"You are?"
Nifuji didn't flinch, or rather, he was extremely calm as he smoked, exhaling the smoke into the air while looking at this woman curiously.
While Tayama was nervous and even looked down, the woman kept staring at Nifuji, or rather, at his handsome face. She understood why this silly woman, Tayama, could fall for Nifuji, as she had to admit that this guy's face was just so fricking handsome!
Cold, detached, cool, yet mysterious, especially his glasses, which reminded her of a male character in a shojo manga.
Frankly, this woman, the supermarket manager Gotou, felt like Tayama was in the middle of a plot, planning to turn the scumbag playboy into a devoted man who would give all his heart to her. Still, the reality was different from the romance manga, especially the shoujo manga!
Instead of the shoujo manga, Goto was afraid that it would become a hentai story where Tayama was eaten alive by Nifuji, and turned into a lewd woman, who couldn't live with his cock, then became his sex slave till in the end, she got pregnant, and was abandoned by him.
This was the reality, and as a 40 year old woman, Goto, despite being single, had seen many of the tragedies in love, and because of that, while she had to admit that Nifuji was somehow also her type, it was also infuriating, considering he couldn't look at her, especially with her age, which had a 13 year difference, she had to educate Tayama. Also, she taught Nifuji a lesson, as he shouldn't get close to another woman when he had a lover himself!
"....." Tayama.
What if she were the one who seduced him?
Yet, Goto wouldn't listen, as she thought that Tayama was seduced by Nifuji, or rather, even if Nifuji did nothing, anyone would be seduced.
Still, without a doubt, her management skills and 40 years of experience as a woman were tested in this moment.
Well, she had read a lot of romance stories, so it should be fine, right?
Still, while Goto had many thoughts, Nifuji observed her visage, thinking she looked good despite being a mature woman.
However, with the development of beauty technology, even if someone was older, they could look young and, more importantly, Asians had a genetic lottery that made them younger than they appeared.
In some cases, even a 60-year-old granny from Asia can look like a mature lady in her mid-30s, making many unique genres of hentai work, even if some might not be able to accept it.
However, 40 years old?
Hmm... it was a unique age, as Nifuji didn't see that it was too late, but it didn't mean that Goto was young either, so should he use the word 'aged' like wine?
Regardless, she wasn't like those old middle-aged women who didn't take care of themselves. Instead, her charm was that of a cool beauty—a look that is striking yet carries a distinct edge: "don't mess with me."
Yet this was also one of the reasons it triggered a certain reaction in him to "mess" her up.
However, Nifuji wondered why there were so many beauties working in this supermarket.
Yup, Goto was beautiful, even as a mature woman, and her most defining feature was her gaze. Her eyes were sharp, narrow, and incredibly perceptive. They weren't the "warm pools" of a younger woman; they were the observational tools of a professional. When she looks at him, it feels as if she is reading their balance sheet, as if being with him would leave Tayama at a loss.
Or a balance?
As Nifuji noticed her hesitation.
Still, he thought she was cute for trying to carry herself with a stiff, upright posture that commanded respect.
Even in a simple store uniform, she looks like she's wearing a tailored suit. There is no wasted movement; she is the picture of efficiency with her hair styled in a sharp, professional cut in a sleek bob, yet her hair reinforced her "no-nonsense" persona. It's always perfectly in place, reflecting her disciplined nature.
"I am Goto, the manager of this supermarket, and I am the one who has always taken care of Ya— I mean... what is it again?"
"It's Tayama, Goto-san!"
"Oh, right, Tayama-san!"
"...." Nifuji.
What was this?
A comedy duo?
Yet Goto also had a hard time, as she knew Yamada had hidden her true name when she got close to Nifuji and even changed herself into Tayama, even though Yamada was her real name. Frankly, it was fun somehow, and she could also see the love would bloom, like the romance story that she had always read, but the problem was, the male character was a scumbag!
While such a character often appears in romance stories, in reality, it wasn't as easy as it was in the romance story, okay?
"Goto-san, is it? Is it only me, or did you call me a scumbag before?"
"Aren't you?"
Nifuji looked at Goto for a moment, then looked at Tayama with a gentle smile, "Is that how you tell her?"
"No!" Tayama quickly refuted, then looked at Goto, as she begged. "Goto-san, I beg you, okay? I know you are worried about me, but... but... this is what I have decided, and you have taken care of me, this time, let me do this on my own since I am no longer a child."
"Tayama..."
Goto was shocked, feeling at a loss, thinking that her help was needed, as she thought that as someone who had been taking care of Tayama for a long time, thinking of her as a little sister, or a daughter... she felt that she should educate Nifuji not to play around, but... but... she realized that her help might be too much.
However—
"Don't be too harsh on her, Tayama-san." Nifuji quickly stepped up, worried that Tayama might say too much and cause a lot of awkwardness. "I know that you care about her and treat her like someone important, especially when you know that she might be in danger, considering she gets close to me, but while I can't say that I am the best, I won't run away from the responsibility that I have taken."
His love, his way, and how he was with women from one to another, he knew well that he couldn't say that he was the best, or rather, he was the worst!
Yet, even so, he knew that he wouldn't run away from the responsibility that he had taken.
Still, at that moment, Goto and Tayama couldn't look away.