"It's really too childish, Misaki."
Haruka Yuzan sat up straight, saying with an air of righteousness.
Misaki Saki looked bewildered, her previously bright eyes had become bean-sized, just like roast meat, blinking in evident surprise at the boy's swift change of face.
And he had put all the blame on her???
"Hey, it was clearly you who said that this operation..." The little one also snapped back to reality, straightened up, and put her hands on her hips, ready to retort.
But Haruka Yuzan didn't give her the chance, moving past the girl and sitting on the large bed,
"The childish games are over now, Misaki-san. It's time to discuss serious matters, I'll play with you later." The latest_epɪ_sodes are on_the ⓝovelFire.net
The tone of his voice was like that of a mature and sensible brother educating his naughty and cute sister.
With those words, Misaki Saki's face turned red with anger, her delicate cheeks visibly puffing up in grievance, looking like an aggrieved person,
"You jerk, take this punch!"
Saying so, she raised her little fist and charged at the boy, but then... there was no further story.
She was held by the boy across his lap, unable to move, her little legs flailing in the air as if she were learning to swim.
Chiba Shimizu didn't speak, just quietly shut the room door, sat down on a chair, her beautiful eyes calm as if she was accustomed to this.
"Alright, alright, let's get down to business."
Haruka Yuzan grabbed the girl under her arms, lifted the little person into the air, and set her aside.
Misaki Saki hadn't caught up before she was placed on the bed by the boy, like a doll being positioned.
Her beautiful eyes turned into bean eyes again, as if wondering, is it that simple?
"Tomorrow morning at ten, Auntie Akiyama will arrive in Tokyo with Rika, and I will go to pick them up."
He paused, looking toward the lovely girl not far away,
"Shimizu, wash and prepare the ingredients first. If there's enough time, you can cook your two best dishes. The rest we can make after I come back..."
Chiba Shimizu nodded in acknowledgment.
The day before yesterday, Mariko Akiyama had also finally replied that she would come to Tokyo on the 17th to celebrate Reiko Onodera's birthday.
In fact, Mariko Akiyama was the one truly hesitating. After all, with age comes a different perspective on the importance of birthdays.
If Reiko Onodera were still a teenage girl, Mariko Akiyama wouldn't hesitate, but the madam was already 28 this year.
A new mother, no longer a little girl needing a birthday to be happy.
Madam's hesitation was something Haruka could understand,
"Auntie, if you don't want to come, I can go to Nagano and bring Rika over. Sister Reiko really misses Rika, this must be the first time the mother and daughter have been apart for so long? I think, Rika must miss Sister Reiko too..."
Seeing the message from the boy, Mariko Akiyama didn't even think before she declined.
How could she let Rika Onodera go to Tokyo with a stranger? Even if he was Reiko's landlord.
But... after all, they had not met yet,
Looking at the little Rika Onodera next to her blinking her big eyes adorably, a hint of doting tenderness flashed through Mariko Akiyama's eyes,
"Rika, do you want to go to Tokyo to find your mother?"
She was an adult, capable of making rational, multifaceted considerations, but Rika Onodera was just a child, in need of motherly love, almost a month since last seeing Reiko Onodera.
"Yes, yes! Are we going to Tokyo to find mom?" Rika Onodera nodded obediently, her eyes brimming with excitement.
Seeing the little girl's reaction, a pang of heartache flashed through Mariko Akiyama's eyes, and she eventually sent a message back to Haruka Yuzan,
"No trouble, I will bring Rika with me to Tokyo on the 17th."
"What about me! What about me!!"
Inside the villa's bedroom, at the triangle meeting,
Before Haruka Yuzan could finish speaking, Misaki Saki looked at the boy eagerly, full of anticipation,
"Do you have any tasks for me?"
Seeing the girl's eagerness to show herself, Haruka Yuzan frowned slightly, as if he hadn't really figured out what Misaki should be doing.
Because the plan was very simple, and it didn't require many extra hands.
In truth, he wanted to say, just don't make trouble tomorrow, and that would be the biggest help to the plan,
But, facing the little girl's hopeful eyes, Haruka eventually swallowed the words that had reached his lips,
"Tomorrow, I'll formally appoint you as a mobile member. In the morning, you're responsible for cleaning, and if Shimizu needs help, you'll help with the cleaning!"
After finishing, he patted Misaki Saki's little shoulder firmly,
"I entrust you with this important and challenging task, Misaki-san!!"
It was as if she felt the weight of the responsibility on her shoulders. Misaki Saki straightened up, her cute little face stern,
This time, she would not be the comedy relief!!
"Mission guaranteed!!!"
The breeze lifted the white curtains, and the stars of the night shone especially bright.
The rustling of the branches, the three people in the room,
"Good! I declare, Sister Reiko's birthday feast operation, officially starts!" Haruka Yuzan said with a smile.
Misaki Saki stood behind him, raising her little fists enthusiastically, joining in the chant.