"There are no fish in Tokyo Bay."
That was Takashi's conclusion after fishing all morning there.
Eriri gave him a sideways glance. "That's your excuse for not catching a single fish?"
"The rod isn't comfortable, and I told you this wasn't a good fishing spot."
"Only people who caught nothing talk the loudest."
"I caught nothing?"
Takashi's face visibly turned red.
"I caught a 15-pound fish last time! I've got the photo to prove it!"
Flustered, he pulled out his phone and showed a photo of himself with Shirogane Kei from their last fishing trip, proudly holding up an 8-pound catch.
It was the first time Eriri had seen Watanabe Takashi lose his cool. She felt like teasing him more. "Photoshopped pretty well, huh?"
"Photoshopped?!"
Takashi's face turned red with rage.
"Just wait, I'll call Kei right now to prove it."
"Forget it. Everyone knows how loyal you guys are. They wouldn't just say you caught the fish—they'd probably admit you're Kamen Rider if you asked."
Eriri crossed her arms and grinned.
"Kei's a girl."
"G–Girl?"
The smug look on Eriri's face immediately vanished.
Her expression darkened. She reached over and pinched the soft flesh on Takashi's waist and twisted. He gasped in pain.
"That Kei girl—what's your relationship with her? Tell me the truth!"
"She's just… a junior from school."
"You're only a first-year. Where do you get a junior from? You think I'm stupid?"
"From junior high."
"Oh, so now you're going after middle schoolers? I knew you weren't honest. We're breaking up!"
"Really?!"
Takashi was ecstatic inside.
You said it—no take backs!
"Dream on!"
When Eriri saw how happy Takashi looked after hearing the word "break up," and how his mouth was almost curling into a smile, she got so mad her twin-tails went full Starburst Stream.
She whipped them like whips, leaving afterimages as they lashed him.
"Don't think I don't know—you're just trying to dump me and get back with that fatty Kasumigaoka, aren't you?!"
"Uh… no."
He'd finally shaken off Utaha.
Going back to her now would just be asking for trouble.
Besides, the current Takashi wasn't interested in someone like her anymore.
After all, he was now serving yakuza heiresses, daughters of elite families, corporate princesses—real ojou-samas. Utaha couldn't hold a candle to them.
Go ask any girl who's dated a rich heir—can they ever go back to normal guys?
He was leveling up. What about you?
"You misunderstood—"
"I'm telling you, Watanabe Takashi, don't even think about it!"
Eriri didn't give him a chance to explain.
"In my world, there's only widowhood, not breakups."
Not far away, Eriri's father, who was setting up a barbecue grill, looked up at the bickering pair and sighed.
"Those two really have a good relationship."
Sawamura Sayuri also glanced over before lowering her head to keep brushing marinade and seasoning on the marbled beef.
They were having grilled meat for the picnic lunch today.
"What's the use of being close? He won't marry into the Sawamura family. He'll never be your son-in-law. Just give it up."
Eriri's father immediately slumped. "Is there really no chance at all?"
"You used to say you liked Tomoya. Changed your mind already?"
Sawamura Sayuri chuckled teasingly.
"I never really cared about Tomoya. I said that before only because Eriri liked him."
He adjusted the grill and added more charcoal.
"But Takashi is different."
Sayuri was curious about her husband's opinion of Takashi, so she asked, "How is he different?"
"After talking with him, I realized—this kid has a maturity and decisiveness far beyond his age. And he's got a clear mind."
"He knows exactly what he wants. He wouldn't throw everything away for some girl, and he definitely wouldn't give up his future over love."
"He has the confidence of youth but isn't reckless. He knows how to judge the situation, and when necessary, he can swallow his pride.
He rarely loses his temper in the moment, but if you anger him, even if he can't kill you, he will definitely find a way to take a bite out of you."
Lighting the charcoal fire, Mr. Spencer washed his hands simply with clean water, then picked up the numbered skewers to start grilling the meat.
"Do you know what the biggest difference between Aki and Takashi is?"
"Where?"
"Do you remember when Aki stopped coming to our house?"
Mr. Spencer did not answer directly.
"Wasn't it after he argued with Eriri? Why suddenly bring this up?"
"No, it was when you casually bought him a handkerchief costing tens of thousands of yen as a gift."
"Huh? Why?"
"Because of inferiority."
Mr. Spencer's family was wealthy, but he understood men.
"For us, going to high-end restaurants and buying something costing tens of thousands of yen is normal, but for Aki, who comes from an ordinary family, it's unimaginable."
"He felt inferior, so he stopped coming to our house."
"But Takashi is different."
"Though he's also from an ordinary family, he faces us naturally."
"That's the biggest difference between Takashi and Aki."
Sawamura Sayuri understood.
Faced with the same situation, Aki chose to avoid it, while Takashi chose to confront his own identity.
"This kid has a strong heart. I believe he can become someone remarkable."
"Now that you say that, I want him to become Eriri's husband even more."
Hearing her husband's praise of Takashi, Sawamura Sayuri felt even worse.
It was like discovering a gold mine but only being able to look at it.
"Mom, Dad, what are you talking about?"
Eriri, having apparently reconciled with Takashi sometime before, pulled him over to stand in front of her parents.
"We were discussing when you two would get married and whether to have a Japanese-style wedding or a Western-style one."
Sawamura Sayuri casually changed the subject.
"That's way too far off."
Eriri said that, but the glance she threw at Takashi was filled with hope.
"Let's marry right after high school graduation. We can hold two weddings: a Western-style one in England and a Japanese-style one in Japan."
Takashi picked up a piece of beef brushed with sauce, skillfully cut it into pieces, skewered them on a large iron skewer, and grilled it while speaking.
'Don't you feel guilty saying something like that?'
Sawamura Sayuri looked at Takashi with disdain.
She was already planning to leave, yet he was still painting a fantasy for her daughter.
No wonder this scumbag is doing so well.
"Getting married right after graduation? That's too fast."
Eriri felt a little shy inside, mixed with anticipation for the future, but still pouted in dissatisfaction.
"If you want me to play around for two more years, I don't mind."
Takashi shrugged indifferently.
"Play around? You wish!"
Hearing that, Eriri thought it might be better to just get married sooner.
She was afraid if it dragged on, Takashi would be seduced away by that woman, Utaha.
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