My childhood sweetheart is Nishimiya Glass

Chapter 401 Is this destiny or duty?

…………

The setting sun casts a golden glow, bathing the figures of Nishikata, Takagi, and the few passersby on the street in long and short silhouettes.

"Well...see you tomorrow?"

Takagi tilted her head slightly, her eyes, which held a faint smile, looking inquiringly at Nishikata, who had been silent ever since leaving the school.

"Wait, wait! Takagi-san!"

Just as she was about to turn and leave, Nishikata almost shouted out, hurriedly reaching out his hand to grab her but not daring to actually do so, his fingertips turning white from tension.

His shout drew a few glances from passersby, who then quickly returned to the flow of people heading home.

In the past, Tsuna would always lead the way in giving Valentine's Day gifts to Ayumi and Takagi, and he would just follow along.

So he wasn't too nervous, but this time, due to a special reason (Shoko was returning the favor to Tsuna on White Day!), he couldn't come along.

He hurriedly handed over the return gifts to Shoko and Ayumi Ajitani after school.

Takagi missed it because she went to the restroom, and now the courage she had mustered up at the end of the school day has long been exhausted.

"Hmm? What's wrong?" Takagi turned around in confusion, her smile well hidden in her eyes.

"Um... well! This is a return gift for Valentine's Day last month!"

Nishikata blurted out the sentence at lightning speed, his ears immediately lit up with the setting sun, and he frantically rummaged through his schoolbag.

He then suddenly pulled out the candy, which he had clearly prepared for a long time and carefully wrapped in shiny candy wrappers, and shoved it at Takagi like a hot potato.

"A Valentine's Day...return gift?"

Takagi took the bag of candy, her fingers twirling the shiny corner of the wrapper. She looked up, her eyes crinkling with a knowing smile, and asked, "I already know the answer."
"So... is it a duty chocolate? Or a special chocolate that represents my heartfelt feelings?"

"Uh-huh!"

Nishikata nodded quickly, still basking in the joy of successfully giving the gift, but Takagi's second sentence stunned him.

How is he supposed to answer that? Tell the truth?
If he confesses his feelings now, will he be rejected? Last month, Takagi-san gave him something like obligatory chocolates...

"I...I...I..." Nishikata stammered completely.

Seeing his helpless and speechless appearance, Takagi couldn't help but smile.

A soft chuckle escaped her lips, and a hint of amusement flickered in her eyes.

She didn't press further, simply nodding lightly, "Arigato. I'm going home now, see you tomorrow~"

This time, she didn't deliberately dawdle or slow down; she turned and left cleanly and decisively.

As for Nishikata, he could only stand there frozen, watching that light figure disappear around the street corner before letting out a desperate cry of frustration!
She grabbed his head with both hands and roughly ruffled his hair!

Several pedestrians on the roadside were startled by his sudden shout and paused in their tracks, instinctively jumping two steps away.

She glanced subtly at the guy "casting his spell" at thin air and quietly kept a safe distance.

I was afraid he might suddenly attack someone or... well, he might spread some strange disease.

If I had been braver at this moment, would I have been able to be with Takagi-san?

If he confessed his feelings now, I'd probably accept him...? No!

It's not just a high probability, it's a certainty! And I'm that idiot again.

.....................

As dusk fell, the door lock clicked open, and Xigong Xi returned carrying a vegetable basket.

Shoko, who was originally rolling around with Nishimiya Yuzuru, immediately stopped playing around when she saw her classmate and ran to the kitchen to help.

Nishimiya Yuzuru was still thinking about Tsuna coming over for dinner, so when she went for a walk in the afternoon, she made a special detour to the fresh food store to buy some meat and vegetables. When Tsuna went to help, she chased him back to the living room, and the two stared at each other.

The aroma of the food filled the air, and the last dish was steadily served by Shoko.

"Dinner's ready!" Shoko took off her apron and draped it over the back of her chair, her voice warm and gentle.

Yuzuru Nishimiya and Hachiko, who were playing around in the living room, and Tsuna, who was looking at his phone, all gathered around when they heard the noise.

After washing her hands, Nishimiya Yuzuru obediently sat down in the chair, looked at her grandmother who was still lingering at the kitchen door, and asked in a clear voice:
"Grandma, isn't Mom coming home for dinner tonight?"

Nishimiya said with a smile, "Yaeko just told me that she has to work overtime today, and told us to eat first and not to save food for her."

"work overtime?"

Tsuna subconsciously murmured to himself, his brows furrowing slightly.

He clearly remembered that before picking up Shoko this afternoon, he had personally witnessed Aunt Yaeko leaving the office after get off work...

He caught a whiff of gossip, but it was quickly overshadowed by the aroma of food.

…………

On the tatami mat in the living room, Nishimiya Yuzuru sprawled out in a starfish shape, rubbing his belly contentedly.

Seeing that Tsuna and Shoko, who had been resting for a while, both got up, she curiously turned her head:
"Sister, where are you going?"

"A date." Tsuna didn't even lift his eyelids.

He casually glanced at the night-drenched scenery outside the window before slowly fixing his gaze on Yuzuru, and casually uttered a sentence in a flat tone:
"Do you want to come along? Your sister and I don't mind."

"..."

Yuzuru Nishimiya immediately wrinkled her little nose and waved her little hand as if shooing away flies:
"Ugh... No way! You guys can go be conjoined twins! I'm not going to be a third wheel!"

"Awooo...Woof!"

Nishimiya Yuzuru didn't want to go, but Hachiko, who was lying by the door, immediately perked up his ears when he heard "go out"!
Its tail was wagging like a propeller, and it was about to rush towards the entrance.

As soon as he darted out two steps, Nishimiya Yuzuru pounced on him with lightning speed and grabbed him!
She hugged the struggling ball of fur tightly, rubbed her chin against Hachiko's forehead, and loudly announced:
"No! Hachiko, you have to stay and be my body pillow! Watch TV with me!"

"Woo..."

Tsuna and Shoko exchanged a glance, both with a helpless smile on their lips.

The two didn't say anything more, and called out towards the kitchen, "Grandma/Grandma Nishimiya, we're going out!"

After saying that, they walked one after the other to the entrance and quickly changed their shoes.

Be careful on the road, and don't stay out too late!

"Okay, I'll take good care of Shoko!"

"Click..."

Nishimiya's words earned him Tsuna's assurance and the sound of the door closing.

…………

The soft glow of the streetlights cast long and short shadows of the two holding hands at their feet.

Shoko tilted her head slightly, her hair brushing lightly against Tsuna's shoulder, and a hint of anticipation curved her lips:
"Tsuna, where should we go next...?"

There were many pedestrians who had just finished get off work at this time, as well as many student couples like them who were out on dates after dinner.

"I heard there's an event going on at Futaba Shopping Street tonight, shall we go check it out?"

"Yeah, yeah, it's all up to you."

(End of this chapter)