Who Can Resist Nakano Nino? [191]

As soon as Shirase returned to the living room, Nakano Nino quickly turned toward him. “How is she?”

Miku said nothing, quietly watching him, thinking it should be alright.

“Should be alright,” Shirase replied—exactly echoing Miku’s thought.

Miku froze. Reflexively, she glanced at Shirase, who smiled at her meaningfully. Feeling awkward, she quickly looked away.

Damn it, can this guy read minds?

Her cheeks flushed as she turned her head. She understood that smile—it was teasing her for thinking the same thing.

But she also remembered how Shirase had guessed Itsuki’s secret earlier just from her expression.

After a brief moment of embarrassment, Miku admitted defeat—to both Shirase’s sharp observation skills and her own lack of composure. Her face and eyes always gave too much away.

“Really?”

Nino hadn’t noticed Miku’s reaction at all. Hearing Shirase’s words, her expression brightened for a second before turning suspicious again. “You’re not trying to fool me, are you?”

“You don’t even trust me now?” Shirase shot back.

“When did I say I don’t trust you? I’m just—Ah! You jerk, you’re teasing me again, aren’t you!”

His comeback made Nino’s cheeks flush, and her tone faltered—but catching Miku’s disgusted look from the corner of her eye, she immediately snapped back to her usual fiery self.

Which only made Miku look at her with even more disdain.

Isn’t this just flirting in public?
So what if you have a boyfriend—does that make you special?

Miku decisively turned away and stopped watching them.

Less than two minutes after Shirase returned, Nakano Itsuki came jogging out of the room.

Under the concerned gazes of Nino and Miku, Itsuki smiled reassuringly, then ran over, slippers clattering, and hugged Nino tightly.

Then she did the same to Miku.

“Sorry for worrying you,” she said, her face slightly flushed, eyes faintly shining.

“Let go of me!” Miku clearly wasn’t into that kind of sisterly affection.

Nino, on the other hand, sighed in relief and smiled. “Looks like you really are fine, Itsuki.”

Then she glanced at Shirase. “Didn’t expect you to actually have some skills. Guess I underestimated you.”

Shirase lowered his head slightly, leaning close to whisper in her ear, “Underestimating others happens. Like last time, when I gave you that massage in your room—I realized I’d underestimated you too, once I took the measurement myself.”

Nino blinked, confused—What’s that supposed to mean?

Then the memory hit her: last time, when they kissed in her room, his hand had slid up along her waist—and she hadn’t stopped him.

Her face turned crimson in an instant. Embarrassed and furious, she was about to explode when Shirase—predicting it perfectly—bolted. “I’ll check what’s in the fridge! Tonight, the master chef will cook for you!”

Miku and Itsuki immediately cheered.

Nino only pursed her lips, still blushing. You’re lucky you ran fast. But that’s fine—I’ll get you back sooner or later.

Lowering her head, she glanced at her clean, white over-the-knee socks.

After all, I’ve still got a “hostage.”

Considering how obsessed that guy was with her legs and stockings, she was sure she’d find the perfect chance to “discipline” him someday.

When that time comes, I’ll step on him—with my stocking-covered feet!

...

After making dinner together with Nino, Shirase left without staying to eat.

He hadn’t told Kojima Kana, and knowing that silly woman, she was definitely still waiting for him at home.

Sure enough, when he got back, he saw her dozing at the dining table, chin resting on her hand.

“You’re back! Were you delayed by training? You’re so late,” Kojima Kana said brightly, smiling up at him.

“No training today—I dropped by the Nakano household,” Shirase replied after changing his shoes and washing his hands. Sitting down, he added, “Perfect timing, since I haven’t eaten yet. Let me try Kana-nee’s cooking.”

Kana beamed and started piling food onto his plate. “Then eat up… Oh, right—Kirisu-sensei messaged me earlier. Your match has been set for next Tuesday. It’s an away game.”

“Got it.”

After dinner, Shirase shared the news in the soccer club group chat. As expected, the chat instantly blew up.

[Captain]: Next Tuesday? Perfect! I’m going to practice juggling right now—I won’t sleep till I hit a thousand!
[Shirase Haruto]: Captain, who do you think you are, Might Guy?
[Isshiki Iroha]: Looks like I’ll be working overtime again. Don’t worry, everyone, I’ll have the info sorted by Sunday!
[Hayama Hayato]: Why Sunday and not Saturday? Isn’t tomorrow a day off?
[Isshiki Iroha]: Because I have a date tomorrow~ seaside amusement park! 😳

Shirase stared at that message for a moment, then chuckled softly.

Of course—clever little Isshiki Iroha, always flaunting things like that.

Just as he expected, the moment she mentioned her “date,” the group chat exploded with teasing.

[Who’s the lucky guy who stole our lovely manager?]

Shirase scrolled quietly, smirking.

“As for intel,” he muttered, “I’ll just leave it to the system.”

He had no interest in combing through endless online reports or sports blogs—that was Iroha’s specialty anyway.

Instead, he decided he’d head to Toyogasaki Academy tomorrow and settle things directly through [Immersive Hosting].

Luckily, most schools had club activities on Saturdays. If he could meet their players in person, he could just “memorize the board” in the system.

Kirisu-sensei had mentioned their next opponent wasn’t particularly strong…

But still—know yourself and know your enemy, and you’ll win every battle.

...

Saturday arrived.

Shirase tutored the Nakano quintuplets as usual.

As he’d predicted, Nakano Miku was now the most motivated among the five.

That little strategy he’d used on Nino was still proving effective.

Itsuki and Yotsuba were also working hard. Nino, of course, didn’t need to be told—being Shirase’s official girlfriend, she was determined not to fall behind.

Only Ichika stayed the same as ever, always finding ways to slack off.

That made Shirase wonder if he should use the same trick on her that he’d used with Miku.

Just as he was thinking about it, right before their lunch break, Nakano Ichika approached him.

“Shirase, could you help me out?”

---

This is a fan translation of 谁能拒绝中野二乃呢？by 六花吖六花. Rights to the original work belong to the creator. Please support them by exploring their original work or sharing it with others if you can. Thank you for reading and supporting my efforts to bring this story to a wider audience!