Not only did she enthusiastically help pour water and serve rice for Kaito, but she also actively used her chopsticks to pick food for him.
"Where is Kaito-kun from?"
"What hobbies or interests do you usually have?"
"And how did you meet Ikuyo? My daughter can be a bit clumsy, so if she's ever made trouble, I hope you'll be patient with her."
The first two questions were normal, and Kaito answered them one by one.
It was just the third question. When asked how he met Ikuyo, that before he could even open his mouth, the red-haired girl beside him already gave a light cough and quickly took over the conversation, "I saw Kaito-kun carrying a guitar at school, so I went up and talked to him, that's how we got to know each other."
Kaito: "?"
'Have I ever carried a guitar bag at school?'
'This is clearly Bocchi's script, right?'
But before he could show a confused expression, his calf under the table was nudged by someone.
Kaito looked up to see the red-haired girl desperately winking at him, silently mouthing "please please, just go along with it".
He paused for two seconds, then gave a barely noticeable nod toward Mrs. Kita.
Although he didn't know what this girl wanted to do well, for now, he'd just trust her once.
"Guitar, huh", Kuruyo didn't notice her daughter's small gestures, her attention had already been captured that one key word.
Ikuyo's words didn't surprise her. She had already guessed before that this Kaito might be a member of the same band as her daughter.
Now her daughter's statement merely confirmed her guess, it turned out the two really did meet through music.
To be honest, Kuruyo didn't want Ikuyo getting too close to guys in bands.
After all, the stereotypical image of band guys was that they smoked, drank, and fooled around with women. Plus that signature mushroom haircut, it was basically "rock" personified.
Getting too close to that kind of person wouldn't just affect grades, it could also lead her astray.
But this Kaito didn't seem like a bad person. Even though he was very handsome, there wasn't the slightest bit of arrogance about him. He was polite, and even had an inexplicable aura that made people subconsciously want to be close to him.
Being a civil servant, she still had some confidence in her ability to judge people, it was rare for her to misjudge.
Since the two met through music, if she forcefully made her daughter quit the band, wouldn't that also sever the emotional bond between her daughter and future son-in-law?
Kuruyo hesitated a little.
Also because of the band incident, plus grounding and confiscating her phone, Ikuyo had been giving her the cold shoulder for a while now.
Even though it was mother and daughter, they felt more like strangers living under the same roof.
Kuruyo was the type of traditional parent who, even knowing she might've gone too far, couldn't bring herself to admit fault to her daughter.
Right now, this seemed like a good opportunity to ease the mother-daughter relationship.
If Kaito helped keep an eye on her, she wasn't too worried about her daughter going astray.
After all, his previous grades were very good, among the top in the entire grade.
Most parents agreed, someone with good grades must also have good character.
Seeing that Madam Kita seemed to be wavering, Kaito thought for a moment and decided to speak frankly with her, "To be honest, the reason I visited today, besides checking in on Ikuyo, was to talk to you about the band."
"Kaito-kun, you should know," Kuruyo looked him in the eyes, "The reason I don't agree with Ikuyo being in a band isn't just because I'm worried about her grades slipping. I'm more afraid she'll get exposed to bad influences or encounter bad situations."
"It's only natural to have those concerns."
Kaito nodded slightly, then said calmly, "So, I can also promise you, if Kita-san's grades drop, I'll help her with tutoring."
"As for the other things you're worried about, they won't happen either."
Kuruyo originally wanted to ask, ["You're just an ordinary student, can you really take responsibility for Ikuyo's life?"]
But his tone was so calm, as if it were something completely natural, like someone born to stand above others, that she couldn't summon the courage to question him. It was like that anxious feeling she had on her first day at work, facing her immediate supervisor.
The atmosphere fell silent for a moment.
Ikuyo saw that her mother seemed persuaded and hurried to strike while the iron was hot, "Everyone in the band is really nice. Nijika is super gentle, Bochhi is really cute, and Senpai Ryo uh she's more um, good at surviving in the wild. Anyway, mom, you really don't need to worry so much about me!"
Madam Kita had seen Nijika and Bocchi once before. They were indeed two very pretty girls and didn't seem like bad kids.
As for Ryou she hadn't seen her, 'But since Ikuyo described her as "cute," she must also be a girl, right?'
'Wait,' just as Kuruyo was about to relax, she suddenly sensed something was off.
"So other than Kaito-kun, all the other members in your band are girls?"
Because of the stark gender imbalance in society today, girl bands were as common as fish in a river, nothing strange.
'But a band with one boy and multiple girls why does that sound so off? Are you sure this is a proper band?'
"What's wrong?", Ikuyo tilted her head in confusion, not understanding her mom's meaning, her expression full of innocent puzzlement.
Looking at her daughter's dumb yet pure gaze, Kuruyo sighed.
'Still not realizing the seriousness of the situation don't you have any accurate understanding of your boyfriend's attractiveness?'
'Being in a band means members have to interact frequently.'
'Spending time together every day, facing that level of handsome face assault during every practice what bandmate can resist that kind of temptation?'
'Even if they can barely suppress their feelings at first, over time, it will inevitably lead to thoughts of stealing him away.'
Ikuyo was already dumb. If she were forced to leave the band and Kaito was left alone with the others, wouldn't that just create chances for other sneaky cats?
Kuruyo had already decided he was her daughter's boyfriend and was very satisfied with this potential son-in-law. Naturally, she wouldn't hand him over to someone else.
So, after careful consideration, she stepped back, raised her head, and looked at the beautiful boy in front of her, "I have one last question."
"Please ask."
This mature lady slightly furrowed her brows and said seriously, "Kaito-kun, are you willing to use the rest of your life to fulfill your promise, and take good care of Ikuyo?"
[T/N: Now, you may kiss the bride]
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Chapter 132: My Mom Likes You Very Much
'W-Wait a minute!'
'Weren't we talking about the band? Why did Mom suddenly change the topic to the rest of my life?'
'And that tone... why does it feel like she's about to marry me off in the next second.'
Ikyuo's delicate face blushed slightly, but due to some secret little thoughts in her heart, she didn't interrupt her mom. Instead, she secretly glanced at the handsome boy next to her, expecting his answer.
Although Kaito also felt that Mrs. Kita's wording seemed somewhat problematic, his attention was more on the words "take care."
The purpose of his visit today was to bring Kita back to the band.
Now that Mrs. Kita had loosened her stance, only one promise from him remained. Naturally, Kaito wouldn't refuse at this point.
Back when he was in the Courting Death Sect, he had also taken care of junior disciples, so he had some experience.
So, facing Mrs. Kita's serious expression, he slightly nodded and gave his answer, "I'm willing."
When he left the Kita household, it was just dusk.
The last rays of sunlight were about to disappear behind the horizon, and the evening breeze gently swept across the world, bringing the scent of some unknown distant flowers, blending softly with the glow from the streetlights.
"Just now I have to thank you again, Kaito-kun, for speaking up for me at the dinner table," Walking straight along the path, the red-haired girl quickly took a few steps forward, like a lively little deer, hands behind her back. Her amber eyes glanced over with a smile, and the dimples on her cheeks looked like spring water filled with blooming peach blossoms, sweet all the way to one's heart.
"If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have been able to persuade my mom~"
"Actually, Mrs. Kita was just going along with the situation," Kaito didn't claim credit. After all, as her only daughter, continuing the cold war wasn't a solution either. He merely acted as a stepping stone, allowing Mrs. Kita to back down without having to bow her head directly to her daughter.
"Whatever the case, the fact remains that you helped me a lot," Ikyuo clearly didn't agree with his words. The girl's slender brows slightly furrowed, as if deep in thought, "Let me think, how should I repay you Got it!"
She put on a serious expression, "Kaito-kun, can I trouble you to come a little closer? I have a secret to tell you!"
"I'm not interested in secrets," Kaito crossed his arms defensively, his instinct as a cultivator raising his guard subconsciously. He had a feeling the girl in front of him was up to something, "If you really want to thank someone, thank Nijika and Bocchi instead. They've been worried about you for a long time."
"Ahem, of course I'll thank Senpai and Bocchi-chan too, but that's a separate matter," Kita cleared her throat. Her porcelain-like cheeks seemed to be tinged with a faint blush under the streetlamp's glow. Seeing Kaito still not coming closer, she looked a bit disappointed, biting her lip in a pitiful and melancholic way, "Am I really that untrustworthy in Kaito-kun's eyes?"
This familiar act of playing weak and pitiful made Kaito suddenly see the shadow of a certain Miss Yamada Ryou in a daze.
'Even little Kita's been corrupted... As the saying goes, proximity to cinnabar makes one red, proximity to ink makes one black, ancient wisdom never lies.'
But after some thought, he still didn't refuse. He stepped closer, curious to see what Kita really wanted to say.
"That secret is", As the distance between them shrank the red-haired girl could even hear her own nervous heartbeat. But she didn't back down. Carefully, she rose on her tiptoes and gently brought her cherry blossom-colored lips to his ear.
"My mom likes you very much."
"And so does her daughter."
A soft, warm feeling remained on his cheek, like the gentleness of clouds, the caress of a breeze, or a spring rain sliding over lotus leaves, vanishing without a trace.
"Up ahead is the train station~ This is where I'll say goodbye~", Ikyuo took two steps back and waved at him with all her might. Her brilliant smile was like a little sun full of energy. Then she turned and jogged away, leaving only a faint, slightly trembling farewell in the wind.
"Bye-bye, Kaito-kun!"
Saint Kaito has never been defeated by the same move twice.
But if you count the one in Hoori Town, this was already the second time he'd been kissed by Kita.
Kaito reached out and gently touched his cheek, still damp with a trace of warmth, falling into rare silence.
Although his master had often called him a "blockhead," that was in the past. Now is now.
After abandoning Path of Ruthlessness, he had slowly learned to experience the emotions people should have.
Not to mention, Kita's confession had no pretense at all, it was practically a clear "I like you."
If he still couldn't understand what she meant now, he wasn't just a regular blockhead, he was osmium(densest metal).
The last person who confessed that directly was Miura Yumiko.
The only difference from Yumiko was that Kita(Ikuyo) didn't give him a chance to respond. Perhaps fearing rejection, she only expressed her feelings unilaterally and ran away, more like fleeing in panic.
All this time, Kaito had thought of the girls in his team as friends. He never had any weird thoughts, be it Nijika, Ryou, or Kita.
But the friendship he believed to be indestructible seemed not so pure?
Kaito fell into contemplation.
'Just when did Kita's feelings of friendship toward me start to change?'
He had no clue.
However, judging from her expression and the words she said, it was clear she had used up all her courage, she didn't even dare stay and hear his response.
Kaito couldn't just drag her back.
'Might as well let things run their course.'
Even if he were to respond, it would have to wait until they met again next time.
Shaking off all these trivial thoughts, Kaito got on the train and headed home.
[Forty Minutes Later]
"Welcome back," Hearing the sound of the door opening, a girl with light green long hair came out of the living room, holding a lazy fat cat in her arms, looking just like a newlywed wife greeting her husband returning home.
Looking at the well-behaved, doll-like girl, Kaito shook his head and couldn't help but sigh.
'As expected, Mutsumi-chan is still the most worry-free.'
He handed over the plastic bag in his hand, which contained some snacks girls like and a few small dried fish.
"Share these with Kumiko, and as for the dried fish just give them all to Kirara."
"Okay," Wakaba Mutsumi gently nodded. When she took the plastic bag, her pale fingers seemed to accidentally brush against his fingertips.
Kaito didn't think much of it and was about to walk into the living room, when he noticed the green-haired girl staring blankly at his cheek for some reason.
"What's wrong?"
Wakaba Mutsumi hesitated for a moment, then slightly shook her head and lowered her eyes. But in her mind, that scene still lingered.
'There is a faint cherry blossom-colored mark there.'
'Almost like a kiss mark.'
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Chapter 133: Can I Call You Onii-chan?
'Are those traces left by Sakiko?'
'But... Sakiko worked overtime for a long time last night. She should still be catching up on sleep right now and hasn't gone out all day.'
'Also, the smell is off.'
Maybe it's because she joined the gardening club and came into contact with many fresh flowers and plants, Mutsumi is very sensitive to scents.
