Chapter 498: Chapter 490: 57D1
"The scumbags these days are getting worse with each generation..." Asano Fūsei mocked, "You want to be a jerk and still not get criticized, and you want everyone to be happy, world peace... isn’t that exactly what you’re thinking right now?"
"Although your idea is destined not to work with me, I still want to say one thing..."
"You’re quite handsome, and your thoughts are quite grand..."
Shirakawa Sawahei: "..."
"Young man, times have changed; relying purely on being gentle and slow-witted, waiting for the girls to resolve, compromise, and back down on their own? Hah."
"In the end, guys who think like that... what do they take the girls who like them for? Soulless dolls? This is the kind of love that would only exist in assembly-line light novels from the last century."
"World peace, it’s just talk... if you don’t shoulder the blame and strange looks you should endure, then what right do you have to obtain things ordinary people cannot?"
Asano Fūsei spoke with a faint hint of reminiscence in his eyes, as if recalling the past. His gaze was deep and he sighed softly, "You want to ask what choice I made back then, right? I’ll tell you, I didn’t force them to choose, force them to compromise and back down, to harm each other..."
"All the pain and sin should have been borne by me alone; I disdain scheming against women I like."
"I just like two people, I just want them all, so what? We are a perfect match, who has the right to oppose? If anyone really opposes, I’ll use my strength to silence them."
At this moment, if there were words above Asano Fūsei’s head, it would definitely be six conspicuous and eye-catching characters:
Absolutely Clear-Headed Scumbag!
Asano Sekken... no, Sensei Asano! I want to learn this!
Shirakawa Sawahei’s expression was visibly shocked, then he fell silent for a moment and asked, "So how did Hayakawa Kashi and Nazuki’s mom agree at first?"
"Them? Who said they agreed at first?" Asano Fūsei countered, "Do you know how I got by at first... Sawaba was so ruthless... after hearing it, she almost dragged me to feed the fish... thankfully, Sawayā felt sorry for me, but even on her side, Hayakawa Shinsuke was in the way... luckily I held out... ahem... in short, wanting them all is definitely difficult and tiring... it’s not as simple as you think."
Shirakawa Sawahei bowed sincerely again and said softly, "Thank you, Mr. Asano, I understand..."
"Heh heh... young man, still too green... hey, wait a minute? What do you understand?"
"You don’t actually plan to emulate me, do you? Where’s my knife?!!"
"Don’t worry, Nazuki and Kashi haven’t confessed their feelings to me yet."
Asano Fūsei breathed a sigh of relief and instructed, "Good... I’m telling you, even though my daughter has some interest in you... at most you can only choose one... do you hear?"
"Didn’t you just tell me to take up my responsibilities as a man?"
"Just now, I was reminiscing about my youth, showing off a bit! Did you really think I was teaching you some master moves?"
"In any case, thank you."
"Hey... you guy! Where are you going!? Did you not hear what I just said!? Answer me..."
Shirakawa Sawahei waved his hand from afar and walked towards the lit-up area ahead without looking back. Watching his suddenly resolute steps and figure, Asano Fūsei inexplicably felt a bit guilty...
This is bad... I shouldn’t have boasted there... my daughters shouldn’t know it’s my doing, right...
If that kid really dares to misbehave... Kashi and Nazuki wouldn’t burn me at the stake, right?
I need to quickly play dead...
...
The night gradually deepened, and tiny snowflakes began to fall on the street. Shirakawa Sawahei rushed along, first taking a car and then getting off to run on the street when he encountered traffic. Passersby, noticing his hurried manner, glanced at him a few times but didn’t think much of it, continuing with what they were doing.
All the way, Shirakawa Sawahei tried calling or sending Line messages to Little Arrogant, but to no avail. The result wasn’t surprising, and he soon figured out where Hayakawa Kashi would be, then hurried in that direction.
Compared to when he came out, Shirakawa Sawahei’s steps were especially light. He realized just now how much a psychological burden can impact a person.
Likewise, when someone casts off a psychological burden, all their actions become more organized. Just like his current state.
Don’t be selfish, don’t think of leaving problems to those who love you to solve... don’t make them vulnerable, tangled, and conflicted because they love you.
Shirakawa Sawahei came to a stop below his apartment complex.
Don’t... don’t force them to make choices that go against their nature because of your selfishness; this is what Shirakawa Sawahei, as a man, should do. Whether it’s Ise Yu, who has already confessed... or Asano Nazuki, who is still in tsundere mode...
And also... someone who, because of Shirakawa Sawahei breaking his promise, didn’t make a fuss or leave but waited the whole time at the bottom of his apartment complex for an explanation... Hayakawa Kashi.
The girl leaned against the wall downstairs, staring calmly at her phone. The delicate snowflakes disrupted Shirakawa Sawahei’s vision but didn’t disturb his thoughts. He took a deep breath and walked towards the girl who had been waiting for a long time.
Step by step, firm and strong.
As their gazes met, the girl glimpsed him approaching and put her phone in her pocket.
He stood in front of Little Arrogant, quietly meeting her gaze for a while. The girl wasn’t angry or annoyed as she returned his gaze, seemingly waiting for him to speak first.
"Kashi?"
Little Arrogant raised an eyebrow.
"Camellia or black tea?"
"..."
"Do you think that’s why I came over?"
"No." Shirakawa Sawahei smiled wryly, "A lot has happened recently... so I’m late."
Miss Kaori softly hummed, as if she got the answer she was looking for.
"I’m going back."
"Wait a minute..."
The girl didn’t stop walking, so Shirakawa Sawahei had to catch up as they walked. Their paces gradually synchronized during this pursuit.
"I asked you to go shopping for gifts with me; I mentioned it a long time ago, right?"
"Yes."
"Up until the 24th, you didn’t send any message canceling the plan... or did you send something, and I didn’t receive it?" Miss Kaori continued forward at the same speed in spite of herself. Shirakawa Sawahei couldn’t see Little Arrogant’s expression, so he continued to smile wryly.
"No, I didn’t."
"Oh? And why is that?" Little Arrogant extended her hand, "Pass me your phone."
Shirakawa Sawahei hesitated for a moment, then handed over his phone.
"Password."
"57D1."
Hayakawa Kashi unlocked the screen and opened the calendar, which was almost empty. No sign of reminders. She reached into her pocket to take out her own phone, unlocked it, and handed it to Shirakawa Sawahei.
"The calls you made, I didn’t answer, and the messages were unread. You should know why, right?"
"If I don’t complain to you face to face once, it might be really difficult to do so in the future."