A reversal of fortune and victory in a world hated by all girls!

The feeling of being caught sneaking around made Natsuki Aoi feel a pang of guilt.

But Ryuzakura's lips slowly curled up, and she picked up the cola cup with only her thumb and forefinger in her right hand, saying in a magnetic voice, "Natsuki, when should we have our first date alone?"

"puff!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Yusuke, who was eating a hamburger next to him, almost spat out his food.

Holy crap! What's going on?!

How did we suddenly start talking about such an ambiguous topic?

Yusuke clearly hadn't expected that Ryuzakura would have such feelings for Natsuki. He had sensed before that she was a very straightforward girl, but shouldn't a girl who's 1.8 meters tall be looking for a guy who's 1.9 or 2 meters tall? Anyway, Yusuke felt that he couldn't overpower her in terms of presence. But he never expected that she would actually like Natsuki!

“You, you guys…” Yusuke pointed at the two of them, his voice trembling.

Although Natsuki Aoi was somewhat surprised, she quickly calmed down, gave Yusuke a wink, and he immediately understood and sat down at the table next to her.

When Aoi Natsuki turned her gaze back, she found that Ryuzakura was still waiting for the answer to the question. Unlike Hayakawa and Takahashi, she couldn't understand the awkward atmosphere at this moment.

"Why me?" Natsuki Aoi asked. "We haven't even met that many times."

"So you don't like me?"

Longying suddenly asked a question.

Aoi Natsuki paused for a moment. To be honest, he hadn't thought about liking someone yet, but he remembered that he had a fleeting moment of attraction during that Christmas.

Do I like Ryuzakura?

It doesn't seem to have reached that level. There is some affection between them, but compared to her unwavering determination to like him, there is still a big gap between them.

What about Hayakawa?

What are my feelings for Hayakawa?

Aoi Natsuki has spent a long time with Hayakawa, and when she's with Hayakawa, she feels that it doesn't matter if she's a little lazy. The two of them also have many common interests. If anyone likes someone more, it should be Hayakawa.

However... he developed feelings for Ryuzakura that Christmas, which made him question all his original plans.

The question posed by the goddess girl was equally insightful.

It's a choice made both to complete the mission and for one's own long-term future.

This is something he has been constantly thinking about.

He lowered his head, lost in thought for a longer time because of this question.

Just then, a text message notification rang, interrupting Aoi's thoughts. She opened her phone and saw that it was a text message from Hayakawa.

"Natsuki, aren't you home? I have some plums that were sent from the countryside, and I wanted to give them to you."

After reading the text message, Natsuki Aoi's heart skipped a beat.

My previously doubtful thoughts suddenly became clear.

Yes! Isn't it because of this feeling that I've persevered until now?

Wasn't it Hayakawa who constantly encouraged and accompanied me, giving me hope during that time?

Aoi Natsuki suddenly understood everything, and then picked up her phone and stood up from her seat.

"I'm sorry, Hayakawa needs to talk to me. I think... I've figured it out, so... I'm sorry."

Natsuki Aoi bowed deeply to Ryuzakura.

She was indeed the first person to confess her feelings to her so boldly since she came into this world. If she hadn't met Hayakawa, she would definitely have chosen her without hesitation.

But now, before her, a figure who is only 1.5 meters tall and has a gentle and understanding personality has quietly entered his heart.

He felt he had made up his mind.

Looking into his earnest eyes, Long Ying expected a lecture or disappointment, but to her surprise, her eyes lit up with even greater joy, and she nodded emphatically at him.

"Then go ahead."

"Thank you!" Natsuki Aoi packed some snacks for Rina, then led her home.

Yusuke, eating spicy chicken wings, stared blankly at the ever-changing situation. There were many things he didn't understand, but judging from the outcome, it seemed that Ryuzakura had been dumped... right?

Are you alright?

"No." Long Ying smiled even wider, opened the next hamburger, and continued eating heartily. "This is the kind of man I like!"

……

Night fell.

The temperature dropped rapidly at this time.

Aoi Natsuki took Rina back to the neighborhood by bus.

After turning the corner, his house is not far ahead.

He jogged up and soon spotted a petite figure.

That scene remained unforgettable for him, no matter how much time had passed.

Hayakawa Keiko, bundled up tightly, carried a small bamboo basket and paced back and forth on the snow under the streetlights. White breaths escaped her lips intermittently. A red scarf was wrapped around her neck, and her canvas shoes were somewhat worn. Aoi Natsuki walked up to her, and Hayakawa Keiko immediately looked up when she saw her shadow.

Besides her surprised eyes, the tip of her nose had long been frozen red.

And so, this little rice dumpling quietly waited for him to come back.

Aoi Natsuki pulled Rina up and noticed that there was some snow on her head and shoulders. She then swept it off with her hand, a very direct and rough action.

Under such intimate contact, Hayakawa immediately buried her head in her scarf in embarrassment.

"Plum, plum..."

Holding the bamboo basket in both hands, she slowly raised it to his face.

-------

P.S.: The Hayakawa route is back!

Chapter 99 Tonight's Plum Rice

"Thank you." Aoi Natsuki smiled, her eyes narrowing, and took the bamboo basket she offered. "How long have you been waiting here?"

"No, no... just a little while..." Hayakawa Keiko stammered.

Looking at her feet pacing back and forth, which must have been freezing, Aoi Natsuki pursed her lips and said, "Let's go inside first, I'll take you back later."

"I, I actually..."

"It's okay, let's go inside." Aoi Natsuki patted her back, and Hayakawa instantly sped up as if she had been electrocuted, arriving at the iron gate.

Aoi Natsuki took out her key, opened the iron gate, and heard Yoshi-chan's voice.

The three of them went inside and could see Ji-chan's cunning eyes in the dark living room from afar.

After opening the entryway door, Lina was the first to rush out, quickly changed her shoes, ran to the living room to turn on the underfloor heating, and skillfully took out a guest blanket from the cabinet.

It seems that practice makes perfect.

"Wear these." Aoi Natsuki searched through the shoe cabinet and finally took out a pair of cotton shoes, which she neatly placed on the corridor steps.

"Yes!" Hayakawa answered hastily, but she didn't actually move. She was very nervous and her mind was still on the intimate actions she had just had with Natsuki.

"Is there a problem?" Seeing that she hadn't moved, Aoi Natsuki asked.

"No..." Hayakawa Keiko had no choice but to move. She bent down and slowly untied the laces of her canvas shoes, peeling them off from the heels. A pair of small feet wearing pure white socks appeared in Aoi Natsuki's sight.

This was the first time he had ever seen such small feet, probably only size 35. Hayakawa was not tall to begin with, and his frame was also small, so even with such small feet, it didn't look out of place at all.

The water from the melting snow soaked his socks, and when Hayakawa saw this, he was stunned. At that moment, the air in the entire corridor seemed to freeze.

Feeling a bit awkward, Aoi Natsuki got up and quickly left the scene, heading into the dining room.

Several seconds later, Hayakawa, blushing, bent her leg back, took off her socks, put on her cotton shoes, and followed after him in small steps.

Upon entering the dining room, since the living room and dining room are connected, the entire environment warms up relatively slowly, but there is still a slight warmth.

On the table were the plums she had brought. Lina was sitting next to her, constantly looking around, while Aoi Natsuki had gone into the kitchen.

Hayakawa remained silent and then sat down at the table.

At that moment, Natsuki Aoi poked her head out: "Hayakawa, have you had dinner yet?"

"Not yet... but it doesn't matter whether I eat dinner or not!" Hayakawa suddenly waved his hands at him repeatedly.

"That won't do. Let me see what's left at home."

"Awoo!" Lina patted the table. Next to the bamboo basket were the hamburgers and fries that had been packed back.

Aoi Natsuki rolled her eyes at her: "They've come all this way, and you're expecting them to eat fast food? I think even kids shouldn't eat so much junk food."

Upon hearing this, Lina felt as if she were facing a formidable enemy. She immediately used both hands to protect her beloved takeout bag, determined to live or die with it.

Aoi Natsuki came out of the kitchen and couldn't help but laugh. He came to the table and his eyes fell on the basket of plums. He opened the lid and a fragrance wafted out. He picked up a plum and was about to take a bite, but then he suddenly remembered something and just licked it. He then took a deep breath.

So sour...

"Hayakawa, this is..."

"These are plums brought by my relatives in the countryside. They were stored in a cellar a long, long time ago. They may be a bit sour, but I believe they taste good!"

That's true. Looking back now, Aoi Natsuki does indeed recall the strong plum aroma and sweet aftertaste.

"Aww, aww!" Lina was so tempted by the smell that she raised her right hand and begged for more.

Seeing this, Natsuki Aoi handed over the plum, saying, "You can only take a small bite."

Seeing that it was just a small plum, Claire took a big bite. Immediately, an unimaginable sourness made her saliva secrete wildly, and she spat it out, with saliva dripping down her face.

It's so cute, sticking its tongue out the whole time.

Aoi Natsuki laughed and then picked up the bamboo basket, saying, "I know what to make. I'll make you some plum rice. It's simple and delicious."

"Okay, sure." Hayakawa nodded in agreement.

Then Aoi went back to the kitchen to rinse the rice. At least plum rice is very simple. Some are cooked with rice, and some are added at the end. But with this level of acidity, soaking the rice in water is fine, but cooking it together with rice would probably be too acidic for most people.

This acidity is actually a symbol of high quality. Some plums that have been stored for a long time can even sell for tens of thousands of yuan a single fruit. This is similar to the concept of collecting dried tangerine peel of different years in some rural areas of China.

While the rice was cooking, the aroma of rice wafted out of the kitchen.