"Please visit us again."
Walking out of the restaurant, Takashi patted his now-thin wallet, feeling pained.
'That little glutton can really eat.'
He honestly hadn't expected to spend over 9,000 yen at a simple family restaurant one day.
He hadn't even gotten to eat anything.
It had all gone straight into Adagaki Aki's stomach.
Still, it wasn't all bad — at least he now knew that eating out with Adagaki Aki counted as a "date," and he had earned 5,000 points.
That said, why didn't running together with Yotsuba every day count as dating?
'These are all necessary early investments. One day, I'll stuff you full, you little tease, so full you won't be able to hold anything else.'
Takashi began fantasizing while looking at his wallet.
Adagaki Aki got into the private car waiting for her, glancing outside.
Seeing Takashi's pained expression, she smiled happily.
Crossing her legs, she ordered the driver, "Let's go."
The black Toyota Century slowly pulled away.
Sitting beside Adagaki Aki, Kuro asked with a blank expression, "Miss Aki, who was that?"
Adagaki Aki casually said, "Just some shallow playboy who thought I was pretty and came over to flirt."
She was never short of admirers.
Every month, there were guys like Takashi, shamelessly throwing themselves at her — she was used to it.
'At most, he'll get bored in half a month,' Adagaki Aki thought disinterestedly, resting her elbow on the center armrest.
Hidden deep in an alley was a small café, playing old-school rock music.
At a long window-side table sat a stunning woman with long, straight black hair — a classic "onee-san" beauty.
She wore a white T-shirt and a ruffled long skirt that brushed her ankles, her feet in sandals showing toes as delicate and lively as bamboo shoots after the rain.
As she stirred her coffee with a spoon, Utaha stared blankly out the window at the lush trees, seemingly lost in thought.
"Beautiful lady, may I sit next to you?"
The sudden pickup attempt interrupted her thoughts.
Utaha glanced at the middle-aged man, old enough to be her father, who had the gall to flirt with her. She frowned, clearly annoyed.
Her enticing red lips parted slightly, about to refuse, when a figure stepped between her and the man.
Takashi, hands in his pockets, said, "Hey old man, what are you doing bothering my girlfriend?"
The middle-aged man looked at Takashi's plain face, then at the breathtaking Utaha, doubt dripping from his tone: "She's your girlfriend?"
A girl this beautiful, dating you?
"You don't believe it?"
Takashi raised an eyebrow, casually taking Utaha's hand and shaking it a little in front of the man.
Even though Utaha hated being touched — even by him — she understood the situation. Takashi knew she wouldn't make a scene at a time .
Seeing Utaha neither resisting nor pulling away, acting as if she was used to being held by him, the man had no choice but to turn and leave.
As he walked away, he grumbled internally, 'Seriously? Since when do beauties go for plain-looking guys?'
"Senpai, are you okay?" Takashi turned around, only to see Utaha staring intently at their joined hands. He quickly let go.
"No need to explain, I understand."
Before Takashi could finish, Utaha calmly interrupted him.
Without thinking, Takashi immediately apologized, "I'm sorry."
He didn't bother explaining.
Because he knew — in front of this woman, explanations were useless.
She was even harder to please than Eriri.
Utaha listened to his practiced, almost heartbreaking apology, and her eyes turned complicated.
She wasn't blaming him.
It was just that their dynamic had always been one where she was dominant, he submissive.
Plus, at the beginning of their dates, she often nitpicked and made things difficult.
So now, even when she simply stated that he was late, Takashi automatically thought she was blaming him.
Her lips moved slightly as she clarified, "I didn't mean to blame you."
'Did she get possessed by someone else or something?' Takashi stared at her in horror.
Was Utaha replaced by some transmigrator?
This wasn't the Utaha he knew.
'Is she planning to break up with me and wants to treat me nicely for one last date?' he guessed bitterly.
If that's the case, there's no need.
If you really feel sorry for me, just wire me some money.
Meeting Takashi's utterly shocked expression, Utaha smiled a little bitterly.
She hadn't expected such a big reaction.
Utaha placed a phone she was supposed to give him last week onto the table and pushed it toward him.
Takashi glanced at the brand: "Sharp?"
"Didn't your iPhone keep losing signal?" Utaha took a small sip of coffee.
Was I really losing signal?
I just didn't want to reply, okay?
If someone wants to reply to you, they'll text back even mid-shower.
If they don't, even if you blow up their inbox, they won't bother opening it.
"Senpai, you should take it back."
Takashi pushed the phone back toward her.
It was way too "hot" to accept.
If he accepted this phone, what excuse would he have next time he ghosted her?
Besides, he could barely keep up with one phone — and now she wanted to give him another?
Utaha frowned slightly: "Why won't you accept it?"
Takashi lowered his gaze, staring hard at the phone as he spoke in a low, hoarse voice, suppressing something inside him:
"Senpai, you know... what I want isn't things ."
If you can afford a new phone, just give me cash instead. That's way more useful.
'Do you really like me that much?'
Utaha clearly misunderstood, thinking Takashi's refusal was because he wanted her, not material gifts.
A faint blush crept up her pale ears, hidden among her dark hair, so Takashi didn't notice.
"I know you're not the kind of person who cares about money, but... I still hope you'll accept it,"
Utaha said softly, pushing the phone toward him again.
'Seriously, are you done yet?' Takashi felt a little irritated.
He pinched his thigh hard and slowly raised his head.
Only when he looked up did Utaha notice his slightly reddened eyes and the shattered look in them.
Takashi gave a bitter smile.
"So this is something Aki-kun didn't want either, huh?"
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