After Haruno polished off all the takeaway meat, she leaned back in her chair with a satisfied exhale.
"The flavor was really good! Ichin, send me this restaurant's address, I'm definitely going there myself next time!"
"Sure, I'll send it."
As he spoke, he pulled out his phone and forwarded the address Utaha had sent him over to Haruno.
Seeing things wrap up on that side, Utaha immediately picked up a shopping bag placed on the sofa.
"Come on, Ichin—try on the new clothes!"
She pulled out a gray-black overcoat from the bag. Ichin took it from her. "Looks pretty nice."
Utaha smiled. "Yukino and I looked for a long time before choosing this one. The style's good, and it's not too thick. It's February now, so you can still wear it for another month or so. The weather this year is staying cold for a while."
Since he was at home, Ichin had already taken off his outerwear. He put on the new coat directly, felt the fit, then walked to the full-length mirror in the living room to check himself out. Satisfied, he nodded.
"Thanks for the trouble. I really like this one. By the way, what did you two buy for yourselves?"
Seeing Ichin look her way, Utaha smiled and opened several bags beside her, taking out skirts one after another—plus several types of stockings.
"Do you want me to show you now?"
"Emmm~~ no need for that."
Utaha gave a tiny, invisible pout. After neatly putting the clothes away, she looped her arm around Yukino's.
"Yukino also bought some. I had to nag her for so long before she agreed to buy a few more skirts. With such a good figure, it would be a waste not to wear skirts more often!"
Yukino's face reddened slightly. "I'm still more used to wearing long pants."
"It's fine, you'll get used to it after wearing them more."
Then Utaha looked toward Ichin and Haruno. "Ichin, Haruno-san—how about the day after tomorrow we all go to a hot spring? I saw a hot-spring hotel running a promotion when I was searching for restaurants this afternoon. They're even offering buffet vouchers these few days—it's the same place we went last year!"
Ichin nodded. "A hot spring? I'm fine with that. But Haruno-nee, you always seem so busy—can you make it?"
"I can, I can! I'm definitely going!"
Haruno instantly raised her hand. "Besides, the day after tomorrow is Valentine's Day. I don't have anyone to spend it with, so of course I'll hang out with you two! But Ichin, Utaha—you two just got married. Aren't you planning to spend Valentine's Day alone together?"
Utaha smiled. "It's fine. It's not like Valentine's Day is the only time we can be together. Whether it's a date or a candlelit dinner, we can do that anytime."
"Ahhh~~ must be nice. I'm jealous."
Propping her chin with her hands, Haruno blinked at Utaha. "Utaha, on one of your days off, can you lend me Ichin for a day? Let me experience what a date feels like?"
Ichin shot Haruno an irritated glare. "Is that something you can just borrow?"
But the next moment, Utaha nodded outright. "Sure. Just return him before dinner—or I'll join you both for dinner."
That answer actually left Haruno speechless.
"No way, I feel like I can't beat you at this anymore, Utaha…"
She slumped onto the table, her head bobbing slightly as she mumbled, "But… you're seriously agreeing? If you say so, I'll really borrow him!"
"Of course," Utaha said calmly. "Just don't take him to a hotel."
Listening to the two of them talk, Ichin felt his head buzzing in utter headache.
Ichin sat down on the sofa, reached out, and pressed both hands against Utaha's cheeks, kneading them in different directions.
"This is how you treat your own husband?"
But Utaha didn't budge at all. Instead, she spoke with a faint smile. "You have to understand Haruno-san a little, okay? She hasn't had a boyfriend for so long—cut her some slack."
"Stop it. Both of you, stop."
Haruno silently stood up and walked toward the door. "I'm going home to be alone… quietly."
After she left, Ichin finally let go and looked toward Yukino. "Aren't you going to go comfort her?"
Yukino picked up the remote and shook her head. "It's fine. She just needs a nap. Once she's back at work tomorrow, she won't have the luxury to think about these things."
…I didn't expect this kind of Yukino!
"Alright then. But Haruno-nee really is at that age already. Though honestly, aside from her, isn't there someone else even more desperate?"
"I get the feeling you're hinting at a certain Hiratsuka-sensei who hasn't shown up in a long time."
"No, you're overthinking it. I was talking about Hazuki. And Sonoko."
"Isn't that basically the same thing?"
Listening to their playful bickering, Yukino's lips lifted in a tiny smile.
---
Another Valentine's Day arrived. Around this time every year, everywhere became lively—and the University of Tokyo was the same.
The moment they arrived on campus in the morning, all three of them saw people confessing, giving chocolates, and all sorts of Valentine's chaos.
"It feels even livelier than the past two years."
Ichin chuckled. "From freshman year until now, quite a few guys in my class have managed to find girlfriends. I wonder how many more will succeed this year."
Holding onto Ichin's arm, Utaha said with a smile, "There should be some, right? Three years of university teaches you at least a few social skills. Even science and engineering boys—if they actually try—shouldn't find it that hard to start dating."
Utaha had met Ichin's male classmates before. Some of them weren't bad-looking at all. If they made a little effort, it really wouldn't be hard to find a girlfriend.
And compared to the real world after graduation, dating during university was much simpler.
Yukino also nodded. "University does help people grow. But I think it also depends on the major. In my class, people in relationships are a minority. The academic load is just too heavy—no energy left for romance."
Law department. Very logical. Getting into Todai and choosing law meant most people aimed to become successful lawyers in the future, so of course they needed to use these years to improve themselves.
Just as they were talking, a male student walked toward them.
No need to guess—his target was definitely Yukino.
If he dared approach Utaha, Ichin would kick him away without hesitation.
Sure enough, the boy stopped in front of Yukino, visibly nervous.
"Um… Yukinoshita-san, I've liked you for a long time. Please go out with me!"
His voice was so loud that several students around them turned to look.
Yukino glanced at him with faint helplessness in her eyes, and replied in her usual calm tone, "Sorry. I can't agree."
But the boy clearly wasn't willing to give up. He immediately continued, "Then could you at least tell me what type you like? I'll work hard toward that!"
"…"
After a brief silence, Yukino looked straight at him and said, "There's no need. I already have someone I like. Please don't continue to bother me. I need to get to class."
With that, and under the shocked looks of many onlookers, she walked around him and headed forward.
Utaha blinked in surprise at Yukino, then pulled Ichin along to follow her.
---
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