"Senpai, please wait a moment. I'll send Nodoka and the others back first."
Kitahara Makoto said softly.
"Okay." Sakurajima Mai nodded gently. "Thank you for your hard work."
Kitahara Makoto said with a lingering tone:
"If Senpai doesn't scold me a bit, I feel uncomfortable all over..."
Mai crossed her arms over her chest, a look of disdain on her pretty face:
"Scumbag-kun's hobbies are truly unique."
"Very good." Kitahara Makoto's eyes lit up. "That's the look and tone."
Sakurajima Mai: "..."
There were still important matters to handle. After a brief chat with Mai, Kitahara Makoto reluctantly waved goodbye and left the Onsen Village.
Back in the real world, Kitahara Makoto called Hana, then quickly traveled back to the idol agency in Kamakura, and then released the sister-in-law and the others.
"Thank you, Kitahara-kun!"
"Kitahara-kun, we are deeply grateful."
"Kitahara-kun, next time you come to Kamakura to play, you must let us know! We'll treat you!"
"Hurry home, I miss my mom and dad."
"..."
The idol girls bowed in thanks again, eager to say their goodbyes and return home.
"Thank you for today…"
Toyohama Nodoka's expression was complex as she softly thanked Kitahara Makoto.
Kitahara Makoto sighed:
"When Nodoka says thank you, she doesn't even want to call me Brother-in-law."
"Don't call me Nodoka!" Toyohama Nodoka's pretty face flushed slightly, and she couldn't help but puff out her cheeks. "I'm clearly a year older than you, alright? And as for Brother-in-law… wait until you marry big sister!"
They were only dating, yet he wanted someone to call him Brother-in-law? How frivolous!
Too frivolous!
Kitahara Makoto smiled and said:
"It's a done deal. After I graduate high school, I'll marry Mai."
Toyohama Nodoka wrinkled her delicate nose: "That's only if sister agrees."
"…"
After bidding farewell to his sister-in-law, Kitahara Makoto quickly traveled back to the city library. The car he borrowed from the neighbors wife was still parked outside the library; he couldn't just leave it there.
Stepping out of the library, Kitahara Makoto got into the car and drove it directly to the apartment building where Mai lived.
Taking the elevator upstairs, Kitahara Makoto's figure flashed, entering the [Onsen Village], and brought Mai and mother-in-law out.
"I've already sent Nodoka and them back to the office. Here are the neighbors wife's keys…"
Kitahara Makoto spoke while taking out the car keys and placing them on the living room table:
"When Senpai has time, you can return the car keys."
Sakurajima Mai nodded lightly:
"Leave it to me."
"Auntie hasn't woken up yet, so carrying her should be quite difficult," Kitahara Makoto said casually. "Do you want my help?"
"Hmm."
Sakurajima Mai didn't hesitate, softly agreeing:
"Help me assist mom into the bedroom so she can lie down and rest."
Kitahara Makoto looked over in surprise:
"Mai-senpai is really letting me help?"
Sakurajima Mai said calmly:
"I can't carry mom, and besides letting Scumbag-kun help, there's no other way, is there?"
"…"
As they talked, the two helped mother-in-law into the bedroom.
"Let's go, let's get out."
The power had been restored, so Sakurajima Mai turned on the air conditioner, tucked her mother in, and then exited the room with Kitahara Makoto.
"The apartment is so messy." Sakurajima Mai frowned slightly. "Scumbag-kun, help me clean up."
Because of the neighbors wife's intrusion, the apartment was a mess, especially the kitchen, which was in complete disarray.
Kitahara Makoto's eyes lit up:
"Senpai is actually asking me to help clean?"
Sakurajima Mai crossed her arms, expressionless:
"If Scumbag-kun isn't willing, you can go back now."
"One hundred percent willing." Kitahara Makoto simply rolled up his sleeves, full of energy. "Senpai, sit tight. I'll go clean now."
Mai was actually a very independent person who rarely asked others for help. When encountering trouble, she would rather grit her teeth and solve it herself.
Asking Kitahara Makoto to help clean now wasn't treating him as a chore, but clearly a sign that she was slowly letting go of her emotional burden and no longer deliberately keeping her distance from him.
"…"
Sakurajima Mai pursed her rosy lips, took out a rubber band, tied up her flowing hair, and then cleaned with Kitahara Makoto.
When men and women work together, the work isn't tiring.
The messy room quickly became clean and tidy.
"Senpai, I'm going back first," Kitahara Makoto clapped his hands. "I'll come over again tonight. Text me if anything comes up."
"Okay."
Watching Kitahara Makoto leave, Sakurajima Mai stood in the living room, suddenly feeling the house become quiet.
Back in Tokyo.
Unbeknownst to them, it was already noon.
The girls all chose to say goodbye and go home, because of the typhoon, their parents were mostly at home resting.
So there was no way they could have lunch together today.
"Eh, no free lunch today?"
Yamada Ryo's eyes widened, her face showing an expression as if the sky had fallen:
"It's over, I'll have to eat grass in the park again this afternoon."
Kitahara Makoto said speechlessly:
"It's still raining outside, there's no way to go to the park in this weather, is there?"
"That makes sense."
The despair on Yamada Ryo's face suddenly vanished. She extended her right hand, her face full of anticipation:
"Please give me one thousand yen."
Kitahara Makoto was expressionless:
"The reason?"
Yamada Ryo said confidently:
"Of course, it's for food. Kitahara wouldn't want to see me get soaked in the heavy rain and then catch a cold and fever, would he?"
It had to be you. Others at most borrow money, but you directly ask for it!
Kitahara Makoto: "Wouldn't one thousand yen be a bit little?"
"It is indeed too little. I want to eat conveyor belt sushi for lunch today." Yamada Ryo's eyes sparkled. "If possible, please give me two thousand yen, I can also accept five thousand yen…"
"Ryo, that's enough!"
Nijika hadn't left yet. Seeing Ryo being so greedy, she finally couldn't listen anymore and quickly pulled Ryo aside.
"Lunch doesn't cost that much money at all. Come back with me, I'll prepare the meal."
Yamada Ryo shook her head:
"It's too late, none of us can go back."
"Eh?" Nijika was startled. "What do you mean?"
Ryo leaned close to Nijika's ear, whispering:
"Look at Kitahara's eyes."
Nijika turned her head in confusion, looking at Kitahara Makoto. The moment her gaze met his, she felt as if her eyes had been burned, her heart rate suddenly accelerated, and she quickly shyly averted her gaze.
(His gaze… is terrible!)
Ryo continued to whisper:
"Kitahara's gaze is like he wants to devour us. What I saw on Twitter was indeed correct. Nijika, just watch, Kitahara will immediately find an excuse to trick us into staying."
No sooner had she finished speaking than Kitahara Makoto spoke:
"Ryo-senpai, don't eat grass, be careful of diarrhea. I have some instant hot bento boxes stored in the [Onsen Village]. Ryo can eat as much as she wants, no problem."
Nijika: "…"
(Ryo actually guessed it…)
(It's midday now!)
(Is it true that in a boy's head, besides violence, there's really only that kind of thing?!)
"Well, then I won't be polite, I'm indeed hungry." Ryo said nonchalantly, "But to be safe, I want to be with Nijika."
Nijika: "…"
(No way!)
(It's not safe at all to be with you!)
"I, I'm going back." Nijika's pretty face was crimson, and she quickly shook her head in shame. "Sister is still waiting for me at home."
Kitahara Makoto's gaze was burning:
"Seika-nee is almost thirty, not a child. She can completely take care of herself. The live house won't be open tonight, Nijika-senpai should eat lunch before going back."
"Nijika, save me~."
Yamada Ryo continued to whisper:
"Kitahara's gaze is so scary, he must be super rough. Nijika wouldn't want me to get broken, would she?"
Nijika: "…"
As Shimokitazawa's great angel, Nijika had been kind-hearted since childhood and couldn't bear to see others suffer.
If she left Ryo alone, Ryo might really get broken…
While hesitating, Nijika suddenly felt someone grasp her right hand. She looked up in a panic and saw Kitahara Makoto's burning gaze:
"Nijika-senpai hasn't said anything, so it seems you've agreed."
Nijika's pretty face was crimson, and she quickly denied:
"I, I didn't agree."
"It's too late to refuse now," Ryo tilted her head and reminded. "Everyone else has left."
"Eh?"
Nijika nervously looked around and realized that everyone had already left. In the large living room, only she and Kitahara's three figures remained.
Hana wasn't human, so she didn't count.
"Let's go, to the [Onsen Village]."
Kitahara Makoto held Nijika and Ryo on his left and right, and his figure flashed, disappearing from sight.
Time quietly flowed by.
It wasn't until two o'clock in the afternoon that the three of them quietly returned.
"Makoto-kun, you're back?"
A pleasant voice with no emotional fluctuation sounded.
Nijika turned her head in a panic and saw Mutsumi sitting on the sofa, her eyes wide as she looked over. She quickly shamefully struggled free from Kitahara Makoto's support, but her legs went weak and she almost fell.
"Hana-chan, s-send me back!"
Nijika shamefully looked down at her toes, not daring to look up at anyone.
Hana rose upon hearing this and came to Nijika and Ryo's side with her short legs.
The three walked into the bathroom. Nijika finally let out a sigh of relief. Just as she was about to speak, she suddenly saw Hana looking at her with a tilted head.
"Hana-chan, what's wrong?"
Nijika asked, puzzled.
Hana said expressionlessly:
"Mom, there's writing on your leg."
"…"
Nijika's head immediately let out a whoosh of steam.
Ryo's expression was composed as she explained from the side:
"Those are tally marks, often used for counting…"
"Don't, don't say it!" Nijika quickly covered her skirt, utterly mortified, "Let's go home quickly!"
"…"
"Kitahara-san, your remuneration has been issued…"
Kitahara Makoto had just sat down on the sofa, ready to relax with some Dave the Diver, when he received a message from the official liaison.
"Not bad."
Kitahara Makoto nodded in satisfaction.
After a busy morning, the officials had given him a full ten million yen in compensation, which included payment for providing information and for pest control.
Not only that, but Hana had devoured many 'desserts', and the accumulated energy could be used to aid its next evolution. It was truly a win-win situation.
"It's just that mysterious girl… she's intriguing."
The hooded girl's figure flashed through Kitahara Makoto's mind.
He had already asked the official liaison, but unfortunately, the liaison said they had no information about her. She was likely a civilian ability user, just like Kitahara Makoto.
"Makoto-kun, want some cucumber?"
A girl's expectant voice suddenly fell into his ears.
Kitahara Makoto turned his head to look and saw Mutsumi had sat down beside him at some point, holding up a fresh, tender cucumber, her eyes looking over expectantly.
There are still cucumbers?
He had already eaten two this morning, and she could still produce more now. Just how many cucumbers did you plant!
Kitahara Makoto reached out and directly pulled Mutsumi onto his lap:
"Eat cucumber!"
"…"
It was seven o'clock in the evening in a flash.
"Mai-senpai, I'm here."
Kitahara Makoto stepped out of the full-length mirror and arrived at Mai's apartment.
"How is mother-in-law doing now?"
Sakurajima Mai gently shook her head:
"She hasn't woken up yet."
Although the cursed mist had dissipated, the after-effects it caused had not disappeared.
Those unlucky people who inhaled the mist would go mad like zombies in Resident Evil, needing to be restrained. In comparison, Mai's mom only fell into a coma, which was already quite good.
Kitahara Makoto opened his backpack, took out the Moon-Star Chalice, and placed it on the balcony:
"This cup can automatically absorb Moonstar flower essence. The speed is faster when the weather is good and slower when the weather is bad. Once the cup is full, feed it to mother-in-law, and she should be able to wake up."
Sakurajima Mai softly said:
"Thank you."
Kitahara Makoto heard this and said:
"Please exchange 'thank you' for a kiss."
Sakurajima Mai crossed her arms over her chest, her pretty face hardening:
"No kiss."
Kitahara Makoto raised his hand: "Kneel-pillow is fine too."
Sakurajima Mai: "No kneel-pillow."
Kitahara Makoto sighed: "If not, Mai-senpai, like after we get married, help me scrub my back…"
"Hmm?"
Sakurajima Mai's dark eyebrows quickly shot up.
"I'm sorry, I was wrong, please forgive me." Kitahara Makoto simply changed the subject, "Mai, have you eaten dinner yet?"
Sakurajima Mai turned her pretty face away and said:
"I have."
Kitahara Makoto's gaze swept over: "You ate bread?"
"Yes."
"Bread won't do." Kitahara Makoto walked towards the kitchen, "I'll make some simple dishes."
"…"
Sakurajima Mai sat on the sofa, watching the busy figure in the kitchen, and suddenly felt the cold atmosphere that had persisted throughout the afternoon quietly dissipate.
After dinner, the Moon-Star Chalice on the balcony was just full.
"You can take it to feed Auntie now." Kitahara Makoto brought the cup in. Inside were dreamlike, fragmented starlight, looking exceptionally beautiful. "Mai-senpai, do you want me to go back first?"
"No need." Sakurajima Mai gently shook her head, "Scumbag-kun, come in with me."
"Then I'll help."
Kitahara Makoto agreed.
The two walked into the room together. Kitahara Makoto helped the unconscious mother-in-law sit up, leaning her against the headboard, and then Sakurajima Mai was responsible for feeding her the Moonstar flower.
As a cup of the miraculous healing medicine was drunk, mother-in-law, who had been in a deep coma, her eyelashes trembled slightly and she soon opened her eyes. The first thing she saw was her daughter sitting by the bed, her voice still very weak:
"Mai… are you alright?"
Sakurajima Mai's long eyelashes trembled slightly, and she quickly lowered her gaze, her expression calm as she said:
"I'm fine. Since mom is awake, please go back."
"Wait, who is he?"
Mother-in-law's gaze shifted, finally seeing Kitahara Makoto beside her, and then her slender dark eyebrows quickly furrowed.
"Good evening, Auntie. I am Kitahara Makoto. It's a pleasure to meet you for the first time. Please take care of me."
Kitahara Makoto was neither humble nor arrogant as he greeted her.
He had met her in the Dream World, but this was indeed their first meeting in the real world.
The woman did not respond, but instead frowned, her gaze sweeping across the room:
"Mai, this is your apartment, right? And it's already dark outside the window. Why is there a strange boy in your apartment? You are an actress, you can't…"
"…Enough!"
Sakurajima Mai couldn't help but interrupt, decisively grasping Kitahara Makoto's right hand, intertwining their fingers as she said:
"Kitahara is my boyfriend. He just greeted you, and you completely ignored him. That's too rude!"
Trying to communicate peacefully with her mom, it was indeed impossible, because as soon as she opened her mouth, she would only interfere with her life.
"I'm no longer an actress, and I haven't thought about making a comeback!" Sakurajima Mai's aura was fully unleashed, like a queen, "And I'll be graduating from high school next year, so I can choose my own life!"
Kitahara Makoto stood quietly by, not interjecting.
The rift between mom and daughter was quite deep; a few words simply couldn't clarify it.
The woman frowned slightly and said:
"Mom is doing this for your own good…"
Sakurajima Mai retorted sharply:
"For my own good, so you made your middle school daughter pose for swimsuit magazines?"
Once she started communicating with mom, Mai's sanity would begin to plummet rapidly.
The woman said in a low voice:
"That matter is in the past, and it was also for your own good…"
Sakurajima Mai said coldly: "You've said the same thing many times. If there's nothing else, please leave quickly and don't disturb Kitahara-kun and me."
The woman's gaze shifted, looking at Kitahara Makoto, and she frowned:
"Mai, even if you don't want to listen to me, you don't need to specifically find someone to deceive me."
"…You think I'm deceiving you?"
Sakurajima Mai let out a soft breath, turned to look at Kitahara Makoto, and then decisively stood on her tiptoes, leaning in to kiss Kitahara Makoto.
"H-how could this be…"
The woman's eyes widened, watching Sakurajima Mai kiss the strange boy in front of her, and finally realized she had guessed wrong.
Mai was her daughter, with whom she had grown up relying on each other, so she naturally understood Mai's personality. She knew that beneath her daughter's cold exterior, her personality was actually exceptionally conservative. If she were to find someone to pretend to be her boyfriend, holding hands would be the limit; it would be absolutely impossible to kiss in front of her… So, Mai was really in a relationship with the boy in front of her?
Pop~
With a soft sound, Sakurajima Mai and Kitahara Makoto finally separated, a silver thread quickly stretching and breaking at the corners of their lips.
Sakurajima Mai raised her hand to wipe away the thread from the corner of her lips, then turned to look at mom:
"Do you still think I'm deceiving you now?"
"Mai, you actually…"
The woman finally couldn't maintain her composure:
"Why didn't you tell me about your relationship with someone?"
Sakurajima Mai placed her right hand on her lower abdomen, delivering another ten thousand points of critical damage to mother-in-law:
"Didn't I also not tell you about having a child?"