These days, some guys like to silently help out when a girl is in trouble, expecting nothing in return, even hiding their contributions and feelings.
They thought it was deep and romantic, and ended up moved by their own selflessness.
But to Takashi, those guys were just plain stupid.
If you're going to make an effort, why not let the other person see it?
If she doesn't know what you've done for her, how would she possibly understand or appreciate it?
It's like work. You can work hard and do your job well, but that alone isn't enough to stand out in the workplace.
Only by making your efforts visible to your boss will you be recognized and appreciated.
People need to learn to show themselves if they want more opportunities and growth.
Don't give it silently. If you're going to give—make sure they see it. In love or in work.
Takashi was willing to give—but he would always find a way to make sure the other person knew.
"I misunderstood him..."
Eriri's sharp ears caught what Watanabe Takashi said, and her heart filled with sweetness like she'd just eaten honey.
She was thrilled!
Of course, Eriri's personality meant she would never admit she was happy so openly.
That was just who she was.
"Then why did you give me yellow lilies?"
To hide her shyness, Eriri buried most of her face in the bouquet and asked in a low voice.
"I thought the color looked like your hair. I felt like it suited you. Don't you think so?"
"Idiot!" Eriri snapped.
"I give you flowers and you call me an idiot?"
Takashi looked at her, confused.
"Yeah! Watanabe Takashi is a big idiot!"
"Why are you insulting me?"
Takashi frowned unhappily.
"Yellow lilies mean apology, gratitude, wealth, and honor."
Eriri patiently explained to him.
"If you give them to a friend, it shows gratitude and wishes for a happy life."
"If lovers exchange them, it usually means they're apologizing. Sometimes people even give yellow lilies when they break up."
This idiot!
He didn't even look up the meaning before blindly giving them away.
Hopeless.
"Oh? I didn't know that."
Takashi feigned surprise, but did he really not know?
No way.
There's no way he didn't know that.
Even if he didn't, couldn't he have looked it up on his phone?
The reason he gave yellow lilies to Eriri was precisely to hint at ending things.
But he played it off too well—or perhaps Eriri was too wrapped up in her happiness to sense the danger looming ahead.
"So what if I call you an idiot?" she said smugly, lifting her chin.
"No problem, no problem."
Takashi gave a helpless smile, reaching for the flowers. "Okay, how about this—give them back to me, and I'll go exchange them for a new bouquet."
"Who takes back gifts after giving them?"
Eriri slapped Takashi's hands with her small hands, pushing him away.
"If you want to give me new ones, then go buy another bouquet."
Takashi's face twisted further in frustration.
"Milady, do you think I'm rich or something?"
"This is my hard-earned money from my part-time job."
"What do you think I've been so busy with lately?"
Eriri thought back to the suspicions she had about Watanabe Takashi and felt a little guilty.
He'd been working hard just to buy her a gift, and she'd thought he was out flirting with other girls?
She really shouldn't have.
Takashi was so honest—there was no way he'd go chasing other girls.
"You idiot—if you didn't have money, why didn't you ask me?"
That was just how tsundere Eriri was. She might know she was wrong, but she'd say the opposite out loud.
But to be fair, if she had money, she would give it.
As she spoke, she secretly slipped her wallet into Takashi's pocket.
Tomoya was utterly stunned when he was watching this.
I'm broke too, he thought.
I have to deliver newspapers every day, and I've never seen Eriri give me money.
Love or not—it's always obvious.
"Next time, tell me when you're broke. No more part-time jobs. Look how skinny you've gotten."
The thought of Watanabe Takashi working pained Eriri.
"Don't make it sound like I can't afford to support you. I'm not short on your little part-time money."
Looking at Eriri's aura—like she was saying "I, Sawamura Spencer Eriri, am a rich woman"—Takashi suddenly felt this little blonde was actually kind of amazing.
"Well, it feels different."
Takashi tried to return the wallet.
He had originally planned to get some money before leaving, but now he couldn't bring himself to go through with it.
If Eriri still treated him like she did before—rude, dismissive, just as a substitute for Tomoya—he wouldn't hesitate.
If he didn't squeeze every cent out of her, he'd feel those past grievances were all in vain.
But now… she was treating him so well. She really seemed to be taking him as her boyfriend.
Taking her money now just felt wrong.
This was one reason Takashi only sought out sponsors, not long-term ones.
Because over time, emotions always got involved.
"What's different about it?!"
Eriri glared at Takashi, unhappy, and pushed the wallet back to him.
"Our parents already met—what's the point of keeping things so separate?"
To Eriri, the fact she had formally introduced Takashi to her parents meant they were definitely a future couple.
Was there any need to draw such lines?
"Met… met the parents?"
Tomoya's eyes widened.
Megumi slightly opened her cherry-like lips.
Utaha's lips tensed. Her usually calm and composed eyes flashed with irritation at those words.
She was on the verge of exploding.
Watanabe Takashi was hers.
It was bad enough Eriri took advantage of the situation—but now she wanted to keep him forever?
Unforgivable.
She was about to speak when Takashi happened to look over.
Their eyes met, and for a moment, time seemed to freeze.
Like two beams of light cutting through the dark night, illuminating each other's souls.
Utaha forgot what she was going to say and simply stared, dazed, at Watanabe Takashi.
The person Eriri thought of day and night—wasn't he the same person she longed for?
She missed him.
So much, so much.
So much it was driving her mad.
Under Utaha's gaze, Watanabe Takashi looked stunned at first, then flustered.
Something flickered in his eyes, but eventually he averted his gaze, pretending not to see her.
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Maan, he's an actor for sure.
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