Chapter 257

It's only been a little over two weeks since I agreed to star in her film.

"That's with the appointment time included. I also had someone help me out; I just need to stay up a few more nights."

He subconsciously rubbed his eyes—even though he hadn't actually stayed up late last night.

"I oversaw the design and final production, so don't worry. But the pattern making and preliminary work were handled by the staff below."

"I see..."

Yōkadō Sakuri was a little touched. After a moment of silence, she looked up and met his gaze. "I'd like to see the artwork now, is that alright?"

"Sure, can I go up and get it now?"

"Okay, please!"

After nodding to indicate that he understood, he left.

Soon, a few minutes later, he returned carrying two thick sets of clothes. Since the door was ajar, he went straight inside.

As soon as he entered the living room, he heard Anwa Subaru talking animatedly:

"And then! Mr. Talent stopped my grandma and took her to the villa for dinner that night. By the way, his cooking was really delicious!"

"Then..."

"..."

Sakurakoji Talent stood there, stunned and silent.

Hoshino Ai, who had finished her punishment of standing in the corner, was sitting on the sofa with them, listening intently with Hoshino Ai Yōkadō Sakuri. Her expression was numb.

What's going on?

He was only gone for a few minutes, but it feels like Anwa Subaru are about to expose everything about him?

486-chan, aren't your interpersonal skills a bit too outrageous? But why is he the one who has to pay the price?

"Ah, Talent, you're back!"

Anwa Subaru waved to him when they saw him.

"Yeah, you're back... What are you guys talking about?"

"Miss Sakuri said she wanted to hear about our band, so I told her."

"I see..."

Feeling a chill run down his spine under the intense gaze and subtle smile of Yōkadō Sakuri behind her, he put the clothes down on the table and changed the subject. "These are the finished clothes. Come and see if they're alright."

Yōkadō Sakuri didn't say anything, but came over and picked up two sets of clothes to examine them carefully.

Anwa Subaru and Hoshino Ai, gazing at the two ornately decorated and finely made theatrical costumes, also curiously approached.

After a long pause, she finished reviewing the documents and sighed softly.

"Well done, as expected of Mr. Talent. It's so wonderful to have such an outstanding person in your eyes."

As he said this, there was little joy in his voice.

Anwa Subaru trembled. Their suspicions had been confirmed once again. Their gazes swept back and forth between the two men. Knowing better than to speak, they remained silent.

Hoshino Ai looked worried, clenched her fists and placed them in front of her chest, gazing at the two people with complicated expressions.

"I'd like to change my clothes now and go over my lines, is that alright?"

Yōkadō Sakuri, seemingly oblivious to the atmosphere on the field, sought his opinion.

"Okay, I've memorized the lines."

Sakurakoji Talent glanced at the other two but didn't say anything more.

"Then I'll go to my room to change first. Mr. Talent, you can go to the other room."

After saying that, she carried the female lead outfit and headed towards her bedroom. Halfway there, she stopped and turned back to look at Anwa Subaru:

"Oh, by the way, Miss Anwa, could you come and help me? This outfit is rather complicated and might be a bit difficult to put on."

"Okay! Coming right away!"

Anwa Subaru hopped along to catch up.

Bang! The door slammed shut, and the faint sounds of two people talking could be heard from inside.

Looking at the living room where it was just the two of them, Hoshino Ai suddenly felt a little nervous, her pretty face flushed slightly, and she didn't know what to say.

They haven't seen or spoken much in almost a week.

Hmm? Sakurakoji Talent blinked. Could this be a good opportunity?

He glanced at the still-closed bedroom door, walked behind Hoshino Ai, placed his Hands on her slender, delicate shoulders, and whispered in her ear, "Is there anything you want to tell me, Ai?"

"Huh?! You said that to Mr. Talent?!"

A warm, magnetic buzzing voice reached her ear, and the other person's fragrance wafted into her senses, making her head spin slightly. "Um, long time no see?"

"It hasn't been that long, has it? Didn't we see each other several times last week?"

"Then, thank you?"

"What are you thanking for?"

"Mr. Talent arranged a room for me, made Miss Yōkadō my teacher, took me to the amusement park, and found a professional music teacher to guide me..."

"Okay, okay, I get it! But that's not right!"

"Then, then..."

Hoshino Ai frowned with a troubled expression, wondering what he was trying to say.

"Give me a hint—I know everything, I love the bad things you've done."

"Hey? Something bad has happened?!"

Hoshino Ai's body trembled, and her starry eyes instantly panicked. When it came to bad things, the first thing that came to her mind was that afternoon when she secretly did something to him...

No, no, no! Mr. Talent. Mr. Talent was taking a nap at the time, and there was no one else around. There's no way he could have known!

It must be something else! Yes, it must be!

She swallowed hard, her mouth dry, and asked tentatively, "Is it because I ate a Kokoro dessert last night?"

"Eating too many desserts can easily lead to weight gain. Although you exercise a lot, it shouldn't be that easy... wait a minute."

"So, I went to bed without doing laundry after taking a shower the day before yesterday?"

"Are you tired from training? I'll allow that, it's a small thing."

"..."

"..."

"... I'm sorry, Mr. Talent, I really can't remember..."

After several attempts to answer, he rejected each one, and Hoshino Ai's eyes glazed over listlessly.

Sakurakoji Talent smirked. "Is it that you really can't remember, or are you trying to hide it and don't want to tell me?"

"... What's the meaning?"

A few beads of sweat appeared on Hoshino Ai's forehead, and a bad premonition rose in her heart.

"Ai-chan, you're so cunning~ You still won't admit it even now~"

He lowered his head again, getting closer to her ear, and said softly, "A naughty child who knows their mistake but won't admit it needs to be punished, don't you think?"

"No, no! I didn't do anything wrong!"

After nodding subconsciously, she quickly shook her head in denial, her disheveled hair hitting his face directly.

It got into her eye, and the slight pain made Sakurakoji Talent her head and blink hard.

"... Hmph, I see you won't shed a tear until you see the coffin!"

Turning his head, he continued, "Alright, I'll just tell you directly."

After saying that, he reached his hand in front of her head, used two fingers to touch her soft, thin, pink lips, pinched them slightly, and enjoyed the ultimate feel.

"Did you steal a kiss from me when I was napping in your old apartment last time? Hmm?"

Hmm!!!

Upon hearing him expose this, Hoshino Ai's delicate body, which he was holding down, trembled, and her skin gradually turned red from bottom to top. Her originally cute and fair earlobes became blood red in his vision.

As expected, seeing this reaction, Sakurakoji Talent knew his guess was correct even without her saying so.

Are you curious how I knew?

Hoshino Ai.

"Well, I was definitely asleep at the time. As for how I knew... I'll tell you later."

He smiled and wrapped his arm around her from behind to prevent her from escaping.

"What you need to do now is to obediently accept your punishment!"

"What punishment... Ah~!"

Just as she was about to let out a soft cry, his large hand covered her mouth to prevent her movements from attracting the attention of the two people inside the room.

The punishment that Aoyama Nanami had a lot to say about was now being played out on her.

Her large, star-like eyes rose and fell, then shrank and became unfocused. The ominous touch near her ear made her feel as if countless ants were crawling all over her body.

This punishment is... way too cruel!

Much later.

Sakurakoji Talent finally released her petite body, freeing her.

He licked his equally thin lips, smacked his lips, and continued, "Do you know the price of lying?"

Hoshino Ai remained silent, simply turning the back of her head towards him and nodding repeatedly.

The blood-red, moist ears also fluttered and swayed in the air.

"That's good. There's not enough time. I have other things to do later. Let's end the punishment here this afternoon."

"Phew~"

Hoshino Ai breathed a sigh of relief, her delicate face showing a sense of relief.

Sakurakoji Talent, with a cunning smirk, continued, "So get ready, I'm going to your room tonight to carry out the next punishment."

"Huh?! Wasn't he already punished... Ugh!"

She had barely raised her voice when she covered her mouth and looked in alarm at Yōkadō Sakuri's door.

Wow, that's quite a good sense of confidentiality.

Sakurakoji Talent looked at her with amusement, then leaned close to her ear again and whispered, "That was punishment for not admitting your mistake earlier. As for you secretly stealing my first kiss... I haven't punished you yet."

"You don't think this is all over, do you?"

"!!!"

Hoshino Ai's mind went completely blank, filled with a deafening roar.

"It seems you understand the seriousness of this matter. Be a good girl and wash up properly tonight, then wait for me."

He placed his jade-like palm downwards and pinched a certain spot on her skin, making it turn even redder.

After doing all this, he picked up the Prince's clothes and went to another room.

If we don't go in soon, they'll come out.

Chapter 305 Let's cheer each other on, even if we're rivals in love.

After changing his clothes, Sakurakoji Talent stepped out of the room.

"So slow!"

He had barely left the room when Yōkadō Sakuri complained, "Mr. Talent, how come you're even slower than me?"

Sakurakoji Talent remained silent, guessing that she was probably just using resentful acting to hide her actual anxiety.

She stared at her quietly for a while, until she couldn't even maintain her acting skills anymore. After her face twitched slightly, she smiled and said, "Miss Sakuri, you look very beautiful in this outfit. It suits you very well."