"Miss Mifuyu Yukino, aren't you curious about what Kazuma-kun and Mom went to do?" Suiren placed the peeled orange in front of Miss Yuki-Onna.
Suiren envied Mifuyu Yukino's mature and gentle demeanor. She had always felt that her mother was the most beautiful and perfect woman, and even she couldn't compare. But seeing this Miss Mifuyu Yukino, she felt pressure. There was actually another woman who could be on par with her mother? In front of Miss Mifuyu Yukino, she felt a bit inferior.
"I am just Kazuma's assistant," Mifuyu Yukino smiled gently, taking the girl's orange and breaking it in half. "Even if you ask me, I don't know."
"But Miss Mifuyu Yukino's temperament doesn't seem like an assistant's at all," Suiren's eyes were filled with curiosity. "I just feel that your relationship with Kazuma-kun is not ordinary."
Aoi sat beside her sister without speaking. Apart from occasionally stealing a few glances at the beautiful woman opposite her, she made no other movements. She kept her head down and said nothing, though of course, her ears were pricked up, quietly listening to their conversation.
"Miss Suiren seems very concerned about Kazuma? Otherwise, why would you care about his affairs?" Mifuyu Yukino teased. "If you really want to know, I can tell you some of Kazuma's secrets—if you're truly curious."
The Yuki-Onna's gaze carried a deeper meaning, making Suiren avoid it with a guilty conscience. "I—I don't really want to know. I was just asking casually..."
"Just asking casually, huh," Mifuyu Yukino smiled and stood up. "Alright then."
"Where is Miss Mifuyu Yukino going?"
"I'm just going to take a look around and do a bit of research. If Kazuma asks, Miss Suiren, please remember to tell him for me."
She knew Kazuma was busy doing something improper with that Tohka-sensei right now, so she didn't disturb him. Taking this opportunity to explore the town, Mifuyu Yukino winked at Nanakamado Nanaka, who was floating above her head. The ghost girl returned the look before following her out.
After they left, Aoi, who had remained silent the whole time, finally looked up. "Sister Suiren, is what she said true?"
"What do you mean?"
"Do you really care about that guy?" Aoi said in a low voice. "He doesn't look like a good person at all. His background is suspicious, his intentions seem questionable, and he talks nonsense..."
Aoi's gaze toward her sister was complicated. Her sister clearly should have had feelings for Qiren-senpai, so why was she involved with that person? She didn't think Mifuyu Yukino was joking. Her sister usually kept her emotions hidden, but in front of that person, she was clearly different.
"Aoi, you shouldn't speak ill of others like that," Suiren said gently, reaching out to stroke Aoi's hair. "You have some prejudice against Kazuma-kun and have misunderstood him. He's not as bad as you think."
"Sister Suiren, you only just met him, right? And you're already defending him."
"I'm just stating the facts. No matter what, he saved me, didn't he?" Suiren lowered her gaze. "If it weren't for him, your sister would have already died in the mountains and become food for a black bear."
"..."
That was the one point Aoi couldn't argue against. She let her sister stroke her hair, keeping her head lowered in silence. A complex emotion flickered in her eyes, and the hostility in her heart toward him faded by more than half. Indeed, if it weren't for him, she would never have seen her sister again.
Thinking of this, Aoi's mood and thoughts began to change.
"I understand, Sister Suiren. I'll thank him if I get the chance," she said, blinking with curiosity. "So is that why your attitude toward him is special?"
"Hm? Is my attitude really that special? Though Kazuma-kun is indeed quite remarkable."
This young man from Tokyo—his strange abilities when facing the black bear, the shocking moment when he saved her, his search for supernatural powers, and even the ghosts he mentioned—all these strange elements combined made him seem even more mysterious.
So, under her sister's suspicious gaze, she didn't deny it. "It's not just me. Even Mom's attitude toward him is unusual, which just shows that Kazuma-kun is truly someone special."
Seeing her sister actually admit it, the perceptive Aoi seemed to realize something. Her eyes widened in shock. "Sister Suiren, could it be that you..."
Suiren smiled, her lips parting slightly. "He's a good person, and I don't dislike him. Maybe... I can give it a try."
She didn't know if it was because she had embarrassed herself so much in front of him, making it impossible to hide her emotions anymore, but because of that, she felt more at ease and no longer needed to suppress her feelings.
Moreover, after their ambiguous interactions, Suiren realized that she didn't reject his closeness.
The thought that had once crossed her mind grew stronger—if she were to choose someone to begin a new relationship with, then Kazuma would be the most suitable candidate.
"Yo, good afternoon."
Just as she was thinking of him, Kazuma came out. However, Kazuma's expression was slightly unnatural. Having just eaten up someone's mother, he naturally felt very guilty at this moment.
Originally, Kazuma hadn't planned to come out, but when he noticed an exclamation mark appearing above Suiren's head, he had no choice but to come over and see what was going on.
A new order came in?
"Kazuma-kun, where is Okāsan?"
"Oh, her? She's probably still busy," Kazuma's eyes shifted left and right as he casually deflected the question. "I just heard you all talking about me?"
"Yes, we were quite curious," Suiren nodded. The gentle girl kept looking at Kazuma, as if struggling with something. "I always feel like you're very mysterious, Kazuma-kun. By the way… do you have a girlfriend?"
"Ah?"
"Well…"
Perhaps it was her first time saying something like this, and she was too shy to speak openly, but Miss Suiren still brushed a strand of hair behind her ear and whispered, "If you don't mind… would you like to try dating?"
In the clear sky, it felt as though thunder roared, as if five bolts of lightning had struck at once. Kazuma was completely dumbfounded, his expression full of question marks. "Dating? You and me?"
Aoi was just as shocked. She had guessed her sister's intentions, but she hadn't expected her to act so quickly—or so boldly.
"I am a beautiful girl, after all… though that sounds a bit like bragging," she stuck out her tongue shyly. "I should still be quite charming."
Kazuma forced a smile. "I heard Tohka mention that you already have someone you like, right?"
Her smile suddenly stiffened. "You… you know?"
"That was all in the past. Just childhood feelings. Now that I've grown up, things are naturally different…"
The system's wish list flickered.
[Wish List (Suiren): Wants to start a relationship to forget her childhood friend]
Kazuma looked at Suiren's somewhat forced smile, then at the complicated expression on Aoi's face, and finally at the revealed wish list. A million alpacas seemed to stampede through his mind. One wants revenge, and the other wants to forget her childhood friend.
And you both want to date me? Truly worthy of being mother and daughter.
"That sounds reasonable, but I'm sorry, Miss Suiren—I refuse."
"Eh?"
Both she and Aoi were stunned.
Kazuma's expression turned strange. "Actually, I already have a woman, and you've both met her. So… I'm sorry."
Suiren's face turned slightly pale. She forced an awkward smile, clearly embarrassed. "This is my first time being rejected, Kazuma-kun. But since you already have a girlfriend, there's nothing I can do. Is it Miss Mifuyu Yukino? She really is very beautiful."
Facing her probing gaze, Kazuma only smiled mysteriously. "You'll find out soon enough."
Inside, however, he was already complaining wildly. Being used as a tool by Tohka was one thing—that was a deal, and he was helping her. But Miss Suiren, aren't you going a bit too far? What's with this strong feeling of being a backup option?!
I don't want to be a backup option!
Kazuma snorted, then turned and walked away leisurely with his hands behind his back. As for the wish list—damn it! He wasn't doing that stupid wish. Besides, he wasn't short on secret tools or rewards.
As for being a backup option… whoever wants that role can take it.
Even after Kazuma disappeared from sight, Suiren still hadn't snapped out of her daze. As for Aoi, her opinion of Kazuma had completely changed. This guy had actually rejected her sister without the slightest hesitation.
Not even a hint of temptation.
As for his claim that he had a girlfriend, Aoi felt it was just an excuse to refuse. It seemed he had already seen through her sister's intentions. She absentmindedly twirled a strand of her hair around her finger, lost in thought.
In the corridor corner, when Kazuma arrived, Tohka was already standing there. The lingering traces of their earlier passion were hidden beneath her clothes, completely invisible, but her beautiful face still carried a blush that hadn't faded.
"I thought you would agree right away."
Her proud figure approached the young man. "I didn't expect you to refuse."
"How could I? Do I look like that kind of person?" Kazuma frowned, then declared righteously, "Teacher Tohka, you said you didn't want me getting too close to your daughter, so of course I wouldn't mess around. I've always been a man of principles!"
Kazuma practically had "upright and righteous" written all over his face, completely skipping over the real reason.
Well? Aren't you touched?
"Is that so? Suiren is so beautiful, and you're not tempted at all? You're already building a harem anyway—one more wouldn't hurt, right?"
Her calm rhetorical question didn't sound touched at all. Kazuma's mouth twitched, and he let out a quiet sigh. "She is very beautiful—how could I not be tempted? It's just that, Teacher Tohka, you're already upset because of your husband's infidelity. If I made a move on your daughter, it would probably provoke you even more, so I decided against it."
"I can't bring myself to rub salt in your wounds."
Hearing this, Tohka finally reacted. A trace of awkwardness appeared on her delicate face. "Sweet talk… ugh!"
"So, Teacher Tohka, you should compensate me, alright~"
Kazuma pressed her against the wall, with only that wall separating them from her two daughters.
"Wait… there's something. That man just called. He's coming home tonight…"
!!!
How did his cock get even bigger?!
*****
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