"So... Forget it, this should be quicker than explaining it."
Hayasaka pulled her phone out of her pocket and tapped the screen.
Then, an indescribable panting sound began. Shinichi watched as Kei gradually went from startled to surprised, and then showed an expression that couldn't be understood, then pressed the pause button to let the room return to silence.
"Was that... a recording?"
"I caught someone eavesdropping outside, so I just teased them a little~" Wearing a dignified maid uniform and using the tone of a sexy girl, Hayasaka crossed her arms and smiled.
Kei wanted to say something, thinking she had eavesdropped wrong. She quickly took a deep breath to calm herself and said stiffly:
"May I ask why you did this?"
Hayasaka smiled back and asked: "Well then, middle school girl, what's your reason for hiding outside the door and eavesdropping?"
"It's for potato soup!" Kei blurted out unintentionally, but when she saw the surprised expressions on both of them, her face turned bright red and she quickly changed the subject.
"It's my fault for eavesdropping out of curiosity. I admit that, and I'm willing to apologize to you... But isn't it too much to tease me like this?"
"Too much? Where?" Hayasaka walked closer step by step.
"I dream of becoming a voice actress. When I got a role that required me to breathe, I went to my friend for help. I hoped he could judge from a male perspective whether my breathing was good or not, and whether I could meet the voice director's requirements. I wore the maid uniform just to get closer to the character, but I didn't expect you to eavesdrop outside the door..."
Standing in front of Kei, the disguise of the sexy girl disappeared as Hayasaka looked at her, and her tone returned to its usual coldness.
"So, am I the one going overboard? Or are you the one eavesdropping? Or the guy who brings home a woman but doesn't report it to you?"
"I..." Kei couldn't speak, she wanted to secretly glance at Shinichi, but then bit her lip, staring coldly into Hayasaka's eyes.
"You just said 'teasing', are all these reasons fabricated?"
"Do you believe what I say?"
"I believe in your motive but not your reason. I'm still confident in my judgment."
"Even though the reason is wrong, what's it got to do with you?"
Kei looked towards Shinichi again and asked seriously: "Senpai, am I your friend?"
Glancing at Hayasaka from the corner of his eye, Shinichi answered: "Of course."
Upon hearing this, Kei crossed her arms in front of her chest, slightly raising her chin, and her cold face showed confidence.
"Sorry, that's what it's about."
"...Tsk, you're quite articulate." Hayasaka half-squinted her eyes, feeling belittled by a young girl made her slightly unhappy.
"You flatter me." Even if the other party is a senior, as long as she wants to say something, Kei won't beat around the bush, "What about you? What's your relationship with Senpai? Maid uniform and entering his house?"
"Friends don't ask too many questions."
"I ask a lot about my friends, so forgive me."
Neither gave way to each other, they just stared at each other, with the same cold expression.
As for Shinichi, he had no role to play in the women's quarrel, he also got a signal from Hayasaka telling him not to speak and just watch from the sidelines.
The two girls stood facing each other for quite some time, and finally, Hayasaka took the lead to break the deadlock.
"Um, there won't be any result if we keep arguing. That's it. It's time for me to get back to work..." Suddenly she laughed, with a hint of mockery.
"By the way, the potato soup's taste is a bit lacking. Remember to add more bonito sauce next time, Kei-chan."
Kei was stunned for a moment, then shifted her gaze expressionlessly, her cold eyes freezing Shinichi.
"Senpai, did you give her the potato soup I made...?"
"No, I didn't." Although he didn't know what Hayasaka was planning, Shinichi still raised his hand and stated the truth, "I put your potato soup in the fridge, and I planned to heat it up and have it for dinner tonight. It's untouched."
Kei's expression softened slightly, and she nodded gently: "Good..."
Turning back, she met Hayasaka's meaningful gaze and listened to her smile and speak.
"You're possessive, aren't you? Can only your beloved Senpai eat the food you cook?"
"That's not the issue!" Kei panicked, quickly biting her lip, grabbing the hem of her shirt, and replying.
"Besides, I gave it to Senpai... Even though I made a lot of food, he gave it to a stranger without saying anything. From a cook's perspective, it's reasonable for me to feel unhappy..."
Hayasaka blinked: "Right, so what's weird about that?"
"Of course!"
Kei's tone was firm, and as she was about to breathe a sigh of relief, she saw Hayasaka turn around and hug Shinichi's arm.
In her shocked gaze, Hayasaka tilted her head and lifted the corner of her mouth.
"So, if I'm with him... As his girlfriend, it's okay if I eat the potato soup you gave me, right?"
There's a serious logic flaw in this statement. With her usually calm self, Kei would never be fooled.
But for some reason, seeing them sticking together, yet Shinichi not rejecting, her cheeks puffed up in anger, and dissatisfaction swelled in her heart.
Kei took a step to separate them.
However, Hayasaka's sharp gaze made her stop all her actions.
"..."
The anxious steps froze in the middle, the angry expression froze on her face, and the dizzy head slowly cleared.
Kei slowly turned her eyes and looked at Shinichi's gaze. Although she didn't speak, she could see something in his eyes.
Her actions were too obvious.
Even the unclear feelings couldn't be determined yet, it's clearly just ambiguous personal interests, but she did something impulsive.
So did the potato stew, maybe she had long seen that it was just an excuse, right?
"..."
Her arms hung weakly by her side, and she clenched her fists little by little.
Kei bowed her head, and after a few moments of silence, she turned around and walked towards the stairs.
"Excuse me."
Her voice sounded so soft that it could disappear anytime with the wind.
Her long lavender hair fluttered behind her, and her figure fled.
Not long after, there was a thud, and the sound of the door being forcefully closed was heard from above.
Only Hayasaka and Shinichi were left, staring at each other on the first floor.