I Managed to Bring Down the Entire Family of That Impossible-To-Conquer S-Class Beauty, Completely Filling in Her Outer Moat
โAlright, let’s take a break for now.โ
The shoot at the coffee shop had reached a natural pause, finally giving us time for a break.
As for what I was doing? I was just sitting there in front of Amagiriโor rather, China now. I wasn’t in the shot, but for some reason, I was made to sit there.
โGood work, China -san.โ
โYeah, thanks!โ
Hina-san was checking the photos the cameraman had taken, and Sachiko-san needed to use the restroom due to her frequent urination.
The two of us left behind sat across the table, taking a breather with the complimentary coffee.
โStill, China-san modelingโฆ I hear you’ve never done it before. What on earth made you decide to try it?โ
โWell, I guess I thought I wanted to have lots of hobbies too, just like Watarai-kun!โ
โOh! A fellow hobby enthusiast is most welcome!โ
โYeahโฆ because I don’t have anything elseโฆโ
โโฆ?โ
China-san made a languid face as she uttered those meaningful words.
I’m not hard of hearing, so I didn’t miss it, but pressing her on it probably wouldn’t be good. I’ll just pretend I didn’t hear that.
But somehow, the atmosphere felt a little darker now.
Something to cheer China-san upโฆ Ah, right.
โโฆ? Watarai-kun, what are you doing?โ
โNow, now, just wait a moment.โ
I picked up a pale pink paper napkin from the corner of the table and began folding it.
She leaned forward curiously, showing interest and watching intently.
After folding and tearing repeatedly for a while, one piece was finished.
โTa-da!โ
โThisโฆ is a โcherry blossomโ? I-it’s amazingโฆ!โ
What I’d made was a single cherry blossom.
โThe language of cherry blossoms is โbeauty of spiritโ or โnobilityโ. But there’s also โhope for the futureโ.โ
โReally? That’s wonderful!โ
โWellโฆ I didn’t mean to sound irresponsible or anything. But whether you try something new, China-san, I’m sure you’ll do great.โ
I moved the napkin cherry blossom right in front of China-san’s eyes.
She gently lifted it and began to stare at it intently.
It was an impulsive act meant to be kind, but I hoped it hadn’t come off as painfulโฆ
Feeling a bit uneasy, I looked at China’s face.
โโโHehe, it really is lovelyโฆ Thank you, Watarai-kun. I think I can do my best from now onโชโ
โOh, I see. Well, I’m glad.โ
A dazzling smile, like a gust of wind blowing away the fog in my heart, reflected in my eyes.
After staring at that cherry blossom for a while, Hina-san came over and spoke up.
โWell then, you two~, shall we move locations soon~?โ
โHuh? Didn’t you want to take a few more shots here?โ
โIt’s fine, it’s fine. I got a great shot~โชโ
โ?โ
The photo Hina showed me was one of China, gazing at the cherry blossoms I’d made and smiling like an angel.
When did she take that?
โWh-what?! You’re going to use this?! That’s embarrassing!!โ
โIt’s the best photo I’ve ever taken~โฆ Is that okay?โ
โGuhโฆ Well, if you insistโฆโ
I discovered a new side to China-san. She’s surprisingly easy to handle when it comes to family.
โThis is all thanks to you, Nozomu~. I’m so glad I brought you alongโชโ
โI’m glad I could help even a little!โ
โYes, trulyโฆ I really do want you to come live with us, Nozomuโฆโกโ
โEh, um. Hina-sanโฆ!?โ
Hina-san hugged me tight and started stroking my head.
I froze, completely bewildered, my face flushing red.
โSeriously, won’t you come live with us~? You don’t have to be a son-in-law, but how about working for our company in the future?โ
โUh, well~โฆ that’sโฆโ
โIf you join us, I’ll pet you like this anytime, anywhereโช Plus, I’ll even give you a lap pillowโกโ
โGuh, what an enticing offerโฆ!โ
Somehow, Hina-san’s narrowed eyes had opened wide, fixing me with a bewitching, intense gaze. It was the same sharp, predatory look I’d seen in Sachiko-san earlier.
The women of the Amagiri familyโฆ mainly the mother and grandmother are targeting me!?
H-help me! If this keeps up, Hina-san will corrupt me!
As if sensing my inner scream, a lifeline arrived.
โMama! Watarai-kun is in trouble, right!? No way!!โ
โEh~? It’s a win-win for both of us, right~?โ
โI know you have this habit of always getting what you want, Mama, but Watarai-kun is off-limits!!โ
โโฆOh dear, oh dear, are you saying that without realizing it?โช But if that’s the case, I suppose I’ll back off this time~~โ
Hina-san’s words seemed to carry some hidden meaning.
Anyway, the danger seems to have passed. Thank you, China-san! You’re the only one for meโฆ
โBut I won’t give up, Nozomu-chanโกโ
โHyaa!?โ
She whispered softly right by my ear, making me let out a weird yelp.
I’d better put Hina-san on my watch listโin more ways than oneโฆ
After all that, we left the sweet shop and started driving again.
ใใ๏ผใใ๏ผใใ๏ผ
(That photoโฆ maybe it really is embarrassing to have it used in a magazineโฆ!)
Rocked by the car’s motion, China was lost in such thoughts.
They said it was a natural shot taken when she wasn’t aware of the camera, but to her, it felt just like having her sleeping face photographed.
Well, but Watarai-kun gave me a push too, so I’ll do my best!
โWe’re here~โ
The car came to a complete stop, the door opened, and she stepped outside.
The shop right in front of her wasn’t exactly pretty, but it was a retro-style used bookstore with a certain charm.
โLooks like there’s still someone inside. Are we just going to shoot anyway?โ
โThey’ll be closing soon, so let’s look around inside until then~โชโ
Answering Grandma’s question, Mom bounced cheerfully into the shop.
Grandma had chosen this place, but Mom, the president, had handled the filming permission and such.
We stepped inside, enveloped by the unique scent wafting from the old books.
After wandering around for a while, browsing books that caught my eye, I spotted someone I knew.
โHaaโฆ I don’t know if I’d be happy getting old books like these as a gift.โ
(Wait, is thatโฆ Hikawa-kun!? Why is he hereโฆ?)
Frowning as he examined a book was Fumihiko Hikawa, a male classmate who often talked to me both inside and outside school.
Luckily, he hadn’t noticed me yet, but if he did, I had a feeling the filming would drag onโฆ!
I tiptoed away from him as quietly as possible, trying desperately not to be seen.
โPhewโฆ This spot should be safe. Sorry, Hikawa-kun, honestly, running into you is just a tiny bit of a hassleโฆ!โ
I apologize to him from afar, trying to hold my breath.
That’s what I was thinking, but things don’t go as planned.
(Watarai-kun!? But Hikawa-kun is over thereโฆ!)
Apparently, Watarai-kun hasn’t noticed him yet, his eyes sparkling as he rummages through books.
I figured it out that day when I went bug-hunting with Watarai-kun. Watarai-kun and Hikawa-kun don’t get along.
If I ran into them bothโฆ it would definitely be disastrousโฆ!
โW-Watarai-kunโฆ!!โ
โHm?โ
I hurriedly dashed over to Watarai-kun. Hikawa-kun was approaching.
He was right nearby, practically nose to nose. If this continued, he’d notice me.
And then he turned his face this way.
โHuhโฆ?โ
Hikawa-kun’s gaze pierced straight through us.
โUm, Chi- Chi-na-sanโโ
โWatarai-kun. Shhh.โ
With our faces close enough our noses could touch, I pressed my index finger to my lips.
I blocked his view by opening a large book and holding it up in front of our faces.
โTch. A lovey-dovey couple making out in a place like this?โ
Hikawa-kun left the scene, his footsteps louder than before.
Phew, looks like we managed to get away with it without being caught.
I let out a sigh of relief and lowered the heavy book I’d been holding up to hide my face.
โAh, umโฆ China-san? Thatโฆ this is kinda embarrassingโฆโ
โโฆHuh? Eh? Ahh!?โ
Watarai-kun was unusually flushed, his ears bright red as he looked away.
I realized I was just as flustered as himโthis was a sight I might never see again, and I wanted to see more!
We were so close, just half a step more and we could have kissed.
โS-s-s-sorry Watari-kun!! A-a-a-a-aah!?โ
โCh-China-san glitched!โ
Overwhelmed by embarrassment, I glitched out, but I managed to calm down after a while.
โS-sorry, Watarai-kunโฆโ
“No, thank you, China-san. Fumihiko hates me, so it’s a painโฆ”
โI might be indirectly involved too, so I’m really sorry.โ
โIt’s fine. More importantly, coming here means my hobby of collecting old books will go smoothly! I can’t thank you enoughโฆ!โ
โAhaha, Watarai-kun still has so many hobbies!โ
โโThud.
Ah, again.
Lately, whenever I see Watarai-kun, my heart feels strange.
What on earth is this feelingโฆ?
โChina~, I need you to get ready soon~~โ
โAh, got it!โ
Called by Mom, I tucked that mysterious feeling back inside my heart once more, still unsure of its true nature.
โโฆHuh? Someone’s handkerchief is on the floor. I’ll give it to the manager.โ
Suddenly, a handkerchief on the floor caught my eye.
I picked it up and handed it to the manager without looking closely.
So I didn’t notice the name โFumihikoโ written in the corner.
โI wouldn’t have dreamed it back then.
That after this, I’d finally utter the words that would sever ties with Hikawa kunโฆ
Maiasa