"One with a strong sense of happiness," Erina Nakiri quickly declared. Tonight, the trouble named Alice Nakiri was making her appearance. She absolutely had to use a killer move to shut Alice up—to powerfully demonstrate that her and Renz's relationship was still very solid.
"Alright, then sir, could you put your arm around your wife's waist?" the photographer prompted. "And the two little ones can stand on either side of you two."
Following the instructions, they quickly took their positions. Although Renz put his arm around her waist, he was very mindful of the distance, maintaining a standard gentleman's hand. He used to take photos with fans but later found signatures and photos troublesome, so he stopped attending events.
When taking photos with female fans, Renz always used this gentleman's hand. Primarily, Erina Nakiri was too easily influenced; the Big Tsundere was very shy at certain moments, and Renz wanted a normal-looking affectionate picture.
"Done," the photographer clicked. "How do you two think it looks?"
Renz leaned in. The photo was decent, but there was a subtle sense of distance. Rina and Haruki were at the sides, slightly marginalized, and Erina Nakiri's expression was too serious, meticulously stiff. Erina Nakiri, that silly person, didn't notice any problems; she even thought it was well taken.
"The effect isn't good," Renz said, shaking his head.
"It does feel a bit off," the photographer nodded.
"Let me discuss it with my wife first," Renz said intimately—a term that made Erina Nakiri pause, though she quickly recovered.
"Erina, I have an idea," Renz whispered into her ear. "How about we take a photo using this pose later?" He described the pose he had in mind. "This way, our display of affection should be even more effective," Renz mused.
"Really?" Erina Nakiri didn't refuse; she just wanted a good photo. "I'm still a little nervous."
"Don't be nervous. Just think of me as your friend," Renz comforted. Erina Nakiri gathered her courage. It was just one photo; it was no big deal.
Renz crouched down. "Rina, could you and Haruki stand between us?" he asked patiently.
"Okay!" Rina nodded. "Dad, when will you be done taking pictures? I'm a little hungry."
"Soon," Renz gently ruffled Rina's hair.
"Photographer, let's take another one," Renz said, seeing Haruki and Rina standing between him and Erina Nakiri, and signaled to the photographer.
He and Erina Nakiri bent slightly forward, bringing all four of them closer. Renz held out his right hand to form half a heart shape, and Erina Nakiri, following his idea, shaped her left hand into the other half. The two hands, though far apart, formed the outline of a heart. Between this heart shape were the two children—Rina and Haruki.
When the entire pose came together, Erina Nakiri was internally chanting to herself, Don't be nervous, don't be nervous, trying to imagine Renz as Hisako Arato. But a shy blush still spread across her pretty face. This blush became the perfect finishing touch to the photo. Renz had initially thought it would detract from the picture, but he unexpectedly found it added a lot.
When the photographer finished, he looked at the image in his camera, slightly lost in thought. For a moment, he even had an urge to get married and have children. But then he thought, I don't even have a girlfriend.
"When the photos are developed tomorrow and hung on the photo wall, you two will definitely become the talk of our shop," the photographer said after looking at the photo a few more times. Whether it was the angle, their harmonious pose, the husband's sunny smile, the wife's shy smile, or the children's innocent smiles—it was all too heartwarming.
Renz frowned slightly; he suddenly remembered something.
"Um, I'm very sorry, but we can't hang this photo on the wall. I just glanced over and noticed that besides the couples' family package, there was a parent-child package, right?" Renz prompted. "Let's take another one. Oh, and could you privately send me this photo? I'd like to keep it."
Renz made a small request. "Could you add me on LINE, Mr. Photographer?"
"Okay, no problem," the photographer said, a little surprised, but he didn't say much more. "The coordination and smiles in your photo are truly amazing. I feel that your relationship must be excellent. I've never seen a married couple with a family who still have smiles like yours."
The photographer's words made Rina's smile even brighter.
"Of course! My dad is the person in the whole world who loves Mom the most," Rina said in her sweet, childish voice. "No matter what Mom says about Dad, Dad never gets angry."
"It's because Dad spoils Mom so much that Mom's temper is so bad."
Children always think their parents are the best. Therefore, parents become role models for their children. Rina was usually a bit displeased with her mother, but mostly because Erina Nakiri was too strict with her—sometimes even unreasonable.
However, deep down, Rina didn't genuinely dislike her mother. It was just that Rina preferred her more reasonable and gentle-tempered father.
The photographer listened to Rina's words and smiled faintly. What a happy family.
Erina Nakiri, however, felt an urge to drag Rina away. How did a child like you know so many strange things?
Hmm?
Erina Nakiri suddenly thought of someone—Alice Nakiri, her cousin. Her daughter seemed quite fond of Alice Nakiri. Could Alice Nakiri have secretly instilled some strange ideas into her behind her back?!
The photographer reopened his camera. This time, the photo shoot was only with Renz and the children.
"I want to eat," Haruki interrupted everyone's chatter—a single sentence filled with grievance. "I've been hungry all day, I want to eat!" Mist welled up, and the little boy's face showed a distressed expression. After school, he had been very hungry and wanted to go home and eat quickly, but then he was told they were going to a barbecue buffet, and who knew they would take so many pictures?
He was starving and couldn't wait another moment. But after the photos were taken, everyone was still chatting.
"Sorry, sorry." Erina Nakiri put her hands together, speaking apologetically. "I'm sorry to interrupt you, I'll take Haruki to find something to eat first."
She had been looking for an excuse to leave for a while. After taking that photo, her face was still burning. However, Erina Nakiri wondered if it was just her imagination.
She realized that her tolerance for Renz's behavior was surprisingly high. She had a subtle sense of distance from everyone; ten years ago at Totsuki Academy, she had few friends and got along poorly with others. Only Hisako Arato was someone she could connect with. Many people could say just one sentence to her and trigger a feeling of disgust and distance.
Yet, only with Renz—when they discussed problems, solutions, and even his slightly inappropriate forms of address sometimes—she didn't feel that aversion. Even though they had only known each other for two days.
Was it because of Rina and Haruki? Erina Nakiri secretly glanced at Renz beside her.
Renz's intuition was astonishingly sharp; he noticed Erina Nakiri's furtive glance. He turned his head, and their eyes met. Erina Nakiri immediately averted her gaze as if nothing had happened, but a myriad of thoughts drifted through her mind.
---
Alice Nakiri now knowing about their "happy family" photo, what complications will arise when they finally meet her?
---Support with power stones