"Before the host leaves the karaoke, please maintain physical contact with Miura Yumiko for more than half an hour. Success may reward you with a Miura Yumiko series deck or item. Failure will require you to draw a penalty deck."
"That's it?"
After listening to the System, Shirai Mio opened the System panel again. Only after confirming there was nothing wrong with the mission did she voice her doubt.
Miura Yumiko's conquest rating toward her was already above sixty. If all Mio had to do was maintain physical contact, the mission did not feel difficult enough for a conquest rating at that level.
"If the host thinks the mission is too easy, I can increase the difficulty for free. For example, before leaving this place, find a way to make Miura Yumiko actively push you down. You should know exactly what I mean by 'push you down,' right?"
"No, no. Now that I think about it, this mission is actually pretty difficult. Let's keep this one. Don't change it."
This was a karaoke place, after all. No matter how good the privacy was, they could not exactly do anything strange here.
Putting those wandering thoughts aside, Shirai Mio shifted closer to Miura Yumiko. To make sure they did not accidentally separate, she even held onto Yumiko's arm like a clingy little girlfriend.
Miura Yumiko looked surprised by Shirai Mio's behavior. "Mio, why are you being so proactive today?"
"I just suddenly remembered when I used to pretend to be your girlfriend. I kind of wanted to see what that felt like again."
"Well, since you put it that way, does that mean I can do some things that only lovers would do before we leave?"
When Miura Yumiko suddenly turned her head, Shirai Mio could clearly see the aggressive intent in her eyes.
Still, this was a karaoke room. Even if she agreed, given Miura Yumiko's personality, Yumiko probably would not do anything too strange here.
With that thought, Shirai Mio gave a small nod. "Sure, but nothing weird!"
She did not think Miura Yumiko would actually do anything weird, but just to be safe, she made sure to warn her.
Hearing that, a faint smile curled across Miura Yumiko's lips. She even stopped singing, turned to Shirai Mio, and asked, "Then does kissing count as something weird?"
"We can say it doesn't."
The moment Shirai Mio finished speaking, Miura Yumiko leaned in.
Fortunately, Yumiko had already set the microphone aside. Otherwise, it probably would have picked up some rather strange sounds right about now.
Only after quite a while did Miura Yumiko finally sit upright in satisfaction. Shirai Mio, meanwhile, was flushed and panting as she slumped against the sofa. She was already beginning to regret agreeing to Yumiko's request.
Given her constitution, even if she could take the initiative at first, she would quickly end up on the defensive—and from there, it was all over.
After finally getting her breathing under control, Shirai Mio grabbed a tissue and wiped the corner of her mouth. "Stop staring at me. Have you forgotten why you came out with me today?"
"Of course I haven't." Miura Yumiko handed one of the microphones to Shirai Mio. "I picked songs we can sing as duets. Want to join me?"
Shirai Mio noticed that all of them were songs Miura Yumiko had recommended to her before, saying they sounded really good.
At the time, Shirai Mio had not thought much of it. Only now did she understand just how much thought Miura Yumiko had put into this.
Most of the songs were ones she had only heard before rather than actually sung, but for someone with the System, that was hardly a problem.
Miura Yumiko had originally chosen those songs simply so Shirai Mio would feel more involved. What she had not expected was that Shirai Mio, who had previously claimed she could not sing, would suddenly reveal an absolutely beautiful singing voice.
"Mio, when you said before that you couldn't sing, were you lying?" Miura Yumiko asked after they finished one song.
"It wasn't exactly a lie. The karaoke machine doesn't have any of the songs I know." The songs she knew were all from before she transmigrated, and the vast majority of them were Chinese songs.
"Really?"
"Of course."
After getting Shirai Mio's firm answer, Miura Yumiko did not ask any more questions, because the next song quickly began.
Pleasant singing once again filled the small private room.
By five-thirty that afternoon, their booked time was up.
Shirai Mio left the karaoke place together with Miura Yumiko.
Looking at the darkening sky, Shirai Mio smiled at Miura Yumiko. "It's getting pretty late. We should head home too."
"Okay."
Since their homes were in different directions, Miura Yumiko had no choice but to part ways with Shirai Mio when they reached an intersection.
She knew the chances were not high, but she still looked at Shirai Mio expectantly. "Mio, want to come over to my place for a while?"
"Right now?"
"Mm."
"Probably not right now. How about this weekend, or some other time when we're both free?"
"Okay. By the way, since you're my temporary girlfriend right now, shouldn't I walk you home? Like I used to."
"You don't have to go through all that trouble this time."
As soon as Shirai Mio finished speaking, the light turned green. She said goodbye to Miura Yumiko, crossed the street, and headed toward home.
The moment Shirai Mio arrived home, she saw Rita fully dressed and ready to go. Rita had even brought out her suitcase.
"You... where are you going?"
Rita pursed her lips at Shirai Mio's question. "Didn't I tell you before? I'm going home. My flight is tonight. I was waiting for you to come back so we could have one last dinner before I leave."
The words had barely left Rita's mouth when Shirai Mio covered it with her hand.
"You know you're flying tonight, and you're still saying things like 'one last dinner'?"
Rita pulled Shirai Mio's hand away and muttered, "You actually believe in that kind of thing?"
"Better safe than sorry. Haven't you heard that saying?"
"No."
"Forget it. I can't be bothered arguing with you about this. I'm going to cook."
Watching Shirai Mio walk away, Rita chuckled softly. How could she not tell that Shirai Mio was worried about her? It was just a shame they had met too late. Otherwise, dating Shirai Mio might actually have been pretty nice.
Since Rita was flying home that night, Shirai Mio prepared a lavish dinner to see her off.
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