Togawa Sakiko silently recalled her mom's culinary level in her mind You couldn't say it was "delicious beyond words." It was more like a chemical weapon. Even rats would have to say, "The most poisonous thing is a woman's heart."
Kaito didn't know about any of this. He had originally planned to refuse, but seeing Togawa Mizuho's expectant expression, he thought about it and, considering she was Sakiko's mother and also a guest, decided not to kill the mood.
"Then come with me."
[Three Minutes Later]
Unlike many Japanese homes that use a semi-open kitchen design, Kaito's kitchen was an enclosed private space. A frosted glass door separated it from the living room. The countertops were clean and spotless, the microwave, toaster, juicer all kinds of kitchen appliances were present and arranged neatly.
If there was one flaw, it was that the space wasn't very big. But since he was the only one who usually cooked, it was more than enough.
"I always keep the kitchen very clean, there's no need to tidy up. Just handling the ingredients is enough. It's not much trouble."
While expertly putting on an apron, Kaito turned around, "Miss Togawa Miss Togawa?"
"Mm I'm here!"
Togawa Mizuho had frozen in place, her gaze glued uncontrollably to his tall figure in a blue Doraemon apron.
The evening sun gradually tilted, and the warm orange light filtered through the glass window, casting a soft golden glow on the beautiful boy at the stove.
At a glance.
Like a dream, like a fantasy moon. Like a fleeting flower, near yet far.
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Chapter 231: Next Episode, Sakiko Descends from the Sky, Furious and Ferocious!
"Mm, yo-you're Sakiko's friend, and also my lifesaver."
No matter how you look at it, staring blankly at a beautiful young boy more than twelve years younger than yourself isn't exactly something to be praised.
Snapping out from the dreamlike amazement, Togawa Mizuho coughed once, hastily changing the topic to cover it up, "So just call me by name, Mizuho, or Mizuho Acough cough, Mizuho Onee-san, either is fine."
Kaito frowned slightly.
It wasn't because he felt taken advantage of. Although by his real age, he could be Togawa Mizuho's great-great-great-great-great-great-grandfather, generational hierarchy didn't necessarily depend on age.
He and Sakiko were friends, and facing a friend's mother, calling her "Auntie" wasn't a big deal.
'But... Mizuho Onee-san?'
Fine, if you're only judging by appearances, that form of address on Togawa Mizuho indeed didn't feel too out of place.
Still, considering a certain little secretary's mood, Kaito pondered for two seconds and chose a tactful compromise.
"Mizuho-san."
Togawa Mizuho clearly wasn't too satisfied with his reply.
'Miss this, Miss that, it sounds like he is calling me old. Doesn't feel like peers at all.'
Even though they weren't the same age to begin with, before regaining her youth, she wouldn't nitpick if he called her "Miss." But now that she'd gotten her youth back, and he still called her "Miss," wouldn't that make her rejuvenation pointless?
But alas, she couldn't force Kaito to call her Mizuho Onee-san, so she could only comfort herself inwardly. From "Togawa-san" to the more familiar "Mizuho-san," rounding up, that's halfway to her goal. Win!
Kaito didn't dwell on this topic and began preparing the ingredients for dinner. To help Togawa Mizuho feel involved, he assigned her the task of chopping potatoes.
No need to cut them into even shreds, just larger cubes would do, later to be stewed with beef brisket, not difficult at all. Just needed hands to do it.
Togawa Mizuho seemed to have trained in cooking; at least her posture with the knife looked pretty standard. It seemed like she'd easily handle the task.
The kitchen fell silent again, only the rhythmic "thud thud" of the knife hitting the cutting board could be heard.
"Speaking of which, Kaito-kun, have you thought about the issue of Mortis-chan's identity?", Before long, Togawa Mizuho couldn't take the quiet anymore and broke the silence. Her hands didn't stop chopping potatoes.
She wasn't just saying it randomly, this topic was quite targeted.
Though Mortis had already separated from Mutsumi and was living in modern society independently, just having a physical body didn't make her a legal citizen. Without documentation to prove her identity, she'd be considered undocumented. She couldn't even get a legitimate job, just the dirtiest and most tiring black-market work. She couldn't defend her rights if her wages were withheld. Anyone could trample on her.
Kaito hadn't considered this problem before. With him around, Mortis wouldn't be bullied by anyone.
But having a legal identity would help her truly integrate into this world, to truly put down roots, not just be a drifting weed.
"Thank you for the reminder, Mizuho-san."
Thinking this through, he nodded, "I'll settle this matter as soon as possible."
"Actually, what I meant was... if Kaito-kun doesn't mind, you could leave this matter to me."
Togawa Mizuho said seriously, "My father always taught me, return a drop of grace with a spring of gratitude. I've received a lot of favors from you before but haven't done anything in return... so, please give me a chance to repay you."
With the Togawa Group's scale, within Japan's territory, maybe not omnipotent, but definitely like a local emperor.
But this sort of small matter was obviously not enough to repay the favor. If she could, Togawa Mizuho would love to gift the whole company to someone, but alas, Kaito was willing, Mottis was unwilling. So she could only settle for helping in minor matters.
Kaito thought for a moment and didn't refuse. Though he could solve Mortis' identity issue himself, since someone offered help, that saved him trouble.
"Then it's settled!"
Even though she was the one offering help, Togawa Mizuho acted like she'd gained a big bargain. Her lips slightly curled up, "I'll get it done as soon as possible... By the way, should we list Mortis as Minami's relative?"
After all, the girl was born from Mutsumi's mental space. Though her physical body had no blood relation to Mori Minami, their souls... could kinda count as mother and daughter.
Kaito pondered for a while and didn't decide on his own.
"I'll ask Mortis privately later."
"Okay."
Togawa Mizuho nodded obediently and pushed the chopped potatoes aside. She was about to wipe the moisture off the knife blade when suddenly"Ah!"a chill spread from her fingertip.
The knife edge had sliced diagonally across the flesh of her pinky. The wound was about two centimeters long. At first, it looked a bit pale, but very soon, clear beads of blood emerged and gradually formed a thin stream, dripping down her finger.
The woman frowned slightly. It wasn't a particularly serious wound, but it did hurt.
"Kaito-kun, do you have a Band-Aid?"
She had often cut her fingers while cooking at home before, so Togawa Mizuho wasn't overly dramatic, just a bit annoyed. She should have been more careful.
'Now... I'll definitely be branded clumsy, right?'
"Band-Aids are in the bedside drawer in the bedroom."
Kaito shook his head slightly, "Actually, no need for something that troublesome. Leave it to me."
For small wounds like this, using spiritual energy to heal was faster.
Togawa Mizuho clearly also remembered that the beautiful boy before her possessed even more convenient, mysterious methods, so she stepped closer, biting her lip slightly with a bit of guilt, like a girl who just got into trouble.
"Sorry, I should've... been more careful."
"It's fine."
Kaito grabbed her hand and glanced at it. The red bead of blood on her fair, jade-like fingertip stood out strikingly.
He didn't delay, passed a wisp of spiritual energy through, and in the next second, the still-bleeding wound healed at a speed visible to the naked eye. Even any lingering bacteria didn't stand a chance.
In just a blink, the pinky had returned to its original state, completely unscathed.
'Though it's not the first time experiencing this feeling, it still feels so magical.'
Togawa Mizuho couldn't help marveling inwardly. But then she suddenly realized her hand was still being held. Her porcelain-white cheeks flushed faintly, and her heart fluttered in confusion.
She wanted to pull away, but also didn't want to. Just in that brief moment of daze, a small blue twin-tailed head poked through the kitchen door.
"Mom, I think I just heard you cry out, did something happen..."
Finally seeing the scene before her, Togawa Sakiko tilted her head, her previously clear vision slowly turning hazy.
"Eh?"
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Chapter 232: That Was Very Enjoyable
"Sakiko, is there something wrong?"
Kaito didn't sense anything off, just turned his head toward the doorway and casually asked.
"Ju-just now I heard a bit of noise, so wait, no!"
Togawa Sakiko choked on the president's calm demeanor. She instinctively tried to explain, but soon realized, her gaze fixed firmly on the hands held between the two, her blushing face said it all.
"Y-y-y-you what are you two"
"It's just that I accidentally cut my hand while chopping vegetables earlier, so I had to trouble Kaito-kun to help me deal with it."
The one who spoke was Togawa Mizuho. Having her daughter walk in on such a scene, she was momentarily flustered and embarrassed, like a greedy ragdoll cat that had just leapt onto the counter, not yet able to snatch the dried fish before getting caught red-handed by her owner returning home.
But after all, she was a mature lady who had weathered storms. She quickly calmed her mood and unobtrusively withdrew her hand, even waving it in front of Sakiko.
That reason sounded quite convincing. Given the surrounding environment, having this kind of accident in the kitchen seemed normal?
"S-so that's how it was, desu", Sakiko let out a sigh of relief and patted her chest.
She had thought that in some unseen corner, her mom and the president had always been secretly in contact, and she was like those oblivious husbands in drama series who thought their family was perfect but had already been dyed black in the shadows, completely unaware.
'As expected that kind of bizarre plot only happens in fictional works, right?'
Even if she couldn't trust her mom, she should at least trust the president.
'Wait, no!'
Sakiko suddenly grew suspicious, "Since you said you cut your hand where's the wound?"
Her mom's hands were very beautiful. White and slender, with well-balanced bones and flesh, the nails a healthy pink color, judging by looks alone, they were of the highest quality, enough to make an ordinary salaryman doki-doki.
But there wasn't even a scratch on them. Her skin was more delicate than a child. Where exactly was the wound?
"Of course because the wound has already healed," Togawa Mizuho lightly knocked her idiot daughter's head, "What else did you think it was? You think your mom would lie to you?"
'Not necessarily'
Sakiko's look of wanting to speak but hesitating, clearly filled with doubt, made Mizuho's mouth twitch involuntarily.
She silently chanted in her heart, 'Don't get mad, don't get mad, if I get sick from anger no one will care for me'
And only then barely restrained her urge to shark-slap her unfilial daughter. She coldly started to kick her out.
"If there's nothing else, don't stay here and get in the way."
"You make it sound like your cooking skills would improve if I'm not here", Sakiko muttered under her breath, but seeing her mom's expression grow more hostile, she sensibly greeted the president and made a quick escape.
"Sorry to make Kaito-kun laugh."
Once the girl's figure returned to the living room, Togawa Mizuho gave an apologetic smile, "Sakiko's personality is like that, she can be a little mischievous sometimes. I'll make sure to educate her properly in the future."
"It's fine."
Kaito thought for a moment and then gave his honest opinion, "This kind of Sakiko, I actually find kind of cute."
"Really?"
Togawa Mizuho patted her chest, looking relieved, "As long as you don't mind her being a bit dumb."
'Dumb?'
Honestly, Kaito found it hard to associate that word with the capable and reliable little secretary, 'Should I say, as expected of a biological mom? Shows no mercy when roasting her daughter.'
He didn't dwell on the topic. After finishing dinner, he called the girls to eat. Of course, he didn't forget to call out to Mortis, who was sulking in the bedroom.
[Half an Hour Later]
[Dining Room]
The round table was piled with plates big and small, but it didn't look messy. Because the contents of the plates had been completely devoured. Even the soup had barely any left.
"Thank you very much for the meal."
Togawa Mizuho covered her lips slightly, discreetly letting out a small burp. This was her first time tasting Kaito's cooking, and she couldn't control her appetite for a moment. She could only marvel that the ingredients used in these little shops really were pure and honest, her stomach kept begging its owner to stop or risk bursting, but her mouth kept yelling, "One more bite! Just one more!"
By the time she came back to her senses, her previously flat stomach already had a round arc, fully transformed into someone's shape.
She had thought Kaito was only perfect in appearance, had a strong character, and wielded powers beyond ordinary people. She never imagined he also had amazing culinary skills?
With this level, he could easily serve as the head chef at one of Togawa Group's high-end restaurants. She didn't even dare imagine how happy the person who gets to marry him would be. Not only pleasing to the eye but also pleasing to the stomach, love and appetite both satisfied. That's very pleasant. Truly very enjoyable.
'Meeting someone like you at the peak of youth, just not sure if I can even handle it?'
But these kinds of worries let her shoulder them alone. No need to drag Sakiko into it. Shielding one's daughter from the wind and rain was a mother's rightful duty.
The only thing Togawa Mizuho regretted was she couldn't often come here to freeload meals, 'Ahem! That is, to visit. What a pity.'
