Takashi seemed to not notice the ugly expressions on Mori Kumi and the others' faces, continuing on his own: "Not only will I not pay, I also won't apologize."
Koizumi Natsumi slammed the table heavily, stood up in a flash, and glared at Takashi with eyes full of fury: "By the looks of it, you don't want to reconcile with me, do you?"
Koizumi Natsumi thought that she would hear Takashi apologize in a humble manner.
She had already prepared sarcastic words.
But unexpectedly, Takashi not only didn't apologize, but his attitude was extremely arrogant.
This made her furious.
"No reconciliation? What are you going to do about it?"
Takashi crossed his legs and lazily said, "We were just engaging in a fair samurai duel. It can only be considered mutual fighting."
Obuchi Minami couldn't help but interject, "We were acting in self-defense. We never intended to fight you."
If blocking with hands counts as mutual fighting.
"That's just your side of the story. Who can prove that you didn't lay a hand on me?"
Takashi was clear-headed.
"Let's say I'm wrong. I'd at most get locked up for a few days, and I'll be released soon enough."
"I can still continue bothering you once I get out."
"If you don't want to reconcile, fine. We'll drag this out, and we'll see who can't hold on first."
"I, Kitahara Takashi, have nothing but time."
Takashi was a reasonable person.
Of course, if reason doesn't work, he knew a thing or two about underhanded methods.
Mori Kumi glared at Takashi: "Are you threatening us?"
"Seems like you're not too dumb, at least you understand human speech."
Takashi nonchalantly leaned back in his chair.
"You!"
The three girls were so angry their chests felt tight.
They had never encountered someone like Takashi, a rogue with such shamelessness.
"Do you think we're scared of you?"
Mori Kumi didn't believe that Takashi would dare to do such things and thought he was just trying to intimidate them.
"In front of a crowd, I'd slap you all. Do you think there's anything I wouldn't do?"
As soon as Takashi said that, they suddenly realized that the person sitting in front of them was the same one who had just beaten them and ended up sitting there.
He really could do something like retaliate.
"You… don't study anymore?"
Koizumi Natsumi thought for a long time before finally coming up with using studying as a threat to Takashi.
After all, that seemed like the only thing she could use to threaten him.
"Study for what?"
Takashi asked a very philosophical question.
"Uh…"
Koizumi Natsumi and the other two exchanged glances, unsure why Takashi suddenly asked this.
Before they could speak, Takashi answered his own question: "I don't know why others study, but I study to stand out, to satisfy my desires."
"And my desire is to get money, a lot of money."
"Now that I have a rich girlfriend, whether I study or not doesn't really matter."
Takashi then took Kotonoha's hand in front of the four girls, pressed his face to the back of her hand, and looked at her with loving eyes.
"Kotonoha, I don't want to try anymore. Can you support me for the rest of my life?"
Kotonoha blushed and nodded.
She had just imagined Takashi staying at home all day, never leaving, with his every need for food, shelter, and daily living dependent on her, and she thought it was beautiful.
This way, Takashi would be completely dependent on her.
She had already started planning to turn Takashi into a useless person.
"You girls have to quit your jobs if you don't go to work for three days. I'll still have a rich woman supporting me if I don't work for three days."
"Are you trying to compete with me?"
Takashi glanced at the three of them, and lightly chuckled: "Do you even match up?"
Koizumi Natsumi and the others were so enraged they turned red.
But they couldn't rebut.
Because Takashi had the confidence to say such things.
They believed that even if Kotonoha didn't support him, there would still be other women who would.
Because Takashi had the kind of appearance that made countless girls willing to support him financially.
"We won't ask you to pay anything, let's just call it quits here."
Kato Otome didn't want to escalate things.
Koizumi Natsumi, Obuchi Minami, and Mori Kumi had already been thinking 'let's just drop it.'
They didn't want to live every day in fear, constantly worried about Takashi's retaliation.
Now that Kato Otome had stepped forward, they didn't even make harsh remarks, silently accepting it.
After reaching a reconciliation, the matter was settled.
Takashi walked out of the station and stretched lazily.
"Takashi, you're amazing."
Kotonoha truly thought Takashi was impressive.
While others, whether right or wrong, were always cautious, Takashi treated the station like his own home, eating, drinking, and speaking with no trace of hesitation.
Faced with the accusations from Kato Otome and the others, Takashi reversed the situation, taking control as the guest instead of the host.
Not only did he not give them a single yen, he didn't even apologize.
If it were her, Koizumi Natsumi and the others would have likely received the money when they mentioned medical fees to avoid further trouble.
"You know why they keep bullying you?"
Takashi turned to look at Kotonoha.
Kotonoha shook her head.
"Because you're too kind."
"The world won't be gentle with kind people, Kotonoha."
The older Takashi got, the more he realized that selfish and cold-hearted people often lived carefree lives.
On the other hand, those who were kind and affectionate often lived tangled and difficult lives.
"They bully you because they know you won't fight back. You just silently bottle up the unfairness inside."
"You think your compromise leads to peaceful coexistence."
"In reality, your compromise just leads to more bullying."
"You're rich, and your family is powerful. I don't understand what you're afraid of from them."
Honestly, Takashi just couldn't understand why Kotonoha would let herself be swayed by someone like Koizumi Natsumi.
If he were Kotonoha, not bullying others would already count as him being morally upright.
"Next time they try to bully you, just slap them."
"Trust me, do it a few times and they'll stop."
Takashi's suggestion made Kotonoha a little tempted.
But now wasn't the time to focus on that kind of thing.
Kotonoha lifted her head, her violet eyes staring directly at Takashi. "So are we still going on our date?"
"Of course."
Takashi took her hand again.
"Today, I'm yours."
Their fingers intertwined once more, and only then did a faint smile appear on Kotonoha's face.
"So, where are we going next?"
Takashi asked.
"Takashi, you decide."
Kotonoha didn't really care where they went.
As long as she was with Takashi, anywhere was fine.
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See. She's sweet isn't she?
(As long as you're careful)
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