Fushimi Roku’s heart, which had just been on edge, fell back down. This guy didn’t even draft his lie. If he had said there were two or three candidates, he might still harbor some doubts; but saying twelve all at once was definitely just boasting.
Minamoto Tamako kept charging ahead, attacking fiercely, pointing to the point deductions in the White Notebook, indicating Mr. Fushimi’s assessment score had dropped to 60.05, just 0.5 away from failing!
She hoped Mr. Fushimi could take this seriously, cherish this opportunity, strive to perform well, and stand out among the twelve candidates!
"You didn’t ask for my opinion, right?" Fushimi Roku said, squinting his eyes.
"What," Minamoto Tamako pouted, pretending not to care, while actually feeling incredibly nervous inside: "Are you unwilling?"
Fushimi Roku was about to say ’unwilling,’ but feared she might take it seriously and return home looking downcast, making it inconvenient to command her in the future—Kawai the demon popped up again, immediately declaring he didn’t like Minamoto Tamako, only due to partnership feelings, family work, daily chores did he avoid.
"It’s not about willing or unwilling..."
Thankful for his S-class intelligence attribute, he quickly thought up a response strategy.
Minamoto Tamako hadn’t yet realized the approaching crisis, she thought she’d finally had a moment of triumph. Mr. Fushimi’s hesitating manner gave her a lot of confidence.
Now the offense-defense situation was reversed, and she started fantasizing, if Mr. Fushimi secretly had a crush on her, would she agree or not... Hmm, at least he has to hand over the red redemption coupon first...
Really, such a small mind, Mr. Fushimi was already utterly in her grasp, why still use a redemption coupon as leverage? To make Mr. Fushimi wear a maid’s outfit and massage her feet was just a word away!
Minamoto Tamako got more and more pleased with her thoughts, her face had a somewhat cunning expression.
"Then tell me, what’s the issue?" she kept pressing, having seized the initiative, with a look of victory assured.
"Well, this is a bit inconvenient..." Fushimi Roku scratched his nose, looking shy like a bashful young boy.
Minamoto Tamako was overjoyed, having spent so much time with Fushimi Roku, this was the first time seeing Mr. Fushimi shy, it was too cute. If his face could lower a bit more, look more pitiful and ashamed, it would be even better!
"What’s so inconvenient, tell me! Hurry up and say it!"
She giggled to herself, Mr. Fushimi truly was stubbornly proud, clearly had a crush on her, yet wanted her to confess first? Really a fool’s dream! She could never in her life voluntarily confess to Mr. Fushimi!
"Indeed, since you said the truth, I won’t hide it either," Fushimi Roku crossed his arms, lowered his head, closed his eyes, and put on a troubled appearance: "Actually, I’ve been thinking about marriage lately. After all, as the sole heir of Fushimi’s home, I have to shoulder the responsibility of continuing the family line as the eldest son."
Minamoto Tamako froze, thinking Mr. Fushimi was contemplating such far-reaching matters?
Moreover, marrying with the intent to continue the family line, such words sounded harsh, giving the impression of treating women as birthing tools, she couldn’t help but frown.
Switching his tone, Fushimi Roku said: "But marriage should be premised on love, right? Having children should be the crystallization of love, shouldn’t be overly utilitarian, overly purposeful, such objectifying behavior towards women is quite wrong."
Upon hearing this, Minamoto Tamako nodded repeatedly, her brows relaxing.
Exactly, it’s supposed to be , Mr. Fushimi’s worldview was actually pretty correct!
"So, like you, I’m also troubled over choosing a romantic partner. But I’m just an ordinary commoner, not like a Kujo Family’s grand daughter with twelve love candidates... I only have four."
Fushimi Roku counted on his fingers, sincerely listing them: "To be honest, you were supposed to be one of them..."
"Supposed? What does supposed mean?!"
Minamoto Tamako was furious, grabbing Fushimi Roku by the collar, shouting: "Who, besides me?!"
Fushimi Roku turned his face away, pinching his brow with a troubled look: "There’s Shirakawa Miki, Horie Junko, Moriyama Yasurou, and Yazaki Momo... Ah-la-la, really a tough choice!"
Minamoto Tamako’s eyes widened in shock, she never expected Mr. Fushimi to be contemplating such things, and within those four candidates, she wasn’t even included!
Has she been eliminated?!
Minamoto Tamako, overwhelmed, shook Fushimi Roku, unable to accept such a great disparity, nearly tearing up, couldn’t help asking: "Yazaki and Sister Yalan aside, how could you consider the Shirakawa mother-daughter duo?"
Fushimi Roku’s face turned serious, earnestly saying: "Don’t you find them pitiable? Compared to others, they need a reliable support more, right? The detective squad has always pursued justice, I overlook past grievances, willing to sacrifice myself, spend a lifetime protecting them, is that not a just act?"
Minamoto Tamako’s face turned pale, rendered speechless.
She originally planned to question how Mr. Fushimi could be so indecisive, yet thinking about her earlier lie boasting twelve candidates, seemed like she was somewhat more excessive...
Too late now to admit the lie, confessing there were never twelve candidates would only make her seem like a loser.
Fushimi Roku shook his head, sighing, as Minamoto Tamako’s hands slipped off, he continued: "Since my performance doesn’t meet your satisfaction, there’s no choice... Alas, it only means we’re not suitable together."
Having finished, he patted Minamoto Tamako’s shoulder: "However, rest assured, we will remain best friends, best partners, our friendship will never change."
Minamoto Tamako finally came to her senses, hurriedly trying to recover: "You-you still have a chance... Look, it’s still on the passing line, 60.05 points, why not try to earn back some points?"
"Matters of affection can’t be forced, right?" Fushimi Roku transformed into a philosopher, looking melancholy.
"Who says so? If you don’t try, how will you know if it’ll work?" Minamoto Tamako implored.
Fushimi Roku calculated the timing was about right, finally revealed his hand, nodded: "Makes sense, then should I add you to the assessment list? Though I’m not sure it’s appropriate..."
"What’s wrong with it! Adults don’t make choices, only selections, sounds pretty good!" Minamoto Tamako said, quite hypocritically: "If you don’t perform well, I might eliminate you anytime, dating should be , both sides have veto rights."
She paused, noticing her words seemed odd, then added: "Of course, it’s just an assessment of compatibility, whether to actually date is another matter!"
Fushimi Roku was waiting for this, grinning as he said:
"Makes sense, so I look forward to your performance."