I'm in Tokyo, and I'm a professional boyfriend.

"Yes, he's right next to me."

The two voices rang out simultaneously in the cramped space of the back row, and Shiina Iori felt her facial muscles about to freeze.

Seemingly hearing a sound different from what she had expected, Terashima Yuki turned to look at Iori again, her gaze still both natural and puzzled.

His calm and composed face remained expressionless.

You did this on purpose, didn't you?

Shiina Iori turned her head and looked at Sachi with a grief-stricken expression.

The esteemed Chairman Terashima maintained a calm and natural demeanor throughout, his elegant posture remaining unchanged even as he sat in his original seat.

"Crunch, crunch—"

Immediately afterward, a crackling electromagnetic sound, whether from teeth grinding or a poor signal, came from the other end of the phone. Shiina Iori instinctively moved the phone ten centimeters away from her.

However, the expected roar did not occur as usual.

Whether it was because they had met their match or because they subconsciously didn't want to show weakness while the situation in the Ooku was still uncertain, the little fox-like senior on the other end of the phone miraculously calmed down, his voice even sounding like he was laughing:

"Since Sachi is here too, I'll trouble you to accompany Iori around the cultural festival later."

“Iori is always reckless, so you have to keep an eye on him and make sure he doesn’t cause any trouble at the school’s hard-organized cultural festival.”

"...We'll talk about your matter when we get home."

It's obvious that the second sentence was meant for Iori.

Terashima Yuki, however, turned around instead, looking nonchalant as if she were half-asleep by the window, seemingly oblivious to the sounds coming from the phone.

"Shina, Shina, listen to my excuses..."

"beep!"

The phone hangs up.

Now that the shop is open, Sano Shino naturally can't rashly shut down the business just to steal some time with Iori from Nagisa and Sachi.

The reputation of the pastry shop still depends on her hard work!

Shiina Iori had a dejected expression on her face.

It's easy to imagine that I'll be subjected to family discipline when I get home.

"Is this all the understanding we have between us?!" Shiina Iori said indignantly, raising her head and glaring at her wife beside her.

"What kind of tacit understanding?"

Terashima Yuki maintained her calm expression, though her tone carried a very faint hint of doubt.

"It was that look in his eyes just now!" Shiina Iori's eyes widened as she tried to recreate the expressive look she had just witnessed. "That look clearly meant 'don't talk,' right?!"

"I see."

Sachi nodded, indicating 'I see,' and then turned her cool and beautiful face to the window, leaving Iori with only the back of her head with her ponytail swaying.

"What do you mean by 'Oh, is that so?'"

"You did that on purpose, didn't you! You absolutely did it on purpose!"

Iori lunged at her with the menacing aura of a roaring dragon, only to be pinned down in Yuki's arms by one hand.

A simple hug sealed most of his face into it, causing his casual shirt to wrinkle.

Iori, sealed by a single hand, was like a fish that had been brought ashore, thrashing about with its limbs but unable to get up at all.

Fortunately, a faint ripple appeared on that usually calm and expressionless face.

A faint smile appeared on the girl's face, her skin slightly flushed.

"Ah."

Sitting in the driver's seat, Ms. Aoi was alert and observant. Despite trying her best to distract herself, her sensitive nose could still detect the sweet and sour smell unique to lovers coming from behind her.

However, because she had experienced similar scenes many times at the young lady's house these past few days, her face, which always had a stiff and formal expression, was now only slightly pink.

I don't know what I'm embarrassed about.

Since the formulation of several family treaties, including the Terashima-Sano Standoff, the Fuminoki-Crystal Palace Treaty, and the Iori Time Allocation Treaty (Provisional), the Shiina family has been operating in an orderly manner according to these rules for some time.

Thanks to the patience of both Shino and Yuki, and with the watchful eyes of weaker factions like Yui and Nagisa, the Shiina family finally managed to maintain a delicate balance on the narrow bridge.

However, this only ensured that no major conflict would occur.

However, on some minor issues—including but not limited to Shiina Iori's right to use her work and study time, whether eating at home counts as consuming Terashima Sachi's time, and the issue of Sachi's time spent in Fuminoki's apartment—the conflicts between Shino and Sachi continue.

In response, Shiina Iori could only offer limited remedial assistance.

All that's left to time is to leave it to us.

Or rather, entrust it to the more mature version of yourself who has lived and made it into the future.

"Young Miss, Mr. Iori."

"We've arrived."

......

"Snapped--"

"Clap clap clap."

As the occasional popping of fireworks echoed at the school gate, the gates of Nanamisaki Academy slowly opened from the inside out.

Under the orderly arrangement of the student council, parents, passersby, and tourists who had been waiting outside entered in an orderly manner, and the festive scenery was everywhere they looked.

"Welcome to the Nanamiga Academy High School Cultural Festival!"

Standing at the very front of the door was a voluptuous, energetic young woman with short hair.

Even though it's late autumn now, the other person is still wearing a short-sleeved cheerleading outfit and doing aerobics with a group of girls near the door, with a bunch of fluffy things bouncing around in their hands. To this day, Shiina Iori still doesn't know what that furry thing is called.

"Hua, aren't you cold?"

"Not at all! You should eat more, Jianzi."

She heard the cheerleaders whispering among themselves. Shiina Iori glanced at them casually and continued walking towards the school, hand in hand with Terashima Yuki, chatting and laughing.

I seemed to feel a chilling gaze on my back.

Turning my head, I saw two high school girls whispering to each other.

"See you?"

The short-haired girl looked at her best friend, who was clutching her clothes, with a puzzled expression: "Is it that cold?"

The girl called 'Miko' had a stiff expression, and it was unclear what she had seen.

"...Um."

Ignoring the minor incident behind him, Shiina Iori tugged at his mask, put on his newly changed thick-rimmed glasses, and even asked Ms. Aoi to style his hair in a more scholarly way before leaving.

This was a way of creating a separation in appearance from when she was on stage, in order to prevent being recognized.

Fortunately, she didn't care about this small matter and continued to hold Iori's arm as they looked around at the bustling market lined up in front of the school gate.

Because he usually makes efficient use of his time, Terashima Yuki rarely has such leisurely moments to enjoy. Now, suddenly being surrounded by fireworks, he has a different kind of feeling.

However, there was still no expression on his face, only when he smelled a faint fragrance would a hint of anticipation flash in his eyes.

What did Xingzhong Middle School do during its cultural festival?

"I haven't participated much."

"Wouldn't that be a real shame?"

"Oh, right, I heard that the new gymnastics club at Nanamikashi High School is having a group performance, it should be in the gymnasium up ahead..."

"I'll pack a bunch of these sausages for you."

"Okay~"

......

Just as Shiina Iori and Yuki were leisurely strolling through Nanamisaki High School.

Outside Dongdaemun.

Chiho Aiba rubbed her hands together vigorously and stomped her feet a few times; the weather was a little chilly.

Today, Ms. Chiho didn't wear her high school tracksuit anymore. Instead, she changed into a casual short skirt in a simple color, revealing a pair of long, white legs. Her long hair was tied up behind her head.

Her makeup and accessories were carefully chosen and styled.

They gave it their all, putting in 120% effort and energy for this long-awaited day.

"Chiho-chan, are you sure you don't want me to come along?"

Seeing Aiba Chiho's serious expression, Takiya Ai, sitting in the car, looked at her with some concern.

It seems... a bit too much force was used, didn't it?

Although it was she who initially encouraged Chiho to confess openly, Takiya Ai felt a little flustered when Chiho actually mustered the energy to tell Iori her feelings.

If Iori really refuses, this blow might turn Chiho into a shut-in.

No, no.

There is no reason to worry about defeat before even being able to win.

At least not when it comes to matters of the heart!

Ai Takiya shook her head vigorously to shake off the ominous thought.

"Ok!"

Upon hearing Ai-nee's voice, Aiba Chiho turned around and nodded vigorously.

However, it was obvious to anyone with eyes that Chiho's expression and movements were noticeably stiff at this moment.

Ai Takiya watched this scene and helplessly covered her face.

It doesn't look like there's anything wrong at all.

And indeed, just as Ai Takiya saw, Chiho Aiba's entire body was completely stiff, as if she had been electrocuted.

Even though she had practiced and refined her skills for a long time, when she was about to say those words to Iori, Aiba Chiho felt restless all over, and her hands and feet seemed to be frozen in place as if they were not obeying her.