Youshin is really leaning hard into the boyfriend role knowing full well it's "just a punishment game", but without re-reading I'm wondering if he's just a natural actor or has he actually developed feelings for her too as well? I'd like to think he does have genuine feelings for her considering the whole almost-marriage-proposal thing he did in front of her parents, very few male leads have the guts to do that, and on the very first meeting with them too.
That was an excellent defense by Nanami. She sure turned the tables on those gossipy girls, leaving them red in the face with her... carefully selected phrasing. She's technically not lying so she can say it with full confidence.
"I can't think of any other man when he holds me in his arms..."
There is also some room for ambiguity in this, and further drives home the point that she's already on that level of intimacy with him.
My biggest surprise comes from the ex-love rival senpai being his biggest love advisor now. This is the perfect chance for him to sabotage Youshin, but I guess he's really just a himbo who couldn't think of such sly and cowardly things. Yeah, I'm still wary of that guy. The protagonist is much more trusting than I am.
IMO Youshin has been a good male lead so far, but I feel like I want to deduct points from him for getting flustered over the idea of an indirect kiss. I mean, the guy was able to practically propose marriage to Nanami's parents (and actually secure their approval!) but he can't handle an indirect kiss? Some adults can't even handle the marriage proposal thing well...
Wasn't Nanami's mother named Tomoko? It's Mutsuko now here, so I'm confused. I'll just note both names for now.