[178] Date Invitation

Chapter 178: Date Invitation

After finishing their meal, Shunsuke didn't wait around for Mrs. Kasumigaoka to return with medicine or condoms. After a short while, he took his leave.

Even for him, it would take quite the nerve to face her mother again in this situation—especially when that mother looked more like an older sister.

Utaha walked him out.

"You look a little disappointed, Trash-kun."

In the hallway, her eyes gleamed with amusement as she spoke in a teasing whisper.

"Did you think something would happen if my mom didn't come back?"

"Utaha, don't slander me like that. I was just caught off guard by how enthusiastic your mother was. I'm not great at dealing with women like her."

Yeah, that was a lie.

Shunsuke loved women like her. Whether it was Yuigahama's mom, or Sayuri's mom, they all fit that category. He was very fond of them.

On the other hand, women like Minamitori's mom, who clearly disliked him, received no courtesy from him.

"It's only natural for a mother to react that way when she sees her daughter being so close with her boyfriend."

Utaha had no idea what was really going through Fujii Shunsuke's mind. If she did, she definitely wouldn't have said that.

"But my mom genuinely believes you're my boyfriend, so… from now on, you have to visit my house often!"

"Eh?" Shunsuke was momentarily stunned.

Utaha locked eyes with him, her gaze firm and unyielding—she wouldn't allow him to refuse.

"Because if you don't, my mom will think we broke up. And if she thinks that's her fault, she'll blame herself. I don't want that."

"But if I say it was me who broke up with you, it would damage my reputation. And if I say I was the one dumped, then what does that make me?"

"My mom has already seen us 'that close.' If I suddenly find a new boyfriend, won't she think I'm being irresponsible? I don't want that. I've always been seen as an independent and mature child in her eyes. I don't want her to think otherwise now, as if I've suddenly become some reckless woman."

Utaha spoke with conviction, making it sound completely reasonable. Even if it wasn't, Shunsuke knew better than to argue with her at a time like this.

Besides, he wasn't really losing anything.

With that in mind, he put on a slightly troubled expression and nodded.

"Hmph..."

Seeing him agree, Utaha seemed pleased. She clasped her hands behind her back and hummed softly.

After he left the apartment, she shivered slightly from the cold—she had forgotten to put on a coat.

Shunsuke waved at her. "Utaha, don't walk me out any further. Go back inside."

"Hmm, I suppose so. Then, see you later… Trash-kun."

As she gazed at his face, Utaha suddenly stepped forward, stood on her tiptoes, and placed a light kiss on his cheek.

"…Don't overthink it. This is just compensation for making you my 'boyfriend.' It's just a normal farewell kiss—Westerners do this all the time."

Utaha casually brushed back her hair, her expression completely natural, showing no hint of embarrassment. She made it seem as if the kiss was nothing more than a standard goodbye.

Shunsuke, who had a Westerner in his own home, believed her.

Without waiting for him to say anything, Utaha turned and walked away. It wasn't until she was back inside her apartment that Shunsuke finally touched his cheek and turned to leave.

That woman—she was still as unpredictable as ever.

"Ahh! To do something like that right in front of the apartment, how bold of you, little Utaha!"

From a distance, Mrs. Kasumigaoka, who had rushed back from the pharmacy with medicine in hand, witnessed the scene. Her face flushed with excitement as she covered her cheeks.

"…Another woman's scent."

As soon as Shunsuke stepped into the house, Rita suddenly leaned in and sniffed near his collar, making that declaration.

Mashiro's sharp gaze instantly locked onto him.

"That's impossible. No one even touched my collar—"

Halfway through his sentence, Shunsuke realized what was happening and turned to look at Rita, who was smiling sweetly at him.

This damned woman—she was setting him up!

Rita smirked. "As a proper British lady, this is just basic skill, you know?"

"…Incredible. But I told you before I left that I was meeting a girl!"

"Hmph, if it was just any regular girl, there's no way I'd still be able to smell something on your collar. So, why are you so flustered, Shunsuke?"

—Damn it! It was a trap within a trap!

Shunsuke suddenly realized that keeping Rita in the house might not have been the best idea.

With so many kind and caring women in his life, there was a real risk she'd dig up everything about them.

"Shunsuke, who did you meet?" Mashiro asked calmly.

"A female author who's about to sign with my publisher. She shamelessly tried to seduce me, hoping to get my endorsement for her new book." Shunsuke's expression was completely serious. "But don't worry, Mashiro. Her vile scheme failed. Otherwise, I wouldn't have come back this early—I'd at least be out until nighttime. You know that's true, so today, I am completely innocent!"

"…"

Rita stared at him, utterly dumbfounded.

Mashiro tilted her head, thought about it for a moment, then nodded at Rita.

—No, wait. Why does Mashiro know that?!

Rita glared at Shunsuke with undisguised fury. You absolute beast—how dare you lay a hand on Mashiro, who knows nothing about these things?!

Shunsuke felt he was being wrongfully accused.

Once Mashiro left, Rita grabbed him by the collar. Shunsuke, playing along, bent down slightly.

"Confess. Did you do that to Mashiro?" Rita whispered harshly into his ear, her tone both low and menacing.

"Of course not!" Shunsuke shook his head vehemently, his response firm and resolute. "Mashiro still doesn't understand these things. Do you really think I'm the kind of person who would do that to her?"

"…"

Rita scrutinized him in silence for a moment before speaking. "You totally look like that kind of person."

"…Miss Rita, if you keep this up, we're not going to be able to have a proper conversation."

"Fine, I'll tentatively believe you. But I have one condition."

In truth, before Shunsuke had even returned, Rita had already checked on Mashiro. So, she had known the answer from the start.

"What is it?"

"Tomorrow, you're coming with me somewhere."

"Is this a date?"

"If you want to think of it that way."

Rita effortlessly deflected Shunsuke's straightforward question, completely unfazed.

As expected of a British woman—her defenses were ironclad.

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