Takashi returned to find that Maki had already finished her phone call.
Seeing how late he was, Maki frowned. "Takashi, where did you go? Why did it take you so long?"
Takashi forced a weak smile. "Had an upset stomach, took a bit longer than expected. Anyway, how did it go on your end?"
"Ah, that... um, well..."
At this point, Maki suddenly became bashful, stumbling over her words and avoiding a direct answer.
"So, it worked?"
Choosing to ignore his earlier encounter with Nagisa, Takashi raised an eyebrow.
"No, I didn't confess." Maki shyly covered her flushed cheeks with both hands.
Takashi: "...."
You didn't confess, so why are you blushing like a teapot?
So all the advice I gave you before was for nothing?
As expected, expecting a tsundere to take the initiative and confess is about as realistic as convincing people you're the reincarnation of Qin Shi Huang.
"I... I just think confessing to Tsubasa-kun right now isn't the best idea," Maki hurriedly explained, sensing Takashi's speechlessness.
"You see, even though he used to like me, that was back in middle school."
"And now, Tsubasa-kun has a girlfriend."
"If I confess now, I'll probably just get rejected."
"I think it's better to spend some time with Tsubasa-kun first, develop our relationship, and wait until the time is right. That way, I'll have a better chance. Takashi, what do you think?"
Takashi rested his chin on his hand, considering it. He suddenly felt that Maki wasn't entirely wrong.
Maybe she had indeed won the lottery before, but she had failed to claim her prize in time, and now it had expired.
Does Tanuma Tsubasa still have the same feelings for her?
Only he would know.
"Besides, if I confess to Tsubasa-kun right away, I'd feel really guilty about Nagisa."
Hearing this, Takashi wanted to tell her—there's absolutely no need to feel guilty.
From his observations, he seriously doubted that Nagisa cared all that much about her so-called boyfriend, but he couldn't just say that out loud.
"Before I confess to Tsubasa-kun, I'll make sure to explain everything to Nagisa."
Nagisa was her best friend.
Maki didn't want to keep anything from her.
"This is my fault. Even if she yells at me, even if she cuts ties with me, I'll accept it."
This girl is way too honest.
Takashi really couldn't understand how someone this straightforward ended up being best friends with a devil like Nagisa.
"Good luck," Takashi encouraged.
"By the way, Takashi. You'll help me, right?"
Maki looked at Takashi with hopeful eyes.
If it weren't for him pushing her forward, she might have stayed a timid, unrequited admirer her whole life.
"I can give you some advice, sure."
Takashi didn't refuse, but he only intended to help until Maki and Tanuma Tsubasa got together.
After that, the rest was up to her.
Takashi had no interest in being anyone's emotional support buddy.
"Takashi, you really are my best friend!"
Maki firmly grasped Takashi's right hand, her eyes filled with gratitude.
Takashi pulled his hand away and turned his head to avoid the girl's earnest gaze.
She might see him as a friend, but Takashi certainly didn't see her that way.
"Ahem By the way, Maki, could you give me your best friend's phone number?" Takashi took a sip of cappuccino, trying to sound casual.
He hadn't forgotten his main objective.
If he didn't get her number tonight, Utaha and Eriri would probably storm his school by Monday.
"Takashi, why do you need Nagisa's number?"
Maki looked at Takashi suspiciously, not understanding why he wanted her best friend's contact information.
Could it be that he was interested in her?
No way.
They hadn't even met before.
"A friend of mine saw her once and fell for her at first sight. He found out that she's a first-year at Shuchiin, named Nagisa, so I figured she must be your best friend."
Takashi's conscience stung a little as he told this lie.
"Your friend? Who? Wait—your friend isn't Takashi, is it?"
Maki suddenly recalled the flirtatious guy who had, at first sight, reached out to touch her best friend's hand.
Takashi froze for a second before hurriedly nodding. "Ah, yeah, that's him."
"Takashi, do you really associate with people like that?"
Maki looked disgusted.
"Faking a phone call just to touch a girl he's never met before, flirting with multiple women just because he's good-looking, trying to steal another guy's girlfriend... This guy is the scum of Tokyo."
Takashi: "..."
Wait!
That was a misunderstanding!
I even treated you guys to a meal as an apology! Even Nagisa herself didn't hold a grudge, so why are you still hung up on this?
And just to clarify—who's flirting with multiple women?
Also, you, someone actively trying to steal her best friend's boyfriend, have no right to judge others.
Takashi was genuinely offended.
Do you know what happens when you offend him?
He... pretends nothing happened.
Fine, mostly because he had no idea how to get back at the daughter of the prestigious Shijo family.
"My friend already explained—last time was just a misunderstanding. And besides, Nagisa is already dating Tanuma Tsubasa, so you don't need to feel guilty, right?"
"How could I push my best friend into a pit of fire? No way, no way!" Maki shook her head furiously.
She opposed this marriage!
"Me? A pit of fire?"
Takashi almost laughed in disbelief.
So he was the fire pit, and her best friend—who was diving straight in—was what? A corpse?
"Fine, I'll be honest. That friend is me. I've fallen for the lady of the Kashiwagi family."
Since "my friend" wasn't working, Takashi decided to go in as himself.
Maki didn't speak. She just gazed at Takashi with a suddenly soft expression.
It was an expression even the Emperor's younger brother had never seen from her before.
Takashi got goosebumps from her stare.
Maki reached for his hand again and held it tightly, her voice full of sincerity.
"Takashi, you really don't have to go this far, sacrificing yourself for my sake."
Takashi: ??
Wait—how did we end up here?!
We've only met twice! Why would I be doing this for you?!
I'm doing this for myself, okay?!
Why do women always make up these dramatic stories to move themselves?!
Utaha does this. Eriri does this. And now you're doing it too.
Are you all really this good at roleplaying as hopeless romantics?
And you all believe it?
So I'm just some tragic love martyr now?
Takashi was so frustrated his chest heaved. He wanted nothing more than to throw his cappuccino in her face to wake her up.
But in the end, he held back.
Not for any noble reason.
Just... sheer cowardice.
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Check out the other translations too: [Mash-Up: Anything For Money]
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