Unaware that Karin was currently trying to drag her own sister down into the mess too, Takumi drove all the way to Touko's house.
The Yotsuya home was a classic detached three-story house, with the lawn around it trimmed neat and tidy.
Seeing that, Takumi smiled and said, "Touko-san, you've done a great job taking care of all these flowers and plants."
"It's nothing, really. I've just always liked growing flowers and tending the lawn and things like that."
Her face flushing a little, Touko waved her hand shyly.
"That's a pretty nice hobby. Though Miko never told me her family was basically a little rich family too. Touko-san, you're a capable woman after all. Hiding your light under a bushel like this."
Takumi smoothly found another angle to compliment her.
The more he praised her, the more embarrassed Touko became.
Her cheeks reddening, she replied softly, "I'm not some capable woman at all. Usually I just stay home, do some housework, and watch TV. As for the money..."
She trailed off there, confusion flashing through her eyes.
Shaking her head, she said in a low voice, "I can't really remember either. I just know I seem to have a lot of savings."
So it's the same situation as Mrs. Yukinoshita?
Takumi gave Touko a glance and immediately caught the oddity there.
He did not press any further.
After all, if the past wasn't going to yield any real answers, there was no point in prying.
Once he figured out a way to go back in time, every mystery would unravel eventually.
Seeing that Takumi did not pursue the matter, Touko patted her cheeks and chose not to dwell on it either.
She herself had never figured out why. Lately, she had even joined a group because of it.
There were quite a few people in there troubled by the same thing.
And after what had happened today with Steel Lady Nanase, Touko realized this matter was far from simple.
The more she thought about it, the more frightened she became, and her beautiful eyes drifted back to Takumi.
At this moment, he was the only one who could give her any sense of safety.
Lowering her gaze, Touko spoke in a soft, delicate voice.
"Takumi-kun, come in and sit for a while."
After saying that, she took out her key, opened the door, and led Takumi inside.
"I'm home, Miko~"
After entering, Touko took off her shoes and called for her daughter as she usually did.
But this time, unlike usual, there was no answer from Miko.
"She's out?"
Touko raised her brows slightly, surprise flickering across her face.
Lately, Miko had been acting oddly. For a while she had loved staying at home and kept saying home was best.
But these last couple of days she had suddenly gotten much livelier, always talking about going out to play with her close friend.
She was probably still out and hadn't come back yet.
Touko did not think too much of it and quickly invited Takumi into the living room.
After putting out some snacks and pouring him a cup of tea, Touko sat beside him in a neat, proper posture.
Looking at Takumi, she wanted to say something, yet for a moment had no idea how to begin.
The quiet atmosphere in the room, made all the more intimate by the fact that it was only the two of them, rippled into something softer and more ambiguous.
Her heart fluttering wildly, Touko only managed to speak after a long pause.
"Takumi-kun... are you Miko's friend?"
The moment those words left her mouth, she felt burning embarrassment.
That question had come out so awkwardly.
Because of everything that had happened earlier, she simply could not see Takumi as some younger boy anymore.
Yet if she wanted to talk to him more naturally, on equal footing, she did not really know him well enough.
After thinking it over and over, this was all she could come up with.
Takumi, on the other hand, was amused by how adorable Touko looked.
He did not find it awkward at all and responded right away.
"Miko and I aren't in the same class, but we are in the same year. And some time ago, Miko and I had some dealings with each other too. Looks like she never told you she awakened Yin-Yang Eyes and often ran into cursed spirits."
Those few words immediately smoothed out the awkward atmosphere.
Hearing something about her daughter, Touko immediately followed up, "Yin-Yang Eyes? Cursed spirits? Things like that monster from earlier!?"
"Yeah. She came to the church back then, and I just happened to be there, so I saved her."
"Thank you, Takumi-kun. I really... really don't even know how to thank you."
Learning that Takumi had saved her daughter too, Touko could not help leaning closer, one hand pressed to her chest as she tried to express her gratitude.
The outline of her chest rose and fell, lush and swollen, looking like it might burst the shirt she was wearing.
All Takumi could say was—truly worthy of being a married woman.
Compared to Touko, Miko's figure really still felt too young and undeveloped.
Suppressing the heat rising inside him, Takumi used that topic to keep chatting with Touko.
But as the conversation went on, Touko's face grew redder and redder, and she started looking unable to sit still.
Part of it was because, as they kept talking, the distance between them naturally kept shrinking.
Even up close, Takumi's handsome face was still flawless.
Her instincts as a woman had already been thoroughly hooked.
Now that they were sitting this close, looking each other in the eyes while talking, how could those restless feelings possibly be held down so easily?
The other part was that, the more they talked, the more Touko kept remembering what had happened with Steel Lady Nanase.
That immediately brought back the memory of how she had peed herself in fright.
Even though Takumi had "dried" her off afterward, she still had not washed up since getting home.
And because of her, Takumi's hand and pants had gotten dirty too.
Even if he seemed not to mind, Touko still felt guilty.
After fidgeting for quite a while, she finally said in a shy, trembling voice, "Takumi-kun... I'm really sorry about what happened earlier. Um... if you go into the bathroom, I'll wash you up."
Touko felt she absolutely had to repay that guilt herself.
It definitely was not because she was greedy for a handsome young man.
The moment he heard that invitation, Takumi stood up at once.
"How could I possibly trouble you like that, Touko-san? Though, come to think of it, I really am a little sweaty. Then I'll head in first."
With that, Takumi strode decisively toward the bathroom.
The Yotsuya family bathroom was not small. The little pool inside was designed to imitate a proper bath.
The moment he turned the switch, warm water began filling the basin.
At the same time, a hazy white mist gradually spread through the room.
Before long, footsteps sounded from outside the door.
Already reclining in the bath, Takumi raised a brow and looked over.
Slide—
The door opened, and a graceful figure appeared before his eyes.
Touko had taken down the tie from her black hair, letting her long hair fall loose all the way to her waist.
A white bath towel wrapped around her mature, curvy body, outlining a perfect S-shaped silhouette.
As she stepped through the hazy mist, her exquisitely alluring face came into view.
The blush on her cheeks only added even more tempting charm.
Half-hidden by the steam, Touko looked even more captivating now—so beautiful it made a man's fingers itch.
...
For every 50 Power Stones → +1 extra chapter.