Those in the know have already opened their browsers

Nakano Ichika glanced at her father, who was talking with the Yukinoshita couple, and suddenly understood.

She felt a little strange.

From the way the Yukinoshita couple acted, she thought they'd be even happier if she and Yukinoshita Yukino became close in the future.

Fortunately, she wasn't an ordinary girl and quickly got over it.

But then she noticed that Fushimi Makoto was still on his phone!

The problem was, she hadn't received any more messages.

So who was he chatting with?

Nakano Ichika was getting anxious.

With three adults right there, she couldn't lean over and sneak a look.

Was he chatting with some other girl?

The sensitive young woman wondered.

As it happened, she'd guessed right. Fushimi Makoto was chatting with Yukino.

More precisely, Yukino had just sent him a message: [I looked up a lot of information after I got home today. You said you were planning to make a short film. That'll be a lot of work to pull off. Are you sure we can manage it with just us?]

Fushimi Makoto: [Who do you mean by "us"?]

Yukino: [You've made it pretty obvious. The club you're planning to start is related to short films, isn't it?]

Then she sent another message: [I can even guess that the main reason you're starting the club is to look after Ichika.]

Fushimi Makoto: [You guessed right.]

When Yukino saw how readily he replied, the same thought came to mind again: He really does treat Nakano Ichika better.

Still, she wouldn't say that out loud.

Yukino: [Since you know what you're doing, I won't ask any more questions.]

Fushimi Makoto: [Are you busy now?]

Yukino: [I'm going to read. Why?]

Fushimi Makoto: [I'm chatting with your mom. Anything you want to say?]

Yukino: [?]

Yukino fell silent, holding her phone.

What was he trying to do?

The girl kept a straight face as she typed: [This may be a bit forward, but are you close with my mother?]

Fushimi Makoto: ["We're old friends now. Also, remember that I'm your big brother."]

Yukino was getting more and more flustered. Her fingers flew over the screen as she sent another message: [Then let me ask you this: are you hoping to become the Yukinoshita family's son-in-law?]

Fushimi Makoto: [Why couldn't you marry into my family?]

Yukino: [Fine. I've lost all interest in talking to you.]

Fushimi Makoto: [No problem. I can talk to your mom.]

Yukino: [???]

Fushimi Makoto saw the question marks she'd sent and swiftly turned off the screen, then put his phone away.

The whole thing was seamless.

His little goal of making Yukino curious every day had been accomplished!

He turned and gestured to Nakano Ichika, who'd been sneaking glances at him the whole time: I'll tell you later.

Only then did Nakano Ichika look away.

Just then, Mrs. Yukinoshita brought up Fushimi Makoto. "Mr. Nakano, are you familiar with Makoto? He's not only top of his grade; he's also very talented at creative work. My daughter told me so herself."

Fushimi Makoto was slightly taken aback. What was she getting at?

Across from her, Nakano Maruo asked in confusion, "Creative work?"

Mrs. Yukinoshita smiled as she explained, "Yes. My daughter said he's written many stories, and he should also be good at adapting them into scripts."

Nakano Maruo's blood pressure didn't rise this time. Instead, the stress went straight to his head.

A handsome boy who was smooth with words and talented, too. Could he really keep his daughters out of his clutches?

Mrs. Yukinoshita gave Fushimi Makoto a knowing smile, and he immediately understood.

She was helping me.

As expected of a smart, mature woman. She'd seen the situation clearly in no time.

Fushimi Makoto understood.

Mrs. Yukinoshita's assist had successfully made Nakano Maruo take Fushimi Makoto more seriously.

From there, Fushimi Makoto and Nakano Ichika were no longer involved.

Mrs. Yukinoshita was very career-minded. Since Fushimi Makoto had given her an opportunity, she intended to seize it.

In return, she'd also change Nakano Maruo's negative impression of Fushimi Makoto.

After Fushimi Makoto finished eating, he saw that Nakano Ichika had set down her chopsticks, too, and stood up. "We'll take our leave, then. We don't want to interrupt your business talk."

The Yukinoshita couple responded in turn.

Nakano Maruo looked as if he wanted to say something but held back.

Fushimi Makoto smiled. "I'll take Ichika home."

Only then did Nakano Maruo reply, rather flatly, "I'll leave her in your hands."

After they left the restaurant, Fushimi Makoto noticed that Nakano Ichika seemed distracted, so he came right out with it. "If you want to hold hands, just say so. Why be so coy?"

Huh?

When did I want to hold hands?

No, wait!

I do want to!

Nakano Ichika's brain answered in an instant. She raised her fair, delicate hand and offered it with a sweet smile.

Fushimi Makoto took it at once. "I was talking with Yukino about the club just now, but I think I might've annoyed her."

So the trick really worked.

Feeling the warmth in her palm, Nakano Ichika had already forgotten about what happened earlier.

She lowered her head, her bright eyes fixed on his hand.

His long fingers curled slightly as he held hers tightly.

This time, I won't let you slip away so easily!

She was delighted. When she looked up, she saw Fushimi Makoto staring at her.

"What are you looking at?" she asked, using a smile to hide her embarrassment.

Fushimi Makoto answered bluntly, "I've wanted to say this for a while: you have beautiful legs."

Nakano Ichika gave him a teasing smile. "That sounds like something a pervert would say. But if it's you, Makoto, I won't get mad~ So, do you want to touch them?"

Fushimi Makoto: "Delicious food, so good!"

"?"

Nakano Ichika blinked. She didn't realize the conversation was getting more and more perverted, which wasn't what she'd been aiming for with her teasing.

So she pretended not to hear him and smiled faintly. "As far as I know, boys who like looking at legs especially enjoy all sorts of legwear on girls."

Fushimi Makoto: "Like what?"

"Ankle socks, black tights, white tights? Or maybe something bolder, like fishnets?"

"You don't have any, so why are you giving me all these examples?"

"You never know~"

Nakano Ichika smiled mysteriously.

So he liked them, huh?

Then he'd have to come over and take them off himself.

She thought to herself that she didn't own any tights, but Nino had plenty of white thigh-high socks. Maybe she could borrow a pair from Nino, wear them, and then give them to him?

If Fushimi Makoto knew what she was thinking, he'd definitely give her a thumbs-up and praise her: That reward's way too hot. Bring it on over, quick!

Chapter 27: Those in the know have already opened their browsers

Although Fushimi Makoto had promised Nakano Maruo he'd take Ichika home, he hadn't said he'd take her back right away.

Nakano Ichika didn't want to go home so early, either, even though she had to get back to the set a little after six to keep working as an extra.

She planned to head home to change during the last half hour. She already knew the route well, anyway.

Fushimi Makoto strolled around the streets with her for a while, and they talked about the club's future plans.

He was starting the club to bring the pretty girls into the picture in the first place.

Anyone who played games knew how important it was to enter at the right time.

If he'd started the club on his own and only told the five sisters about it afterward, they might not have agreed to join.

That was why he'd exposed Nakano Ichika's acting job early, become friends with Nakano Itsuki, and then brought up the club.

By now, both Ichika and Itsuki would choose to join.

As for the other three, Nino and Yotsuba wouldn't be a problem.

Miku, who was introverted and tended to avoid interacting with others, seemed like she might be tricky. But Fushimi Makoto knew what she liked, and he'd already done his homework.

Once four of the five sisters joined, Nakano Miku would naturally come along, too.

Don't underestimate my intelligence network!

As he thought about his plan, he glanced at the girl still holding his hand and grinning foolishly. Then, out of the blue, he said, "The reason I was able to get Aunt Yukinoshita to come here so easily today was that I'd visited her house before. We talked a lot that day and had a meal together."

Nakano Ichika turned to him in surprise. "Why are you bringing that up all of a sudden?"

Fushimi Makoto: "I thought you had the right to know."

Nakano Ichika smiled happily, her moist lips curving up. "What if I want to know even more?"

"Ask whatever you like."

"Okay~"

There was something else in Nakano Ichika's smile. "What did you and that lady mostly talk about? Was it related to Yukinoshita?"

"You could say it was, and you could say it wasn't."

"Huh? What does that mean?"

Fushimi Makoto started laying the bait. "I told Aunt Yukinoshita I hoped she'd treat me as a friend her age. I was mostly talking to her, but the topic was still related to Yukinoshita."

Nakano Ichika froze for two seconds, then burst out laughing. "So you think that way, too, Makoto?"

Clearly, she had the same thought Mrs. Yukinoshita had that day. She figured Fushimi Makoto was like most boys his age, eager to grow up and tired of adults always treating him like a child.

Fushimi Makoto: "Children, this isn't funny."

Nakano Ichika laughed so hard her chest shook. "No, it's just that hearing it from you is so funny..."

Her voice was trembling now. "You were so mature when you talked to my father. I always thought you were a mature type, too. I didn't realize you could have such a... well, playful side."

Fushimi Makoto put on a helpless expression. "I shouldn't have told you."

Nakano Ichika reined herself in a little, but the smile lingered at the corners of her mouth. "All right, all right. I'll stop laughing at you. Go on."

"What I'm about to tell you is related to Yukinoshita's secret. I'm not sure whether I should reveal it."

"Yukinoshita's secret? I want to hear!"