Tokyo Sick Girlfriend

Chapter 176 Peeling Back

Chapter 176 Peeling Back
Why are you doing that?

Shiratori Seiya's tone was dry and cold, and Hojo Suzune's heart skipped a beat at his sudden seriousness.

In her memory, Shiratori Seiya rarely acted like this; he was usually all smiles and gentle in his attitude, though he rarely spoke to her directly.

Hojo Suzune stared blankly for a moment, her lips slightly parted, and then, realizing what was happening, she quickly grabbed Shiratori Seiya's arm, snuggled closer to him, and murmured:
"I... I just thought I could help Kiyoya. Does Kiyoya think I can't do it?"

"It's not a question of whether it's possible or not."

Shiratori Seiya clicked his tongue lightly. In his mind, neither Saori, Shione, Rin, nor Mio were prepared to get involved in the virtual YouTuber industry.

The reason is simple. On the one hand, it is a waste of their talents to use them in this way. Why do they become virtual anchors when they can develop better by following the path that they are good at?
On the other hand, it was out of his own selfish motives.

He now understands the market and selling points of virtual streamers better than anyone else. In other words, it's about pleasing and serving the audience, becoming a virtual girlfriend, or being treated as one even if you don't become a virtual girlfriend.

Shiratori Seiya was particularly bothered by these points, and his possessiveness prevented him from doing such a thing.

Moreover, if someone were to expose them behind the wigs and reveal their identities, it would be bad for their careers.

He wants to use the money he made from starting the company to mold these people into top figures in their respective industries.

Top-tier, unattainable; when the time comes, fame and fortune will come with just a wave of the hand.

Hearing Rinne offer to help him, Shiratori Seiya raised his hand and rubbed his temples. He was momentarily confused by Rinne's thought process and felt a headache coming on. He then said:

"Lingyin, shouldn't you be focusing on passing the art exam right now? You should focus on passing the art exam first..."

However, before he could finish speaking, Hojo Suzune interrupted him, saying:

"But Kiyosai, even if I pass the art exam, it won't mean anything, right?"

As she spoke, her hands and shoulders trembled uncontrollably, tears welling in her eyes as she looked at Shiratori Seiya.

Shiratori Seiya was taken aback when he saw the redness in her eyes, then came to his senses and said:
"How can it be meaningless? Rin, how could you think that way..."

Hojo Suzune assumed he was still trying to find excuses to comfort her, and a desolate smile appeared on her lips:

"Keiji, you don't need to lie to Rinne anymore. Rinne isn't that fragile..."

"I know that even if I get into Tokyo University of the Arts, I still won't be able to help Kiyoya, right? After all, I can't compare to them..."

As she spoke, she lifted her small face, staring at the ceiling, trying her best to hold back her tears. Her lips were swollen and stained crimson. She exhaled a heavy breath, swallowed, and said to herself with a self-deprecating smile:

"I've always wanted to be with Kiyoya forever..."

I told my sister before that if you, Kiyoya, write music for me, I might not be any worse than you, and I'll definitely improve faster than you. I will never let you down...

But now I realize I was wrong... Rinne overestimated herself..."

Hearing what Rin said, Shiratori Seiya's heart skipped a beat, and his eyes widened involuntarily. Although Rin didn't say it directly, considering her emotional changes over the past two days, he vaguely guessed that Rin definitely knew something.

His throat suddenly felt dry, and he couldn't help but ask:
"Rinne, why...why did you say that?"

Sensing the change in Shiratori Seiya's voice, Hojo Suzune turned to look at him, a gentle light in her eyes. She raised her small, soft hand, gently cupped his face, and whispered:
"Kiyoya, there's a reason why you chose your sisters as girlfriends, right?"

"..."

Shiratori Seiya's breath hitched; it was the panic of having a secret he had kept hidden in his heart discovered, and he fell silent.

Seeing this, Hojo Suzune smiled brightly, and with her other hand, she gripped Shiratori Seiya's hand tightly, her fingers weaving through his fingers as she said:

"Kiyoshi, they've actually been lying to you all along..."

As she spoke, her voice trembled involuntarily.

Everyone can deceive Kiyoya, but he can't deceive himself.

Since one's own life is precious, one should dedicate everything to Him.

She didn't know what would happen if she told Shiratori Seiya the truth, but she definitely didn't want him to be kept in the dark and kicked around like a ball.

After learning about this from her older sister and confirming it with Mio Takahashi, she made up her mind to tell Kiyoya, and now was the best opportunity.

She gritted her teeth, tightened her grip on Shiratori Seiya's hand, and stared intently into his eyes, saying seriously:
“My sister, Takahashi, and even Hasegawa have all guessed it—Keiya, the reason you date them is because you value their talents.”

As the girl uttered her last word, Shiratori Seiya felt a buzzing in his head.

He suddenly understood why Lingyin's emotions had been so strange these past two days, and why she had suddenly fainted while playing the piano.

Did he start to doubt his talent because he knew there were reasons why he dated Shion and the others, and that he was the only one who didn't date Rin?
Immediately afterwards, Shiratori Seiya couldn't help but think about Shione, Saori, and Mio. What were they thinking after they found out?
And why would you pretend to know nothing?

When did they find out?

'You associate with them because you value their talent,'

With Lingyin's words echoing in his mind, Shiratori Seiya felt a tightness in his chest. He subconsciously wanted to deny it, to say that he wasn't a robot, that they had already started dating, and that feelings would develop over time, so how could he really not like them? But he simply couldn't refute it.

The love I have for them is not on the same level as the love they have for me.

I was the one who broke up with Saori and Shione. Even though they knew my initial relationships were motivated by ulterior motives, they still acted like nothing had happened…

Looking at the silent boy before her, Hojo Suzune could feel the pain in his heart. She forced a smile, raised her hands, hugged his face, and whispered:

"It's alright. Even if Kiyoya doesn't need Rinne, Rinne will always love Kiyoya."

The girl pressed her cheek against his, gently rubbing it:

"I will always like it..."

Ringtones are useful too, right?
-
Hojo Suzune isn't the only one who doesn't like to get up early in autumn; however, compared to Suzune, Takahashi Mio slept until nine o'clock in the morning.

However, as soon as she opened her sleepy eyes, Mio Takahashi regretted it.

Her mind involuntarily replayed what happened at the music restaurant last night, and the expression on her face immediately became distorted. She grabbed the blanket with both hands and pulled it up, locking herself completely under the blanket, and immediately began to cosplay as a turtle hiding in its shell.

If she could, she really wanted to punch herself right now and forget what happened last night.

"what……"

It emitted a muffled, mournful sound from under the covers.

A full half minute passed before a snow-white arm emerged from under the covers and reached for the phone on the bedside table.

Regardless, she still wanted to know what happened next last night...

However, as soon as she opened her phone, Mio Takahashi gave up the idea of watching it.

Matsushita Yuzuki would definitely go around telling everyone that Shiratori Seiya was two-timing, and might even say that she was being kept by someone else...

'call……'

Mio Takahashi took a deep breath, and then a face began to unconsciously appear in her mind.

What is Shiratori Seiya doing right now?

Didn't they say they wanted me to help them contact girls in the performing arts department? Why are they silent now?
The thought that he might have taken a fancy to another woman made Mio Takahashi frown and feel agitated.

'Buzzing.'

Just then, her phone vibrated, and she blinked.

Could it be that bastard's call?

As she thought this, she raised her phone screen, her eyes unconsciously narrowing. It was an unfamiliar number.

The thought of 'Is this a debt collection call?' flashed through my mind, but then I remembered that I was almost done paying off my debts, and they should be begging me to lend them more money now. Maybe they're calling to tell me that the interest rate has been lowered.

With this in mind, Mio Takahashi felt no fear.

She answered the phone without saying a word until the other person spoke, at which point she was taken aback.

"Hello, is this Ms. Takahashi? I'm Fujikawa Shunpei, the producer of the drama you're in."

Mio Takahashi realized what was happening, her eyes widened, and she quickly sat up in bed, raising her hand to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear as she said:

"Ah, hello Producer Fujikawa,"

She paused, a little puzzled, and then asked: Why was he calling her instead of calling Shiratori Seiya?

"Producer Fujikawa, what can I do for you?"

"Oh, I see, Ms. Takahashi, your audition last time left a very deep impression on me. If I remember correctly, that was your first audition, right?"

"Ah, yes..."

"To have such a performance in your first audition, Ms. Takahashi, I think you have great potential."

Tsk, why does he keep praising himself?

You're a producer now, why are your praises so stiff?

Mio Takahashi thought to herself, then asked:

"You flatter me……"

She said something, then paused and didn't say anything more.

and then?
Her meaning couldn't be clearer.