Chapter 807

Natsume Chikage was already used to Kishida Minesuke's crisp, near-cold style of doing things.

He just casually put the empty wallet into his pocket, then turned his head to look at Suzuki Takayuki, who was still looking complex and immersed in low spirits beside him.

"Suzuki-kun,"

Natsume Chikage spoke, his voice sounding clear in the quiet storage room.

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

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

He sighed lightly, raised his eyes, his face carrying fatigue and lingering bitterness.

"Ask."

He said, his tone somewhat powerless.

Natsume Chikage looked directly into his eyes and asked a direct and sharp question:

"Have you ever thought, if I never agree to date Asahina-san, what do you plan to do then, wait for her forever?"

These words, like a fine 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 a fatigue like resignation.

"I know what you mean."

He said slowly.

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

"But..."

His eyes 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, that 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 absolutely certain, carrying a deep understanding of Asahina Akatsuki's personality, and also carrying deep powerlessness.

"So..."

His voice lowered.

"I had to resort to this desperate measure on the field, hoping... hoping you could date her."

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

Natsume Chikage was stunned after hearing this.

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

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

In this way...

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

Ah this...

Natsume Chikage suddenly felt a headache, and also somewhat speechless.

This situation... is 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 Natsume Chikage with eyes carrying a last glimmer of hope.

He tested, his tone almost earnest:

"Natsume-kun... I know your current situation, and I can roughly guess... part of the reason you reject Akatsuki is actually the family's economic problem."

He weighed his words.

"So before the economic situation improves, you don't intend to date any girl at all, right?"

He didn't wait for Natsume Chikage's confirmation or denial, but continued eagerly.

"But I still hope... hope that 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."

Natsume Chikage was caught off guard by this direct and heavy "entrustment."

Facing Suzuki Takayuki's near-burning gaze, he could only respond vaguely:

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

This was neither a promise nor a rejection.

A flash of obvious disappointment crossed Suzuki Takayuki's eyes, but immediately, that disappointment turned into another complex emotion.

He breathed a sigh of relief slightly.

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

Things seem to still have a glimmer of hope.

However, thinking of another question, the idea of collecting intelligence for Akatsuki began to emerge.

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

"By the way, Natsume-kun, speaking of which... I don't seem to have asked you, what type of girl do you like?"

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

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

"Is it the clingy and dependent type, or the independent type?"

"Or any other special preferences?"

Suzuki Takayuki calculated that if he knew more about Natsume Chikage's preferences now, he might be able to "inadvertently" reveal them to Akatsuki later.

If so, the probability of Akatsuki being liked by Natsume-kun might increase by a little bit, right?

Natsume Chikage was stunned again when he heard this.

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

Subsequently, he shook his head, a faint smile that was somewhat helpless yet felt interesting appearing on his face.

"Your question... really stumped me."

He said honestly.

"Actually... I haven't 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.

"However, if I really have 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 will feel very comfortable, very relaxed, very happy."

"It's the kind of... very natural feeling, without needing to deliberately disguise or manage painstakingly."

Suzuki Takayuki opened his mouth in astonishment.

"Just... just that?"

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

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

He pursued, trying to dig out more specific information. ===== CHAPTER 808 =====