A guide to survival in a heavy girl's world

Page 208

But even so, the fluorescent light reflected from his body into her eyes was still as bright and warm as the summer sun.

Just like the night I first met him.

Although he looked a little embarrassed, Chihaya Tetsuya still tried very hard to speak in the calmest possible tone:

"This time, I won't leave you any room to act tough on your own."

"..."

Toyokawa Shoko understood that no matter how proud she was, no matter how she insisted, no matter how she pretended to be strong...

She might never be able to leave this man in this life.

114

Chapter 114: One Mind and One Body.

"So that's how it is. These things actually happened."

After listening to Toyokawa Shoko's story, Chihaya Tetsuya thought for a moment, and then a name popped up involuntarily in his mind -

(French, art, and this time point...it almost completely matches the time when Mr. Jean appeared. Could it be that Xiangzi's father's whereabouts are related to Jean?)

However, according to Xiangzi, her father possessed more skills than just these, so even though there were so many overlaps between the two, Chihaya Tetsu still did not jump to conclusions.

"I understand. During this time, I will mobilize the people around me to help you find out about your father."

Chihaya Tetsuya said:

"Let me think about it. Director Hasegawa, Ms. Nagasaki, Ms. Yamabuki, and Ms. Higuchi, their words should all be trustworthy..."

"Wait a minute, Tetsuya-kun!?"

After hearing Chihaya Tetsuya's mumbling, Toyokawa Shoko suddenly panicked.

"It's enough that you can come and discuss this matter with me. I can't cause trouble to so many people because of my own matter—"

"Your business alone?"

Chihaya Tetsuya frowned after hearing this.

"Xiangzi, think carefully about what your main identity is now?"

"Master, main identity?"

After hearing this, Toyokawa Shoko was stunned for a moment, then replied in an uncertain tone:

"[Starry Sky]'s prospective designer and [Ave Mujica]'s keyboardist?"

"Yes, if I remember correctly, your band is currently recording its first original song, right? If your condition is affected, then the other members will be affected as well. As for me... that's even more worrying. If something really happened to you, I'd definitely be so worried that I wouldn't be able to do my job properly, and it would also affect everyone associated with StarrySky."

Chihaya Tetsuya shook his head at the girl in front of him who was hesitant to speak:

"Don't forget who came up with that plan that implicated everyone. Now that things have come to this, it won't be easy for you, the instigator, to exonerate yourself."

"Woo——"

Although Toyokawa Shoko wanted to refute him, the reasons given by Chihaya Tetsuya made her at a loss as to where to begin. The fact that "it would make Chihaya Tetsuya worry" was enough to invalidate all of Toyokawa Shoko's excuses...

Moreover, after confessing everything to Chihaya Tetsuya, no matter how reluctant she was, she was probably unable to stop Chihaya Tetsuya's interference.

"I didn't actually want Tetsuya-kun to do this..."

Toyokawa Shoko murmured softly:

"I just wanted to hear your voice on the phone, so why did you have to come over?"

"Isn't it because you have a 'criminal record'?"

After hearing what Toyokawa Shoko said, Chihaya Tetsuya couldn't help but curl his lips and said:

"Who was that person who drank herself to the point of blackouts just to avoid causing me trouble? And who was that person who refused to repent even when asked to become my maid? I've completely figured out your style. If I want you to learn to rely on others, I have to leave you no room to act on your own! Just like now."

After saying this, he immediately put his face close to Toyokawa Shoko and asked:

"So what should you say at this time?"

"..."

Toyokawa Shoko looked at the smile on Chihaya Tetsuya's face, which seemed to indicate a master plan. She thought for a long time before turning her head away and muttering:

"...Thank you, Tetsuya-kun."

"Well, that's right."

Chihaya Tetsu also nodded with great satisfaction.

"I'll tell you everything honestly, but if you still can't open up to me, that's a little unfair."

Hearing this, Toyokawa Shoko quickly raised her head and retorted:

"It's not that I can't open my heart to Tetsuya-kun, I just simply don't want to cause you any trouble!"

"This is not about causing trouble, but about working together for our future."

Chihaya Tetsuya said:

"In fact, even if I mobilized everyone around me to help you investigate, I might not be able to find out the truth. But I still hope you can understand that no matter what happens next, you will never face it alone."

Having said that, he immediately reached out and gently stroked Shoko Toyokawa's hair.

"After all, the two of us are no longer in a relationship that requires us to distinguish between each other, right?"

"..."

Feeling the warmth from above her head and the usual calm tone of the person in front of her, Toyokawa Shoko felt that her originally chaotic mood instantly became calm and at ease.

Chihaya Tetsuya never lies and never makes promises that cannot be fulfilled.

Even at the most crucial stage of his personal brand, even when faced with a crisis where he couldn't see the future clearly, he never intended to abandon himself...

"Aren't you worried that my father's affairs will implicate you..."

"If it's a crisis of this magnitude, then I can't let you face it alone. As for my brand... as long as the two of us are still here, we can start over again no matter how many times we have to face it."

Chihaya Tetsuya stated very clearly:

"Like I said before, as long as I'm alive, I will never give up the possibility of everyone being happy together."

"..."

For a moment, Toyokawa Shoko felt her heart was instantly filled with indescribable emotion and the urge to throw herself into his arms immediately.

This person is always like this, giving everything to others seriously and without reservation.

Hoshino Ai must have been captivated by him in this situation back then? In the most unsettling of circumstances, she was suddenly promised a lifetime of love...

However, it was precisely because of this speech that made Toyokawa Shoko feel extremely relieved and moved that she once again remembered something very important.

So, before Chihaya Tetsuya could react, Toyokawa Shoko leaned forward and kissed Chihaya Tetsuya's lips very quickly and suddenly——

"!?"

Chihaya Tetsuya, caught in the sudden attack, instinctively dodged backwards. Seeing this, Toyokawa Shoko stopped pursuing him and snorted softly.

"Even if it's just a statement, don't make such careless remarks about your own life."

It was precisely in order to make Chihaya Tetsuya realize how important she was that she formulated the "harem plan" centered on him. However, now it was her own immaturity and arbitrariness that forced him to express his feelings to her once again in this way.

"You're right. As long as the two of us are still here, no matter what happens next, we'll still have a chance to start over. But you have to think carefully about this, Tetsuya-kun. From now on, I'll be like Hoshino Ai, and I'll become an existence that you can't get rid of in your life."

"...In that case, it wouldn't be any different from now, right?"

Fortunately, this wasn't the first time they kissed, so Chihaya Tetsu wasn't as flustered as he was last time. But even so, his face still couldn't help but turn slightly red...

But even though he was shy, as a man he still had his own dignity.

So, he cleared his throat first, and then said calmly:

"And as the man who took your first kiss, I should have been responsible for you. So, even if you don't say it, I'm ready to accompany you for the rest of my life-"

"Hmm? Wait a minute? Take my first kiss?"

After hearing this, Toyokawa Shoko was stunned for a moment, then immediately retorted very seriously:

"Think about it again, Tetsuya-kun, I was the one who initiated the kiss the first time!"

"hiss……"

The lines that were originally intended to show off were instantly exposed. Chihaya Tetsuya's expression was slightly startled at first, and then he said again:

"But, but, I was basically the one who took the initiative afterwards—"

"The first time is the most important! As for the kisses afterwards... it was all because I took the initiative to seduce you!"

Toyokawa Shoko corrected him seriously:

"So I am the one who needs to take responsibility."

"No, no, no, how can you count it like that!"

Having been exposed again, Chihaya Tetsuya's tone began to become hurried:

"Although it was indeed you, Xiangzi, who made the request first, you were completely intoxicated at the time and had lost your ability to resist. No matter how you think about it, I was the one who took the initiative!"

"But if I hadn't asked you to do that, Tetsuya-kun wouldn't have had to go that far, right?"

Compared to the panicked Chihaya Tetsuya, Toyokawa Shoko's expression and tone became increasingly calm:

"You should think it over carefully, Tetsuya-kun. Whether it was the combined attack by Aine-san and Hoshino Ai, or Motoyo's confession, it was all because my plan provoked them, which is why you're in this dilemma today. In other words, the whole series of events that happened to you and us were entirely caused by me. This is much more important than a few kisses, so I'm responsible for more than just a kiss, but for your entire life!"

"???"

Seeing Toyokawa Shoko completely cheered up, Chihaya Tetsuya felt both relieved and confused.

It was obvious that he was the one who was comforting Xiangzi unilaterally until just now, so why did the topic suddenly turn into Xiangzi being responsible for him?

What made Chihaya Tetsuya even more frustrated was that he had always been in a passive position in all aspects and he really couldn't find any suitable arguments to refute Toyokawa Shoko...

While Chihaya Tetsuya was still trying to think of how to refute, Toyokawa Shoko had completely recovered from this crushing debate.

"Phew~ I feel much better after messing around a bit!"

Toyokawa Shoko gave him a bright smile without any trace of gloom or uneasiness.

"I'll leave my father's matter to Tetsuya-kun, but it's really late now, so I can only wait until tomorrow to ask everyone to help investigate."

"Ah, yeah, I see..."

Eh? Is that the end of that topic? He clearly didn't even have time to retaliate...

Chihaya Tetsuya was still slightly stunned by this, while Toyokawa Shoko, who had regained her spirits, took action again.

"Thank you, Tetsuya-kun."

After saying that, Toyokawa Shoko pushed the low table aside, came directly in front of Chihaya Tetsuya, and kissed him again.

This time, because Toyokawa Shoko threw her entire body into Chihaya Tetsuya's arms, and Chihaya Tetsuya was worried that Toyokawa Shoko would fall, not only did he not dodge, he even subconsciously supported himself with his arms on both sides of his body...

"...Look, I'll tell you what I'm saying."

Toyokawa Shoko moved her lips away and looked at the man who was consciously taking a passive pose with a smile.

"I'm the one who should be held responsible."

"No, I just didn't react!"

Chihaya Tetsuya still said stubbornly:

"There's no way you can get away with me now!"

"Oh? Really?"

Toyokawa Shoko raised her eyebrows:

"Why don't you try kissing me?"

"Just kiss...that's not right."

Chihaya Tetsu, who had just straightened up, suddenly stopped at the moment he was about to touch her lips.

"If I kiss you back like this...will you say I was seduced by you again?"