Chapter 496

Xia Xia Xia Mujun was already used to Kishida Mineisuke’s crisp, almost indifferent style of doing things.

He just put the empty wallet into his pocket, then turned his head to look at Suzuki Takayuki, who was still looking complex and immersed in dejected emotions.

"Suzuki-kun,"

Xia Xia Xia Mujun spoke, his voice sounding clear in the quiet storage room.

"I have a question I want to ask you."

Suzuki Takayuki seemed to still be immersed in the gloom of handing over the wallet, and was stunned when he heard this.

He sighed softly, raised his eyes, his face carrying exhaustion and lingering bitterness.

"Ask."

He said, his tone somewhat powerless.

Xia Xia Xia Mujun looked directly into his eyes and asked a direct and sharp question:

"Have you ever thought about what you would do if I never agreed to date Asahina-san, would you just keep waiting for her?"

These words, like a thin needle, unexpectedly pierced into a corner deep in Suzuki Takayuki’s heart that he had always avoided touching.

His body stiffened significantly.

His pupils contracted slightly.

Immediately, there was a long, suffocating silence.

Suzuki Takayuki lowered his head, the bitterness on his face almost overflowing.

His voice was dry, carrying the exhaustion of resignation.

"I know what you mean."

He said slowly.

"I also really wanted to... after she was rejected by you, go directly to pursue her, to 'conquer' her."

"But..."

His gaze became distant and helpless.

"You don't understand Akatsuki yet... although she looks quite cheerful and easygoing, she is actually very, very stubborn inside."

"Before she completely gives up on you..."

He smiled bitterly, a smile uglier than crying.

"Even if there are many people pursuing her, even if that person... is me, her childhood friend..."

"She won't agree."

His tone was extremely certain, carrying a deep understanding of Asahina Akatsuki’s personality, and also carrying deep powerlessness.

"So..."

His voice lowered.

"That's why I had to resort to this desperate measure in the arena, hoping... hoping you would date her."

"This might... be the only way to let her 'get what she wants,' and also let me... completely give up."

Xia Xia Xia Mujun was clearly stunned after hearing this.

An extremely strange expression appeared on his face, his brows slightly furrowed, his eyes full of surprise and astonishment.

He had never expected that Asahina Akatsuki would have such a personality, and even less expected that there was such a reason behind it.

In this way...

Doesn't that mean that because of his appearance and rejection, he had dragged three people—Asahina Akatsuki, Suzuki Takayuki, and even Tanabe Yuto—into an awkward and tricky multi-cornered relationship?

Ah, this...

Xia Xia Xia Mujun suddenly felt a bit of a headache, and also a bit speechless.

This situation... was indeed hard to handle, and quite tricky to deal with.

He didn't know how to respond for a moment.

At this time.

Suzuki Takayuki seemed to have gathered his courage, raised his head again, and looked at Xia Xia Xia Mujun with eyes carrying a last glimmer of hope.

He probed, his tone almost pleading:

"Xia Xia Xia Mujun... I know your current situation, and I can roughly guess... you don't like Akatsuki right now, or rather, part of the reason you rejected Akatsuki is actually the family’s financial problems."

He weighed his words.

"So before your financial situation improves, you didn't intend to date any girl at all, right?"

He didn't wait for Xia Xia Xia Mujun’s confirmation or denial, but continued eagerly.

"But I still hope... I hope if, if one day in the future, you really have the idea of wanting to date a girl..."

His voice carried a humble request.

"Can... can you prioritize Akatsuki."

"She is really a very good girl... precisely because I have always been by her side, watching her grow up, I know better than anyone..."

"As long as you date her, she will definitely be very suitable for you."

"She will definitely make you happy."

Xia Xia Xia Mujun was caught off guard by this direct and heavy "entrustment."

Facing Suzuki Takayuki’s almost scorching gaze, he could only respond vaguely:

"We'll see when the time comes..."

This was neither a promise nor a rejection.

A flash of clear disappointment passed through Suzuki Takayuki’s eyes, but immediately, that disappointment turned into another complex emotion.

He breathed a sigh of relief.

Although he didn't get a definite answer, at least... he wasn't directly rejected.

Things seemed to still have a glimmer of hope.

However, thinking of another question, his desire to collect information for Akatsuki began to emerge.

He couldn't help but ask with a hint of inquiry:

"By the way, Xia Xia Xia Mujun, speaking of which... I don't think I've ever asked you, what type of girl do you like?"

He tried to make his tone sound like casual chatting between friends.

"Is it someone with a good figure, or do you value temperament more?"

"Is it someone with a clingy, dependent personality, or an independent type?"

"Or some other special preference?"

Suzuki Takayuki calculated in his heart that if he learned more about Xia Xia Xia Mujun’s preferences now, he might be able to "inadvertently" reveal them to Akatsuki later.

In that case, the probability of Akatsuki being liked by Xia Xia Xia Mujun might increase by a little bit, right?

Xia Xia Xia Mujun was stunned again upon hearing this.

He blinked, seemingly stumped by this sudden, overly specific question.

Afterward, he shook his head, a faint smile of helplessness and amusement appearing on his face.

"Your question... really stumped me."

He said honestly.

"Actually... I've never really considered this question."

"Running around for life every day, where would I have the leisure to think about what type I like."

He paused, seemingly really thinking about it.

"However, if I had to say one..."

"Figure or not, appearance or not, that's not the most important thing."

"Compared to these external things..."

His tone became more serious.

"I only hope that when I'm with her, I feel very comfortable, very relaxed, and very happy."

"It's that kind of... very natural feeling, without needing to deliberately pretend or put effort into managing it."

Suzuki Takayuki opened his mouth in astonishment.

"Just... just that?"

He clearly felt that this answer was too abstract, too "ethereal."

"Anything else? Like specific hobbies? Personality details? Or... any more detailed standards?"

He pressed, trying to dig out more specific information.