To solve this problem, recently, Mutsumi had read quite a lot of books on relationships between men and women and learned a lot of strange knowledge.
Yet, it was all completely useless.
Still completely clueless.
But it was fine. After all, she wasn't alone.
Dog-head I mean, Love Strategist Miss Mortis had solemnly assured her that she already had a complete plan and could definitely help Mustumi win the beauty in the end.
Instinctively speaking, Mutsumi didn't quite trust her second personality.
Not that she doubted Mortis would deliberately sabotage her. After all, the two of them were true partners of fate, harming her would be harming Mortis herself.
Mutsumi just worried that this idiot would mess things up.
Even if her intentions were good, what if the execution went wrong?
So, the blockhead came up with a compromise.
Adopt some of Mortis' suggestions, but still have her own body in control.
That way, even if she sensed something going wrong, she could still hit the brakes in time.
Changing her clothing style at home was based on Mortis' suggestion.
The reasoning was simple: changing her outfit could give her Onii-chan a sense of freshness and also make him aware of her charm as the opposite sex, rather than just a sister.
To let her Onii-chan understand, she was no longer a child, but had grown into a graceful and elegant young girl.
From the looks of it, this strategy seemed to indeed have some effect?
Even if the progress bar increased only slightly, it didn't matter. For the small wish in her heart, Mutsumi had plenty of patience.
Of course, relying on this method alone was far from enough to fulfill her wish.
["In daily life, try to create accidental physical contact with your Onii-chan, let him gradually get used to your touch."]
In her mind, Mortis was still actively devising schemes for her, full of confidence, ["The moment Onii-chan completely lowers his guard will be the moment we enjoy the delicious fruits of victory."]
It sounded reasonable, but
What exactly counted as "accidental" physical contact?
Holding hands? Hugging? Or kissing?
Mutsumi was a bit troubled. If it was too deliberate, it definitely wouldn't work. It would easily be seen through, and her little thoughts would be exposed, more harm than good.
This kind of thing, it seemed, could only happen naturally?
"Mustumi, you haven't had dinner yet, right?", Kaito bent down to change into indoor slippers, asking casually at the same time, "Is there anything you want to eat? I'll make it now."
"Hmm", The girl with light green long hair thought for a moment, reached out to take the shoes her Onii-chan had taken off and put them into the shoe cabinet at the side, then said, "Mapo tofu, is that okay?"
"No problem, no problem at all. But I remember, you're not very good with spicy food, right?"
Mutsumi blinked, "I just suddenly wanted to eat it."
"Really can't do anything about you."
It was rare for Mustumi to make a request, so Kaito naturally wouldn't refuse. He asked again, "Anything else you want to eat?"
Mutsumi shook her head.
"Then I'll make a few more light dishes Right, Sakiko will be visiting later. You two haven't seen each other for some time, right?"
'Sakiko...', The green-haired girl was stunned.
Even though she had long made up her mind to become her Onii-chan's wife.
But hearing the name of his childhood friend, she still couldn't suppress the feeling of guilt in her heart.
'Sorry, Sakiko.'
She once only wanted to have a little place beside her Onii-chan, even if it was just a tiny square inch, that would have been enough.
But human desire is endless, and it gradually expands.
After gaining a place to stay, she wanted to be closer to her Onii-chan, closer still.
Now, just the identity of a younger sister could no longer satisfy her.
And such behavior was undoubtedly a kind of betrayal.
["Hey hey hey, you're not thinking of backing out, are you?"]
In the consciousness space, Mortis sensed Mustumi's thoughts sharply and immediately interrupted her train of thought nervously, ["The one who made the first move was clearly Soyo."]
["Since Soyo can take the lead, why can't we?]
["At worst at worst, once we start dating Onii-chan, we'll bring Sakiko along too!"]
["Mustumi, don't do anything stupid now!"]
Mutsumi was silent for a while, then gently said, "Mm."
'I will not give up.'
And she would also help Sakiko obtain the happiness she wanted.
"About to see the president again and also Mustumi," The blue-haired twin-tailed girl stood in front of the door and let out a gentle breath.
She didn't know how Mustumi had been during this time.
With the president around, she was probably taken care of very well. For some reason, since just now, her chest had been feeling a bit stuffy.
Perhaps it was because it had been too long since they last met, and she was feeling a bit nervous.
Secretary Sakiko shook her head, stopped thinking, and pressed the doorbell.
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 183: Doesnt Feel Like Acting
The president had told her the password to the front door a long time ago.
This was also the thing that made Togawa Sakiko the happiest. After all, if it wasn't the utmost trust, who would casually give the key to their house to an outsider?
The way the president treated her was clearly different.
'No doubt, he has me in his heart.'
Secretary Sakiko didn't want to betray this trust. Determined to grow into a woman worthy of matching the president's status, she also didn't plan to be arrogant from being favored.
So even though she knew the password, the blue-haired girl still chose to press the doorbell.
She thought that being able to receive the president's welcome...
But when the door slowly opened, the figure that appeared before her was unusually petite.
"Mutsumi?", Sakiko was slightly stunned, staring blankly at the friend she hadn't seen in a few days but who looked like a completely different person, "Why are you dressed like this?"
A camisole and sports shorts made for a very casual and very cool outfit.
On other girls, it might be quite normal, but was this really her conservative childhood friend who loved wearing long skirts all year round regardless of the weather?
"Because I wanted to try something new," Mutsumi didn't explain in detail, seemingly skipping over the topic on purpose, "Sakiko, come in first."
Sakiko dazedly followed her to the living room, then dazedly accepted a cup of black tea, opened her mouth, and suddenly forgot what she wanted to say.
"Sakiko came?"
Kaito was preparing today's dinner in the kitchen. In fact, he had long noticed the little secretary's arrival. At this moment, he stuck out half his body and casually said, "You can chat with Mutsumi for a bit first. Dinner will be ready soon."
"O-okay," Sakiko nodded instinctively, but she always felt that something was off.
Looking at the president's apron printed with a blue mechanical cat pattern, and the childhood friend who, with the posture of a hostess, invited her to sit, she suddenly realized something was wrong.
'This scene before me how is it any different from a newlywed couple still in their honeymoon phase?'
Instead, she herself seemed completely out of place in this harmonious setting, with a kind of forlorn feeling of "I shouldn't be here, I should be under the car."
"Sakiko, have you been doing well lately?", Sitting on the sofa in the living room, Mutsumi was silent for a moment before initiating the small talk.
Sakiko was briefly dazed.
In the past, when she was with her childhood friend, it was always she who initiated conversations, while Mutsumi was more often the one listening.
But now, it was like she had become a completely different person.
After a moment of silence, she still gently said, "I'm fine. But Mutsumi, this period of time how has it been living with the president?"
"Onii-chan treats me very well," The girl with light green long hair spoke in a calm tone, her expression also calm, like a deep and still ancient well, making it hard to see her true thoughts.
But as a childhood friend who had grown up together with Mutsumi, Sakiko, her other half, still keenly noticed that when her friend mentioned the word "Onii-chan," there was a slight upward inflection in her voice.
Perhaps even she herself didn't realize this detail. It was more of a subconscious attachment that was hard to completely hide.
Secretary Sakiko felt even more conflicted.
Clearly in the past, Mutsumi would only show clear emotional fluctuations in front of her.
But Sakiko quickly adjusted her mindset. She remembered that today she came to test whether her childhood friend harbored feelings for the president that went beyond common sense.
The blue-haired girl lifted the teacup, took a sip of black tea, and only then spoke as if casually, "The president is indeed very reliable. As long as he is by my side, my mood mysteriously calms down Mutsumi, do you also feel that way?"
Mutsumi lightly nodded, "Onii-chan is a good person."
"Just a good person?", Sakiko blinked her amber eyes, "I thought Mutsumi would give a more intimate evaluation of the president."
"Hmm?"
Mutsumi tilted her head and also blinked her golden eyes, seeming somewhat puzzled, "Onii-chan is an important family member isn't that right?"
Sakiko stared at her confused and flustered expression, like someone who had made a mistake, unable to find a single flaw.
Hawk-eye needlepoint judgment: 'Doesn't feel like acting.'
'If it is acting, it can definitely be called "natural performance," worthy of an Oscar.'
'Could it be I am really overthinking it?'
'Or perhaps Mutsumi simply hasn't realized her feelings yet?'
This guess was quite reasonable.
Sakiko understood her childhood friend very well. From childhood till now, she had always attended girls' schools, had no experience interacting with boys her age, and even her interactions with other girls were pathetically few. She could count her friends on one hand.
With such a quiet and introverted personality, she was a blank slate.
A girl like Mutsumi not knowing what love is also seemed quite normal?
Her dependence on the president might not be the romantic kind of love she imagined, but rather a familial bond born from long-term lack of care.
Just like she said herself, "Onii-chan is an important family member."
Highlight: family member.
'In other words crisis temporarily averted?'
Sakiko couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. She didn't want to become love rivals with Mutsumi because of the president.
If the earlier guess was correct, then the current situation was undoubtedly the best outcome.
["Sakiko, have you lowered your guard now?"]
Mortis hugged a Mutsumi-head pillow in her arms, her tone seemingly strange, ["Never thought your acting skills would be this good."]
Mutsumi lowered her eyelids, but didn't respond.
Mortis was still marveling at her performance, but only Mutsumi herself knew that everything she had just said actually came from her heart.
No matter how perfect the acting, it was ultimately fake, and fake often meant flaws.
Sakiko was a smart girl. To fool her, relying solely on acting wouldn't work. Only, genuine emotion could.
Mutsumi indeed didn't lie.
She regarded Onii-chan as an important family member.
But who says a husband doesn't count as family?
Kurumizaka Mutsumi, Kurumizaka Kaito, eventually even their surnames would be the same. How would that not be family?
Sakiko clearly didn't expect that her once thoughtful and obedient childhood friend would actually play word games with her.
Although she didn't fully believe Mutsumi's words, she had indeed lowered part of her guard. She would just observe further in the days to come for a new conclusion.
As for now
Hearing the voice from the kitchen saying "Dinner's ready," Secretary Sakiko quickly went over.
Helping the president serve the dishes was still more important.
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 184: Soft and Glutinous Little Sakiko: Our Bond is Indestructible!
"I'm digging in," The blue-haired girl at the table sat up straight, her little nose twitching slightly. Looking at the delicious dishes in front of her that seemed to faintly glow with golden light, she clasped her hands together, and at the same time, her throat involuntarily gulped.
During this period of time, she had been busy with her studies and work at the agency, and hadn't had the chance to come over to freelovisit. Her three meals a day were always hastily thrown together. Although she was no longer short on money now and didn't have to scrimp and save like before, and could even indulge in ordering delivery without using coupons, pre-made meals that lacked any sense of life could never compare to the taste of Kaito's cooking skills.
Dinner was a very ordinary four dishes and one soup.
Aside from the mapo tofu that Mutsumi specifically requested, the other dishes all looked relatively light.
But light does not mean bland. It all depends on the chef's skills.
Kaito's cooking skills were, of course, beyond question. Not to mention, as a cultivator, it was perfectly normal to cultivate some special ingredients for cooking, right?
Although he didn't specifically set aside a small patch of land to grow vegetables, mainly because it was too troublesome, even ordinary ingredients, after being simply processed with spiritual energy, possessed magical effects.
Prolonging life and strengthening the body were just secondary; the taste to an ordinary person was no different than food enhanced with computer components.
Mutsumi was fine, after all, she ate it every day and had built up a certain resistance over time.
But it was different for the secretary Sakiko, whom they hadn't seen in a long while. Although she still maintained the elegance and grace expected of a young lady, her chopsticks moved swiftly, making one subconsciously mistake her for a soft-tentacled little blue octopus.
As the food entered her mouth, those amber eyes of hers squinted in satisfaction, happiness practically radiating from her.
