Haruno sat in Genichi's apartment with her legs crossed, her posture so elegant she looked as though she were in her own home.
Today, she wore a beige dress. The hem fell just above her knees, revealing a section of her pale, slender calves.
Her hair was casually draped over her shoulders, and she wore light makeup. Compared to usual, her entire presence seemed much softer.
"Mother wants to invite you to our home as a guest."
She spoke in a bright voice, but her eyes remained fixed on Genichi, carrying a hint of expectation.
"So what exactly does that mean?"
Genichi leaned back against the sofa, holding a glass of water. When he heard her words, the corner of his mouth lifted into a faint, meaningful smile.
How could he not know Mrs. Yukinoshita's attitude toward him?
Back then, although that woman had not directly demanded that he leave Haruno, she had made one thing very clear—Haruno's future husband would not be an ordinary person.
The meaning beneath those words was obvious. Genichi was not worthy of Haruno, so he should not indulge in impossible fantasies.
At the time, he truly had been nothing more than an ordinary orphan, surviving only because of the Yukinoshita family's financial support.
In that woman's eyes, he had been an insignificant existence. A pitiful nobody who should never harbor any inappropriate thoughts toward her daughter.
But now?
"How realistic."
Genichi said it outright, without the slightest concern that Haruno was present.
His tone carried a faint trace of mockery, but there was no anger or resentment in it. He was simply stating a fact.
When Haruno heard that, she wrinkled her nose in dissatisfaction.
She stretched out her foot and lightly kicked Genichi's thigh with the tip of her toes.
"I'm still sitting right here, you know. Is it really appropriate to be that blunt?"
Genichi lowered his gaze and looked at the foot kicking him.
It was a delicate foot, fair as jade, with rounded toes and pale pink polish on the nails.
Through the sheer stockings, he could faintly see the soft skin beneath.
He had to admit, Haruno's feet were indeed very soft and pretty.
If it had been someone with a particular preference, they might have been unable to resist the urge to taste them.
But Genichi had no such thoughts.
He simply reached out and caught the foot that was kicking him.
Haruno's movement instantly froze.
She could feel his hand gripping her ankle, his palm warm and strong.
That sensation sent an unfamiliar feeling through her heart.
Holding her foot, Genichi raised his head and looked at her, his gaze as calm as still water.
"Our relationship hasn't reached the point where you can touch me this recklessly, has it?"
His voice was soft, but it carried a meaningful edge.
Haruno's face flushed slightly, but she quickly regained her composure.
Not only did she not pull her foot back, she even deliberately wiggled it, looking at him provocatively.
"Then are you going to refuse?"
Her voice carried a teasing note, along with a trace of nervousness even she herself had not noticed.
Genichi looked at her and was silent for a moment.
Then he let go.
Haruno's foot dropped back onto the sofa, but her heart sank slightly.
He let go.
Did that mean… he was rejecting her?
But Genichi's next words left her stunned.
"I won't take the initiative. I won't refuse. I won't take responsibility."
His voice was as calm as if he were discussing the weather.
"That is my stance. If you still want to rush toward the flame like a moth, then I won't stop you."
Haruno's eyes widened.
Wouldn't take the initiative?
Wouldn't refuse?
Wouldn't take responsibility?
What was that supposed to mean?
What kind of attitude was that?
"Scumbag!"
Furious, she grabbed the cushion beside her and hurled it hard at Genichi.
The cushion drew an arc through the air and struck him squarely in the face.
Genichi did not dodge. He simply let the cushion hit him, then slide down.
Looking at Haruno's puffed-up expression, he could not help laughing.
The smile was faint, but it carried a touch of sincerity.
"That already makes me a scumbag?"
He said softly, "I'm only telling you the truth."
Haruno glared at him, her chest rising and falling. Clearly, he had angered her badly.
But she was Haruno Yukinoshita, after all. She soon calmed down.
Taking a deep breath, she looked at Genichi, her gaze turning serious.
"Genichi-kun, are you rejecting me?"
Genichi shook his head.
"I'm not rejecting you. I'm just telling you where I stand."
He paused, his tone becoming even calmer.
"Haruno-nee, you should understand that I'm different from ordinary people. My world, my life, and my future are no longer things you can imagine. If you choose to get close to me, you may have to face many things you can't foresee."
Haruno was silent for a moment, then asked, "Such as?"
"Such as the fact that I could die at any moment. Or that I might become something that is no longer me."
Genichi's voice was light, but every word was genuine.
"That is why I won't actively pursue you, and I won't actively approach you. But if you choose to approach me, I won't refuse you either. I simply can't take responsibility for you."
He looked at Haruno. There was no evasion in his eyes.
"That is my stance. You can choose to keep coming closer, or you can choose to stop here. I'll accept either."
Haruno fell silent.
She looked at the boy in front of her, and a strange emotion welled up inside her heart.
He was telling the truth.
She could tell.
He was not playing hard to get, nor was he testing her. He was honestly telling her that getting close to him might be dangerous.
And that he would not take responsibility.
That meant if she chose to approach him, she would have to bear all the consequences herself.
She could not complain. She could not regret it. She could not demand that he take responsibility.
Those were his rules.
Haruno took a deep breath, then slowly exhaled.
She looked at Genichi, and the corner of her mouth suddenly curved into a smile.
In that smile, there was stubbornness, unwillingness to lose, and a gentleness even she herself had not noticed.
"Genichi-kun, do you know something?"
Genichi raised an eyebrow.
"Since I was little, no one has ever dared to speak to me like that."
She stood, walked up to Genichi, and looked down at him from above.
"You won't take the initiative. You won't refuse. You won't take responsibility, right?"
She bent down and leaned close to his face, so close they could almost feel each other's breath.
"Then I'll show you exactly what it means to be a moth flying into the flame."
After saying that, she lightly kissed his cheek, then straightened and turned toward the door.
When she reached the entrance, she stopped and looked back at him.
"Oh, right, Genichi-kun."
"Mm?"
"Come to my house for dinner tomorrow. Mother will be cooking personally. You're not allowed to refuse."
With that, she pushed open the door and left. The sound of her heels gradually faded down the corridor.
Genichi sat on the sofa and touched the cheek she had kissed. He could not help smiling.
There was a trace of helplessness in that smile, a trace of admiration, and something else he could not quite put into words.
"A moth flying into the flame, huh…"
He murmured.
"Then let me see how far you can fly."
(End of Chapter)
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