"Don't you need to tell your mom first?" Takashi glanced in her mother's direction as they were leaving the banquet hall.
"If it's with you, then no." Yukino replied in her usual deadpan tone—but it was enough to make any man smile like an idiot.
If she said this to a shy boy, he'd be done for—totally controlled. He'd probably start wondering if she liked him.
That's just how shy boys were.
A girl looked at him for a second, and boom—"She must like me."
And if the girl looked like Yukino? He'd probably start thinking about their future kid's name.
"Be honest—do you like me?"
Takashi stroked his chin and asked with a touch of narcissism.
"Are you still dreaming? Need me to wake you up?" Yukino offered helpfully.
"What are you planning to do?"
She pointed to the nearby pier. "Kick you into the water."
They talked as they walked and unknowingly reached the other side of the mansion, where a private pier overlooked Tokyo Bay.
A good number of people were gathered there—some for fresh air, others to chat.
There were fishing rods lined up on the dock, and even a campfire setup.
Near the fire, a chef was preparing freshly caught fish for guests.
Takashi's eyes lit up when he saw the rods—he couldn't help himself.
He hadn't gone fishing in ages.
"Wanna fish?" Takashi suggested.
"Night fishing?"
Yukino looked at him, surprised by the sudden topic change.
"Yeah."
Fishing while watching the sea—that was one of Takashi's dream lifestyles.
"No interest."
Yukino clearly lacked depth. She didn't understand the joy of fishing.
"Scared?" Takashi provoked her.
"Low-tier provocation." Yukino brushed her hair off her shoulder and crossed her arms.
"But I accept your challenge. What's the wager?"
"If I win, I get to touch your thigh."
Without hesitation, Yukino turned and walked away.
"Wait, I was joking."
"Whether you were joking—you know that better than anyone," Yukino said coldly as she turned back to face him.
She knew him better than anyone.
He would say something outrageous to test the waters. If she agreed, he'd do it. If not, he'd claim it was a joke.
"If you lose, you call me 'good big brother.'"
"And if you lose?" Yukino asked.
"Me? Lose?" Takashi looked at her like she'd just told a ridiculous joke.
Would a sea king lose?
"When have you ever beaten me?"
From test scores to baseball games, Takashi had always been the one winning.
Yukino really had never beaten him.
"If I lose, I'm yours to command." Takashi said grandly.
"You sure?" Yukino was immediately intrigued.
Now she wasn't sleepy at all.
"Just one thing." Takashi quickly added a safety clause.
"Fine."
Yukino clasped her hands behind her back and walked toward the shore.
There were rods of all kinds lined up—Takashi was practically drooling. He wanted to take every one of these treasures home.
He was like a gear-obsessed perv, touching this rod, then that one, while Yukino had already picked hers.
Her selection method was simple: whichever rod was the heaviest.
As she sat down and got ready, an elderly man nearby glanced over and said, "Missy, that spot you picked has no fish. It's terrible."
Takashi's ears twitched.
That voice was...
He quickly turned around and saw it was the long-absent old fishing geezer.
"Fish bite?" Yukino tilted her head, glancing at the elderly man beside her with a full set of reclining chairs, tackle boxes, bait additives, keepnet—clearly fully equipped.
"What's that?"
"A fish bite is—"
"Old geezer!"
The old man was just about to explain when Takashi called out to him. He immediately turned around.
"Little Takashi!"
The old man stood up and walked over, and the two started chatting.
"What are you doing here?"
"Here for the free food. You?"
"Here to fish."
No matter the time or place, as long as there was water, a fisherman would randomly spawn—even in the most remote corners.
Yukino, seeing it was someone Takashi knew, left the two alone. She baited the hook and cast her rod.
Takashi and the old man both couldn't hold it in and burst out laughing.
"You're not gonna catch anything like that."
Not only did she pick a spot with no fish bites, but she didn't even bait the area properly.
The old fisherman didn't seem in a rush to return to his own spot.
Instead, he stood behind Yukino with his hands behind his back, watching her curiously and occasionally dropping some technical fishing terms.
Yukino didn't answer, but she listened intently.
With all that gear, he clearly knew what he was doing.
"Then… is there a chance I can catch something like this?" Yukino asked while the old man sipped his tea.
"There's still a chance," the old man encouraged gently, not wanting to crush her confidence.
"No way. Just give up," said Takashi bluntly.
He laughed as if he had just heard the funniest joke in the world.
"If you actually catch something with that bait job, I'd be willing to marry your sister—and while I'm at it, even you."
The old man pointed dramatically at him. "You brat, trying to have your cake and eat it too?"
Yukino's soft pink lips moved slightly, as if about to argue, but suddenly, the water surface stirred—splash!
The old fisherman's eyes lit up. "You've got a bite!"
"Holy—!" Takashi lost it, breaking character and swearing.
Yukino tried to reel in the fish, but it felt too heavy.
Forget pulling it out—she was being dragged into the water.
Panic flashed across her face as she instinctively tried to let go.
"Don't let go! I've got you!" Takashi shouted, rushing over.
He dropped his own rod and rushed behind her, wrapping his arms around her slender frame from behind, gripping her hands, and started pulling with all his strength.
Their bodies pressed close. Yukino's pale, slightly panicked face turned red.
Her deep, dark eyes rippled with something unspoken.
Her shoulders trembled slightly, and due to their height difference, she could clearly feel the warmth of his breath against the nape of her neck.
At that moment, she lowered her gaze. Her lashes fluttered like butterfly wings.
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