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Chapter 40: A Chance for the Future

A loud sigh disrupted a certain woman from all her thoughts. Thus, she turned to the long-haired man who is anxiously sitting in front of the dean's office, waiting for his turn for the interview. She noticed the way he's shaking his knees to relieve himself off the tension he's feeling.

"Hey, you're gonna be fine." With her remark, a pair of golden eyes looked up to her.

"Sorry, I'm just scared how I'll answer their questions. This is the first time I did something like this." He honestly confessed.

Having cold feet in situations like this is completely normal. However, seeing someone so tough feel this way is a new sight for the brunette. She instantly remembered her upcoming interview in the coming week.

"You're going to be okay, Kazutora-kun. Just be yourself and try to relax while answering. They're not there to criticize you, they're there to listen to what you have to say."

Her gray eyes met his yellow eyes once again. She noticed how his expression relaxed and softened hearing those. Indeed, she said what he wanted to hear. After all, those words are for her too.

"Thank you...for being here with me, Yukino."

Yukino was startled when the long-haired man suddenly held her hand while saying those and directly looking to her eyes.

"I wouldn't know what to do if you're not here." He added, still staring directly to her eyes.

"Kazutora Hanemiya-san." The two turned to a woman holding a white folder called upon him. She's the secretary of the dean.

"I guess it's my turn." He said, and then stood up from his seat.

"All the best of good luck, Kazutora-kun."

"Thank you, Yukino. I'll see you later." Was the last thing he said before leaving with the secretary and into the dean's office.

---

Twenty minutes have passed now, and still no Kazutora has appeared before a certain doctor who hadn't left her post ever since earlier. Her sight never left the entrance where the man entered earlier.

"Wonder how he's doing in there." She muttered to herself.

"Kei-kun, he didn't...fail, right?"

As if her prayers have been answered, a group of professional-looking men and women came out and walked past her. There were seven of them. The last person made eye contact with her, and she had almost enough time to memorize his face.

"Hey, sorry if that took too much time."

She turned to the man who she was waiting for quite some time now.

"No, it's fine. Shall we have lunch now? I brought some bento boxes." She smiled to the man and then showed the bag that she has been carrying.

"You—you didn't have to bother yourself over something like that." The man was hesitant. He was the one who bothered the doctor, it should be his obligation to treat her. And yet, she's still the one who had to prepare their lunch. She even had to wait for him until lunchtime so he thought that it would be his role to spoil the woman, not the other way around.

"I don't mind. I wanted to cook your favorite meal today to congratulate you."

Kazutora literally had to scratch his nape hearing her say that to hide his red smitten face.