"Where's the referee~?" Yukino Shita Hiyori looked at him with great interest, resting her arms against the table in a trapezoid—clearly, she had already started forgetting the "beating" from earlier.
Of course, maybe she had simply begun getting used to that feeling.
As for which it was, he still had no idea.
"Talent-kun, are you really planning to carry out that idea of yours?"
"Are you kidding?" Sakurakoji Talent rolled his eyes at her. "That's your dream. What does it have to do with me? At most, I'm just a helper providing the platform."
"Tch, what a coward." Yukino Shita Hiyori changed expressions in an instant and pouted her cherry lips.
"Sorry, but I've grown up without ever learning what cowardice feels like. I just don't want to take responsibility for something that doesn't belong to me."
"Something that belongs to you... Oh my~ Are you saying that kind of thing?" She hugged her soft, mature chest and wriggled atop her round stool, batting her eyes coyly as she glanced upward. Every gesture brimmed with charm.
"If it's Talent-kun... I wouldn't mind, you know?"
If it had been any other young boy, that one gesture alone would have left him utterly bewitched. Unfortunately for her, she was facing him.
"Too bad. If it's Miss Haruno, I don't really feel anything."
"Why?!" Yukino Shita Hiyori slapped the table, and her earlier gentleness and shyness vanished without a trace.
"You can guess the reason yourself. Try looking for problems with yourself. Maybe your temper's too bad, maybe you've been neglecting your skincare lately, maybe your attitude toward me is a little too nasty..."
"Pfft!" Yukino Shita Hiyori vigorously waved her delicate hand before her. "Sorry~ Sorry! I just couldn't hold it in!"
"..."
"By the way, are you really confident you can