Chapter 31: Qingling Sang, When Did You Learn to Read Minds?

“Is this all you’re having for breakfast?”
Mirei Kiyoshizu looked at the sushi omelet on her plate, then glanced at the plate of vegetable salad across from her. The heap of nothing but greens was enough to kill anyone’s appetite.
Haruka nodded, popping a cherry tomato dripping with dressing into her mouth.
“I’m on a diet! I want to be as slim as a lightning bolt!”
“Hahaha, so you’ve finally come to your senses.” Mirei burst out laughing, rocking back and forth, though Haruka couldn’t see what was so funny about it.
Haruka ignored her, instead considering whether to drag this girl into eating soba and chicken breast with her for dinner.
Maybe noticing Haruka’s stare, Mirei stopped laughing and asked hesitantly,
“You—you’re probably making dinner for two tonight, right?”
“No, I’m only making nutritious fitness meals. Either you join me, or figure out your own dinner.” Haruka replied without hesitation.
“Hmph! I’ll do it myself then. I don’t need your dinner anyway!” Mirei turned her head away in disdain.
Haruka said nothing, just glanced at the proud little delinquent sitting across from her with arms folded, then quietly continued eating.
When Mirei saw Haruka wasn’t responding, she lowered her arms and said a bit guiltily, “Hey, you’re not really going to make me cook for myself tonight, are you?”
“What do you think?” Haruka lifted an eyebrow and smiled.
“I—I don’t think you’d really do that, would you?”
After breakfast, the two left the small courtyard.
Watching the high school students cycling to school by the roadside, Haruka considered getting a bike herself—it would be good exercise and she could avoid squeezing into the train every day.
Who knows, maybe she’d run into her true love at some street corner one day.
But glancing at Mirei, who was strutting with hands on hips, chest out, and head held high, Haruka thought better of it. If she really did bump into her true love around a corner, this girl—whose brain sometimes failed her—would probably charge over, grab the delicate beauty by her collar, and put on a whole samurai act.
“What’s with that look?” Mirei said, not at all pleased. She felt like she’d just been insulted.
“Nothing. I was just wondering whether to make poached chicken or a green salad for dinner.”
“Huh? Actually, Haruka, I think you’re fine the way you are. No need to diet.”
“Seriously, Mirei? Be honest! If you keep calling me ‘fatty’ all the time, it’ll hurt my feelings.”

“You’re hurt? Didn’t I already make it up to you? Haruka, don’t diet, okay?” Mirei latched onto Haruka’s arm and shook it.
Was she actually acting cute?
“Miss Kiyoshizu, do you even realize what you’re doing right now?” Haruka was momentarily stunned. A Mirei who could act cute was absolutely adorable!
“W-what am I doing?” Mirei realized what she’d done, let go of Haruka’s arm, and blushed.
How could she have done something so embarrassing! It was all about getting a good dinner tonight—yes, that was it, not because she li—li—
The more she thought about it, the redder Mirei’s face grew. She suddenly balled her fist and gave Haruka’s arm a hard punch.
“Idiot!”
When they reached the station, Haruka clutched her arm and sucked in a breath, while Mirei strutted ahead with a cold expression, hands on her small waist, acting all aloof.
Seeing the packed train, Haruka resigned herself to the role of knight once again, shielding Mirei in front of her as they made their way to a corner of the carriage.
Suddenly, her gaze was drawn to a vaguely familiar figure.
A black business skirt suit accentuated the woman’s figure, with long black hair cascading to her shoulders. Her black pencil skirt revealed two long, shapely legs sheathed in sheer black stockings—smooth, graceful.
The woman noticed Haruka too. The moment their eyes met, a faint blush spread over her delicate face, as if from a rush of excitement.
Damn, Haruka had been uncertain at first, but the woman’s reaction gave her the answer at once—this was the same female train pervert who had groped her the other day!
“Damn it!”
Rage flared up inside Haruka. She was always the one copping a feel on others—this was the first time someone had felt her up! She was going to return the favor tenfold, a hundredfold, to avenge her pride!
“What’s wrong with you?” Mirei asked curiously.
She’d only seen that look in Haruka’s eyes once before—when she’d helped him out with her foot.
Could it be that he wanted her to use her foot again?
But they were still on the train! With so many people around?
Mirei recalled some of the stories Kanae Terashima had shared about things that happened on trains, and her face flushed. Apparently, men liked that sort of thrill.
Idiot! Bastard! Stupid Haruka! Does he really want me to do something so mortifying on the train?
What was she supposed to do?! Stupid jerk!

With that thought, Mirei lifted her little head, face red, and shot Haruka a fierce glare.
“What filthy thoughts are you dreaming up in that head of yours?!”
What?
Haruka was stunned.
Damn it, Mirei, when did you learn to read minds? How come I never knew?
She’d picked up on that 0.00001 second of dirty thoughts? Should he just kill her to keep her quiet?
This was as bad as someone scrolling through your browser history!
“Um, Mirei, it’s not what you think—”
Haruka tried to explain, but the moment he met those large, indignant eyes, his confidence melted away.
“I’ll let you have your way just this once today, but tonight, you have to make me lamb chops for dinner…”
Huh?
Just as Haruka was about to give up and admit defeat, Mirei hit him with this unexpected demand.
Haruka opened his mouth to say something, but suddenly felt a little black-stockinged foot sliding slowly up his thigh…
Today, Mirei was wearing black stockings. Her long legs were taut and silky, and the contrast between her fair skin and the dark stockings was almost shocking.
The little princess pressed a finger to her lips, leaned her back against the train wall, turned her head away, her eyes filled with a mixture of embarrassment and anger.
Haruka let out a shaky breath. He wasn’t sure how things had ended up this way, but somehow, it seemed he was now the one being taken advantage of by that city lady!
The more, the merrier, right?
But the city lady just kept glancing over at them. When she saw the two of them in their school uniforms, her expression turned complicated—excited? Disappointed?
Ten minutes later, the train reached their stop. Mirei shot him a fierce look, then quickly slipped on her shoes and stomped hard on Haruka’s foot before following the crowd off the train.