Mash-Up: Anything for Money

Seeing the situation clearly, Itsuki and Ichika pulled their sad sister away from the scene.

Both of them knew that Hakuto had some things to handle next, and at least some words needed to be said openly.

Meanwhile, Nino stood there, staring at the backs of the four people going upstairs, lost in thought...

She couldn't help but wonder if she had made a mistake...

At that moment, Hakuto stepped forward and asked, "What's wrong? You look so down."

Nino shook her head. "Shiratori... did I make a mistake?"

"Why do you think that?"

"Everyone else is hiding their feelings, but I... I'm the only one..."

Upon hearing Nino's words, Hakuto shook his head.

"Nino doesn't have to think that way. Expressing your true feelings doesn't have right or wrong..."

When someone expresses their most genuine feelings, can you really say they did something wrong? 

It's just that, from certain perspectives, the timing and setting might not be ideal.

But Hakuto also had a hand in this, so he wasn't in a position to judge.

Looking at Nino, still lost in thought, Hakuto sighed and shook his head. 

No matter what Nino thought, he couldn't waste the environment Itsuki and Ichika had created for him.

Hakuto held up the stack of papers with the questions written on them, and with his other hand, flicked Nino's forehead.

"Stop thinking about it. If Nino wants to know something, how about answering a few more questions?"

"Ah?" Nino looked at the stack of papers in Hakuto's hand, and instinctively picked one out.

"How do you say 'teacher' in English... pfft~" Nino couldn't help but laugh when she saw the question in her hand.

"What is this? The last two questions were so abstract, and this one is just... so simple?"

"Maybe it's because you're lucky, Nino," Hakuto laughed. "This shouldn't be a problem for you, right? You don't need to use your phone or anything."

"Of course, for other subjects I won't say, but foreign languages are my strong suit..."

"Then I think 'daring to love and hate' is also your strong suit, Nino."

"Daring to love and hate" isn't necessarily a bad term; at least, for someone with Nino's tsundere personality, reaching this level already beats many people.

"Who... who dares to love and hate...?" Nino's small face flushed, just like usual.

"What does Nino want to ask?"

Nino paused, staring at Hakuto's smiling face, and for a moment, she was lost in thought again.

Actually, Nino, just like Itsuki and others, thought that Hakuto said he liked her for various reasons.

After all, in such a situation, unless someone truly dislikes them to the extreme, they wouldn't embarrass themselves publicly.

So, the question Nino was about to ask was still the same as before...

"Shiratori..." Nino took a deep breath. "Do you like me?"

"Hmm? If I remember correctly, you already asked me this last time, Nino..."

"It's different..." Nino shook her head. "Now, there are no outsiders here, just the two of us. You don't need to worry about my feelings..."

To be honest, when Nino said that, she was gathering all her courage, the kind of courage you would need to rush into a wall!

"Why does Nino think that what I said just now was to spare your feelings?"

"Isn't that so? With your personality, Shiratori, in that situation, no matter who asked this question, you would have answered like that..."

Hakuto nodded. It seemed that Nino could still tell something was off.

However, Hakuto didn't say "I like you" to spare anyone's feelings... or rather, if it was just for that, it would have been easier.

Looking at Nino, Hakuto smiled, then straightened up and said seriously, "I like you, Nino, not because of sparing face or anything, but just because I like you... Can you understand?"

As soon as Hakuto finished speaking, Nino's breathing became noticeably faster. Seeing this, Hakuto continued.

"If there's only one person in this world who likes you, Nino, it would definitely be me."

Nino stared at the smile on Hakuto's face, and for a moment, it felt like a dream...

It wasn't to spare anyone's face, and it wasn't her illusion...

Right now! At this moment! 

Nino finally understood that Hakuto truly liked her...

But before Nino could react, Hakuto continued.

"Nino, there must be more questions you want to ask, right?" He shook the paper in his hand.

"Do you want to continue?"

Nino took a deep breath and nodded. She still had one more thing she wanted to know!

Under Hakuto's guidance, Nino naturally answered the next question.

At the same time, Nino also asked the thing she wanted to know.

"Shiratori, what's your relationship with Tomori?"

Upon hearing this question, Hakuto paused. He had expected this question, and it was part of his plan...

"What do you want me to say, Nino? Friends? Classmates?"

"You should know that's not what I'm asking..." Nino had seen Nao and Hakuto walk home together multiple times, and they also took leave at the same time more than once!

"Before I explain, Nino, do you have time to listen to a story?"

Nino nodded. "I'm listening."

"Please, Nino, take a look at this..." Saying this, Hakuto picked up his phone from the side and handed it to Nino.

Nino frowned when she saw the unlocked phone that Hakuto handed her. "What does this mean? Do you want me to guess the password?"

"Not at all. I just want you to confirm that this phone is real..." Hakuto said, then took the phone from Nino's hands.

Right in front of Nino, Hakuto grabbed the phone with one hand.

In the next second, Nino's eyes widened in disbelief as Hakuto forcefully squeezed the phone, turning it into a pile of scraps!

Σ(ﾟдﾟlll)?!! Nino felt like her worldview was shattered—could this even be done by a human?

If it was just a regular phone-breaking, many people could do that, but Hakuto just crushed the phone into pieces with one hand!

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