'The scent on Kaito-kun is not like Sakiko's fresh and elegant one, nor like Soyo's unique rich fragrance. It's more like something I once smelled in passing... an unknown, unfamiliar shower gel scent.'
'In other words... it is a woman I don't know?'
Because he already had dinner at the Kita household, Kaito originally planned to take a bath and then rest.
Looking at the direction of the dining table, it was empty, with no leftover takeout boxes, clean to the point of spotless.
He was a little surprised, "You haven't had dinner yet?"
"Mm," Mutsumi lightly nodded, "Because... I'm not really hungry yet."
That was a lie.
In truth, because Kaito wasn't home, even though Kirara and Kumiko were with her, little Mutsumi still lacked a sense of security and couldn't muster any appetite.
She didn't want to eat mentally, but her body honestly expressed the desire to eat.
Just as the girl's voice fell, her flat little stomach quietly let out a "gurgle~ gurgle~" sound. Though it wasn't loud, in the quiet room, it was clear enough to be heard.
Mutsumi: "..."
'Just missing one meal shouldn't be this exaggerated.'
Kaito suddenly thought of a possibility. After two seconds of silence, he met her gaze, "What about breakfast and lunch? You didn't eat those either?"
"...", Little Mutsumi silently averted her eyes and didn't answer.
Kaito sighed.
He had just praised her in his heart as the one who gave him the least trouble, only for the boomerang to come back so quickly.
After all, she's a guest staying over. Mori Minami pays several million a month in food expenses, it wouldn't be right to let little Mutsumi starve.
He thought for a bit, then said, "If that's the case, I'll make you some noodles."
'Noodles?', Mutsumi paused, seemingly thinking of something, and hesitated, "Wouldn't that be... too much trouble?"
"It's not really trouble," Kaito opened the fridge, where a few bright red tomatoes lay quietly, just enough to make tomato and egg noodles.
His movements were quick, the kitchen tools moved at his command, aided by spiritual energy, each action was smooth as flowing water. He soon washed the tomatoes clean and sliced them into evenly shaped pieces. In no time, the task was completed.
Red tomatoes, white noodles, yellow eggs, paired with scattered green scallions and a few dark green bok choy leaves. Different colors perfectly fused into one bowl of noodles. Just the sight of it made one salivate.
"Fill your stomach first," Kaito pushed the bowl in front of her, "I made enough for three people. If it's not enough, you can have more."
"Thank you," The green-haired girl subtly swallowed her saliva. Even though she had eaten Kaito's cooking many times... every time she smelled that scent, her body still reacted with instinctual craving.
Mutsumi picked up her chopsticks and quietly said "I'm starting," before picking up a bundle of noodles, gently blowing on the heat, and bringing it to her mouth to chew slightly.
The noodles were chewy, the egg was tender and smooth, the soup incredibly flavorful. The overall taste leaned toward sweet and sour, a type most popular with girls.
Even a silent, emotionless, expressionless doll-like girl couldn't keep her usual blank face in front of such exquisite flavor. A faint blush crept over her lovely face, and even her golden eyes became moist and lustrous, as if every cell in her body was cheering with joy.
Only by lightly biting her lips could she barely hold back from making a satisfied moan.
Little Mutsumi normally doesn't eat much at home. Even with dishes meticulously prepared by the maids, she only tasted them lightly.
Part of it was to maintain her figure. As the daughter of famous actress Mori Minami and comedian Wakaba, her future debut was practically set in stone, so she naturally had to start managing her figure early.
As for the other part... living in a cage, for a heartless doll, no matter how delicate or luxurious the cuisine, it was tasteless.
Since coming to Kaito's home, this has been the most self-willed time in little Mutsumi's life.
Because it was under the excuse of "treating insomnia caused by lack of security," Mori Minami relaxed her expectations of her. Wakaba hadn't shown up even once.
Eating well, drinking well, and there are cats to pet.
Compared to that large, hundred-square-meter detached mansion, it's here that she truly feels a sense of "home."
"Are you full?", Seeing the girl in front of him looking satisfied, the bowl was also clean, not even a drop of soup left, Kaito pulled out a tissue, leaned forward slightly, and wiped the soup from the corner of her mouth.
His action was very natural, like a gentle father taking care of a young daughter.
A warm and clean, plant-like elegant scent came closer with the shortened distance, gently surrounding her, making the girl slightly dazed.
It wasn't until Kaito sat back down on the chair that the pleasant sandalwood scent faded mostly away, and Mutsumi finally snapped out of it. But... a trace of reluctance flashed in her heart.
"That was a very delicious bowl of noodles," She said softly, "It had... the taste of home."
'The taste of home?'
'That kind of comment is rather rare.'
Kaito raised his hand, subconsciously wanting to pat the girl's silky green hair like he would do with Kumiko, but since he was already seated, it wasn't convenient to do so. He had to give up and instead said, "If that's the case, just treat this place as your home. If you feel lonely, you can also go next door and chat with Sakiko."
"Treat it as... home?", Mutsumi slowly looked up. Her golden eyes were crystal clear, with brilliant light dots reflected from the overhead light.
Her cherry blossom-like lips moved slightly twice, her long lashes trembled lightly, like butterfly wings.
She was silent for a long time, then finally, as if gathering courage, said hesitantly, "Then... can I call you, Onii-chan?"
'Onii-chan?', This time it was Kaito's turn to be stunned.
Once he came back to his senses, his feelings were rather complex.
He's an only child. After joining Courting Death Sect, his master only took him as a disciple. Though there were many junior sisters under other elders, there was still a layer of distance.
Thinking carefully, he really had never been called "Onii-chan" by anyone before.
However...
Looking at the shy girl before him, eyes filled with unease like an abandoned little beast afraid of being deserted, Kaito hesitated for a moment, then still nodded.
"If you don't mind," After all, he really was a bit older than little Mutsumi, so being called "Onii-chan" wasn't strange.
Besides, Kita had already set an example for him.
Since the so-called unbreakable friendship in his heart wasn't that pure, if it turned into familial affection, maybe it wouldn't change anymore? [T/N: So, i*cest as well? *Sigh* Forgive me father, for I have sinned.]
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Chapter 134: Shrimp-Head Loves Anons Roof
"Onii-chan."
"Mm?"
"Onii-chan."
"Is something the matter?"
"Onii-chan."
"..."
Kaito silently looked at the girl with light green long hair beside him. Her doll-like delicate face showed little expression, but her usually cold light golden pupils were lit up by the warm orange-yellow glow of the room, shining brightly.
He sighed and lightly knocked the little girl's head, "Are you a broken record machine or something?"
"Because this feeling is very novel," For the first time, she had a name that belonged entirely to her.
No need to use unfamiliar "xx classmates" or "xx-kun" to address, she could justifiably call out "Onii-chan."
Mutsumi gently pressed her chest, hesitated for a moment, then lifted her face, "Onii-chan, can you pat my head again?"
The girl's smooth green hair hung down her back like a waterfall, reflecting a silky shine under the bright indoor light. Just looking at it made one know the touch must be very nice.
Actually, it wasn't really necessary to pat her head but since it was a request from his little sister, refusing it would surely make Mutsumi show that pitiful puppy-like expression.
Kaito coughed lightly, stretched out his hand, and gently pressed the top of Mutsumi's head, instinctively using the technique he used when petting Kirara.
The sensation under his palm was warm, like the sunlight of an afternoon scattered down. The girl narrowed her eyes, as content as a dozing cat.
But this pleasant enjoyment didn't last long.
"Is the president back? I saw changed shoes at the entrance Eh?", Secretary Sakiko, who had unknowingly walked into the living room, paused in her steps. She looked at her friend not far away, who was currently enjoying a head pat from the president. The bright amber eyes seemed to have lost their highlights.
"So Mutsumi is now the president's little sister?"
Kaito nodded.
The green-haired girl beside him also obediently followed with a nod.
"Is that so?"
Perhaps because his expression was too sincere, calm and straightforward with a strong persuasive power, Sakiko, although still somewhat uneasy, reluctantly accepted this statement. But then she raised another question, "Then, what's with the head-patting?"
'Even I rarely get patted on the head by the president.'
"As an older brother, patting a little sister's head is quite normal, right?", Kaito raised an eyebrow, looking at Secretary Sakiko, who for some reason seemed a little resentful. After a moment of thought, he suddenly understood her feelings.
As the ancients said, the trouble lies not in scarcity but in inequality, very reasonable.
When others don't have but I do, one feels superior.
But on the contrary, when others have and I don't, it breeds feelings of envy and loss.
So
"Sakiko-san, do you also want me to pat your head?"
Sakiko's pretty face turned red.
'President isn't that a bit too direct?'
If it were in private, she might have endured the embarrassment in silence and waited for the president to take the initiative to pat her head.
But now, in front of Mutsumi, between them, Secretary Sakiko had always been the one making decisions. How could she show her soft side to her friend?
"I-I'm not a child anymore", Sakiko struggled for a while and ultimately rejected this heart-moving suggestion, "I definitely don't need to be patted on the head."
'She actually refused?', Kaito thought for a moment and then asked tentatively, "Then do you also want to call me 'Onii-chan'?"
The delicate pointed ears hidden in the light green hair twitched. Mutsumi lowered her eyelids, her slender fingertips unconsciously tightening on her skirt hem.
Because she gripped too hard, her knuckles slightly turned white.
'A name that belongs only to me'
'I have only had it for a short while, and now Sakiko wants to take it away?'
"Please allow me to refuse."
Thankfully, things didn't develop in the worst direction.
This time, Secretary Sakiko refused even faster, without the slightest hesitation.
She didn't want to be a little sister.
Rather than calling "Onii-chan," she preferred to justifiably use terms like "Shujin(husband)" or "Anata(you)."
'Well, if she doesn't want to, then fine.'
Kaito didn't mind, "There's freshly made noodles in the kitchen. If you're hungry, you can get a bowl. I'm going to take a bath first, we'll talk later."
Normally, just leaving a visiting guest like that to go do his own thing would be considered very rude.
But since he and Sakiko were quite close, there was no need to worry about such formalities.
After he left, only the two girls remained in the living room.
Sakiko looked at her friend, who had been silent since just now. A trace of probing flashed in her beautiful eyes.
She used to firmly believe that Mutsumi would never betray her, and certainly would never secretly backstab her.
But that earlier scene had shaken that trust.
She wanted to say something, but the words that came out instead were, "Mutsumi how do you feel about living here?"
"Very good," Mutsumi's voice was still cold and calm, without much emotion.
Others might not notice any difference, but as childhood friends who were like halves of each other, Sakiko could keenly sense the changes in her friend.
If the former Mutsumi was like a noble girl in an oil painting, beautiful but lifeless, then the current Mutsumi was like a doll that had found a "heart" and been given true life.
And all of this was clearly brought by the president.
Sakiko's eyes were somewhat complicated.
That her friend had undergone such a big and positive change, she was of course happy.
But what about the cost?
One day, would Mutsumi fall deep into this, and even become her rival?
On one side, a childhood friend she grew up with.
On the other, the boy she liked.
Life's multiple choice questions were always unusually difficult.
'The only good news is at least for now, the president hasn't shown romantic interest in Mutsumi,' Secretary Sakiko sighed. Given the situation, might as well eat first.
Lying in the bathtub filled with hot water, feeling the warmth wrapping his skin, Kaito leaned his head against the tub's edge, his expression completely relaxed.
No wonder people love soaking in baths, this feeling was indeed immersive, a lightness of body and mind, washing away the fatigue of the day.
Only, this atmosphere didn't last two minutes before being interrupted.
The phone not far away suddenly vibrated.
He casually waved his hand, and the phone by the clean clothes flew over.
With spiritual power protecting it, he didn't have to worry about water damage. Kaito swiped the screen a few times, and a message appeared before his eyes.
["Chihaya Anon" has sent you a voice call invitation.]
Chihaya-san?
So latewhat does she want?
Kaito casually declined and typed back, "Taking a bath."
The phone quieted for a moment, but soon another message popped up.
[Chihaya Anon has sent you a video call invitation.]
Kaito: "..."
Kaito: "?"
[T/N: Fufufufu, getting freaky, are we?]
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Chapter 135: Jorgumo
"Ah ah ah! I'm going to die, going to die, going to die!"
