"Anyway, come in first."
In the end, Kaito cleared his throat lightly and cut off the silent standoff between the two.
"Then excuse us."
Togawa Mizuho put on a flawless, perfect smile, then glanced at Sakiko beside her, her tone carrying a hint of reproach, "Sakiko, how long are you planning to keep squeezing around out here?"
The look in her mother's eyes, "my foolish daughter doesn't know any better, but I'm broad-minded so I'll tolerate it", made Sakiko's chest ache with irritation, as if it were all her fault, 'This stupid mom really never misses a chance to smear me.'
Mizuho, however, paid no mind to her daughter's frustration. She had already stepped lightly inside behind Kaito, moving with a composure that made her seem less like a guest and more like a lioness inspecting her territory.
"Is that Aunt Togawa?"
Hearing the commotion, Mortis poked her head out from behind the sofa, "Hmm… and Sakiko too?"
'Why does that make it sound like I'm just an add-on!'
Trailing behind her mother unwillingly, Sakiko felt even more aggrieved. She had the vague sense that her status in this household was plummeting. At this rate, she'd lose to Kirara.
But on the surface, she still waved gracefully, offering a faint smile, "Good evening, Mortis."
While they exchanged greetings, Togawa Mizuho had already taken a quick step forward, pulling the green-haired girl on the sofa into her arms. Like she was handling a beloved doll, she casually ruffled the girl's silky long hair into a mess, her tone warm and intimate, "Long time no see, little Mortis. How have you been lately? Have you had any trouble adjusting?"
The overwhelming embrace from her childhood friend's mother left the girl almost unable to breathe, 'So this is what a mature, gentle big sister is like? What terrifying pressure! I can't breathe!'
"This is too much, Mom! You're going to suffocate her!"
At the critical moment, Sakiko stepped in and successfully rescued her childhood friend from the evil Demon King Mizuho's grasp.
"Ahem! I just like this child too much."
Mizuho coughed awkwardly. It wasn't untrue, just as she was fond of Mutsumi, her affection extended by association. Facing Mortis, who looked like she'd been cast from the same mold as Mutsumi, naturally stirred a similar maternal fondness.
To avoid lingering on the topic, she raised the document envelope in her hand again.
"Everything regarding Mortis's new identity is in here."
"From now on, you're a legal citizen of this country. You can enroll in school, work, date, everything will be completely legitimate and above board. I guarantee no one will find any issues."
That's the weight of the Togawa family's influence.
Not to mention arranging a proper identity, if Mortis wanted to become prime minister… well, that might be pushing it. But elevating her to a star on Minami's level would be no problem at all.
On the other side, the girl took the envelope, opened it, and found a few documents inside.
Her personal ID card, residence certificate, and passport… all processed through official channels, complete with government seals.
'Is this… proof that I exist in this world?'
Mortis gently traced the photo on the passport, her tone unusually serious, "Thank you, Aunt Togawa."
"You're too polite, little Mortis."
Mizuho reached out and ruffled her hair, smiling, "But calling me 'Aunt' makes me sound too old. From now on, just call me 'big sister.' Mizuho-nee will do."
Sakiko, standing nearby, couldn't help breaking into a sweat, 'If Mortis calls mom "Nee," wouldn't that make me… an aunt? The whole generational hierarchy would be completely messed up!'
"Details like that don't matter, Sakiko, hurry up and call her aunt!"
Mizuho, on the other hand, didn't care. When she was ill, she didn't mind being called "aunt." But now that she'd regained her youth, if people still called her that, then what was the point of her youth returning?
"No way! Mom, stop messing around!"
Soft, pouty Sakiko was really on the verge of hissing.
"If you won't say it, then forget it. At worst, we'll just address each other separately."
Mizuho knew when to stop. She excelled at pushing right up to the edge without crossing it, keeping Sakiko perpetually on the brink of hissing, her manipulation of emotions as deft as a witch's.
Although Mortis also felt it was a bit strange to call Sakiko's mother "Nee," she couldn't win against authority. With her small face being kneaded and squished in Mizuho's hands, she finally awkwardly called out "Mizuho-nee," drawing a satisfied curve to the latter's lips.
"Oh right, where's Mutsumi?"
Having achieved her goal and feeling decades younger, Mizuho was in high spirits and couldn't help asking after the other girl, cucumber-fairy-like as ever.
"Mutsumi had something with the gardening club today. She'll be back a bit later," Kaito answered casually as he returned to the living room with a few cups of tea from the kitchen.
"Oh, I see."
Mizuho accepted the tea he handed her, then suggested, "Come to think of it, doesn't Mortis get bored staying at home all the time? Have you considered enrolling in school?"
"Whether it's Tsukinomori to keep Mutsumi company, or some other prestigious girls' academy, I can help out a bit."
Mortis: "..."
'I'm not! I don't! Don't go making things up!'
'Staying at home isn't boring at all! I can watch anime whenever I want! Play games whenever I want! There's even a cat to pet, and I can occasionally act spoiled with my brother, this kind of laid-back life, I could live forever without getting tired of it!'
'I've done nothing to you, why are you trying to harm me!'
"What Ms. Mizuho said does make sense."
Kaito fell into thought. For a girl her age, staying at home all the time wasn't ideal and could easily get boring. Even if she didn't learn much at school, making friends her age would still be a good thing.
'Why does even big brother think that!'
Mortis shook her head vigorously, "No! No! No! I'm not bored at all! And I already have plenty of friends! Sakiko, Mutsumi, Soyo! I really don't lack friends at all!"
When it came to avoiding school, children could display astonishing ingenuity. Another idea struck her, "Besides, I look exactly like Mutsumi. If I suddenly went to school, it would definitely cause a commotion. Everyone knows Aunt Minami only has one daughter, Mutsumi."
That reasoning made some sense. Seeing how resistant she was, Kaito ultimately didn't push her.
If she didn't want to go to school, then so be it. The average academic level of band girls wasn't exactly impressive anyway, perhaps this counted as an unspoken tradition? He remembered Bocchi's dream was to become a shut-in after graduation. In any case, he could afford to support her.
"We'll discuss school enrollment later. Still, thank you, Ms. Mizuho, for your help."
Seeing Kaito politely decline her suggestion, Togawa Mizuho didn't insist. Bringing it up had only been a prelude to her real question. Only now did she reveal the fangs beneath her calm exterior, "It's I who should be thanking you, Kaito-kun. Without you, I wouldn't be standing here in good health. No matter how I repay you, it would only be proper."
"So, Kaito-kun, have you considered your plans after graduation?"
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