Ke Xue Lu Ren Wang

Chapter 52 "Hmm~"

"Are you sure you don't want to see me in a kimono?"

Ooka Momiji suddenly narrowed her eyes, her blue pupils revealing a hint of scrutiny and probing.

Upon hearing this, Yuzuru flashed through the image of Momiji wearing a kimono in his mind.

The kimono worn in competitive karuta matches is different from ordinary kimonos. To facilitate quick arm swings and extensions for the players, the cuffs and overall design are more focused on ease of movement, making it a specially customized competitive style.

He had seen it on TV a few times, but he had never seen it in person.

"Now that you mention it, Miss Hongye, I'm actually starting to look forward to it." He nodded and admitted frankly.

"You really dare to say that."

Ooka Momiji's voice suddenly lowered, revealing neither joy nor anger.

Although she had already been seen by many people and received countless compliments in her kimono at school competitions.

But for some reason, the thought that this person would also be there made her feel inexplicably embarrassed.

"Shouldn't everyone have the right to appreciate beautiful scenery?" Yuzuru looked at her, speaking with righteous indignation. "Is it wrong for people not to look at Ms. Momiji in her kimono?"

"Well……"

Ooka Momiji looked at him for less than two seconds before looking away. She lowered her head, her fingers absentmindedly flipping through the lecture notes beside her, her movements revealing a hint of panic.

"No, not at all..."

"Saturday, the Manyo Karaoke Room, right? I'll be there then." Toru Hanyu finalized his plans.

"Wait a minute." Ooka Momiji suddenly raised her hand, interrupting him. "There might be some conditions for going in."

"What are the conditions?"

"At the very least, they have to be a karuta enthusiast, or someone who's joined the karuta club at school." Ooka Momiji thought for a moment, then added, "In short, they can't be someone completely insignificant."

She paused for a moment, her gaze sweeping over Yuzuru Hanyu.

"But with your skill level, there shouldn't be any problem."

After he finished speaking, the study fell silent again.

To be honest, Ooka Momiji is feeling quite conflicted right now.

I both hope he comes and don't really want him to come.

"I'll be there on Saturday on time."

Seeing that she hadn't spoken for a while, Yuzuru broke the silence first.

Upon hearing his affirmative answer, Ooka Momiji opened her mouth, intending to explain that she hadn't intentionally invited him, but she swallowed the words back.

What if I explain it, and he still doesn't come?

"Speaking of which," Yuzuru suddenly thought of a shortcut, "if you, Ms. Koyo, were to ask, I should be able to go straight into the karuta room, right?"

Given this young lady's status, if she were to speak, Yuzuru couldn't imagine anyone daring to refuse.

"I'll go with Iori," Ooka Momiji frowned slightly. "What will he think if he finds out I invited you?"

"Then wouldn't it be the same if I just showed up at the karuta room?" Yuzuru asked, somewhat puzzled.

"At least it's better than me having to call you in myself." There was a hint of displeasure in Ooka Momiji's tone. She thought that Hanyu Tetsu was finding it troublesome and wanted to back out. "If you find it troublesome, you don't have to come."

Yuzuru noticed the slight displeasure on her face.

Upon seeing this, Yuzuru knew that the young lady was being hypocritical again.

"I'll definitely go," he immediately reassured her, "I happen to be free on Saturday, so I can practice some karuta while I'm at it."

Through this experience, he clearly understood the young lady's personality. On the surface, she appeared dignified and composed, but in reality, her slightly arrogant nature was easily exposed.

If anything goes wrong, or if she senses something is amiss, she immediately becomes defensive and subconsciously tries to distance herself from the situation.

"OK……"

Seeing that he had already made a decision, Ooka Momiji didn't continue the topic, lest it seem as if she was looking forward to his arrival.

"By the way," she suddenly changed the subject, asking a question that had been on her mind for a long time, "why did you suddenly talk to me and tell me to take a break last Monday?"

In fact, she had encountered similar tutors before Toru Hanyu.

However, the teacher's behavior was too obvious, and his words were very ambiguous, making her feel not only greasy but also somewhat disgusted.

After Iori Muga reported the matter, the tutor was quickly replaced.

But Yuzuru gave her a completely different feeling.

Although he sometimes speaks in a flippant manner, it's not the kind of deliberate attempt to please, and sometimes he doesn't even seem like a qualified tutor.

Instead, it felt more like a peer was speaking to her on an equal footing.

He even seemed to know her preferences perfectly.

There was no ulterior motive in the conversation.

It wasn't to curry favor, nor was it to get anything from her.

It was as if I simply wanted to chat with her and crack a joke.

"I just noticed you were tired and wanted you to take a break," Yuzuru replied after a moment's thought. "Even if it's only half an hour, it's much better than studying at high intensity all the time."

"Aren't you worried that I'll just tell my parents?" Ooka Momiji stared at him.

"I'm not too worried." Yuzuru shook his head and continued to explain, "I could tell you weren't very happy that day, and you kept getting distracted while studying."

"Really... Is it that obvious?" Ooka Momiji was slightly taken aback.

"Yes, it's obvious." Yuzuru nodded in confirmation.

"..."

Ooka Momiji fell into a long silence.

There was only one reason why I was unhappy that day.

She saw a headline on her phone's news app: "[Kansai's Famous Detective Solves Another Case!]"

Driven by curiosity, she clicked on it.

Then, she saw the boy she had been longing for standing side by side with another cute girl with a high brown ponytail tied with a bow, wearing a casual tank top. They were holding hands and giving an interview to reporters in a very intimate manner.

In that instant, she felt as if a piece of her heart had been hollowed out, leaving her feeling empty and desolate.

That's why she was so down during tutoring that night; she never expected that Yuzuru would notice.

"Actually... I felt quite relaxed talking to you that day."

After a long while, Ooka Momiji finally spoke softly, as if she were talking to herself.

"You're quite sharp-tongued too," Yuzuru replied.

"That's because you said things that a teacher shouldn't say."

"where?"

"Didn't you say my hands feel very soft?"

"..."

Yuzuru was speechless for a moment.

"I accidentally bumped into it while playing karuta," he tried to explain.

"Really?" A subtle smile suddenly appeared on Ooka Momiji's lips as she asked earnestly, "Then would you like to touch it again?"

As she spoke, she stretched out her slender, fair hand and placed it directly in front of Yuzuru.

The manicure on the fingertips gleamed softly under the light.

"Can?"

Yuzuru looked at her with a cautious expression.

You can't test me like that, Miss.

"Can."

Before she could finish speaking, Ooka Momiji leaned forward and grabbed Hanyu Tetsu's hand, which was resting on the table.

In an instant, a warm, soft touch enveloped his palm.

Yuzuru unconsciously squeezed it slightly.

"Hmm~"

A very soft, nasal moan escaped from Ooka Momiji's throat, and her face instantly turned bright red.