Mash-Up: Anything for Money

At the same time, on Hakuto's side, he couldn't even remember how long it had been since he last went shopping with a girl...

Wait! Wasn't his original goal to buy ingredients for lunch today?!

Then what the heck is going on now?! Wasn't I here to buy groceries?!

Hakuto looked at the array of colorful stalls around him, thinking, Can you really buy groceries here?

Yotsuba, holding a candied apple in her hand, waved at him from a short distance away. "Shiratori-sensei, why are you zoning out over there?"

"Yotsuba... I thought I came here to buy groceries, right?"

"Eh? Shiratori-sensei finally came out to shop with us for once..."

"Wasn't it supposed to be you guys accompanying me to buy groceries?" Hakuto felt a bit speechless. 

"Forget it, forget it, I'll give you thirty minutes to look around."

He waved his hand helplessly, giving in to Yotsuba's request. After all, they still had time to spare—browsing around wouldn't hurt.

Just then, Miku, who was standing behind him, bumped lightly into him and then handed him a candied apple just like Yotsuba's.

"Shiratori... do you want one?"

Hakuto took the candied apple from Miku's hand. "Thanks, Miku."

"It's nothing... you're welcome..."

Seeing the blush appear on Miku's face, Hakuto shook his head to himself.

She's really cute... Hakuto was starting to feel guilty about deceiving her...

But there was no helping it—Hakuto's best plan was to get Nino to break through from the inside.

It was the best and simplest method.

"Hakuto..."

"What is it?"

"Um..." Miku hesitated, nervously looking at Hakuto before finally continuing, "About that question Nino asked..."

Before she could finish, Hakuto cut in directly. "You want to ask if I like you, Miku, right?"

Miku didn't expect him to be so direct, and for a moment she didn't know what to do. But in the end, she nodded with a flushed face.

Seeing the look of anticipation in her eyes, Hakuto couldn't help but smile. "Hmm... Miku, why don't you guess what my answer is?"

"Hakuto... that's so mean!" Miku puffed out her cheeks again, looking upset.

Hakuto gently patted her puffed-up cheek and said, "That's why I said you can try guessing."

"I can't guess..." Miku shook her head slightly, feeling a little disappointed. She figured she probably wouldn't get an answer to this question.

But that's fine too. 

This kind of outcome is still better than hearing a flat-out "I don't like you."

At the same time, Miku recalled what Itsuki had said in the room earlier.

"Saving face, huh..." Miku muttered to herself. Just then, Hakuto bent down slightly and whispered in her ear.

"Yeah... I like you, Miku."

"Eh?" Miku froze at his words.

"Eh?! Eh?!"

She suddenly became like a steam engine, her face so red it looked like she might bleed.

"Hakuto... Hakuto likes me..."

"Shh~" Hakuto raised his index finger to his lips, gesturing for her to stay quiet. "Don't shout."

He flicked her forehead gently. "Alright, this topic is over! I'm only shopping with you guys for thirty minutes—I still need to buy groceries."

Miku dazedly nodded, the blush on her face refusing to fade. She simply followed behind him like a lost duckling.

"Shiratori-sensei! Hurry up!"

"Coming!"

Hakuto wasn't sure whether responding to Miku's feelings would help or hurt his plans later on.

He just didn't want to see her sad face anymore.

How should he put it? Maybe it was a hint of sympathy from a scumbag?

In his own eyes, having a harem like this already made him something of a scumbag... probably?

Not to mention, he had a long and embarrassing love life full of rental relationships.

But whether or not he was a scumbag... Hakuto felt that wasn't for him to decide.

He made up his mind! He'd ask Nao and Nino what they thought about it tonight. As for Ginko... the childhood friend bias was too strong to be considered objective.

After all, whether a mother is a good mother should be judged by her child, not outsiders.

Likewise, whether a boyfriend is a scumbag should be judged by his girlfriends!

Damn it! Girlfriends?! Plural?! You've got to be kidding me!

...

Evening, in the living room of the Nakano household.

"Alright, everyone! That's it for today's tutoring session! See you next time!" Hakuto put his palms together and smiled at the five sisters sitting around him.

"Eh? Tutoring? Weren't we just playing today?" Yotsuba had completely forgotten they were supposed to be studying—she hadn't touched a single worksheet all day.

"Don't say that, Yotsuba~ If Shiratori suddenly gets the urge to throw you a stack of worksheets, you'll shut up real quick."

"Eh?" Hearing Ichika's words, Yotsuba immediately closed her mouth, acting like she hadn't said anything.

"Shiratori... are you going home?" Miku, sitting on the floor, poked him lightly with her black-stocking-covered toe.

"Hm? Where else would I go if not home?"

"You can stay here, Shiratori-kun..." Ichika latched onto Hakuto's arm. "It's not a big deal."

Ichika met the look Nino shot her head-on without flinching.

Nino took a deep breath and turned her head away.

Her message was clear: With others around, I'll endure!

But just as Nino turned her head, she almost burst out laughing.

"Hah? I'm not sleeping on the couch again. Last time someone turned off the AC and I nearly died from heatstroke. If someone turns it off again, I'll freeze to death!"

"Shiratori-sensei, I didn't do it on purpose last time—don't pull my ear..." Yotsuba only realized later that she was the one who turned off the living room's AC.

That's when she understood why Hakuto had that murderous look—he really did want to kill her...

"It was an accident last time. We definitely won't make you sleep in the living room again..."

"Wait, your house has six rooms?"

"Nope, only five. But if two people squeeze in together, we can make room for you."

Hakuto raised an eyebrow. Why did he feel something suspicious in the air...?

No way... right...?

He glanced at Nino without a change in expression. Her cheeks were slightly flushed, and she seemed to be thinking something inappropriate.

To Hakuto, staying over didn't really affect his plan either way... so staying was fine.

Besides, Nao had already told him not to visit her for the next few days... not that he'd take that seriously.

But judging from Nino's reaction, he figured she probably wouldn't sneak into his room in the middle of the night...

Probably not... there were still other people living here...

Thinking this, he gave Nino an inquiring look.

"If you're gonna stay, then stay already—it's not a big deal, stop being so wishy-washy!"

Seriously, sis, can you at least calm your blushing face before saying that…

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