"...I'll accept being called a playboy, but Eto-san, aren't you being a bit narcissistic?"
Byakuya said helplessly.
What did she mean by "innocent and pure genius young beauty author"?
"How is that narcissistic? I'm clearly just stating facts~"
Eto said without the slightest blush.
"'Innocent and pure genius young beauty author'—the second half is fine, I suppose, but 'innocent and pure' doesn't match your One-Eyed Owl identity at all..."
Byakuya said flatly.
"Oh my~ thanks for the compliment."
Eto had clearly only heard half of it—since Byakuya had essentially acknowledged she was a genius young beauty author.
"...Whatever."
Byakuya said casually. "Though I agreed to play along with you, my daily life rhythm won't change because of it."
"Mm, no problem."
Eto nodded. "Remember to go on more dates with those girls—that way we'll have big enough headlines."
"So these headlines have to be built on the foundation of me being a playboy?"
Byakuya rolled his eyes.
But Eto immediately countered: "Isn't that the truth?"
"..."
Byakuya was once again unable to refute.
"Playboy~ playboy~ small-fry playboy~"
Faced with Byakuya's silence, Eto only escalated further, not only muttering "playboy" but also adding "small-fry" as a prefix.
"Alright, stop messing around..."
Byakuya said seriously. "When exactly do we start pretending to be a couple?"
"We can start right now."
Eto said immediately. "If we suddenly pretend to be a couple only when the time comes, wouldn't that be too fake? I have some fame now, so if we walk around the streets and go on dates, once enough passersby have seen us, it won't seem abrupt."
"Right now... It's already getting late today. Let's find another time to go on a date for show."
Byakuya glanced at the time—it was already evening.
"Dummy. Can't you just walk me home later?"
Eto said.
"...That works too."
Byakuya nodded.
Afterward, Eto began writing on the spot.
She had already started the main text of her new book, racing to publish it within a few months to expose the Washuu Clan's true nature to the world as soon as possible.
During this time, Byakuya naturally didn't disturb Eto, just sitting there quietly drinking coffee.
...
Meanwhile, Irimi and Koma at the front counter could see every movement of Byakuya and Eto sitting in the corner.
"Manager, Eto-san and Byakuya really get along well. I always felt Eto-san had a certain unapproachable barrier around her, but that doesn't seem to be the case between Byakuya and Eto-san."
Koma remarked with emotion.
"..."
Yoshimura smiled without speaking.
He still hadn't told Irimi and Koma about his and his daughter's past. Besides himself, only Byakuya understood Eto most deeply, so only Byakuya could get closest to Eto.
"Isn't Byakuya now Aogiri Tree's 'King'? It's not strange for him to be close with Eto-san, the former leader, right?"
Irimi said. "Though I have to say, Byakuya and Eto-san do give off an ambiguous feeling—like it's both real and fake, hard to tell."
"Maybe that's just how young people are. Young people have their own ways of doing things that I can't quite understand..."
Koma shook his head.
...
When dinnertime came, the coffee shop was about to close.
In over an hour, Eto had only written about a thousand words.
Mainly because she kept refining everything meticulously, so naturally the pace couldn't be too fast.
Especially since the opening was the most important part of a new book—it required constant planning, laying groundwork, and establishing the foundation for the entire book.
It was like the foundation of a tall building. If the foundation wasn't solid, everything after would be difficult.
"Time to go home."
After packing up her laptop, Eto stood up to leave.
Byakuya hadn't forgotten that he needed to walk Eto home.
"Here, take my bag too—it'll look more convincing."
With that, Eto handed her bag to Byakuya.
Byakuya took it casually.
Watching Byakuya and Eto leave the shop together, with Byakuya even carrying Eto's bag, Ayato couldn't help but say: "Sis, how come... your boyfriend seems to have run off with another woman?"
Touka was already concerned about this, and Ayato's comment made her even more uncomfortable. "What nonsense are you spouting!"
"Isn't it true? They look as intimate as a couple."
Ayato pointed at Byakuya and Eto, who had just stepped out the door.
"..."
Touka hesitated for a moment, then said, "Byakuya and I aren't actually officially dating. That guy says he likes me, but he never rejects other girls either..."
"I see..."
Ayato roughly understood. "So you and Eto are rivals, right? Honestly, I feel like you'll have a hard time beating her."
"Just shut up."
Touka's expression darkened, and she gave Ayato another smack on the head. "Can't you say something nice for once?"
"That hurts!"
Ayato immediately protested.
"Oh, you know it hurts? When you left for Aogiri Tree without a word back then, I've been holding back my frustration with you ever since."
Touka dug up old grievances.
"..."
Ayato was speechless for a moment, then started arguing with Touka again. "Stupid sis, just worry about yourself."
Though his words were defiant, at least he wasn't going to actually fight with Touka.
He was no longer the same person he used to be.
While bickering with Ayato, Touka was also thinking about Byakuya and Eto-san.
Though Eto-san was mysterious and hard to read, her woman's intuition told her that Eto-san was most likely a genuine rival.
Facing such a rival, Touka naturally couldn't let her guard down.
She felt she should be more proactive. Or perhaps just force the issue and make it a done deal...?
Thinking this, Touka's cheeks immediately reddened.
Something that bold—she didn't think she could do it, unless absolutely necessary...
Maybe she should discuss it with Yoriko another day...
...
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