"Since you're seeking excitement, you should commit to it all the way."
"..."
Hearing Nagisa's response, Takashi was at a complete loss for words.
'Crazy woman!'
If he had a choice, he would rather not have any contact with Nagisa at all.
A woman who loves chasing thrills like her would only increase his chances of stepping on a landmine.
"The call is done. I'm hanging up."
Hearing Takashi's entirely businesslike tone, Nagisa narrowed her eyes. "No way!"
"Huh? Why?"
"You're late."
"You only told me to call at night. You never specified what time."
Hearing Takashi's sophistry, Nagisa calmly asked, "Kitahara-kun, are you sure you want to argue with me?"
Takashi thought about it and decided against it.
Arguing with a woman was the most foolish thing in the world.
"Fine, what do you want?"
Takashi gave up struggling.
"Hmm? Let me think~ Oh, right. How about telling me who you were on a date with tonight?"
Nagisa had already heard from a private detective that after Takashi's date with Maki, he didn't go home but instead took a car to Chiba to meet another girl.
Honestly, Nagisa was quite impressed by Takashi.
Four dates in a single day and night. This level of time management was probably only rivaled by the student council president of their school.
The only difference was that one spent time studying while the other spent time with women.
And yet, this man still lagged behind Shirogane Miyuki in academics by only a single point.
This must be what adults mean when they talk about "true talent."
After all, if someone who studied over ten hours a day ended up with the same scores as someone who only studied for an hour a day, anyone would say the latter had greater talent.
"Who are you talking to?"
Nagisa hadn't bothered to lower her voice, and her chatter had woken Maki. She groggily looked over at Nagisa.
"Kitahara Takashi." Nagisa turned around and smiled at her. "We're talking about his love life. Maki, do you want to listen?"
Takashi's heart pounded wildly.
Was this crazy woman really so eager to dance in a minefield?
"Not interested."
Maki turned over and went back to sleep.
If it were Watanabe Takashi calling, she might—just might—be a little interested.
But Kitahara Takashi? Not at all.
Their first terrible encounter had left a lasting bad impression, and Maki had no fondness for him whatsoever.
She simply couldn't understand why someone as kind, gentle, and pure as Watanabe Takashi would be friends with a guy like Kitahara Takashi.
"Tell him not to corrupt Watanabe, or I won't forgive him."
Honestly, if Takashi weren't Watanabe Takashi's friend, Maki would have had her people warn him to stay away from her.
"Heh heh!"
Nagisa chuckled with delight.
"Kitahara-kun, did you hear that?"
She looked at Maki's back, her eyes filled with amusement and mischief.
This silly girl probably still had no idea about Takashi's real identity.
But Nagisa could understand.
Maki was that kind of person.
Even though Maki and Shinomiya Kaguya were both born into prestigious families—technically even the same family—their upbringing was completely different.
Maki was a child who grew up surrounded by love. Her father shielded her from storms, her mother patiently guided her, and her younger brother protected her like a knight.
Her entire family celebrated her birth with joy and happiness, cherishing her as she grew up.
Children raised in such a warm and loving household don't have bratty tempers that flare up over nothing. They are well-mannered, emotionally stable, and empathetic.
Once she acknowledges someone, she will treat them with genuine sincerity.
Maki could easily have asked someone to investigate Takashi.
But she didn't.
She trusted her own judgment, just as she trusted that Watanabe Takashi would never lie to her.
That was the biggest difference between her and Shinomiya Kaguya.
'Honestly, it makes me jealous, Maki.'
Nagisa lowered her eyes, half-listening to Takashi's report absentmindedly.
…
The next morning, as the first rays of sunlight peeked through the curtains, a figure suddenly sat up.
The person lifted their upper body off the bed, swung their legs wrapped in soft, wrinkled pajamas onto the floor, and the sound of rustling clothes filled the air.
Changing quietly, Yotsuba tiptoed out of the room, carefully making her way downstairs.
Just as she finished putting on her shoes and looked up, she saw Nino standing right in front of her, silently staring at her.
"Ah!!!"
Yotsuba let out a scream, startled.
She stumbled backward and fell onto the floor.
Realizing it was Nino, she patted her chest. "Nino, you scared me to death!"
"If you're not doing anything wrong, what are you afraid of?"
Without her contact lenses, Nino squinted slightly, making her seem particularly intimidating.
"So, where are you going this early in the morning?"
"T-To go running."
Yotsuba's eyes darted nervously.
She was indeed going for a run, but she wasn't telling the whole truth.
Deep down, Yotsuba didn't want her sisters to know about Takashi.
She had once known a boy, but after her sisters found out about him, they took him away from her.
She didn't want that to happen again.
Afraid Nino would keep asking and figure something out, Yotsuba quickly changed the subject. "Nino, do you want to come with me?"
"No, I need more sleep. I was up late watching dramas. I'm exhausted." Nino covered her mouth and yawned.
"Oh, right. How about having breakfast before you go?"
Since she was already staying up, she didn't mind making breakfast before sleeping.
"No need, I have..." Mid-sentence, Yotsuba's eyes shifted, and she changed her mind. "Nino, can you make some cookies?"
She felt bad always eating Takashi's food.
"I guess I could, but will that be enough for you?"
Nino hesitated.
Among them, Itsuki Nakano had the biggest appetite, followed by Yotsuba.
Given how much Yotsuba exercised, she ate a lot.
"It'll be fine!"
Yotsuba quickly took off her shoes and pushed Nino toward the kitchen.
Nino found Yotsuba's behavior odd, but she couldn't quite put her finger on why.
Turning a corner, Yotsuba picked up her pace.
Under an old pagoda tree, she saw a quiet young man holding a book in one hand and a leash in the other.
"Kitahara-kun!"
She called out before even reaching him.
As the early summer breeze rustled his silver-white hair, the handsome boy lifted his head. His lips curled into a gentle smile as he raised the book in his hand and waved it lightly.
The wind whistled past, carrying with it the pounding heartbeat of youth.
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