119: Money Is Hard to Earn

The movie was a blast for Maki, but for Takashi, it was a nerve-wracking ordeal.

He was scared—genuinely afraid that Tanuma Tsubasa would catch on.

Thankfully, Maki was more than dependable.

She kept chatting with Tanuma Tsubasa throughout the second half, keeping him so occupied that he didn't even glance in Takashi's direction once.

"I'm back~"

Not until the end of the movie did Nagisa leisurely return to Tanuma Tsubasa and Maki.

Maki looked at her helplessly. "Nagisa, what took you so long? The movie's over already."

"My stomach hurts. Must've eaten something bad," Nagisa said, subconsciously glancing toward Takashi.

The charm in that fleeting gaze completely stunned Tanuma Tsubasa.

It was the glow of someone who'd just been… well-nourished.

'My girlfriend's so beautiful,' Tanuma Tsubasa thought with a bit of pride.

Such a stunning girl was his girlfriend!

Heh heh!

'Who is he texting now, some vixen again?' Seeing Takashi with his head down, busy replying to someone and not sparing her a glance, Nagisa frowned slightly.

When Maki heard Nagisa wasn't feeling well, she asked with concern, "Are you okay, Nagisa? Want to go to the hospital?"

Nagisa shot Takashi a sharp look, then brushed it off, saying, "No need, it's just a little thing."

Tanuma Tsubasa advised, "You should still get it checked, just to be safe."

"No need."

"Some serious illnesses start off small. I really think—"

"I said no. Can't you understand what I'm saying?"

Nagisa was getting impatient.

Not to mention it was a lame excuse she'd made up.

Her family had an in-house doctor, and they did weekly checkups. She knew her own body well—if she were actually sick, she'd know and get treatment.

She knew Tanuma Tsubasa meant well and was concerned, but for someone she didn't have feelings for, his concern was like an annoying fly buzzing around—unmoving and only irritating.

"..." Tanuma Tsubasa's face went pale.

As soon as Nagisa snapped at him, the atmosphere immediately soured.

"Come on, Nagisa, Tsubasa was just worried about you. You didn't have to say it like that," Maki frowned tightly, clearly displeased with Nagisa and speaking in a firmer tone than usual.

Maki had always said she would fight for Tanuma Tsubasa, that she'd try to win him back, but she never acted on it.

No matter how much she liked him, her upbringing had instilled in her that being a homewrecker was out of the question.

Even though she sat next to him just now and they chatted nonstop, nothing ever progressed between them.

She simply enjoyed every second spent with him.

But at that moment, Maki genuinely felt the impulse to snatch Tanuma Tsubasa away.

Seriously, she'd longed for him so badly, and now that Nagisa had him, she didn't even appreciate him?

If that's the case, then why did she agree to date him in the first place?

When Nagisa heard Maki speak up for Tanuma Tsubasa, she felt a tinge of jealousy.

"Whatever's going on between me and Tsubasa, that's our business. What does it have to do with you, Maki?"

The moment those words left her mouth, Nagisa regretted them.

She wanted to apologize, but Maki spoke up first—scolding her before she could say a word.

That made her even more unwilling to back down.

Anyone could criticize her—except Maki.

The moment she found out Maki liked Tanuma Tsubasa, she had deliberately distanced herself and even made sure they had time alone together.

And now Maki had the nerve to call her out?

"Or is it that you like Tsubasa, Maki?"

Maki reacted like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. Her face turned red as she exclaimed, "Who would like such a boring and average guy? Don't joke like that!"

You, duh!

Weren't you head over heels for him?

Takashi, while still replying to messages on his phone, couldn't help mentally roasting her.

"Then why did I see you sitting with Tsubasa when I got back?" Nagisa pressed.

Maki pulled out the excuse Takashi had crafted for her: "That's because Takashi spilled his drink on the seat. I had nowhere else to sit, so I moved. You think I wanted to?"

"Oh, and that justifies sitting with him until the end of the movie? Chatting and laughing like that? You think that's appropriate?" Nagisa's tone turned aggressive.

Maki was momentarily at a loss for words and instinctively looked to Takashi, silently pleading for him to back her up.

Takashi raised his eyes and was about to speak when Nagisa suddenly stepped between them—and purposefully stomped on his foot. 

"Why are you answering, Maki? Why are you looking at Takashi? Could it be he's the one you like?"

What the hell? Why stomp on me?

What did I do to you?

Takashi was increasingly convinced that women were truly baffling creatures. Just then, Maki suddenly shouted in frustration, "Yeah, I do like Takashi! So what?!"

Takashi: (Θ皿Θメ)

Excuse me??

What is this, James handing out blame left and right?

Nagisa: "..."

No, girl… (confused computer noises.jpg)

How could you admit that?

"Really? Maki?"

Takashi and Nagisa were both utterly speechless, while Tanuma Tsubasa's mood instantly flipped from stormy to sunny. 

He excitedly leaned his face close to Maki.

He'd actually been worried that his girlfriend might fall for Watanabe Takashi.

But after hearing Maki admit she liked Takashi, he was completely relieved.

After all, Nagisa and Maki had been best friends since childhood.

If Maki had publicly declared her feelings for Takashi, Nagisa making a move would mean turning against her best friend.

And there's no way Nagisa would blow up her friendship with Maki just for some random guy.

It's in the bag.

Faced with the sudden closeness and enlarged face in front of her, Maki's mind went completely blank. She couldn't think of anything at all. "Ah, um, yes."

After asking Maki, Tanuma Tsubasa turned to Takashi. "Watanabe-kun, do you like Maki-san?"

"I…"

Even Takashi didn't know how to answer for a moment.

If he said he liked her, what if Maki thought he had a secret crush on her and was getting close to her on purpose?

But if he said he didn't like her, what if she felt humiliated and never spoke to him again?

This was such a tough question.

"Why the hell are you even asking this?"

Takashi shot a blaming look at Nagisa.

Great, now they were all stuck in an awkward situation.

What was she even trying to accomplish?

Nagisa didn't look any happier either. She pressed her lips into a thin line and stared straight at Takashi, silently, as if waiting for his answer.

"Takashi, say something!"

Maki, seeing Takashi still silent, got anxious. She stepped forward and grabbed his wrist tightly, her eyes silently begging him.

Under the stares of the three, what could Takashi even do?

He could only follow the example of some romance novel protagonist, lift his face 45 degrees to the sky, close his eyes, and give a soft, "Mm!"

Damn it, making money these days is getting harder and harder.

"High schoolers really are a mess!" thought Miko, who had just come out of the restroom and happened to witness the whole scene. 

Her face turned red, and her heart started thumping like a startled little deer.

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