[87] Why do I keep running into you everywhere?

The two of them eventually found themselves in front of an Izakaya named "Aji no Ma." An Izakaya, in simple terms, was a place where people could sit down and enjoy alcoholic drinks. Originally, Izakayas only served alcohol, as the name suggests, but over time, they started offering a variety of appetizers. Nowadays, many Izakayas even served cooked dishes and had evolved into something like small restaurants.

Given the demanding nature of Japanese jobs, many people enjoyed unwinding after work by visiting an Izakaya with a few friends. It was a way to shed the day's fatigue and strengthen social bonds.

"Aji no Ma" had traditional wooden doors instead of a modern glass entrance. Upon entering, a gentle warmth enveloped them, accompanied by the friendly voice of the owner.

Taking a quick look around, the place was not large, boasting only a few tables and a circular counter. The decor was plain and simple, lacking the opulence of upscale restaurants, but it exuded a sense of neatness and cleanliness.

"Welcome! What can I get for you two?" The owner, a middle-aged man in his forties, stood behind the counter in a chef's uniform, wearing a warm smile.

After a brief glance at the menu on the wall, Hachiman casually placed his order, "I'll have the eel rice and a portion of fried shrimp."

It being early summer, eel was in season, making it exceptionally delicious.

After placing his order, Hachiman turned to the girl beside him. "Utaha, what would you like to eat?"

"I'll have an omelet rice and a hamburger steak, then."

With their orders placed, the two of them found a seat at an empty table tucked away in a corner.

It wasn't long before Hachiman heard the sound of whistling from outside the shop, followed by the screeching of brakes. The door swung open, and a familiar voice reached his ears.

"Yo, boss, I'm back. A pot of sake and two dishes of appetizers."

Hearing this voice, Hachiman felt a headache coming on.

The person who entered was a tall woman with waist-length hair, clad in a white coat, exuding a decidedly cool aura.

"Welcome, Hiratsuka-san," the owner of the Izakaya greeted her with a smile.

Indeed, the woman was none other than the beloved Shizuka Hiratsuka.

Why do I keep running into you everywhere?

Did you just return from another blind date?

Hachiman thought to himself, noting the delicate makeup on Shizuka's face.

All he desired at this moment was to enjoy his meal in peace and hope that Shizuka wouldn't notice him.

However, fate rarely unfolds as smoothly as one hopes.

After placing her order, Shizuka scanned the Izakaya for an empty table, and that's when her gaze locked onto a familiar figure.

A sly smile curled on her lips as she made her way directly toward him.

"Bang!"

"Kid, what a coincidence, bumping into you again."

As Hachiman was silently wishing for an inconspicuous meal, he suddenly felt a heavy slap on his back, followed by Shizuka's familiar voice ringing in his ear.

"Ouch."

That slap wasn't gentle by any means, and even with his current physique, it stung.

"Ow, Hiratsuka-sensei, are you trying to end me? That's not how a teacher should behave."

"Come on, I know you well enough. You took one of my punches even when you were injured," Shizuka waved her hand dismissively as she took a seat next to him.

"Let's spar sometime. With your skills, you should be able to handle it."

"No way, I can't beat you," Hachiman replied, glancing at his Level 3 fighting skill on his internal panel and smirking.

Soon enough, when I reach Level 4, the tables will turn.

"And Shizuka-sensei, are you sure it's okay to be so violent? Be careful not to scare away any potential boyfriends," Hachiman remarked, a hint of mischief in his tone.

Shizuka's expression soured immediately upon hearing this.

"Don't talk to me about boyfriends. I just scared another one away today."

"I bet it's your curse," Hachiman quipped, looking unimpressed.

"If my curse were that effective, I'd have cursed myself to have ten or eight girlfriends," he thought to himself.

Utaha, seated next to Hachiman, observed their conversation with curiosity. From their exchange, she gathered that this elegant and beautiful woman was Hachiman's teacher and that Hachiman had somehow "cursed" her.

"Hachiman, who is this?" she inquired.

Hachiman suddenly remembered he wasn't alone today and promptly introduced Utaha to his teacher.

"Utaha-senpai, this is my homeroom and Japanese teacher, Hiratsuka Shizuka."

However, before he could finish, Shizuka interrupted him.

"No need to introduce her."

Hachiman was about to introduce Utaha to Shizuka when she halted him.

"I've heard of this student, the second-year genius Kasumigaoka Utaha."

"Hiratsuka-sensei, you're too kind. 'Genius' is too generous a term for me," Utaha replied modestly, her smile radiating grace.

"You don't have to be so humble. Based on your grades, you're definitely worthy of being called a genius."

That much was undeniable. This girl could seemingly sleep through every class and still secure the top spot in her grade.

"But..."

After scrutinizing Utaha, Shizuka redirected her gaze to Hachiman, her tone tinged with malice.

"You're really something, kid. You just had a date with Yuigahama-san not long ago, and today you've already moved on to another one, and she's the school's dream girl. Impressive."

Kasumigaoka Utaha was clearly dressed up for today, and in Shizuka's eyes, it appeared that the two were on a date.

Shizuka's eyes flashed with a dangerous glint, and in her mind, Hachiman had transformed into a scoundrel who enjoyed playing with girls' feelings.

Just as she was about to deliver what she dubbed a "love punch," Kasumigaoka Utaha spoke up.

"Hiratsuka-sensei, you've misunderstood. Hachiman and I were just conducting some research today."

"Research?" Shizuka looked puzzled.

"Yes, we were just doing some research," Utaha affirmed.

"Utaha-senpai is also a light novel author, just like me," Hachiman interjected, taking control of the conversation and providing an explanation.

While the research process was essentially a date, he couldn't admit to it outright. Otherwise, Shizuka would undoubtedly punish him with a punch.

"I didn't expect that besides you, Kasumigaoka-san is also a light novel author," Shizuka remarked, her surprise evident as she looked at Kasumigaoka Utaha.

"As expected of the second-year genius Kasumigaoka Utaha."

"Hiratsuka-sensei, you're too kind. I can't compare to Hachiman-kun when it comes to light novels," Utaha responded modestly.

Indeed, that was the truth. Hachiman's first volume alone had sold almost 200,000 copies, while Utaha had just barely reached 10,000. They were in entirely different leagues.

But what was occupying Kasumigaoka Utaha's thoughts at this moment wasn't sales figures, but a name.

Yuigahama...

She must be one of the two girls who brought Hachiman a bento before.