"And you can't neglect your maid work either. You have to come to me at least once a week, understand?" Akira held Saki Kawasaki's hand gently.
"I-I don't know when you'll be free…" she murmured, softly.
"As a maid, don't think about that. Even if there are other girls around, I will still bully you like I do now." Akira lifted her chin so that she could meet his eyes.
Saki's face flushed, she didn't dare look directly at him as she averted her eyes.
"...I'll give you an answer during our summer vacation trip..." Akira said lightly as he kissed her forehead.
"But...the summer vacation is for everyone..right?...and if we are all together, there won't be a chance…"
"You don't have to worry about that. You all will be staying in separate rooms, and I will move quietly at night, just don't make too much noise~."
"I… I understand," Saki said, leaning shyly into Akira's arms.
....
After 3 minutes—
Before Saki went downstairs, she changed back into her professional attire, the blush on her face not yet fading.
Seeing Saori Tsurumi, Saki tired to calm down her expression, worried that her expression would be noticed.
But Saori already noticed everything at a glance.
And when she saw the bag in Saki's hand, she immediately understood—it was a gift from Akira.
"Saki-san," Saori said softly.
{T/N: They have became closed since Saori is taking care of her sister Keika and also her mother}
"Aunt Saori..." Saki replied, pausing briefly.
"Do you need me to go to the pharmacy?" Saori's voice was gentle, even though the meaning was clear.
"N-No need!" Saki flustered lowered her head, understanding the meaning behind it instantly and was too embarrassed to meet her eyes.
"...Be careful," Saori reminded her softly.
"...Thank you" Saki said softly, then fled back to her room quickly and closed the door.
Saori Tsurumi looked at the closed door, a faint blush appearing on her own face.
Akira was so good to the Kawasaki family. How wonderful it would be to meet someone like him… or perhaps.....
She quickly shook her head, the thought fading quickly as she looked at the calm sky outside, her heart wasn't calm at all.
.....
Dinner time arrived, and Hiratsuka Shizuka drove back, with everyone gathering for the meal together.
Akira didn't ask Shizuka about the content of her conversation with Yukinoshita Haruno. Just by glancing at her evasive eyes, he could infer a lot about how the conversation went.
After dinner, when Akira was about to head upstairs suddenly his phone rings.
He took out his phone from his pocket and check who was calling at this time.
It was Yukinoshita Haruno.
Before answering he secretly glanced at Shizuka who was helping in cleaning the dishes, then answered.
"Akira, good evening," Haruno's sweet voice came from the other side.
"Miss Yukinoshita, good evening," Akira replied— loud enough for Shizuka to hear.
Shizuka head jerked as she turned towards him immediately.
"Akira, do you want to know what I talked about with Shizuka?" Haruno asked, smiling—she didn't mind him calling her Miss Yukinoshita, already guessing that Shizuka was nearby.
"I do," Akira said, his eyes turned — locking on Hiratsuka who was staring at him.
Shizuka feeling his gaze, quickly looked away focusing on the dishes.
"...you might have likely guessed about it, I talked about you with Shizuka, as she was unsure about what to do, so I gave her some advice, let the nature take its course~" Haruno's voice was soft.
"And?" Akira prompted.
"..Her feelings for you are complicated. Based on my understanding of her and how she react to things related to you, she'll likely respond if you take the initiative…"
"I see. That makes sense," Akira said calmly, his eyes secretly glancing at Shizuka.
Haruno chuckled softly. "Your tone is so calm… as if you guessed it already."
"Based on my understanding of you, it's impossible for you to make her act...So the only choice is to let nature take its course," Akira explained.
Haruno smiled on the other side then lowered her voice, as she said—
"Akira… can you… be a little worse?"
"I understand. When I meet Mrs. Yukinoshita, I'll do as you say."
"You want to see my mother?" Haruno asked, surprised.
"Yes, to discuss about a cooperation with her," Akira admitted without hesitation.
"..Where are you going to meet?" Haruno asked inquired after a moment of thought.
"At the Yukinoshita family's hotel," Akira replied honestly.
"...!!"
Haruno froze, processing the information quietly.
"I'll be with Hanada Yui," Akira added slowly.
"Akira, don't scare me like that!" Haruno exclaimed, her voice louder than before.
"This project is related to chef (or cooking). I'll send you the details of the plan later. And for this I will need Mrs. Yukinoshita approval and her condition is that some shares of the video platform would go to the Yukinoshita family. And I agreed," Akira said simply.
"...It seems my mother didn't leave any spies around me. Only a few people know about the video platform shares," Haruno said, smiling faintly.
"Once the cooperation is finalized, you'll handle the competition, while the responsibility of the Platform will go to Hanada Yui, and I'll try to invite some important people, like the Head of Nakiri family as guests…" Akira explained, lightly.
"I understand...The Yukinoshita family, the Nakiri family, and your company are going to recruit some talented chefs, have them sign the contracts, while they get the funds. No matter the outcome, we will gain excellent chefs, and entering the food industry will become smoother," Haruno concluded, already guessing the intention behind the coorporation.
Akira smiled slightly. Haruno understood his plan immediately with just some points. The students of master chefs didn't need contracts, but Totsuki students who came from modest background and some external chefs did—they were his target.
After talking about it some more, they hang up,
Akira put his phone inside his pocket as he looked at Hiratsuka Shizuka, who quickly stood after cleaning the dishes, preparing to leave.
"Sensei," Akira called out before she could leave.
At this point, Saori and Rumi had already returned to their rooms, Saki and her sister had also gone back. Nishimiya Shouko had finished helping in the kitchen and returned to her room before Hiratsuka sensei.
Only Hiratsuka and Akira remained, now.
Shizuka froze when she heard him called her. Her face was red, she didn't dare look at him.
When talking to Yukinoshita Haruno earlier, she had expressed her thoughts freely, she was confident that Haruno wouldn't tell Akira anything.
Yet here he was, clearly knowing.
{T/N: Oh, the deception, The betrayal... }
Akira stepped closer behind Shizuka, as he begin.
"Sensei, I arranged to watch a movie with Shouko tonight in my room," he said.
Shizuka's shyness vanished instantly, as she turned back—as she glared at him.
"You… what did you say?" she demanded.
"I promise, it's just a movie with Shouko," he reassured, looking her directly in the eyes.
"You…scoundrel!" Shizuka clenched her fists. She realized he was giving her a choice about this situation.
This guy didn't care whether it was her or Nishimiya Shouko, did he!!
At that moment, Shouko appeared from the room, holding a bag containing her pajamas and her Sobu High School uniform. When, she noticed Shizuka and Akira alone, her heads lowered and faces flushed.
Shizuka turn her head as she looked at Shouko with her head lowered and blushing, she clenched her fist as she glared at the person infront. She raised her foot and...!
Akira blinked at Shizuka.
She wanted to hit him but since she didn't find a good excuse— she stepped on his shoe instead!
"Oh! I'm sorry, I stepped on your shoe by mistake," she said that, but her voice were sharp as if she did it on purpose.
"It's okay. I don't mind," Akira replied, smiling calmly. He is getting used to getting his foot stepped on.
Shizuka stared at him, unsure what to do. She glanced at Shouko again and realized she couldn't stop the situation.
Sighing, she remove her leg and prepared to leave for her room.
Just as she moved, a hand suddenly held hers.
Shizuka froze. Akira studied her expression.
"Good night, Sensei," he said softly, before releasing her hand.
....
When heading upstairs, Akira let Shouko walk ahead.
She was so naive she didn't think much about it.
After a few steps, she looked back and saw Akira lingering below.
Confused, she used sign language to ask why he hadn't followed yet.
He came close and whispered in her ear.
Shouko froze, then felt her face flush red.
As she glared at him, embarrassed.
...
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Bonus Chapter:-
4 Bonus chapter at 100 powerstone
6 Bonus Chapter at 150 powerstone
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Word Count — 1,491