Chapter 161: 160: Because of You, I Look Forward to the Future.

Words : 1616 Updated : Oct 9th, 2025

'Tokyo's weather really changes as easily as a woman's mood.' Walking out of the station with the crowd, Ito Makoto took out his umbrella from his backpack, his mind occupied with other thoughts. Yesterday, when Saionji Sekai was flipping through a fashion magazine, she asked him which model looked the best. He pointed to one with the biggest chest, and then she didn't even get into bed with him. She put on her clothes and walked away, completely uninterested. Ito Makoto couldn't understand. The problem was, she asked the question, he answered, and yet she wasn't happy about it. If you already knew that this question would upset you, then why even ask? Sometimes, he really couldn't understand girls. As Ito Makoto was lost in thought, he suddenly spotted a familiar figure by the station entrance. 'Kotonoha?' Seeing Takashi with his head lowered, 'kissing' his girlfriend (from his perspective), Ito Makoto's first reaction was that his eyes were playing tricks on him. Has it become a trend recently? Why is it that his usually "slow to warm up" girlfriend is now kissing another guy? Impossible, absolutely impossible! He must be seeing things. Ito Makoto rubbed his eyes hard, and when he opened them, the figures were still there. It wasn't an illusion. 'No, maybe she just looks a lot like Kotonoha.' Ito Makoto reassured himself in his mind, but his steps unknowingly quickened as he tried to walk around and get a clearer look at whether the woman in the man's arms was his girlfriend. "You!" Hearing Kotonoha's response, Takashi's face, far from showing any joy, already felt a bit overwhelmed with irritation. Does anyone understand me? I just asked casually, and you actually like me? No, sister, if you like me, just say it. I'll change, won't I? "Kitahara, Kitahara-kun, is he here?" Kotonoha noticed Ito Makoto heading toward them, and her voice trembled slightly. It was clear that she was afraid of being caught by her boyfriend. 'You had the guts to like me, but not the guts to let your boyfriend know?' Takashi found it amusing. "Shh, leave everything to me." Takashi whispered, then straightened up, placing his hand on Kotonoha's neck and pulled her into an embrace like a couple in love. The slight pressure of their bodies together made Kotonoha feel as if time stopped in that moment, and the world grew silent. His broad and firm chest gave a sense of comfort and security. Each breath he took had a steady rhythm, as if the sound of the earth was resonating. Every heartbeat seemed to be in sync with her own. A warm feeling rose from the depths of her heart, spreading through her body and making her feel incredibly at ease. Ito Makoto pretended to walk by Takashi and Kotonoha, his gaze constantly flicking between them. Kotonoha's face was buried in Takashi's chest, with his arm around her. Ito Makoto couldn't see her face. But the uniform of Sakakino Academy, the devilish figure, and the familiar silhouette were all enough to tell Ito Makoto that this was his girlfriend. Thinking that he couldn't even touch her, while this man could kiss and hold her, perhaps even explore areas that he hadn't, Ito Makoto suddenly felt an intense fire rise within him. His blood was boiling, screaming to rush out and fight Takashi. Takashi noticed the hostile look in Ito Makoto's eyes and glared back with a fierce expression. "Never seen a couple being affectionate? Get lost!" Thanks to the training from Nagisa and Marin, Takashi had become adept at secretly doing things with the victim's girlfriend while also confronting the victim with aggression. Now, he was an excellent warrior of the Yellow-haired tribe. It was time to hunt down those pure love warriors! Takashi was handsome, but when he became fierce, his brows and demeanor exuded a wild and menacing aura. Ito Makoto honestly felt a bit afraid of him. "Sorry!" Hearing Ito Makoto's apology, Takashi's expression was one of odd amusement. Ito Makoto immediately realized something was wrong. He's the one stealing my girlfriend, and I'm the one apologizing? How does that make sense? You're holding my girlfriend, and yet you act so righteous? Who's the third party here? Do you think I'm disturbing you from being affectionate with my girlfriend? The more Ito Makoto thought about it, the angrier he became. He opened his mouth, ready to say something, but Takashi didn't even give him a chance to speak. He grabbed his collar and pulled him in front of him, his expression impatient. "Did I tell you to get lost? Are you deaf? Looking for a fight? Say it." Ito Makoto's build was that of a scrawny dog, while Takashi was a hardened player. With just a slight tug, Takashi pulled Ito Makoto in front of him. Ito Makoto assessed their strength difference and figured it was about a 70-30 split. Three punches for me, seven punches for him. "Sorry." When the power difference between the two was so large, Ito Makoto's brain quickly returned to rationality, and he decisively apologized again. 'Apologizing again?' At this point, Takashi felt too embarrassed to continue tormenting Ito Makoto. He gently pushed him away. Ito Makoto, head lowered, quickly walked past Takashi without daring to look back. "Alright, he's gone." Once Ito Makoto's figure was no longer visible, Takashi patted Kotonoha on the shoulder, signaling that she could leave now. Kotonoha hesitated, savoring the warmth and scent of his body, feeling a bit reluctant to part. "Thank you, Kitahara-kun." Thank me? Thank me for what? Thank me for sending your boyfriend away? You two as a couple would even make a great scene in a doujinshi. Kotonoha and Ito Makoto's actions could be likened to the female thanking the guy with yellow hair, while the male apologizes to the guy with yellow hair. Is it me who's messed up, or is it the world? Takashi shook his head and decided not to think about these complicated matters. He continued with his questioning, "About what we were talking about earlier, what is it that you like about me?" "I like the confidence and sunshine that you have, Kitahara-kun." Confidence? Sunshine? This was something that even Takashi himself would find laughable. "So, this is how you see me." Kotonoha looked at him nervously. "Did I say something wrong?" Takashi smiled, not answering her question but instead asking, "When did you start liking me, or should I say, when did you start caring about me?" "I haven't really interacted with you that much, have I?" From the moment Takashi knew that Kotonoha had a boyfriend, he had intentionally kept his distance. Yet, even so, she still ended up liking him? Ten points of charm, it's terrifying? "Probably..." After a few seconds of silence, Kotonoha lowered her head shyly. "I think I liked you from the first time I met you." Takashi raised an eyebrow. "So, it was love at first sight?" "I'm not sure if it counts as love at first sight, but I can never forget the day I was locked in the classroom." The boy that day was too dazzling, and in Kotonoha's heart, no one could compare to him. "That day, Kitahara-kun, you unlocked the door and stood in the light. You said to me, 'Katsura-san, I've come to take you home.'" Like light driving away darkness, like a god descending to earth. The light shining on him was so dazzling. Kotonoha couldn't tell if it was the light or if it was Takashi who was radiating light. It was in that moment that Takashi had become the light in Kotonoha's eyes, piercing through the gloom and illuminating her dull world. "..." Takashi looked at Kotonoha with a complex expression. Now he understood why she liked him. A girl who had been controlled by her parents, lived strictly and methodically, was introverted, silent, and had no friends, had a longing for a relationship. When she was locked in a classroom, her phone couldn't get through, and she was feeling hopeless—he appeared in front of her. With all those buffs stacked up, his appearance to her was like a drowning person grabbing onto a lifeline. It wasn't hard to understand why she would like him. However, whether Kotonoha's feelings for him were truly love, Takashi felt it was still uncertain. Because people in certain situations often misinterpret tension or excitement as attraction, leading to romantic feelings. "Takashi, I..." Kotonoha clenched her fist as if to give herself courage. She raised her moist eyes and gazed deeply at him. "Before I met you, I never expected life to give me any surprises." "Until the moment you appeared, I started to look forward to life." "I look forward to the future." "I look forward to seeing you." "I look forward to talking to you." Only when she was with Takashi did Kotonoha feel alive. Only he could stir ripples in her stagnant life. "Even just a little bit..." Kotonoha extended her slender, white fingers, clutching Takashi's sleeve. She lowered her head and pleaded, "Please, at least leave the time we spend together on the train in the morning for me, okay?" ___ 20 Advanced Chapters available on p@ tr eon (.) com/HalflingFics Also, please point out my mistakes in the comment, thank you! Don't forget to leave a review too~ Check out the other translations too ___

Chapter 161: 160: Because of You, I Look Forward to the Future.

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