harleyscars Page 391
Page 391
On the campus of a private high school.
The curtains in the student council office were half-drawn, making the already dim room even more gloomy.
As Kumanori Jinlu was engrossed in organizing documents, her pen scratching across the paper, the door was suddenly flung open, slamming against the wall with a loud bang.
"Aozaki Aoko-senpai?"
Jinlu looked up in surprise at Aozaki Aoko standing at the door.
This usually decisive and efficient senior student looked rather disheveled at this moment.
Her scarf hung loosely around her neck, her hair still had unmelted snowflakes clinging to the ends, and her breathing was slightly rapid, as if 507 had rushed over.
"Sorry for disturbing you."
Aozaki Aoko casually closed the door, her voice a few decibels lower than usual.
She took off her coat and hung it on the hook behind the door, a beat slower than usual.
Jinlu keenly noticed the faint blue under Aozaki Aoko's eyes.
"Haven't you been getting enough rest lately, senior?"
Aozaki Aoko walked to the window, looked at the gray sky outside, and did not answer immediately.
Her fingers tapped unconsciously on the windowsill, the rhythm chaotic and disordered.
"It's so cold."
That was all she said in the end, her breath condensing into a small patch of mist on the glass.
Jinlu put down his pen, got up, poured a cup of hot tea, and handed it to Aozaki Aoko.
"Have something hot to drink, you'll get cold if you get up."
Aozaki Aoko took the teacup, holding it with both hands, the warmth passing through the ceramic to her palms.
"Thank you."
She spoke softly, her words carrying her usual decisiveness.
Jinlu observed Aozaki Aoko's profile and noticed that her brows were always slightly furrowed.
"senior."
Jinlu carefully considered the words.
Are you still troubled by what happened before?
Aozaki Aoko took a sip of tea, her expression somewhat blurred by the rising steam.
"That's it."
She put down her cup and turned to the golden deer.
"I've decided to pursue further studies in London."
"This is a good thing!"
Jinlu's eyes lit up.
"The opportunity to further study at the Magic Association is very rare."
"That's the problem."
Aozaki Aoko gave a bitter smile.
"The tuition fees are shockingly high."
Jinlu blinked.
"Mr. Shiraishikawa is not..."
"I refused."
Aozaki Aoko interrupted her, her voice suddenly becoming resolute.
"I don't want to owe anyone a favor."
"How will the funding problem be solved?"
Aozaki Aoko looked away, her tone becoming subtle.
"In the end... I still borrowed a large sum of money from him in Aozaki Touko's name."
Jinlu almost choked on her own saliva.
"What? In the name of Aozaki Touko-senpai?"
"Isn't that ironic?"
Aozaki Aoko smiled to herself.
"In the end, I am indeed very similar to that guy in some ways."
Jinlu nodded thoughtfully.
She had long noticed that although Aozaki Aoko and her sister appeared to be at odds on the surface, they shared the same stubbornness at their core.
Are there any other worries?
Jinlu asked tentatively, her intuition telling her that things were more than that.
Aozaki Aoko remained silent for a moment, her fingers unconsciously stroking the rim of the teacup.
"I recently... got a boyfriend."
"Eh?!"
Jin Lu was truly shocked this time and almost jumped off her chair.
When did this happen? Who was the other party?
Just last month.
Aozaki Aoko's voice lowered.
"Yes... Shiraishikawa."
Jinlu stared wide-eyed, momentarily at a loss for words.
She should have thought of it sooner—who else could be considered a boyfriend to Aozaki Aoko besides that mysterious magician?
"You two... are living together?"
Jinlu asked cautiously.
Aozaki Aoko nodded, her expression complex.
"But because Yuzu of Kuonji Temple was also there, we hardly had any time to be alone."
She sighed.
“Every time I want to be alone with Shiraishikawa, Kuonji Aratsu will suddenly appear out of nowhere.”
Jinlu couldn't help but imagine the scene—Aozaki Aoko and Shiraishikawa were about to get intimate when Kuonji Yuzu suddenly appeared from the shadows, staring at them expressionlessly. She quickly shook her head to dispel the eerie image.
"Didn't you talk to Kuronji Aratsumi, senpai?"
How should we negotiate?
Aozaki Aoko scratched her hair in frustration.
"Am I supposed to just say, 'Please give us some privacy'? What would Kuonji Yuzu think? She'd definitely feel excluded."
Jinlu rested her chin on her hand, seemingly lost in thought.
She understood Aozaki Aoko's concerns—Kuonji Yuzu was a loner who hardly interacted with anyone before Aozaki Aoko appeared.
If even Aozaki Aoko is going to abandon her now...
"senior."
Jin Lu suddenly spoke, a sly glint in her eyes.
"Why not try involving Kuonji Aratsumi in your relationship as well?"
Chapter 497 Absurdity
Aozaki Aoko nearly dropped her teacup.
"W-What are you saying?"
"I mean."
Jinlu leaned forward and lowered his voice.
"Since you're all concerned about Kuonji Yuzu, why not consider... the three of you together?"
Aozaki Aoko blushed, her face turning red from her ears all the way down to her neck.
"This is ridiculous!"
Is it really absurd?
Jinlu countered with a question.
"Think about it, the three of you already have a deep bond. Anyone with eyes can see that Kuonji Yuzu's attitude towards Shiraishikawa is unusual."
Aozaki Aoko opened her mouth to refute, but found herself speechless.
She recalled the look in Kuonji Yuzu's eyes when she looked at Shiraishikawa—the tenderness and affection hidden beneath the surface of indifference truly went beyond the scope of ordinary friends.
"I... I need time to think about it."
Aozaki Aoko finally spoke, her voice filled with uncertainty.
Meanwhile, inside the mansion in Shiroizuka, Kuonji Yuzu was being held in Shiraishikawa's arms.
The winter sun shone through the stained glass windows, casting dappled shadows on them.
"Kuonji Yuju, you seem to be interested in something lately?"
Shiraishi gently stroked her long hair, his voice incredibly tender.
Kuonji Yuzu struggled slightly, but quickly gave up.
"nothing."