"....my deepest condolences towards Matsumoto-san"
She was talking about the owner of the hot springs who was Haruki's friend.
"oh...who's Matsumoto?...I think I forgot...."
He thought to himself.
Haruki starts walking out of the burnt down hot springs and Hori follows.
"yeah, I was actually heading to the med-bay to check for you"
He was referring to the hospital branch of SHO were Hori was.
"How thoughtful of you"
She said with a smile.
"Nah it's the least I could do.....yeah about hospitals, how did you get a Dark Frame?! You caved that guy's entire nose in!"
"And how didn't you injure your arm?!"
He blurted out, talking about the thug Hori asked to apologize....who she later punched.
"Oh, I've always had strong hands since I were little"
She said with a slight smile touching her knuckles.
"...not very lady like is it?"
She said with an embarrassed expression feeling shy for having such strength.
"Are you kidding?! that was freaking awesome!!"
"you.....don't find it unattractive?
She said peeking at him as they walked.
"huh? Attractive?"
gasp!
"Oh goodness me! please forgive me for saying such an inappropriate word!
She said bowing down with her face bright red.
"why did I say that?! attractive?!, what a lewd word! I must be punished!"
Multiple thoughts ran in her head.
"I'm not sure 'attractive' is a naughty word,... this girl's giving pure a whole new meaning..."
Haruki chuckled at Hori's earlier statement.
"Nah, I find it hella attractive! I love strong women"
Haruki declared proudly.
"oh...that's good to hear"
She said smiling playing with her hair.
growl
Her stomach once again ruining the moment.
"ah"
Smack!
She strikes her stomach telling it to shut up.
"ehmm please ignore that-
"Nope your obviously hungry!! C'mon let's go eat!"
"oh, I wouldn't want to impose, besides my clothes are dirty-
Haruki quickly removes his black sweater he was wearing and hands it over to Hori.
He was wearing a dark red shirt underneath.
Hori slowly collects the sweater.
"....thank you Haruki-san"
She puts it on, only for it to be too big.
"looking good! now let's go eat!"
"Understood!"
"You like sushi?!"
"Yes sir!"
They walk into the sunset
The time is now 5pm
"We're here!"
He yelled at the dinner, they both stood outside seeing the restaurant.
It was a vibrant place packed with customers.
"Oh my, how marvelous"
Hori exclaimed because of the alluring aroma emanating from the restaurant.
She began salivating accompanied by her stomach growling.
"Oh yeah, I remember, you haven't eaten since this morning right?"
"Yes, I'm sorry if it's making you uncomfortable"
"Quit apologizing and let's gooo~"
Haruki pushes Hori into the restaurant.
"Ah, Haruki-kun long time no see!"
The head chef greeted.
"wassup mister!"
Haruki replied.
"Good evening sir"
Hori said bowing her head.
"Good evening to you young lady!"
"your as quick as always eh Haruki?!"
The chef teased.
"Nah were not dating, she's my new maid"
"Maid?"
Hori asked
"Didn't you say you wanna work for me?"
He was referring to what Hori said at the hot springs.
"oh, yes sir!"
Hori yelled respectfully.
"You don't have to call me sir"
"so what's your order?"
The chef asked them as they took their seats.
In front of them was a counter that had a conveyor belt displaying different varieties of sushi.
"I'll have the regular"
Haruki said.
"What about you lady?"
"I'll have the same please"
Hori answered.
The chef brings out their orders and places them on their table.
"oh my,it looks and smells delicious!"
Hori thought while salivating.
Haruki picks up a chopsticks and divides it into 2.
"This is bad, I'm not good at using chopsticks"
She panicked.
Narrator - Hori's father, was often influenced by western tradition. Like using cutlery rather than chopsticks.
Narrator - So despite growing up in Japan, Hori isn't accustomed to using them.
"Enough, It doesn't matter if I'm good at it or not, Haruki-san is paying for this meal, I must eat it properly!"
She had an expression like that.
Hori divides her own chopsticks into two.
They both say at once.
"Thank you for the meal!"
They begin chowing down.
"Oh my God this is so freaking good!"
Haruki yelled in ecstacy.
Hori closely observes him and tries to learn how to use the chopsticks.
She picks up a bit of sushi but it clumsily falls to the plate.
"oh dear,it isn't working"
".... your having issues?"
Haruki asked.
"oh, please continue with your meal Haruki-san"
She said with a smile but was interrupted by her stomach growling.
The entire restaurant pauses as they were shocked by the sound.
Hori's face was full of embarrassment.
"She's a really mysterious girl, what kind of Japanese person can't use chopsticks?!"
Haruki thought.
Hori still seems to be struggling despite obviously starving, like a form of torture.
Haruki carries a little bit of sushi with his chopsticks.
"Here"
He said while smiling, pointing the chopsticks with sushi at Hori's mouth.
Hori faces him and looks confused.
"....meeeeee?????!!!!!!"
She yelled.
"c'mon, it's not a big deal... and it's getting cold"
"Please sir!, there's no need for such a thing!, surely I can at least feed my self!!!"
Hori yelled with a flustered face.
"My hands getting tired.... and don't call me sir"
He said with a sad look.
Hori slowly opens her mouth and eats the sushi Haruki fed her.
"How is it?!"
".... it's delicious!"
Haruki continues feeding her with a satisfying face.
The chef smiles, thinking to himself.
"WTF am I looking at?"
Time passes by and their done with their meals, multiple plates are stacked besides Hori.
"I want to die from embarrassment!!!"
Hori cursed while covering her face.
"I can't even look at him!!!"
Haruki pays for the meal with cash.
A total of ¥3,500.
"See you kid's later!"
The chef waved them with a big smile on his face.
They replied and left the restaurant.
"...I promise to help in paying for our meals Haruki-san!"
Hori said with determination.
"You better"
He jokingly replied-
"no seriously tho, you better, you freaking ate 12 plates of sushi!'
"what are you?! some cartoon character?!"
"I'm sorry! I eat a lot!"
She said repeatedly bowing down and apologizing.
sigh
"Ehm... Haruki-san, where are we going?"
Hori asked.
"We're going back to my place, We're gonna carry some stuff then rent a hotel or something"
"Ah, yes, it's quite late isn't it?"
Hori added.
Narrator - The time is now 7:00 PM.
"Okay, maybe not that late..."
Hori mumbled.
They walk to Haruki's house that was in the middle of the forest, that expensive looking inn that sinner of addiction broke through.
"Never thought I'd leave here...."
Haruki said.
"Have you been living here for long, Haruki-san?
"Not too long, I moved here after I got into a huge fight with my mom...."
"oh.... my apologies...."
"...thank you"
Haruki said with a smile.