Chapter 44: Aoi Kiriyama's Invitation
Aoi Kiriyama pulled Yuta out of the coffee shop, leading him directly into her car as soon as they stepped out, cutting off contact with the outside world.
"What's with you? It's only been half a month, and it feels like you've gotten... even better looking."
Sitting in the driver's seat, Aoi scrutinized Yuta, completely sure she wasn't mistaken. Yuta had undergone subtle changes.
He used to be just average, but after these subtle changes, his whole aura seemed to have transformed.
"Huh, I don't think anything's changed," Yuta said, looking ahead, too shy to meet Aoi's gaze.
Aoi's eyes never wavered, fixated on Yuta, making him even more uncomfortable and hesitant to meet her gaze.
Hearing Yuta's attempt to deflect the comment, Aoi became slightly annoyed, gently frowning and saying, "Those women, I think they're fools, but I don't think their taste has collectively gone downhill to that extent. I also don't think I can't tell the difference between good-looking and average!"
Yuta awkwardly looked at Aoi, "Thanks for the compliment. I think it might be because I got a new haircut, and my hair has grown a bit. I haven't noticed any other changes."
Yuta's main change was his haircut. His previous crew cut had grown significantly in the past half month, and his physique appeared more slender.
Aoi couldn't pinpoint the exact changes either. She agreed that Yuta's haircut played a part, but it wasn't just the hairstyle.
"Fine, if you won't say, I won't ask." Aoi looked ahead, her hands on the steering wheel, but she wasn't driving.
Yuta realized that Aoi wasn't like Sora and Miu, who were tsundere. When she said she wasn't interested, it actually meant she was upset.
After Yuta refused to explain, Aoi dropped the subject, though it was clear she cared deeply, but gave him space.
"Thanks," Yuta didn't know how to explain his changes. Realizing that being too handsome was a problem, he decided to go to the printing factory today.
Being too handsome was a real struggle.
Working a part-time job could be considered contributing to his novel.
Working at a printing factory, printing his own novel.
Silence filled the car for a few seconds before Aoi leaned back in her seat and softly said, "What have you been busy with lately? Still taking care of those three kids?"
"Yeah, school is starting soon, so there's a lot to do," Yuta replied calmly.
Aoi was different from other people. Unlike the women he met on the street, she wasn't captivated by his good looks.
Yuta remembered the reactions of Sora and the others. He realized that people who were close to him seemed to be immune to his charm.
Hina was still as fond of him as before, while Miu and Sora were still occasionally angry with him, but mostly obedient.
Maybe his ability only worked on strangers?
Yuta thought so. So far, it seemed that only women he hadn't met before were affected so strongly.
Actually, Yuta was wrong. This charm point wasn't based on intimacy but on how beautiful the woman was. The more attractive the woman, the stronger her resistance to good-looking guys.
You could say that the more charming the woman, the less she cared about appearances.
Of course, women with personalities like a porcupine could only dream about it.
Aoi was not completely unaffected; she was just less impacted than others. Moreover, she had always had a bit of a crush on Yuta, which is why her reactions were not as overt as those of the other women. She wouldn't approach a handsome guy and directly ask for a deeper interaction.
After a half-month of no contact with Yuta, Aoi thought they might gradually become people from two different worlds. However, after their meeting today, she realized that her feelings for Yuta were indeed more than just platonic.
Not being good at such matters, Aoi was not suited for a proactive role. After a brief pause in silence, she continued, "Has Kaoruko contacted you?"
Aoi was referring to Kaoruko Fujiwara, who intended to mold Yuta into a man capable of juggling multiple relationships, using him as a case study for her thesis and dreams.
"No, she hasn't," Yuta replied clearly, and after finishing, he smiled as he added, "Even if she did reach out, I would refuse. I'm really not good at handling those kinds of situations."
Hearing Yuta's response made Aoi smile unconsciously. She replied in a relaxed tone, "I think it would be great for Kaoruko to help you overcome your issues with women. At least it might prevent situations like what just happened."
"Never mind, I think I'll just keep a low profile from now on," Yuta said, not wanting to involve Kaoruko. He had a feeling she saw him as a mere experiment and was reluctant to engage with her.
Aoi felt much better and wanted to interact with Yuta more. "Do you need my help? Or you could come work at my nail salon. I think with your assistance, my business could really thrive."
At twenty-four, Aoi was an elegant woman running her own nail salon. Her invitation for Yuta to work there clearly had more than one purpose behind it.
A nail salon was mostly frequented by female customers, which felt a bit like suggesting he become a gigolo...
Just as Yuta was about to refuse, the sound of a bell chimed in his ear.
[Ding]
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