[MashUp] Ch 38: Anime Mashup

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Hearing Mafuyu's words, Takuma felt she was just so cute.

He let out a soft laugh, downed the last of his wine, and finally looked up at her with a teasing smile.

"Mafuyu."

"Instead of worrying about what I'm wearing, shouldn't you be asking—"

He paused, the curiosity in his eyes genuine. "…why I'm sitting here in the first place?"

"Or maybe where the money for this suit came from?"

Mafuyu was left speechless.

He was right.

As the one who had taken him in — practically acting as his sugar mommy — she should have been grilling him about why he was suddenly throwing money around like a rich playboy.

But all she could think about were those hungry stares other women had been giving him all night.

Seeing her flushed face, caught somewhere between anger and embarrassment, Takuma's smile deepened.

He leaned back, taking his time as if savoring her awkwardness.

"Mafuyu, I told you to dress up."

His gaze swept over her stunning appearance before settling on her stormy, beautiful eyes.

"But I didn't say you had to look this… illegal."

"Illegal?"

She blinked, thrown off by the word.

"You stole my thunder."

Takuma tilted his chin toward the group of elegant ladies who had been eyeing him earlier.

"See? Ever since you walked in, none of them have looked my way."

That direct hit landed square on the softest part of her heart.

The sharp questions and anger she'd prepared crumbled to ash with just that single, offhanded "complaint."

Heat rose up her neck and spread all the way to her ears. She opened her mouth, but no words came out.

"Y-You're… talking nonsense…" She ducked her head like an ostrich, letting her hair fall forward to hide her flushed cheeks, mumbling like a mosquito.

Takuma just watched, silent laughter flickering in his eyes.

A waiter arrived at just the right time, presenting the menus with a polite bow.

Takuma took one, barely glanced at it, and slid it across to Mafuyu.

"Order whatever you want."

He leaned lazily against the chair, voice casual. "Tonight's on me."

Her hand froze halfway to the menu.

She jerked her head up, those icy-blue eyes full not of delight but of shock — and something that looked a lot like worry.

She had already resigned herself to the idea of a wallet-crushing bill tonight, even brought two credit cards just in case.

Her stare locked on Takuma, voice barely above a whisper.

"…Where were you last night? What did you do?"

The look on her face — as if she was already picturing a dozen illegal scenarios — almost made him laugh.

"What's going through that head of yours, Mafuyu?"

He spread his hands in mock innocence. "I'm a law-abiding citizen. I never do bad things."

Of course, he wasn't about to tell her that this money came from a bunny actress practically crying and begging to hand it over as "service fees."

Nor that, as of last night, he'd officially "eaten" the bunny girl.

"Huh?" Mafuyu shot him a sharp look, unconvinced.

Law-abiding?

Who was it again who had barged into her home and done that to her without permission?

She swallowed her indignation, forcing her eyes back to the menu.

But the moment she saw the prices, all her fleeting courage melted away.

In the end, her trembling finger landed on the two cheapest items she could find — a salad and a simple appetizer tucked in the corner of the page.

"Th-this is enough for me…"

Her voice was so quiet it sounded like she was spending her own money, not his.

Takuma gave her a look that was equal parts amused and helpless.

He didn't argue. Instead, he waved to the waiter. "What do you recommend?"

The waiter immediately listed off the house specials — Australian lobster, Kobe beef, and a parade of luxurious dishes that could make anyone's credit card cry.

What caught him by surprise was that the head chef here turned out to be a graduate of Totsuki Culinary Academy.

Takuma had already realized this world was a mashup of many anime — he'd heard plenty about Totsuki, so Food Wars was definitely in, spotted girls from Uma Musume, and even picked up on signs of Highschool of the Dead.

Step by step, he kept moving forward, quietly planning for the future.

"Hmm…"

Takuma nodded casually after the waiter finished.

Then, under Mafuyu's horrified stare, he said to the waiter: "Bring us one of everything you just listed."

"W-Wait—!"

She lurched forward, about to protest, when he simply raised a finger and lightly pressed it against her lips.

The soft, warm touch set her entire face ablaze.

Every word of protest died in her throat.

All she could do was sit there in a daze, watching as the waiter bowed and left.

This man she had taken in…

What the hell did he do last night? Rob a bank?

Takuma wiped the lipstick off his fingertip with a napkin, looking entirely unbothered.

Soon, dish after dish — each one looking like an edible work of art — was placed before them.

The rich aroma filled the air, overwhelming Mafuyu's senses and temporarily driving away her fear of the prices.

She carefully cut a small piece of Kobe beef and put it in her mouth.

The melt-in-your-mouth texture made her blue eyes widen in delight before she could stop herself.

Takuma watched her nibbling like a shy little hamster, lips curling into a smirk. "Tasty?"

"…Mm."

She nodded automatically, then her voice turned small again. "It's good, but… it's too expensive."

"Then eat more."

He sounded almost lazy about it.

"Otherwise, wouldn't I be wasting money?"

Once again, his twisted logic shut her down completely.

She could only channel her frustration into her fork and eat in silence.

Halfway through the meal, Takuma suddenly speared a piece of lobster dripping with sauce and held it out to her.

"Open up."

The command was simple and firm.

"I—I can feed myself!"

Her cheeks turned scarlet, the thought of being hand-fed in such a fancy restaurant making her want to dig a hole to hide in.

Especially with all the stares that felt practically physical on her back…

Takuma didn't say a word, just raised a brow and kept looking at her.

Mafuyu broke first.

She opened her mouth quickly, let him feed her the lobster, then ducked her head and didn't dare meet his gaze again.

She wasn't even sure how she made it through the rest of the meal.

All she knew was that she had come here full of questions and indignation…

But by the time they left, all she had left was a stomach full of expensive food, a heart full of confusion — and a sweetness she absolutely refused to admit to herself.

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