After Touka Kirishima went upstairs, Irimi Kaya, who was tidying up the bar counter, then asked Ryuji, "Ryuji, are you and Touka-chan a couple?"
On the staircase halfway up, Touka heard Irimi Kaya's words and also stopped her steps, feeling very curious about how Ryuji would answer.
Hearing this, Ryuji replied, "No."
When Touka heard Ryuji's answer on the staircase, she didn't feel happy—in fact, a hint of disappointment appeared in her heart.
"Then do you like Touka-chan? I saw that you didn't get angry when she stepped on your foot, and she's very modest too," Irimi Kaya continued to ask.
This question from Irimi Kaya surprised Ryuji. After thinking for a moment, he said, "I like her, just like everyone else. Touka is the shop's pet; everyone dotes on her."
"Ryuji, I mean liking between a man and a woman," Irimi Kaya still wasn't willing to give up and pressed further.
"Right now, I don't have any romantic feelings for Touka. I'm five or six years older than her. I've always regarded her as a younger sister, so it's impossible for us," Ryuji answered.
"Impossible just means it's possible!" suddenly, En Koma interjected.
Ryuji didn't reply further. When it comes to feelings, it's not as simple as just one or zero.
"Ryuji, can't you see that Touka-chan likes you?" Irimi Kaya asked again.
"Who likes him?" Touka, eavesdropping secretly from the staircase, clenched her fists and muttered inwardly.
"No way! I think Touka really hates me. She even said I'm a pervert. In her eyes, I must be some kind of weirdo," Ryuji denied.
"It's true. I'm also a girl, and I know my judgment isn't wrong! Ever since you came, Touka's behavior has been strange. She even refuses to show you beautiful girls. To us, she looks like a typical wife-controlled girl!" she said.
"If a girl really hates someone, she wouldn't bother to pay attention to you, let alone do something as intimate as stepping on your foot!"
At this point, Irimi Kaya explained her analysis.
"I was just trying to prevent Ryuji from having improper thoughts about girls! What wife-controlled?!" Touka, her fists clenched tighter, was practically itching to rush downstairs to argue and clarify.
But Ryuji didn't think that stepping on someone's foot was an act of intimacy—after all, it can hurt, and he's not into masochism.
"I don't think stepping on her foot is an act of intimacy. If Touka-chan thought so, she should find a man with masochistic tendencies as a boyfriend. I definitely don't have that hobby!" Ryuji immediately made it clear that he wouldn't be with a sadist.
"No, Touka-chan just doesn't know how to express herself, so she uses stepping on your foot to get your attention," Irimi Kaya quickly explained to help Touka. She didn't want her words to make Ryuji think that Touka was a girl with sadistic tendencies—that would totally ruin her image.
At this moment, Yoshimura Kousan interrupted and said, "Kaya, enough! This is a matter for young people to decide for themselves. We don't need to interfere!"
Hearing this, Irimi Kaya no longer tried to matchmake Ryuji and Touka, but instead gave Ryuji a final reminder: "Ryuji, don't miss your chance—you might regret it later!"
____________________
For more advance chapters visit my patreon
patreon.com/kane45
Tier: 10$ Casual Reader - +20 Advance Chapter
20$ Intermediate Reader - +40 Advance Chapter
40$ Expert Reader - +80 Advance Chapter
Update: "Monday to Friday - Update 3 Chapters a Day"
"Saturday and Sunday - Off"