Let's do it again, Yukino.

"A teacher? If it really comes to that, it wouldn't be bad to try being a teacher."

"You should have a sense of awe for the profession of gardeners in our motherland, you rascal."

Seeing the slightly tired look on the boy's face, Hiratsuka Shizuka thought for a moment, and although she hesitated for a moment, she still made room for him and used one hand to grab Haruhi's head.

After a while,

The soft, smooth feel of plump, rounded thighs.

At this moment, Chunri's cheeks finally felt what a mature, older sister-level gentleness truly meant.

Master's lap pillow

generally!!

Hmm, very average!

"This is the highest level of treatment that even my nephew has never received! Remember to be grateful, okay?"

Hiratsuka Shizuka gave the instructions very seriously, her large sunglasses concealing the eyes of the older single woman.

Kasugano didn't struggle. She raised her head and looked at Hiratsuka Shizuka's firm, fair nose and cherry-like lips.

"It seems like I'm the one who's at a disadvantage."

To hide his inner fear, the boy lied through his teeth.

"Stop joking around and get some rest. When you open your eyes again, you'll be back in Chiba Prefecture."

After all, she was a woman around thirty years old, and the young woman from Hiratsuka did not show the shy, delicate girl that Haruhi had imagined.

The woman gently patted the back of Chunri's neck with her hand...

Not long after,

In the quiet carriage,

The calm, rhythmic breathing of the boys and girls

For a moment, among those who were still conscious, only the diligent gardener remained, gripping the steering wheel and gazing ahead.

The gardener parted her red lips slightly,

It's still a gentle and cheerful song, the melodious sound of flowing water crossing rivers and mountains.

……

When you become an adult,

It's good if I can at least recall something.

That old teachers' office

Although I don't yet know what kind of adult you will become.

……

It sounded like raindrops falling on the eaves, so crisp, sweet, delicate, and moving.

Even though she is still single, Shizuka Hiratsuka maintains the pride and purity of a single person.

Ah, those were the days of youth.

In this world,

Someone is also concerned about you.

Even if they watch you stumble on your path in life, they may feel anxious, but they rarely offer a helping hand. This is because they know that the feelings and dreams that others may not think are worth fighting for are extremely important to you, and they will not allow anyone to interfere.

"What a troublesome brat."

The voice was deep and resonant, lingering and long.

……

…………

"Xiao Qing, get up, the sun's already high in the sky!"

His body was being shoved around haphazardly, and when he opened his eyes, Junko's smiling face appeared in front of him.

When I opened my eyes, the scenery that was once on the highway suddenly transformed into the familiar campus of Soubu High School.

It seems that it is already afternoon.

Chunri struggled to sit up, but as she raised her head, she felt a sharp pain in her neck.

My neck hurts a little...

"He probably has a stiff neck. Don't fall asleep in the assistant's seat next time. You drooled all over my pants."

Hiratsuka Shizuka, who was already standing outside the car door, gave a brief explanation without any expression.

"We've been so bored these past few days. Life without Xiao Qing is just too boring."

It must have been Hiratsuka-sensei who contacted Junko beforehand, judging from Junko's expression that said, "So boring, so incredibly boring."

"Where are Hachiman Komachi and the others? And Yui and the others aren't here either? Have they already gone back?"

Hiratsuka Shizuka leaned against the car, shrugged, and glanced at Yukinoshita standing not far from her.

"The Hikigaya siblings, Yuihama, and Totsuka-san started their journey home ten minutes ago. As for the rest, there's only Yukinoshita-san and you, you bastard who can't be woken up no matter how much you call, and only wakes up when your mother comes."

"Then let's go home. Hiratsuka-sensei, you should get some rest when you get back."

Haruhi yawned, and was just about to call Junko and Yuki to go back together when...

With a whooshing sound, a private car that looked familiar to Chunri appeared in front of them.

But upon seeing the car, Xiaoxue and Chunri exchanged uneasy glances.

Soon, the special car, decorated with golden flying fish on the front, stopped at the school gate.

First, there was the driver who got out of the car with a flourish and bowed to everyone. Then, the latter opened the back door.

In this life, the woman who had once met Comrade Kasuga in the bathroom stepped out of the car.

"Yukino, it's been a long time."

A passionate voice

An elegant woman, wearing a pure white dress.

This is what this life is like.

Let's have a proper meeting between Haruno, the Demon King.

Spring sighed silently to herself.

(P.S.: The song mentioned in this chapter, "Until You Grow Up," is also Hiratsuka Shizuka's character theme song, sung by her voice actress, Yuzuki Ryoka. The lyrics are quite touching. You can find this song on NetEase Cloud Music; I personally recommend giving it a listen. As for Hiratsuka Shizuka's other song, "I Didn't Cry, My Eyes Are Just Smoking," I won't recommend it. I cry every time I listen to it; Yuzuki Ryoka's crying voice is just too damn pitiful.)

Chapter Twenty-Seven: Quite Silly

At the age of twenty-four,

Aqing and Xiaoxue are both young people who graduated from university a little over a year ago.

After graduation, they did not immediately return to their hometown of Chiba Prefecture. Instead, having already finished their internships, they temporarily settled in Tokyo, just as they had during their university years.

However, this kind of life was not as bad as imagined. At least at the beginning, even though it was a bit tough and their combined income was not as plentiful as they had imagined, their cohabitation was still filled with a warm and cozy atmosphere.

They would meet with friends from their respective circles on Saturdays and weekends, and occasionally the two would spend half a day visiting tourist attractions in Tokyo.

Even in late-night chats, people occasionally talk about the people around them.

For example, Hiratsuka Shizuka, who recently went on a drunken rampage at a wedding in Hachiman.

For example, Totsuka Saika, who has an ambiguous relationship with Hikigaya's younger sister, Komachi.

Another example is Xiaoxue's older sister, who is like a demon king.

Hiroyuki under the snow.

Kasuga remembers that her first impression of Yukinoshita Haruno was not good; in fact, it could be described as terrible.

Both of them are the kind of people who won't budge no matter what you say.

Moreover, Yukino and Haruno met after they joined the Service Club, so at that time, compared to her own bad temper and irritability, Yukino seemed to prefer the boy Hachiman who would occasionally self-destruct.

However, even so.

When Haruno the Demon King learned from Yuki that the boy her sister was dating was the infamous Kasuga Gian, his bewildered and complicated expression, as if he thought it was an April Fool's joke, made Kasuga, who had always been at Haruno's mercy, feel as refreshed as if he had eaten ice cream on a hot summer day.

As for Hachiman Hikigaya, whom she has her eye on, he's already been firmly under Yui's watchful eye, and he poses absolutely no threat to Haruhi's life. Hahahaha...

"Speaking of your demon queen sister, the company president, isn't she already twenty-seven this year? Is she planning to become a spinster like Mr. Hiratsuka Shizuka?"

So whenever he chatted with Xiaoxue at night, the young man always used that teasing tone that gave Xiaoxue a headache.

"My sister's marriage was arranged by Mother in advance, so you don't need to worry about it, A-Qing. But now that you mention it, I think I've heard my sister say that her engagement ceremony with her future brother-in-law shouldn't be too far away."

"Ha... That's not bad either. So you must be very angry to hear your sister Yuki say that. But to be honest, if your sister had gotten married earlier, or even given birth to one or two male heirs for your Yukinoshita family, perhaps your mother wouldn't have been so aggressive towards us."

On a spring night, a subtle, complex emotion flickered in his lowered eyes.

There is never a perfect solution in this world, and he has only gradually come to understand this fact in the last few years.

"You're as selfish as ever, Ah Qing. That's my sister."

Xiaoxue pouted, her pearly white teeth seemingly about to bite Aqing, who was gossiping about her older sister behind her back. She looked at Aqing with some dissatisfaction.

"But the one I'm going to live with is you, Yuki. I don't care about Yukinoshita Haruno, I care about you, Yuki. What do I care about anyone else?"

He held the woman's soft, warm hand and said softly.

"Besides, rather than following in the footsteps of Teacher Hiratsuka Shizuka, it's not so bad to just follow your mother's arrangement and move towards a future where you marry into her family, is it?"

……

…………

In his past life,

Haruhi remembers her last meeting with the Great Demon King, Haruno.