Utaha's sudden closeness and those words—"I'll allow you to improvise"—instantly brought Makoto back to the moment when she tried to trap him, only to get counter-trapped instead.
Chances are, she'd secretly been keeping an eye on rumors about him and Yukino.
Coincidentally, they were both leggy, academically gifted beauties.
Though their personalities were complete opposites, with those obvious similarities—and this random meeting on the street—there was no way she wasn't taking the opportunity to test things.
Looking at her beautiful face up close, Makoto said deliberately, "You spring this improvisation on me so suddenly—I'm totally unprepared."
"It's okay, I'll help you," Utaha said with a smirk.
That sly smile, paired with her mature looks and figure, gave off an unmistakably sensual vibe.
"You and Yukinoshita are close, right? If she sees us together, she'll definitely think we're on a date, so…"
Utaha chuckled softly, then slowly stepped to his side.
She gently pressed a hand on Makoto's shoulder, turning him around. Then she placed a hand behind his head, guiding him down slightly so their heads were close.
From the outside, her tall figure blocked his face, making them look like a couple whispering intimately.
At that moment, Makoto could feel her breathing quicken slightly.
Her cheeks turned faintly red. Though she tried to appear calm, her heart was clearly racing.
But she wasn't nervous out of shyness.
She was anxious—wondering if Makoto would once again pretend to "improvise" only to turn the tables on her.
"Senpai, are you nervous?" Makoto asked.
Utaha smiled charmingly. "When a boy and a girl get this close, it's perfectly normal to feel nervous."
"Fair enough. Then maybe I should improvise a little… to help you relax?" Makoto teased.
Utaha's eyelids twitched a few times, her peripheral vision catching Yukino and her mother glancing briefly at the noisy support group of girls before heading in their direction.
She immediately leaned even closer to Makoto and whispered, "They're coming. If you don't want Yukinoshita to misunderstand, I suggest you do as I say."
You've got to be kidding. If I listened to you, how would I ever turn the tables on you again?
I'm the one who's supposed to be the hunter here.
Makoto suddenly straightened up, smoothly slipping out of Utaha's grasp.
He turned around effortlessly and calmly watched as Yukino and her mother approached.
There were still plenty of people crowding around the support girls, so the walkway was bustling.
The chatting mother and daughter didn't immediately notice them.
"What are you doing?" Utaha gasped, surprised, her red lips slightly parted. She hadn't expected Makoto to just turn around.
Wasn't he worried about being misunderstood by Yukino?
Utaha couldn't figure him out for a moment.
She had originally planned to pretend to help him avoid being seen while subtly probing into his relationship with Yukino.
She'd heard plenty of rumors about the two of them. There was no way she wasn't curious about the truth.
So she wanted to use this opportunity to test the waters—while maintaining a close and intimate posture with him—to charm him completely.
She still hadn't forgotten how Makoto turned the tables on her last time.
As a proud girl, how could she allow herself to be outwitted?
Just as Utaha was guessing what Makoto was trying to do, she suddenly felt warmth in her palm.
He was holding her hand.
When she looked over in shock, he asked, "There's a dessert shop across the street that's popular among girls. Want to check it out?"
Huh?
Utaha couldn't help but smile.
Playing it cool on the surface, but he's clearly thinking about escaping.
I was right—his relationship with Yukino isn't simple.
But that works for me.
If he's the one trying to run, then the initiative is in my hands now.
"Although I'm not really into trendy check-in spots, since you suggested it, I suppose I can tag along."
Utaha's smile was impossible to hide.
She was already popping champagne in her heart.
Makoto held back a laugh, thinking to himself that celebrating too early at halftime was always a bad sign.
The two of them crossed to the opposite side of the street.
As soon as they reached the sidewalk, Makoto discreetly took out his phone and sent Yukino a message: [I'm right across from you.]
Yukino, who was quietly chatting with her mother, picked up her phone. When she saw the message, her long, elegant legs instinctively came to a halt.
"What's wrong?" Yukino's mother asked.
Yukino didn't answer. Instead, she turned and scanned the crowd across the street.
Within seconds, she spotted Makoto.
And the beautiful figure in a long skirt standing next to him.
"I see Makoto," Yukino replied.
Her mother followed her gaze and, upon spotting the pair across the street, showed a trace of surprise.
"Isn't that Kasumigaoka from your school standing next to him? I met her once—she's a very outstanding girl."
Yukino gave a soft "mm."
"The two of them are heading out for dinner alone at this time… could they be on a date?" her mother asked teasingly.
Yukino didn't answer.
Her mind was racing.
If he were really on a date with the senpai, there's no way he'd suddenly message me.
So this must've been a coincidence, and the reason he messaged me was because he wanted me to call out to him.
But why?
As a self-proclaimed "Makoto expert," Yukino quickly pieced things together in her mind.
Her mother mistook the silence for jealousy and said gently, "Why don't we go say hi? We can ask Makoto if he wants to have dinner with us."
"Okay," Yukino replied.
Across the street, Utaha was still inwardly celebrating her regained control of the situation, while mentally planning how to probe further.
Just then, a familiar gentle voice came from behind: "Makoto, are you two out to grab something to eat?"
Utaha froze.
They got spotted anyway?
Makoto wore a perfectly timed surprised expression. "Aunt Yukinoshita? What a coincidence."
Yukino's mother smiled and nodded, then looked at the dazed Utaha. "Kasumigaoka-san, long time no see."
"Hello," Utaha quickly greeted her and nodded politely at Yukino.
"Have you eaten? Would you like to join us?" Yukino's mother invited.
Makoto smiled. "I'd love to, but Senpai and I already made plans. We still have something important to discuss later at my place."
When did we make those plans?
Utaha was filled with suspicion. She felt like things had spiraled out of her control.
"What kind of important matter?" Yukino asked.
"That would be Senpai's private business. If she doesn't want to disclose it, I can only say it's related to a creative project," Makoto replied.
"Creative project?"
Yukino glanced at Utaha's slightly awkward expression. She understood immediately.
It was no more than their film's success stirring up this peacock's intense interest.
After Utaha had come to visit the set and shown off her charms, Yukino had mentally labeled her as a full-blown peacock in courtship mode.
She could even guess that the two had probably discussed the creative process multiple times in private.
Given Makoto's research-driven nature, this peacock had likely taken the bait.
But she still didn't fully understand why he had messaged her.
Yukino's mother, unaware of the undercurrents, casually asked, "Kasumigaoka-san, are you into creative writing too?"
"Yes, I've often consulted with Makoto on it in the past," Utaha answered honestly, though her rhythm had clearly been disrupted.
Yukino's mother smiled. "In that case, we won't intrude."
Then she turned to Makoto in a warm, elder-like tone.
"Let's have a meal together another time. A lot of my friends are very curious about you now that the film has done so well."
Makoto: "Understood."
After the Yukino mother and daughter left, Utaha rubbed her temples, feeling a bit overwhelmed.
But Makoto didn't give her a chance to recover. "Still want to check in at that dessert shop?"
"If you want to go, I don't mind," Utaha replied reflexively.
Then she gave him a suspicious look. "Why did you say we already had plans?"
"If I hadn't said that, Aunt Yukinoshita would've invited us to dinner. By the time we finished, it would've been too late for anything else."
"Wait—you really wanted to go check in at that shop?"
"I do want to take some photos, yes. But not there."
"Then where?"
"My place."
Utaha paused, then curled her lips into a teasing smile. "Should I take that to mean… you want to take photos of me privately?"
Makoto: "Exactly."
"Then why didn't you just say that earlier?"
"If I had been too blunt and you turned me down, wouldn't that be awkward?"
Utaha was about to respond when Makoto continued, "Besides, this is the first time I've seen you dressed like this."
"I recall you admitting once that you sometimes sneak glances at my legs," Utaha purposely brought up the topic.
Makoto: "That's true."
"But I'm wearing a long skirt today."
"That's exactly the point."
Makoto paused before asking seriously, "If I got to pick the stockings for you, would you agree to wear them?"
So that's what he's after.
Utaha felt a mix of emotions.
Happy—yes, because clearly he was attracted to her.
Annoyed—also yes, because the rhythm of their conversation had gotten too fast, and she hadn't yet figured out how to fully take back control, especially after the Yukinoshita mother-daughter's sudden interruption.
After some thought, she nodded in agreement.
After all, he always managed to take such flattering photos of her, and she liked those pictures.
But she made one request.
"Stockings are a rather private thing for girls. If the ones you choose don't meet my standards, I'll have to say no."
"Then I'll pick only the ones you like," said Makoto.
Utaha smiled. "Then I have no objections."
Makoto smiled too.
First, get her to wear the stockings I picked.
Then… find a way to get my hands on those legs!
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I like how he think.
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