"Listen to me... pretty boy... I think Black Hearted Woman’s been acting strange since last night..." The Black Hearted Lolita swallowed, still shaken, "I tried to provoke her, said I was going out shopping with you today, and she didn’t even react..."
"Isn’t she always like that?"
"Don’t interrupt!" the Black Hearted Lolita said angrily. "Usually, she’s genuinely calm, like I’m no threat at all... but now, she’s just pretending to be calm... the cup in her hand is about to explode... Do you know how scary that scene was..."
"And it’s fine if she’s not angry, but if she does get mad, she starts picking on my dad... deliberately bringing up old mistakes he’s made... Do you think my dad ticked her off or something..."
The Black Hearted Lolita was puzzled. "She normally doesn’t act ... It’s the first time I’ve seen her emotions fluctuate for so long... What did it take to offend her this badly..."
"Do you know who upset her? Hmm?"
Shirakawa Sawahei: "..."
"P-Perhaps it was your dad." Shirakawa Sawahei dodged the question, "I have something to do today, so I won’t be going to your place... just stay put at home..."
"Pretty boy! How dare you!" the Black Hearted Lolita snapped, "We clearly agreed to have a Christmas party at your place..."
"It’s canceled suddenly."
"Probably since last night."
"Why? How did I not know about this?"
"For various reasons." Shirakawa Sawahei sighed, "Anyway, it seems unlikely for us to spend Christmas together this year... I’ll try again next Christmas."
Black Hearted Lolita: "???"
What is this pretty boy saying? Why does it sound like gibberish to me?
"You’re lying! I’m going to ask Ise Yu Yuzhijin and Tsukimi Sakurazawa!"
Asano Nazuki said, hanging up the phone. Shirakawa Sawahei waited for a while, estimated the time, and started counting down.
Five, four, three, two, one...
The phone rang again, this time the Black Hearted Lolita was obviously confused and asked, "Pretty boy... what did you do to the two of them... and the Black Hearted Woman... I feel is all related to you?"
Shirakawa Sawahei neither admitted nor denied it, changing the topic, "Just stay home today..."
"I don’t want to! The Black Hearted Woman is really scary right now, I’m afraid to stay home... come pick me up."
"I won’t pick you up."
"Will you or won’t you?!"
"I won’t." Shirakawa Sawahei replied, exasperated, "I have things to do today."
"What things?! Are you going to see Tachibana Tomoku?"
Shirakawa Sawahei froze for a moment, not answering. The Black Hearted Lolita continued, "You’ve offended those three people, and the only ones you can turn to are me and Tachibana Tomoku, right? I’m warning you, don’t abandon me! Or I’ll go down with you!"
If the Black Hearted Lolita hadn’t mentioned it, Shirakawa Sawahei almost forgot to inform the transparent girl about the cancellation of the Christmas party. Last night’s Christmas Eve was full of peril, and the old playboy was still anxious, his head filled with thoughts on how to soothe his girlfriends, neglecting both the Black Hearted Lolita and the transparent girl.
Shirakawa Sawahei thought for a moment and sent a line message to Ms. Tachibana Tomoku.
[Tachibana... Sorry, because something came up, the Christmas party at my house today might be canceled...]
Just as he was about to continue typing an explanation, Ms. Tachibana Tomoku quickly replied.
[Department Director Tsukimi told me last night... it’s because she doesn’t have time, right... It’s okay... I don’t mind over here...]
Shirakawa Sawahei stared at the screen in a daze for a moment, then sighed and replied: [No, it’s because of me...]
[N-No need... Shirakawa, you didn’t do anything wrong.]
[Tachibana, Merry Christmas.]
[Yes, Merry Christmas (*^▽^*) Shirakawa, as for the Christmas present... can I give it to you during New Year’s visit?]
[Sure, I’m looking forward to it.] Original content can be found at novel[f]ire.net
The transparent girl on the other end of the screen saw the message and felt joyful, carefully typing a reply: [I’m looking forward to it too... Shirakawa.]
[Is everything over there... alright?] Ms. Tachibana Tomoku thought for a moment and asked: [Do you need my help?]
[No need, I can handle it.]
The girl wanted to say more, but on second thought, felt it might come off as clingy, so she refrained from typing further. Shirakawa Sawahei, waiting for a long time for a response and seeing none, put away his phone and took a deep breath.
Let’s find Tsukimi first...
Though she was the most gentle among the three girls, Shirakawa Sawahei didn’t plan on slacking off. Flirting is like sailing against the current; if you don’t advance, you fall back. To restore the glory of the King of Flirting, there can’t be a moment of rest in the dictionary.
Anyway, while Kashi and cute little Ise Yu haven’t settled down, let’s improve girlfriend points with Tsukimi... Tsukimi Yamadori too... Although it will ultimately be futile, it’s better to try than not.
Over on Asano Nazuki’s side, after the phone was hung up, she was so furious she gritted her teeth, yet didn’t dare loudly curse Shirakawa Sawahei as a pretty boy like before — since Hayakawa Kashi was sitting outside and the home atmosphere was so oppressive, her dad’s misfortune was most likely related to the pretty boy.
Seems like I’ll have to find Shirakawa Sawahei myself...
The Black Hearted Lolita decided quickly and was about to sneak out, but unexpectedly, her father Asano Fūsei grabbed her.
"Nazuki... it’s snowing outside... where are you going."
"Ugh... I’m going to play with friends... Dad, let go of me... or I’ll tell Grandpa..."
"Shh..." Asano Fūsei glanced around nervously, "Don’t shout... my precious daughter... Your grandpa was just looking for me... Which friend are you going to see?"
"Do you really need to ask? Of course, it’s Shirakawa Sawahei, that pretty boy..."
Asano Fūsei’s face changed dramatically, and he shouted angrily, "No, I forbid you to see that kid!"
The middle-aged Long Aotian was momentarily speechless, he couldn’t possibly say that while reminiscing about his youth last night, he accidentally showed off in front of that kid and seemingly enlightened him...
Needless to say! Kashi suddenly becoming so aggressive is definitely Shirakawa Sawahei’s fault! My daughter has always been very considerate of me, all because of him!
He must have said something to Kashi, and it’s very likely about the harem thing... plus Nazuki and Kashi are sisters... if I really let you go out to see that kid, I’d experience Hayakawa Shinsuke’s fears all over again!
I must snuff out Shirakawa Sawahei’s sister harem intentions immediately! I have to let him know, what works for me, doesn’t work for you!
The Black Hearted Lolita watched her dad’s face change several times, seemingly firming some belief, and felt speechless, then waved her hand.
"I can’t be bothered with you... Dad, don’t mind me... I’m going to ask that pretty boy what exactly he did to sis... Hayakawa Kashi."