Tokyo: My Girlfriend

As evening fell and school ended, Shinichi Kitagawa, Rena Kitagawa, and the others seemed to leave the school chatting and laughing as usual.

But this time, on his way home, Shinichi Kitagawa's eyes unconsciously glanced at the office in the teaching building.

Rena Kitagawa ran over and blocked Shinichi Kitagawa's view with her body, then whispered, "Brother, what do you want to eat tonight?"

Kitagawa Shinichi snapped out of his daze and, noticing her intense gaze, forced a smile: "Let's make stewed pork ribs."

"Okay, let's hurry up and get home soon. Stewing pork ribs will take some time." She grabbed Kitagawa Shinichi's arm, wanting to leave this troublesome place as soon as possible.

Akemi Aoki asked in confusion, "Stewed pork ribs? How long will it take before we can have dinner? Isn't Rena-chan going shopping with me tonight? And you two, don't walk so fast!"

Aoki Hirano quickened his pace: "Yeah, even if it's stewed pork ribs, you don't need to walk this fast!"

Rena Kitagawa didn't pay much attention to the others: "It doesn't matter when we go shopping or anything, it doesn't necessarily have to be today. I wasn't planning on going anyway. My brother and I need to go home early today."

After saying that, she glanced sideways in the direction of the teaching building, as if warning someone not to provoke Xin Yi, and continued to quicken her pace.

In the teachers' office of the teaching building, Haruhi saw through the window that Reina Kitagawa was holding Shinichi Kitagawa's arm.

She had seen the cold look Kitagawa Rena gave her when she turned her head; she had indeed expected this attitude.

"Ms. Haruna, this is your first time at the school. The headmaster has prepared a welcome banquet for you. Let's get ready and go together."

The teachers didn't leave tonight; they came to invite Haruhi Hina to a get-together.

Haruhi nashita is a common custom in Japan, and similar work gatherings are almost impossible to refuse, whether it's a holiday or the end of the month.

So Haruhi Hina went to a barbecue restaurant with a group of teachers, forced a smile, chatted with everyone, and drank some alcohol.

Around 9 p.m., she was half-drunk and said goodbye to everyone with a smile, then returned to her rented room alone.

Use the key to open the door to the rented room, close the door, and lock it.

Haruhi Hina hadn't even had time to take off her high heels when her smiling face instantly collapsed. She slumped to the ground, bending her legs, hugging her knees, burying her face in her arms, her long hair cascading down her back and onto her chest.

"What a terrible mood... Does eating barbecue taste bland now? I was still fantasizing that maybe I could sneak a meeting with Shinichi on my first day at school... I was fantasizing that Rena might not hate me as much anymore, but it was all just wishful thinking..."

In the bedroom, Haruhi Hina had finished showering and changed into her pajamas, but still feeling down, she could only sit on the bed hugging her knees and video chat with her best friend to cheer herself up.

Kyoko Tamura, also in her pajamas, looked at Hina Haruhi's aggrieved expression in the video with concern: "What's wrong, Hina? What happened? Have you been drinking?"

Haruhi Hina sniffed: "Yeah, I went to the school's welcome party for me."

"Shouldn't that be fun? A welcome party and all that should be lively, right?" Kyoko Tamura, knowing the likely reason, cut to the chase: "It's definitely because of Shinichi. You two talked today? Didn't you say you were in charge of Shinichi's class?"

Haruhi Hina gently shook her head, her face and eyes flushed from the alcohol.

"I didn't say a word, not a single one. We only chatted online for a couple of sentences. I saw that Rena was still the same towards me, so I said that I would maintain a normal teacher-student relationship with Shinichi in the future, and that was it."

"Isn't this pretty much what we expected? While Reina's matter is still unresolved, it's probably better for you and Shinichi to act like normal teacher and student. In fact, even without Reina, the two of you being in the same school means you can't openly do 'that,' otherwise, if the school finds out, it's a serious matter, and your dreams might all disappear."

Spring Sunflower responded listlessly:

"I know, the school had a meeting today, saying that teacher-student relationships are strictly prohibited, and anyone found out will be expelled immediately. Actually, I didn't have any intention of getting back together, but... I don't know if Kyoko can understand." Haruhi Hina covered her face, her voice choked with sobs, as if she wanted to cry:

"I thought I was fully prepared, but the moment I saw Shin-il, and saw that he hadn't even contacted me today, I felt so sad... My stomach hurt terribly when I drank. I never felt this way before I was in a relationship. It's so painful, really so painful."

Kyoko Tamura sighed, unable to offer real-life comfort through the phone: "Your first love... and in this situation no less. I understand how you feel; I've been through it too. But you didn't tell Shinichi about the transfer this time; he didn't blame you for anything, did he?"

She wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes, sniffled, and leaned back on the bed: "No... Shinichi won't yell at me, and even if I don't tell him, he'll definitely know why. Only in this way will Rena not overthink it and think that I've broken off contact with him."

"You two have really had a tough time..."

"There's one more thing, Anzu... I don't know how to tell you. Actually, I should have told you a few days ago. That day, I went to the delivery station to pick up something and I unexpectedly saw a boy on the grass who looked a lot like Shinichi. He was chatting with a girl alone."

"Hmm? Does 'chatting alone' mean literally or...kissing?" Kyoko Tamura tilted her head.

Haruhi Hina, clearly jealous, immediately retorted, "No! What kissing! It was just normal chatting, and I don't even know if it was Shinichi or not. Do you think I'm overthinking things?"

In the video, Kyoko Tamura is holding a beer, smiling silently, and I'm not going to tease her anymore.

"It's not just a little, it's a classic case of overthinking, okay? This kind of unfounded suspicion is the worst thing you can do in a relationship. Besides, you haven't even confirmed that the other person is Xin Yi. You two were just having a normal chat and didn't do anything. So what if it is Xin Yi? He can't possibly not know any girls, can he?"

Haruhi Hina stared at the bed sheet, her pretty fingers fiddling with the pillow, her tone laced with sarcasm:

"I know... I know everything you're saying... I just miss him so much... We broke up after all, and he's living with Rena, so I can't bring myself to message him... My stomach hurts so much..."

"You're only twenty-two... If you're feeling unwell, just buy some stomach medicine, but it's entirely psychological."

Haruhi Hina tentatively asked, "Did you say Shin would send me a message later tonight? Even just a 'Hello, teacher' message?"

Kyoko Tamura felt a strange urge to laugh: "I guessed so."

"Really?" Haruhi Hina immediately perked up, filled with anticipation: "Really? Shinichi will message me tonight?!"

Kyoko Tamura said meaningfully, "You like Shinichi Kitagawa, but doesn't Shinichi Kitagawa like you too? Otherwise, he would have just dumped you and started dating Rena, and then nothing would have happened. So, based on my experience, he will. You can wait and see."

Haruhi Hina suddenly smiled, lay back down, and picked up her phone: "That's true... So what will he send me?"

"I don't know anything about you two, but at most you just exchange messages. He can't come to sleep with you at night, so you still have to get through this lonely night by yourself."

Haruhi Hina chopped her tongue, blushed, and hummed softly, "I didn't even consider that kind of hope, okay? I'm just happy that you sent me a message."

"Speaking of which, I haven't asked you yet, how was your first time together? What kinds of things did you do?" Tamura Kyoko said with a sly look, "Don't tell me that I taught Hina so much, and you just lay there doing nothing."

Haruhi Hina blushed upon hearing this and glared at her best friend. "Why would you ask such a thing? Of course, I did something willingly," she muttered. "I won't tell you the specific details." Remembering that night, she said shyly:

"I can only say that it is a very vivid memory. It felt like my soul was swimming in colorful bubbles, and my whole body was numb. No wonder everyone is addicted to that kind of thing."

"Huh? No wonder you're a teacher, your writing is so good, you can even describe that kind of thing so vividly."

Haruhi Hina was about to click her tongue in surprise when a notification sound rang out. Seeing the sender, she suddenly exclaimed excitedly, "Shinichi? Shinichi actually messaged me! Kyoko's gone, I'll reply to him first! He asked if I was asleep and if I went to the celebration party tonight!"

It hangs up instantly.

Kyoko Tamura exclaimed, "So easily swayed by a pretty face? She just hangs up like that without any warning? Idiot Hina... what kind of love-struck person is she?"

A minute later, Haruhi Hina called again, and Tamura Kyoko looked puzzled: "Why are you calling me again? Aren't you going to talk?"

Haruhi Hina pouted, looking aggrieved: "We only exchanged two sentences, a greeting and a goodnight, and that was it. It feels worse after just two sentences than if we hadn't talked at all, boohoo..."

Kyoko Tamura: "...You two are really something. I guess he was just trying to keep you from overthinking. How about we talk about me to distract you? My boyfriend's birthday is at the end of next month, and he said he's busy again and can't let me go with him. But I'm planning to surprise him. Can you help me think of something?"

"Your boyfriend has something going on his birthday again? You two have been dating for three years and are almost getting married, but you've never celebrated your birthday together. Your boyfriend must be so busy."

"All men with ideals are like this, as long as they don't cheat on their partners."

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On the same night, Shinichi Kitagawa had pork ribs with Rena and then video-chatted with Akemi Aoki.

After taking a shower and lying in bed, I couldn't resist sending a message to Haruhi Hina on my phone, asking if he had attended the welcome banquet today.

The result had just been sent out when there was a knock on the door: "Shinichi? Are you asleep...?" It was Kitagawa Rena's clear and pleasant voice.

Kitagawa Shinichi had to say goodnight to Haruhi Hina before putting down his phone and replying, "Yeah, what's up, Reina? Just come in and talk."

Rena Kitagawa opened the door, wearing only a thin nightgown and carrying a black rabbit plush toy.

For some reason, the shoulder strap on one shoulder fell down, revealing a large expanse of her chest.

Kitagawa Shinichi, his face slightly flushed, quickly turned his head away: "Put your pajamas on properly, what's wrong?"

Rena Kitagawa's voice choked with emotion: "Tonight I want to sleep with Shinichi..."