Togawa Mizuho picked up her teacup in a leisurely manner and took a sip, "I still have a clear enough self-awareness. I'm old now and have lost my charm. I won't go sticking around you young people as a third wheel, lest I get disliked by my drafty little cotton-padded jacket. Just stay outside peacefully, don't worry about home."
"I-I'm not disliking Mom", The blue-haired girl's little face turned slightly red. She also realized that her reaction just now might've been a bit too strong and quickly tried to cover up, "As long as Mom wants to you can visit me anytime. Tokyo's transportation is very developed nowadays. It doesn't take long to get from here to Ikebukuro"
Togawa Mizuho looked at her steadily, and only when the girl lowered her head guiltily did she curl her lips and draw out her voice.
"Then I'll just remember what you said. If I come visit someday, Sakiko won't find Mom annoying, right?"
"Of course not!", Returning to her soft and sweet tone, Sakiko earnestly made a promise that she would regret countless times in the future, "As long as Mom comes, I'll always welcome you!"
The next day, Shuka Academy.
Perhaps because the school festival was approaching, the atmosphere on campus recently was very relaxed.
Those who submitted performances were busy rehearsing, preparing to shine during the shows.
Those who didn't submit performances weren't idle eithereither contributing to the class projects or busy watching the excitement.
Kaito was no exception. His class had already decided to host a maid caf, and he was called to the office by Hiratsuka-sensei for a request, to do a cameo as a male butler. She even emphasized that he didn't need to actually serve customers, just put on the outfit, serving more like an oiran in an ancient brothel, used primarily to attract guests.
As for what if a guest insisted on naming the "oiran" to serve them?
Sorry, me wearing a butler outfit I'm here to serve you. Inequality resolved instantly.
Shizuka's attitude was very nice, no coercion, only enticement. Not only did she give him full autonomy, she also said the teacher owed him a favor. In the future, if he had anything he needed help with, like wanting a leave of absence or such, she'd absolutely open the green channel for him.
So Kaito thought about it and agreed.
Not because he was swayed by Hiratsuka-sensei's conditions, most of the time, he was pretty easy to talk to. Besides, it wasn't a troublesome request anyway, might as well do it to kill time.
It was lunchtime.
Kaito took out the bento he'd prepared in the morning, ready to eat lunch.
Bzz~ Bzz~
The phone beside him suddenly vibrated twice.
[Togawa Sakiko: President, President! I have good news for you!]
[Togawa Sakiko: I can go home today!]
Even through the screen, the girl's joy was tangible, making him slightly puzzled.
'It has only been two days of going home with her mom, why does Secretary Sakiko sound like she is being released from prison?'
He thought about it, but didn't rush to ask. Instead, he responded normally.
[Kaito: That's good.]
[Kaito: I'll buy some groceries tonight, give you a welcome-home meal.]
On the other end of the screen, little Sakiko had been sitting with her phone the whole time, a sweet smile on her face. Though in Togawa Mizuho's eyes, it must've looked like "silly giggling."
[Togawa Sakiko: That's too much trouble for you, President, isn't it?]
[Togawa Sakiko: Just some simple home-cooked dishes will do. It's been so long since I tasted the President's cooking. No matter what it is, I'll gratefully eat it all up.]
[Kaito: It hasn't been that long, has it? Just a few days.]
[Kaito: But I understand your meaning. Do you need me to come pick you up?]
[Togawa Sakiko: No need, someone's sending me back.]
[Togawa Sakiko: But President, being too considerate will make girls misunderstand, you know~]
This was a harmless little joke. Perhaps because it was through a screen, Secretary Sakiko's courage was a bit greater than usual. Things she couldn't say face to face, she could now casually tap out on the keyboard and send without thinking too much.
A new message popped up in the chat window.
[Kaito: I rarely show concern for outsiders.]
[Kaito: But you're worth this special treatment.] [T/N: KO]
This is the value of Togawa Sakiko.
Not only his number one general under his command, but also handling the entire agency's affairs singlehandedly. At times, she even commuted at her own expense, a true SpongeBob of the 21st century.
Who could dislike such a diligent and hardworking secretary?
Togawa Mizuho, sipping red tea from the side, found it strange. How did the silly daughter who'd just been giggling at her phone suddenly freeze?
But before she could ask twice out of concern, the twin-tailed girl with long draped hair suddenly sprang up from the sofa. Her long blue hair lifted with the motion, blooming like a cornflower. The air-conditioned breeze carried the scent of citrus past her tips, but it couldn't blow away the faint blush blooming on her pale cheeks.
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Chapter 226: Chihaya Anon: If Without Kaito-kun, Watashi!
Waited for a long time but still didn't get a reply from secretary Sakiko.
At the very top of the chat bar, that blue-and-white bicolor masked avatar quickly dimmed down, obviously already offline.
Kaito didn't mind either, just thought the girl was busy with something, just put away the phone, about to enjoy lunch, when a familiar pink milky dragon came up to him with a fawning smile on her face.
"Kurumizaka-kun~"
Chihaya Anon clapped her small hands, extremely "surprised" and exclaimed, "What a coincidence, turns out you're also going to have lunch!"
"...", Kaito was silent for two seconds, rendered speechless by this nonsensical pink-haired girl.
"Chihaya-San, do you want to hear what you're saying?"
'What is this "turns out I'm also going to have lunch"? Is me eating lunch something very hard to understand?'
Anon also realized that her opening line seemed a bit stupid, not matching her goddess-like image of being ice-snow smart and orchid-hearted, quickly coughed and shifted the topic, "If it's convenient, can I also sit here and eat my bento?"
Kaito didn't understand what medicine she was selling in her gourd, but having lunch together between friends was nothing, so he nodded.
"I don't mind."
Although Tokyo anon was a bit plain, her personality was first-rate chivalrous, not the least bit wishy-washy.
She moved her chair over and plopped right next to him, then opened the bento box, didn't even pick up her chopsticks, just stared at him with those big gray eyes, not blinking at all.
"Chihaya-San, do you need something?", Kaito felt a bit helpless. Although he had long gotten used to all kinds of gazes from the outside, Anon getting so close was already disturbing his eating.
"Ahem! I already said, don't call me Chihaya-San anymore, just call me Anon, or Anon-chan is also okay."
The pink-haired girl in front gently coughed, said seriously, "As exchange, I'll also call you Kaito or how about Kaito-kun?"
"Forget it, suit yourself."
Kaito shook his head, "So Anon, you suddenly coming up here, what exactly is the matter?"
"Of course it's to get a little closer to Kaito-kun ahem, fine, I admit, there really is a teeny-tiny little matter"
Anon put her hands together, looked over pitifully, "Can I ask Kaito-kun to be my boyfriend?"
Kaito: "..."
Kaito: "?"
Superior family background, enlightened parents, and a childhood growing up in an environment full of love.
The sunny horn girl named "Chihaya Anon", should have been soaking in a honey jar, living a happy life without any bumps.
And in fact, that was indeed the case.
From childhood to now, Anon had always been an absolute top student. Because of her cheerful personality and talent in socializing, every time she appeared in a crowd, she would always become the absolute center of attention.
Since junior high, she had served as student council president. With top grades and an extraordinarily strong affinity, she easily gathered a bunch of fans on campus and was the idol in the hearts of many fangirls.
If the world were a novel, obviously, Anon should be holding the script of a "main character", and a "Mary Sue" main character at that.
But fate never lacks surprises.
After graduating from high school, Anon who went to study in London, welcomed the first Waterloo of her life.
She couldn't communicate normally with the students around her.
Actually, as a top student, Anon's foreign language grades weren't bad, but she carried the unique accent of Japan, so it sounded strange and made it very hard for people to understand her.
No matter how strong the affinity, at this moment it lost its effect.
Because she couldn't communicate normally with classmates, she gradually became resistant to talking with outsiders.
And because she resisted talking with outsiders, her accent had even less chance to improve, forming a vicious cycle.
The girl who could never adapt to the life of studying abroad finally chose to flee in shame.
She packed her bags, went through withdrawal procedures, flew back alone to her homeland, wanting to start a brand new life of her own.
At first, everything went smoothly.
Although the "London deserter" dark history sounded embarrassing, in the new school, as long as she didn't say it, no one would know.
But alas, man proposes, heaven disposes.
Yesterday when going home from school, Anon accidentally bumped into a former junior high female underclassman on the train.
That girl used to be a student council member, and was even one of her little fans. Seeing her former idol again, she was clearly very excited.
After an enthusiastic chat, she couldn't help but ask about Anon's current situation.
"President, why are you here?"
"I remember you were supposed to be studying abroad in London, did something happen?"
Facing the concerned and worried gaze of her little fan, Anon looked like she was smiling, but inside was already screaming and rolling.
There's no way she could tell the other party that it was because she couldn't adapt to life abroad so she became a deserter, right?
Wouldn't that just destroy the image of her omnipotent president persona with her own hands?
Maybe it would even become a joke in her previous social circle.
["That Chihaya Anon, always pretended to be some kind of model student, but in the end still slunk back from London like a dog."]
Even with her toes Anon could guess, cold ridicule like this would definitely be endless.
This was normal. After all, there were people who liked her, so naturally there were those who hated her. In the past they couldn't do anything to her, now given the chance to kick her when she's down, they definitely wouldn't miss it.
To avoid such a terrible future, Anon's brain spun at high speed.
She had to come up with a way to muddle through.
She needed a reasonable, at least convincing excuse to explain why she returned from London.
But the incident happened so suddenly, the completely unprepared girl's CPU was almost smoking, still had no clue.
At the critical moment, it was a stage play poster for "Romeo and Juliet" on the train that gave her inspiration.
Seeing the junior high school girl's gaze getting more and more suspicious, no longer daring to waste time, Anon blurted out, "Of course it's because my boyfriend is also here."
Fine, maybe this excuse was lame too.
But anyway, a plot of "giving up study abroad for love" is still ten thousand times better than a deserter script, right?
Luckily, the other party didn't seem suspicious, who knows what she imagined, she showed a look of sudden realization, and even had a bit of admiration in her eyes when looking at her.
Obviously, this kind of idol drama-like development still had a lot of power on young girls.
Anon let out a sigh of relief, thinking she had managed to muddle through.
Who would have thought, the girl started probing into her and her boyfriend's emotional experience.
Growing up, she had never even held hands with a boy, where would she get some emotional experience?
No choice, to avoid being exposed, she could only start making things up on the spot.
As everyone knows, people can't imagine things they've never seen.
So, to increase the credibility of her words, Anon had no choice but to take people around her as reference.
Coincidentally, Kaito was her only male friend.
So
"Outstandingly handsome like Hikaru Genji"
"Gentle personality"
"Especially nice to her"
"Loves her so much he can't help himself"
Anon was practically reading out a character profile, occasionally mixing in a bit of her own bias.
Sounds a bit exaggerated, but with the idol filter present, the little fan believed every word.
Their student council president was an all-powerful beauty, the boy who could match her must of course be perfect.
However, because of this, she also became very curious about the boy who could win the heart of the president.
So she conveniently invited Anon to join their get-together after school on Friday, and bring her boyfriend along so everyone could check him out.
"In short, that's how things are!"
The pink-haired girl pitifully pounced over, clutching his sleeve and shaking it, "If there's no Kaito-kun, then Watashi"
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Chapter 227: Go Buy Sunflower Seeds for Anon!
"Just because of this kind of reason?"
Kaito couldn't help but raise his hand to his forehead, somewhat at a loss whether to laugh or cry.
Good news: the friendship he carefully maintained had not gone bad, it was just a misunderstanding.
Bad news: it feels... might as well have gone bad.
This kind of "pretending to be boyfriend" plot, in the past he had only seen in all kinds of light novels or manga, it was the first time he experienced such a thing in real life.
Novel, indeed very novel, but helplessness was also truly helpless.
This Tokyo anon always manages to throw some new trick at him from time to time.
