"What were you doing just now? You came but didn't enter — just stood outside talking nonsense to that kind of person." After the two uninvited guests left, Mu Xiaoxiao turned to the red-haired woman, Natsumi, who was being held close beside him. He stared at her upturned buttocks, squeezed hard, and spoke in an unhappy tone.
"No." Obata Natsumi explained anxiously, pointing to the box in her hand. "It was Mrs. Hisato — she just moved in next door. She came to say hello and brought a souvenir."
"I only chatted with her for a moment. As for that man..." Mrs. Natsumi's voice gradually lowered. She was obviously a mature young woman, but she showed a timid expression like a little girl, carefully glancing at the villain beside her who was pinching her sensitive parts.
"I didn't start a conversation with him. He came over to talk to me... Actually, I don't like that person either."
That Kamezo Kyouzou gave her a very bad feeling. Obata Natsumi was quite disgusted.
'But why was I in such a hurry to explain to Xiaoxiao? Afraid he might misunderstand?' Mrs. Natsumi twisted her buttocks, but instead of twisting away from Mu Xiaoxiao's hand, she pressed closer to him.
Obata Natsumi found she felt no repulsion in her heart. In fact, her chest even filled with a little joy. After that fat pig man's gaze just now, she felt less and less resistant to Xiaoxiao.
Though Mrs. Natsumi had experienced so much, she didn't intend to play games or pretend. She accepted Mu-kun's existence peacefully. But... she still had a daughter. At least she hoped Yui could find happiness.
"Excuse me——"
Following Mu Xiaoxiao through the door, the moment it closed behind her, the red-haired woman smelled the aroma of cooked food inside, along with playful, noisy voices. The ladies' shoes lined up by the entrance indicated that Xiaoxiao's household had quite a few members.
And they were all girls!
"There are so many people here." She glanced at the shoes on the ground — estimated four or five pairs. "Xiaoxiao, these girls..."
"Oh, they're all family."
Mu Xiaoxiao handed her a pair of slippers.
'Family? That means they're all Xiaoxiao's...? This guy is blatantly running a harem?'
"What's wrong? Surprised I have a harem?"
"No." Obata Natsumi shook her head. She'd had a premonition about what might happen tonight. The glamorous young wife bit the inside of her cherry lips, her eyes strange. "I'm just curious, Xiaoxiao... won't your body get overdrawn?"
"Tsk. Natsumi, you're not a little girl anymore. You should understand my physique by now..."
While talking, they approached the kitchen and saw Chisato and Makoto working there. Of course, the young girl with short hair and red shawl was also among them. Natsumi spotted her daughter immediately.
"Okaa-san? Why are you so late? You took forever!" Obata Yui quickly came up to her. "Eh? What's this? A gift?"
"From next door. A new neighbor moved in." Mu Xiaoxiao casually set the box of pastries aside. "Compared to that, Natsumi and I were just discussing my body."
Mu Xiaoxiao deliberately winked at the young lady whose face was heating up. "Your mother's very worried about me overexerting myself."
'Physical overexertion?'
Hearing this, Yui also showed a worried look. She picked up a towel and wiped her hands. "Of course she's worried. Actually, I'm worried too. Xiaoxiao, you do so much every day... And with Xiaoxiao, Chi-chan, Makoto, Anna-chan, plus me and Okaa-san... your body really might collapse."
The girl paused for two seconds. "Besides, when we get stronger, your consumption will be even greater."
"Don't worry. No matter how strong you all get, you won't outpace me." Mu Xiaoxiao pinched her cheek. "Seems like this afternoon's lesson wasn't enough, Yui — questioning my physical stamina like this."
"Ah — that's not what I meant... Don't say that in front of Mom, you idiot."
Though Yui had accepted being with her mother, she still got shy.
Seeing these two flirting and bantering as if no one else was there — 'my daughter's even forgotten about me, her mother' — Obata Natsumi's expression was quite something. Looking at her own daughter, something felt off no matter how she looked.
Was she mistaken? Two days ago, Yui was hiding from Xiaoxiao. Why today... something was different.
"Yui, you..."
"Mom." Yui-senpai saw her mother wanted to talk. Actually, she had a lot to say too. She rolled her eyes, grabbed Mu Xiaoxiao's arm, and pushed him toward the kitchen.
"Dinner's almost ready, Xiaoxiao. You can help Chi-chan and the others. I'm going to talk with Mom."
"..."
"No eavesdropping."
———————
With Mu Xiaoxiao gone, the Obata mother and daughter walked around the long table. Mrs. Natsumi watched her daughter skillfully tidying clothes and sundries on the sofa — the well-behaved girl already showing some of the gentle temperament of a new wife.
Her expression grew complicated.
"Yui, why do you..."
"Mom wants to ask about me and Xiaoxiao?" Yui sat down and said.
"Yes." Obata Natsumi sat next to her daughter and took her hand. "Mom doesn't blame you, after all... I'm just a little worried. Is it possible Yui got hypnotized by Xiaoxiao again?"
Obata Yui blinked, her eyes curving into crescent moons. She laughed. "Okaa-san, why would you think that? No."
"Then you and Xiaoxiao——"
"I don't know how to explain it. Maybe I just figured things out. Actually, I avoided him all day at school today." Yui sighed. "Then later, I ran into Xiaoxiao at the club, and something happened."
Seeing her mother staring intently, Yui blushed. "Whether Xiaoxiao is a good guy or a bad guy... I've already fallen for him."
Though she'd known the outcome for a long time, Mrs. Natsumi still showed helplessness hearing her daughter say these words. "Actually, I could guess. I'm prepared. Since you, Yui, like Xiaoxiao, of course Mom won't stop you."
"It's just that you called me specifically to come here... Yui, what were you thinking?" Even this mature wife couldn't help feeling hot discussing this. "Calling me and asking me to come... making your mom join in too, Yui — how could you?"
"There's nothing I can do about it. It's not good for you to stay home alone, Mom. Besides, that troublesome villain definitely won't let you go..."
Obata Yui muttered for a long time, then raised her head. "Besides, you're the same, Mom. You came here on your own with just one phone call. If you didn't want to, you could have refused over the phone. I think you can't let go of Xiaoxiao either, right? Maybe you like the idea of the three of us together..."
Thunder rolled in her mind.
Obata Natsumi wished she could stuff her daughter back into her belly. "Yui! What are you saying? What do you mean I like... I came to Xiaoxiao's house specially because I was worried about you. It's definitely not what you said. That doesn't mean I like it, let alone that I like the idea."
"Really? Mom, you don't like it?"
"...I don't like it!"
"Liar. You screamed too loudly back then."
"You child — that was when I was hypnotized!"
'Is this still my daughter? Has Yui been led astray by Xiaoxiao?'