The spacious bedroom lit up with a chandelier made of crystal carvings intertwined like vines, making the interior as bright as daylight.
After a long silence, the blue twin-tailed girl finally couldn't suppress her emotions any longer and broke the stillness of the room.
"Hah?"
"Hah what?"
Togawa Mizuho let out a long sigh, "As a lady, to utter such rude sounds… Looks like during the time I wasn't around, Sakiko, you've fallen behind a lot in your etiquette classes."
"Stuff like that doesn't matter at all! I absolutely won't agree!"
Togawa Sakiko was driven slightly crazy by her mom's reaction, but her tone of rejection was unusually firm.
Living alone and living with family were entirely different experiences.
The former allowed much more freedom and the ability to manage one's time more freely, while the latter… drastically reduced that freedom. Even buying a gentle catgirl figurine would be done in fear and trepidation, worried about it being discovered during household cleaning.
No matter what little stir she made, her mother would easily notice. Even making an excuse to stay overnight at the president's house would become difficult in the future. What was the difference between that and putting herself in shackles?
Moreover…
"The reason of not being at ease with your daughter living alone and so wanting to move in to take care of her," — it might sound reasonable, but fundamentally it wouldn't stand scrutiny.
Never mind that she'd already lived alone for a long time and developed the necessary experience. Even if we take a step back, the president lives next door, what danger could there be?
Also, maybe due to a woman's mysterious intuition, somehow, she just didn't really want her mother to appear around the president for extended periods.
It wasn't that she didn't trust the president, but she didn't trust her mother.
Even in Japan's own history, weren't there examples like Emperor Shirakawa and Emperor Toba? [T/N: Google it]
Past events serve as a warning. Let future travelers learn from it.
If possible, she truly wouldn't mind letting the president take on the surname "Togawa", But that "Togawa" is not the same "Togawa".
Togawa Sakiko's "Togawa" is different from Togawa Mizuho's "Togawa". There's still a whole generation between them.
"In any case, I can take care of myself. Besides, Mom, you just recovered from your illness, the most important thing now is to rest and recuperate, right?"
Seeing her daughter's clearly resistant attitude, Togawa Mizuho didn't speak for a long time.
Just as secretary Sakiko began to feel uneasy inside, reflecting on whether her voice had been too loud just now and hurt her mom's feelings, the person in front of her suddenly let out a "pfft" laugh.
"Alright, alright. I was just joking."
Togawa Mizuho picked up her teacup in a leisurely manner and took a sip, "I still have a clear enough self-awareness. I'm old now and have lost my charm. I won't go sticking around you young people as a third wheel, lest I get disliked by my drafty little cotton-padded jacket. Just stay outside peacefully, don't worry about home."
"I-I'm not disliking Mom…", The blue-haired girl's little face turned slightly red. She also realized that her reaction just now might've been a bit too strong and quickly tried to cover up, "As long as Mom wants to… you can visit me anytime. Tokyo's transportation is very developed nowadays. It doesn't take long to get from here to Ikebukuro…"
Togawa Mizuho looked at her steadily, and only when the girl lowered her head guiltily did she curl her lips and draw out her voice.
"Then… I'll just remember what you said. If I come visit someday, Sakiko won't find Mom annoying, right?"
"Of course not!", Returning to her soft and sweet tone, Sakiko earnestly made a promise that she would regret countless times in the future, "As long as Mom comes, I'll always welcome you!"
———
The next day, Shuka Academy.
Perhaps because the school festival was approaching, the atmosphere on campus recently was very relaxed.
Those who submitted performances were busy rehearsing, preparing to shine during the shows.
Those who didn't submit performances weren't idle either—either contributing to the class projects or busy watching the excitement.
Kaito was no exception. His class had already decided to host a maid café, and he was called to the office by Hiratsuka-sensei for a request, to do a cameo as a male butler. She even emphasized that he didn't need to actually serve customers, just put on the outfit, serving more like an oiran in an ancient brothel, used primarily to attract guests.
As for what if a guest insisted on naming the "oiran" to serve them?
Sorry, me wearing a butler outfit ≠ I'm here to serve you. Inequality resolved instantly.
Shizuka's attitude was very nice, no coercion, only enticement. Not only did she give him full autonomy, she also said the teacher owed him a favor. In the future, if he had anything he needed help with, like wanting a leave of absence or such, she'd absolutely open the green channel for him.
So Kaito thought about it and agreed.
Not because he was swayed by Hiratsuka-sensei's conditions, most of the time, he was pretty easy to talk to. Besides, it wasn't a troublesome request anyway, might as well do it to kill time.
———
It was lunchtime.
Kaito took out the bento he'd prepared in the morning, ready to eat lunch.
Bzz~ Bzz~
The phone beside him suddenly vibrated twice.
[Togawa Sakiko: President, President! I have good news for you!]
[Togawa Sakiko: I can go home today!]
Even through the screen, the girl's joy was tangible, making him slightly puzzled.
'It has only been two days of going home with her mom, why does Secretary Sakiko sound like she is being released from prison?'
He thought about it, but didn't rush to ask. Instead, he responded normally.
[Kaito: That's good.]
[Kaito: I'll buy some groceries tonight, give you a welcome-home meal.]
On the other end of the screen, little Sakiko had been sitting with her phone the whole time, a sweet smile on her face. Though in Togawa Mizuho's eyes, it must've looked like "silly giggling."
[Togawa Sakiko: That's too much trouble for you, President, isn't it?]
[Togawa Sakiko: Just some simple home-cooked dishes will do. It's been so long since I tasted the President's cooking. No matter what it is, I'll gratefully eat it all up.]
[Kaito: It hasn't been that long, has it? Just a few days.]
[Kaito: But I understand your meaning. Do you need me to come pick you up?]
[Togawa Sakiko: No need, someone's sending me back.]
[Togawa Sakiko: But President, being too considerate will make girls misunderstand, you know~]
This was a harmless little joke. Perhaps because it was through a screen, Secretary Sakiko's courage was a bit greater than usual. Things she couldn't say face to face, she could now casually tap out on the keyboard and send without thinking too much.
A new message popped up in the chat window.
[Kaito: I rarely show concern for outsiders.]
[Kaito: But you're worth this special treatment.] [T/N: KO]
This is the value of Togawa Sakiko.
Not only his number one general under his command, but also handling the entire agency's affairs singlehandedly. At times, she even commuted at her own expense, a true SpongeBob of the 21st century.
Who could dislike such a diligent and hardworking secretary?
Togawa Mizuho, sipping red tea from the side, found it strange. How did the silly daughter who'd just been giggling at her phone suddenly freeze?
But before she could ask twice out of concern, the twin-tailed girl with long draped hair suddenly sprang up from the sofa. Her long blue hair lifted with the motion, blooming like a cornflower. The air-conditioned breeze carried the scent of citrus past her tips, but it couldn't blow away the faint blush blooming on her pale cheeks.
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