"That's a bit sadistic of you, don't you think..."
Byakuya quipped.
"What's the problem? You're the one who benefited here. Don't tell me you're complaining after getting the good end of the deal?"
Eto puffed out her cheeks slightly.
Byakuya just smiled and said nothing.
...
Some time later, Eto officially began working on her new book.
The male protagonist was modeled after Byakuya, while the female protagonist was based on herself.
"I've decided—the heroine of my new book will be based on me."
Sitting in the café, Eto shared her creative process with Byakuya across the table.
"So you're serious about this."
Byakuya remarked.
"Of course I am."
Eto nodded. "Also, we should start dating officially now. It'll make the book's progress more... convenient."
She proposed directly that they start dating.
"You mean actually dating, not pretend dating?"
Byakuya confirmed.
Eto immediately complained, "Honestly, you're hopeless. Obviously it's not pretend dating anymore..."
"So, what's your answer?"
Eto pressed.
Her eyes fixed on Byakuya with an expression that made it clear refusal wasn't an option.
"I couldn't possibly refuse, so..."
Byakuya said directly, "I accept."
"That's more like it."
Eto smiled happily. "Then let's start practicing!"
"...Practicing what?"
Byakuya asked immediately.
"You know—dates, holding hands, kissing... and finally making babies. We definitely need to experience all of this firsthand so that when I write about it, the content feels more authentic."
Eto explained, "After all, I'm planning to add romance elements to my new book, so I need to get these aspects right."
"..."
Eto's bluntness left Byakuya momentarily at a loss for words.
"So let's start with dating. Where do you think we should go first?"
Eto asked.
"Let me think..."
Byakuya considered for a moment. "Maybe watching a movie would be good? It might give you some inspiration too."
"A movie theater? That does sound nice."
Eto nodded. "No time like the present—let's head out right now!"
She stood up immediately, grabbed Byakuya's arm, and made to leave.
As for her laptop, she just left it there—this was her family's café, after all.
"Eto-neechan, where are you and Byakuya-niichan going?"
Hinami, who had been drawing at another table, noticed them preparing to leave and asked.
"It's a secret~"
Eto replied mysteriously.
"Eh...?"
This only made Hinami more curious.
Actually, Eto was just teasing her. She then leaned close to Hinami's ear and whispered, "Actually, we're going on a date. But keep this secret, okay~"
"Oh, okay."
Hinami nodded slightly.
But she didn't have much of a reaction—after all, Byakuya-niichan and Eto-neechan had pretended to be a couple before. She was somewhat used to it by now.