manga artist Kirito

Page 210

"Hmm, didn't we say we were going back?"

"Idiot? Those words were only meant for Yang Nai's ears."

"I don't really understand this kind of camaraderie between you two."

Kiritani-chan spread her hands with a puzzled expression. Does that mean that teammates are just there to take the hits?

"Stop talking nonsense, hold my hand... never mind, I'll hold you instead."

Akane Kosaka sighed in disdain, then forcibly clung to Kiritani-chan's arm and continued—the date?

The stall owner's expression froze, as if he couldn't believe it.

—Whatever you want, just send someone to burn him alive!

441

【NO.436 ……】

"So, all that talk about scheduling and planning is a joke!"

At Rouge en rouge, Kiritani-san hurriedly finished his work, occasionally uttering a few complaints.

"There's nothing we can do. This kind of weather isn't suitable for iced drinks. Not only did Lingyin not pay attention, but she also forgot that this is the time of year she gets her period."

Under normal circumstances, Akane Kosaka would naturally not hold back and would give Lingyin a thorough dressing-down. However, because of menstrual cramps, Lingyin was lying at home like a dead fish, and even moving around was painful. Akane Kosaka was too lazy to vent her anger on her. But she still needed to teach her a lesson; it was only a matter of time.

Although this caused her and Kiritani-san's wandering plans to fall through, and she even had to return to her club work, it made Akane Kosaka very unhappy.

Of course, the pile of work was not much when shared by Akane Kosaka and Kiritani-san, but considering that Ayane was also a single young woman living alone, it was not impossible for her to suddenly die in her rented room if she was left unattended. So in the afternoon, Ichigo went over to take care of her. Since Ichigo was not in the club, the work naturally fell to Kiritani-chan.

Now, he not only has to help with the work, but he also has to wait for Strawberry to come back so he can go home.

Keep in mind that it's already dusk, and the journey from Tokyo back to Chiba takes quite a while.

Well, although Asuna didn't call, Kiritani-san knows Asuna's personality very well and guesses that she's already started cooking and waiting for him to come back for dinner.

Yes, Kiritani-kun is getting a little impatient now.

"Anyway, Strawberry will be here soon, so it won't delay you... Oh right, the things I prepared for you are at the apartment. Remember to pick them up when you go to Chiba later. If you forget, those things are mine."

"No way! It's obvious you were going to give it to me. Even if I forgot, you should at least bring it to where I am, right? It's not like I didn't take it and it's yours. What kind of logic is that? Ah Gua, I don't want you to do something like that!"

Kiritani looked at Akane Kosaka with a serious expression.

"To you, some of what I said may have been a joke, but I meant it seriously. I'll take it as a gift from you."

Akane Kosaka smiled without any attempt to hide her discomfort, her eyes blinking slightly, making Kiritani-kun feel extremely awkward. Moreover, saying things like that easily made her seem pitiful! Wanting a gift but having to buy it herself…

"You've had enough!"

Kiritani-kun raised his hand to his forehead, his face full of conflicted expression. "I'll prepare a gift for you next holiday. Don't look at me like that, it hurts my heart!"

...Even a watermelon would care about these things, right?

Although in the past... well, apart from important days, it seems I've never really given Xigua any gifts, and even if I did, it was only two or three times, and they were the kind of gifts that didn't have any effect.

She suddenly spoke up, "When you go back, please give my regards to Asuna."

Kiritani peeked at her through his fingers, slightly bewildered. "...Huh? What did you say?"

"I mean, please give my regards to Asuna when you go back."

As if thinking Kiritani-kun hadn't heard her clearly, Akane Kousaka calmly repeated, "Well, if you'd like, please also give my regards to your childhood friend..."

"Huh? What are you suddenly trying to do? You want to greet Asuna... Well, I can understand that for now, but what's with Alice? Or rather, has your inner self been shattered, Suigi? Saying something like this all of a sudden is really strange!"

"Today must have been quite important for you, Asuna, and your childhood friend, but you stayed here to help out. I didn't get any advantage from you, but it still took up your personal time..."

"I have never heard of the three of them's private time, and please remember that I also have a daughter at home!"

"Shut up! Listen to me!"

Akane Kosaka raised her voice slightly, glared at Kiritani-kun, and made him shut up reluctantly.

She leaned closer, and to Kiritani's slightly surprised expression, her warm lips pressed against his forehead. She slowly said, "Happy birthday!"

Kiritani-kun shook his head and smiled, then reached out and ruffled Akane Kousaka's hair. "I'm too lazy to say thank you."

"Yes, Strawberry is back. You can go back now."

"Okay! I understand, I'll contact you later."

"Okay, text me when you get home, bye!"

Watching the woman refocus on her work, Kiritani waved and walked out of the office. Standing outside the door was Ichigo-san, who was expressionless and pretending not to know anything.

He raised his hand and delivered a swift chop, instantly shattering Strawberry's composed expression. Tears welled in her eyes, and she crouched down, clutching her forehead, trembling slightly.

"Ouch, it hurts so much! That's so mean, Fujiwara-senpai! How could you use violence on a girl who was waiting for you? It's really... Why didn't you use a little more force?"

She looked up, her face beaming with excitement, but Kiritani ignored her, greeted the other members, and walked toward the elevator.

Although Miss Strawberry felt helpless about this, she still had to take Kiritani-kun home. She rubbed the spot where she had been hit, got up, and quickly followed him.

"Going straight back to Chiba, Fujiwara-senpai?"

"...No, I'll go to the nearby supermarket first to buy some things, and then I'll go back to Xigua's apartment."

"Not going back to Chiba?"

"Of course not. There are a few things to do before I get back to Chiba. You can stay at the apartment and wait for me... Don't worry, it's okay if it takes a while and you get back late. I'll explain to Sushi later."

Kiritani stepped into the elevator, pondering what he should buy later.

"So, even when it comes to work, as long as I'm with Fujiwara-senpai, it's okay no matter what I do or how much time it takes, right?"

Strawberry's eyes gleamed slightly, as if she were thinking about something extraordinary.

"Of course not, you're not my assistant."

"It can be used as a lover's... Ouch! It hurts so much!!!"

Kiritani silently withdrew his hand and glanced at the time. Time was indeed a bit tight; he hoped to finish as soon as possible.

P.S.: I caught a cold yesterday, so I didn't update... I'll post three updates today, I should be able to manage!

As for writer's block, it's obvious to everyone even without me saying it. He gets really frustrated when he can't think straight!

442

[NO.437 There are many]

"Mr. Kiritani, this is your package..."

As soon as Kiritani got out of the car and was about to enter the apartment, he saw the well-dressed butler standing in front of the apartment door. When the butler saw him, he quickly walked over and handed him a rather large package.

Yes, this is the butler of the Yukinoshita family.

"Thanks……"

Kiritani-kun mechanically reached out and took the package. Just as he was about to say thank you, the phone rang.

"This is Kiritani, speak your mind."

"Ugh! That guy really doesn't treat me well!"

Yang Naina's voice, always tinged with a smile, rang out, "Did you receive the gift? I've been preparing this for a long time."

"Pay a little attention to your housekeeper. How long have you made him stand in front of the apartment in this weather?"

Kiritani nodded his thanks to the butler, but the butler just smiled slightly and turned to leave. Kiritani had seen a Rolls-Royce parked outside when he got out of the car, but he didn't see anyone there, although he guessed that Haruno was in the car.

"Shut up! Anyway... um, happy birthday!"

She paused, a hint of smugness in her eyes, "If nothing unexpected happens, I should be the second one, right? The second one to tell you?"

"Um... um."

Kirigaya's smile stiffened slightly, and he gave a vague reply. He really couldn't bear to tell Haruno that Suika had told him this right after she finished showering in the early morning. A few seconds later, his phone rang. It was Suguha from the dojo calling. Mikasa and Illya also sent their well wishes to Kirigaya. Although the guys in the club hadn't prepared any gifts for him during the day, they had still sent their well wishes...

Suddenly, I felt a little sorry for the housekeeper.

Well, although I've never had a birthday party or even attended any events like that, I still receive a lot of birthday wishes every year, even though most of them come from family. After all, who would tell others the exact date of their birthday for no reason...

—Thinking back to Remy's birthday last time, just before midnight, she actually came over asking for a hug and a birthday greeting. She even asked me my birthday, and then… I thought she was going to give me a present, but she generously told me—remember to remind me to tell you 'Happy Birthday' later.

I was all smiles on the surface, but inside I was cursing, what a waste of my hopes.

I chatted casually with You Nai on the phone, and when we were almost home, You Nai hung up the phone on her own initiative.

Kirito tucked the package under his arm, took out his key, and opened the door. He then saw Eriri and Kasumigaoka Utaha standing near the shoe cabinet with their foreheads touching. Kirito didn't say anything, but silently retreated and closed the door behind him.

Before he could even turn around, the door next door opened, and Komachi Hachiman ran over with a box tied with ribbons. "Oh! Happy birthday, Kazuto-nii! This is a present for you—by the way, nii said that since it's your birthday, there's even less need to prepare a present, which means nii didn't prepare a present for you!"

"Thank you, Komachi."

With a smile, Kiritani patted Komachi's head and looked at Hachiman following behind. He then gave him the middle finger with a grin. Hachiman ignored him and secretly made a gesture to Ryunosuke behind him.

Just then, the door opened from inside, and Shiina Mashiro peeked out. As soon as she saw Kiritani-kun, she rushed over and hugged him tightly, her flour-smeared cheeks gently rubbing against Kiritani-kun's chest. "Welcome home, Kazuto—Happy Birthday!"

If it weren't for your innocent face, I would definitely believe you didn't do it on purpose!

Kiritani-kun maintained his smile and stuffed the gift that almost fell to the ground into Shiina Mashiro's arms. "Sweetie, help me take this inside. How many people are coming?"

Holding the square package, Shiina Mashiro rested her chin on it and tilted her head slightly, "...a lot."

"That's it..."

Asuna used to worry about not having enough friends. Even Shizuka wanted to recruit me into the Service Club because I had few friends, but now who dares say I have few friends? The back room is packed with people! If anyone dares ask me if I have any friends again, I'll slap them back…

After inviting Hachiman and Ryunosuke into the house, Kiritani-kun immediately saw Kasumigaoka Utaha and Eriri, who had almost gotten into a fight at the shoe cabinet earlier, now sitting face to face with smiles on their faces, quietly enjoying their black tea.

He took off his shoes, his bare feet touching the floor, and peeked into the closed kitchen. His expression froze. It was understandable that Asuna and Alice were in the kitchen, but what about Kato Megumi, Shizuka, and Yukino Yukinoshita?

With so many of you crammed into the kitchen, don't you feel cramped and unable to even turn around?

Just as he had expected, while Kiritani was staring blankly at the kitchen, Hiratsuka Shizuka quietly walked out, her expression slightly dark, as if she had lost something very important... It seemed that this older single woman had lost to these girls in terms of cooking skills.

But speaking of which, why did Jing Ke'ai come here too?

How many people actually know my birthday?

"Hey, you're finally back! I thought you'd be even later."

She took a chilled beer from the refrigerator next to her, downed half a bottle in one go, and patted Kiritani-kun on the shoulder with a hearty smile, "Want some? I just brought some over..."

Before she could finish speaking, Hiratsuka Shizuka's expression began to subtly change, and she even blushed inexplicably. She guiltily withdrew her hand, quickly shoved the beer into Kiritani's hand, and swiftly walked into the kitchen, giving Kiritani no time to speak.

Ah!

Kiritani-kun held the half-empty beer, his eyes slightly narrowed. He knew without a doubt that something must have happened that night, especially after he blacked out. Although it wasn't very serious, the fact that Shizuka could remember it just by drinking... must have been quite stimulating.

I'm a little concerned about it!

"Karen, teacher, is that strange?"

Standing beside Kiritani-kun, Shiina Mashiro leaned forward to sniff the beer, then took two steps back and said expressionlessly.

"Hey, Kazuto, what happened between you and Hiratsuka-sensei? She blushed just now."

"I had no idea you, Hachiman, would gossip about such things."

Sensing those dead fish eyes, Kiritani instinctively raised his middle finger. "Also, don't say things that could easily mislead me. My sister is a formidable fighter!"

Hachiman paused for two seconds, then said, "Actually, everyone in the kitchen is quite capable..."

443

[NO.438 He is allergic to women]

Ok……

I actually agree with what Hachiman said.

Asuna, Alice, and Hiratsuka Shizuka go without saying. Yukinoshita is, after all, a master of Aikido. Kato... Ha! You guys probably forgot that she's my childhood friend (fake). She lives near the dojo, and it's said that she used to play there a lot when she was little. Even if Miu studied hard, wouldn't she learn to squeal like a pig after watching pigs run around so much?

Add to that her inherent skill of concealing her aura, and she might actually be quite formidable when she gets serious. At least, aside from me, any girl in the kitchen could easily take down any of the men present!

So why is Yukinoshita in it too?

Kiritani stared at Hachiman with utter bewilderment, his eyes conveying a clear message: "If I don't keep an eye on your partner, do you want me to throw you out the window?"

Hachiman calmly sipped the black tea that Shiina Mashiro had poured for him, but after only a small sip, he spat it out, his face changing drastically. "This... salty black tea?"

"I don't know if it's salty or not. You should rewrite the draft you finished last night."

Ryunosuke expressionlessly accepted the tissue from Komachi, who was trying not to laugh, and wiped his tea-splattered face. Then, he paused, glancing at Kasumigaoka Utaha sitting not far to his right, before looking to his left at Komachi, who was also about to burst into laughter. Suddenly, Ryunosuke's expression changed drastically, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. He jumped off the sofa with a start and rushed into the bathroom.