'What the heck is this atmosphere that makes it seem like only I am the bad guy?'
"Eh eh eh?", Before she could stay sulky for long, Ririko hiding behind the bar also heard the commotion. Seeing the spilled tea and cake all over the floor gave her a headache, but she immediately pulled Taki aside and turned to the guests to apologize.
"I-it's all my fault", Takamatsu Tomori flusteredly waved her hands, "It was me, I bumped into Taki"
"Actually, it was also my fault."
Shiina Taki was silent for two seconds, but still spoke up, taking part of the responsibility onto herself, "It was because I didn't dodge in time. Otherwise, this wouldn't have happened."
This scene, like a blame-sharing party, made Ririko not know whether to laugh or cry. But since even the guests said so, she didn't dwell further on the topic.
She and Taki first cleaned up the messy scene, then sent the girl to change into clean clothes. Only after that did she apologetically express that this accident had disturbed the two guests' mood. All losses would be covered by the shop, and they'd prepare a fresh new order for them shortly.
Flawless handling and kind attitude, no wonder she was already a store manager at such a young age.
Kaito nodded and gave Ririko a polite smile, which earned him a blushing flustered response, "N-n-n-no need to thank me! It's all what I should do!"
After the embarrassed manager fled the scene, he looked again at the girl in front of him.
Because of this small episode, Tomori, who had originally wanted to run away, was forced to stay behind. Now, she was quietly lowering her head. Her gray short hair under the sunset looked fluffy, making her look even more like a dazed, isolated baby penguin.
Kaito rubbed his brow.
He had only casually asked earlier, wanting to know whether she was connected to his little secretary. Who would've thought this girl would react so strongly, like a wound had been poked, with her first instinct being to run.
In such a situation, he couldn't forcibly continue the topic.
'Forget it, I can just ask Sakiko myself later.'
'As for now, just treat it like a regular afternoon tea outing.'
Kaito didn't bring up any topics that might hurt the girl. They just chatted casually, and before long, he had gathered about 7080% of Takamatsu Tomori's situation.
Like him, she studied at Shuka Academy, a first-year from Class D, also the astronomy club president, with a hobby of collecting various strange little trinkets.
It was his first time meeting such an honest girl. Whatever you asked, she answered. It made one suspect that if he asked her what color pant*es she wore today, she might unguardedly tell him too.
"Um, Kaito-san," After chatting a while, the girl in front lowered her head like a small animal who had done something wrong, muttering, "I should go home"
"Now?", Kaito glanced at his phone, 'Just past 6 PM. Still early, actually.'
But he could understand. After all, not everyone was like him. Take a family photo and that's your whole household, no one above to discipline you.
Tomori looked like the obedient type who lived under her parents' wings. After school, she'd go straight home and never linger outside unnecessarily.
So he just nodded without stopping her, only asking, "Do you need me to walk you home?"
Takamatsu Tomori hesitated and shook her head, then paused and fished out a round object from her school uniform pocket, "This, for you."
Kaito took a glance, turned out to be a smooth pebble, warm to the touch, as if it still carried the girl's body heat.
Felt just right for skipping stones.
"Then I'll accept it."
He flipped the pebble into his hand, then said goodbye, "Takamatsu-san, see you."
"See you."
The gray-haired girl gave one last reluctant look, then trotted away.
After she left, a little more time passed.
Having changed into clean clothes, Shiina Taki came back over again with a tray.
"Tomori, I came to find you huh?", Not seeing that familiar figure, the black-haired girl paused slightly.
'Tomori? Where's my big Tomori? Where did she go?'
patreon.com/AmbitiousTranslator
Joining Patreon keeps me motivated and eager to work diligently, so please consider joining. You can access upto 20 advance chapter through Patreon.
https://discord.gg/bYAfGyp98y
Chapter 241: The God in the Galgame Field
"Are you here looking for Takamatsu-san?"
Kaito said, "She just left, she should have already gotten on the train by now."
'L-left?', Not being able to say goodbye to Tomori made Shiina Taki a little disappointed.
Ever since CRYCHIC disbanded, she hadn't seen that girl who was as lovable as a small animal for a long time.
Tomori's personality was originally introverted, and after being seriously struck by a certain naturally evil blue-scaled little demon, she placed all the blame for the band's breakup on herself, becoming even more withdrawn since.
Shiina Taki saw it in her eyes and worried in her heart, but there wasn't much she could do.
The only thing she could do was to avoid disturbing her, to avoid reopening Tomori's emotional wounds.
Now that they had finally met again, before she could say more than a few words, she had already left once more.
Moreover Thinking back to what just happened, Shiina Taki sighed in her heart.
It was her first time seeing Tomori defend a boy so strongly, even stepping in front of him, as if afraid she would get into a conflict with him.
This kind of "wanting to protect someone but ending up opposing another" feeling was honestly unpleasant.
'Clearly, I was the one who came first...', The drummer's heart felt sour.
However, when her gaze fell on the beautiful boy sitting by the window, the girl went silent again.
Even she herself couldn't quite explain it.
'Is this sour feeling in my heart because "Tomori opposed me for another boy," or is it because of some other reason?'
Shaking her head, she stopped thinking randomly, and after placing the freshly made black tea and cake on the table, Shiina Taki didn't rush to leave. She hesitated for a moment, then softly asked, "Customer, may I ask how did you meet Tomori?"
"Actually", Kaito didn't hide anything.
This waitress lady was clearly a close friend of Takamatsu. With her supervision, it might also prevent Takamatsu from having a second incident of nearly falling off a bridge while trying to catch flower petals.
He briefly summarized the origin and development of the incident, which made Shiina Taki show an expression of lingering fear.
She couldn't even imagine, if Kaito hadn't stepped in, what terrible outcome might have awaited Tomori.
Even if she didn't die from the fall on the spot, under the condition that a train happened to be passing below, wouldn't she have turned from "Little Closed Light" into "Little Tomori Sauce"?
"Thank you very much for saving Tomori," Shiina Taki slightly bowed her head, her tone very serious, "I'm not good at saying nice words, but in the days to come, if you need anything, as long as it's something I can do, no matter what it is, I will."
''Will do anything,' is that the default gratitude code of you girls?'
Good thing he was a proper gentleman, otherwise it could've gone straight into that kind of development at any time, right?
"I'll remember that," Kaito gave a simple "Mm", not saying much more. Even though he didn't think Shiina Taki could be of any help to him, since it was the heartfelt gratitude of a girl, even if useless, there was no need to trample on it.
And as it turned out, Shiina Taki really wasn't all talk.
Not only did she cover all of Kaito's expenses, she also packed a ton of snacks and desserts for him, almost forcibly stuffed into his hands, making it impossible to refuse.
'Does this count as eating soft rice again?', Carrying various sizes of packaging boxes, sitting on the train, Kaito fell into deep thought.
'Also, why did I think "again"?"
"Welcome back, Onii-chan! 2"
"Welcome back, President."
Just as he entered the door, he took a familiar rocket headbutt.
Mortis pounced into his arms, tilted her little face up, like a matcha puppy, rubbing around naughtily against her master's chest.
By contrast, the little secretary and Mutsumi following behind him were much calmer.
Seeing him carrying a bunch of bags, Sakiko couldn't help but be curious. While taking the things from Kaito with Mutsumi, she asked suspiciously, "These did the President buy them all?"
Clothes and sweets, it looked like he just came back from a shopping trip.
But did he go alone, or was there a certain woman with him?
"Someone else gave them."
With the secretary and Mutsumi helping to carry the load, Kaito finally freed up his hands and stretched, then said, "I might come home a little late on Friday, you can rest early and don't wait up for me."
Mutsumi tilted her head slightly, her waterfall-like green hair drooping down, the tips soft like hooks, "Onii-chan, do you have something planned?"
"It's not a big deal," Kaito paused for two seconds, "If I have to say it I guess it's a date?"
Sakiko: "?"
Mortis: "!"
Mutsumi: "..."
A single stone stirred up a thousand ripples.
Noticing their expressions weren't quite right, he lightly coughed and added, "Of course, it's not the kind of date you're imagining. It's just pretend."
He explained Anon's request, and of course, in consideration of privacy, omitted the girl's name.
"I-I see", Togawa Sakiko patted her chest, as if relieved, 'NOOO!'
'Even if it's pretend, it's not safe okay? What if fake becomes real?'
'I haven't even gotten to pretend to be a couple with the President yet!'
The little secretary spun around in anxiety, wanting to stop him, but didn't know how to speak up. She instinctively looked for help from the childhood friend nearby.
Cucumber Princess, use your invincible four-breaks-a-second brain to come up with something.
Wakaba Mutsumi stayed silent for a while, but didn't object, only nodded thoughtfully, "I understand, Onii-chan."
'Understand what exactly?'
Soft and sticky little Sakiko almost couldn't catch her breath, panicking hard.
At the critical moment, it was still Mortis who stepped up, tilting her little face with an innocent expression, "Onii-chan, can I come too?"
"Nope."
Pretending to be a couple with Anon, how could he bring his little sister along?
Kaito patted her head, "Stay home and wait for me, alright?"
"Fine."
Mortis lowered her head a bit disappointed, then suddenly looked up again. Her delicate features curled like a sly little fox, "Then Onii-chan, you have to compensate me."
'So this was your goal all along, huh?'
Kaito shook his head a little helplessly, but didn't refuse, "What kind of compensation do you want?"
"Umm", Mortis thought for a bit, then seriously said, "Then a kiss on the cheek will do."
'If the request is too excessive, Onii-chan definitely won't agree.'
'But it's okay. There's a concept in psychology called "boiling frog."'
'From sleeping together, to bathing together, then to casual cheek kisses'
'So-called guard walls, are worn down step by step!'
This was experience gained from her clearing four galgames in three days. Totally authentic.
'As long as things proceed steadily like this, one day, victory will belong to me, Mortis.'
'By that time, whether it's Mutsumi or Sakiko'
'Heh heh, they'll all have to call her Onee-sama and act according to my mood!'
[ Shoutout to James, Brandon, Nako, Orvious & Xhaustedhero for joining patreon. Thank you very much.]
patreon.com/AmbitiousTranslator
Joining Patreon keeps me motivated and eager to work diligently, so please consider joining. You can access upto 20 advance chapter through Patreon.
https://discord.gg/bYAfGyp98y
Chapter 242: Lies Wont Hurt People
"Kiss on the cheek?"
Kaito furrowed his brow, as if considering something.
Aine's
Seeing her brother's hesitant expression, Mortis became a little anxious. She raised one slender finger and pleaded pitifully.
"Just once! Just once, okay? A light one is fine too!"
"Onii-chan~ Onii-chan~ Onii-chan~"
When someone of a certain age faces a cute little girl wholeheartedly begging with affection, no matter how stern and impartial their heart is, it will always soften.
"...I got it."
In the end, Kaito didn't reject her request. He lowered his head and pressed a kiss on the girl's cheek, pink like cherry blossoms.
His movement was quick, with no technique to speak of. But even such a simple physical contact made Mortis reveal a satisfied, even slightly silly smile.
But, this was clearly just the beginning.
He had just gotten up when he felt the hem of his clothing being tugged.
He turned his head and saw the green-haired girl staring at him without blinking.
That cool and calm little face didn't show much expression, yet clearly conveyed one meaning: what about me?
As the ancient saying goes, "Don't worry about scarcity, worry about inequality."
Some things, either you don't do them, or you do them fairly.
Since he kissed Mortis, it wouldn't be right to refuse Mutsumi.
Otherwise, she might overthink, 'Does Onii-chan like Little Mortis more? Should I go lie under a train?'
The little girl was already introverted. If she started spiraling from this, what if she became even more withdrawn?
"...", Kaito rubbed his forehead, but thinking that kissing one is the same as kissing two, he didn't struggle anymore. He simply bent down and kissed Mutsumi on the cheek too.
Same dragonfly-light touch, same barely audible contact.
'There's this kind of operation too?'
The little secretary on the side was clearly stunned.
Never would she have imagined that their childhood friend would seize the opportunity at this moment, a textbook sneak attack.
However The girl's small face turned slightly red.
'Since it was Mortis, then Mutsumi doesn't that mean it's my turn next?'
Although she had secretly rewarded herself quite a few times when the president was asleep, those were sneaky little moves that couldn't see the light of day.
If she could make the president, while fully awake, kiss her, even if just on the cheek, it would be a qualitative breakthrough.
The former is the president passively accepting, the latter is the president taking the initiative, a world of difference in meaning.
Sakiko felt a little shy.
'If the president really wants to kiss me next, should I play along?'
'But won't that seem too unreserved? Being ladylike aside, what if I gets mistaken for a lewd girl?'
