Chapter 480

However, as the saying goes, every gain has its loss. While Chihaya Aine gained certain talents, she also lost...

Although it's not obvious for Inoseri Nina, judging from her sister's talent—no, it seems there's no connection, the evidence being a pair of Chiba sisters, and the Ijichi sisters.

Of course, the most striking contrast comes from the sworn sisters...

How pathetic, Amen~

Ten minutes later.

"That's enough for today. Just keep practicing as I've suggested."

Hi! Thank you so much!

Chihaya Aine bowed deeply to the camera and then asked, "Asahi-chan... Asahi- senpai, do you have time to attend tomorrow's meeting?"

Ignoring her inner turmoil, Ogura Asahi got up to pack up her equipment, thought for a moment, and replied, "Probably, if it's a bit late, because I probably have something to do this afternoon, so I'm not sure when it will end."

"I understand! I'll tell Rikki and the others in the group chat!"

"Hmm... I'd better ask myself, otherwise Taki might get angry with me again."

Haha~ Indeed~

Goodnight!

"Okay, goodnight (polite)~"

He turned off the video on his phone, which was on the stand, packed his things, and quietly turned off the lights and left.

After finishing his instructions to Anwa Subaru, he returned to his master bedroom, turned on his computer, looked through documents, and continued his money-making endeavors.

After a while.

"..."

He slammed the thick stack of printed documents onto the table.

After reviewing the progress report he hadn't finished yesterday, Sakurakoji Talent fell silent. He rested his Hands on his hands, his eyes glazed over, lost in deep doubt.

Really? So fast?

According to reports from the successors of the Okura Family, the completion of this new project is indeed progressing rapidly.

In such a short period of time, not only were laboratories built and product testing and packaging completed, but production lines were also established, and almost all process channels, from raw material supply to downstream sales, were opened up.

Needless to say, the patent application process was swiftly approved thanks to the political and business influence of the Okura Family.

He even obtained a rather complex license with a wide scope by using his subsidiary financial company through a reverse takeover, which resulted in a significant increase in the required deposit.

And now they are actively expanding their overseas business, acquiring version numbers from other countries.

It's fair to say that they're practically in a state where they can start selling and making money as soon as the product is mass-produced and released.

Logically, he should be happy about this progress, but he isn't.

"..."

Suspicious, extremely suspicious!

How could it be so fast? He frowned, his handsome silver eyebrows furrowed, completely baffled.

Even with ample funding and connections from the Okura Family, this level of efficiency is somewhat exaggerated.

Instead of the funds being siphoned off as he feared, every penny was used effectively.

It was like being a gaming pro; after countless replays, he perfectly bypassed all the obstacles and detours, sliding straight to the finish line as if on a slide—everything went incredibly smoothly...

If it were a seasoned veteran like Okura Iyo personally and wholeheartedly in charge of this project, that would be one thing, but he clearly didn't let him personally supervise it.

After all, the other party was very busy, and he didn't have the ability or the nerve to ask his uncle to work so hard for his money-making plan.

He hasn't paid attention to it during this period... In fact, even if he did it himself, he couldn't achieve this level, since it's not the same thing he used to do.

He even suspected that even sending Okura Iyo away might not be enough...

Who exactly is that guy?

With such impressive technical and management skills, is it really necessary to seek funding from him?

Or is there some other purpose?

He stared at the sender's nickname in the email; the familiar name made his brow furrow even more.

Although they share the same name, it's definitely not that person.

How about we meet up?

Chapter 441 Home Dating

Ding dong~

"..."

Ding dong~

"..."

Are you still sleeping?

Sakurakoji Talent glanced at her phone screen; it was 9:00 AM on Saturday.

Well, this time is quite late for him, being such a busy person. He even went to the factory and laboratory to conduct an on-site survey.

But for a homebody like Kitagawa Marin... it's just her weekend wake-up time.

Ding dong~

He pressed the button again. This time, he heard a dull thud of shoes on the floor from inside. A few seconds later—

Thud!

"Sorry! I just woke up!"

The door in the open corridor suddenly swung open, revealing without any concealment a young girl inside wearing a spaghetti strap nightgown, exposing her fair and rounded shoulders, without any makeup, and with her bright yellow hair flowing freely.

"I couldn't stop watching 'Retsu!!' after watching it yesterday! I'm so sorry!"

Sakurakoji Talent's gaze unconsciously shifted downwards, and he winked respectfully.

What a thrilling match in the Northern Hemisphere!

And... okay, it really is a 20cm spacing, you didn't measure it wrong last time.

After confirming it for her, he nodded in relief.

"Sakurakoji-kun?"

Seeing that he didn't speak, Kitagawa Marin asked in a puzzled tone.

"Um?"

Are you alright?

"It's nothing, I'm just admiring the natural beauty of the morning."

"Huh?! What are you talking about, a beauty or something?!"

Her earlier panic vanished, and Hands cheeks with her hands, blushing Shy delight. Avoiding his wandering gaze, her eyes inadvertently fell upon the full-length mirror on the wall in the entryway.

"..."

"Heh! Hmm!!"

"Ugh!!!"

Upon seeing the beautiful woman with dark eyes in the mirror, her face flushed red, and she covered her face with her Hands. Finally, she noticed something was wrong, and her pupils suddenly contracted!

She abruptly pulled on the wide-open doorknob and slammed the door shut. "I forgot to wear my colored contact lenses!!!"

Bang!

"..."

Is this child a little dim-witted?

Sakurakoji Talent tilted her head slightly, her expression strained, already beginning to worry about her Mirai child.

Five minutes later.

The tightly closed door opened again, and Kitagawa Marin, wearing a gray coat, with blond hair and red eyes, said apologetically, "Sorry to keep you waiting~ Everything's ready!"

"OK, sorry to bother you."

"Please come in!"

As he entered the foyer, he changed into the indoor shoes she had handed him and presented her with the gift bag.

"Here you go, Kitagawa-classmate, as a souvenir."

"Really?! For me? Did you buy it specially?!"

"No, I made it myself."

"!!!"

Kitagawa Marin stared at him wide-eyed in disbelief, her pale pink lips murmuring, "Sakurakoji-kun, you did it yourself..."

A faint echo reverberated in the small corridor, reflecting the inner turmoil within someone.

"A gift made by Sakurakoji-kun himself! I'm even happier!!!"

She jumped up and down excitedly, then hugged him tightly, holding the bag. "Thank you!"

"No, you're welcome..."

Sakurakoji Talent, who was fouled while dribbling and charging, seemed a little distracted at that moment—if only he hadn't been wearing that jacket, it would have greatly affected his performance.

Kitagawa Marin took a step back and looked at the items in the bag, but because there were no tags and it was wrapped in oil paper, she couldn't tell what they were.

"Sakurakoji-kun, what's this?"

"Because I figured you hadn't had breakfast yet, I brought something for you to eat for breakfast."

"Really? That's so thoughtful!"

She walked towards the restaurant with her back to him, finally feeling a sense of relief.

Oh dear, I'm so anxious!

Even though I've already been seen without makeup (when I'm wearing makeup remover), I really can't go without colored contact lenses!

So what's inside this? The fragrance is so delicate and elegant!

"Ah, it's a pancake! Thank you!"

After opening the package and seeing the food, she thanked them with shining eyes.

"This is the breakfast version, so it doesn't have much cream. Please don't mind."

"Hmm~ Not at all! I'll go brush my teeth first, Sakurakoji, you can do whatever you want... Ah, should I introduce myself to you first?"

She led him to the first door they had just passed and opened the closed door.

"This is my room!"

As the obstacles in the space disappeared, a fragrance belonging to her wafted over, almost making one dizzy with its allure... but not really.

He glanced at the furnishings inside, and although he had expected it, he remained silent.

A beanbag chair against the wall, wall hangings with various otaku-themed items, a Kuroe Shizuku body pillow, a pet cushion from Flower Princess, Bunny Girl and other collectibles... yeah, it's a classic otaku-style room.

The difference is that, although the room is not large and there are many things, it looks surprisingly tidy overall.

"Any thoughts?"

Kitagawa Marin turned her head and asked.

"... It felt like returning to my own room."

He bit the inside of his lip and said against his conscience.

This is indeed the same as the layout of his room... except it's the downstairs room that he deliberately decorated.

"Right, right!!"