Mash-Up: Anything for Money

When Hakuto returned home, he was met with Nao's warm welcome, helping him with his coat, handing him slippers, and asking if he wanted to eat first or take a bath, or maybe something else...

It should have been like that... after all, this is how it's always portrayed in the TV dramas, but... the one doing it was Nao.

"Hakuto... I think you need to explain to me what's going on with the clothes in the washing machine?"

Nao sat on the couch, crossing her legs, still holding a signature chocolate stick in her mouth, raising an eyebrow as she looked at Hakuto.

"Clothes? What clothes?" Hakuto feigned ignorance, "Is it wrong if I washed some clothes?"

Taking on five at once... it's hard to say out loud...

Nao raised an eyebrow and tilted her head, aligning her chin towards Hakuto's neck.

"The strawberry mark hasn't faded yet..."

Hearing that, Hakuto instinctively swallowed. 

His hairstyle was still the high ponytail that Nino had tied, so his neck was completely exposed, making the strawberry mark very obvious...

Hakuto forced a smile and replied sarcastically, "Can I say this was something you left a few days ago, President?"

As soon as Hakuto finished speaking, Nao kicked him in the chest.

"Ha~? Do you think I'm an idiot?"

"How could that be..."

Hakuto genuinely didn't dare to mention that he had brought all five sisters home last night.

If he said it, Nao would definitely kill him—no doubt about it!

Hakuto grabbed Nao's foot and placed it on his lap.

"President, don't be so agitated…"

"Forget it, I'm too lazy to deal with you…" Nao shook her head, already expecting something like this to happen. 

After all, he was her boyfriend, and it was only natural to feel some dissatisfaction.

Ah•᷄ࡇ•᷅?

"Shouldn't the President be trying to get to the bottom of things and give me a good scolding?"

"Ha~? Why would I do that?" Nao withdrew her foot from Hakuto's lap and leaned fully against the armrest of the couch, crossing her legs, seemingly not caring at all.

Even though she was wearing a skirt, she moved in such a carefree way, probably because she felt it was fine in front of her boyfriend?

At that moment, Nao noticed Hakuto's current hairstyle and the hairpin he was wearing.

"Changed your style?" Nao raised an eyebrow, "Which one of your little girlfriends likes this style?"

"It's not really like that, I just don't like having my hair all messy…"

"Chibi complex, so arrogant…"

"Huh? After doing those things with the President, can't I prove that I'm not a chibi complex?"

Nao confidently replied, "Hmm? How do you know I'm not a chibi?"

"Σ(ﾟдﾟlll) Chibi? You?" Hakuto furrowed his brow, "Are you saying that a girl who sometimes kicks me in the face is a chibi?"

"Is that so?!"

Before Hakuto could finish speaking, Nao, who was lying on the couch, kicked her small foot, wearing black stockings, straight into his face.

However, due to the physical factors and his body's condition, Hakuto only slightly tilted his head, without making any other movements.

"Hmm..." Seeing this, Nao withdrew her foot. For a pervert like Hakuto, this seemed to be a reward, right?

Hakuto didn't get angry; after all, it was just a little bit of playful teasing between a couple.

Nao grabbed Hakuto's hand and pulled him onto her lap, then said,

"Come here, I need to talk to you about something…"

"We're the only ones in the room, President, there's no need to act so mysteriously…"

Nao: (눈_눈)

Hakuto: (￣▽￣～)

"I kind of miss the Hakuto who used to argue with me…"

"(눈_눈)? Tch…" Hakuto subconsciously clicked his tongue, "If I argue with you every day, you won't be happy…"

"Exactly! That's it!"

"Don't you know I'm not used to you being nice to me?"

Nao waved her hand, "Forget that, let's talk about something serious first."

"Yesterday, Otosaka Yuu called Otosaka Shunsuke…"

Saying this, Nao took out her phone. Since they were sitting so close, Hakuto could clearly see the content on the screen.

"Otosaka Yuu said that he's almost finished gaining all of some Country's abilities, including language comprehension, the ability to not sleep, flying, and spatial jumping…"

Saying this, Nao opened the map on her phone and displayed a nearby country to Beautiful Country.

"Look~ this is his next target…"

"Canada?" Hakuto, leaning against Nao, looked at the map on her phone and instinctively spoke up.

"It's only been a little while... about two months, right?" 

Hakuto was somewhat astonished by Otosaka Yuu's speed, and as his abilities grew stronger, this speed would only increase.

"I was with Otosaka Shunsuke back then, and I could hear the exhaustion in Otosaka Yuu's voice…"

"It's unavoidable…" Hakuto shook his head. "Not sleeping, combined with so many abilities weighing down on his mind…"

"I can't say much, but the ability to not sleep definitely has side effects, unless Yuu's body gradually adapts to the strain of not sleeping. 

Otherwise, something's bound to go wrong eventually…"

Not needing rest and using supercomputers—the side effects of these two abilities are somewhat similar, as they both push the brain to its limits.

However, due to his own ability, the side effects he showed in the early stages weren't as severe as the ones caused by the supercomputer.

Hakuto had a bad premonition. He guessed that the time for his departure might not be far off.

Nao nodded. 

As Hakuto's girlfriend, she knew very well what the consequences of excessive brain strain could be, after all, Hakuto's ability's side effects were just that.

"If possible, letting the brain rest is still necessary… but it seems like there's no time…"

The end of adolescence probably happens around 19 or 20, there really aren't many years left...

"Hakuto, didn't you say that Otosaka Shunsuke has already developed a drug to suppress your side effects? Would this work for Otosaka Yuu?"

If Otosaka Yuu could reduce the risk of losing control, Hakuto would be safer. At least that's how Nao saw it.

Hakuto shook his head and responded, "In theory, it might have some effect, but are you sure that when Yuu sees me, he won't just immediately use a theft ability on me?"

"And right now, there's still no news about the drug…" 

Plus, I asked them to research something that's not related to that…

"I see…" Nao nodded.