"Alright! Now for the final question!"
Nino glanced at Hakuto before the corners of her lips curved into a slight smile.
Hakuto smiled indifferently. He never had any secrets to begin with—unless Nino decided to ask why he was so devoted to Eriri.
"What exactly do you like about Sawamura?"
⚆⚆?
Not the sisters?
You're really asking that?
Hakuto, who had been yawning just moments ago, instantly perked up, his eyes suddenly clear.
What do I like about her? Does money count? Wait… does having a rich mom count?
But due to the contract, there was no way Hakuto could say that. Plus, he couldn't afford to let Nino see through him. He had to be honest…
I should've left right after seeing the tattoo…
Hakuto complained silently. But complaints aside, he still had to answer Nino's question.
Seeing the constipated look on Hakuto's face, Nino waved her hand dismissively and added,
"Of course, if you don't want to answer, you could just calculate 36,954 × 14,411 for me instead."
Nino felt like a saint—giving Hakuto multiple choices so he wouldn't feel embarrassed.
And honestly… she really was a saint, at least in Hakuto's eyes.
Forget five-digit multiplication—Hakuto could solve a hundred-digit equation in a second.
Hakuto looked at Nino, who had her arms crossed and was watching him with a teasing smile.
He didn't understand why she always seemed to jump headfirst into a trap.
After hesitating for a while, Hakuto sighed.
"532,544,094…"
"Huh? What are you doing? Saying your bank card PIN?"
"Nothing, just talking to myself."
Originally, Hakuto planned to answer the second question to dodge the first one.
But on second thought, he gave up on that idea. He couldn't let his boss down.
"Well… if I had to say, Sawamura is… good-looking?"
"Huh? That's it? (๑•̌.•̑๑)ˀ̣ˀ̣ Just because she's good-looking?"
Nino's reaction was understandable. Who in their right mind would devote themselves for two years just because of someone's looks?
There had to be some deeper reason, right…?
"What? That doesn't count?" Hakuto asked cautiously.
Eriri was indeed pretty, and he genuinely couldn't think of a better reason. Based on everything she had shown him, her appearance seemed like the only factor…
What else could it be? Her drawing skills?
Or the fact that she's good at drawing… certain types of content? But she never showed that side to him, so it didn't count.
"Is that really the only reason?"
"If you insist… then I guess I'll add her ability to draw?"
"Hah? You sound like you're just making stuff up. Didn't you say you'd be honest?"
"Haha…"
Honesty… That depended on the topic. This wasn't just about him, so Hakuto had to keep it a secret.
Unless Sayuri agreed to let him talk about it, he would take this to his grave.
One promise clashing against another—what a contradiction.
"Believe it or not, those are the only two reasons…"
Hearing this, Nino feigned a look of realization. "Oh, so you do talk bad about people behind their backs."
Hakuto sighed and shook his head. "I'm not badmouthing her…"
From Nino's perspective, for Eriri to captivate Hakuto for two years, she must have some outstanding qualities.
There was no way it was just her looks and her drawing skills!
But Hakuto insisted—those were the only two reasons! What else could it be? Personality? Habits?
Personality?
You mean that almost numbing level of tsundere? Or the way she had ignored Hakuto like he was invisible for the past two years?
Habits?
Not even worth mentioning…
So, in the end, Hakuto had no real reason to like Eriri. It wasn't like she ever saved his life…
And even so, he still had to come up with a decent reason. What a hassle… What a waste of effort.
"…Yeah, those are really the only two reasons…"
Hakuto genuinely couldn't think of anything else.
Was he supposed to say, "feelings grow over time"?
That would probably make Ginko cry in the bathroom.
"Really?"
"I swear! And I have no reason to lie to you."
"Who knows if you're telling the truth…"
Nino waved her hand, dropping the topic.
"Since you half-assed that answer, it doesn't count! Ask me another one!"
"Fine… I'd even tell you the color of my underwear if you asked."
"Tch! Who would want to know that?"
Nino crossed her arms and looked at Hakuto. For some reason, her cheeks turned a little red, and she tried to act casual.
"You said you like Sawamura just because she's good-looking?"
Hakuto nodded. Eriri's appearance was one of the few things he actually admired about her.
"Then… who's prettier, me or her?"
Nino's voice was calm, but Hakuto could hear the expectation in her tone.
Girls… They really love asking these kinds of questions.
"Are you asking about the past, the present, or the future?"
"Hah? Isn't it obvious? Of course, I mean right now!"
"This very moment?"
"Ugh, you're so annoying! Yes, this very moment!"
Seeing that Nino had walked straight into his verbal trap, Hakuto no longer hesitated.
"Then there's no problem. At this very moment, if I were to rank all the girls I've ever met, you would definitely be number one."
Hakuto spoke with absolute seriousness, his eyes unwavering, showing no hesitation or any other emotion.
The moment she heard those words, Nino's ears turned bright red!
After all, who wouldn't blush if the person they liked called them the most beautiful girl in their eyes?
But Nino didn't show any excitement on the surface. Still, her flushed face betrayed her inner turmoil.
"Then… who's second place?" she asked, trying to hide her emotions.
"You from a minute ago."
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