Past Him, Present Him, Him and Them in the Future

Join forces to attack him.

However, Shinichi wasn't too optimistic. Moreover, when they met in the evening, the atmosphere between them still felt tense. After all, it was impossible for them to form an alliance within a few hours and decide to drain him to the last drop.

At most, it was just a non-aggression pact, like turning a blind eye to the actions of the other party and letting everyone handle themselves according to their abilities...

Why did he suddenly feel like a little white rabbit surrounded by hunters?

With the awareness of an inexplicable crisis, Shinichi quickly spun his mind, observing the girls' expressions, and listing possibilities and countermeasures.

He was accustomed to thinking before meeting them.

Thinking is humanity's greatest asset. No matter how dire the situation, we can always find a way out by thinking.

Now, after evolution, Shinichi naturally wouldn't give up using this weapon.

"Ready to be eaten, please use your chopsticks."

Nino placed the cooked ingredients on the plate and greeted the others, then suddenly switched seats with Ichika and sat next to Shinichi.

"Eat a piece of tofu first..." As she said this, she carefully picked up a piece of tofu soup. After blowing on it a few times, she handed it to Shinichi's mouth with a smile.

"Say 'ah~'"

At the same time, several others stopped their chopsticks and stared directly at him with sharp eyes. Their pressure gaze was only directed at Shinichi, ignoring Nino.

Shinichi glanced at the piece of tofu, then looked at Nino's sweet yet meaningful smile.

Next, he controlled his micro-expressions.

"Varied—"

Seeing this, Ichika's pupils suddenly contracted, cold sweat broke out, and secretly she thought something was wrong.

No matter how small his changes were, Ichika, as his half-disciple in the acting world, naturally recognized the gestures used by Shinichi at the moment...

There really wasn't any trick.

She just felt the other party had guessed their plan and found a solution within this timeframe.

She discreetly glanced at Fumino, Fumino noticed her gaze, nodded slightly towards her, and gave her a don't panic look.

At this moment, Shinichi didn't care about the gaze of others, opened his mouth, and ate the tofu in one bite.

Then he exclaimed.

"Um... Delicious. As Nino predicted, its maturity and taste are just right in the mouth."

He smiled, and although his mouth twitched due to the burnt tofu, his clear and soft voice didn't tremble at all.

"Hehehe, it tastes good~" Unexpectedly receiving this reaction, Nino showed a shy but happy smile.

"Come on, this tofu is also cooked well. Eat and see—"

Just as she was about to take another piece of tofu to feed him, several condemning gazes fell on her.

"...Sorry for daring to feed him like this."

Her body tensed momentarily, Nino lowered her voice.

"Are you really happy no matter who feeds you? You are truly an immoral man."

"Hmm... I don't know about that either."

Shinichi looked thoughtful and glanced at the others.

"What if you try it one by one?"

The girls looked at each other with strange expressions and communicated silently with their eyes.

After that, Miku stood up first and nodded towards Nino expressionlessly.

"Let me do it."

So, they exchanged seats.

Miku picked up a triangular piece of fried tofu and handed it to Shinichi's mouth.

"Ah—"

Her emotionless voice, combined with her cold gaze, gave an inexplicable feeling of pressure.

But Shinichi seemed unaware of it, he opened his mouth and happily took a bite. After chewing, he emitted a puff of white smoke from his mouth.

"Um, this is delicious too... Nino's cooking skill and Miku's feeding have elevated the ordinary fried tofu to an S-rank ingredient level. It's truly the most suitable!"

He delivered embarrassing praise with a cheerful tone.

"W-what..."

Miku immediately leaned back, her eyes widening in disbelief, and her chopstick-holding hand trembling slightly.

"Could this be Shinichi's version of [slow and cheerful harem protagonist]... The jokes he plays are so contemporary..." She murmured and looked at Shinichi as if facing a tough enemy.

"The scary thing is we don't understand what you're talking about at all!" Itsuki couldn't help but complain.

Nino and Miku are the same, so why are they easily played?

"Next, Yotsuba." Shinichi turned and looked at Yotsuba, unaware, "To prove whether I'm happy no matter who feeds me, please feed me once."

"Eh?" Yotsuba shook her head, first checking the expressions of the others, and then hesitantly picked up her chopsticks, "Then I'll do it."

"Ah—"

"Um... Nino's skill, plus Yotsuba's energetic feeding—"

"Asada-kun, this statement is a bit contrived... Eh? Do I want to as well?! Okay, if Asada-kun asks...."

"Um, Itsuki, my bite is a bit different from yours. There's a lot I can't fit..."

"This is very, very rough!... Okay, is this alright? Ah—"

"Hmm... Nino's skill, plus feeding full of food power..."

"Wait, who has that weird power?!"

"By the way, can you stop mentioning my skill all the time? It's very embarrassing!"

"Then, next is Fumino..."

Fumino stared into his eyes, and after staring silently for a long time, she sighed softly and picked up a piece of raw meat from the food plate.

"Because you want us to feed you so much..."

Before she finished speaking, Shinichi grabbed her hand and, without hesitation, shoved the piece of raw meat into his mouth.

Fumino and the quintuplets' eyes widened, and screams came out of their throats.

"Wait--!"

Before that, a bowl of udon suddenly appeared in front of him.

Beside him, Rizu held chopsticks, covered her mouth with noodles, and spoke seriously at the same time.

"Shinichi-san, I don't know why you're doing this... But eating raw meat isn't good for your health and the ingredients."

She put down the noodles, took slices of meat, rinsed them in the hot pot, put them into an empty bowl after they were cooked, and looked at him again.

"Ready to be eaten... Do you want me to feed you?"

"...I'll do it myself."

After Shinichi sighed, his expression no longer cheerful and innocent, and he swallowed the piece of meat.

The sound of chopsticks being placed on the bowl sounded very loud.

The atmosphere became tense.

"Asada-san, I just want to cook the meat, dip it in mustard, add chili, and give it to you. I didn't intend to let you eat raw meat."

Fumino looked at him, "Are you doing this as a bitter trick?"

Under the guilty and dissatisfied gaze of others, Shinichi shook his head.

"I just want to mess up your plans. Besides, I don't know what you want to do to me... I want to state that I can eat anything you give me."

"Asada-san, you don't have to do this…" Yotsuba lowered her gaze and spoke softly.

"I feel the same way. Besides, it's very tiring for someone like me to pretend to be stupid."

Shinichi's serious gaze made the others fall silent, unsure of how to respond.

"But I don't mind doing it." He then smiled and said, "If it makes you happy, I can also learn how to swallow swords and swallow slices of raw meat and then vomit them out."

"That's kind of disgusting." Ichika said helplessly, "Seriously, when facing Shinichi-kun, there's no such thing as a futile initial plan... Isn't that right, Fumino?"

"Well, I thought I knew him well, but it turns out he always surprises me…" Fumino rested her forehead with one hand and sighed, ignoring whoever was standing next to her.

"Let's forget it, everyone's testing each other in turn at first isn't reliable enough. I think we should just eat obediently."

"Test me? Test me for what?" Shinichi asked hesitantly.

"Want to know?"

Shinichi nodded and Nino smiled sweetly.

"Tell us about you and... 'Hayasaka Ai-senpai' only. Tell us about the process of introduction and the progress of development between you and Hayasaka Ai-senpai, and I'll tell everything we said behind your back, so you'll die with clarity."

Was he really going to die?

Shinichi was startled, then lowered his head in resignation.

"Alright, let me die in an unknown way."

"Oh, is there something you're afraid to say?" Ichika raised her eyebrows.

"No, I just won't tell anyone else what happened to you."

Seeing Ichika, Shinichi laughed with interest.

"For example, Ichika, what did you say to me after you left the department store... Do you want your sisters to know?"

"What are you talking about... ahhh!"

That's when Ichika realized that the first time she had a crush on Shinichi was when the six of them finished shopping and left the department store, and had a bitter conversation with him in front of the train station.

And at that moment, it seemed she had said a lot of embarrassing things...

"I understand…"

After being shocked, Ichika became depressed.

She lowered her head, with tears of embarrassment flowing from the corners of her eyes, and loosened the clothes on her right shoulder, revealing her white skin.

"As long as you don't say it, you can do whatever you want... But even if you use this secret to get me, you won't get my heart!"

Her expression was sad, but her stubborn eyes showed determination and refusal to give up.

If it weren't for the wrong timing, Shinichi would definitely want to add dialogue to some villains.

The other girls watched him perform, not knowing whether to stop him.

Only Miku reacted, pulling back her clothes expressionlessly, grabbing her cheek at the same time, and saying calmly:

"Ichika, you're not allowed to flirt with Shinichi in public... The previous one was a plan, but this one isn't, so it won't work."

"Is it okay privately?"

"Well, you have to be accompanied by me."

"Hmmm~ Okay, I'll remember to tell you~"

(What are you going to tell?! Is this something someone can oversee?)

(But now, complaining about this always feels like a futile effort...)

Fumino felt inexplicably tired, even hungrier.

"Alright everyone, let's start eating~ Don't be the last group to leave and let everyone see the student council's joke…"

"I agree. If everyone doesn't mind, I'll cook this plate of meat first... Um, the portion is a bit small. I wonder if I can add more."

"Wait a moment, don't you agree to let me take it?"

"Anyway, we're just throwing it away to cook, so it doesn't matter who comes..."

"Haha, of course it's handy for an idiot cook like you."

"What did you say..."

"Ah, are we going to start a cooking competition? Alright~ Nino or Miku, which one should I support~"

"Want to compete? When it comes to the kitchen, I'll never lose... Let's use this udon ball to determine the outcome!"

"Stop, that's the last one! Do you understand the rules of hot pot?"

There was a lot of noise and excitement around the hot pot, reflecting on everyone's faces from time to time.

Shinichi also joined the fight. Sometimes he cooked something for others, and sometimes Miku and Fumino stuffed him with slices of meat that could be called dark dishes. Ichika even held tofu in her mouth and wanted to play the "Pocky Game" with him.

Setting aside the messy emotional issues, their daily life was so enjoyable.

At the end of the dinner, Shinichi was drinking tea and resting while watching Itsuki quickly put the uneaten food into her mouth.

"Asada-san, may I ask you something?"

Yotsuba exchanged seats with Rizu and sat next to him, placing her teacup down and suddenly speaking.

Shinichi looked at her puzzled, then at the side of the girl's face.

"Of course, what's the matter?"

Yotsuba fell silent for a moment before speaking again.

"Suppose earlier, we all wanted to feed you, forced you to choose to feed yourself alone, and had a heated argument over this issue…"

She seemed influenced by her mood, her expression slightly confused, and her speech disjointed.

But Shinichi understood what she meant. He also put down his teacup and looked at her seriously.

"...At that time, would you leave us?"

Yotsuba took a gentle breath.

Her voice was weightless, floating lightly in the air and reaching his ears.

"Would you suddenly disappear for our own good?"

"Would you suddenly disappear because you feel guilty?"

"One day, you'll realize that you can't hold on anymore, would you leave everything behind and go to a place where we can't find you?"

In the middle of her words, her lips trembled, and she bit her lip.

With reluctant eyes to look away, Yotsuba stared straight into his eyes.

"If you think so... Can you tell me now?"

Her words and gaze carried an inexplicable strength, firmly holding Shinichi in place.

No escape or half-heartedness allowed.

Shinichi couldn't avoid her gaze.

The voices around him seemed to separate from the world and become indistinct.

Shinichi no longer hesitated, with a little freedom.

Facing this problem, since he realized the feelings between him and them, he had already—

"Maybe I've done this in the past."

Yotsuba opened her mouth slightly, perhaps wanting to say something.

But before that, Shinichi reached out, touched her head, and laughed casually.

"However, he's autistic, melancholic, and pretentious. His outlook on life is very normal. He's just learning. He's always not straightforward about his feelings and others. He doesn't dare to engage more with others. But because of this mindset, it emerges from 'Asada Shinichi' who feels happy to have interacted with more people."

"But sorry, the current Asada Shinichi is just a scoundrel who wants to be on many boats."

"He's not the praised male lead in a novel, nor is he a romantic playboy. He's just a foolish person who has long been confused about how to be with someone he likes. He hesitates and can't make decisions."

Shinichi shrugged his shoulders and said mischievously, "So, because you're foolish, it's natural for you to always do foolish things, right?"

"Don't say anything about parting... Before you find me annoying and actively avoid me, I will follow you without shame and let you like me just as I like you. I will keep this until I die of old age. It's foolish to do so until the end."

He looked at the calm girls and stared at them silently.

Ichika, Nino, Miku, and Itsuki.

Fumino and Rizu.

And Yotsuba beside him.

Shinichi sighed heavily, stretched out his arms, and complained.

"I just hope you don't fight because of me. It would make me feel very popular among women. What if it spreads..."

He used his acting skills very well to interpret what it means to make people want to hit him when they see him.

Ichika looked at Fumino and said with a smile.

"Find a private place and hit him together."

"Good."

Fumino nodded, and her fingers made a bone-cracking sound.

Shinichi broke out in a cold sweat in the cold weather, feeling his bones ache.

Of course, that was just to scare him. After rolling his eyes at him several times, the girls drank tea and chatted casually.

At the moment, Yotsuba stretched her head under the table and waved at him.

"Asada-san, it seems like something fell under the table."

"Huh, what..."

Shinichi didn't hesitate and lowered his head.

Before he could react, a pair of warm little hands held his cheeks and gave him a soft kiss on the lips.

"Hmm..."

After exchanging hot breaths for less than three seconds, they parted. They looked at each other.

Under the dimly lit table, under Shinichi's stunned gaze, Yotsuba slowly smiled and spoke softly.

"I'm foolish. I've always been like this, and I think I'll still be like this in the future..."

"So, I want to accompany Asada-san and do foolish things until the end."

Shinichi lowered his head, and his palms were clasped together.

In the end, he answered like this.

"...How about if our future child is called 'Fuka'? Asada Fuka or Nakano Fuka both are fine."

"It feels nice, and it's suitable for both boys and girls... Uh." In the middle of her words, Yotsuba stopped talking, her mouth opened but unable to speak, and her face looked redder and hotter than before.

"~~"

(We're not officially dating yet, but are we already thinking about our child's name?)

(He really deserves to be called Asada-san...)

(No, I should call him Shinichi after we get married, right? Or husband? Darling?)

Because of his words, Yotsuba's head immediately became chaotic, her rabbit-eared hair tie dangling due to surprise.

"Yotsuba—"

After teasing her, with a smile on his lips, Shinichi was about to call Yotsuba back to her senses when he suddenly felt his ears itch, and the atmosphere around them suddenly became heavier, and the temperature dropped a few degrees.

Realizing something, he shifted his gaze tremblingly and looked around.

The other six bowed their bodies, with their heads under the table, staring at the two of them expressionlessly, their eyes blinking with a faint cold light in the darkness.

"You're really good at cheating under the table..."

Shinichi didn't know who that person was, but said this with a sneer.

"So, what..." He moved the corner of his mouth like a dry smile.

"I don't know how to explain it, so if I give up... Can my punishment be reduced?"

"Of course that's impossible."

Shinichi closed his eyes as if resigned to his fate.

Although this wasn't the first time, every time he faced this Shuraba, fear still arose from the depths of his heart...

He just hoped the other students wouldn't think the student council was just a group of weird people who liked to search for food under the table.