This Reward Is Way Too Hot

But now that he heard Fushimi Makoto had called in some elders, he immediately felt much better.

At the end of the day, the kid was only a high school student.

Nakano Maruo figured Fushimi Makoto was running short on confidence, which was why he'd decided to call for backup.

Since they'd come in such a hurry, Nakano Maruo hadn't made a reservation. He simply found a nearby restaurant that looked rather upscale.

As they entered, Nakano Ichika was clearly nervous. She stole several glances at Fushimi Makoto, hesitating as if she wanted to say something.

Fushimi Makoto gave the girl's soft hand a squeeze and reassured her with a look: Just relax.

Nakano Ichika hadn't expected him to hold her hand right in front of her father. She blushed, then responded with a sweet smile of her own.

That sight sent Nakano Maruo's blood pressure through the roof!

Especially the shy, happy look on his daughter's face. It nearly made him blow his top.

He'd never seen his daughters smile so sweetly!

As he grew annoyed with that little punk Fushimi Makoto, he also berated himself for always being too busy. If he'd made time to spend with his daughters more often, they wouldn't have been so easily swept off their feet by some boy.

After the three of them sat down, Nakano Maruo asked the waiter to leave for the moment, then handed the menu to Fushimi Makoto. "You can order."

"There's no rush. I can tell you have something you want to ask me. Why don't we wait until the other two elders arrive before ordering?" Fushimi Makoto accepted the menu.

There he went again, pretending to be confident.

Nakano Maruo did his best not to think about what he'd just seen and kept his voice even. "In that case, let me ask you... Were you and Ichika on a date today?"

Nakano Ichika's cheeks flushed, and she secretly felt delighted.

Fushimi Makoto answered honestly. "You've got it wrong. We came out together to discuss starting a club. Before you arrived, Itsuki and Kasumigaoka-senpai were there too."

Nakano Maruo latched onto the key point. "So after the other two left, you decided to go on a date?"

Fushimi Makoto said, "You've got it wrong again. Ichika will be the club's future star, so I had a lot of important things to explain to her."

What did he mean, "wrong again"?

Couldn't he get it right for once?

Nakano Maruo kept his expression blank. "What do you mean by 'star'?"

Fushimi Makoto replied, "The club we're starting has a little to do with acting. I'm sure you understand what I mean."

Nakano Ichika began anxiously, "Um..."

Fushimi Makoto said gently, "Don't worry. Mr. Nakano definitely already knows you've been acting on the side."

Nakano Ichika froze, then mechanically turned her head to look at her father.

"That's right. I do know Ichika dreams of becoming an excellent actress," Nakano Maruo admitted.

Nakano Ichika lowered her head in embarrassment.

Having a secret exposed on the spot was awkward enough. Having an elder expose it was even worse.

Only now did Fushimi Makoto speak in a serious tone. "So you can understand that the club's purpose is to help Ichika become even better."

Nakano Maruo clearly wouldn't accept that explanation. "As far as I'm concerned, the way high school students should improve is by studying."

"Then I'm even better suited to be their friend."

Nakano Maruo's expression stiffened.

Not Ichika, but "their," huh?

You've finally let your real intentions show.

Fushimi Makoto seemed oblivious and continued, "This may sound like I'm showing off, but I really am qualified to speak about academics."

Nakano Maruo asked, "Because you're top of your grade?"

Fushimi Makoto suddenly smiled. "So you finally admit you investigated me?"

Nakano Maruo fell silent.

He'd been led into a trap!

He glanced out of the corner of his eye at Nakano Ichika beside him. As he'd expected, the girl looked completely stunned.

He pretended not to notice and turned his attention back to Fushimi Makoto.

This time, he dropped his condescending air and his confidence that he had everything under control.

He had reason to suspect that Fushimi Makoto had done all of this on purpose—from holding his daughter's hand right under his nose to mentioning "helping his daughter become better."

Those moves had been like setting up the conditions to make him expose himself.

Lower his guard, then suddenly strike with a precise draw of the blade.

Fast and accurate, all within seven steps.

By indirectly admitting in front of his daughter that he'd investigated Fushimi Makoto, he'd already lost a round in terms of momentum.

After all, he knew full well that girls entering puberty needed their privacy.

And his relationship with his daughters wasn't exactly close to begin with. Now he'd blurted out that he'd secretly investigated their friend, which would undoubtedly damage their relationship.

Nakano Ichika took a deep breath. The usual laziness had vanished from her face; her little face was utterly serious. "Father, Makoto really matters to me as a friend. I'm so happy when I'm with him."

No, his blood pressure was rising again.

Nakano Maruo quietly watched his daughter muster her courage. He wanted to say something, but didn't know where to begin.

So he could only turn to Fushimi Makoto and say, "I acknowledge what it means to be top of your grade, but I could find plenty of students who rank first."

"But they might not be able to help your daughters improve," Fushimi Makoto countered.

"You're that confident?"

"There's a saying: people who are good at something aren't necessarily good at teaching it. There are plenty of examples. Even the players taught by the god of basketball, Michael Jordan, turned out terribly."

Fushimi Makoto paused, then played his trump card. "Most importantly, how can you be sure Ichika and the others wouldn't resent you for finding someone to teach them?"

Nakano Maruo was about to argue, but Fushimi Makoto cut in first. "When faced with the choice between a friend and a stranger, of course they'd choose a friend without hesitation. And Mr. Nakano, you certainly don't want Ichika and the others to be unhappy, do you?"

Nakano Maruo was left speechless.

Fushimi Makoto softened his tone. "I can tell how much you care about Ichika. That means you care just as much about the other four. If they can grow up happy and safe, that would probably be one of the greatest joys of your life."

Was this really their first time meeting?

For once, Nakano Maruo felt a chill run down his back.

Not only was this boy close to his daughter, he also seemed to have figured him out completely.

Had he investigated Nakano Maruo while Nakano Maruo was investigating him?

No!

Apart from work, he barely spoke to his colleagues at the hospital. He didn't even have any friends in his personal life. Even if the boy wanted to investigate him, he had no way to start.

Nakano Maruo stared blankly at Fushimi Makoto. The boy had suddenly put him under so much pressure that he could hardly keep up.

Nakano Ichika was looking at Fushimi Makoto too.

That heart-pounding feeling had returned!

She was more mature than most people her age, and she greatly admired the way Fushimi Makoto seemed to have everything under control when talking to elders.

Without a will of iron, she couldn't resist that feeling.

For the first time in her life, she was so excited she could barely keep her legs together.

Just as Nakano Maruo fell silent, Fushimi Makoto glanced at his phone, stood up, and said, "The elders I invited have arrived. Sorry, I'll go meet them at the entrance."

Nakano Maruo abruptly snapped out of it.

Wait.

Was even this part of his plan?

First, he'd used the advantage of having studied Nakano Maruo so thoroughly to talk him into silence. Then, when his elders arrived, Nakano Maruo would have no chance to regain his initial momentum.

That would leave him completely on the defensive.

He looked up at Fushimi Makoto's young face, wearing its polite smile. It was as if he could see a line of text on it: The first round is over. The second round begins now.

Fushimi Makoto was already heading for the restaurant entrance.

Nakano Maruo's surprise counterattack?

Hmph. Hakuba, make sure he doesn't come back!

Fushimi Makoto figured the old man Nakano would thank him someday.

After all, he had a way to improve Nakano Maruo's relationship with his daughters, and he really would make an honest effort to do it.

It was just that, by then, there'd probably be four more girls supporting him like Ichika had today.

Restless with desire?

No, just eager to put his skills to use.

He was good at winning people over, so he was eager to use those skills. Nothing wrong with that.

That reward is way too steamy

Fushimi Makoto met the Yukinoshita Couple at the restaurant entrance.

Both of them were dressed formally. But since mature men's clothing tended to be "understated," Mrs. Yukinoshita's well-tailored, light-colored mid-length jacket and skirt perfectly accentuated the unique charm of a mature woman.

Yukino was her daughter, but she wasn't like Yukino: not very tall standing up, and not very tall lying down either.

As for Fushimi Makoto, he was tall standing up and tall lying down, too.

After they exchanged greetings, Mrs. Yukinoshita walked beside Fushimi Makoto and said gently, "I asked around for you. If you ever want to get into the entertainment industry, I have enough connections to help."

"Thank you so much." Fushimi Makoto had expected as much.

Mrs. Yukinoshita smiled. "I should be the one thanking you. Without you putting us in touch, we wouldn't have been able to meet Dean Nakano so quickly."

Fushimi Makoto casually asked, "Is Mr. Nakano difficult to get an appointment with?"

Mrs. Yukinoshita nodded. "His social circle is very small. He hardly ever sees visitors. Unless it's important medical business, there's no way to meet him."

"I see."

Fushimi Makoto then turned to Mr. Yukinoshita, who hadn't said a word. "Uncle, you're awfully quiet today."

Mr. Yukinoshita coughed awkwardly. "You two were talking about important business, so I didn't interrupt."

Fushimi Makoto teased him. "Could it be that you still remember what happened after you got drunk?"

Mr. Yukinoshita said, "Makoto, let's not bring up the past..."

Watching them, Mrs. Yukinoshita couldn't help smiling.

She had a very good impression of Fushimi Makoto, from his peculiar warmth to his talent and personality.

If only this boy could join the Yukinoshita Family...

The mature woman found herself thinking about a few things.

When Fushimi Makoto and the Yukinoshitas reached the table, Nakano Maruo and his daughter were clearly surprised, but they quickly stood up.

After exchanging polite greetings, they sat down. Nakano Maruo spoke frankly. "I really didn't expect the elders you contacted to be the two of you."

Mrs. Yukinoshita gave a soft laugh. "It's understandable that you're surprised. Makoto and I have known each other for quite some time... Speaking of which, Dean Nakano, I believe the last time we met was two months ago?"

"Indeed."

Nakano Maruo was having a hard time processing this. He never would have guessed that Fushimi Makoto would call in the Yukinoshita Couple.

Nakano Ichika was having a hard time processing it too.

Ever since she'd sat back down, she'd been asking Fushimi Makoto with her eyes: What's going on?

Fushimi Makoto signaled for her to be patient, then typed a message on his phone and sent it.

Nakano Ichika hurriedly picked up her phone. The message read: [I helped the Yukinoshita Family out last time. This auntie thought we had a lot of potential, so she took the initiative to exchange contact information with me.]

Nakano Ichika: [We?]

Fushimi Makoto: [Of course, that includes all five sisters.]