Chapter 77: 77: Are We About to Throw Down?

A solid-colored dial, Arabic numeral indices, leaf-shaped hands, a black alligator leather strap, and a butterfly clasp—inside the box lay an IWC Portugieser Chronograph. When it comes to luxury watches, most people first think of brands like Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin, or Rolex, but IWC is also a high-end brand. Portugieser Chronograph. "Big sis, this is...?" Only Takashi himself knew how difficult it was to tear his gaze away from the watch. He genuinely liked this piece, but he wasn't sure if it was for him or meant as a gift for someone else. "Do you like it?" Shizuka tilted her head and looked at him. "For... for me?" Takashi pointed at himself in disbelief. "Who else?" Shizuka let out a soft laugh, but her mood visibly plummeted right after. "Besides you, Takashi, I don't have any other men to give gifts to. Hahaha..." How pitiful. Takashi looked at Shizuka with sympathy. To be fair, Shizuka was incredibly attractive. Her long hair was as sleek as ever, her fair and delicate skin was as luminous as porcelain, seemingly soft enough to break with the slightest touch. Her lips were full and naturally rosy, and the subtle upturn at the corners of her mouth always exuded confidence and composure. The sharp contour of her jawline only enhanced her cold yet alluring beauty. The contrast between her ample curves and her slender waist was striking. For something that size, how was her waist still that slim? Her long, elegant legs—usually concealed by tight-fitting pants—still managed to show off their impressive length and shape. And today, with sheer black stockings, her legs looked even smoother and more proportionate. Calling them a perfect golden ratio wouldn't be an exaggeration. She could absolutely be a leg model. Unlike the young girls Takashi usually interacted with, Shizuka was like a ripe peach, exuding maturity from the inside out. She was the kind of cold, gorgeous older sister any teenage boy would be infatuated with. That is, until she opened her mouth. One moment, she sounded like she was from the frigid north; the next, she spoke like a gentle southern belle. Why is it always like this? The better-looking someone was, the less likely they had a pleasant voice. The better someone's voice was, the less likely they looked good. On the other hand, plenty of overweight people had surprisingly nice voices. And of course, if someone was both unattractive and had an unpleasant voice, well... that just meant God closed their door and welded their windows shut for good measure. Shizuka was undeniably beautiful, and there were men who approached her. But most of them were just after her body. Even the ones who initially wanted a serious relationship would leave once they got to know the real her. God gave her the sleek exterior of a Rolls-Royce but paired it with the engine of a tractor. "It's okay, big sis. You still have money!" Seeing how miserable Shizuka looked, Takashi couldn't help but try to comfort her. She might not have a man who truly loved her, but she had wealth! The only hardship she had ever tasted was heartbreak. Unlike him—he had suffered in academics, love, and life. It was like the universe existed solely to throw challenges his way, making his entire existence feel like a test of endurance. "What good is money if I don't have a man? What's the point of life anymore?" Shizuka slumped against the steering wheel, looking somewhat pitiful. Her words left Takashi speechless. No meaning? He couldn't even imagine how happy he'd be if he were her age, wearing a Vacheron Constantin on his wrist and driving a luxury sports car worth millions. "Big sis, where are we going tonight?" Takashi had no interest in continuing this "humblebrag" conversation. If they kept at it, he might just die from sheer envy. Shizuka hesitated a bit before saying, "There's a gathering tonight. I need to trouble you to accompany me again." She felt a little guilty for constantly using Takashi as a shield. But aside from him, she really couldn't find anyone else to play the role of her boyfriend. She had considered hiring someone, but the men available were either too unappealing or, if they were attractive, not quite up to par. After being accompanied by Tokyo's own charm rating 9 hunk, Takashi, her standards had been permanently raised. Looking at other guys now, she found flaws in all of them. Takashi kept smiling. "What kind of gathering?" It wasn't his first time attending a dinner party with Shizuka. Girls' nights out, class reunions, even high school friends' weddings—Shizuka always dragged Takashi along. Even if she wasn't invited, she'd go anyway. Not for any real reason—just to settle old scores. After all, those little brats used to mock her for not having a man. Shizuka was determined to return all that humiliation tenfold. "It's just a regular high school reunion, except..." She trailed off mid-sentence. After a full minute, she finally continued, "My ex-boyfriend will be there." Takashi's expression turned odd. "You mean the guy who tried to move into your house after just a few days of dating, pretended he wanted to marry you, secretly slept with your worst enemy, and then took your furniture after breaking up?" "Yeah... that's the one." Shizuka nodded repeatedly, her eyes welling up with unshed tears. Now, this is a high-stakes event. A professional stand-in versus a gold-digging scumbag—just the thought of it got Takashi fired up. Back when he started playing the role of fake boyfriend, he had anticipated that this day might come. To make sure he wouldn't lose an argument and embarrass his "client," he had gone through extensive training on forums, social media, and the infamous flame wars of online communities. As someone who survived the darkest corners of the internet, Takashi had become terrifyingly formidable. If it weren't for content restrictions, he could verbally annihilate someone—attacking them, their family, and their entire ancestry—without repeating a single insult. "He... he might target you," Shizuka said softly after regaining her composure. "If you don't want to go, we can just skip it." She had only received the invitation last-minute. It wasn't originally part of her plan. "Target me?" Takashi almost laughed. If the guy dared to come after him, Takashi would make sure he learned the meaning of: a single gesture starts the rap, a single word makes the birds sing. Takashi took Shizuka's hands in his own and spoke earnestly. "Big sis, don't worry. I got you." Among all the people he had played this role for, Shizuka was the kindest to him. She always gave him gifts. If not clothes, then watches. Whenever they went out to eat, she covered the bill. Most importantly, he genuinely enjoyed spending time with her. Unlike the immature girls his age, Shizuka was an adult. Sure, she had her childish moments, but she was emotionally stable. She wasn't prone to throwing tantrums over trivial things. If only she weren't so much older than him... he'd seriously consider making a move himself. "Takashi... thank you." Shizuka, deeply touched, pulled him into a hug. This kid—always so kind. Always looking out for her. If only he weren't so young... she'd bring him home to meet her parents. ___ 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 ___