Mash-Up: Anything for Money

Hearing what Hakuto said, Nino, who was squatting beside him, took a deep breath and muttered to herself.

"So it's true, huh..."

"Hakuto... actually, I had already guessed this would be the outcome a long time ago..."

When did it start? Nino furrowed her brow, unable to clearly recall...

Maybe it was when she first saw Ginko, or perhaps after watching how Hakuto got along with her sisters. That's when she had a sense of how things would turn out.

Hakuto was incredible... truly incredible. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say no one could compare to him...

Nino realized the first time she saw Hakuto was likely at the freshman orientation at the start of the school year.

Back then, even though Hakuto was acting all apologetic, his face radiated that youthful pride—like taking on five opponents at once was something to brag about...

Well, in fairness, it really was something to brag about...

Nino knew she had a natural soft spot for delinquents, though Hakuto wasn't exactly that. She simply liked guys who weren't confined by rules, who exudes freedom.

And Hakuto just happened to be that kind of person... That was also the first time Nino had ever asked a guy for his contact info—though she got rejected...

Still, she probably never would've imagined that one day, Hakuto would be sitting beside her, smiling gently, and saying things like "I love you"...

Thinking about it that way... maybe the whole harem thing wasn't that unacceptable...

Nino turned to look at Hakuto, who still had a smile on his face as he quietly squatted beside her, seemingly waiting for her answer.

Nino stood up, flipping her long hair with one hand, her trademark tsundere expression returning to her face.

"If I say no to you starting a harem, would you choose me or Tomori-san?" Nino crossed her arms and looked down at Hakuto from above.

Her face was blushing, her lips curled up slightly—it didn't look like an interrogation at all.

Hakuto raised an eyebrow at her words, then replied, "What if I said... I choose you, Nino?"

Hearing that, Nino nodded in satisfaction. "Alright then, you pass... I won't make a fuss about this!"

She hadn't really meant for him to pick one girl over the others—it was just a whim to tease Hakuto. 

And his answer pleased her. So, the whole harem thing... maybe it was acceptable.

Of course Hakuto knew Nino didn't truly object—she just wanted to hear it from him, maybe for reassurance.

And Hakuto had no reason to deny her that small bit of comfort. Making a girl accept her boyfriend embracing other girls was already cruel enough.

If Hakuto couldn't even offer some emotional reassurance, then he shouldn't be thinking about having a harem at all.

As for Nao... well, if she were to ask him the same question, Hakuto might give a completely different answer.

After all, different people require different approaches.

"Hakuto... What exactly is our relationship now?"

Hakuto didn't know why everyone kept asking him that. Maybe they were all just seeking reassurance.

"When I finish what I need to do, Nino, let's go register for marriage."

"M-M-Marriage?!" Nino's pupils trembled at those words. After all, up until now, she had only ever seen that term in novels.

Now that it was happening to her, she was caught completely off guard.

Still, she kept her composure. "Getting married to me... what about the others?"

"Power... that's something I have," Hakuto replied with a capitalist's grin, holding his thumb and index finger apart—a gesture as if to say "a universe at your fingertips."

In a way, Shunsuke was under Hakuto's command. And if he wanted to, he could gain even greater power.

After all, supercomputing was in high demand. His ability was too powerful, its potential for humanity too great!

Nino understood—Hakuto intended to collect them all. But there was one thing she didn't get.

"Hakuto, why did you come to work as a remedial teacher? With your skills, you clearly don't need money."

"Hmm... What if I said I came for you, Nino? Would you believe me?"

"Stop messing around, I'm being serious."

"I am being serious!"

Nino frowned. "Just for me alone?"

"Hehe~ (๑Ő௰Ő๑)~" Hakuto said innocently, "I can't promise that..."

"Huh? What do you mean you can't promise?" Nino waved her hand dismissively. "Forget it. If possible... I honestly don't mind a lot of things..."

She was, of course, referring to Hakuto's relationships with her sisters.

If he was already starting a harem, what did it matter if a few more girls were added?

Besides, Hakuto's physical strength was off the charts. It's not like he'd get worn out...

"Really? Nino, you really don't mind?" Hakuto hugged her, unable to hide his excitement.

"Yeah..." Nino didn't think it was shameful for sisters to share the same man—she just didn't get why Hakuto was so thrilled.

"I didn't mention this earlier, but Ginko... she's just like you..."

"??!"

Nino felt deceived. She had thought she was the first, or at least the second—turns out she was number three!

"Hakuto!"

"Ahh, wait wait—Nino, calm down!"

...

Meanwhile, upstairs in Itsuki's room.

The other four sisters were gathered on the carpet. Yotsuba and Miku were still visibly shaken, their faces filled with sorrow.

"Shiratori-sensei... my dear Shiratori-sensei... wahahaha..."

Seeing Yotsuba acting like her world had ended, Itsuki couldn't contain her anger.

"Alright, that's enough crying. Honestly, in that kind of situation, no matter who asked the question, Shiratori-sensei would've answered with 'I like you.'"

"Huh?" Yotsuba froze. "What do you mean, Itsuki?"

"I mean, if you, Yotsuba, had asked whether he likes you, Shiratori-sensei's answer would have been yes."

"R-Really?"

Itsuki nodded. "Really... and not just you—Miku, Ichika, me—we're all the same..."

"Then why are we giving Shiratori-sensei and Nino space to be alone?"

"Are you dumb?" Itsuki really felt like her sister was an idiot. "Shiratori-sensei probably wanted to explain things privately to Nino. Wouldn't we just be in the way?"

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