Hiratsuka Yukie had prepared traditional Japanese dishes, wasabi shrimp salad balls, salmon sashimi, okra tofu miso soup, and vegetable seafood tempura.
Hiratsuka Yukie's cooking skills were quite good, at the very least, the appearance of the food was much better than what Misae made.
"Here, not sure if it suits your taste, just make do and eat it."
Shizuka walked out of the kitchen, carrying a plate of slightly overcooked saury that had a faint burnt smell and placed it in front of Shin-chan.
This was already Shizuka's culinary limit, even under Hiratsuka Yukie's guidance, the saury still came out slightly overdone.
Hiratsuka Ryuuko widened his eyes.
Shizuka's cooking, he wanted to try it too. This should be the first time Shizuka had cooked in her life, right? Of course, instant noodles didn't count.
However, after getting glared at by Hiratsuka Yukie, Hiratsuka Ryuuko didn't dare speak. The scolding from earlier was still fresh in his mind, he didn't dare say a word.
Shizuka tossed the saury at Shin-chan, then sat at her seat, but kept glancing this way with her eyes.
Shin-chan felt a little helpless, Shizuka's character was collapsing a little too fast. Why did this feel so much like déjà vu with Eriri?
If only she'd shown this side of herself earlier during those matchmaking sessions, maybe they wouldn't have all failed?
Women like Shizuka, who appeared tough on the outside, deep down all longed to be conquered, more or less. It just required a man strong enough, and more importantly, excellent enough.
For example, someone with his own career, or someone who had achieved something in a certain field, or even someone with a strong enough physique.
Shizuka thought that when Shin-chan first suddenly showed up to chat with her, it just made her a little fluttery. But just now, when Shin-chan easily caught her punch, her mental defenses completely collapsed.
Raised like a boy by Hiratsuka Ryuuko from childhood, she had always been a big-sister-type figure. Yet in front of Shin-chan, she found herself unable to resist, which meant that every time before, it was Shin-chan deliberately letting her win.
However, because of the special relationship between them, Shizuka didn't dare face her feelings directly, thus turning into a tsundere.
"The taste is still pretty good... just a little too salty, and a bit burnt…"
Under Shizuka's watchful gaze, Shin-chan very obediently tasted the saury and gave a fairly honest review.
"You should be glad there's food at all! Ouch…"
Hearing Shin-chan dare to criticize the saury, Shizuka was about to blow up again, but was pinched by Hiratsuka Yukie, and obediently shut her mouth.
Besides the saury, the rest of the dishes tasted quite good. Shin-chan enjoyed the meal thoroughly. Of course, he still finished the saury in the end, which made Shizuka's expression much better.
"All right, Shizuka, in a bit you'll help send Shin-chan home."
Hiratsuka Yukie passed the task of sending Shin-chan home onto Shizuka.
"Hurry and go back now, I still have something to discuss with your dad."
Yukie issued a clear order to leave, it was obvious she still had some scolding left for Hiratsuka Ryuuko.
Escorted out by Yukie, Shizuka now didn't even dare look Shin-chan in the eye.
"Where do you live?"
After hearing the location Shin-chan gave, Shizuka felt it was a bit familiar.
"Isn't that Yukino's address?" Her eyes grew sharp, and her expression toward Shin-chan became dangerous.
"Yukino and I are neighbors."
'Neighbors?' Somehow Yukino felt a little more dangerous now.
"You'd better not let me find out you have any designs on Yukino."
"Shizuka, how many times do I have to say it, I like sexy, beautiful, and most importantly, gentle mature women. Do you think Yukino fits that?"
"Yukino is indeed a little... flat…" Shizuka quickly shook her head. "Don't change the subject! Maybe everything you're saying is all just an act!"
"An act? Why would it be an act?"
Shin-chan found it strange, he suddenly felt Shizuka was very similar to Matsuzaka Ume. She looked good and had a nice figure, just had a bit of a temper. Though now Matsuzaka Ume should be called Ueda Ume, since she married Ueda Tokurou a few years ago.
He wondered how Ms. Matsuzaka and Dr. Tokurou were doing. The last time they met, Dr. Tokurou's job seemed pretty stressful.
"Take you for example, if your personality could just be a little gentler, you'd definitely be my type."
"..."
On the way home, Shizuka didn't say a single word, wishing she could floor the gas pedal. She drove extremely fast.
After reaching the apartment, watching Shin-chan get out of the car, she shouted one harsh line before fleeing the scene.
"You damn brat! Just you wait!"
What a headache, Shin-chan shook his head and walked into the apartment.
"Shiro, why are you here? Hurry, let's go home!"
If Shiro could speak, he would absolutely complain to Shin-chan, 'You left with that bald old guy and forgot me at the riverside!'
Just as he got home, he saw a message from Eriri.
[Eriri: Master, are you home? I'm bringing my storyboard over, how about that?]
[Shin-chan: Sure, come on over. I've got time right now.]
[Eriri: Wait for me! I'll be there soon!]
Putting down the phone, Eriri was very excited, she could finally go to Shin-chan's house.
After everyone left yesterday, Eriri had another chat with Kasumigaoka Utaha.
The situation back then was like this...
———
[Flashback]
"Eriri, actually, there's something I need to tell you."
Kasumigaoka Utaha wore a serious expression and looked solemnly at Eriri.
The fact that she was using Eriri and Shin-chan as material for her light novel, it was finally time to confess. The first volume was almost finished. Once submitted, she wouldn't be able to hide it anymore, so it was better to say it early.
"What is it?"
Utaha suddenly acting so serious made Eriri a little uneasy.
"Is it that you've never been in a relationship? I already guessed that, you're a lifelong single, right?"
"Huh?!"
Utaha didn't expect to be seen through so completely.
"Don't worry, Utaha, even if you've never been in love, I'll still be your friend."
"No, that's not it! I'm writing a light novel! Based on your and Shin-chan's relationship as the blueprint, so I felt I should tell you!"
"A light novel... based on my and Shin-chan's relationship?"
Eriri's eyes instantly lit up, she had tons of material! If it could all be written out, it would definitely be a bestseller.
Too bad the stuff with "Eriri" was a secret between her and Shin-chan, it couldn't be made into a novel or manga.
"As long as our names aren't in it, go ahead!"
Eriri instinctively assumed Utaha was writing a pure romance. What she never imagined was that the novel Utaha was writing wasn't a pure romance at all, it was a stock-trading novel! And the heroine wasn't based on Eriri, but on Utaha herself. Eriri was just a tsundere loser girl.
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