"By the way, you’re not really going to keep Yuka away until after the fireworks festival, are you?"
"Why would I keep her away?" Hayakawa Kashi smiled, "I already said, it’s for her to recuperate."
"...You’re not going to trick her into going back for recuperation again, are you?"
"I told you, there’s no need for recuperation this time... Does Shirakawa think I’m deceiving her?"
"Honestly, considering Hayakawa’s usual image, it does seem possible."
Miss Kaori tugged at the corner of her mouth and said lightly, "Don’t worry, since she agreed to go to the fireworks festival with you all, I won’t stop her."
"Villains need to give a little bit of sweetness once in a while, wouldn’t you say, Shirakawa?"
Hearing Miss Kaori’s response, a smile appeared in Shirakawa Sawahei’s eyes as he replied softly, "Revealing yourself as a villain so easily, isn’t that a bit too rash?"
"Are you saying you’re a deeply hidden villain, Shirakawa?"
"Although I don’t consider myself a bad person, from your sister’s perspective, it seems we’re indeed accomplices in crime."
"First time seeing someone describe themselves as accomplices in crime voluntarily."
"I was describing you too, it’s a fifty-fifty thing."
Hayakawa Kashi raised her beautiful eyebrows and said leisurely, "Hmm, in that case, as my villain partner, please be careful, Shirakawa. Don’t let my protagonist sister defeat you."
"That’s manageable," Shirakawa Sawahei nodded, "As a villain, one must have that kind of awareness."
Miss Kaori left with that, turning to leave, but Shirakawa Sawahei suddenly called out to her.
"The fireworks festival... is Hayakawa really not going?"
The girl in front paused her movement for a second, turned back, and raised an eyebrow, "Shirakawa, are you inviting me?"
"Of course not," Shirakawa Sawahei flatly denied, "Even villains need to care about their partners. Otherwise, if I’m defeated by the protagonist, there’ll be no one to save me."
"You’re quite the joker, Shirakawa. I should have informed you earlier to take care of my cute protagonist sister."
"She doesn’t need me to take care of her," Shirakawa Sawahei said helplessly, "There are plenty of people who want to take care of her, it doesn’t have to be me."
The protagonist little girl, who was being bantered by two villains: Why hasn’t the black-hearted woman gotten in the car yet? (Blah blah blah...)
"You’re really not going?"
"Yeah, got something," Hayakawa Kashi nodded, "The fireworks festival has too many people, it’s not suitable for me to go."
This statement made Shirakawa Sawahei abandon the idea of inviting the Evil Little Arrogant to watch fireworks together. Being the future heir of the Hayakawa family, she can’t live as carefreely as the Black Hearted Lolita. With so many people and eyes at the fireworks festival, ensuring safety is indeed difficult.
After the assassination attempt during the last dinner with Shirakawa Sawahei, Little Arrogant has increased the number of bodyguards significantly during her outings.
"Alright, I’ll take some photos for Hayakawa as a keepsake later."
"Then I’ll look forward to it somewhat."
After saying that, the two of them waved symbolically at each other, then turned and went their separate ways. The little girl in the car was getting impatient, seeing Hayakawa Kashi getting on, she quickly asked warily.
"What were you talking about with him just now?"
Hayakawa Kashi glanced at her, "Nothing much... If anything, maybe a bit about you."
"I knew it!" The Black Hearted Little Girl fumed, "I knew Pretty Boy couldn’t be trusted, how much did you pay him off! Come on, let’s compete fairly!"
The Evil Little Arrogant seemed too lazy to deal with her silly sister, reminded her, "Grandma wants to see you, be prepared. Don’t say I didn’t inform you."
"Judging by her attitude, if you don’t perform well, you might not even get to go to the fireworks festival."
"You’re the one pretending to be sick. "
"But you’re the one who said I was seriously ill!" The Black Hearted Lolita retorted fiercely, "I was fine after pretending, but you kept me confined to bed for so long."
"It was for recuperation, not confinement," Hayakawa Kashi calmly corrected, "You should speak responsibly, I didn’t break any laws."
"If I could report you, I’d have you face justice first!"
"Driver, pull over and change destination..."
"I’m... I’m just kidding..."
Returning home separately from the two sisters of the Hayakawa family, Shirakawa Sawahei saw a loafing young girl lying on the moon-white sofa, swinging her fair little legs, seemingly discussing the collection-grade doujinshi bought at the summer comic with a Minotaur Artist.
"Mmm, Sister Yin, look at this pose, it’s so risqué, how did they come up with this composition... it’s bizarre..."
"Sheesh, even a random frame in our Minotaur Teacher’s book can get people riled up. Even when the heroine is wearing a wedding dress, and a blonde person comes to congratulate, it makes people excited! Yours is too basic."
"Pfft, your sect is cursed by the gods, a wedding dress is supposed to be beautiful and pure, but your interpretation twists the art style!"
"I say... can you two stop arguing about whether pure love or Minotaur art is stronger in the living room..." Shirakawa Sawahei smacked Ise Yu’s swinging little leg, half-annoyed, "Didn’t I say no reading doujinshi outside?"
"Ouch... Shirakawa, you’re back?" The loafing young girl excitedly climbed up from the sofa as he returned, "Great, we’ve been waiting for you!"
"Waiting for me for what?"
"To invite you to witness my grand ceremony of becoming a manga artist! Editor Morihara will come over later to discuss the contract and the content of the work, Shirakawa, why don’t you join us for a discussion~"
Shirakawa Sawahei asked suspiciously, "Are you drawing... it’s not R18 shoujo... oh no, woman manga, right?"
"Shirakawa, you’re not making me happy by saying that... I’m clearly going to draw sweet romance manga!"
"Hmm? Sweet romance manga? If that’s what you’re talking about, I wouldn’t get sleepy." Hinata Rion’s eyes lit up at this, becoming animated, "I think that romance mangas on the market now are too clichéd, if you could throw in a second heroine who steals away the first, and then starts stock trading, it would..."
"...Definitely have the editor chasing you with a knife across the country."
Shirakawa Sawahei coldly countered, "The outcome for mid-entrance heroines is generally bleak, attempting to usurp would get backlash across the galaxy."
"Spot on! And how’s that different from typical harem mangas!" Ise Yu Yuzhijin remarked with conviction, "I’m drawing pure romance manga!"
"Shirakawa, you’re the reliable one~"
The loafing young girl cozied up next to Shirakawa Sawahei, smiling ingratiatingly, "Shirakawa, do you have any good ideas?"