Oh no, he started buttering her up... or rather, grand-buttering.
Hayato, Hayato, you've become the person you hate most.
Hayato told himself.
Grandma, however, continued to curl her lips, smiling:
"Flattery. Are city people always so sweet-tongued? Akane, don't be fooled by such people."
Hayato:...He always felt like he was being targeted.
To be honest, Hayato wasn't boasting; aside from not having parents as starting equipment, he was probably quite presentable in other aspects... However, he had considered the possibility of Grandma Nanaki not liking him, after all, everyone has their own thoughts, and wild boars don't eat fine bran... Not that Grandma was a wild boar.
In his imagination, even if she didn't like him, she would at least exchange a few pleasantries, expressing it subtly.
But this Grandma went straight for maximum aggression! Who would have thought of that?
"Kobayashi-chan isn't like that at all," Nanao Akane quickly explained.
Grandma continued to eye Hayato askance, then let out a soft snort:
"Indeed, he looks like someone who wouldn't know how to speak properly."
"..."
Hayato wondered, could he start getting angry?...But this old woman was truly sharp-eyed, was this the experience that age had given her!?
"Come in," Grandma stepped aside, finally clearing a path.
Nanao Akane gave Hayato an apologetic smile; she also found it strange, Grandma wasn't usually like this... Did she not like Kobayashi-chan? Impossible, what's not to like about Kobayashi-chan?
Hayato took a deep breath.
Always arguing with people, how could he not be argued with?
!! Little Shinobu, your turn!
"Akane, Grandma has mostly tidied your room, go put your luggage away first," Grandma said.
"Okay~~" Nanao Akane replied, then looked at Hayato.
"I'll help," Hayato said, he also wanted to ask Nanao Akane what was going on.
"Wait."
Grandma, however, stopped him, "Akane, you go organize your luggage and room first... and you..."
She gestured to Hayato: "Stay here for now, this old woman has something to ask you."
"...Grandma?" Nanao Akane was a bit anxious, what exactly was going on?
At this moment, Hayato stopped her: "Alright, Akane, you go organize your room first, I'll listen to what Grandma wants to tell me."
Nanao Akane could only look at Kobayashi-chan, then at Grandma, and finally, under the pressure from both sides, she could only agree... But, why was it like this?
Nanao Akane didn't understand... It was her first time bringing a boyfriend home, and she was seeing Grandma after a long time. Two happy things combined, what she should have gotten was a time as happy as a dream, but why did it turn out like this?
She ascended the stairs.
After going upstairs, still a little uneasy, she quickly came back down, looking at the two people still in confrontation.
Hayato and Grandma both turned to look at her, their gazes gentle, conveying the meaning of "it's alright."
But after Nanao Akane left again, the two looked at each other.
Their eyes, however, were like fire and lightning, like swords and blades.
After a brief exchange of glances, Grandma spoke first: "Young man, still as handsome... Shall we talk over there?"
Grandma pointed to a place that resembled a living room.
"Okay." Afraid of you? If I were afraid of you, I'd write my name Hayato backwards.
Hayato walked into the living room first.
Grandma then slid the paper door shut.
"Sit down," Grandma Nanaki said.
Hayato nodded, smoothed his pant legs, and knelt down.
Grandma Nanaki also sat in front of Hayato in the same posture.
She was much shorter than Hayato.
Even at her age, though her posture hadn't stooped, she still had to look up at Hayato.
But the cold light in her gaze was more oppressive than Hayato's calm stare.
Hayato's tall stature didn't bring any… advantage.
He even showed signs of being suppressed by Grandma Nanaki.
But Hayato remained unhurried, and he began to intensify his Gaze of the Strong lv.4 skill…
At this moment, Grandma Nanaki finally spoke.
"You know more than just Akane, don't you?" she said faintly.
Hayato pursed his lips, then smiled calmly.
"… … … …"
It was as if the universe, galaxies, planets, black holes, and meteorites appeared in his mind… then began to move irregularly around his head, repeating over and over again.
Again, and again, and again.
Grandma Nanaki's gaze grew sharper, using it to press him step by step.
Hayato's smile suddenly turned disdainful.
He understood. The Nonsense skill was for moments like this. Wouldn't lies just flow out? He'd speak eloquently, and with every word, Grandma Nanaki would be satisfied.
"… … … … Yes."
Finally, Hayato said, nodding, "Indeed, more than one."
A smile like ice shards appeared at the corner of Grandma Nanaki's mouth.
"… … … … Oh?" She slowly pushed up her glasses.
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