He tried to save the fallen girls, but they came after him instead.

"What? Akita's father has accepted you as his son-in-law?" Miike said with a smile.

"No, don't make fun of me," Shirakawa said. "The old man is all alone with such a serious illness, he must be lonely. He wants me to keep him company and chat with him."

"What about Akita?"

"I have some past issues with her..."

Shirakawa didn't elaborate, and Miike didn't press for details.

I was just about to start the car and go home.

Ring ring~~ Miike's cell phone rang.

Her phone was connected to the car's Bluetooth, so the whole car could hear it.

The car's screen showed that the caller was Kevin, the owner of a photography studio.

Miike connected.

"Hey, Kevin."

"Yo ho~~~ Ms. Miike," a flirtatious male voice came from the other end of the phone, "I've already made arrangements with Hoshimiya Publishing House, and the studio is ready to start work at any time. I'm just waiting for you to introduce me to some models."

"As for models, it depends on what kind of photos you want to shoot before I can find any. Do you have any urgent, high-paying gigs or contracts?" Sanchi said.

"A rather urgent job announcement lately... Let me see, there's a magazine cover for home appliances, they need a model who's curvy, slightly overweight, with a housewife vibe. Ah, these kinds of models are hard to find, you see... "

Upon hearing this request, Shirakawa thought, "Isn't this exactly what Aunt Mido is all set up for?"

Shirakawa looked at Miike, pointed to his mouth, and mouthed to her, "Can I speak?"

Since it was two "adults" having a conversation, Shirakawa felt a little awkward about suddenly interfering.

"Shirakawa, you're the boss, so just say what you're embarrassed about," Miike said directly.

"Hey, is Mr. Shirakawa here too?" Kevin asked on the other end of the phone.

"Well, I'm here."

"Oh, Mr. Shirakawa! It's been a long time since I've heard so much about you. Thank you so much for taking over this photography studio. If it weren't for you, I would have been unemployed long ago." His tone was full of gratitude, and it felt like he was about to cry.

"Um, no need to thank me. I have a friend who meets your criteria. Do you have some time..."

"Ah, you don't need to ask me. You're the boss. Today, tomorrow, or the day after is fine. I'm ready to follow your arrangements anytime."

"It's just that that person has never been a model, so the photos might not turn out very well."

“It’s okay, it’s okay. My skills are good enough. Just let her come, and I will do my best to shoot a good film and complete the assignment.”

Every word she uttered revealed her attentiveness, almost rivaling that of a hostess.

"See you later."

"See you later."

Shirakawa tapped the car's screen, hung up the phone, and turned to ask Miike.

Is this person reliable?

"It's alright. It feels a bit strange, but after seeing the photos he took, I can say that he's quite good," Miike said.

"No, I mainly want to know about this person's character. This photographer will be an important partner of ours in the future, and he will be taking portraits for many people." Bai Chuan still felt a little uneasy.

He was afraid that the photographer was some blond guy again...

"Don't worry, he's a married man, and he's not interested in women. You can rest assured about that." Michi smiled meaningfully.

"If you're not interested in women, then you're not interested in men..."

Shirakawa suddenly realized.

"A married man?"

Miike nodded.

I just feel there's something I can't accept...

"Let's hurry home..."

......

Miike and Shirakawa returned home.

Upon opening the door, Maki and Sakura's suitcases were spread out, and the two were busy packing clothes and toiletries inside.

"You guys... ran away from home?"

"No, Shirakawa-nii, we have to go back to our hometown tomorrow to pay respects to Uncle," Sakura said.

"Oh, Auntie told me that we're going back to Meidu's hometown, right? I'll go with her too."

"Hey, Shirakawa-nii is coming too, really?" Sakura's eyes lit up, and she immediately stepped forward to hold Shirakawa's hand.

"Really. Aunt Midu and I have already discussed it."

"Yay!" Sakura jumped up excitedly.

Maki also smiled, unable to contain her joy.

With Shirakawa joining them, the two sisters were quite looking forward to what was originally an incredibly boring journey.

"Okay, okay, where's Aunt Meidu?"

Maki pointed to the second bedroom, Shirakawa's room.

Shirakawa quietly pushed open the door and entered. Kana was sitting on the bed, her suitcase spread out on the bed, filled with clothes. She was holding a photo album in her hand, with a picture of a kind and honest young man.

He sighed, lowered his head, and looked sad.

"Aunt?"

"Ah!" Kana was so startled that she trembled and turned the photo face down.

"Shirakawa-kun, ah, you're back." Kana smiled a little guiltily.

I saw this photo while tidying up. It reminded me of him. Although I never loved him, he was a kind and gentle man. It shouldn't have been his untimely death.

Despite having only a senior-junior relationship with Shirakawa, she instinctively hid his photo when she saw him.

"Auntie, there's something I need your help with."

"what's up?"

"As I mentioned before regarding the photography studio, the photographer is ready, and we're just waiting for the model. Could you perhaps..."

"Model? With my figure and age, can I even do it?"

"It's alright, Auntie. We're taking photos of kitchen utensils, and you perfectly fit our criteria. Of course, we'll definitely pay you."

"Ah, a reward? No need, no need, as long as it helps Shirakawa-kun, that's enough."

"Auntie, there's no need to refuse. We live together, and Maki is still my girlfriend. We're family."

Because Maki is his girlfriend, does that mean we're family?

If he and Maki break up, can we still chat like this?

Kana couldn't help but think that.

"Okay, when do we set off?"

"Is it okay now?"

"Okay, let's go."

Kana is actually packing her bags to go back to her hometown to pay respects to her ancestors, so she wasn't supposed to be a model.

However, she would not refuse Shirakawa's request.

After the surging star language was resolved, there was a lingering sense of insecurity, like being neither close nor distant.

It was fear, it was dread, the fear that Shirakawa-kun would one day slip away from him.

To eliminate that insecurity, Kana began to cater to Shirakawa, whether intentionally or unintentionally.

She began to feel lost, unsure where this uncontrollable affection would lead her relationship with Shirakawa, and with her daughter...

You should stick to being a model.

Kana patted her face to cheer herself up, got into Miike's car, and headed to the studio.

288. Filming in progress 1

Miike drove Kana and Shirakawa to the photography studio.

This was Shirakawa's first time here. Located in a bustling commercial area, the studio was small and had a sign, but the name had been removed, leaving only the words "studio".

The three got out of the car.

Greeting him at the door was a stylish man wearing a striped short-sleeved shirt, bell-bottoms, gray-dyed hair, and earrings.

"Yo ho ho~~~ Is this Mr. Shirakawa?"

He had delicate features, but lacked the distinct features typical of men.

Very submissive, very much like a zero.