Mash-Up: Anything for Money

Yotsuba really didn't understand what Ichika was saying. 

The most reasonable thing she could think of was that Nakano Maruo was going to marry into their family, and they were going to stop wanting her.

After all, in Japan, when a man marries into a woman's family, he has to take her last name.

Itsuki shook her head helplessly. "Yotsuba... if Dad is marrying into the family, what kind of person would the other party have to be?"

Nakano Maruo, the director of a large hospital, money is the least important factor in this situation! What really matters is the relationships behind it.

Though it still doesn't compare to Shunsuke, of course...

Yotsuba listened to Itsuki's words, thought for a moment, and then replied.

"But if Dad isn't marrying into the family, why do we have to change our last name?"

"The point is, it's not just about you, Yotsuba!"

"Eh (゜ロ゜)?" Yotsuba was really confused, her brain almost overloading!

"Ichika, can't you just say it directly?"

"I was just trying to tease Yotsuba."

"Such a cruel joke..."

Yotsuba listened to their discussion, then looked toward Hakuto sitting next to them.

At that moment, Hakuto was resting his face on one hand, wearing a faint smile.

His hair, not tied up, casually draped over his shoulder. 

Though it was long, it didn't seem feminine, and actually had a more androgynous feel, with an effortless, lazy aura naturally exuding from him.

No wonder he had been a loyal admirer for two years but was still the most popular handsome guy in the rankings of the Fukunosaki school, although not quite as popular as the readers.

"Shiratori-sensei! Ichika is bullying me!"

Yotsuba pounced on Hakuto's lap, seeking help.

"So Yotsuba, have you figured out why Ichika said that just now?"

"Eh?" Yotsuba was stunned. "Wasn't Ichika just joking with me?"

"No, Ichika was telling the truth."

Ichika also chimed in. "Do you think I'm someone who likes to joke around, Yotsuba?"

"Isn't that the case?"

"... Anyway, I was telling the truth just now. Don't believe me? Ask Itsuki and the others."

Yotsuba glanced at the others and saw that they were all nodding to confirm that Ichika wasn't lying.

Yotsuba pointed at her fingers and tentatively asked, "Could... you give me a hint?"

"It's related to Shiratori-sensei."

"Is it love...?"

"Such a hassle!" Nino couldn't take it anymore. 

She crossed her arms, mimicking Hakuto's pose, grabbing Yotsuba's rabbit ear headband, and said.

"Nino, don't grab me!"

"Listen up... except for you, Yotsuba! The rest of us are all Shiratori's girlfriends now!"

"Eh... eh, eh? (゜ロ゜)?"

Yotsuba was dumbfounded. She thought she had misheard.

"Nino, what did you just say?"

"I said! Except for you! We..."

"Okay, Nino, no need to continue!"

Yotsuba interrupted Nino, because that last part had already confirmed that she wasn't hearing things wrong!

What do you mean they're all Shiratori-sensei's girlfriends now? In today's society, can you just gather a bunch of girlfriends like that?

Quantity leads to quality. If Hakuto only had one girlfriend, Yotsuba would be sad, but if he had a bunch, Yotsuba would just be completely bewildered!

Yotsuba leaned against Hakuto's leg and asked, "Shiratori... Shiratori-sensei, Nino must be joking, right?"

Hakuto still wore that smile and responded.

"Actually, in a way, Nino isn't wrong."

When Yotsuba heard Hakuto agree, she completely believed what Nino said!

"So... does this mean I'm the only one left out?" Yotsuba pointed at her own face, looking incredulous.

"No, Shiratori-sensei!" Yotsuba immediately clung to Hakuto again. "Shiratori-sensei, you can't leave me behind!"

"Yotsuba, why do you always cling to me?"

"I don't care! Shiratori-sensei, you can't leave me behind!"

Yotsuba finally understood the meaning behind Ichika's words just now!

No wonder they had to change their last names! No wonder she was the only one who didn't have to change her last name! So that was the reason!

"So Yotsuba, what do you think?" Ichika leaned on Hakuto's shoulder, looking at Yotsuba and asked.

"Eh? (゜ロ゜)? What does that mean?"

"Shh~" Ichika made a shushing gesture by putting her finger to her lips. 

"I've already consulted Shiratori-kun. If you agree to be his girlfriend, you'll be the boss of this house from now on!"

"The boss? Me?" Yotsuba blinked. "Is it really me?"

As soon as she heard "the boss," Yotsuba thought of some bad things, like the chess match from a few months ago!

A hundred test papers! Though in the end, she didn't finish them anyway...

"Yes!" Ichika responded softly. 

"Think about it. The four of us have to listen to Shiratori-kun, and Shiratori-kun has to listen to you. If you're not the boss, then who is?"

As she said that, Ichika threw a flirtatious glance at Hakuto. "Right?"

Hakuto smiled and nodded helplessly.

When Yotsuba saw Hakuto nod, her eyes instantly lit up! Like high beams in the dark night!

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