"Fine, stop your act. I agree," Takashi grumbled at Kuro.
This damn dog, using my own guilt-trip tactics against me. Learning from the enemy, huh?
As soon as it heard that, Kuro immediately dropped its pitiful act, broke free from Yotsuba's embrace, and eagerly rubbed against Takashi.
Takashi leaned down and whispered into Kuro's ear, in a voice only the two of them could hear, "How's that thing I asked you to do going?"
Kuro grinned, and Takashi knew it was done.
"Now find a way to get me close to Two, Three, and Five."
"Woof woof woof (Leave it to me)!"
Kuro had long figured out how to bring Nino, Miku, and Itsuki to Takashi and stage a few "accidental" encounters.
"When do you plan to act?"
"Who are you starting with?"
Right there in front of Ichika and Yotsuba, the man and the dog were whispering away, plotting how to take them down one by one.
"They sure are close."
Yotsuba had no idea what these two were scheming and just thought the master and pet were sharing secrets.
"Yeah," Ichika nodded in agreement.
After saying goodbye to Kuro, Takashi went home, took a shower, put on the Aoba school uniform, and rode his motorcycle to school.
On the train, Kotonoha stepped into the car where she often ran into Takashi. Not seeing him, she glanced at the special lemon tea in her hand, and her eyes dimmed.
In the same train car, Komi Shouko also looked down when she didn't spot Takashi.
She had planned to greet him today.
Class 1-A was as lively as always.
As soon as Takashi pulled out his homework near the window in the back row, Otani Shota and Tanaka Kota immediately took the subjects they needed.
While copying, they said, "Takashi, let's go swimming this week?"
"Wait, let me check."
Takashi pulled out his phone to check his schedule.
Friday he had to accompany Maki to help her out.
Saturday he promised to spend time with Utaha.
He'd been neglecting her lately, and if he didn't see her this week, he'd be cutting off a financial lifeline.
Takashi knew this fake relationship wouldn't last forever—but it wasn't time to end it just yet.
Still, he guessed it wouldn't be long before his relationships with Utaha and Eriri came to a natural end.
Because someone else would lose patience before he did.
On the weekend, he'd be going to a cosplay event with Marin, helping her take photos.
Originally, he didn't intend to include Marin in his "targets."
He only agreed to help her shoot out of politeness.
But the girl actually took it seriously, even saved up the money to pay him.
Takashi didn't really want to go, but he wasn't sure if she'd pull a 'Katsura Kotonoha' and show up at his school.
And the identity he used to meet Marin wasn't "Watanabe Takashi."
Besides, this time it was a paid date.
In Takashi's eyes, money makes the rules.
He had no reason to refuse.
Otani Shota grumbled, "Every time we ask you out, you're busy. Last week too. What the heck are you even busy with this week?"
"Part-time job on Saturday, and I promised to go to the cosplay event with Kitagawa-san to help with photos," Takashi said frankly.
He figured there was no need to hide it.
"With Kitagawa Marin?"
Otani Shota and Tanaka Kota stopped writing and both lunged for Takashi's neck.
"Don't tell me you're dating Kitagawa or something?"
"Weren't you the one who said 'a heart without women draws the blade like a god'? And now you're kissing girls?"
A brother getting a girlfriend = a brother has died.
Everyone knows, once a brother gets a girlfriend, in your heart, he's already dead.
You even need to burn incense for him every year during the Qingming Festival.
"Hey hey, who said I'm dating her? Don't spout nonsense."
Takashi slapped away their hands and said irritably, "Besides, I said my heart is without women, not that you can't have women around you."
"I don't care, I don't care!"
"Unless you take us with you this weekend, we're telling Narii."
Ōtani Shōta and Tanaka Kōta threatened him.
"What does this have to do with her? Do I need her permission for everything I do?"
Takashi was annoyed now.
What, are they making it sound like he's scared of her or something?
Even if they were in a relationship—not saying they are—but even if they were, does that mean he doesn't get any personal space?
Do they think he's one of those whipped guys from Sichuan?
Let him say it now— even if Narii stood right in front of him, he'd still say the same thing.
"What are you guys talking about?"
Narii came back from the bathroom, looking curiously at the three of them horsing around.
"Narii, Takashi is going out with another gir—mhmph!" Ōtani Shōta got cut off mid-sentence when Takashi wrapped an arm around his neck, face calm.
"Oh, they're just trying to drag me to some convention this weekend. I'm not really interested."
"No, he's actually—" Tanaka Kōta tried to pick up where Shōta left off, only to catch a sharp elbow from Takashi in the gut.
Even without much force, the elbow—boosted by Takashi's enhanced strength—hit like a blacksmith's hammer.
Kōta doubled over like a shrimp.
"But since you guys are insisting, I guess I'll just have to reluctantly agree to go," Takashi added, as if nothing happened.
With Tanaka Kōta writhing in pain, Ōtani Shōta also zipped his mouth shut.
"Go where? What's so great about those kinds of places? You're not allowed to go!" Narii objected, clearly unhappy.
Takashi raised an eyebrow. "Are you telling me what to do now?"
"I..." Narii immediately deflated.
Honestly, as long as it wasn't about him and some other girl, Takashi could easily keep her completely under control.
"I just think it's kinda messy at those events," she mumbled.
"Then... how about you guys take me with you this weekend?"
"Would your family even let you go to that kind of place?" Takashi asked.
"I could sneak out without telling them," Narii said smugly.
This girl and her romance brain...
Takashi was seriously impressed—in a bad way.
His gears turning rapidly, he suddenly thought of something and said, "Didn't you say you have some family banquet to attend this weekend?"
"You mean the Sawamura family banquet? That's on Saturday, duh."
It couldn't be that Sawamura family, right?
Japan's not that small… right?
Takashi felt an uneasy chill creep up his spine.
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