Great Mangaka

In the Tokyo night, rain splattered against the windowpanes.

Takumi sat on the sofa reading a book. He was the only one in the room, and it felt very quiet. The book he was reading was "A Complete Guide to Tourist Attractions in Japan," available in both Japanese and English, so he had no difficulty reading it.

"Takumi, we're done, go take a shower!"

As they watched, the room door opened, and Aika entered with Shiori. The two women were in swimsuits and completely wet; it was evident they had just showered.

"Okay."

Takumi put down the book, gathered his clothes, and left. Yoshida Keiko had booked a luxurious suite with a bathroom for them, but they didn't shower in that bathroom.

Upon finally arriving in Tokyo, Takumi certainly wanted to experience other things besides admiring the cherry blossoms, such as hot springs. There are indoor hot springs in this hotel, and he rented one at a high price so he could enjoy them anytime, anywhere.

Lying in the warm hot springs, Takumi felt completely relaxed.

'It's truly deadly...',

he muttered to himself. Shiori's appearance was too unexpected, cutting his rest plan in half. Takumi shook his head, covered his forehead with a towel, leaned against the stone, and closed his eyes.

Since there was only one suite, he would have to meet Shiori upon returning, so Takumi simply didn't want to return early.

The sensation of submerging himself in the hot springs made him unable to stop. The water flowing over his body was like silk. The hot spring water was softer than regular water and relaxed both body and mind.

However, Takumi didn't relax much. With the sound of a door opening, Shiori, wrapped in a towel, appeared in front of him.

Takumi opened his eyes. He was a little stunned.

'Let me help you wash your back.'

Shiori said, her cheeks flushed. She wore a white towel, her long hair tied up, her straight waist and prominent chest exuded a unique scent.

"Didn't you shower?" Takumi felt a headache again, but Shiori was very well covered, which showed her integrity. "Auntie's asleep..." Shiori didn't directly answer his question. She wrapped herself in a towel and checked the water temperature with her feet, then slowly walked towards the hot springs: "I want to keep you company."

"I don't need anyone to keep me company." Takumi felt the fluctuations on the water's surface. Uncomfortable, he wanted to leave, but his clothes were still beside him, and standing up would inevitably expose his body.

"You're very cold, Takumi..."

Shiori sighed. She didn't approach Takumi and asked, "Does your father's departure affect you greatly?"

"What do you mean?"

Takumi frowned slightly.

"Because you're different from other boys." Shiori scooped water with her hands and said lightly, "I thought about it a lot. If there's something that makes you feel this way, it's the lack of paternal love."

She turned her head and looked at Takumi. Whether it was his extraordinary demeanor or his resistance to her beauty, Takumi behaved very abnormally; if you think about it from the perspective of his father's affairs, perhaps you can find a starting point.

Children from single-parent families are always special. The father abandoning his wife and children led to Takumi's distrust of love. Shiori thought it was a good reason. If it's said that this incident has no impact on Takumi, Shiori will never believe it.

Common attacks don't work. Shiori is willing to change her mind and start from the top, but unfortunately, Takumi easily discovers her idea.

"I think it's better if you don't think about it." Takumi said, "I don't care if there's paternal love or not, and now I have nothing to do with him."

However, Takumi admitted that the lack of paternal love had a great impact on his previous life.

He was autistic and introverted, and he put everything into Aika. Therefore, after Aika's death, everything in Takumi's life collapsed. If he hadn't met Miyuki, that weirdo, he might have died in a daze.

Miyuki changed him, and Takumi now doesn't need a father.

"That's enough, take your time." Takumi, a little displeased with Shiori's temptation, stood up and prepared to leave. His naked body made Shiori exclaim, and the girl quickly covered her eyes.

"You have one day...".

Takumi was a little surprised. He saw Shiori enter and thought she was very bold, but it turned out to be a bluff. Alice's advice over the phone resonated in his mind. It seemed that Shiori was truly strong on the outside, but weak on the inside.

"Hey, wait, Takumi!"

Shiori found him leaving. She quickly got up and went ashore to chase him. However, her feet suddenly slipped, and she fell to the ground. The path next to the hot springs was full of large, soft stones...

"Bang!" With a noise, Takumi turned and found Shiori lying on the ground, her head hitting a stone.

"Shiori!" He ran and picked her up nervously: "Are you okay, Shiori, Shiori!"

The girl closed her eyes and didn't respond.

"Hey, hey, don't scare me!" Takumi didn't know much about medicine, but he knew that the brain was the most important part of the human body. No matter how strong the body, if the brain is injured, life can be in danger.

He reached out to feel Shiori's breathing. Her breathing was very weak, which made him even more nervous.

Takumi placed Shiori on the ground to rescue her. He pinched her philtrum and then pressed her stomach forcefully, but Shiori still showed no signs of waking up.

'Artificial respiration...'.

He thought of another solution. If this method didn't work, Takumi had to get Shiori out immediately. He took a deep breath, pinched her nose, and lowered his head.

'Could she have pretended to be dead on purpose?' At that moment, a thought crossed Takumi's mind, but it lasted less than half a second, and

he kissed her on the back of one hand.

"..." Shiori separated her mouth from Takumi's with her hand, and her face flushed. At the most critical moment, Shiori could no longer pretend.

Takumi's face grew cold, and he slowly stood up and walked towards where his clothes were.

"I'm sorry." Shiori quickly took his hand and explained: "Takumi, I apologize, it's my fault, but I fainted a moment ago, I didn't expect you to be so nervous..."

"And then what?"

"Then... Can you forgive me?" Shiori raised her hand and promised: "I'll never pretend again, I'll listen to you, and I'll never go west if you tell me to go east."

"I'll control myself!"

Takumi turned his head and looked at Shiori with a happy face.

After more than ten seconds, he frowned and said, 'You women are really inexplicable.'

- - - - - -

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