Eriri Sawamura looked at the upward curve of Ren's lips and immediately flew into a rage, pointing at him as she lodged a complaint with Sayuri.
"Mom! Mom! He's mocking me! He hung me from a tree at school, and now he's mocking me in my own house!"
This was too much!
After tattling to Sayuri, Eriri bared her sharp canines in a show of defiance, attempting to provoke Ren.
"Ren, if you've got the guts, stop faking! Let Mom see exactly how you're mocking me!"
Ren did as Eriri wished and didn't change his expression; the faint smile remained on his face.
"Oh, that's not called mocking. This is called mocking."
Her own daughter was clearly not as important as her "son." Sayuri turned to look at the smile on Ren's face, then used her hand to hook the corner of his mouth, pulling the curve even higher. She then began to explain the concept to Eriri with a straight face.
Sayuri nonchalantly popped her pinky finger into her own mouth before pressing it against the corner of Ren's lips to adjust his expression, causing Ren's face to freeze.
To prevent further contact, Ren tried his best to pull away from Sayuri's pinky, but her finger followed the corner of his mouth like a persistent shadow.
Watching the interaction between the two on the opposite sofa, Eriri grew even angrier.
I'm the real daughter here!
"Mom...!"
"How did I teach you before? Eriri, have you forgotten how to introduce yourself properly to a guest?"
Sayuri cut off Eriri's "outburst" and spoke in a cold voice.
What was wrong with her interacting a little with the "son" she hadn't seen in over ten years? What did Eriri want to do—rebel?
"Oh..."
Under the weight of her mother's gaze, Eriri's anger deflated into a pout. With an unwilling expression, she began to introduce herself to Ren.
"Hello, I am—"
"Louder."
"Hello! I am Eriri Spencer Sawamura. Nice to meet you, REN! KAT-SU-RA-GI!"
By the end, Eriri was enunciating every syllable of Ren's name, looking as if she wanted to swallow him alive.
"And?"
Sayuri signaled that there was another person beside her.
"Hello, Shiina. You can just call me Eriri."
"Then I'll call you Eriri. You can just call me Mahiru, Eriri."
Facing Mahiru, Eriri's usual "refined young lady" aura immediately surged forth, and she greeted Mahiru politely.
Mahiru maintained her usual gentle demeanor and was equally polite.
"Ren, what do you think of Eriri?"
Sayuri whispered into Ren's ear. She wanted to see how he felt about her daughter.
This would make it easier for her to plan her next moves. Compared to that Tomoya Aki, who only knew how to exploit Eriri, Ren was much more worth Sayuri's investment.
"..."
Ren weighed his words before offering a compliment. "Eriri has a good personality. She's straightforward, innocent, and sheltered. You've raised her well, Sayuri."
"Then I'll leave Eriri in your care at school, Ren."
Aunque esta no era exactamente la respuesta que Sayuri quería oír, era una evaluación positiva de todos modos. Parecía que Eriri aún tenía una oportunidad.
Para profundizar su relación, Sayuri decidió confiar Eriri a Ren. Solo acercándose habría una oportunidad. Lo que Sayuri necesitaba hacer ahora era que Ren prestara más atención a Eriri. Con la relación entre ella y Yue siendo tan estrecha, Ren probablemente no se negaría.
"Hmph, at least you have some vision!"
Eriri was clearly eavesdropping on their conversation. Hearing Ren praise her, she gave her head a slight toss, making her twin-tails whip through the air.
Standing beside her, Mahiru amusedly patted Eriri's thigh, signaling her not to be upset.
[Do you really think that was a compliment?]
Sayuri felt a bit weary. She's mine. She's my biological daughter. Don't get angry, don't get angry.
After comforting herself, Sayuri finally noticed that Eriri hadn't even changed her shoes after coming home. The anger she had just suppressed began to rise again.
"Eriri, what's so urgent that you had to find me like this?"
Sayuri pointed her folding fan at Eriri's small leather shoes, which she still hadn't taken off, and spoke with a half-smile.
Reminded by Sayuri, Eriri finally remembered the matter concerning the dissolution of the club. Turning to her mother, she put on a pitiful and aggrieved expression. "Mom... about the dissolution of Tomoya's club..."
The show is starting!
Seeing this, Ren detached himself from Sayuri's side. He reached out and picked up the pitiful Eriri by the collar, tossing her into the spot he had just occupied next to Sayuri, while he sat down next to Mahiru.
Eriri was momentarily dazed from being hauled over to Sayuri's side, but she realized the closer proximity made it easier for her to plead her case.
"Mom...!"
Whap!
Just as Eriri was about to start her "tragic drama," Sayuri lightly tapped her on the head with her folding fan, putting an end to her plea before it could even start.
"It's impossible. I've told you already, I won't interfere."
"Mom..."
Covering her head with both hands, Eriri's tears actually started to flow this time.
Her plea failed, she got hit, and she was hit right in front of Ren. Eriri felt as if her world was collapsing.
"Mahiru, want some?"
Ren took a fruit plate from the coffee table and offered it to Mahiru. When she refused, he didn't mind and began casually peeling a piece of fruit, clearly enjoying the spectacle.
Regarding his impression of Eriri... how should he put it? Ren felt she was even stupider than Yukino.
At least Yukino's goal of "teaching" was a firm personal ideal. But Eriri? As the child of a diplomat, she actually let herself be guilt-tripped by an ordinary guy like this.
It was like the child of a pyramid scheme kingpin being lured into a different pyramid scheme by a random passerby.
It was laughable. Truly laughable.
Mahiru looked helplessly at Ren, who was happily eating fruit beside her. She realized that he was a complete "spectator" who lived only for drama.
Finding no luck with her mother, Eriri turned her reddened eyes toward Ren.
Since Ren was right here, she could implement her plan to exploit his "guilt." With Sayuri present, Eriri believed Ren wouldn't be able to refuse.
"Ren, the reason Tomoya's club is being disbanded is all because of you."
"Now our club is about to disappear. Won't you feel guilty? This is a club that Tomoya worked so hard to build."
The hand holding the fruit stopped. Ren didn't expect Eriri to involve him in this.
After listening to Eriri's accusations, Ren nodded thoughtfully, as if agreeing with what she said.
Thinking her plan had succeeded, Eriri was just about to show a victor's smile when, unexpectedly, Ren smiled faster than she did.
With a playful expression, Ren slowly spat out his response.
"And?"
----------------
Currently on Patreon: 450 chapters available.
https://www.patreon.com/cw/LIZBETH1242