"Haruno, did you drink again last night? Doing that too often isn't good."
Last night Hiratsuka had asked her to drink again, and Haruno's condition coming to university this morning wasn't very good.
Because school hours were postponed, Haruno was currently still in university and hadn't officially entered society. However, because campus study time was also postponed, her class schedule wasn't too tight.
Haruno had already begun handling some of the Yukinoshita family's affairs. It was very clear that Madam Yukinoshita was grooming her as the successor.
"It's okay, Nanako, I didn't drink much."
Last night it was Hiratsuka who kept drinking, while complaining about Shinnosuke and gulping down hard liquor.
Haruno, who had interacted with Shinnosuke, knew that the little brat was indeed very troublesome, and even she couldn't do much about him.
Was letting Yukino interact with Shinnosuke right or wrong? Haruno had a feeling that if Yukino spent a long time with Shinnosuke, her younger sister's personality would definitely change a lot, at least she would become more cheerful.
But what was the price? Haruno always had a bad premonition. Her younger sister, whom she had painstakingly raised with love, might run off following that annoying little brat?
Ohara Nanako looked at Haruno with a slight headache. They were both roommates and had a good relationship on campus. Haruno was someone who always liked to push herself, making the gentle Nanako very worried.
Haruno couldn't ignore Nanako's concern.
"Alright, calm down, I know my limits. Shizuka-chan met a student who's giving her a real headache, I'm also a little worried."
Nanako and Haruno were classmates in high school. When they were in their third year, Hiratsuka had just started working and became their teacher.
"Is it possible for there to be a student who gives Hiratsuka-sensei more of a headache than you?"
"There's a little brat named Nohara Shinnosuke, very mature for his age. Letting him hang out with my sister always feels like it will cause trouble."
"Nohara... Shinnosuke?"
Nanako was a little dazed. She seemed to have heard that name somewhere before, why couldn't she remember it?
"Um, just an annoying little brat who acts all grown-up, and also my sister's neighbor."
Nanako nodded, repeatedly saying the name Nohara Shinnosuke in her heart. It clearly felt important, why couldn't she remember it?
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Shinnosuke, who was dozing off in class, was startled by the system's voice.
[Task: Yearning Beyond Time]
[Task Description: Clearly never met, only heard your name, already sensed something was wrong. Her love for you has transcended the boundaries of space and time.]
[Meeting the person you most wanted to protect in your most helpless age, isn't that the biggest regret in life?]
[This time, you already possess the strength and ability to protect.]
[Find her again, perhaps she is also looking for you.]
[Task Reward: Sweet Memories]
Meeting the person he most wanted to protect in his most helpless age?
Shinnosuke recalled memories from another world. In the world where Eriri was Riri, Nohara Shinnosuke's decline was largely due to the age difference between him and Nanako.
I was born when you weren't born, you were born when I was old. I hate that you were born late, you hate that I was born too early.
Their age difference was too great. Nanako chose to go abroad and actively cut off contact.
Because the system task appeared, it meant that after the world line correction, Nanako didn't disappear, but appeared at a more appropriate time.
Taking a deep breath, suppressing the excitement in his heart. Blindly searching was meaningless, and Shinnosuke didn't want to trouble Suotome Ai to help either.
Just like the system task description, he was no longer the potato kid who was still in kindergarten. The 18-year-old Shinnosuke was already a reliable adult.
He wanted to protect everything he loved, protect everyone around him.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
The first week of school ended, and the students of Shuchi'in Academy were about to welcome their first weekend.
Going to the supermarket to buy a box of fruit, Shinnosuke sighed while holding his empty frog wallet.
"Why does pocket money always run out so quickly?"
Returning to the apartment, he met Shiro, who also happened to be coming home.
"What a coincidence, Shiro, you're just getting back too?"
Shiro's expression was a bit helpless. If Shinnosuke hadn't come home, what else could he do? He couldn't open the apartment's anti-theft door!
Carrying Shiro back home, just as he was about to open the door, the door across the hall suddenly opened.
Yukino poked her head out, still looking at him with that trash-seeing gaze, but the words she spoke made Shinnosuke feel very warm.
"Nohara-kun, the biscuits I promised are ready."
"I'm coming right away!"
Not forgetting that Yukino was afraid of dogs, he took Shiro back inside, and put his schoolbag and fruit box back inside as well.
After coming out, Shinnosuke saw that Yukino hadn't closed her door. He pushed the door open and entered her room.
"Yukinon, why is your apartment so big, it even has more rooms than mine!"
"Because the rent is three times more expensive than your apartment."
Yukino sat on the sofa, observing Shinnosuke from top to bottom.
Why was her first friend this unreliable person?
However, since knowing him, Yukino had to admit that she was indeed much happier.
"Yukinon, that, you know, that thing?"
Seeing Shinnosuke looking hesitant, Yukino was slightly dismissive.
'Isn't it just biscuits?'
"It's over there."
Following the direction of Yukino's finger, Shinnosuke saw a box full of biscuits!
"T-this is so many!"
"Yukinon, you're really so generous! I will never forget your kindness in my entire life!"
"Hmm... a lifetime, isn't that still too early?"
Shinnosuke didn't pay attention to what Yukino said. He came to the side of the glittering box, a box full of limited-edition biscuits, strongly attracting his attention.
"Then I'll open it!"
"Just open it, I bought it for you anyway."
Seeing him opening the box, Yukino showed a successful sly smile.
'Let you feel that biscuits are more important than me!'
Quickly opening the box, Shinnosuke saw the limited-edition biscuits he had been longing for.
'Why is the packaging green? Matcha (green tea) flavor? That's strange!'
Picking up a bag of biscuits, looking closely at the packaging, Shinnosuke instantly froze in place, his whole body limp as if his soul had left him, and he slumped to the floor.
'Why... why are there green pepper flavored biscuits?! This is devil food! Yukino is a devil!'