Life always has unexpected twists.
It's like a muddy path covered by rainwater on a stormy day. You're riding an electric bike, thinking you'll be fine if you just go slowly.
But in reality, when you fall, bike and all, you discover there's a ditch in the middle of the murky road.
And it's a sewage ditch full of feces.
The cold air from the air conditioner blew on Jo-kun's face, and he felt a chill to the bone. He stared with wide, disbelieving eyes at his mother, Takayanagi Yuki.
"Mom, how are you and Hoshino Jun here? Didn't you say you had something to do?"
Her son's angry voice caused Takayanagi Yuki's mind to freeze for a moment.
She didn't know what to say. It wasn't like she could tell her son, "I'm here to be Jun's girlfriend for a day."
What kind of talk was that?
At this moment, it wasn't just the mother and son from the Takayanagi Family; Takasaki Yusuke and Yamada Kaoru also looked exceptionally strange.
Suspicious gazes constantly flitted between Hoshino Jun, Takayanagi Yuki, and Jo-kun.
This...
What exactly was going on?
The beautiful mother was now in an awkward situation.
How could the kind and handsome young man bear to let her handle it? He shook his head, stepped in front of the neighbor's wife, like a broad, sturdy wall, shielding her from all the scrutinizing gazes.
Now, it was Hoshino Jun's time to shine.
"Yuki-san does have something to do."
Hoshino Jun glanced at Jo-kun with a calm expression, and then the system's prompt sounded in his ear.
"Ding!"
"Detected malicious framing from Jo-kun!"
"Choose not to pursue, and you will receive a C-grade favor debt."
When it came to setting up his mother, Jo-kun was probably the best in Tokyo.
In just a few short days, he had frantically accumulated debts for his mother.
It could be said that Hoshino Jun's interest in Takayanagi Yuki was largely due to the sheer number of rewards accumulated by Jo-kun, just waiting for Hoshino Jun to collect.
'Yuki-san owes me five C-grade debts now.'
'Converted to rewards, that's already 500,000 waiting to be claimed.'
"Upon judgment, Jo-kun is unable to repay this favor debt. The debt has been automatically transferred to his mother, 'Takayanagi Yuki'."
"Yesterday, Takasaki-kun insisted I bring a female friend to dinner, saying it would help ease the awkward atmosphere between him and his girlfriend. But besides two aunts, where do I know any women?"
"Coincidentally, Yuki-san had the day off today, so I just dragged her along for a casual meal."
Hoshino Jun smiled, a very bright smile, then turned to Takayanagi Yuki.
"So, Yuki-san's 'something to do' was helping me out, accompanying me to deal with Takasaki-kun's request, and having dinner together."
"Isn't that right, Yuki-san?"
Yuki-san, look, your son is scolding you, and only I am still so gentle with you.
Please stand on my side.
"Mmm-hmm~!"
The young man's smile was beautiful, especially when he stood in front of her.
As a woman who wasn't particularly clever, after her husband's death, she worked alone at a job that didn't require much intelligence and didn't pay very well.
Having bravely raised a child to adulthood, Takayanagi Yuki hadn't felt this feeling of being protected by a man for a long time.
The young man shielded her from all the strange looks.
Although it was originally Hoshino Jun's fault, this didn't prevent Takayanagi Yuki from feeling her heart beat a little faster for Hoshino Jun at that moment.
"Jun-kun said his friend was treating us to dinner and needed a companion, and since I was on vacation, I came."
Emotions, you see, are afraid of comparisons.
When even the closest person was looking at Takayanagi Yuki with full fury, Takayanagi Yuki instinctively chose to quietly stand behind Hoshino Jun, who was protecting her.
Cooperating with Hoshino Jun's lie.
"So, when exactly did I say I was bringing a girlfriend?"
Hoshino Jun's smile suddenly turned cold, and he stared at Takasaki Yusuke with an unfriendly expression.
"Takasaki-kun, didn't we agree that I would help you mend your relationship with your girlfriend?"
"How did Jo-kun come with Yamada Kaoru, and then inexplicably say I brought a girlfriend?"
"Don't tell me this was a deliberate trap you set to have Yamada Kaoru mess with me!"
Hoshino Jun didn't even bother to act anymore; he pointed it out directly.
"Ding!"
"Detected malicious framing from Takasaki Yusuke!"
"Choose not to pursue, and you will receive a B-grade favor debt."
A B-grade?
With an extra reward, that's not bad either.
But this time, I won't forgive you so easily, Takasaki-kun.
Bringing Yamada Kaoru was a foul.
System, I choose not to pursue; let Yamada Kaoru and Kato Nana pursue him instead.
"Upon judgment, Takasaki Yusuke is unable to repay this favor debt. The debt has been automatically transferred to his girlfriend, 'Kato Nana'."
Takasaki Yusuke wanted to use Yamada Kaoru to deal with Hoshino Jun, so what would Yamada Kaoru do if she knew Takasaki Yusuke was using her?
If you want to kill with a borrowed knife, you must be prepared to be killed by the wielder of the knife.
"I was wondering why Takasaki-kun suddenly wanted to reconcile with me. Turns out he was waiting for me here."
"H-how could that be?"
Takasaki Yusuke stammered, sweat beading on his forehead.
"I just happened to chat with Jo-kun for a couple of sentences and mentioned that Hoshino-kun brought a girlfriend."
"It's all your fault, Hoshino-kun, for not making it clear, which led to my misunderstanding, haha."
Are you crazy? Bringing an aunt to dinner, Hoshino Jun, are you sick or what?
Takasaki Yusuke was now both surprised and scared. He also knew that if Yamada Kaoru found out he was deliberately using her, his outcome wouldn't be good.
He forced himself to remain calm, trying to muddle through.
But would Hoshino Jun give him that chance?
Clearly not.
"You say it's my fault for not being clear? Fine!"
Hoshino Jun shrugged, looking indifferent: "Then let's ask your girlfriend if I made it clear."
Just then, Kato Nana also emerged from the restroom. Unlike when she went in, she now had bare legs, and her knees were noticeably reddish.
Normally, someone would notice something was off.
But at this moment, no one paid attention to these small details.
"Are you looking for me?"
Steadying her wobbly legs, Kato Nana walked towards them step by step.
Takasaki Yusuke was instantly relieved that Hoshino Jun wanted to ask his girlfriend. He just needed to give Nana a look later.
Besides, Hoshino Jun hadn't actually said that Takayanagi-san wasn't his girlfriend; he was simply misleading people.
The plan to frame Hoshino Jun today had failed, but thankfully, it was through Jo-kun's hands.
His own position was safe, no problem there.
Yamada Kaoru's gaze shifted between the two confronting parties, her expression already much calmer than when she first entered.
She had regained her composure and haughtiness.
She probably understood the situation now: Hoshino Jun hadn't broken their agreement; rather, Takasaki Yusuke might have misunderstood or tried to frame him.
If it was the former, then Yamada Kaoru could let bygones be bygones, as Jo-kun had urgently informed her to come, and Takasaki Yusuke hadn't spoken to her directly.
But if it was the latter...
Now, they just waited for the outcome.
The melodious piano music still echoed through the restaurant. Other customers noticed their situation but didn't intervene.
Japanese teenagers, influenced by anime culture, are naturally fond of commotion.
Not shouting or yelling was already considered quite well-behaved in others' eyes.
Hoshino Jun smiled calmly at the cute, weak-legged girl, Kato Nana.
"Kato-san, did I clearly tell you and Takasaki-kun before that I didn't bring a girlfriend, and Yuki-san is just my elder?"
The air conditioner's breeze brushed through the girl's hair, moving her strands and revealing her smooth forehead.
'Huh?'
'What's going on?'
'Hoshino-kun clearly said she was his girlfriend. How did she suddenly become an elder? The promised couple betrayal game turned into an elder betrayal?'
'So strange!'
Kato Nana blinked blankly, noticed her boyfriend Takasaki Yusuke giving her a look, and also noticed Hoshino-kun's smiling expression.
She seemed to understand a little. This was probably a struggle between two men.
And now, it was up to her to choose which side to be on.
"Nana, Hoshino-kun didn't say that, right?" Takasaki Yusuke reminded Kato Nana.
His expression had completely calmed down because he was very certain that Hoshino Jun had never mentioned it in front of him.
Yet now he claimed to have made it clear to him and Nana.
Hoshino Jun said nothing; he clearly just wanted to get revenge on him.
'Hoshino Jun, I don't know whether to call you stupid or dumb. To think you'd choose to ask my girlfriend.'
'Even asking to check surveillance footage would be more reliable than asking my girlfriend, you idiot!'
However, just then, Kato Nana's steps unconsciously shifted closer to Hoshino Jun, and then she said:
"He did say that, actually. Hoshino-kun told us right away that this older sister isn't his girlfriend."
"Did you forget?"
"Stupid Yusuke, your memory is really bad."
What?!
How could Nana say that!
Takasaki Yusuke swallowed, his brain stopped thinking, and he felt Yamada Kaoru's icy gaze beside him.
It was April, but his hands and feet were freezing.
Kato Nana watched him with a smile, her pink lips parted as she whispered softly:
"I'm sorry, Yusuke."
"If I don't stand on Hoshino-kun's side, he'll definitely bully me again."
"Just like he did in the restroom earlier."