It turned out that dragging a girl wearing a complicated formal dress meant there was absolutely no way to outrun two single high school boys who had unleashed their potential for the sake of "purifying betrayal."
At a street corner, Shido and Tohka were finally cornered by Koushi and Hiroto, who were clutching brooms, breathless, but with fierce looks in their eyes.
"Huff... huff... Run! Why don't you run now! Traitor!"
Tonomachi Hiroto pointed the broom handle at Shido, wearing a "sinister grin."
Although Koushi was also panting, he cooperatively used his broom to tap his palm rhythmically, making a "pat-pat" sound, his eyes filled with the oppressive feeling of "You definitely need a lesson today."
Shido leaned against the wall, watching his two approaching "evil friends," his face etched with despair and helplessness.
"You two... calm down..."
In stark contrast to Shido's predicament was Tohka.
She didn't feel threatened at all; instead, she found the scene before her extremely amusing.
She crouched down curiously, extended a slender finger, and poked Shido's cheek, which was stiff from tension; watching his tearful, helpless expression, she couldn't help but let out a burst of laughter, her amethyst eyes full of novelty and joy.
Seeing Tohka's pure and innocent reaction, Koushi and Hiroto felt embarrassed to maintain their menacing postures.
The two exchanged a look, cleared their throats, and put away their brooms.
"Um... Miss, sorry if we scared you.
We just have some 'private business' to settle with this guy."
Koushi offered Tohka what he thought was a kind smile.
Hiroto quickly nodded: "Right, right, we just need him for a bit!"
Having said that, the two, one on each side, lifted the still-confused Shido and dragged him a few steps away, to a spot where Tohka could see them but couldn't clearly hear what they were saying.
"Well, well, I really didn't expect this, Shido—"
Tonomachi Hiroto put Shido in an arm lock around his neck, while forcefully poking his cheek with his other hand, his tone distinctly sour.
"You actually managed to go on a date with such a beautiful and elegant girl behind the back of me, your chief informant!
I didn't even catch wind of it; your secrecy is way too good! I'm seriously jealous!"
"Th-this is due to very complicated reasons..." Shido tried to struggle, but to no avail, only managing a vague defense.
"Explanations are useless!"
Hiroto cut him off, then his tone shifted, carrying the sentiment of a father watching his son grow up and leave the nest.
"But forget it, dating girls requires a lot of spending, I get it!
After all, it's for your lifelong happiness, buddy..."
He released Shido, then mysteriously pulled two crumpled vouchers from his pocket, thrust them into Shido's hand, and patted his shoulder forcefully, his gaze "sincere":
"As your father, I must now give you some paternal love!
Use these two... uh, suspicious but definitely usable vouchers as support!
Good Luck!
You have to give it your all today, son!"
Shido's mouth twitched as he looked at the two highly suspicious vouchers in his hand, printed with a blurry logo.
"Seriously!"
No sooner had Hiroto finished speaking than Koushi delivered a precise elbow strike to his side, making Hiroto grimace in pain.
"You bastard, you said everything! What am I supposed to say now! Darn it!"
Koushi glared at Hiroto in dissatisfaction, then turned to Shido, cleared his throat, and adopted the demeanor of an emotional guru.
"Since Hiroto provided financial aid, then as your other father, I shall give you emotional aid!"
Koushi crossed his arms and, relying on his extensive experience with dating simulation games, began to offer his grand advice.
"Based on my many years of experience navigating the dating scene, this girl—"
He subtly pointed at Tohka, who was currently squatting in place, curiously observing the flowers by the roadside.
"She is definitely the type who is very innocent, naive about the world, and a little bit airheaded!
To deal with this kind of girl, tricks won't work.
You must be passionate with her!
You must be sincere!
You have to move her with the few flickers of genuine light that occasionally appear in your dead-fish eyes!"
He paused, carefully observed Tohka's profile, and analyzed with great seriousness:
"Moreover, judging by her appearance, there's a ninety-nine percent chance this girl is a foodie!
Her appetite is probably huge!
I bet she might like... hmm... kinako bread the most?"
"However!"
Koushi suddenly changed his tone, forcefully patting Shido's shoulder, nearly knocking him apart.
"How could you treat such a noble lady to bread right away!
That's too cheap!
Listen to me, take her for dessert first!
Girls all like sweets, and the atmosphere in a dessert shop is good—it's perfect for cultivating romance!"
As he spoke, he raised his hand and pointed across the street to a dessert shop that looked quite elegantly decorated and had a cute sign.
"See, go to that one!
The environment and reputation are both good!
Hurry up and take your princess over there!
The rest is up to fate, my son!"
Koushi wore an expression that said, "This is as far as your father can help you."
Shido was left dizzy by the bombardment of "paternal love" from the two of them, clutching the suspicious vouchers in his hand, his shoulder still aching from the pats, his mind stuffed with keywords like "sincerity," "foodie," and "dessert shop."
He subconsciously looked in the direction Koushi had pointed—the dessert shop's window glass reflected the sunlight, and it certainly looked appealing.
A de-dessert shop, huh... It seems... like a decent choice?
At least it's better than being chased down the street...
He had no idea that inside that seemingly ordinary dessert shop, his sister and the analyst were currently sitting, and a new storm was about to brew amidst the sweet atmosphere.
Meanwhile, Koushi watched Shido walk cluelessly toward Tohka and point toward the dessert shop, a knowing smile playing on his lips.
Alright, wingman mission accomplished.
Shido, the rest is up to you.
As for Kotori... Hehe, I look forward to the "surprise" encounter later.
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