Chapter 716 - 716: Work and Delivering Lunch

The Phasmophobia development team got straight to work as soon as they arrived at the company today. Since there was no meeting scheduled, everyone focused entirely on development.

With only one month left before release, everyone understood how tight the schedule had become. No one wanted to waste even a single minute.

Seeing Ichin arrive, Umiko waved him over.

"Come take a look. We've finished creating all the ghosts, and all of their attack animations are done too. The only thing left is fine tuning their AI."

"Oh? Everything's finished already? That was fast."

Umiko smiled.

"We actually had most of it finished last Friday. We just didn't tell you. This part of the project wasn't due until this Friday, so we've got plenty of time left to work on the ghost AI."

Ichin nodded approvingly.

"Good job, everyone. Since you've finished ahead of schedule, let's move on to the next phase. The art team can finish the remaining maps, while the programming and balancing teams continue refining the ghosts."

Before long, Ichin had completely immersed himself in work.

The morning flew by under his focused pace.

At eleven o'clock, Utaha and Yukino drove to the company.

Carrying a bag filled with lunch boxes, the two walked into the development department.

Standing behind Ichin, Utaha smiled as she gently patted him on the head.

Only then did Ichin snap out of his concentration. He turned around, saw Utaha and Yukino, and took off his headset.

"You're here already? Give me one minute. I'll save everything first."

After saving his work, Ichin took the lunch bag Utaha handed him and left the company.

Watching him leave so quickly, Umiko asked curiously,

"Where's he going?"

Utaha smiled.

"He's taking lunch to Haruno. Umiko, we made some mung bean soup this morning. Come to the cafeteria later and everyone can have some together."

Umiko looked thoughtfully at Utaha and Yukino before nodding.

"Sounds good."

Meanwhile, carrying the lunch Utaha and Yukino had prepared, Ichin drove straight to Haruno's company.

After parking, he entered the building.

The receptionist recognized him, so no one stopped him and he was allowed inside immediately.

After asking an employee whether Haruno was in her office, he headed straight there.

Standing outside the office door, Ichin took a deep breath.

For some reason... he suddenly felt a little nervous.

That's weird. I wasn't even the one who took the initiative that day, so why am I the one getting nervous?

Thinking that, he quickly calmed down.

It's just Haruno. What's there to be afraid of?

Raising his hand, he knocked on the office door.

Inside, Haruno was busy working. Without even looking up, she simply said,

"Come in."

Ichin pushed open the door and walked inside.

There she was, dressed in a neat business suit, completely focused on the documents before her.

He walked over, placed the lunch on the coffee table, then leisurely approached her desk and glanced over the files she was working on.

Hearing the door open but no one speaking, Haruno frowned and finally looked up.

Only then did she notice Ichin standing beside her.

"...?"

Her eyes filled with confusion before her cheeks slowly turned red.

"Y-You... why are you here?"

"Why can't I be?"

Leaning casually against her desk, Ichin smiled.

"I'm here to bring you lunch. I had to come here to do that, didn't I?"

"Huh? Wasn't Yukino supposed to bring it?"

The moment he heard that, Ichin understood.

So Utaha and Yukino had tricked Haruno from the beginning, telling her Yukino would be the one delivering lunch. That was why she'd agreed.

Seeing Haruno pouting with an unhappy expression, Ichin couldn't help laughing.

"I never expected you'd get fooled by your own little sister one day. So? How does it feel?"

"Not great."

Haruno turned her head away and huffed.

"My Yukino has been completely corrupted by you and Utaha."

"I think it's a good change."

Seeing that Haruno refused to even look at him, Ichin smiled, leaned down close to her ear, and whispered,

"Yukino told me... you remember everything that happened that day."

As soon as she heard that, Haruno immediately turned back with an indignant look.

"Why does she tell everyone every..."

The moment she turned her head, her lips accidentally brushed against Ichin's.

Both of them froze.

Feeling the warm softness against his lips, Ichin stared at Haruno, who was only inches away.

The next moment, without any hesitation, he raised a hand, gently held the back of her head, and kissed her.

Five minutes later, Ichin finally let go of Haruno, whose face was now completely flushed.

Lightly pinching her cheek, he smiled.

"Alright. That's enough work for now. Come eat."

"..."

Taking a couple of deep breaths, Haruno glared at Ichin, who had already sat down on the sofa and was unpacking lunch.

She walked over, clearly annoyed.

"What exactly do you think you're doing?"

"Hm?"

Ichin looked up at her, grabbed her hand, and gently pulled her down onto the sofa beside him.

"Weren't you the one who leaned toward me? I simply went with the flow."

Opening one of the lunch boxes, he looked pleasantly surprised.

"Oh! We have chicken wings and braised pork today. They're all your favorites."

Just as he reached for the soup, he suddenly lost his balance and fell backward onto the sofa.

Haruno had pounced directly onto him.

Looking up at Haruno, who was now above him, Ichin blinked.

"Um... should we eat first?"

Haruno slowly licked her lips and pressed both hands against his shoulders.

"I think we should clear something up first. What exactly are you trying to do?"

Ichin blinked once before answering honestly,

"I thought about it after getting home yesterday. I realized... I really can't let go of you, Haruno. And since both Utaha and Yukino agreed... I figured I should actually do something."

"Mmm... just as I thought."

Haruno pouted.

"I knew those two had ulterior motives when they talked to me last night."

She looked down at Ichin.

"You've got it easy, don't you? Planning to have both sisters?"

"Well... You're just too beautiful. I really do like you."

After living together for so long, it was impossible for there not to be feelings between them. Coupled with everything that had happened recently, it had led them to this situation, one that had once seemed almost impossible.

Hearing his honest confession, the corners of Haruno's lips slowly curled upward.

"Hmph. That certainly sounds nice."

"But I'm not someone who'll surrender that easily."

Facing Haruno's stubborn words, Ichin slowly wrapped both arms around her waist before sitting upright.

Holding her in his embrace, he watched as Haruno's gaze began to wander shyly.

Smiling gently, he asked,

"So, Haruno... would you be willing to give me a chance?"

...

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