Reasonably speaking, this cucumber fairy had a closer relationship with Secretary Sakiko. If she wanted to chat, it should be with her instead.
"Because, there are some things", Wakaba Mutsumi lightly lowered her eyelashes, "That can't be told to Sakiko."
"Come in," Kaito was indeed intrigued, 'Topics that can't be told to Sakiko?'
He was interested in those.
Even though it was a guest room, it had a dedicated sofa, likely for guests to gather and chat.
The girl in the white nightdress quietly sat on the sofa, holding her cute mango plush. After a long silence, she said in a low voice, "Sakiko has changed a lot."
"The Sakiko from before, after leaving the Togawa family, would never easily step through the Wakaba family's doors."
"Even if her mother personally invited her, she would probably still politely decline."
"Even though she isn't wealthy, whenever she occasionally met with me at the Hazawa caf, she would still insist on paying."
"Like a weak but stubborn little hedgehog, she willl only curl up tightly and stubbornly reject all kindness from the outside world."
"But that stubborn Sakiko has changed a lot."
"She laughs. She gets jealous like a normal girl. She accepted mom's nvitation and boldly visit as a guest. She is no longer trapped in her own corner like before."
As if everything had quietly changed, going back to the starting point, back when CRYCHIC was as united as could be.
"Really?", Kaito thought back. His strongest impression of Secretary Sakiko was how stubborn she was. When they first met, her stomach was clearly growling, but she still refused to accept a thank-you gift.
Then came the "Flying Sakiko" moment, where he caught her sneaking around, and yet she still insisted she was just out for a walk.
Even Thanos couldn't erase that stubborn mouth of hers.
"The Sakiko from before was close to breaking," Wakaba Mutsumi hugged the mango plush tighter. Her legs under the white skirt were very slender and tightly pressed together, "Thank you for pulling her back."
Kaito did indeed pull her back. Well, in the physical sense of the phrase.
But he didn't feel like taking credit, "Even without me, with a childhood friend like you by her side, Sakiko would've come around eventually."
"It's different," Mutsumi shook her head, "You can make her smile. I can't."
After what happened in Sakiko's family, the only thing she could do was keep her best friend's secret, watching helplessly as she drifted further and further from the band and everyone.
Mutsumi wanted to change things, but she didn't know what to do.
Having parents with an intense need for control since childhood, her life was filled with endless dance and music classes. She was like a delicate doll, used to being controlled.
Dolls don't have hearts, so they can't create miracles.
But the one who can create miracles had already appeared.
Kaito.
That was the name Sakiko kept mentioning. The one who changed her.
He brought back Sakiko's cheerful smile, and in that dark and deep dream, he saved her future.
Wakaba Mutsumi would never forget that burning light in the moment of crisis.
"You are Sakiko's sun."
What she didn't say aloud was, 'Mine too.'
Without the sun, flowers wither.
She wouldn't fight Sakiko for anything, because they were eternal friends.
'But like the sun'
'If just a tiny, almost negligible ray of sunlight can be shared with me, then even Sakiko probably won't mind, right?'
"Please give Sakiko happiness."
That way, even if she had to curl up alone in a dark, narrow corner, she could slightly rest her heart and catch just a little of that light that belonged to her.
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 92: I Cant Do Anything
'Even though she said things like "Sakiko is about to break," actually, isn't the one most broken is she?'
'Clearly looks like a cold and indifferent emotionless girl, but this strange sense of depression, it's simply like a bottomless black hole.'
'Speaking of which, aren't there too many problematic girls around me?'
'Yumiko, who's obsessed with being a tragic heroine; Nijika, who lives on grass for twenty-something days every month; and the soft but tsundere Sakiko who's all mouth and pride It's almost enough to gather a full table of cards.'
'In comparison, little Bocchi who's just socially anxious can really be called pure and kind.'
But, Kaito's silence was misunderstood by Wakaba Mutsumi as rejection.
Thinking about it, that's understandable, right? After all, she hasn't given anything, and yet asked him to give happiness to Sakiko. If he's unwilling, it's only natural emotion.
'But what can I give?'
'I am just a delicate doll controlled by mom and dad, have no power, and no wealth.'
After thinking and thinking, 'The only thing that maybe still has some value is this body carefully maintained since childhood.'
Wakaba Mutsumi's thin lips pressed together, and she silently began unbuttoning her pajama top.
"What are you doing?", Kaito frowned, and with a thought, stopped her movement.
'What are the schools teaching every day? Why is it that every time something happens, these girls' first reaction is to offer their bodies?'
'Isn't this the 21st century?'
'Why is this more feudal than the cultivation world?'
"But I only have this," Wakaba Mutsumi blinked her eyes, looked at him aggrieved, "Don't you like it?"
'As if, even this only valuable body cannot arouse his interest...'
A trace of loss flashed through the girl's golden eyes, she didn't know how to get Kaito to agree to her request. Her cherry blossom-like lips moved a few times, but still couldn't say a complete sentence.
'Not only can I not witness Sakiko's happiness, now I'm even going to be disliked, right?'
'Sakiko, in the end... I really can't do anything...'
Seeing the green-haired girl in front of him lower her head, like a wilted cucumber, Kaito sighed.
"Of course I'll take care of Sakiko, but that's because, she's my employee, and also my friend."
He looked straight into Wakaba Mutsumi's eyes, his calm tone like stating an undeniable truth, "A person's value is never limited to the body. You are you, an independent individual. So, don't treat yourself as a bargaining chip."
"I believe, Sakiko wouldn't want to see her friend, in order to bring her happiness, humiliate herself like this."
'I am not a bargaining chip?'
Used to being manipulated like a doll, mechanically executing mom and dad's commands, obeying their arrangements, trying hard to be the daughter they are proud of.
And now, someone tells her, you are you, not a doll, not a tool, but yourself.
'So strange.'
Clearly already lost the ability to cry.
The petite girl lightly covered her chest, dumbly looked at him, yet the tears poured out in big drops.
[May 10th, Sunday]
It's the last day of the holiday, a rare sunny day. Akihabara is full of people. Kaito stood in front of the train station, waiting for someone.
Since that pouring rainy night, a full day had passed.
Kaito rarely uses the mouth-talking skill, usually he prefers to correct people's twisted thinking with an iron fist directly.
But Wakaba Mutsumi is, after all, Sakiko's friend, a genuine childhood companion, so he couldn't go hard on her.
That means he could only use a more peaceful method, verbal healing.
Just pure talking may not be effective, but what if he added a bit of spiritual power guidance into it?
Wakaba Mutsumi's condition is actually not complicated. It's just too much pressure, too much stuff bottled up inside, and she doesn't know how to talk to others. Over time, it's stranger if she doesn't get depression.
Originally it hadn't reached the limit, but unfortunately, she ran into that nightmare evil spirit trouble...
Kaito used spiritual energy to guide out the black sludge accumulated in her emotions, and after she cried it all out, little Mutsumi got so tired she fell asleep.
Clearly only took one exorcism job, and yet still had to do psychological counseling...
'Forget it, just consider it for the sake of secretary Sakiko.'
"Sir, our new store is opening, we're having a promotion right now, and you can take pictures with the maids inside. Want to give it a try?", A sudden female voice interrupted his thoughts. Kaito looked up and saw a young girl in a black-and-white maid outfit in front of him, holding flyers. Her face full of enthusiasm, and when their eyes met, both were briefly stunned.
'Beautiful very beautiful'
"Sorry, I'm waiting for someone," Kaito declined her invitation. On normal days, he wouldn't mind trying the maid caf experience. But since he had already made an appointment with Suse to meet nearby, he definitely couldn't ditch her.
"N-no problem!", The maid-dressed girl finally recovered, her contact-lensed eyes full of excitement, "Is it a friend? I can wait with you!"
'This service is a bit too enthusiastic?'
Kaito was already used to this kind of clingy situation. With a blank face, just about to refuse, a gentle female voice suddenly spoke up.
"Excuse me, can you please stay a little farther from my boyfriend?"
'Boyfriend?'
The maid girl turned toward the voice, and saw not far away, a girl in a floral dress standing there. Her brown long hair gently draped down her back. Though she was smiling, there was no trace of smile in her blue eyes.
Looks like a girl with strong housewife vibes, yet somehow very imposing...
Nagasaki Soyo still maintained her smiling face, but inside she sighed in relief.
'Just in time'
She was already worried Kaito would get entangled with shameless bad women, and now it really happened.
It had only been a short while and already a maid caf staff was trying to pull him in. She didn't even dare to imagine what would've happened if she arrived later.
Soyo took two steps forward and unceremoniously grabbed Kaito's arm, tilting her head, "We're not interested in maid cafs, okay?"
"S-sorry for disturbing", The maid-dressed girl eventually backed off under her overwhelming pressure, and fled.
Only after her figure completely disappeared did Soyo look at Kaito and gently smile, "Waited long?"
"Just five minutes, not long at all."
Kaito shook his head, glanced at the girl's outfit today, "This outfit suits you."
"Sorry, something delayed me when I left this morning~"
Soyo winked at him, her smile bright, "But still, thank you Kaito-kun for the compliment."
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 93: Approaching Battlefield of Carnage?
Since yesterday, Soyo had been feeling nervous about today's date, tossing and turning, unable to sleep.
She barely managed to doze off for a bit, and before dawn broke, she got up and began struggling in front of the wardrobe about what to wear.
Just like that, she dawdled for two to three hours. Seeing that the agreed time was getting closer and closer, she finally decided to fully leverage her strengths and picked a long floral dress that was elegant and gave off a mature vibe, paired with a crystal necklace on her fair neck.
She didn't look like a university student who hadn't yet graduated, but rather more like a gentle newlywed wife.
It's said that boys at this age have little resistance toward mature and gentle older-sister types.
Now it seems, that was indeed true.
However, Soyo didn't get carried away. Reluctantly letting go of Kaito's arm, she put her hands together, "Boyfriend or whatever it's just a desperate measure to make her back off, please don't mind."
"It's fine, you helped me out too."
Kaito casually brushed past the topic and then asked, "Thought about where to go later?"
"Mm it's also my first time in Akihabara," Soyo's slender fingertips gently touched her lips. She was clearly dressed up today, her usually bare and pretty face now had light makeup, with a tall nose bridge and radiant smile. She looked like a painting.
"Since it's to thank Kaito-kun for helping me, today's schedule will be decided by Kaito-kun~ How about it?"
When chatting among classmates at Tsukinonomori, they occasionally talked about little tricks in love.
Girls with strong opinions give off a sense of distance; most boys prefer the clingy, dependent type.
Soyo learned a lot from them and even searched online for love guides on how to win over boys, taking serious notes.
You could say she was very dedicated.
"Today's schedule is up to you," implicitly means "I'm entrusting myself to you," which easily stirs a boy's sense of responsibility and satisfies their vanity.
Many times, when trying to grow closer in relationships, it's these subtly influential little details that matter.
Kaito, however, didn't think that much.
Some people like to make plans before going out. Ehere to go first, then where next, having the whole process in mind.
But others don't care so much when going out, they just wander and explore freely.
He belonged to the latter. With the assistance of divine sense, he didn't even need to worry about getting lost.
As a sacred land for otaku culture, and right during a golden holiday period, the crowd on the streets could be described as a sea of people. There were even many blonde-haired, blue-eyed foreigners among them, mostly tourists.
With too many people around, trouble easily follows.
"Sorry, he already has a girlfriend, okay?"
"Exchange contact info? Dame~ (No way~)"
"He's not a celebrity, and has no interest in debuting. Please stay back. If you keep bothering us, I'll call the police."
Nagasaki Soyo originally thought that as long as she could outshine the crowd, even if there were ill-intentioned bad women, they'd feel ashamed and not dare approach.
But clearly, she was still too naive.
Even though she was standing right beside Kaito, those bad women who came up to hit on him all chose to deliberately ignore her existence, their faces full of desire as they stared at the beautiful boy in front of them, almost pressing their bodies against him.
'Such shamelessness!'
And the young lady Soyo, even when trying to scold someone, sounded more like she was being coy, completely unable to speak harsh words with real bite.
