Tokyo: Let the wicked women pay the price!

This was Fujino's first time eating French food.

A magnificent crystal chandelier hangs in the center of the restaurant, and the decor is opulent and luxurious.

The uniforms worn by the waiters and waitresses all looked quite expensive.

Moreover, the guests who came and went all seemed to be either rich or noble.

At that time in Tokyo, French cuisine was still considered a luxury.

This is clearly not a place where a poor doctor like Fujino and a country bumpkin teacher like Hanako can just come to casually.

However, Hanako pulled out a black card.

Thanks to Hanako, the lobby manager led them to the best seats in the lobby.

A scenic viewpoint by the floor-to-ceiling windows.

To Fujino's left were skyscrapers that were gradually beginning to flash neon lights.

He only needs to tilt his head to see the distant sunset, the glass curtain wall outside the building, and the pedestrians on the ground as small as grains of rice.

Fujino's Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed.

"How about we switch seats?"

"There are no other seats available. Isn't this place good?"

Fujino's question was met with Hanako's sweet smile.

She sat opposite Fujino, looking somewhat awkwardly at the grilled chicken cutlet that had been served.

To Fujino's surprise, Hanako's use of the knife and fork was surprisingly awkward.

Perfect timing, he was looking for a way to distract himself.

Sitting by the window of the skyscraper, the suffocating feeling of being afraid of heights made him feel a little breathless.

"Let me help you."

Although he hasn't eaten much Western food in his life, he certainly enjoyed the cheap steaks in his previous life.

Cutting a pork chop... is not a difficult task.

Besides, it's not like he's never cut a steak before.

Watching Hanako deftly and quickly cut the chicken cutlet into bite-sized pieces, she provided plenty of emotional value.

"Kazuke-kun, are you this good at this too?"

She smiled somewhat awkwardly, her cheeks slightly flushed.

"After all, I come from the countryside. After arriving in Tokyo, I was studying for university entrance exams. Teachers' salaries aren't very high, so I don't eat Western food much."

She nodded slightly, seemingly apologetic: "I'm sorry you had to see this."

Even the black card she just received was forced upon her by that despicable woman, Miho Waka.

If it weren't for Kazuhiko, Hanako would never have used her things in her entire life!

Fujino stopped wielding his knife, a realization dawning on him.

He was just wondering why this young lady didn't know how to use a knife and fork, but she took the initiative to explain it to him.

They're even apologizing?

"No, there's no need to apologize, Hanako-chan."

"And what about you, Kazuhiko-kun?"

Fujino was somewhat speechless and waved his hand.

He said that although he seemed successful, he owed a lot of scholarship money and his monthly life was quite tight. He even rented an apartment in a cheap area like Adachi Ward.

Hehehe—

Both of them were laughing awkwardly.

It's just like a blind date.

Hanako watched Fujino, who seemed distracted, glancing occasionally at the bedside and even trembling slightly.

She felt she couldn't let the conversation drift away like this.

But what should I say?

This problem that plagues men and women on blind dates is something Hanako clearly can't think of any new solutions to.

"And what about your parents, Kazuhiko-kun? Don't they live with you?"

Fujino put down the snail he was about to eat, seemingly hesitant about whether to answer the question.

"Uh, I died in a car accident when I was a child..."

"what?"

Hanako gently covered her mouth, on the verge of tears.

She felt as if she had just been shot while giving a speech in a public square, as if she had precisely hit Fujino's fatal spot.

No! We need to change the subject quickly.

"So you've always lived alone and never been in a relationship?"

Fujino stopped and twirled the spaghetti with his fork...

He scratched his head somewhat awkwardly.

Well, how should I put it?

At least not now.

It's true that he hasn't been in a relationship since leaving his hometown for Tokyo and his previous relationship ended without a trace.

Although Fujino is clueless about love, he knows it's best not to talk about his ex with women.

Besides, how many days and nights have passed?

My first love story has been outdated for a long time.

Just in case, he secretly used the newly acquired item.

Saki's torn stockings

Suddenly, Fujino exuded a sense of loneliness and brokenness, and even his voice sounded hoarse to Hanako's ears.

"No, Hanako-chan. I've been living alone since I came to Tokyo."

Hanako sat opposite Fujino, but felt as if there was a galaxy between them.

There was always a sense of detachment in him when he said this seemingly ordinary sentence.

It wasn't directed at her, but rather seemed to be directed at the world.

He's like someone on another layer, a world unto himself.

She smelled the scent of her own kind.

Hanako did not hesitate.

She quickly sat down next to Fujino and hugged him tightly.

At first, she thought that what attracted her to Fujino was just his gentle scent.

It turns out they are all the same kind of people.

A wanderer who has lost both parents.

This hug was unexpected by Fujino, but this time he didn't tense up. Instead, he relaxed and let Hanako lean on him.

After working so hard for so many years, what's wrong with taking a short rest?

Especially since this woman, who seems gentle in every way, is single-mindedly trying to get close to him.

How could he possibly refuse a hug?

He gently put his arm around Hanako's shoulder.

It was just two lonely souls huddling together for warmth.

Obviously, some people don't think that way.

Hanako moved even closer, her red lips brushing against Fujino's ear, her warm breath sending shivers down his spine.

"Kazuhiko-kun, I'm starting to feel more and more that we're the same kind of people."

Do you think it was fate that we met?

Fujino smiled but did not reply.

He simply forked a piece of chicken cutlet that was browned at the edges.

That's a trace of the Maillard reaction, a fascinating chemical reaction that occurs between sugars and proteins in food.

Just like the wonderful interaction that happens between him and his patients.

Fujino held the fork to Hanako's mouth.

Some things have changed.

Under Hanako's surprised gaze, Fujino smiled slightly and said, "Eat up, why are you looking at me?"

Hanako smiled, her eyes narrowing.

She didn't even bother to snuggle against Fujino's neck; she leaned out and took a bite of the chicken on her fork.

The delicate tongue glides out, as if savoring the unique caramelized aroma on the surface of the chicken cutlet.

She barely chewed before swallowing the chicken cutlet Fujino fed her whole, even greedily sticking out her tongue to lick the rosemary leaf from the corner of her mouth.

Hanako turned Fujino's face to the side and opened his mouth.

Her mouth was so wide open that Fujino could easily see her trembling little tongue.

"Kazuke-kun, I ate it all."

This scene is very heartwarming.

Even the waiters passing by would remark, "They have such a great relationship."

Except for the person standing at the door, clinging tightly to the door frame and sticking out their misty blue head.

Saki used to be a regular at this French restaurant.

But now, she no longer even has the right to enter.

Wearing that tracksuit, Saki stood at the restaurant entrance like a stone sculpture, only her occasional trembling proved that she was an animal.

She didn't even dare to show too much of her body, hiding most of it behind the potted plants.

Saki's hands gripped the door frame so tightly that her knuckles turned white.

She watched Fujino fork up the chicken cutlet and feed it to him, and watched Hanako open her mouth for Fujino to inspect.

For some reason, I felt incredibly sour inside.

I'm craving lemons again.

Suddenly, as if grasping at a last straw, she took out her phone and sent a text message to Fujino.

[Wakaba Saki: Fujino-san, you'll be home tonight, right?]

She could even hear Fujino's phone vibrating, just like it had been at home that morning.

Saki saw Fujino pick up his phone, glance at it, put it back on the table, and continue chatting with Hanako with a big smile.

pat-

A tear fell as she became alert.

"Why? Wasn't I here first?"

......