Chapter 35 It's so sweet, I'll let you bite it back, okay?

After finishing the final drafts of the gentleman and fox merchandise series, Risa logged into her email and started writing emails.

Email Subject: Risa Matsuno - Submission of Artwork for "Gentleman & Fox Series" Merchandise (with attached artwork files)

Recipient: Concept Store Merchandise Development Department

text:

Dear Concept Store Peripheral Development Department:

Hello everyone! I am Risa Matsuno. I have completed the artwork design for the "Gentleman & Fox Series" merchandise and am now submitting the final artwork as per the contract. Please check the attachment.

The manuscript includes:

1. Q-version double standee/keychain

Nioh: A cunning fox smile + magic playing cards

- Yagyu: Adjusting glasses gesture + rose/gentleman's cane

- Interactive segment: Niou disguised as Yagyu's "clothing change gag" & Yagyu helplessly grabbing Niou by the back of his collar

2. Proportional size badges/t-shirts

......

3. Magician VS Gentleman Theme

......

4. A must-have for students

- Notebook: The cover features silhouettes of two players facing off on a tennis court, and the inner pages are lined with tennis grid lines.

- Stationery Set: Nioh Edition (fox tail shaped pen) + Yagyu Edition (retro fountain pen shaped mechanical pencil)

Precautions:

Manuscripts must be confirmed by 17:00 tomorrow; submissions submitted after this time will be considered accepted.

• If adjustments are needed, please mark them directly in the PDF annotations, and I will make the changes within 48 hours.

Thank you for your continued support! We look forward to the final product of this collaboration!

Risa Matsuno

Tennis Doujin Club Chief Writer

(Contact information: 090-XXXX-XXXX)

appendix:

· [Gentleman & Fox Series_Final Draft.zip] (56MB)

• [Signed Power of Attorney.pdf]

【send】

-

After the email was successfully sent, Risa stretched out a big yawn.

My eyes are a little sore from staring at the computer screen for so long.

"Let's go for a walk."

She went to the bathroom to wash her face, grabbed a light jacket, and stuffed her phone into her pocket.

The evening breeze carried the refreshing coolness unique to early summer, dispersing the sultry air.

Risa wandered aimlessly and unknowingly arrived at the park in the center of the street.

It was lunchtime, and there weren't many people in the park. A few sparrows were hopping around on the lawn.

She stopped in front of a flowerbed full of hydrangeas; the pink and blue flowers looked dreamy in the sunset.

Risa took out her phone and squatted down to find the best angle to take a picture.

With a "click".

She looked down at the photos she had just taken, and amidst the screen full of pink and blue flowers, a striking splash of red appeared.

"Huh? Is it a problem with the lighting and filter?"

She put down her phone and went closer to examine the flowers.

Beneath layers of blue petals, a small red hydrangea was indeed hidden deep within the flowerbed.

"No way...?"

With her fingertips hovering in mid-air, she recalled the suspense manga she had recently been following: the female protagonist also discovered a corpse under hydrangeas at dusk like this, the victim's blood staining the white flowers crimson.

A chill crept up her spine, and Risa felt a tingling sensation on her scalp. She hurriedly got up and backed away, but bumped into a passerby in her panic.

She felt a firm touch on her back, and the refreshing scent of mint instantly enveloped her.

"careful."

That voice—!

She tilted her head back sharply, her Adam's apple sliding slowly beneath the thin skin with each breath. Above that was her sharply defined jawline.

Yukimura supported her shoulders, and because of her movement, he had to lean forward slightly. A few strands of hair fell down, bathed in the soft glow of the setting sun.

So close! Too close!

I was so close I could see his individual eyelashes clearly, so close I could see my own panicked reflection in his violet-blue pupils.

Risa's heart skipped a beat. She had a sudden, overwhelming feeling that she was doomed.

“These hydrangeas…” Yukimura’s voice carried a faint smile, “…change color depending on the soil’s pH level.”

"Is...is that so...?"

She stammered her reply, her cheeks burning with heat.

Yukimura noticed her embarrassment and a faint smile appeared on his lips: "Matsuno-kun, you don't think there's a corpse buried under this flowerbed, do you?"

"No...no, I didn't!"

Risa, her thoughts read, reacted like a startled rabbit, instinctively jumping back half a step.

Yukimura released his hand at the opportune moment. But the lingering warmth from his palm left a subtle burning sensation on her skin that lingered for a long time.

"You just got back from the bookstore?" She coughed lightly to cover her embarrassment.

“Hmm,” Yukimura shook the paper bag with the Kiyomizu-ken logo on it, “and went to the dessert shop my sister likes.”

As she spoke, she took a small square box out of the paper bag. "I heard this is a new product from the store. Would you like to try it?"

Caramel pudding, this must be the new product that Yagyu mentioned.

Risa stared at the alluring color, her eyes lighting up: "C-Can I?"

"Please have some." He handed the pudding to her.

For Risa, there are two things in this world that she cannot resist—delicious desserts and glittering gold bars.

At that moment, the delicious caramel pudding was being held by a hand with distinct knuckles. Even more captivating was the fact that the owner of that hand possessed an exceptionally beautiful face, and was smiling gently at her.

This is a double whammy!

Risa inwardly groaned: As expected of Rikkai University, the reputation of being "completely flawless" is indeed well-deserved.

"Well... I won't be polite then." She tried to remain calm and extended her hand.

My fingertips brushed against the back of his hand. In that instant, it felt as if a tiny electric current had surged through my body.

Both of them were startled at the same time.

"Feel sorry."

"fine."

"......"

After speaking in unison, they simultaneously looked away.

...

As dusk deepened, the streetlights in the park lit up one by one, casting interlaced shadows at their feet.

The sounds of children playing could be heard in the distance, a young couple strolled along pushing a stroller, and elderly people sat on benches fanning themselves with round fans.

"So, you came to the park to relax?"

"Yeah, I just finished submitting my manuscript and came out for some fresh air."

Risa ate the pudding in small bites, her eyes squinting contentedly like a satiated cat.

“My aunt and her friends went on a trip to Karuizawa, so Akaya and I will have to make our own dinner tonight. I was planning to buy a bento at the convenience store…” She rubbed her stomach, “but I feel like I’m already half full.”

“Akaya’s been doing extra training lately, he should still be at the stadium at this hour.” He glanced at the time. “If you don’t mind, there’s a nice set meal place nearby.”

Just as Risa was about to answer, her phone suddenly vibrated in her pocket.

As she hurriedly pulled out her phone, Yukimura's gaze fell on the corner of her lips, his violet-blue eyes surging with emotion.

"Risa-nee!"

A burst of energetic shouts came from the other end of the phone, so loud that even Yukimura, who was sitting next to him, could hear it.

"I'm done training! What do you want to eat tonight? I'll buy some and bring it back—ah!"

"Yo, Akaya, calling 'Onee-sama' again, huh? Puri~"

"Senior Niou! Don't take my phone—"

Risa held the receiver further away, and after the chaos subsided, she sighed and asked, "I'm in the park. Do you want to go to a diner?"

There was a rustling sound on the other end of the phone, and Kirihara seemed to be frantically trying to catch something: "That newly opened Sakuraiya? Yanagi-senpai said their tonkatsu (fried pork cutlet) glows... Okay, I'm coming right away!"

Just as Risa put her phone away, a gentle male voice came from beside her: "Akaya is still so energetic."

She rubbed her temples.

Being too energetic isn't always a good thing.

“Sakurai-ya is right across from the west entrance of the park, about a ten-minute walk from here.” Yukimura pointed in the direction. “I’ll take you there; it’s on my way.”

A night breeze rustled through Risa's hair. Gazing at the handsome young man before her, Risa suddenly realized—he truly was just as the character was described, an incredibly gentle and kind-hearted beauty.

As she stared in a daze, the gentle beauty leaned over and brushed her thumb across the corner of her lips with such a soft touch that it seemed like an illusion.

Risa's eyes widened, and she froze completely.

"I got some caramel on my fingers," he explained in a low voice, a trace of caramel remaining on his fingers.

—It's so hot!

What's going on here?!

The places he touched, and the blood all over his body, seemed to boil instantly, like boiling water.

Did he cast a spell on her?

-

The bright moon hangs high in the sky.

The two walked side by side on the tree-lined path, the evening breeze carrying a slightly intoxicating warmth.

Risa sighed.

"What's wrong?"

"It's all your fault."

Yukimura grunted "Hmm?" and turned his head to look at her.

Risa: "It's all your fault for giving me pudding. I might not be able to eat dinner later."

Yukimura chuckled upon hearing this and pulled a lemon candy from his pocket: "Here, for you, as an appetizer."

"It won't be too sour, will it?"

"Maybe."

Risa took the candy, tore open the wrapper, and found two small yellow candies inside.

"I've won the lottery!" he said with a smile.

It has a refreshing lemon scent and looks very sour.

She glanced at him, picked up a pearl, and offered it to Yukimura: "Try one first."

Yukimura tilted his head: "Are you using me as a guinea pig?"

"What are you saying?" Risa smiled innocently. "The first one is for my master, as a token of my gratitude."

"I see..." Yukimura didn't reach out to take it, but instead lowered his head slightly and put the candy in his mouth using her hand.

Before my hand could retract, I felt a subtle sensation on my fingertips—like a tongue casually licking my fingertips and then gently biting them.

“You…!” Risa withdrew her hand, her cheeks flushing.

Yukimura slowly sucked on the candy, looking at her innocently.

“It’s very sweet,” he said.

I don't know if they're talking about candy or something else.

"You...did you just bite me?" Risa covered her fingers, glaring at him with embarrassment and anger.

"Really?" He tilted his head, denying it.

"You really are—" Risa angrily stuffed the remaining candy into her mouth, the citric acid instantly exploding in her mouth.

"Ugh...it's so sour! You're lying!"

She covered her cheek, her whole face scrunched up like a bun.

Yukimura's reply only made matters worse: "It was Matsuno-kun's fault for handing the candy over on his own initiative."

"Hmph (￢人￢☆)!"

This devil in angel's clothing is someone you can never let your guard down against.

"I'm sorry, it was my fault," he apologized abruptly.

Then he leaned over, held out his hand to her, and coaxed her gently, "I'll let you bite back, okay?"

Risa stared at the hand with its distinct knuckles, and suddenly recalled the moment when his tongue had licked her fingertips—those eyes, which always held a smile, became deep and tender in that instant…

The night breeze suddenly became hot, brushing against my cheeks, the heat spreading from my ears down my neck.

"I...I won't fall for that!" She slapped his hand away, like a cat with its fur standing on end, and puffed out her cheeks like a squirrel.

"Heh..." the boy chuckled lightly, "Matsuno-kun looks cute even when he's angry."

Risa: "......"

If I weren't afraid he'd set a trap for me, I'd really want to bite him to death.

After walking along the tree-lined path for a while.

Yukimura suddenly spoke up: "The Campus Image Ambassador Competition..."

Risa looked up alertly: "What?"

"I heard the list of participants has been announced."

"Um."

Yukimura turned to the side, his eyelashes curving upwards: "I'll cheer for Matsuno-kun."

Risa was startled.

Even though she had been tricked, she couldn't bring herself to dislike him just by looking into his eyes and seeing that smile.

As the lemon candy melts, its slightly sour sweetness fills the mouth, much like the subtle throbbing in the chest at this moment.

He really did...

Did they cast a spell on her?

"Risa-nee-san—!"

The boy's shout broke the ambiguous atmosphere.

Kirihara Akaya came running over with his tennis bag on his back, his seaweed-like curly hair wet with sweat and sticking up on his forehead.

"Waaaaaah ┭┮﹏┭┮"

Risa instantly transformed into a drama queen, rushing towards her younger brother as if she had found a savior, burying her face in the boy's sweaty shoulder.

"Aka, someone is bullying me..."

"What?!" Kirihara Akaya clenched his fists, his emerald eyes instantly changing color. "Who dares to bully Risa-nee? I'll beat him to a pulp!"

Risa lifted her head from his embrace, her slender fingers pointing without hesitation to a figure three steps away: "...It's him."

Kirihara Akaya looked in the direction she was pointing, his anger flaring. But when he saw the tall, slender figure, his aura instantly deflated: "-Captain..."

The air suddenly became quiet.

"Hey, little seaweed," Risa grabbed the boy's collar and shook him, "Where did your bravado go? Look me in the eye and say you're going to beat him up for me!"

Little Seaweed's eyes darted around, pretending to be attracted by the menu at the shop entrance: "Um... Risa-nee, how about I treat you to the special fried pork cutlet set meal tonight? The kind with double pork cutlets!"

Yukimura chuckled, "Looks like Akaya's been training too hard and he's starving."

"Hmph!" Risa loosened her grip on the seaweed's collar.

"Indeed, no man is reliable, regardless of age, weakness, illness, disability, or kinship."

"Risa-nee... wait for me!" Kirihara Akaya hurriedly bowed to his senior, then turned and caught up with his older sister. "How about I treat you to the most expensive set meal?"

Yukimura stood there, watching the backs of the siblings bickering, his left hand reaching into his pocket, stroking the remaining lemon candy.

He slowly put the candy into his mouth, and the sour taste spread on his tongue.

"So sour..."

Yukimura frowned at the sourness, but couldn't help laughing.

It was so sweet just now.

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Author's Note: Thank you all for your support! I've read all the comments! [Sprinkling flowers]

Today's real world is a furnace, and yesterday it was just as [melted].