Chapter 59

"That's nothing..." Sakurakoji Talent retorted.

"However," she picked up a pinkish-white petal and held it to her eyes, where it overlapped with the Sakurakoji Talent standing directly in front of her. Her unfocused eyes seemed to be looking at the Sakura or at him, giving her own answer.

"Right now, it's white."

"Oh, you're copying me?"

"Maybe," she chuckled, her smile much wider than before.

Sakurakoji Talent's facial features relaxed, and he felt helpless. Then, as usual, he asked the question he already knew the answer to, "My name is Sakurakoji Talent. What's yours?"

"Sakurakoji? Just like Sakura." She held up a petal in her hand to indicate, then met his gaze directly, and said without hesitation, "My name is Shiina Mashiro."

"Talent, Talent is really good." She murmured his name. "His voice is very nice, his looks and style are great, and the color he chose is the same as mine."

As she finished speaking, she brushed a strand of hair that had fallen down her front, then looked at him again. "I really like it."

Sakurakoji Talent's eyes narrowed temporarily due to the accident, but quickly returned to normal. She smiled and said, "Thank you. I like myself too."

"Where did Mashiro come from, and what is she doing sitting here all this time?"

"I'm transferring to the United Kingdom soon, so I came to check it out today." Shiina Mashiro pointed to the building in front of the two of them.

Although she put it simply, he immediately understood what she meant.

"???"

When he typed a question mark, it meant there was definitely a problem here!

Wait, weren't you supposed to transfer to Suimei University of Art High School? Why did you transfer to Filia? And the timing doesn't make sense either; shouldn't you be showing up after the start of the school year?

"... Why did Mashiro transfer here?" Although his eyebrows trembled, he still forced himself to continue asking.

"Because this place is very famous in the arts and has Animation College, I wanted to become a comic artist. My grandfather knew the principal here, so he introduced me to this place."

In just a few words, she explained the gist of the matter, and Sakurakoji Talent finally understood. It turned out that the settings were influencing each other.

Although it's hard to let go of, it's also understandable. It would be strange if different scenes and characters weren't interacting and influencing each other when put together.

Philia Academy has branches all over the world and is a well-known art and professional education institution. Shiina Mashiro wants to come to Japan to study manga, so enrolling in one of its branches here seems like a pretty normal thing.

Moreover, as top figures in the arts, it's not surprising that they would know each other; perhaps Uncle Iyo also knew her grandfather.

However... Sakurakoji Talent looked at her with a complicated expression.

Both have blond hair, both are of British and Japanese descent, both come from wealthy families, both are artists, and she's even a completely helpless bum with no self-care abilities—how come she becomes the ultimate winner and heroine?

You're right, aren't Eriri?

Image: "Pet Girl", Location: "Images/1757000124-100446961-113811133. jpg"

It's here! Sorry for the late post today.

Volume 1: The Daily Life of Attracting Bees and Butterflies: Chapter 88 A Promising Young Man

Could it be because the difference in some numerical value is too large? Sakurakoji Talent looked down and saw that the difference was indeed significant, and because her waist was so slender, it probably looked even larger in reality.

With so many similarities, isn't it a bit like their backgrounds are clashing? If the two of them were to meet later... well, that sounds interesting.

"Gurgle~~~"

As Sakurakoji Talent in thought, a clear voice rang out between the two of them, drawing his attention.

"I'm hungry." Shiina Mashiro, without any sense of shame, simply looked up at him and explained.

"Oh, my stomach is quite full, because I just had lunch." He touched his slightly bulging belly and explained his situation to her.

"That's really good."

"Hmm, that's really good."

"Because it's very uncomfortable to be hungry."

"Yeah."

"..."

"..."

After a long eye contact with her, seeing that her expression remained unchanged, Sakurakoji Talent finally gave in and sighed, "I understand, come with me."

"?" Shiina Mashiro tilted her head cutely, her face completely expressionless.

What would you like to eat?

"Have no idea."

"Oh, so it's whatever?" Interpreting this most troublesome signal, he wasn't as anxious as the others; after all, it wasn't him who was eating.

"Is cake okay?"

"The cake is nice, very sweet, it's sure to lift your spirits."

"This is it then." He made the decision immediately. "Follow me."

So he started his journey again, heading towards the apartment building not far away for the third time, only this time, he had a little tail following him.

Following him closely into the lavishly decorated lobby, Shiina Mashiro looked around and asked, "Where is this?"

"It's the lobby on the first floor of the apartment building."

"The apartment? Weren't we going to eat cake?" Shiina Mashiro stopped in her tracks, her brows slightly downcast, a hint of disappointment in her eyes.

"That's right," Sakurakoji Talent turned around and explained to her, "The cake shop is downstairs."

"Is that so?" Shiina Mashiro stared at him with some disbelief, asking in Extremely low register.

That's right.

"Real?"

"Real."

Seeing that she seemed to want to say something, Sakurakoji Talent immediately stepped forward, grabbed her hand, and pulled her towards the elevator.

"Alright, stop asking. You'll find out soon enough."

He pulled her away rather forcefully, Shiina Mashiro staggered slightly, but he quickly helped her back. During this short distance, she would occasionally glance at his unwavering back and occasionally observe the other people in the hall.

Lacking her own opinions, she was like a small boat adrift on the sea, and his grasp on her hand was like a sail guiding the boat.

This feeling isn't so bad.

"His Talent is surprisingly strong."

"I treat different people differently; I'm just being tough on you."

Completely unaware of the nasty things he had said, he led her into the elevator and pressed the button for the basement.

He had to be firm. If he sat down and talked to her slowly, he felt the two of them could just stare at each other blankly for a whole day.

Ding dong~

The elevator doors opened, and he expertly led her out of the alleyway and onto the main Underground Street. After walking only a few dozen meters along the brightly lit street, they arrived at a stylish-looking Cafe.

"Arrive."

"The cake is right here?"

"YES."

After a brief exchange, Sakurakoji Talent led her through the door to the front desk, turning back to look at her, who was as quiet as a rabbit, curiously looking around.

What would you like to eat?

"Cake." Shiina Mashiro innocently frowned, wondering why he would ask that question.

"I know it's cake, what I wanted to ask was... never mind." He exhaled a little louder, giving up on that, "Give me two cups of special Black tea, with milk and sugar, and a cup of Coffee Jelly."

"The cake should be Soufflé and a mousse... just in case, maybe a cupcake too, that's all."

After ordering, he led Shiina Mashiro to a quiet spot to sit down.

Although this place is located underground and the prices are not low, it is usually very popular because of its outstanding taste.

Incidentally, the head chef here is Yashiro Ichiyo, which means this place is also part of the Sakurakoji Family, or rather, one of his properties along with the apartment. The desserts he used to take out were also made here.

Because it is integrated with the apartment complex, residents on the 60th floor and above also have the right to order special meals.

"I didn't expect there to actually be a shop down here, it gave me quite a shock." After the two sat down, Shiina Mashiro remarked without any change in her tone.

"I already told you I did, but it seems you didn't believe me."

"I thought Talent meant locking me up in some underground, sealed room, like in a TV drama," Shiina Mashiro added openly.

"And then they did this and that to me."

"... It's a wonder you didn't shout to get attention." He looked at her with a complicated expression, unsure whether he should praise her.

The TV series must be United Kingdom, and probably the kind that features secret agents, police, or special operations units.

No wonder she was looking around the lobby earlier; was she trying to signal for help with her eyes?

"Because..." Shiina Mashiro looked up to meet his eyes, giving him a natural smile, "I think Talent is reliable, not that kind of bad person."

"..." Sakurakoji Talent was silent for a long time before giving his assessment. "You have a good eye for people."

They didn't have to wait long before the waiter brought all the food over.

"Eat up, this is all for you." He picked up a cup of Black tea, took a sip, and then pointed to the remaining food on the table.

"Aren't you going to eat the Talent?" Shiina Mashiro glanced at the four desserts on the table and turned her gaze to him.

"I'm full, I don't want to eat now, you eat."

"So."

Without further formalities, she nodded knowingly, then picked up the cupcake and popped it into her mouth to eat.

Sakurakoji Talent looked over expectantly, wanting to see how she would react.

With just one bite, the aroma of sugar and egg white instantly enveloped her taste buds, revealing a look of shock on her usually calm and beautiful face. Her eyes sparkled, as if filled with boundless emotion.

She looked down at the cupcake she had taken a bite out of, and couldn't believe that such a flavor could be hidden in such a small shape. She picked it up and put it down again, examining it from all angles.

Then she looked up and extended a sincere invitation.

"Aren't you going to eat the Talent? It's really delicious!"

"I'm full just watching you eat." Sakurakoji Talent was quite satisfied with her reaction and adorable manner, a sense of satisfaction welling up inside him. Was this what they meant by "beauty is food for the eyes"? But something seemed off.

"It's really, really delicious!" she emphasized again, afraid he wouldn't believe her.

"Don't worry, I eat this all the time, you can eat whatever you want."

Shiina Mashiro nodded and continued to slowly nibble on her food like a hamster. After finishing the cupcake, she picked up the mousse, took a bite, and her eyes welled up with tears of joy and emotion.

This happened two or three times, and after she had finished all four desserts, she finally—somewhat uncomfortably touched her noticeably protruding lower abdomen.

"I'm so full..." Shiina Mashiro words ambiguous, but recalling the taste, she added contentedly, "But it was really delicious."

Sakurakoji Talent watched her performance with a light smile, observing her daily actions, always feeling as if he were feeding a pet.

He put down his teacup, feeling it was time to get down to business.

"Mashiro, where are you living now? You'll be taking classes at Filia's place, right?"

Since the school I'm enrolling in has changed, I can't possibly stay at Sakura- sou, which is several wards away, right?

"It's with my cousin, but she said she'll help me find another place later."

"Could it be a dormitory?"

"?" Shiina Mashiro explained again, "It's at my cousin's house."

"I see."

It seems that the other person has returned home because of spring break, Sakurakoji Talent deduced.

"Still haven't found it? School starts soon, right?"

"I don't know. Chihiro gets very drunk every day and says things like, 'It's okay if a man is married,' or 'Aren't there any men in the world who can have sex?' I don't know if she's found one."

*Slap! Sakurakoji Talent couldn't help but slap his forehead, his face full of black lines.