, people die all the time, but when it happens in an official capacity, it’s always a hassle to deal with.”

“Are the families dissatisfied with the compensation?” Hiratsuka asked.

“No, it’s not that.”

Haruno took another sip of beer, her expression thoughtful. “It’s the construction crew. They’re saying the site is haunted and want me to hire someone to perform a ritual. They’ve threatened to walk off the job, even if it means breaching the contract.”

“But seriously, there are no such things as ghosts!”

“I think the crew’s just trying to milk more money from the project…”

Haruno shook her head in amusement.

But Hiratsuka wasn’t laughing.

The moment she heard “haunted,” the alcohol-induced fog in her mind cleared instantly.

“Haruno.” Hiratsuka called out softly.

“Huh?” Haruno looked up in surprise. “Why so serious, Shizuka?”

“If there really is something unclean at the site, I can introduce you to a professional who handles those kinds of situations,” Hiratsuka said seriously.

“What?”

Haruno was taken aback, staring at Hiratsuka in disbelief.

Since when did Shizuka believe in that stuff?

Shouldn’t she be more scientific-minded?

“Well, if you’re going to have a ritual done anyway, why not let me make some commission from it?” Hiratsuka added with a casual smile, brushing it off.

“Hahaha, fair enough,” Haruno laughed, slapping her chest. “If there’s a deal to be made, I’d never forget you, Shizuka.”

They continued drinking, the lively atmosphere returning to their conversation.

But Haruno kept a mental note.

Shizuka hadn’t seemed like she was joking earlier.

Haruno might not believe in supernatural events, but what if…?

‘I just hope I never have to ask Shizuka for that kind of help,’ Haruno thought to herself. ‘I definitely don’t want to encounter anything supernatural!’

But in this world, there’s something called Murphy’s Law.

The more you don’t want something to happen, the more likely it is to occur.

...

...

The next morning.

Tadashi woke up early and made hangover soup for Hiratsuka before heading out.

He jogged to Yukino’s apartment building and sent her a message on LINE.