"I'll care for the children!," she said coldly. "You only need to avoid scandals that will come your way and keep your 'Girlfriends' under control and stay elsewhere with them. I just hopw they didn't take about you." Mrs. Yukinoshita said coldly, from the other side.
Akira glanced at the curious Shouko beside him, trying to hear what he was talking (even though she can't hear much), when he lifted one of her hand, and kissed it softly.
Her face instantly flushed, as she averted her eyes.
Before, he focused on Mrs. Yukinoshita again.
"It seems that you know quite a lot about me. I hope you won't hurt them."
"I won't do anything as unnecessary as that."
"Thank you..."
"As for you and Yukino, I hope you can control everything and don't let me have to intervene to 'fixed' things."
"I understand. If something does go wrong, I will take responsibility and act myself."
"Hmph!. When that time comes, we'll see what you can do."
Mrs. Yukinoshita said this coldly and hung up the phone.
Akira knew exactly what she meant—If an "accident" really occurred, he might have to make a choice between Yukinoshita Yukino and Yukinoshita Haruno.
Of course, based on what Haruno had said before, even if an such "accident" happened, Akira would only have to manage the Yukinoshita family for a few months on her behalf. She would not marry him....
Akira sighed as he thought about the reason and looked at Nishimiya Shouko.
Shouko asked in sign language why he was sighing.
("I want to take you to the hotel over there, but after thinking about it… I suppose you probably wouldn't agree,") Akira said, serious face as if he wasn't joking.
Shouko's pretty face turned red. Using sign language, she motioned that he should be more serious. She could tell when he was joking.
("Okay okay, we'll go to the mall to buy you a few sets of clothes. You also have to help me pick out some, and choose ones that make me look more handsome,")
Shouko quickly used sign language to say that she didn't want new clothes, but she could help him choose his, her smile happy.
Seeing this, Akira leaned closer and whispered something else in her ear. Shouko's face instantly turned red.
She didn't hear the whole sentence, but she heard enough to know what he was thinking.
.....
After buying a few clothes at the mall, and desserts on the way—Akira and Shouko returned to Sakurasou.
There Tsurumi Saori was looking after the two little girls. When she saw them, she quickly stood up as she greeted them.
Akira smiled, taking out two desserts and placing them in front of Tsurumi Rumi and Kawasaki Keika.
"These are gifts from Shouko for you."
"Thank you, Shouko-nii," Kawasaki Keika said, smiling at her.
Shouko nodded. Although she couldn't hear their words, she could tell from Keika's expression that she was saying thank you, as it warm her heart.
Tsurumi Rumi hesitated, unsure if she should accept the gift.
"Rumi-chan, it's okay. Please accept it," Akira said gently, as he push the dessert towards her.
Rumi raised her head, looked at Shouko, and surprising used sign language to express her gratitude.
("Thank you")
Shouko's eyes widened slightly, surprised, and she smiled warmly, as she signed back.
("You are welcome")
Saori Tsurumi watched Shouko's smile and sighed inwardly.
It was such a cruel fate that such kind girl like Shouko could not hear the sounds of the world outside, clearly. And also as she thought about what she might have experience at her childhood.
"Did Saki go to work?" Akira asked, pulling Saori Tsurumi from her thoughts.
"Yes," Saori nodded.
"...Saki is trying too hard," Akira said, glancing at the time.
"She probably wants to contribute more to the company and get good at the assistant's job quickly," Saori whispered, softly.
Akira understood the reason as he didn't comment further, as he started walking.
Shouko stayed downstairs staying with the kids while Akira went upstairs, carrying two bags— one with clothes she had picked for him, and the other containing the dress he had chosen as a gift for Saki Kawasaki.
He changed into slippers and returned to the living room. On the coffee table was a note, clearly left by Isshiki Iroha when she had gone out.
"Senpai you jerk!, I'm going back first. I left a lunch box for you in the refrigerator."
Akira picked up the note and sent a video call to Iroha.
After a few seconds, she answered.
"Bad Senpai, what's wrong?"
"Nothing. I just saw your note and wanted to see you," Akira said, smiling.
"It's already too late, and Senpai just got home. You must have been dating someone else, huh!. I'm such an idiot for preparing a lunch box for you," Iroha said, her tone full of jealousy, as she huff.
"I plan to save your lunch box until tomorrow at noon. The lunch you made will taste even better then," Akira replied with a grin.
"...Even if you say that, I won't be happy. Senpai has too little affection for me," Iroha pouted.
"In that case, how about I treat you to dessert tomorrow?" Akira suggested, he had already said that he would do something for her.
Iroha blushed deeply at his words. Akira could instantly read her thoughts, clearly.
"Junior, your thoughts are dangerous."
{T/N: don't know why but Junior sound better then Kouhai...to me}
"It's all the Senpai's fault for making me like this."
"Hmm...Although your thoughts are dangerous, as your Senpai, I must respond to your expectations."
"Bad Senior!" Iroha's blushed Instansify.
.....
As the sun set,
Saki Kawasaki had just returned home, tired from the work.
Entering Sakurasou, the first thing she saw was Akira waiting for her—He smiled at her as he looked at her.
She was wearing a professional suit, looking neat and composed, giving a mature look.
"Saki, thank you for your hard work."
"It wasn't hard… just some easy work," Saki whispered, lightly.
Akira stood and walked upstairs. Saki glanced at his back before following, thinking she might be scolded for not doing her job well.
{T/N: She is getting anxious because he didn't call her or meet with her, which made her feel that she is unable to meet his expectations that he had for her}
Reaching Akira's door, she felt uneasy, unsure if she had met his expectations.
Akira opened the door and looked at her.
Saki stepped inside and changed into slippers as he closed the door behind them.
Saki lowered her head, clearly anxious.
"Saki, you didn't do your job well…" he muttered.
"I… I'm sorry. I'll try harder."
Akira smiled faintly. "...I'm talking about your work as a maid." He patted her head gently.
"Maid's job?" Saki looked up, confused for a moment—she was so immersed in her assistant work that she forgot what they talk about it at the beginning.
"I've always thought of you as my beautiful maid. The assistant work is just a part-time role," Akira said, embracing her gently.
"I…" Saki finally understood, and a faint blush spread across her cheeks.
"Don't overwork yourself. You're my assistant, and you only answer to me. I heard from Hanada Yui that you've been scrambling to impress her at Future Comics Publishing House to become her permanent assistant," Akira said softly.
"...I want to improve, prove my abilities, and become your assistant as soon as possible," Saki said, her voice low as she leaned closer to him.
Akira was not surprised by her answer, he had even expected her to say this.
Without replying, He picked her up in a princess carry and headed to his bedroom.
Saki blushed in his arms but didn't resist as she lean her head against his firm chest, her eyes closing slowly.
....
Inside the bedroom,
He gently placed her down and handed her the dress that he had bought from the mall.
"This is for you."
"Thank you," she whispered.
Saki took it without hesitation, she knew she could not refuse Akira, neither did she want to.
"I'll wait for you in the living room," Akira said, leaving her to change.
Saki held the dress and quickly changed her clothes.
Ten minutes later, in the living room, Saki Kawasaki appeared in a white dress.
"....Sorry to keep you waiting," she said softly.
"Saki, you look really beautiful."
Akira reached out his hand for her hand and pulled her into his arms. Saki blushed deeply as she leaned into him.
He lifted her chin and kissed her. Saki responded, hugging him gently.
When she felt his hands wandering slightly below, her face turned even redder but she didn't moved.
After the kiss ended, her face was completely red.
"You don't have to overwork yourself. It's not too late to improve once you start college...For now, just adapt to the pace of work," Akira said.
"I understand," Saki whispered, looking up at him with bright eyes.
...
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Bonus Chapter:-
4 Bonus chapter at 100 powerstone
6 Bonus Chapter at 150 powerstone
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Word Count — 1,542