Nagasaki-san didn't understand, but she was greatly shocked.
'So it turns out, my obedient daughter, actually has such a repressed side?'
'A person's fetish can be niche, but it mustn't be p*rverse, okay?'
'…Or could it be, I am already an outdated relic, and today's young people just like playing strange and weird plays?'
"S-So having this kind of thought is really strange, right?"
Seeing her mother's shocked expression, Soyo felt even more ashamed inside, couldn't help covering her face with both hands, "D-Don't look at me with that kind of gaze…"
"Ahem!", Nagasaki-san coughed twice.
Whether it was she herself being outdated, or Soyo's fetish being too unique, in short, as a mother, enlightening her confused daughter was also her responsibility.
"This kind of impulse of yours, although at first hearing it might sound problematic, is actually not hard to understand," Nagasaki-san tried to reason from all angles, that her daughter having this kind of mentality was correct, objective, rational, and straight to the point.
For example, girls are naturally motherly by instinct; for example, adolescent girls do have all sorts of strange fantasies; and for another example, this is actually also a manifestation of how close your relationship is.
In short, under Mommy's painstaking, eloquent science lecture, Soyo was half-convinced, half-doubtful.
"So… this kind of mentality of mine is actually normal?"
"That's right," Nagasaki-san's face was serious, holding her daughter's shoulders, "So Soyo doesn't need to feel ashamed at all. As long as you don't harm others, this is a very common hobby."
Although mature in appearance and gentle in personality, Nagasaki Soyo was, after all, still a young student and also in her first relationship. It was inevitable that she didn't understand some things.
Seeing her experienced mother speak so confidently, though she still had other concerns, she truly did believe her mother's words.
The girl lightly patted her chest, letting out a breath of relief, "I thought… this was the kind of filthy thought only shameless bad women would have…"
After a pause, she looked a bit nervous, "Mommy, tell me… if I accidentally exposed this kind of tendency, would Kaito-kun… hate me?"
Involving someone else's opinion, Nagasaki-san also didn't dare make guarantees.
But she thought for a bit and still said, "It probably won't be that bad… Since you two are lovers, some things, it's better to have an open and honest talk about. Perhaps… something unexpected might come of it?"
'Talk it out… huh?'
Nagasaki Soyo showed a thoughtful expression, then after a while, seriously nodded, "Mm, I understand now!"
———
"It's about time."
Glancing at the wall clock, fifteen minutes left until exactly seven in the evening.
Although the arranged visit time with Soyo was at 7:30, and there was still plenty of free time, considering the nature of tonight's family dinner, Kaito still planned to arrive a bit early to show his respect.
He patted the little head of the girl sitting on his lap, "Mortis, time to get down."
The TV in the living room was playing the current season's new anime, the ever-popular magical girl genre. Mortis reluctantly moved her gaze from the screen, twisting her waist unhappily.
"It's still early! There's still time, Onii-chan, stay with me a little longer~ just a little while!"
Kaito hadn't hidden from them the plan to visit Soyo's home tonight. Though nominally going to eat dinner, it was clearly impossible he would really just eat and go home.
From Mortis' point of view, this was like a usually cold wife suddenly dressing herself up glamorously and then telling her husband that she's working overtime tonight.
Only idiots would believe that.
If it were the honest little Mutsumi, even if she had all sorts of pain inside, she wouldn't say much to keep her "obedient little sister" image. At most, remind with a line: Onii-chan, be careful.
But Mortis was different.
If given the chance, she wouldn't hesitate to try her best to ruin this family dinner. Just thinking of her brother staying the night at another woman's home, maybe even getting night-attacked by Soyo and doing this and that, she already felt a heavy pressure on her head…
One's own failure is certainly frightening, but a best friend's success hurts even more.
Watching Soyo feast happily was even more painful than not getting to eat herself.
Unfortunately, faced with the girl's soft whining, Lord Heavenly Monarch remained cold as stone, slightly curled his index finger and knocked her forehead.
"Don't be willful."
'Alright then, looks like there's no room for negotiation.'
Mortis pouted. Her brother indeed spoiled her, but he also wouldn't indulge her without limits. If she kept sulking, his favorability might drop.
Since the matter couldn't be changed, she took the chance to ask for something in return. She raised her face and stuck up a slender finger.
"Then, when Onii-chan comes back tomorrow, you have to properly accompany me and Little Mutsumi! We agreed before, we'd go to the amusement park! And the aquarium too!"
"Mm," Kaito slightly nodded, "Tomorrow the whole day will be spent with you and Little Mutsumi."
Only then did Mortis reluctantly let go with satisfaction. She then pointed to her own cheek, meaning clear without words.
Kaito very casually gave her a kiss on the side of her face, then instinctively pulled in the nearby Little Mutsumi and kissed her too, making sure the treatment was fair.
But when he raised his head, he paused.
'Since when… have I become this skilled?'
It was even starting to become an instinctive reaction.
After thinking for a while, he still had no answer.
'Forget it, this kind of thing doesn't matter.'
Giving up on recalling, Kaito looked toward Little Mutsumi, gently ruffling her long hair, "While I'm not home, I'll be counting on you to look after the house."
"Mm," Wakaba Mutsumi lightly nodded, "Onii-chan, be safe."
She was always so obedient, fully accepting everything from her brother, and didn't resist his big hand on her head, letting him gently stroke her hair as if it were totally normal. Like she was your cat, one you've raised for many years.
Kaito suddenly felt that he had been paying a little too little attention to Little Mutsumi. The sensible older sister and the energetic younger one, the latter always got more affection from the adults. Even he wasn't an exception. Because he felt Little Mutsumi was so mature and didn't need to worry about, he'd naturally given more attention to Mortis.
But being sensible should not be a reason to be overlooked — this was his negligence. Thankfully, it wasn't too late to realize it now.
'Someday soon… I should properly make it up to Little Mutsumi.'
'With her personality, it's unlikely she'll ask for anything too difficult…'
'Mm, probably?'
———
[Tokyo, Minato Ward, Roppongi]
This wasn't Kaito's first time visiting the Nagasaki house, only his identity was now completely different.
Last time he was just an ordinary guest, simply coming for a meal. This time, however, it felt more like "meeting the parents," barely even counting as half a host.
Arriving below the familiar tower, there was already a tall figure standing at the door.
The brown-haired girl wore a long floral dress. The wind lifted the hem of her skirt. The moment their eyes met, she suddenly raised her right hand to cover her lips.
Clearly no one else could see the corners of her lips curling up, yet no one would doubt that she was smiling.
Because in that instant, the loneliness in the girl's brows and eyes suddenly came alive. Like an early spring stream thawing all at once, the chilly spring water wrapped with ice crystals and snowflakes, radiant beyond words.
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