Tokyo's Most Affectionate - Chapter 7

Couple’s Adventure

“I’m starting the download. If you’re lying, Kurosawa, it’s not too late to admit it. In our friendship group, the most important thing is sincerity. Whether you’re skilled or not isn’t important.”

Matsushita began the download without caring about the data usage, saying so as she proceeded.

Hearing this, Ichinose became a bit anxious.

If it was a lie, it would be frowned upon by everyone.

After all, for the sake of having a good time, everyone was very open with each other, even daring to speak out about more private matters, emphasizing sincerity.

However, Kurosawa remained unperturbed.

“I have no reason to lie.” 

“All right, let’s wait and see.”

Seeing him stick to his statement, Matsushita Hitomi also remained persistent.

This kind of private tutor app had a small file size, and it quickly finished downloading.

“It’s downloaded, what now?”

“Search for my name, Kurosawa Hikaru.”

“Okay.”

Matsushita, noticing his calm demeanor and refusal to panic, began using the app with a sense of disbelief. Initially taken aback, she had been convinced by the more knowledgeable Akiyuki that there must be something unusual.

“…”

Soon, after some exploration, she suddenly stopped, frozen in shock. On the phone screen, there was indeed the name Kurosawa Hikaru, complete with his profile picture.

Everyone was waiting for her to announce the answer and results.

“Hitomi, did you find Kurosawa?”

Shiina, being the most impatient, asked when she saw Matsushita not responding.

“Why aren’t you talking? Let me see.”

Noticing her lack of response, Shiina stood up from her seat and ran to her side, leaning in to take a look.

“Wow, it’s real! Twenty thousand per hour, and so many positive reviews.” Shiina exclaimed loudly, utterly surprised upon seeing the information.

Akiyuki, upon hearing about it, also expressed surprise and reached out her hand.

“Let me see.”

In response to the request, Matsushita handed over her phone.

“Kurosawa Hikaru, second-year student in the Economics department at the University of Tokyo. He’s really earning two thousand per hour… So many reviews, 99% of them are positive. Why is your hourly rate higher than the medical department’s?”

Akiyuki took the phone in her hands, glanced at it, and instantly became puzzled.

“Take a look at the detailed introduction,” Kurosawa suggested.

Akiyuki clicked into the more detailed profile, lifted her head to look at Kurosawa, and was shocked into silence.

“Hikaru Kurosawa, ranked first in the 2016 Shizuoka Prefecture entrance exam, seventh in the national college entrance exam for the same year… Seventh in the country?”

Upon hearing this, Shiina couldn’t help but grab the phone.

“Wait, what?”

“My hourly rate is higher than a medical department student at the University of Tokyo because I could get into the medical department, but I don’t want to go there.” Kurosawa nodded slightly and explained.

Becoming a doctor? He wasn’t interested.

He wanted to study finance, make a lot of money, marry a beautiful wife, and become a winner in life.

After reading the detailed profile, Shiina was truly shocked. She ran to Ichinose, shaking her arms frantically.

“Yuki, your boyfriend is really amazing!”

Ichinose was also shocked. After a moment of bewilderment, she chuckled a few times.

Honestly, she never expected that the college boyfriend she casually bought online would turn out to be this impressive.

Now, thinking back, when Kurosawa mentioned that his appearance fee wasn’t cheap last night, he wasn’t joking or playing around; it was indeed quite expensive!

Matsushita, seeing Ichinose’s silly smile, felt that something was off.

“Yuki, judging by your reaction, it seems like you’re discovering how amazing your boyfriend is for the first time, huh?”

Unfazed by the question, Ichinose explained, “Hikaru-kun didn’t tell me… I only knew that, aside from his studies, he occasionally works as a tutor.”

“Why didn’t he tell you?” Matsushita pressed on.

“I don’t know…”

Under Matsushita’s persistent questioning, Ichinose started to feel a bit flustered.

Helplessly, she cast a pleading look at Kurosawa.

Kurosawa responded to her signal with a smile.

“Because I think boasting about how amazing you are in front of girls is a bit tacky.” 

The girls exchanged glances with each other, all agreeing with Kurosawa’s words.

Indeed, bragging about how skilled you are could come off as cheap and tacky.

At this moment, Matsushita’s boyfriend Yamamoto couldn’t hold back and spoke up.

“It’s not that amazing; he just happens to be a little decent at studying.”

This remark silenced the other two guys, because he was clearly trying to start an argument due to Kurosawa stealing the spotlight.

This wasn’t just being “a little decent at studying” though, being ranked seventh in the whole country was a completely different story.

“Indeed,” Kurosawa replied with a calm smile, choosing not to engage in a direct confrontation.

This humility was a clear display of superiority.

Seeing her boyfriend act so foolishly, Matsushita rolled her eyes, choosing not to say anything, whilst also feeling a bit annoyed.

For a moment, the previously lively atmosphere fell into an awkward calm.

“Sorry to keep you waiting. The drinks and fruit platter have arrived.”

Just then, the door was pushed open, and a female staff member entered, pushing a small cart with some refreshments and additional props for the lively scene.

Once the female staff member had arranged the drinks and fruit platter, Akiyuki stood up and invited everyone.

“All right, you’ve got to know enough about Kurosawa now. Save the questions for later. It’s time to start singing!”

Cheerfully joining in, Shiina picked up a pair of maracas and shook them.

Akiyuki’s bold boyfriend, Hinata, didn’t shy away. He stood up confidently, ready to give a good performance with a loud voice.

“I already picked a song earlier, so let me go first. Make sure to keep up, everyone!”

Seeing this, Shiina shouted loudly.

“Kozuki, what game are we playing today?”

“Since we have a full house today, let’s play ‘Couple’s Adventure.’ The two groups with the worst performance will face the consequences!” Akiyuki responded.

“Cheers!”

“Then we better give it our all today.”

With everyone cheering for the game, the prelude to the background music started playing.

For Kurosawa, who was there for the first time, it was all a bit confusing.

At this moment, Kurosawa felt a slight itch on his neck. Tilting his head slightly, he saw Ichinose leaning in, her wavy long hair gently brushing against his neck. She was close, and the fragrance of her perfume was intense but not overwhelming—he could tell it wasn’t cheap.

Knowing that he was unfamiliar with the concept, Ichinose explained by leaning close and whispering in his ear.

“Regardless of the activity, there will be a game penalty. Based on performance, the lowest-scoring participant will face the penalty… In ‘Couple’s Adventure,’ the winners get to choose a task for the losing couple to perform.”

“Like what?”

Kurosawa still didn’t quite understand why everyone was so excited.

Ichinose blushed a bit, leaning in further to softly explain by his ear.

“For example, a 30-second kiss, ten squats with a tree hug, and many more. Basically, the losers have to accept the penalty chosen by the winners.”

The closeness of her whispered words combined with her warm breath made Kurosawa’s body tingle, and it felt as if ripples were spreading from his ears throughout his entire body.