"It shouldn't be about you cooperating; it should be about you coming up with a solution. Don't always dump things on me just because you think I'm smart. You're an adult, after all."
Hiko complained about Ichigo's thoughtless desire to cooperate with him, adding, "Also, this whole thing is an accident caused by your lack of communication with the group members. Don't try to pass the buck."
"Isn't it easy for you to make them all acknowledge you as their coach in just a few moves? It must be simple for you to come up with another way to convince the new members about Ai," Ichigo said without much thought.
After he finished speaking, he looked at Ai.
Hiko didn't fall for Ichigo's trick. He knew it was just flattery to lower his guard.
If he got carried away by the praise, he would end up doing all the work.
Therefore, he absolutely couldn't say things like "simple" or "easy."
Hiko thought for a moment, clarified the situation, and replied, "No, this matter isn't as simple as you see it. It took me a whole month to barely come up with this method, and even then, it wasn't perfect. In the end, I had to rely on a crushing display of authority to make them reluctantly obey me."
Upon hearing Hiko's words, Ai immediately sensed something was off.
Hiko had only been announced as the coach in the last two days, but at school, he had never mentioned any methods for training other team members.
Clearly, he had come up with a solution in a very short time, and he had also managed to make her role as leader seem more legitimate.
However, Ai just watched the two of them talk and didn't expose Hiko.
"You brat, you really planned to seize all control of the group a month ago!" Ichigo's emotions became a bit agitated after hearing Hiko's explanation, but it also felt somewhat expected. So, he took a deep breath to calm himself and said, "I'm not discussing this with you anymore. Just tell me, how are we supposed to get out today?"
"It's simple, just agree on a meeting point, like the train station, isn't it?" Hiko looked at Ichigo with an expression that suggested he was looking at an idiot.
"You! What kind of look is that?!" Ichigo felt his dignity insulted by Hiko's gaze.
"You tell me, what kind of look am I giving you?" Hiko retorted.
Ichigo originally wanted to say that he felt Hiko was looking at him like an idiot, but just as he was about to speak, he realized that if he said that, Hiko, that brat, would surely turn the tables on him again.
He would definitely say, "Oh, so you think I'm looking at you like an idiot? I was just looking at you normally, not thinking anything. You're overthinking it. Only if you think you're an idiot would my gaze appear that way."
This topic couldn't be brought up. No matter how he approached it, that kid would find a way to counterattack.
Ichigo thought for a while, realized he couldn't win the argument, and then said, "Do you have to annoy me when you talk to me?"
"I've never tried to annoy you; you're annoying yourself," Hiko instantly replied.
"Alright, you two, stop arguing and chatting here," Miyako said, sensing the intense tension in the air, and advised, "I didn't come here today to watch you argue."
"Ai, let's go," Miyako walked over to Ai and said to her.
Ai didn't respond immediately but looked at Hiko next to her.
Miyako saw Ai's action and felt that her dependence on Hiko was too high now.
Even though she had lived with Ai for a month and was nominally her mother, Ai still had to ask Hiko's opinion before taking any action.
This couldn't continue.
Miyako felt that if Hiko and Ai went to buy a phone together today, the day's objective would not be achieved at all.
She had to mention it to Hiko, but not in front of Ai.
So, she interjected before Hiko could reply, "Hiko, come with me for a moment; I have something to tell you."
Miyako didn't give Hiko time to react and pulled him out of the office, closing the door behind them to prevent anyone inside from coming out or overhearing their conversation.
Hiko had just seen Ai's gaze and was about to reply when Miyako suddenly pulled him out of the office, giving him no time to react or speak.
After Miyako closed the door behind her, he asked, "Aunt Miyako, what's so urgent?"
"Keep your voice down," Miyako first said, then lowered her voice and continued, "Hiko, you can't go with Ai to buy a phone today."
Hiko had originally planned to help Ai choose a good phone, but after hearing Miyako's words, he asked, "Why?"
"You want Ai to experience familial affection, right?" Miyako replied.
"Yes," Hiko answered.
"Then you can't come with me," Miyako thought for a moment and continued, "Just now, when I asked Ai, she didn't reply directly but looked at you. Do you know what that means?"
"Isn't she just asking for my opinion?" Hiko felt confused.
"Perhaps she wanted to ask for your opinion, but this situation isn't normal," Miyako explained. "I've lived with her for a month, and I'm nominally her mother, but when I asked her, she didn't reply first and then looked at you. That's clearly not normal, she's already showing signs of attachment to you."
"Is the attachment you're talking about real or fake?" Hiko's heart swelled with joy upon hearing this. It seemed his efforts during this time hadn't been in vain.
"Would I lie to you?" Miyako replied.
"Then what does that have to do with you not letting me help her choose a phone? With this kind of relationship, wouldn't I be able to help her choose a more suitable phone?" Hiko asked Miyako with a puzzled expression.
"If you help her with everything, you'll only harm her."
Miyako felt that Hiko didn't understand the seriousness of the problem, so she continued, "Right now, the attachment is just a seedling. If it develops further, she will ask for your opinion on everything, thus losing her own judgment, and it will also squeeze out other interpersonal relationships…"