I Thought This Was a Slice of Life

"What are you saying, Mai? The war is only just beginning."

Mai's mother was actually more excited than her daughter, chiding her slightly.

Mai had no choice but to say, "Yes, yes, Mom."

"..."

Shuya frowned, but said nothing.

Hanazawa Sakura had no intention of criticizing others either; they weren't close, after all.

Don't let their seemingly intimate conversation fool you; it was all just business dealings.

They couldn't even be called "surface-level sisters."

"Shu-chan, it's about time we headed back."

Hanazawa Sakura said.

"Ah? Right. Goodbye then, Mai-chan. Call me if anything comes up."

"Mm! Okay, goodbye."

Shuya waved to Mai and her mother as he got into the car.

Once inside, Hanazawa Sakura teased, "What's wrong, Shu-chan? You got Mai-chan's phone number so quickly? Have you had a change of heart?"

"Nonsense, I've always been single-minded. I see Mai-chan as a little sister."

"You're a year younger than her, you know?"

"Age is not an issue."

"...I, for one, think age is a big issue."

Hanazawa Sakura said, implying something more.

Shuya glanced at her, ignoring her subtle attempt at persuasion.

Who he liked was his own business, and he didn't need to concern himself with the opinions of others.

If the person weren't his mother, Shuya definitely would have retorted with "none of your business."

But since she was his biological mother, he still had to give her some face.

However, Shuya simply turned his head away and stopped talking, making the atmosphere inside the car a bit awkward.

Maeda Saori let out a dry laugh, trying to say something: "Hahaha, Shu-chan really has true love for the Quintuplets, doesn't he?"

Shuya: "Heh."

Hanazawa Sakura let out a bitter laugh and muttered, "If the targets were the Quintuplets, I wouldn't have to worry..."

Maeda Saori realized she had stepped on a landmine and silently shut her mouth.

Shuya had already composed himself by the time he got home.

"I'm heading over!"

Clutching the five outfits he had gotten for free, he ran over to the neighbor's place and knocked on the door: "Hey, Quintuplets! It's me, open up! I've got some good stuff for you!"

"Shu-chan is back?"

The voice that came from inside the door was Rena's.

"Re-re-re-rena-san?!"

Shuya only then remembered it was already seven or eight o'clock, and Rena had returned home.

Rena pushed the door open.

She lowered her head, her pink hair hanging down, the corners of her mouth curling up: "Are you here to play with Ichika and the others?"

Rena-san was as stunningly beautiful as ever today.

Shuya suppressed his racing heart, smiled, and held up the large bag:

"Not exactly. I was shooting a commercial today, right? Children's Dream gave us the clothes, so I asked my partner for a few sets to give to the Quintuplets."

"Is that so? They'll definitely be very happy. Come on in."

Hearing that Shuya hadn't bought them specifically for the girls, Rena didn't decline.

She wouldn't have accepted such expensive clothes if Shuya had bought them specifically for them, even though she knew Shuya earned quite a lot.

This was a matter of moral boundaries, the persistence of a teacher.

Shuya and she had this tacit understanding; he wouldn't do something like that.

"Ichika, Nino, Miku, Yotsuba, Itsuki! Come over here quickly."

"What is it, Shu-chan?"

"You're here, Shu-chan."

The Quintuplets, who had been gathered around the television, all rushed over at once. Five identical faces and five pairs of identical large eyes surrounded Shuya intensely.

"These are for you."

Shuya handed the large bag over: "See if you guys like these."

The Quintuplets opened the bag, all leaning in to take a look together.

Nino shrieked first: "Such pretty dresses!"

"You can go try them on."

Shuya said considerately.

"Let's go try them!"

"Try!"

Ichika took the lead and ran into the room.

The remaining four little girls scrambled back into the room all at once.

Rena followed them inside to help with the changing.

A while later, Rena smiled as she pushed the excited Quintuplets back out.

Then, Shuya was tackled by five little huskies rushing toward him.

Five identical little faces were saying something excitedly, their voices overlapping so much that Shuya couldn't hear a thing.

Rena hurriedly pulled Shuya out.

Whoa! So soft!

He felt his head sink into two mounds of softness.

"Hehehe..."

Shuya couldn't help but giggle foolishly.

But the Quintuplets didn't let him off; after a flurry of excited chatter, Miku suddenly blurted out: "Shu-chan, who do you think is the cutest?"

Shuya was startled.

The survival instinct rooted in a man's soul told him this was a death trap!

However!

He wasn't afraid!

Because he had no designs on them.

As the saying goes, having no desires makes one invincible.

"It's definitely me!"

"No, Shu-chan will pick me!"

"Me!"

"Me me me me!"

"It's me!"

"""""It's me!"""""

Shuya watched the Quintuplets bicker with great composure.

The five little girls randomly mimicked model poses they had seen on TV, striking all sorts of eccentric poses.

Quintuplets, I never expected you guys to be JOJO fans!

Shuya retorted in his mind, then decisively and without hesitation, he turned around and boldly hugged Rena, who was watching the show.

Amidst her surprise, he said: "Stop fighting, Quintuplets, I think Rena-nee is the cutest!"

Shuya despicably took advantage of the chaos to launch a surprise attack!

So fragrant, so soft, and what a pair of long, fair legs and...

"Ara."

Rena looked at Shuya's innocent little face and couldn't help but laugh, not minding the hand Shuya had placed on the lower part of her back.

She ruffled Shuya's hair: "You won't get anything by complimenting me like that, you know?"

No, complimenting you like this will boost your affection level.

Of course, Shuya didn't dare to say that last part out loud.

The Quintuplets naturally wouldn't let Shuya go; ten hands worked together to pull him away, snatching him back from Rena.

Shuya was engulfed by the huskies with a look of despair.

It wasn't until he had exhausted every word of praise that he finally managed to escape.

Shuya wasn't lying; the beautiful little evening dresses really did make the Quintuplets look like fairies descending to earth.

If only they weren't so hyperactive, Shuya would have been even more satisfied.

"Right, how about we take a photo to commemorate this?"

Shuya's suggestion was met with unanimous approval from the Quintuplets, and Rena was also quite tempted.

"Then I'm going to go get the camera!"

Shuya rolled back to his own house, ignored Inoue Hikoo and Hanazawa Sakura who hadn't managed to separate in time, charged straight into their room, and retrieved the digital camera.

Before leaving, Shuya thoughtfully said, "Remember to bring a little umbrella! The family is almost bankrupt, we can't afford any new kids! Hurry it up, I'll be back soon."

Inoue Hikoo made a bitter face and said, "It's a matter of talent, I can't just speed it up."

"Inoue Hikoo! What are you saying!"

Hanazawa Sakura gave him a thorough beating, putting him firmly in his place.

Shuya didn't want to deal with those two, so he quickly returned to the house next door.

"Come, come, stand together, I'll take a picture for you."

Shuya had learned quite a few photography techniques from Hirai Ryuji, and holding the camera, he actually looked the part; he certainly wouldn't be any weaker than Teacher Chen.

Rena and the Quintuplets didn't have many opportunities to take photos, so they were also excitedly snapping all sorts of pictures.

Shuya took this opportunity to secretly snap quite a few beautiful photos of Rena to keep for himself.

In the end, at Rena's suggestion, Shuya also joined in to take photos together.

Section 22 22 Family Background

While taking photos, Shuya faced a very important problem, which was how to arrange the positions.

The Quintuplets looked at each other.

"Hey!"

"I'll grab!"