Haruno was still wearing her stage dress, the only difference being that she had swapped the black high heels for white sneakers.
And with the scene being so dark, it was impressive she could find him accurately among so many people.
"Also, this is..." Haruno looked at Futaba Rio beside them with a smile. Looking at this girl who was obviously with Shinra, a sense of vigilance rose in her heart.
Of course, this vigilance was on behalf of her sister Yukino.
"Hello, my name is Futaba Rio."
Seeing Haruno looking at her, Futaba Rio hesitated for a moment before introducing herself.
"Hello, I am Yukinoshita Haruno." Haruno also politely gave her name.
Then Haruno nudged Shinra beside her with her elbow and teased: "Girlfriend?"
"Eh? No, no."
Before Shinra could answer, Futaba Rio reacted first, waving her small hand in front of her ample chest.
"More than friends, less than lovers?" Haruno continued to probe.
"Just ordinary friends." Futaba Rio whispered.
"Is that so..." Haruno didn't know if she believed it or not. She turned her head to look at Shinra.
"Why aren't you talking?"
Shinra said grumpily: "You didn't give me a chance to talk."
"Angry?" Haruno looked at Shinra cautiously.
Seemingly worried that her probing just now offended Shinra and his friend, but knowing Haruno's nature well, Shinra knew she was just habitually pulling strings. He didn't believe she couldn't see his relationship with Futaba Rio.
Shinra didn't answer Haruno's superfluous question but asked instead: "Why are you here?"
"I finished performing, so naturally I go wherever I want." Haruno said righteously. Before the performance, she was a guest performer, but after the performance, she was a free person.
Having performed on stage for so long, couldn't she enjoy herself?
Just now after the performance, she went backstage to change into shoes convenient for movement and planned to find Shinra to 'continue their fate'. As a result, after searching for a long time, she found that this guy seemed to have left the gymnasium. When she saw him again, she found another unfamiliar beautiful girl beside him.
"Speaking of which..." Haruno narrowed her eyes slightly, looking at the fashionably dressed Futaba, "You shouldn't be a student of Sobu High, right?"
Although it was Saturday, students of this school would still wear uniforms to attend the school festival. Only outsiders would wear their own casual clothes.
"I am a second-year student at the neighboring Minegahara High School." Futaba Rio replied.
"Minegahara High School, ah, I know, I know. One of my university classmates went to high school there. I heard there is a student celebrity in your school." Haruno said with a smile.
Hearing this, Futaba Rio looked at Shinra with a strange expression, finding that he was currently looking at his nose, nose at his heart, spacing out.
"...Yes." Futaba Rio, for some reason, didn't tell Haruno that the student celebrity she mentioned was Shinra's girlfriend.
"That celebrity seems quite famous. It is said that she made a comeback recently. Seems to be called Sakurajima..."
"Sakurajima Mai."
"Right, right, right, Sakurajima Mai. My sister has been watching the TV series she acted in recently. She is truly a beauty."
Haruno seemed to have opened a chatterbox, then asked again: "Have you seen her at school? How does she look in reality? Is she as beautiful as in movies and TV shows?"
Although the current Futaba Rio was more cheerful than before, she still couldn't cope with someone as overly familiar as Haruno.
"Very beautiful... In my opinion, she is much more beautiful than on screen." Futaba Rio told the truth.
Because the camera magnifies facial features and body proportions, some people look good in reality, but don't look as good on camera.
Although Sakurajima Mai belonged to the kind of 'very photogenic' beauty, the lens still couldn't fully capture her unique temperament and charm. Therefore, in Futaba Rio's view, Mai-senpai in reality was even better looking than Mai-senpai in front of the camera.
"That's so nice~ I wish I were in your school too, seeing celebrities every day. Don't you think so, Shinra?"
"I don't remember you having a habit of chasing stars, Haruno-san."
Shinra, who was named, could no longer play deaf and dumb, and had to reply helplessly.
"There are many things you don't know." Haruno hummed lightly.
Sharp as she was, she had already sensed something wrong. From the beginning, this little sister from Minegahara High School had an unnatural attitude towards her.
Initially, Haruno thought the other party was also interested in Shinra and treated her as an imaginary enemy.
But after a series of probes, she found it didn't seem that simple.
When she mentioned the word 'girlfriend', the other party obviously had concerns.
If Futaba Rio had feelings for Shinra, in front of her, this rival in love, the best reaction should be to lower her head shyly and wait for Shinra's explanation. In this way, whether advancing or retreating, there was room for maneuver.
But the other party didn't do so. Instead, she spoke up directly to explain and pointed out they were just friends.
On the surface, she was afraid of misunderstanding, but actually, Haruno always felt the other party was more worried about Shinra misunderstanding.
But what could Shinra misunderstand?
Even with Haruno's critical eyes, Futaba Rio was an out-and-out beauty. Although her facial features weren't as exquisite as hers and Yukino's, she was big!
Not only big, but her figure was also very special.
Belonging to the petite type.
Unlike Haruno, although also big, Haruno had that obvious mature lady type figure, considered relatively tall among women. While Futaba Rio was petite but exceptionally full.
It was hard to distinguish which was better, but the latter was rarer than the former, a superb figure hard to find even with a lantern.
The attraction for specific groups could be said to be maxed out.
Even if not for specific groups, she also had extremely strong attraction.
Anyway, Haruno felt that if she were a man, she would definitely be attracted to this beautiful girl in front of her.
Therefore, Haruno felt that facing her question, even if Futaba Rio did nothing, it would be a steady plus point. But she insisted on explaining.
What is she worried about?
Could it be that this kid Shinra really has someone outside?
Haruno narrowed her eyes slightly, carefully observing Shinra's facial expression. Finding that he didn't reveal any flaws, she didn't make a noise but temporarily suppressed this doubt in her heart.
"Time is almost up. Yukino asked you to call Sagami-san over. The closing ceremony is about to start soon."
Haruno showed her phone to Shinra, signaling him to work, and added very thoughtfully:
"As for Futaba-chan, leave her to me for now. I'll keep her company for you."
"No need. Time is almost up; I should go back too." Futaba Rio seemed to sense danger, declined Haruno's proposal, and indicated she should go home.
"Eh, there is an award ceremony later. Are you sure you don't want to stay and watch?" Haruno pretended to keep her.
But Futaba Rio was determined to leave, shaking her head firmly: "No, I have something to do later."
"Then it can't be helped." Seeing this, Haruno didn't insist.
Shinra said: "Then I'll walk you out."
He had already notified Sagami Minami on his phone just now. The other party replied she was already on her way backstage, so he didn't need to find her personally.
In fact, when Haruno mentioned Sakurajima Mai, Shinra was prepared for everything to be exposed.
Unexpectedly, for some reason, Futaba Rio didn't mention this matter, preventing the situation from falling into an irreversible state.
But overall, this was the closest Shinra came to overturning.
If Haruno knew about Sakurajima Mai's existence now, leaving aside other things, the ongoing purple wish-power commission would definitely be gone.
But then again, that purple wish-power commission hadn't moved for a long time. Several times Shinra thought it could be settled, but it just didn't move.
Don't know where the problem is.
Futaba Rio waved her hand, "No need to trouble yourself. I can go back by myself. I've already remembered the route."
Seeing Futaba didn't seem to be polite, Shinra had to go along with her: "Send me a message when you get home."
"Okay."
Soon Futaba Rio disappeared into the crowd, never to be seen again.
Turning back, he saw Haruno crossing her arms, asking with a smile: "Finished saying goodbye to your little lover?"
Shinra glanced sideways at her, thought for a moment, and said: "Indeed, I have to be busy dating my little lover this Sunday, so..."
"Eh?" Haruno was dumbfounded. How can you go back on your word?
"Okay, okay, if not, then not. I was joking with you."
"I am not joking with you." Shinra said expressionlessly.
Leaving aside whether Haruno had the standing to say this, just judging from her constant vague probing just now, Shinra couldn't indulge her.
Shinra didn't owe her anything. Conversely, the Yukinoshita family should owe him a favor. probing back and forth like this, did she really think he was made of clay?
Although Shinra coveted Haruno's golden wish-power commission, this didn't mean Shinra would indulge her without a bottom line.
Moreover, dealing with a woman like Haruno, blind accommodation wouldn't yield good results. He still had to be tough.
Not to mention, if she continued probing, she might really find something out.
Seeing Shinra clearly express displeasure, the smile on Haruno's face froze slightly.
Oops, seems like I went too far.
Looking at the boy's expressionless face, somehow Haruno felt inexplicably flustered inside.
"...Sorry." Haruno immediately corrected her attitude, bowing her head to apologize to the boy in front of her who was three years younger.
"Haruno-san doesn't need to apologize. After all, I'm not your little lover."
Having stayed with Yukino for a long time, Shinra's skill in sarcasm had also achieved some success.
Using it against Haruno who had already softened was just right.
"If you are willing, you can be." Haruno blinked, looking charming and cute. Ordinary people couldn't withstand it at all.
It could only be said she knew too well how to use her advantages. Many times, even if one wanted to be angry, looking at her bright and moving face, it was hard to really get angry.
"Okay."
Shinra made a gesture to hug her, but Haruno dodged with a nimble movement.
"You really do it."
Haruno slapped away Shinra's extended hand and said in an unkind tone.
"Since you asked, I'll tell Yukino later that you asked me to be your little lover." Shinra not only learned Yukino's venomous tongue but also absorbed part of Haruno's divine power.
Mainly focusing on being black-bellied.
Snitching, who doesn't know how to do that?
"Hey, you kid." Haruno laughed angrily. Is this how you use journalism?
'Must take out of context' taken from 'Do not take out of context'.
Amidst gagging and banter, an invisible storm gradually subsided. No one mentioned what happened just now again.
The closing ceremony of the school festival ended successfully. As the chairman, Sagami Minami went on stage again to give a speech and announce the list of winners.
This time, she made significant progress compared to the opening ceremony, presumably due to serious preparation in private.
After the closing ceremony ended, the commission Yukino was responsible for this time officially came to an end.
——————
After school, Shinra returned home and received a message from Kyoto.
It was from Sakurajima Mai.
Sakurajima Mai: [Was your school festival fun?]
Shinra: [Didn't play at all, just worked.]
Sakurajima Mai: [Hard work (Rabbit picture)]
Shinra: [Speaking of which, Futaba also visited the scene. Didn't she tell you?]
Sakurajima Mai: [Really? I was video chatting with her in the afternoon; she didn't tell me?]
Shinra: [Afternoon, what time?]
Sakurajima Mai: [Around 2:30 PM, I was just touching up my makeup in the RV.]
Around 2:30... Shinra opened the chat history with Futaba Rio, locking his gaze on the time bar.
It clearly displayed 14:29.
Shinra: [Are you sure?]
The one video chatting with you was Futaba Rio, then who was the person I saw in the afternoon?
Sakurajima Mai: [Chat record]
After confirming Mai wasn't lying, Shinra narrowed his eyes, realizing things seemed to have become interesting.
And Mai also seemed to sense something wrong.
Sakurajima Mai: [Why do you ask?]
Shinra: [Chat record]
Shinra didn't say much and directly sent the chat record between him and Futaba Rio.
Sakurajima Mai: [...]
Sakurajima Mai: [Adolescence Syndrome again?]