Once Hayasaka had a goal for the day, she immediately got up, did her makeup, and changed into casual clothes—completely different from the usual Teitan High School girls' uniforms or her maid outfit.
After preparing, she opened a door to the Amamiya residence.
Through the door, she saw Ren still dressed in his loungewear.
Hayasaka stepped out from the dimensional space and walked forward, arriving before Ren.
They exchanged a few polite greetings, and Hayasaka immediately noticed the beautifully wrapped gift box in Ren's hands.
"So you brought me a birthday present?"
"Yeah, it's a gift for you."
Ren didn't deny it and handed her the wrapped box.
Hayasaka paused slightly before accepting the gift.
"I'll open it then."
She slowly lifted the lid, revealing a silver necklace with a green gemstone inside.
The necklace was exquisitely crafted, and the gemstone's vibrant green stood out.
With her eye for detail, Hayasaka could tell it wasn't from a luxury brand, but its design was elegant and refined.
"I thought, since you're always helping Kaguya and doing housework, you're often dealing with water and using your hands a lot. So, I figured things like bracelets or watches wouldn't be very practical. A necklace seemed more suitable."
Listening to Ren's reasoning, Hayasaka nodded slightly.
Indeed, with her line of work, bracelets or wristwatches would be in the way. Wearing them might hinder her movement.
"Thank you. I really like it."
She lifted the necklace from the box, her expression genuinely happy.
"Well then… it's a bit hard for me to put it on myself. Could I trouble you for a moment?"
"Sure."
Can a girl not wear a necklace by herself? Ren found the thought a little funny.
Still, he nodded and took the necklace from her hands, walking behind her.
Standing behind Hayasaka, he had a clear view thanks to his slightly taller height. Her fair skin practically glowed under the morning light.
His hands reached around to bring the necklace forward, and his fingers accidentally brushed her neck, causing her body to flinch slightly.
"Sorry."
Hayasaka shook her head. The warmth of his fingers on her neck had made her unusually sensitive—maybe because he was behind her.
"It's fine. That's just normal contact."
Ren carefully fastened the clasp, doing his best not to touch her unnecessarily.
Once the necklace was secured, Hayasaka slowly turned around. As she did, a faint blush had already crept onto her face. She was clearly a bit too sensitive.
Lowering her head, she gently pinched the green gemstone with her fingers.
"How does it look?"
"It's beautiful. The green gemstone really brings out the blue in your eyes. And with your skin tone, it stands out even more."
Ren didn't hold back his praise. Beauty deserved acknowledgment, and there was no need to exaggerate.
After all, Hayasaka was indeed beautiful.
She was the perfect blend of East and West. Her blonde hair, blue eyes, and fair complexion had a Western charm, while her delicate, doll-like face had the elegance of the East. Her personality, much like Kaguya's, leaned toward traditional refinement.
In short, Hayasaka's charm wasn't inferior to Shinomiya Kaguya's in the slightest.
The praise was genuine and direct, and a radiant smile bloomed across her face.
It wasn't one of her usual practiced smiles, but a sincere one from the heart.
"Well, now it's even prettier."
Ren admired her smile and couldn't help but sigh softly.
"Just like I said before, you should smile more often, Hayasaka. Your smile is really beautiful."
"That's a very straightforward compliment"
Even so, Hayasaka's joy only grew. She was truly happy.
It feels nice to have someone remember your birthday… Hayasaka suddenly realized the value of birthdays.
She had never cared much about when her birthday was. Or rather, she had never taken birthdays seriously.
Her parents had always been busy with their own affairs and rarely had the time to celebrate her birthday. In the past, under Shinomiya Oko's surveillance, that scumbag never cared about her birthday. He only cared whether she was still keeping an eye on Kaguya.
That's why she never paid much attention to her own birthday.
But now, she understood how meaningful a birthday could be.
"…But I do like compliments, so I'll accept it."
"So, is there a cake today?"
"I did prepare a cake. But are you sure you want to eat it?"
"Well, cakes are sweet and not great for maintaining your figure. But since it's just once a year, it's okay to indulge a little."
With that, Hayasaka raised her arm. Her slender figure looked no different from usual, but the strength behind it had increased significantly.
"Lately, since I've been eating sea king meat every day, my body's been getting stronger really fast. As my physical ability improves, my daily calorie intake has increased a lot too. Naturally, my weight's gone up."
Hayasaka's expression dimmed slightly as she spoke.
Now she could understand the kind of troubles Ran often faced. As a girl, she cared about her weight. But increased muscle density meant the most direct result—gaining weight.
"Even though it's not as noticeable as Ran's case, I've definitely gained a lot."
Her face was full of melancholy.
"Because we've been eating sea king meat more frequently, the amount I eat has also increased. I feel like it's going to be hard for Miss Kaguya and me to manage our weight from now on."
"The only good news is that, even though we've gained weight, we haven't put on any visible fat."
That was probably the only thing Hayasaka could find comfort in.
(To be continued.)
***
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