Since Akira Fujimiya believed that Tadokoro Megumi had considerable potential, he decided that he would take the time to guide and train her properly with someone help.
Erina Nakiri noticed the subtle change in distance between Akira and Arato Hisako, and immediately recalled the method Akira had mentioned to her earlier.
She wasn't sure whether it would really work, but she felt that it was worth trying at least once. After all, this was something she herself had been unable to accomplish.
So, after some hesitation, Erina chose to agree.
Akira noticed Erina Nakiri's gaze and, without hesitation, reached out and gently held Arato Hisako's hand.
Hisako blushed instantly, her fingers stiffening for a moment, but she did not pull away.
Erina clenched her fists tightly, shot Akira a fierce glare, and then turned her head away.
She forced herself to pretend that she hadn't seen anything.
If she reacted now, then Hisako's effort would be wasted.
Akira had promised her that he would only hold hands and, at most, share a light kiss with Arato Hisako. There would be no further developments.
But even so—
Erina Nakiri couldn't help but feel uneasy.
She really couldn't trust that shameless guy at all!
....
After returning to the villa, Yukinoshita Yukino had also come back.
Yuigahama Yui enthusiastically shared what they had seen and picked in the orchard.
Yukinoshita listened quietly, but there was a rare spark of interest in her eyes.
Akira sat beside Yukinoshita Yukino.
Seeing her expression, he naturally reached out and held her hand.
"If you like it so much," Akira said gently, "We can build our own orchard and garden in the future. Your villa has plenty of space. There's a lot we could do with it."
"…Then I'll leave it up to you," Yukinoshita replied softly.
Akira turned his gaze to Yuigahama Yui.
"Yui, what kind of fruit would you like to grow?"
"Watermelon!" Yuigahama answered without hesitation.
"Then we'll plant lots of watermelons," Akira said with a smile.
"M‑my opinion isn't really that important," Yuigahama said shyly, her cheeks reddening.
"You're coming to our house as a maid," Akira replied seriously. "That makes you part of the family. To take good care of our little maid, we'll plant lots of watermelons. That way, the little maid won't run away so easily. Maybe, if she's happy, she'll even listen to me—the big bad guy."
As he spoke, one hand reached over from behind Yukinoshita Yukino and grabbed Yuigahama Yui's hand.
"Y‑Yukinon…" Yuigahama tried to seek help, her voice trembling.
"If you want to be a maid, then you have to endure being bullied by this man," Yukinoshita said calmly, shaking her head. "There's nothing I can do about it."
"Don't worry, Yui," Akira said with a grin. "I'll take responsibility."
Yuigahama's face burned red as she lowered her head.
"Alright, I won't bully you anymore," Akira said lightly. "Go wash the fruits you picked, then go find Yumiko and Ebina. Yukino and I will take a walk."
"…Okay," Yuigahama replied quietly before standing up and leaving.
Akira watched her go, then stood up and extended his hand to Yukinoshita Yukino.
Yukinoshita hesitated for only a moment before placing her hand in his.
The two of them walked out of the villa together.
"What did Miss Shichijō talk to you about?" Akira asked softly.
"She said she envies me," Yukino replied. "And that she would never take you away from me."
"…She really is a gentle and kind lady," Akira said after a pause.
"Can you help her?"
"Yes. But It will take some time. Right now, she's relying on medicinal cuisine, and her condition is improving. There's no need to rush."
"…If you married her," Yukinoshita said quietly, "She would be a perfect wife."
Akira stopped walking and turned back.
Yukinoshita had lowered her head.
"I'm the unpopular second lady," she continued softly. "I'm bad at talking, I can't read the atmosphere, and I'm not cute at all."
"While, you do have a lot of shortcomings," Akira said, releasing her hand and walking forward.
Yukinoshita Yukino raised her head, opened and closed her mouth, as she looked at Akira, who was gradually walking away.
Akira took ten steps forward before stopping.
Then he turned around and looked at her, his eyes gentle.
"It's precisely because of those shortcomings that I like you even more," he said softly, calmly. "Yukinoshita Yukino and how dare you say that my wife is not cute. In my eyes, you're cuter than anyone else in this world."
Yukinoshita stood there in shock.
A deep blush spread across her face as she turned her head away.
Akira walked toward her step by step.
Her heartbeat grew louder with every step.
When only one step remained, Akira suddenly stopped.
"I took nine steps toward you," he said softly. "Shouldn't you take one step toward me?"
Yukinoshita glanced at the distance between them, then looked up at his face.
She took one step forward.
Akira held her in his arms and gently stroked her long hair.
"No matter what kind of lady appears in the future," he said, gently, "you will always be the first in my heart. Understand?"
"…Mm."
"....You just wanted to hear sweet words from me, didn't you?"
"I didn't…"
"Then look at me."
"…I won't."
"When you lie, Yukino, you subconsciously avoid my eyes, do you know that?"
"I didn't know." Yukino said, holding him, her head leaning against his chest—not letting hik see her expression, her silly smile.
Akira could already imagine how red her face must be.
.....
An hour later, Akira and Yukinoshita Yukino walked down toward the beach.
Miss Yukinoshita had changed into a swimsuit and carefully applied sunscreen.
Akira walked beside her in swimming trunks, carrying a bag full of sunscreen bottles.
"You really don't need sunscreen?" Yukinoshita asked, glancing at him.
"I'm not planning to stay under the sun," Akira replied.
"Then why are you carrying so much?" Yukinoshita asked suspiciously.
"I'm a good person who likes helping others," Akira said seriously.
Yukinoshita rolled her eyes and walked toward the beach.
Several girls were already there, dressed in swimsuits.
Yuigahama Yui spotted them and waved enthusiastically.
Yukinoshita smiled back, but when she noticed Sakurajima Mai among the crowd, her expression tightened slightly.
"Don't worry," Akira whispered, beside her. "You still have plenty of room to grow. She doesn't."
Yukinoshita glared at him.
"Yukinon, did you and Akira-kun go to the boat earlier?" Yuigahama asked.
"We just tried it out," Akira replied casually. "Wanted to see what it's like to sleep on a boat."
Yukinoshita Yukino's face turned red and she stepped on Su Yu's foot.
Yuigahama suddenly remembered something and turned away shyly.
"Yui, want me to help you put on sunscreen?" Akira asked.
"N‑no need!" Yuigahama said quickly. "I already asked Yumiko and Ebina to help me."
When Yuigahama Yui heard Akira say this, she clearly knew what this bad guy was thinking.
"What a shame," Akira sighed.
"…We'll be here for many days," Yuigahama whispered in a very low voice. "There will be chances."
"How about the three of us go watch the stars on the boat tonight?" Akira suggested.
"Yukino?" Yuigahama asked.
"…why not," Yukinoshita replied after a moment.
When Yuigahama Yui heard this, her pretty face turned red.
This was the secret code she and Yukinoshita Yukino agreed upon.
If Yukinoshita Yukino reply to something they would do as a group like this, it meant that she would give her and Akira a chance.
"Senpai—"
Isshiki Iroha ran over.
Yuigahama Yui looked at Isshiki Iroha who was running over, and then looked at Akira
Before she pulled Yukinoshita Yukino away with her.
Yukinoshita Yukino didn't say anything as she chatted with Yuigahama Yui about beach volleyball on the way.
When Isshiki saw the two seniors, her pace slowed down.
She waited until the two senpai's were far away from them.
Before she walked up to Akira and took out a bottle of sunscreen from behind.
"Senpai, can you help me apply it?"
"Do it yourself."
"Senpai, How can you say that! I didn't stop you when you were with Nishimiya Shouko, let you have your moment!" Isshiki said resentfully. "But now you won't even help your thoughtful Kouhai!?"
"…You're really clingy," Akira release a fake sighed as he turn towards her.
"Senoai, let's go over there." When Isshiki heard Akira agree, a smile instantly appeared on her face.
As she pulled Akira with her to the beach chair.
Iroha glanced at Su Yu before laying down on it.
"Please," she said softly, her voice low as she averted her eyes.
"If you are so embarrassed about it, then why are you so proactive? Look at them, they are not proactive at all." Akira said as he took the bottle of sunscreen and began to apply it.
"Happiness is something you have to fight for yourself. Compared to my other Senpais, my biggest advantage is that I am not afraid of failure. I like you senpai, so I will just try to make you like me again and again. Unfortunately, my bad Senpai have many too many people's in his hearts." She said, stealing a glance at Akira's reaction.
"It's possible you want me to have only you in my heart," Akira replied.
"Really?" Isshiki asked skeptically.
"When we are alone together, there is only you in my heart." Akira
Isshiki Iroha was stunned for a few seconds.
Then she smiled sweetly.
"Thank you for lying for me, Senior."
"You're welcome. I want to earn your favor so that I can win over your brother. I need your brother to support me as one of the Elites Ten of Totsuki. Consider it an investment."
"Even so, I am still grateful for it."
"Stupid junior."
"Senpai, isn't it because I am so stupid that I like you so much."
"Maybe, that is why I like you too,"
...
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Bonus Chapter:-
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6 Bonus Chapter at 150 powerstone
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Word Count — 1,693