Since Shizuka didn't have any secret crush and was only using him to deal with her family's pressure to get married and to show off to others, Takashi never went out of his way to look like anyone in particular.
Of course, even so, he wouldn't reveal his true face.
He didn't bother putting too much effort into his makeup—he just put in colored contacts, applied some eyeliner, mascara, and a bit of under-eye makeup to make himself look less youthful.
It could be said that his current face had about a sixty percent resemblance to his real one.
"If you weren't Shizuka's boyfriend, you'd really be a good fit for this place."
Haruno's tone carried a hint of regret, as if it was a loss to the industry that Takashi wasn't working as a host.
At that moment, a male staff member came over and served them each a glass of iced water.
"Miss Haruno, I have a friend who's a bit short on money lately. He heard that being a host is quite profitable and he is interested.
But he's still in high school. Do you know if there's any way for him?" Takashi started fabricating a friend.
To become a host, one had to fill out personal information and provide various forms of identification.
Takashi wasn't a hacker and couldn't forge IDs. He had connections, but most of them were women related to him.
If those women heard he was trying to become a host, they'd sooner stop him than help him.
That meant there was no one he could ask for help in this matter.
At the same time, Takashi asked this question hoping it would shut down the idea altogether.
"This friend of yours… isn't you, is it?"
Haruno flipped open the menu and pointed at a drink while teasing him.
Since her attention was on the menu, she missed the flash of embarrassment on Takashi's face.
"I-It really is my friend."
A made-up friend was still a friend.
"What do you want to drink? My treat."
Instead of answering, Haruno handed the menu to Takashi.
"I'll have whatever you're having."
Takashi didn't take the menu.
Haruno waved a host over and dismissed him, crossing her legs. "For a high school student, it might be a bit difficult."
Takashi picked up on the subtle implication.
Because if it were truly impossible, she wouldn't have said "a bit."
"I'll ask my friend when she gets here."
Haruno neither confirmed nor denied anything.
Takashi was good-looking, but men with his level of attractiveness weren't rare in Haruno's circle.
In novels, rich kids were often depicted as ugly and wicked, but in reality, wealthy families rarely had unattractive children.
To her, Takashi wasn't nearly as striking as the silver-haired boy who had stood on stage at the Chiba Rokuten Shopping Center, microphone in hand, singing Lemon.
To her, if Takashi weren't Shizuka's boyfriend, he wouldn't even be qualified to sit with her.
It might sound harsh, but the reality was that without opportunity, ten years of hard studying couldn't compete with three generations of business wealth.
That said, considering that Takashi might one day marry into the Hiratsuka family and become its future head, she didn't mind getting along with him.
Of course, she wouldn't go out of her way to flatter him.
Because the more she did, the more mistakes she could make.
As long as Takashi wasn't officially Hiratsuka's fiancé, anything was still possible.
What if Shizuka ended up marrying someone else?
'Should I help him or not?'
Haruno propped her chin with her fingers, tapping her face absentmindedly.
Before long, a male host returned, carrying their drinks.
"Miss Haruno, if you're feeling bored, would you like me to listen to your troubles?"
This time, he didn't leave.
Instead, he sat down, his face full of warmth.
Looking at the host, Takashi saw a reflection of himself.
Haruno glanced at the man, and an amused mockery flickered in her eyes.
Was he targeting her because he didn't want to work hard anymore?
She wasn't sure if she should call him bold or just overconfident.
She was not like those naive women who fell for a few sweet words.
"And how do you think you compare to him?"
Haruno glanced at Takashi with an unspoken meaning.
The host's face darkened.
Even with only fifty percent of his true appearance visible, Takashi was still better-looking than him.
More importantly, Takashi had an air of confidence and scholarly elegance that the host lacked.
"I already have him."
Haruno looked at Takashi as if he were Gotham's crime boss, though her lips still carried a warm smile.
She had only come here tonight by invitation.
Having a few drinks to pass the time was fine, but if she really intended to spend money on male companions, her mother wouldn't let her hear the end of it.
"Now, could you please leave?"
"Understood. If you need anything, call me anytime." The host got up, his face ashen, looking like a defeated rooster.
No—considering the setting, maybe "defeated drake" would be more appropriate.
As he left, he shot Takashi a resentful glare.
As if blaming him for getting in the way.
'Why are you glaring at me?'
Takashi was speechless.
He hadn't even said anything.
If he was so capable, why didn't he glare at Haruno instead?
Bullying him—what was the point of that?
"So I've become your shield now?" Takashi sighed.
"That's why I bought you a drink."
Haruno laughed cheerfully, raising her glass as if to apologize, then downing her drink in one go.
"If you ask me again next time, I'll have to refuse."
"Lord Kitahara, just this once, please forgive me."
Haruno tugged at Takashi's sleeve, acting playfully coy.
Unlike her younger sister, she knew exactly how to play with a man's heart.
She could be both strong and yielding.
Takashi shook his head helplessly.
He didn't feel angry.
After experiencing it so many times, he had gotten used to it.
To put it simply, wasn't life just a form of forced submission?
If you can't stop it, you might as well enjoy it.
"Miss Yukinoshita, I have a question."
"How old is your friend?"
"Twenty-one, I think. Why?"
So, the owner of this host club was a woman in her early twenties.
First, Cheng Zhu founded QQ Lingerie, and now a young woman is opening a host club.
Wait, are all entrepreneurs this bold these days?
"To be honest, I was surprised when I first heard about it." Haruno had been stunned when she learned of her friend's idea.
"But thinking about it, this really is a business that can make big money."
Japan's top host could make up to 350 million yen a year.
A single host club could sell over a million yen worth of drinks in one night.
If Haruno had more spare money, she would've considered investing in one herself.
After all, she also had a heart that wanted to prove herself.
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