Mash-Up: Anything for Money

Looking at the message, all five sisters froze.

"Huh? Shiratori really went to see Dad?"

"Oh no, oh no!"

"When... When did we get this group chat?"

"Without us there with him... I really feel like a fight's going to break out..."

"What are you all standing around for? Get a taxi and head to Dad's place!"

At the same time, on Hakuto's side, he was on a call with Nakano Maruo.

"Long time no see, Mr. Maruo. I was just thinking of paying you a visit in the next few days, and then you called me."

Hakuto was very respectful toward his future father-in-law—after all, he'd won over five of his daughters. 

If he didn't at least show some respect, that'd just be inexcusable.

"Long time no see? Shiratori, I don't believe we've ever met before."

"That's technically true, but I suppose the purpose of your call is so that we do meet, right?"

"Indeed. I wanted to see with my own eyes the boy who got my daughters to study of their own will."

"You flatter me. That was entirely due to their own motivation..."

"If their motivation was that high, I wouldn't have needed to hire a tutor in the first place..." Nakano Maruo sighed. 

"Are you free now?"

"Of course."

"Where are you? Should I send a car?"

"No need. Just tell me where you are, Mr. Maruo."

Nakano Maruo frowned slightly, assuming Hakuto just didn't want to trouble him, so he instinctively gave his location.

"I'm in my office at the hospital—you should know which hospital, right?"

Just as he was about to remind Hakuto to hurry over, there was a knock on his office door. At the same time, the call ended.

Nakano Maruo frowned again. He had no idea who might be visiting him at this hour, but still, he called out.

"Come in."

"Sorry to keep you waiting, Mr. Maruo."

To his surprise, it was Shiratori Hakuto—who had just been on the phone with him.

The moment Nakano Maruo saw him, he stood up from his chair in reflex.

He looked at the phone he'd just ended the call on, then looked at Hakuto standing a short distance away.

Rubbing his brow, he sat back down and said,

"Sorry to keep you waiting? Shiratori, you do like your sarcasm..." Nakano Maruo chuckled.

"Make yourself comfortable."

At that, Hakuto sat across from Nakano Maruo, a desk between them.

"Seems like I really nailed the timing of that call."

The implication was clear—Maruo figured Hakuto had already been standing at the door and had just called to sync it perfectly.

Hakuto smiled and didn't explain. 

After all, that wasn't what he came here for.

Nakano Maruo's office was sparsely decorated—not at all what one would expect from a hospital director's workspace.

It matched his personality: calm, reliable, and seasoned.

"So then, Mr. Maruo, what did you want to talk to me about?" While Hakuto was someone who usually preferred being direct, this wasn't one of those moments. 

In situations like this, it was better to let the other party lead.

"Didn't I say that already? I just wanted to see the boy who managed to teach my daughters."

Looking at Nakano Maruo's expression, Hakuto thought to himself—if he really believed that, he must be joking.

Why did Hakuto say "long time no see"? 

Because this actually wasn't their first time meeting—it's just that none of their previous encounters had been formal.

Hakuto had seen Nakano Maruo more than once sitting in a black luxury car outside the sisters' apartment.

He just never brought it up, because there wasn't anything to be gained from it.

"Ichika and the others... their grades were terrible... Honestly, I never cared too much about their academic performance. But the bare minimum—passing their exams—is still necessary."

"You're not the first tutor I've hired for them, Shiratori. But you'll probably be the last. Even though they no longer need one, I'd still be happy to employ you."

Leaning back in his chair, Hakuto shrugged. 

"It's no big deal. Helping my girlfriends pass their exams... that's not something I'd call charity—it's just what you do."

Hakuto couldn't be bothered to dance around the subject with Maruo anymore, so he chose to just go straight to the point.

Originally, Hakuto hadn't planned on being so blunt, but after going in circles, he realized that Maruo genuinely just wanted to thank him for helping the girls improve academically.

Even though Hakuto had repeatedly insisted it wasn't because of him... at least not directly.

Yet when Maruo heard him say that, although he paused for a moment, the next second a relieved smile appeared on his face.

Clearly, he had already suspected as much.

"Looks like you already knew, Mr. Maruo?"

"Well, there aren't many reasons why our daughters would suddenly start studying on their own. Protecting their boyfriend's reputation counts as one of them." Nakano Maruo nodded.

Hakuto raised an eyebrow. From his tone, could it be that Maruo already knew he was dating all five of his daughters?

But the next moment, Hakuto realized he was overthinking it—because Maruo continued:

"I just don't understand why the other four also started studying on their own..."

"Mr. Maruo, you're jumping to conclusions already? Shouldn't you first pressure me with your status as a parent, then test my attitude or something?"

Hakuto raised an eyebrow. After all, his reputation wasn't exactly squeaky clean.

Nakano Maruo replied, "Are you worried I'll object?"

Hakuto's gaze was resolute. "You definitely will!"

No kidding! Hakuto could guarantee it—if Nakano Maruo didn't object, he'd eat his own shoe.

Meanwhile, just outside the office, Nino and Yotsuba were squeezed awkwardly against the door, trying to eavesdrop on Hakuto's conversation with Nakano Maruo.

"Yotsuba! Can you hear anything?"

"Nope… Dad's office is way too soundproof…"

"Why did Dad even close the screen window…"

"Maybe… we should call Mr. Shiratori?"

"Are you crazy? He's talking to Dad right now—what are you calling him for?"

"I just want to know what they're talking about…"

At that moment, Miku walked out of a nearby office holding a stethoscope—the kind used to listen to a heartbeat.

"Will this work?"

"Miku, you're a genius!"

Honestly, if the hospital staff didn't know the five sisters, they'd probably have called security on the spot.

Back in the office, Hakuto sat calmly in his chair, glancing toward the door.

Thanks to his keen instincts, he knew the sisters had arrived—they were right outside.

So he silently activated his super-calculation ability, moved to the door, and gently cracked it open.

Outside, Nino had just put the stethoscope on when the door creaked open.

"Eh? Why did the door open?"

As soon as she said that, the rest of the girls flinched and instinctively ducked out of sight.

"What are you all hiding for?"

"Didn't Nino say the door opened?"

"Huh? It's just a crack, and Mr. Shiratori is still talking with Dad."

Nino instinctively peeked through the door crack to check the situation inside.

"That scared me… I thought Dad found us and was coming out to catch us…"

"But why did the door open on its own?"

"Mr. Shiratori must've opened it. He probably knows we're out here…"

"Shh—quiet down. I can hear what Dad and Mr. Shiratori are saying now…"

Inside, Nakano Maruo was still confused why Hakuto insisted he would object.

"I've looked into your background…"

Hakuto nodded. That was inevitable—he'd long lost count of how many people had dug into his past.

Take Nao, for example. 

The student council office of Hoshino Umi Academy might still have his file lying around… not that he knew if she ever disposed of it.

"You grew up in an orphanage, left at age 12, and have been living alone since then."

"That's harmless stuff…" Hakuto waved dismissively, cutting Maruo off. He wasn't into small talk.

"I've been fighting since middle school—probably sent hundreds to the hospital. And you're okay entrusting your daughter to someone like me?"

Nakano Maruo chuckled. "Actually, if you look a little deeper, it's clear most of those fights were self-defense. I'm not too worried about that."

"At the very least, I know my daughters won't get bullied."

Hakuto smiled. He hadn't expected Nakano Maruo to be this open-minded.

"Mr. Maruo, you're really not opposed?"

"Why should I be? You're an excellent young man."

Hakuto was starting to hold back his laughter—just thinking about what he was about to say next made him want to crack up.

"Well then, thank you, Mr. Maruo…" Hakuto slowly stood up. 

"Though I'm not sure if it's weird to still call you that now—but I promise I'll take good care of your daughters."

Hearing that, Nakano Maruo smiled and nodded. 

But the next second, that smile vanished.

Nakano Maruo frowned. He thought he had misheard. 

Did Hakuto just say daughters…?

"What… what did you mean by that last part?"

"Want me to repeat it?" Hakuto raised a brow. "I'll take good care of your daughters."

Okay, now Nakano Maruo was sure he hadn't misheard. Hakuto did say "daughters."

"Are you referring to the kind of care a tutor gives?"

"No, no—more like the kind a boyfriend gives."

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