But I Refuse! / Meet-and-Greet

Her eyes widened in surprise.

"...!"

Mai's pupils reflected Shuya's rapidly approaching face.

The next moment,

Their lips met.

Section 586, Page 546: But I refuse!

"Good morning, Inoue -senpai and Sakurajima- senpai! It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Seiji Amami, the Amami Seiji for Asakawa Jun! Nice to meet you!"

"Hello, seniors! I'm Matsumoto Tomoka for Akiha Rin. Nice to meet you!"

"Ah, um. Hello."

"Hello, I'm Sakurajima Mai."

At this moment, standing in front of Shuya and Mai were two young men and women who were clearly nervous.

They were probably in their early twenties, still newcomers.

Shuya and the other two were much more senior to them, and their fame was far less than theirs, which made them extremely nervous.

Shuya and the others smiled and responded to their greetings, while Maeda Saori looked at the two of them with a puzzled expression, sensing something was off.

Something seems off?

She knew them well, so she noticed.

Maeda Saori recalled the scene when she entered the conference room. Shuya seemed fine, but Mai appeared somewhat flustered.

... Could it be that their relationship has finally taken a turn for the better?

She secretly smiled like an aunt.

However, in reality, things didn't go as she had imagined.

Let's rewind to a short time ago.

Shuya's unexpected attack left Mai's mind blank.

The touch on my lips, the breath on my face, the pounding of my heart—everything was so vivid.

Mai felt like an hour had passed, but in reality, not even a minute had gone by.

This feeling is completely different from when I used to kiss someone's cheek.

After realizing what had happened, she pushed Shuya away forcefully, trembling as she said, "What have you done?!"

Her tone was filled with confusion, anger, shyness, or perhaps some other complex emotion.

"Huh? Your reaction is a bit unexpected."

Shuya somewhat puzzled.

"You pervert! I only meant to kiss your cheek! Who told you to kiss my lips!"

Mai exclaimed angrily, "Seriously... I lost my first kiss in such an unromantic and unattractive place! Ugh... This is the worst!"

Shuya that she was really angry, Xiu comforted her, "It's okay, doesn't everyone say that a kiss doesn't count if you don't stick out your tongue? We didn't stick out our tongues just now, so it doesn't count."

"Ah, um?... Really? I think I've heard that before... No, it's better to believe it now."

Mai muttered to herself.

Seeing that she had finally calmed down, Shuya asked again, "But since we're already like this, why don't we take this opportunity to start dating? You've liked me for a long time, and so have I."

He wasn't ashamed at all saying this, since it was a fact they both already knew.

He thought Mai would probably agree, right? After all, they weren't playing any romantic mind games.

However, Mai looked resistant and said, "Huh? What are you talking about? I don't want to."

"Hmm? Why?"

Shuya was completely bewildered.

Mai pointed at Shuya, annoyed. "Fine, since things have come to this, I admit I like you. But think about all the things around you: the Quintuplets, your Little Senior Sister, Yukino, Momoka, Hyakka, Ayase, Kirino so on... Under these circumstances, you expect me to date you?"

She replied decisively, "Sorry, I've had enough of your life counseling since I was a child, and I don't want any more stomach aches. Let's date after you've resolved everything."

She got a headache just thinking about the chain reaction that her relationship with Shuya would cause.

... With this stomachache and headache, she felt that Shuya wanted her dead.

"Well... what you said does make sense, but we've already talked it out, and continuing in the same way as before wouldn't be very good, would it?"

Shuya, in a flash of inspiration, exclaimed excitedly, "I've got it! Let's compromise and use the cannon fodder first!"

"Get lost! Who wants to be your friend!"

Mai almost spat out her drink. "You really do have these kinds of weird ideas sometimes. You'd better have some self-respect."

"And you're so shameless. Let me tell you, I'm not the kind of girl who's easy to get."

She poked Shuya's chest as she spoke.

Shuya became puzzled. "That doesn't seem right. We've known each other for ten years. If we were to really start dating, it wouldn't be easy to say we'd get along..."

Mai: "..."

Okay, that makes a lot of sense!

But she wouldn't admit it, she just snapped, "Stop arguing!"

"Okay, okay, then let me kiss you one more time, and I'll promise you you won't have to date me."

Shuya felt that whether or not they were in a relationship didn't really matter; it was just a formality.

Mai can't escape anyway.

Just as a couple living together without being married is called a "common-law marriage," his relationship with Mai can also be described as a "common-law boyfriend/girlfriend" relationship—this is a theory he just came up with.

"No, do I need your approval to not date you? What kind of logic is that?"

Seeing his smiling face, Mai muttered helplessly, "Okay, alright, just the cheeks."

She blushed and lowered her head, turning her profile towards Shuya.

Shuya reached out and brushed her black hair behind her ear, revealing her smooth, fair face with a rosy glow.

You're so cute.

He couldn't help but sigh.

"Ugh... Stop talking nonsense! Are you going to kiss me or not? If not, fine!"

Mai glared at him, embarrassed.

"Then I won't be polite."

Then he leaned forward and slowly approached.

Mai pursed her lips, nervously and shyly sensing Shuya's presence beside her.

Just then...

A knock sounded at the door, Maeda Saori pushed it open and came in. "I'm home."

Welcome back.

"Welcome!"

Shuya leaned back in his chair, playing on his phone with a normal expression, Mai spoke with a slight stutter.

"I'm back... Um, the main actors seem to be arriving soon, you should get ready."

Maeda Saori, unaware of what had just happened between the two, naturally offered her advice.

"OK."

"OK."

Mai gave Shuya a reproachful look, Shuya he waved his hand with a grin.

Then, while Maeda Saori turned back to the door to look around, he silently approached Mai, intending to finish the action he had just begun.

(Get out of here!)

Mai pressed his forehead and pushed him away, then she said in a very low voice.

(Just one bite, no one will notice.)

(No way!)

The two of them were playfully pushing each other from Maeda Saori, getting closer and closer – they certainly knew how to have fun.

Maeda Saori suddenly turned around. "Ah, it really is here. I wasn't wrong just now."

Shuya was playing on his phone, looked up and smiled, "Really?"

"Wow, what kind of person will they be? I'm really looking forward to it!"

Mai pretended nothing was wrong and smiled as well.

But her heart wasn't strong enough, or rather, she wasn't shameless Shuya.

Her voice lacked confidence.

"Puff."

Shuya laughed out loud.

Maeda Saori turned around curiously. "Shu-chan?"

"Nothing, just saw an interesting girl online."

Shuya glanced at Mai with a sly grin.

She clenched her fists in anger, her hands resting on her thighs.

"Yeah?"

Maeda Saori turned back, keeping an eye on the situation outside.

As Mai plotted her revenge, Shuya suddenly reached out his right hand and placed it on the back of her hand, easily prying her fist open, and then they clasped hands tightly under the table.

She turned her head in surprise and saw Shuya his index finger raised.

"Sh---"

"Snort."

Mai looked disdainful and turned to look at the door.

But...

Contrary to her outward demeanor, she subtly returned the handshake.

Section 587, Part 547: Meet and Greet

Shuya's attempt to secretly hold her little hand ended quickly.

The two newcomers who were to play the lead roles arrived with their manager, and greeted Shuya and the others nervously.

Since it was their first meeting, and the other party was the lead actor, Shuya and Mai stood up as a sign of respect.

They weren't arrogant people; they simply responded to the newlyweds' greetings politely and normally.

The two people in front of me are named Amami Seiji and Matsumoto Tomoka.