Chapter 508: I Was Concerned About Yukinoshita Too
Chapter 508: I Was Concerned About Yukinoshita Too
Himekoji sucked his lips, savoring the black tea. It really tasted great.
He silently praised it and looked up, only to find Yukinoshita still staring blankly at the mug in his hand. Smirking, he casually handed it back.
After all, Yukinoshita would never drink something touched by my saliva, Himekoji thought confidently.
Yukinoshita looked at Himekoji, then at the mug she had just gotten back in her hand. She blanked for a long moment before understanding dawned.
He’d snatched her tea twice now! He was clearly provoking her today!
Anger bubbled up, mixed with a hint of hurt. She angrily slammed the mug down onto the table with a sharp clatter.
This jerk! Just a few days ago, he was shamelessly begging for her help. Even knowing the dangers, she hadn’t hesitated to agree without a second thought. And how did this pervert repay her? Forget showing gratitude; he didn’t seem to remember a single good thing she’d ever done!
Yukinoshita snorted softly twice. Pure stubbornness kept her frustration bottled up instead of exploding, though her face remained icy cold. Inside, she angrily cursed Himekoji several times for being ‘heartless’ somehow, some of that irritation seemed directed at the mug itself. Every time she cursed Himekoji mentally, she unconsciously thumped the mug’s bottom harder against the table, making loud clanging noises.
Maybe this is what they mean by unstable emotions in early pregnancy, she mused darkly.
Yukinoshita was taking out her anger on the mug, but the pain was felt by Yuigahama!
Because…
“Yukino-chan… this is my mug…”
Yuigahama’s expression was pained. Pretending she wasn’t upset was impossible – this was the couple mug she’d custom-made with Yukinoshita not long ago. She’d treasured it and loved using it constantly.
Plus, hadn’t Himekoji just drunk out of it?
That somehow added even more special meaning to the mug!
“Huh? Oh… s-sorry…”
Yukinoshita snapped back to reality at Yuigahama’s words. Her gaze landed on the mug’s pattern – a little puppy, not her cat design. She hastily stopped banging the mug, flushing scarlet.
“My apologies, I wasn’t paying attention.”
Yukinoshita lowered her head in embarrassment, smoothing a stray lock of hair by her ear to calm herself and hide her awkwardness.
Witnessing this, Yuigahama instantly felt awkward and regretted speaking up so rashly. She felt bad for making Yukinoshita lose face. Thinking about it later, the mug was surely tougher than that.
Himekoji was the most carefree one in this awkward trio. He actually took the moment to ponder the Service Club’s tea leaves.
“Seriously, this tea tastes really good. Mind if I take some back with me?”
He phrased it as a question, but didn’t wait for an answer. Grinning cheekily, he grabbed the tea tin and stuffed it straight into his pocket.
Didn’t you say ‘some’? Hey! You just took ALL the Service Club’s tea!
This shameless act left Yukinoshita and Yuigahama speechless, staring in disbelief.
Yukinoshita couldn’t take it anymore. “Pervert-kun, have you gone mad?”
Not satisfied with stealing her tea twice, now he planned to confiscate the Service Club’s entire supply?
“Yeah! Seriously!” Yuigahama quickly joined ranks beside Yukinoshita, denouncing Himekoji.
“Well, you see…”
Himekoji opened his mouth, aware his justification was flimsy, but it wasn’t time for the truth yet. Not the full truth.
Before coming clean, he absolutely had to find out what Yukinoshita herself thought about this entire situation.
He needed to plan carefully!
He needed to stall!
Feeling guilty, Himekoji grasped for any excuse.
“Well… I noticed Yukinoshita hasn’t been eating much recently. She also mentioned feeling bloated.”
He paused here, his eyes darting stealthily towards Yukinoshita’s belly – where his child rested.
A pang of guilt hit him.
Kid, your dad can’t acknowledge you openly yet. I’m sorry you have to bear this. Please bear with it for now!
His gaze unintentionally softened with a complex mix of emotions.
Noticing Himekoji’s stare, Yukinoshita shifted uncomfortably. Why was he looking at her lower belly? She swore this slight bulge had just appeared suddenly! It felt unnatural, definitely not any change in her figure!
While Yukinoshita wasn’t the type to obsess over her appearance, being consistently praised as slim and graceful had ingrained a quiet satisfaction within her – well, except concerning her chest.
So, stop looking!
Especially not you, Himekoji!
Instinctively, she straightened her posture, sucking in her stomach.
Unfortunately, it backfired. The small bulge didn’t hide, and it only highlighted how flat her chest was…
Her cheeks flushed crimson. Yukinoshita discreetly slid her chair back a little, using the desk to block her belly from Himekoji’s view.
Himekoji finally clued into how rude he was being and hastily averted his eyes.
This distraction made Himekoji completely lose his train of thought. Yuigahama’s pointed reminder brought him back.
Yuigahama held out her open hand, signaling Himekoji to return the stolen tea.
“What does Yukinon’s lack of appetite have to do with you stealing all of the Service Club’s black tea?”
Right! He was talking about Yukinoshita not eating well.
“Of course it matters!” Himekoji rallied. “Too much tea is unhealthy! It suppresses stomach acid and hinders digestion!”
It was a tenuous connection, but hopefully enough to fool Yuigahama?
“I was just concerned about Yukinoshita’s health, okay? How about switching tea with another drink these days?”
Himekoji had come prepared. Like a magician, he pulled out a bag of milk powder, chuckling twice.
Maternal milk powder. For Yukinoshita. Safe. He felt relieved thinking it.
Yuigahama didn’t actually mind swapping tea for milk. Her attention was captured more by the reason Himekoji had just volunteered.
“Concerned about Yukinon?”
She stared at him as if seeing him for the first time. This was a phrase she never expected to hear from Himekoji.
Yukinoshita was momentarily stunned too.
Himekoji stole her tea… because he was worried about her?
The logic felt wildly dubious, yet a small, quiet part of her whispered it might be true… acceptable, even.
And that sudden, tiny spark of… happiness?
Yukinoshita felt a strange flutter of panic in her chest.
“T-then… let’s have milk, I guess.”
She reached for the milk powder bag Himekoji had placed on the table.
“W-Wait!” Himekoji suddenly panicked too.
He spotted the words “Pregnant Women” glaringly obvious on the outer packaging. He’d forgotten to remove the wrapper!
Luckily, it was only the outer bag. The inner packaging was much plainer.
“I’ll do it! Let me!” Himekoji snatched the bag back just before Yukinoshita could touch it. He tore the packaging off and tossed it nonchalantly into the nearby trash bin.
He still felt uneasy. Was this safe enough? The Service Club trash got emptied daily. What if someone saw it before then?
Best to take out the trash bin right now!
However, the bin was barely half full. Taking it out now would seem ridiculously suspicious.
Oh!
“Why don’t I wash these mugs for you?”
He couldn’t make her milk in the mug he’d just drunk from. Himekoji figured he could get up to ‘wash the mugs,’ and ‘just happen’ to take the trash bin out with him.
Sadly, this genius plan was instantly shot down by both girls simultaneously.
“No need for such trouble. Truly… I don’t mind that much.” Yukinoshita turned her face away, avoiding Himekoji’s surprised stare, feigning indifference.
Yuigahama vigorously nodded in agreement.
“Yes, yes! Yukinon and I often swap and drink from each other’s mugs! We’re not fussy!”
“Huh?”
Himekoji genuinely hadn’t expected that. Well, finding another excuse to take out the bin was still easy.
For example, dumping the soup.
There was leftover carp stew Yuigahama didn’t dare to drink. Himekoji absolutely didn’t want her to drink it either. Now was the perfect time to dispose of it.
Announcing his plan to go dump it, Himekoji grabbed the soup bowl in one hand and lifted the trash bin with the other, quickly leaving the Service Club.
Distracted and moving fast, he wasn’t really looking where he was going. Rounding a corner, he collided head-on with someone, almost spilling the soup.
“Hey! What the— Sorry…” He started to apologize but stopped in mid-sentence when he finally saw the person he’d bumped into. Surprise colored his voice.
“Senpai?”
…
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