Tokyo: Oreimo

What is this guy saying in front of his parents?!

Chapter 200 Hurry up, you rascal!

Mieko's eyes lit up.

"Oh, really? What kind of girl is she?"

"He's a very capable person."

Ryosuke picked up the bowl of porridge and calmly took a sip.

"She's beautiful, has a great personality, and is very capable at work. Everyone likes her."

Ling Nai's fork made a screeching sound as it scraped across the plate.

She kept her head down, her golden bangs obscuring her expression, and her ears were almost completely red.

That would be wonderful.

Mihoko smiled broadly, completely oblivious to her daughter's unusual behavior.

When will you bring it back to show Mom?

"If there's a chance."

After Ryosuke finished speaking, he felt someone kick him from under the table.

The force was just right, like a playful teasing gesture, enough for him to feel the other person without disturbing his parents.

He continued drinking his porridge without changing his expression.

Under the table, the foot wearing Buffet slippers didn't retract; instead, it stepped on the back of his foot.

Ryosuke's eyebrows twitched.

"What's wrong?" Mieko noticed the change in his expression.

"nothing."

He put down the bowl of porridge and subtly pulled his foot back.

The slipper caught up and continued to step on his instep.

Ryosuke gave up struggling and let her step on him.

"I'm stuffed."

Ling Nai stood up, carrying the plate that had only been touched a few times, and walked towards the sink. As she passed Ryosuke, her slipper brushed against his ankle again, like a cat with its fur standing on end flicking its tail.

Then she ran upstairs.

Mieko watched her daughter's retreating figure, then glanced at Ryosuke.

"Ling Nai seems to be in a bad mood today?"

"Maybe you didn't sleep well."

As Ryosuke spoke, he lowered his head and finished the porridge in his bowl.

.....

At 9:30 a.m., it was still snowing.

As Ryosuke was changing his shoes in the entryway, he heard footsteps coming from the stairs.

Ling Nai came downstairs and changed into her outdoor clothes.

She wore a short white down jacket, a red scarf wrapped high around her waist, a dark gray plaid skirt, black tights that hugged her slender legs, and a pair of shiny black leather shoes.

Her golden ponytail was tied high, with the ends slightly curled, swaying gently with her steps.

Ryosuke glanced at her a couple more times.

"What are you looking at?"

Ling Nai glared at him, pulled a folding umbrella from the shoe cabinet, and shoved it into his hand.

"Here, it's snowing outside."

"What about you?"

"I'll stick with you."

She finished speaking as if it were the most natural thing in the world, then pushed open the front door and walked out.

Ryosuke opened his umbrella and followed.

The snowfall was lighter than in the morning, but it was still falling steadily. The air was crisp and moist, carrying the clean scent unique to winter.

The two walked side by side on the snow-covered sidewalk, Ling Nai standing very close, her shoulder occasionally brushing against his arm.

"Hey."

"Ok?"

"The things you said at the dinner table..."

Ling Nai lowered her head, kicking the snow on the ground with her toes, her voice muffled behind her scarf.

"What?"

"I mean, cute girls and stuff."

She paused for a moment.

"Are you talking about the Female Titan?"

Ryosuke turned his head to look at her.

The girl's profile was mostly covered by a scarf, revealing only a section of her nose, which was slightly red from the cold, and her constantly trembling eyelashes.

"No."

He said.

Ling Nai stopped completely in her tracks.

She stood in the snow, turned around and looked up at him. Above the red scarf, her eyes were filled with confusion and a hint of expectation that she herself was unaware of.

"Who are you talking about?"

Ryosuke looked at her, a slight smile playing on his lips.

"This one in front of me."

The snow seemed to be falling even harder at that moment.

Ling Nai stood there, her mouth slightly open, snowflakes falling on her eyelashes, and she forgot to blink.

Then, the red color spread visibly from her neck to the tips of her ears, and finally her whole face burned.

"You, you, you, you!"

She turned around abruptly, her back to him, and covered her face with her hands, her voice coming through her fingers.

"What are you saying?!"

"You always feel nervous when you lie to your parents."

Ryosuke walked over to her with his umbrella and tilted it slightly toward her.

"So I covered for you."

Ling Nai slowly lowered her hand that was covering her face.

She lowered her head, her toes tracing circles in the snow, her voice much softer than before.

".....What is that?"

Disappointed?

"No way!"

She looked up and glared at him, the blush on her face still lingering, but her expression had already returned to that "I'm very unhappy" look.

"Who would be disappointed in you? Stop flattering yourself."

She snatched the umbrella from Ryosuke's hand and strode forward.

She took a few steps, then stopped and turned her head to look at him.

Snowflakes fell on her golden ponytail, on her red scarf, and on her slightly pouting lips.

"Hey, hurry up, the snow is getting heavier."

"The umbrella is in your hand."

"Why don't you run a few steps?"

Ryosuke chuckled, quickened his pace to catch up, and took the umbrella from her hand.

The two walked side by side in the snow again.

Ling Nai's hand hung at her side, the back of her hand occasionally brushing against his hand. Each touch felt like a static shock, light and ticklish.

She secretly glanced at him from the side.

Ryosuke was looking straight ahead, his profile appearing particularly focused amidst the swirling snowflakes, wearing the same red scarf as her.

That was the Christmas gift I gave him last year.

The girl looked away, a slight smile unconsciously curving her lips.

She pulled one hand out of her pocket and quietly hooked her little finger around his.

Ryosuke's fingers twitched slightly.

He didn't shake her off, nor did he say anything; he simply let her do as she pleased.

The snow fell on the umbrella, making a soft, rustling sound.

The two of them walked hand in hand down the street on a white Christmas.

...

The snowflakes were falling heavier and heavier.