Tokyo: The story begins with a confession.

Page 18

"Let's go then." Uesugi Kenichi felt a bit of a toothache. Kasumigaoka Utaha was quite skilled at using all the tricks of the trade. If she acted unreasonable and demanding, he would turn around and leave without saying a word, and pretend he had never met this online friend.

But given her attitude, he really couldn't refuse.

"Okay, let me get ready." Kasumigaoka Utaha winked playfully.

After finishing her tidying up, Kasumigaoka Utaha silently followed behind Uesugi Kenichi.

Chapter Forty-Two: Words of Tigers and Wolves

Why does Uesugi-kun wear a baseball cap? Is it because he loves baseball?

"No, I don't know much about baseball. I just wear a hat to avoid unnecessary trouble."

"Wow, that's quite rare. Aren't most boys passionate about baseball? Even I quite like baseball."

"I didn't have many opportunities to play baseball when I was a child."

"I see. What are your hobbies, Uesugi-kun?"

"I don't have any particular hobbies; I just exercise and study every day."

"Yeah, I quite enjoy exercising too," Kasumigaoka Utaha lied without batting an eye. Asking her to exercise was like asking her to die.

She glanced at Uesugi Kenichi and suddenly realized how tall he was. She was nearly 1.7 meters tall, but she was still a whole head shorter than Uesugi Kenichi when she stood next to him.

So there really are people who seem to have stepped out of a manga. She stared blankly at Uesugi Kenichi, who was slightly ahead of her by half a body length.

It wasn't just his appearance; he was completely different from the boys she had met before. He exuded confidence and seemed very calm and reliable. Standing next to him, she felt an inexplicable sense of trust. Compared to the boys she had met, he was like heaven and earth.

From the moment we met until now, he has maintained an upright posture. This kind of posture is impossible to fake, and there's no need for him to fake it. With his looks, he wouldn't need to do that if he wanted to hook up with girls. In other words, he has always been like this.

"Uesugi-kun must be very popular with girls," Kasumigaoka Utaha teased, watching the convenience store clerk almost lose her mind when she saw that Uesugi Kenichi was so infatuated with her that she nearly pulled money out of the cash register to give it to him.

Kenichi Uesugi opened a bottle of juice and handed it to Utaha Kasumigaoka, chuckling, "I don't remember you saying that before."

"Really? Did I say that?" Kasumigaoka Utaha took the juice, her fingertips touching Uesugi Kenichi's fingers, which made her face slightly red.

"It seems I need to give someone a heads-up."

"Hey, how about we go eat sushi? I know a really good one around here, let's try it. It's a pity there aren't any good kaiseki restaurants around here, otherwise I would definitely take you to try it." Kasumigaoka Utaha tapped her lips with her fingertips, her eyes slightly unfocused.

Kenichi Uesugi chuckled lightly, not pointing out her somewhat abrupt change of topic.

"Since you think it's okay, then I have no objection. We'll ask for their opinions later."

“Okay.” Kasumigaoka Utaha nodded, then looked at Uesugi Kenichi with a teasing smile. “By the way, Uesugi-kun must have a girlfriend now, right? It’s okay for you to go out to eat with me, isn’t it? If your girlfriend asks, I can help explain.”

After she finished speaking, she stared nervously at Uesugi Kenichi, waiting for his answer. She felt like she was going crazy, actually caring whether a boy had a girlfriend or not.

"I'm sorry to disappoint you, but I don't have a girlfriend right now," Uesugi Kenichi said calmly.

"Eh, is that so? That's surprising. I thought..." Kasumigaoka Utaha breathed a sigh of relief, feeling much more relaxed.

"What did you think? Did you think I was the kind of person who would definitely have a girlfriend, and probably more than one?" Uesugi Kenichi retorted.

"Oh, isn't that right? It seems I was wrong about you, Uesugi-kun. Haven't you ever been in a relationship before?" (Turns)

Uesugi Kenji curled his lip, neither confirming nor denying it. It was true, he had never been in a relationship in either of his two lifetimes.

"Looks like I guessed right, hahaha." Kasumigaoka Utaha laughed. "I thought you were a carnivore, but you're actually a herbivore."

She seemed more interested as she spoke, her demeanor returning to normal. "So, Uesugi-kun is still a virgin, right?" Kasumigaoka Utaha approached Uesugi Kenichi with a light laugh.

Uesugi Kenichi: "..." (1)

I knew you were vulgar online, but are you like that in real life too? 7

Besides, it hasn't been that long, and you've already revealed your true nature.

As Kasumigaoka Utaha approached, Uesugi Kenichi stood firm, staring directly into those eyes that shone with a bewitching luster, like red wine. At that moment, their noses were less than five centimeters apart; he could even smell the faint fragrance emanating from Kasumigaoka Utaha. ⑨

"Is it really appropriate for a young girl to utter such vulgar words without batting an eye?" he asked calmly.

"This is far from enough~" Kasumigaoka Utaha found her heart pounding faster and faster, like a sports car with the accelerator floored, but she showed no sign of anything amiss on her face.

Uesugi Ken watched expressionlessly as Kasumigaoka Utaha approached, their breaths mingling on their faces. The distance between them grew ever closer, and they were about to kiss. 9.

Seeing that Kasumigaoka Utaha seemed to have no intention of backing down, Uesugi Kenichi took two steps back and only breathed a sigh of relief after the distance between them had increased.

This was the first time he had ever been so close to a girl. As he got closer, an unusual emotion began to grow in his heart. If he hadn't had a strong will, he might have been unable to resist the urge to move closer.

Seeing that Uesugi Kenichi had distanced himself, Kasumigaoka Utaha breathed a sigh of relief, but also felt a sense of inexplicable loss. Just now, they were so close, and Uesugi Kenichi's entire face was reflected in her pupils. In that instant, she really had the urge to hug him and kiss him. If Uesugi Kenichi hadn't backed away, they might have really kissed.

"Oh my, Uesugi-kun is really innocent."

"Heh!" Uesugi Kenichi sneered.

After Uesugi Kenichi created some distance, he realized that Kasumigaoka Utaha was just putting on an act. She was clearly terrified herself, her body stiff and her breathing rapid, but her previous posture didn't seem fake.

Kasumigaoka Utaha laughed smugly at Uesugi Kenichi's cold snort, completely unconcerned. She realized that Uesugi Kenichi wasn't as aloof as he appeared on the surface; instead, he seemed like a simpleton.

Seeing Uesugi Kenichi leave like a child throwing a tantrum, Kasumigaoka Utaha smiled and jogged after him.

In the crowded throng, countless people passed by, each with their own joys and sorrows. The afterglow of the setting sun gradually spilled down, turning the entire sky into a golden hue. A gentle breeze stirred, lifting the ends of Kasumigaoka Utaha's hair. Her gaze fell upon the upright figure in front of her, and at this moment, all she wanted to do was follow that figure closely.

.......

Chapter 43 Kasumigaoka Utaha, with Maxed-Out Social Skills

"Ah, Uesugi, you're finally here! If you hadn't come, Futa would have thought you'd been kidnapped." Kobayashi Yoshihara stood at the entrance of the exhibition hall and immediately approached Uesugi Kenichi upon seeing him.

"Oh, what a pity. There were so many performances when you weren't here this afternoon. There were so many beautiful girls in short skirts dancing. The anime convention is truly a paradise. I definitely want to visit more often in the future."

"Sorry to keep you waiting." Uesugi Kenichi apologized, ignoring the nagging Kobayashi Yoshihara and Watanabe Futa.

"It's nothing, we just came out too. It's good that you're alright." Watanabe Futa said with a light laugh.

"That's good. Did you have fun?"

"Great! I never expected to find Kashiwagi Eri's doujinshi at this anime convention. It was the right decision to come!" Sato Hideki also seemed very excited, his backpack was full of things, and he looked like he had made quite a haul.

Tetsuya Ishida also seemed quite happy. He rarely had the experience of going out with so many friends, let alone attending a comic convention.

"Damn it, you're ignoring me!" Kobayashi Yoshihara scratched his head, looking somewhat exasperated.

"Hey, you're wearing a baseball cap! Did you decide you want to join the baseball club with me? Hehe, baseball is definitely a man's sport. Let's step into Koshien together and leave behind an immortal legend!" Kobayashi Yoshihara's attention was quickly diverted when he saw the hat on Uesugi Kenichi's head, and he started daydreaming about putting his arm around Uesugi Kenichi's shoulder.

"Aren't you going to introduce me, Uesugi-kun?" Kasumigaoka Utaha looked at Uesugi Kenichi's group of friends with great interest, her gaze lingering especially on Kobayashi Yoshihara for a while. She didn't expect Uesugi Kenichi to be friends with people like this. And let go of my hand, you bastard!

After Kasumigaoka Utaha spoke, Kobayashi Yoshihara finally noticed that Kasumigaoka Utaha was being blocked by Uesugi Kenichi. He looked over in the direction of the voice, and his face immediately turned red.

He looked at Kasumigaoka Utaha and then at Uesugi Kenichi, his eyes filled with disbelief. He hooked his arm around Uesugi Kenichi's neck and whispered, "Damn it, I really misjudged you. I never expected you to bring back such a beautiful girl without saying a word. You're really amazing. No wonder you were so indifferent to those girls at school. I understand. Don't forget me if you have any good opportunities in the future. My future happiness depends entirely on you!"

In Kobayashi Yoshihara's opinion, Kasumigaoka Utaha was indeed stunningly beautiful. Even if you searched the entire Yamato Private Academy, you probably wouldn't find anyone who could compare to her. But that didn't matter; he had to make a good impression on her.

Don't get me wrong, he has no designs on Kasumigaoka Utaha. Even if she wasn't brought here by Uesugi Kenichi, he understands that a girl like her is simply beyond his reach.

But girls always have close female friends, right? Leaving a good impression makes it easier to ask for help in the future.

Kobayashi Yoshihara released Uesugi Kenichi, straightened his clothes, cleared his throat, and said seriously, "My name is Kobayashi Yoshihara. I'm Uesugi's best friend, and we currently attend the same high school. Please take care of me!"

Kasumigaoka Utaha, on the other hand, was completely at ease, greeting everyone with a smile and even exchanging their contact information.

"What do you guys think about having sushi for dinner?"

"no problem."

"Thank you for taking good care of me these days, Uesugi-kun."

"In that case, Uesugi helped us a lot."

"So you're Ms. Kasumi Shiko! I really love your masterpiece, 'Love Metronome.' Please keep up the good work!"

"Thank you for your support. I have a collector's edition here, which I can give to you if you like."

"Huh? Is that okay? Thank you so much!"

Uesugi Kenichi: "..."

……

Uesugi Kenichi witnessed Kasumigaoka Utaha quickly becoming acquainted with Kobayashi Yoshihara and the others, especially Sato, who was immediately won over by Kasumigaoka Utaha after learning that she was the author of Love Metronome.

He shook his head but didn't say anything; he couldn't very well stop them from making friends.

Led by Kasumigaoka Utaha, they soon arrived at the sushi restaurant she had mentioned.

After lifting the curtain and stepping inside, Uesugi Kenichi looked around. The interior of the shop was decorated in a somewhat antique style, using wooden materials, but he couldn't quite tell what era it was from. It was lunchtime, and there were quite a few customers in the shop. Judging from their expressions, the food must be quite good.

"Don't underestimate this shop. Although it's not very big, it's very famous in the area and has a history of nearly 30 years," Kasumigaoka Utaha explained.

Kenjiro Uesugi nodded and looked at the pile of wooden signs hanging on the wall, which looked like the shop's menu.

The most expensive sushi cost 49999 yen, which surprised Kenichi Uesugi. The others weren't cheap either. This was much more profitable than selling wood carvings.

Kasumigaoka Utaha had indeed been to this restaurant quite a few times. After asking everyone about their preferences, she quickly ordered the dishes, and a middle-aged man who looked to be around fifty years old came over to make sushi for them.

"You're here again today, Miss Kasumigaoka." The uncle laughed heartily.

"Yes, I'm sorry to trouble you again today, Uncle Yamanaka. I brought my friends here today to try your cooking."

"Haha, thank you so much for your consideration. Don't worry, I will definitely give it my all." The uncle glanced at everyone, and after seeing Uesugi Kenichi, he gave Kasumigaoka Utaha a knowing smile. He had never seen her bring anyone before.

Uesugi Kenichi paid no attention to anything else, staring with great interest at the uncle in front of him holding the sushi in his hands. Even though he didn't know much about cooking, he could tell that the uncle was indeed a highly skilled cook. Just watching him was a pleasure, and he would chat with them from time to time, which was quite rare.

He had tried sushi before when he was in China, but it was the cheap kind he ordered through takeout. He gave up on it after two tries because he thought it was terrible. But now it seems that it was probably a problem with the chef's skills.

Just like Chinese food sold in foreign countries, even when Chinese people make it, the taste changes, let alone when a foreigner makes it.

For the first time in a long time, he became interested in the sushi laid out before him. He picked up a piece of salmon sushi with his chopsticks, dipped it in a little soy sauce, and put it in his mouth. A very fresh and tender taste entered his taste buds, and the delicious rice created a very unique flavor, which completely changed his previous impression of sushi.

Chapter 44 Kashiwagi Eri's Book

"How is it, Uesugi-kun? Is it delicious?" Kasumigaoka Utaha looked at Uesugi Kenichi with anticipation.

"It tastes great, I really like it." Uesugi Kenichi said, picking up another type of sushi, this time with a little wasabi.

"Haha, I'm glad the guests like it." Uncle Yama was also very happy. A chef's greatest hope is that his dishes will be loved by people.

The sushi tasted absolutely amazing. Compared to this, all the cheap sushi I'd ever eaten could be thrown in the trash. He thoroughly enjoyed his meal.

Kasumigaoka Utaha was equally happy. She looked at Uesugi Kenichi with a smile on her face, occasionally adding a couple of pieces of sushi for him, just like a well-behaved little wife. If other people who knew Kasumigaoka Utaha saw her like this, they would definitely be shocked.

In reality, no matter how aloof a girl is, she isn't aloof to everyone. If you think she's aloof, it's just that she doesn't want to show you her gentle side.

Sitting across from him, Kobayashi Yoshihara suddenly felt that the sushi in front of him didn't taste so good anymore, and he almost secretly wiped away a tear. In all his life, apart from his mother, he had never experienced being taken care of by a girl like this.