Page 131
Page 131
Shirakawa Natsu glanced at her coat, which wasn't on properly, and her feet were bare of socks, clearly indicating that she had rushed down the street.
Combined with the fact that she had been watching the two of them from behind the window, and that Ryoko Arishima saw Yu Mukai leave while he stood there in a daze, she hurriedly ran downstairs.
Shirakawa Natsumi spoke first, smiling, "I was just thinking of taking a stroll around the area. Would you like to come along, Miss Shima?"
Ryoko Arishima nodded quickly: "Yes."
Shirakawa Natsu narrowed her eyes. This girl, with her porcelain doll-like appearance, was even more innocent than she had imagined.
The two strolled together in the night. Ryoko Arishima kept her head down, her two fingers restlessly clasped together, maintaining a distance of one meter.
The atmosphere between the two was a little awkward.
“Mr. Xia is really amazing.” Ryoko Arishima forced herself to say, “He’s handsome and young, and he’s already achieved so much in the manga industry.”
"Haha, it's just good luck." Shirakawa Natsumi laughed casually.
“Mr. Xia is too modest,” Ryoko Arishima replied with a dry laugh.
After they finished speaking, the atmosphere between the two returned to silence. Clearly, awkward small talk did not make the atmosphere more harmonious.
“I think there must be something I can do to help Ms. Ryoko.” Shirakawa Natsu suddenly stopped and turned around with a smile.
He actually wanted to be more reserved before bringing up the topic, but Ryoko Arishima was too shy.
Moreover, he didn't have time to waste here, so he simply got straight to the point.
The reason she rushed downstairs was simple: she saw that she and Yu Mukai had a good relationship and had been trying to bring them together.
Girls are very sensitive, and she and Yu Mukai are like two parallel lines now.
If I wanted a handover point, I could only ask myself for help, and then I saw that Yutaka Mukai had left early.
That's why he rushed downstairs without even putting on socks.
"Ah, no, I didn't..." Ryoko Arishima jumped up like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, denying it outright.
But his voice trailed off, and finally he lowered his head, which was considered an admission of consent.
“Miss Ryoko likes Mukai-kun,” Shirakawa Natsu said directly, a hint of envy rising in her heart for no reason.
This Yu Mukai really is the male lead. He became famous at a young age, Aunt Maki likes him, and this beautiful young woman in front of him also likes him.
"I..." Ryoko Arishima wanted to deny it, but she lowered her head, which was taken as an admission.
"Were you dating in college?" Shirakawa Natsu asked again. The information the detective uncle gave them initially suggested that the two were a couple, which at least proved that they had been in close contact before, which is why people thought they were a couple.
Ryoko Arishima shook her head quickly.
"Unrequited love?" Shirakawa Natsu asked again.
"No, not really." Ryoko Arishima's tone was a little hesitant. "We're not officially dating, but I can sense that we're both seriously considering the future."
Shirakawa Natsu narrowed her eyes, wondering what all this was all about, and asked in a different phrasing, "So, where are you at?"
"I...we," Ryoko Arishima said, her head bowed and her face flushed, "we held hands once."
"..." Shirakawa Natsumi's lips twitched. Her friend's innocent girlfriend came to ask for her help. Why did this plot feel so familiar? Should she teach her about male anatomy next?
Chapter 164 Unable to understand
Obviously, reality isn't a comic book, and my friend's innocent girlfriend wouldn't come begging me to understand male anatomy.
Ryoko Arishima lowered her head, looking awkward: "We... are a bit slow to warm up, and Mukai-kun is a gentle person."
"You wicked yasashi," Shirakawa Natsumi's lips twitched, "How long have you been dating?"
“I met him during a photography class, on a group project.” Ryoko Arishima blushed as she slowly began to recount, “The project was about camera development. He was holding a camera and introducing me to the history and stories of each model. It was a look of genuine passion in his eyes.”
Shirakawa Natsumi pouted. "They're just gearheads. Even those otaku can recount the development and history of plastic figures like the back of their hand. Ultimately, it's because Mukai Yu is kind of handsome."
“We take a walk together every day after dinner,” Ryoko Arishima said with a smile. “Like now, he tells me a lot of interesting news and stories about photography. He really loves photography.”
“Hmm.” Shirakawa Natsu nodded, and the image of Mukai Yu from the past came to mind.
A young person who is passionate about their major.
“Back then, I wore a pair of unfashionable glasses, didn’t know how to dress up, wasn’t good at communicating with people, and had no friends. I was always alone.” Ryoko Arishima said with a hint of reminiscence, “I thought my university life would also be lonely, but Yu Mukai came along. For three years, we would take a walk together every day without fail.”
"What if it rains?" Shirakawa Natsu suddenly asked.
Ryoko Arishima's expression froze for a moment.
"Sorry, please continue." Shirakawa Natsu also realized that this question was inappropriate.
“We haven’t confessed to each other, but I feel that we both have a place for each other in our planned future.” Ryoko Arishima’s tone was slightly dejected: “I thought it would always be like this, forever.”
She spoke with a bitter smile on her face and her eyes slightly red.
Shirakawa Natsu looked around. The two of them were on the roadside, and there weren't many pedestrians around, but she couldn't very well let herself cry in the street.
He quickly changed the subject: "He used to be a photography prodigy, so why did he suddenly give up photography?"
This was also a problem that had been troubling Shirakawa Natsu. Of course, he didn't care about Mukai Yu, but rather hoped to use this as an excuse to find an opportunity to get close to Aunt Maki.
When Ryoko Arishima heard this question, her expression froze, and she lowered her head, seemingly unwilling to bring up the topic.
"Here it comes." Shirakawa Natsu felt she was about to grasp a key clue, took a deep breath, and tried to make her tone sound as trustworthy as possible: "I'm Yu Mukai's friend. You don't want him to keep doing things he doesn't like and live a mediocre life, do you?"
His words struck Ryoko Arishima squarely in the chest.
Ryoko Arishima lowered her head even further: "It's all my fault."
"Hmm?" Shirakawa Natsumi noticed this but didn't say anything, waiting for her to continue.
Ryoko Arishima struggled with her expression for a long time before slowly saying, "A senior of mine wanted to shoot a set of swimsuit photos, but the model suddenly canceled, so I was asked to temporarily act as the swimsuit model."
Shirakawa Natsu was taken aback, her eyes instantly turning strange. Senior, swimsuit, photo shoot—there were too many elements, and she didn't know where to begin her critique.
Looking at Ryoko Arishima again, although she is not as beautiful as Nao Jingu (a 90-point beauty), she has a pure appearance and porcelain doll-like skin, making her an 80-point pretty girl.
An awkward silence fell between the two.
Shirakawa Natsu tried to keep her mind pure and not think in strange directions: "What kind of swimsuit?"
Although I tried to keep my tone calm, the thought of directly asking Yu Mukai to give up the photography didn't seem like a serious swimsuit photography session at all.
Ryoko Arishima lowered her head: "Adult swimsuit."
"What kind of adult?" Shirakawa Natsu asked, then, seeing her cheeks flush, added, "It's okay if you can't say."
Ryoko Arishima wasn't a child, and immediately understood what he meant. Blushing, she took out her phone, opened a shopping website, and handed it over: "This style."
Shirakawa Natsu looked at her phone screen. It was a bit sexy. When she wore it, a small part of her chest would be exposed. The swim trunks were a tie style and covered two-thirds of her buttocks.
He looked up at Ryoko Arishima, who was as delicate as a porcelain doll, and it was hard to imagine her wearing such a mature swimsuit.
"I...I only found out after I arrived," Ryoko Arishima explained, blushing. "I'd already been asked to do it, and I'm not good at saying no."
"Hmm." Shirakawa Natsu nodded. "Did anything else happen?"
While this type of swimsuit is sexy, it's only slightly more revealing than a normal swimsuit.
It's not as revealing as some celebrities' selfies; there are plenty of women wearing this kind of swimsuit at the beach.
This is certainly not the main reason why Yu Mukai gave up photography.
Ryoko Arishima shook her head: "No more."
"How did Yu Mukai know?" Natsumi Shirakawa asked curiously.
“He was there at the time,” Ryoko Arishima explained. “He was there the whole time, but he hasn’t taken any more photos since then.”
"Huh?" Shirakawa Natsumi was completely puzzled, unable to figure out the connection between the two: "Is there anything wrong with him?"
Ryoko Arishima hesitated for a moment, then shook her head: "No."
Shirakawa Natsu kept a close eye on her expression, taking in her micro-expressions. She took a deep breath and said, "I am Yu Mukai's best friend. Any clue could determine whether our help to him will be successful."
Ryoko Arishima trembled slightly.
Shirakawa Natsumi continued, "Miss Ryoko has already told me so much, so she must believe that I can truly help Mukai-kun. We are partners standing together, just like when facing a therapist. Only by laying bare all the filth can we possibly clean it up."
Upon hearing this, Ryoko Arishima's expression shifted several times, and she bit her lip tightly: "He... Yu Mukai..."
She opened her mouth several times, but couldn't get the words out.
The two walked along the roadside, with pedestrians passing by under the streetlights.
"Come this way." Shirakawa Natsu led her into a small alley, where only a sliver of light from the streetlights shone in.
In dim lighting, people are more likely to say shameful things, even if it's just psychological.
Ryoko Arishima seemed to have finally made up her mind, her voice low: "He... is very aroused."
"Excitement?" Shirakawa Natsu was taken aback, her eyes turning strange again.
“Hmm.” Ryoko Arishima blushed: “During the shoot, there were some poses that I wanted to do with the male model, so… during the photoshoot, I saw… I saw him bend over to cover himself up… and he even went out once in the middle.”
Shirakawa Natsu put her finger to her lips. "Goodness, so this is the kind of person Mukai Yu."
He glanced at Ryoko Arishima out of the corner of his eye. "Going to film those kinds of movies and bringing your boyfriend along, I don't know if you're stupid or if there's something wrong with you."
"I understand." Shirakawa Natsu nodded, pretending to be relaxed, "It's not a big deal. Everyone has their own quirks."
He really liked the way Jingu Nao wore sheer black stockings.
"Miss Ryoko, do you wish to start dating him again?" Shirakawa Natsu asked.
“Yes.” Ryoko Arishima nodded. “I hope he can pick up the camera again. I want to be by his side and hope he can regain his love for photography.”
Shirakawa Natsu's expression turned strange after hearing this. Did he think she was Aladdin's lamp?
Ryoko Arishima realized she had asked for too much and apologized, "I'm sorry, Mr. Natsu, I'm troubling you with the matter between me and Yu Mukai, because... because I really have no one else to ask."
He looked at Shirakawa Natsumi and said, "Mukai Yu has been avoiding me. He hasn't had any friends all these years. I'm afraid that if I miss this opportunity, I'll never see him again."
“Yes, I understand.” Shirakawa Natsu nodded. No wonder Arishima Ryoko would suddenly ask him, a stranger, for help: “Then, Ms. Ryoko, please wait for my news.”
"Thank you." Ryoko Arishima bowed deeply to him again.
After dropping her off at her apartment, Shirakawa Natsumi sat back in the jeep, resting her chin on her hand.
Comics are all lies; Ryoko Arishima did not extend any strange invitation.
“Yu Mukai.” Shirakawa Natsu seemed to murmur the name, if one only listened to Arishima Ryoko’s description.
Yu Mukai seems to have a cuckoldry complex; he gets sexually aroused when his girlfriend wears a sexy swimsuit and takes photos interacting with men.
Yu Mukai's usual kindness doesn't seem fake; he treats every neighbor with warmth.
Based on the time we've spent together, Mukai Yu is undoubtedly a gentle and kind person.
He had encountered men with cuckoldry complexes before, but no matter how well they disguised themselves, there was always something unusual about them.
Furthermore, this also fails to explain why Yu Mukai gave up photography and could no longer pick up the camera he loved.
According to Ryoko Arishima's description, Yutaka Mukai once regarded photography as his lifelong pursuit.
There's more to this than meets the eye, but we need to start with Yu Mukai.
Shirakawa Natsu started the jeep, stepped on the gas, and the car sped along the road, with the scenery on both sides rushing past the windows.
"We must make use of this and get close to Maki." Although Shirakawa Natsu was curious about Mukai Yu, his curiosity was similar to watching a movie and wanting to see the ending after watching the first half. He didn't care whether he knew the truth or not.
Whether it's Yu Mukai being cuckolded or the strange XP system, it doesn't matter.
He had only one purpose: Aunt Neishi Maki.
All the clues he has gathered so far are essential elements for him to achieve his goal.
Back at his apartment, he went straight to the lecherous fox's house. After his brother left, no one turned on the lights for him anymore.
Sitting in the huge living room, all I felt was a deep sense of loneliness.
Using the key to open the door, Kimura Momo lay on the sofa, naked, her perfectly fair body seemingly glowing.
There was a plate of grapes next to her, and she reached out and popped the grapes into her mouth one by one.
Shirakawa Natsuya also took off his clothes, walked to the sofa, and hugged her delicate body from behind.
She only briefly imagined what it would be like if other men saw this lecherous woman.
I felt completely disoriented and couldn't understand why those cuckold enthusiasts would get aroused by their wives or girlfriends being seen by others.
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