"I think you're absolutely right. What you like really has nothing to do with age."
In that regard, Takanashi Akiko was practically a role model among open-minded parents. Her own favorite things were all the stuff young people liked. If Takanashi Mirai had grown up in this environment and also come to enjoy those things, the mother-daughter relationship should have been pretty harmonious.
Generally speaking, parents and children who share common interests or hobbies don't have bad relationships. If they can play games together, it's even more like a friend-style mother-daughter bond.
If Mirai didn't want to go to school because she wanted to become a voice actress, she should have discussed it with her mother—who was literally a professional voice actress. If it was because she wasn't getting along with her classmates, she should have talked about transferring schools instead of just shutting herself in and giving up.
But the current situation was that no one could persuade her, and Aunt Akiko's efforts had been useless.
So there had to be another reason, right?
"So… Takanashi-san doesn't like building models?"
"That's not it. She does like building models. It's just that the ones displayed in the living room are all assembled by me."
Takanashi Akiko crossed her arms, propping up one cheek, and spoke with some difficulty.
"The main issue is that when she assembles models, the nub marks aren't cut very cleanly, and the decals are applied crooked… If they were displayed in the living room, I'd feel a bit… well, a bit uncomfortable. So all the models she's built are displayed in her own room."
"I see."
Because the living room was the face of the home, the models displayed there were all the most pristine ones. Things that weren't presentable stayed in the bedroom.
At this point, Takanashi Akiko also clarified that this wasn't a demand she'd made of her child.
"Ah, but I've never criticized her for it, you know? That child voluntarily suggested putting the models she built in her own room. Probably because the ones she made herself felt more fulfilling."
"Honestly, Aunt Akiko, in that kind of situation, you could still give her a gentle reminder…"
Not cleaning up nub marks was just too painful to witness. Anyone with even a hint of OCD would die inside. At the very least, Kuroha Akira absolutely couldn't accept it.
"Mirai-chan has always been a bit careless with details since she was little. I remember one time when she was a child, we all went out to play, and after her hand got rust on it from the climbing frame, she just wiped it on her clothes… And that day, she'd even boasted to us that the outfit was brand new."
"Ah! I remember that too! Later, I washed that shirt so many times—washed it until it shrank—but the stain never came out. She only got to wear it once. And she really loved that shirt, so she cried when she found out she couldn't wear it anymore. I had to buy her a new one… She tends to treat the things she likes rather casually. That's just how that child is."
The Class Rep and Aunt Akiko provided more key testimonies.
From this, it was clear that Takanashi Mirai was likely the impulsive, carefree type who paid little attention to details. And as a child, she'd probably been a bit of a tomboy. No wonder she'd gotten into fights with classmates outside of school—her personality was impulsive.
"That child treats models the same way. Still, I'm already relieved that she likes building models at all. So every time I buy a new assembly kit, I always ask her if she wants it first. If she likes it, I'll buy two sets, and then we can build them together, hehe."
"You spoil her way too much…"
"She's my only daughter. I'll do my best to give her whatever she wants."
Aunt Akiko, haven't you heard that saying?
Spoiling a child is harmful!
Mirai definitely had full-blown princess syndrome by now. The super-duper-ultra-willful Takanashi Mirai. No wonder she suddenly stopped going to school.
Clearly, she hadn't received the "tough love" education.
Having gathered most of the intel on Takanashi Mirai, Kuroha Akira—now highly motivated by the Takanashi family's treasure trove of resources—perked up and asked,
"Aunt Akiko, where's Takanashi-san's room?"
"It's that room over there."
Takanashi Akiko pointed to a door next to the manga cabinet. There was no nameplate on it, so Kuroha Akira hadn't realized it was Takanashi Mirai's room. That was somewhat unusual—most kids' rooms were on the second floor, since the ventilation and lighting were better, and privacy and safety concerns usually put children's rooms upstairs.
"Next, I might make some noise. You don't mind, do you?"
Takanashi Akiko nodded firmly.
"Hmm! Kuroha-kun, don't worry about my feelings. If it can help that child, you can do whatever you need to do!"
Then she gave a bitter, self-blaming smile.
"I don't even know why she doesn't want to go to school. I've asked her, but Mirai won't tell me anything…"
Kuroha Akira pointed confidently at his chest with his thumb.
"No problem. Leave her to me."
"Hmm…"
Takanashi Akiko stared blankly at this young man—the same age as her daughter, twenty-four years younger than herself. From his confident words, she felt a sense of strength… reliability. That word floated up in her mind.
A warm current surged through her heart.
This was a sense of security she hadn't felt in a long time—the kind that only came from leaning on someone.
And Kuroha Akira's first move was… to violently knock on the door!
Like playing Taiko no Tatsujin, he continuously slapped the door with his palm while shouting,
"Takanashi-san! Come out and play!"
Silence.
No response.
Kuroha Akira kept pounding roughly.
"Takanashi-san! Come out and see who's here! It's your best friend!"
One minute later…
Still no response.
Kuroha Akira kept knocking and shouting relentlessly.
"Takanashi Mirai! If you don't come out, I'm tearing this door down!"
Three minutes later…
Still no response. Not even a single "Yakamashii!" (Shut up!)
Then Kuroha Akira confirmed that Takanashi Mirai was definitely awake, and it looked like she'd decided to play dead to the bitter end.
After all, he'd been bothering her this much, and she still hadn't responded at all. That meant she'd long been mentally prepared to be disturbed.
No one is useful! I'm absolutely not going back to high school!
She was using ignorance and silence to broadcast that message to the outside world.
If she wouldn't even open the door, there was no way to talk.
Even if he broke the door down right now, it would be meaningless—because she would still maintain an attitude of refusing to communicate.
No matter how high his Silver Tongue proficiency was, if the other party refused to give him a chance to speak, there was no room to use it.
A hero with nowhere to apply his skills. No opportunity for smooth-talking.
Thus, Kuroha Akira's most trusted and strongest ability—Fancy Persuasion—was completely sealed. Because the prerequisite for persuasion was that the other party had to be willing to listen in the first place.
Since his transmigration, Kuroha Akira's never-failing "Smooth Talk Flow" had finally met its match against Takanashi Mirai's Turtle Shell Flow.
It was like encountering a seemingly conquerable heroine in a galge, but no matter how many times you clicked on her, no dialogue box would ever pop up.
So naturally, there was no way to choose dialogue branches, unlock favorability, or even strategize.
In other words, Takanashi Mirai didn't want to hear anyone's nonsense.
She refused to even show her HP bar.