"Besides, there's no better way now, is there?", She looked around, glancing at the hesitant Nijika and the conflicted Bocchi, and spread her hands, "Or do you two have a better idea to help Kita out of her current predicament?"
A better idea, of course, they couldn't come up with one so quickly.
'But just sitting by and watching Kaito-kun sell his looks, it still feels... weird...'
The two girls wanted to refute, but didn't know what to say. They just lowered their heads, looking gloomy and unhappy.
"Seems like you two have no objections, then," Gremlin Ryou put her hands on her hips, lightly cleared her throat, and turned to look at Kaito beside her, "So, Boyfriend-kun, what do you think?"
After all, the core of the beautiful man strategy lies in the beautiful man himself.
'If Boyfriend-kun doesn't agree, everything would just be empty talk.'
"My opinion?", Kaito sighed, "Next time you come up with a bad idea like this, don't bring it up again."
'If Master finds out that I actually used a shameless tactic like the beautiful man strategy on another woman, she'll probably get so mad she'll puff up like a pufferfish, scolding me for disgracing the sect and kicking e out.'
However, even if the beautiful man strategy was out of the question... he still had to go to Kita's house.
He had no idea what had happened to that sunny girl. Nijika and Ryou had sent her messages, but got no reply. In fact, even the sent messages stayed marked as "unread."
That scene was all too familiar to the two girls.
Back when Kita had run away before the band's performance, it was the same. No matter how many messages Nijika and Ryou sent, there was no reply, as if she'd disappeared from the face of the earth.
Ryou even thought something bad had happened, and prepared a black-and-white memorial photo for Kita at home, lighting incense for her now and then.
Since they couldn't reach her by phone, they had no choice but to go to her house in person.
He asked Nijika and Ryou if they wanted to come, but both girls shook their heads.
They had met Kita's mom once before, but the meeting had ended unpleasantly. If they went again, it might have the opposite effect.
As for Bocchi... of course the little mouse chose to stay behind with Nijika and wait for news.
It was already six in the evening.
Kita Ikuyo glanced at the wall clock, then looked away. She sat curled up in bed, hugging a plush toy with a gloomy expression.
The cold war between her and her mom seemed to be getting worse.
It had all started when her mom found out she had secretly joined a band, and ordered her to cut ties and focus on studying.
Kita had intended to just fake it, to act obedient on the surface while secretly contacting Nijika and the others.
But her clumsy trickery obviously didn't fool Mrs. Kita, who had years of experience in the corporate world.
To make her daughter give up, she not only demanded Kita return home immediately after school, but also forbade her from going out on weekends.
She even confiscated Kita's phone, cutting off all possible contact with the band members.
In response, the only form of resistance Kita could muster was locking herself in her room. She only came out briefly to eat, and even then, she stayed silent.
Though they lived under the same roof, the mother and daughter had become like strangers.
Mrs. Kita wasn't willing to give in either, thinking her expectations for her daughter to focus on studies were perfectly reasonable.
Kita, on the other hand, refused to give up on her dream of playing in the band, and she hated her mother's controlling behavior, completely unwilling to back down.
It was a deadlock that could only be broken with outside help.
Unfortunately, Mr. Kita was on a business trip, and the one person who could have mediated between mother and daughter wasn't around. The situation was only going to get worse.
'I wonder how Nijika-san and the others are doing'
The date of their first official live performance was approaching fast, yet she was stuck at home, unable to even attend daily practice.
And who knows how long this situation would last?
Kita's biggest fear now was, 'What if Nijika-san and the others find a new guitarist to replace me?'
What made her feel even more miserable was, 'Even if Nijika-san really do that, won't it be reasonable?
'After all, the band has to perform. If someone is absent, the leader naturally has to find a replacement.'
"Damn it, damn it, damn it!", The more Kita thought about it, the sadder she got. She started rolling around on her bed, kicking her bare feet in the air.
She even looked at the nearby window with a sudden urge to climb out.
But the bedroom was on the second floor. Even if she miraculously didn't get hurt jumping down, how would she get back up?
She couldn't just walk back in through the front door, right? That would be like clearly telling her mom, "I snuck out."
It would only make her mom angrier, and she might even seal the window shut.
'Ugh I really can't do anything...', At this thought, the once bright and lively girl, like a small sun full of energy, grew despondent. The light faded from her amber eyes.
Just as Kita was wallowing in self-pity, the bedroom door was suddenly knocked on.
The next moment, her mother's voice, oddly strained, came from outside.
"Ikuyo, there's a friend here to see you."
[Five Minutes Ago]
"The nameplate says Kita this should be the one," Kaito stopped walking, looked at the detached house in front of him, released his spiritual sense, and instantly sensed a familiar presence on the second floor.
'Kita? Why is she rolling around?'
'Forget it. Don't stare at things you shouldn't.'
Kaito withdrew his spiritual sense and rang the doorbell.
Ding~Dong~
Soft footsteps came from the living room to the entrance, then to the door.
["This is the Kita residence. May I ask who you are?"]
The door didn't open immediately. A cold female voice sounded from behind it.
Japan's public safety was only so-so. It was a country where even yakuza existed openly. It made sense to be cautious.
"I'm a friend of Kita's from school. I heard she was sick, so I came to visit," Kaito bowed slightly, "Sorry for coming uninvited."
"A friend?", Kita's mother, Kita Kuruyo, sounded a little confused. Her daughter didn't have many friends, so someone visiting wasn't exactly normal.
Her tone softened slightly, but she still had no intention of opening the door, "Ikuyo's not feeling well. I can take care of her myself, no need totroutrou"
Her voice suddenly stopped.
Through the peephole, she happened to meet the eyes of the beautiful boy outside, who looked up just then.
Dazed, as if she were in a dream.
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Chapter 130: Mom Agrees to This Marriage!
"Kaito-kun, right?", Kita Kuruyo slightly bent down and placed the fruit juice from the tray in front of him, and the usually stern face was actually adorned with a gentle smile.
"That's right," Kaito nodded, then said, "I hope Auntie doesn't mind me visiting out of the blue."
"Not at all, of course not," Kita Kuruyo waved her hand and spoke solemnly, "I'm more than happy that Ikuyo has a friend like you Speaking of which, are you also a student of Shuka?"
"Yes," Kaito slightly nodded, "Kita-san is in the class right next to mine."
'So he's not in the same class?'
Kita Kuruyo felt a little disappointed, but then thought again, 'The neighboring class isn't much different, still counts as being conveniently close.'
'What's more important is...'
'This Kaito-kun, after hearing that my daughter might be sick, actually came over in person to visit.'
'Isn't this clearly a sign that he likes Ikuyo?'
'Maybe, they're already secretly dating behind my back?'
'Even if they aren't, at least it shows that these two are quite close. Otherwise, he wouldn't come directly to visit. Normally only people who are familiar with each other do that.'
'Ikuyo really is...'
'She kept this secret so well, I have never heard that my daughter had such a handsome, heart-racing friend.'
'Could it be that she is worried I'll object?'
'Not impossible.'
'Ikuyo is just grounded for joining a band, and now this Kaito-kun comes to visit.'
'If nothing unexpected, he should be connected to the band Ikuyo's in, or maybe, he's a member himself.'
She herself is against her daughter wasting time on a band. If she found out her daughter even got a boyfriend from the band, she would definitely split them up.
But upon actually seeing this young man in person, all those thoughts were instantly thrown to the back of her mind.
Logically speaking, of course she shouldn't allow her daughter to get too close to a band-playing friend, students should focus their energy on studying.
But looking at that face, she suddenly felt like, 'Maybe studying can wait?'
'I think this Kaito-kun is in his prime and the perfect son-in-law I've never met before.'
'Ikuyo, Mom approves this marriage!'
"Ikuyo is resting upstairs, I'll go call her down for you."
Although he didn't know why Mrs. Kita suddenly became so energetic, Kaito still politely nodded.
"Then I'll trouble Auntie."
"Huh?"
Hearing her mom's words, Kita Ikuyo was a little confused, 'A friend, looking for me?'
'Is it Nijika-san? Or Ryou-san?'
'Can't be Bocchi-chan, right?'
It's not that she didn't trust Bocchi It's just that, with her shy and socially anxious personality, she really didn't seem like the type to dare visit someone's house.
The sunny girl's mind was full of doubt, but the moment she saw the familiar figure on the sofa, she forgot everything.
"Kaito-kun?"
"Really sorry to trouble you, Kaito-kun, even coming all the way to check on me"
Mrs. Kita had gone to the kitchen to prepare tonight's dinner. In the living room, only Kita and Kaito were left.
The red-haired girl sat next to him a bit embarrassed, nervously clutching the hem of her skirt with her little hands, and said softly, "Did you come because of the band? I can't join in the daily training for now I'm sorry I must've disappointed Nijika-san."
"Nijika wouldn't be disappointed over something like that," Kaito shook his head, "I came, yes, partly because of the band, but more because I was worried about you."
He was the type who's protective of those close to him, and would shelter any friend he recognized.
Now that Kita had run into trouble, emotionally and rationally, he had to come see how she was doing.
The red-haired girl's pretty face turned red.
'W-Worried about me?'
Her heart felt sweet, and the corners of her lips couldn't help but curl up.
But after hesitating for a moment, she still couldn't help but ask, "I might not be able to join the first official live show of the band. What is Nijika-san planning?"
'Will they find someone else to take my place?'
"Don't overthink it," The anxiety on Kita's pretty face was too obvious, Kaito easily saw through her thoughts and comforted her, "Nijika has no intention of replacing you. As long as you don't choose to quit the band, you'll always be a member of Kessoku Band."
These words weren't him making things up.
In fact, before leaving STARRY, Nijika had pulled him aside and shared many of her thoughts.
This was her first time forming a band, their first real performance it was the result of everyone's effort, so every member of the band, no one could be missing.
If Kita really couldn't make it in time then they'd just skip this live. There would always be another performance later.
"WuuWu", Kita's eyes filled with tears.
The past two days had been pretty rough for her.
On one hand, she was worried that because of her, the whole band would be dragged down.
On the other, her mom had taken her phone, so she couldn't contact Nijika or the others, and she was scared her place would be quietly taken away.
Because she was in a cold war with her mom, she didn't even have anyone to talk to.
Now that her worries were finally lifted, her bottled-up emotions burst out. She couldn't help but lift her head and look tearfully at Kaito, "Can I borrow your shoulder for a bit?"
'Well, at least she's polite about it,' Kaito let out a dumbfounded chuckle, but still nodded.
Kita sniffled, and although she said she'd just borrow his shoulder, she directly threw herself into his arms, burying her little head in his chest, freely releasing all the emotions she'd kept in.
"By the way, I just remembered, about dinner, Kaito-kun, do you have any dietary restric", Kita Kuruyo suddenly poked half her body out from the kitchen, and looked toward the living room.
Her daughter was hugging that pretty boy's waist, with her head buried in his chest, like she wanted to melt into his body
'Ikuyo, since when were you this bold?'
Kita Kuruyo cleared her throat, didn't say anything else, silently shrank back into the kitchen, leaving some alone time for the young couple.
No one knows a daughter like her mother. Just from her mom's expression, Kita Ikuyo knew she must've misunderstood her relationship with Kaito.
But before she could explain, her mom had already quickly retreated into the kitchen.
'I'm doomed! Now Mom's definitely going to think I'm a naughty child, right? Can't even wait to get lovey-dovey in the living room!'
'But judging from Mom's reaction, she doesn't seem opposed? Otherwise, she'd definitely have interrupted us instead of making space.'
'Well, it's understandable. Mom is a woman too, after all'
'Wait!'
A thought suddenly popped into Kita Ikuyo's head.
'Since we're already misunderstood anyway'
'Why not just go along with it?'
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Chapter 131: Are You Willing to Use the Rest of Your Life to Take Care of Ikuyo?
Dinner was a traditional Japanese-style meal typical of a typical household.
Kita Kuruyo's cooking skills weren't bad, almost on par with a hotel chef. Even simple home dishes looked, smelled, and tasted great, making one's appetite grow.
However, this mature lady who looked 90% similar to Ikuyo showed none of the coldness and dominance she usually displayed in front of her daughter.
