"Baka!" Ai gritted her teeth and spat out before turning to walk away.
She had told him not to move, and yet he dared to lie face down! How infuriating!
Any trace of guilt she had felt toward Hiko instantly vanished.
"Ai, don't go!" Hiko saw that Ai was about to leave, so he quickly sprang up and grabbed her small hand to stop her.
"You're truly too much. The more I tolerate you, the more unrestrained you become!" Ai thought for a moment, couldn't find a sharper adjective, and could only say that.
"Are you trying to say 'pushing your luck'?" Hiko offered to rephrase for her.
"Give you an inch, and you'll take a mile." Ai felt a knot in her chest tighten at his words. "Let go! I'm going back!"
Ai forcefully shook her hand, trying to break free from Hiko's grasp.
"No, I'm sorry, it's my fault."
Seeing Ai's outburst, Hiko belatedly realized he really had gone too far.
It feels like every time things start to go well, I end up getting carried away.
This sudden flare of emotion made him feel that something was off.
According to his original personality, he shouldn't have been so easily arrogant and reckless.
Why? It wasn't the first time this had happened. Could it be because of his physical age?
Were hormonal changes stirring up his personality? Or was there some special reason influencing him?
'It can't be that I'm just naturally this much of a playboy…' Hiko pondered. His behavior clashed with the calm, collected self-image he carried in his mind.
He hadn't noticed it before. Just before Ai had struck him on the head, he had felt like he was close to figuring something out, but the blow had shaken it all away.
"Again and again. I'm going back." Ai saw Saito Hiko staring off in thought and seized the chance to break free from his hand. Then she ran off.
"Ai, don't go!" Hiko tried to chase after her, but after only two steps, a sharp pain stabbed through his stomach, stopping him in his tracks.
Ai didn't slow down when she heard him. Instead, she sped up and slipped away.
If she stayed and listened to him, she feared she might once again be swayed by his twisted logic.
Soon, Ai disappeared from Hiko's sight.
'It's over. I messed up again. I got a bit too conceited today.'
Hiko felt heavy-hearted as he watched Hoshino Ai leave.
He had already made plans and written several proposals yesterday, but everything ended up like this.
What a failed "date."
It wasn't even noon yet, and Ai had already gone back.
Hiko could only return to the long bench and sit down again.
His stomach still hurt, and he needed a proper rest to recover his strength.
Next time, I really shouldn't eat so much. I nearly lost all ability to move.
Saito Hiko sat on the bench, replaying the details of their time together.
He "saw" himself always doing something foolish whenever Ai's mood improved, which inevitably created tension in their relationship.
In the future, teasing has to be more moderate… Right now, it still feels safe, but if we argue again later and she ends up doing something impulsive she regrets, then it'll be too late to regret myself.
After resting for over an hour, the bloating in Hiko's stomach finally subsided.
As the sky cleared, more pedestrians appeared around him. The weather had become pleasant for outings, which only made him feel worse.
It was supposed to be such a good day…
Once he regained his mobility, Hiko decided his first step should be to check on Ai.
So, he took out his phone and called his uncle.
"Hello, who is this?" Ichigo's voice came through after the call connected.
"It's me, Hiko," Hiko replied.
"How unusual for you to call today." Ichigo sounded genuinely surprised.
"Nothing much, I just wanted to ask if Ai went to your place to practice today?" Hiko asked directly, without bothering to hide it.
"Oh, so you're looking for Ai. I knew you wouldn't call me on a day off." Ichigo paused a moment before continuing, "I just checked, Ai just arrived."
"You brat, did you calculate that she just got there? Ai practices even on Saturdays. You should learn to be as diligent as her. Start studying the knowledge a manager needs from today."
So she really did go to the company to practice.
Hiko felt a wave of relief after hearing about Ai.
If he hadn't known where she was, he would have kept searching—her sudden departure had left him unsettled.
Thankfully, Ai was safe at the company.
Thinking about how badly his date had failed and that he had nothing to do for the rest of the afternoon, Hiko figured he might as well study.
"Alright, since you put it that way, I'll make the effort and study today too," Hiko said after a moment's thought.
"The power of love really is something. It can make even a lazy brat like you study on a Saturday," Ichigo teased. "So, are you coming to the company, or should I have someone go to your house?"
Ichigo, of course, didn't know that Hiko and Ai had gone out together that day.
"My house, I guess." Hiko sighed, preparing to walk back and take the train.
"Okay, I'll let her know," Ichigo replied.
Once they finished speaking, the call ended.
Not long after Hiko returned home, the doorbell rang.
"Coming."
Hiko walked to the door and peeked through the peephole.
Through the narrow view, he saw a woman with long light brown hair, wearing a red jacket and black pants.
Hiko immediately recognized her.
It was Ichigo's wife, Saito Miyako.
Seeing that it was a familiar face, Hiko opened the door.
"Hello, Auntie Miyako~" Hiko greeted her politely.
"Hmm." Miyako nodded. "Ichigo sent me to teach you."
"Honestly, I shouldn't be the one teaching you how to be a manager," Miyako grumbled. "It'd be better to hire someone more professional for the job."
"Auntie, it's not very nice to complain right in front of me," Hiko said, though he didn't seem too bothered by her complaints.
"Anyway, you won't tell anyone." Miyako stepped into the house with practiced ease and closed the door behind her.
"Even if I don't, your guard is still a little too low, isn't it?" Hiko muttered, feeling a headache coming on thanks to his uncle's wife.
"You already have a good reputation at the company, and you're the President's nephew. Besides, I wouldn't be this relaxed in front of outsiders."
Miyako reached out and ruffled Hiko's hair. "Why do you and your uncle look so different? Little handsome guy."
"He just drew the short straw in the genetic pool," Hiko said, brushing her hand away.
"You're so unrestrained with me that I've already learned all sorts of inside stories and secrets from you. Aren't you afraid I might use those weaknesses against you someday?"
Hiko looked straight at Miyako. "And what if I use those secrets to threaten you instead, one day?"
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Hiko X Ai - 49: Study
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Hiko x Ai - 78: Fee
Hiko x Ai - 79: Don't Take Off My Sailor Uniform
Hiko x Ai - 80: Teacher, Teacher
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