However, ever since that fight with her classmate, Takanashi Mirai had done some serious self-reflection.
She was too impulsive. Too easily swept up by the moment. She acted without thinking about consequences when her emotions ran hot.
So now, such simple taunts weren't going to work on her anymore!
Thus, Takanashi Mirai glared daggers at Kuroha Akira, then jabbed a finger toward the front door and shouted,
"I've got nothing to say to you! Get out of my house right now!"
Seeing her daughter being so rude, Takanashi Akiko—uncharacteristically stern—warned her.
"Mirai! That's too far! Kuroha-kun and Hitomi-chan came all this way for you…"
"Tsk… So annoying! I told you, I'm not going back to school!"
Then Takanashi Mirai turned and stormed back into her room, slamming the door shut with extra emphasis.
This time, no matter what, she probably wouldn't come out again.
Seeing this, Kuroha Akira set down the controller, dusted off his backside, and stood up.
"Well… at least we got to see her face-to-face. That's a start, I guess. Let's call it a day for now—it's about time we headed home."
"Huh? Kuroha-kun, you're leaving already?"
Takanashi Akiko had thought he'd strike while the iron was hot and continue his assault on her daughter. She hadn't expected him to retreat after just one failed attempt.
"Yeah. Right now, Takanashi-san is like a stray cat that just got rescued—her guard against outsiders is still sky-high. We can only build trust slowly over time. Which means…"
"Which means?"
"We need to be prepared for a long-term campaign. So, Aunt Akiko, can I come again tomorrow?"
Takanashi Akiko smiled and nodded.
"Of course. You're always welcome to come over and play."
Then she showed a relieved smile.
"This is the first time that child has actively come out of her room in a while—and it's all thanks to you, Kuroha-kun. Thank you so much…"
"It wasn't just me. You cooperated perfectly, Aunt Akiko."
Kuroha Akira looked at the single mother with a meaningful gaze, and Asato Hitomi also wore a knowing smile.
Recalling the sounds and lines she'd just made, Takanashi Akiko—a mature, experienced wife—actually blushed.
What kind of noises was she making in front of her daughter's classmates?
It had been a spur-of-the-moment thing. She'd accidentally let it out on professional instinct… She definitely couldn't lose her composure like that again. It wasn't appropriate for the kids.
"Phew~"
Kuroha Akira stretched and let out a long breath.
Even though he'd only played about ten rounds of fighting games with Akiko, it had really scratched that gaming itch.
He hadn't enjoyed the pure joy of video games like this in a long time.
With no pocket money, he couldn't go to the arcade. And the Kobayashi household didn't have any console games, so there was no environment for gaming at all. Occasionally, he'd borrow Hijikata's laptop to play something, but its performance was limited—mostly good for web-based flash mini-games. Hijikata's desktop had high specs, but that was his work machine. Kuroha Akira felt it was better not to mess with it—programmers really hated when other people touched their computers.
"Alright, let's head back, Class Rep."
"Okay. I'll call Rui-san to come pick you up, Akira-kun."
Asato Hitomi nodded obediently. This time, she'd felt more like Kuroha Akira's assistant—barely participating at all.
Still, watching him work his magic from the sidelines was even more entertaining.
The only thing that bothered her a little was how quickly Akiko had warmed up to him.
It seems Akira-kun is also a friend of housewives?
He's really popular…
Asato Hitomi had the same thought as Shinomiya.
"Ah, wait a moment—why don't you two stay for dinner?"
Takanashi Akiko, who was about to see them out, glanced at the living room clock and saw that it was already seven in the evening. Then she suddenly remembered the dinner she'd been halfway through preparing before they arrived.
Kuroha Akira was tempted. If he went home, he'd just have curry rice again. But considering his plans going forward, he reluctantly declined.
"No thanks, Aunt Akiko. But you can try inviting Takanashi-san to dinner later—she'll almost certainly come out of her room to eat with you."
"Huh? Really? Mirai has been eating alone in her room lately…"
"Hehe, she'll definitely come out. After that little performance we just put on, she'll be worried that you're too defenseless, Aunt Akiko. So she'll come out to scold you and warn you to be careful."
"Is that so… Kuroha-kun, you're amazing. How can you predict that…?"
"Well, Takanashi-san is just very easy to read."
And you, Aunt Akiko, are also very easy to read.
This mother-daughter pair from the Takanashi household were like open books—beginner difficulty.
Even though Takanashi Mirai's starting favorability was in the negatives, and she came with "shut-in" and "refusal to communicate" debuffs, Kuroha Akira wasn't bothered at all.
Looks like the Class Rep's one-day usage rights are going to be easy to claim.
"Then we'll be going now. Tomorrow's Saturday—I'll come a bit earlier, if that's okay?"
"Of course, no problem! Auntie will also keep working hard to become a worthy opponent for Kuroha-kun!"
What she said… would sound really strange in a different context.
Kuroha Akira pretended not to notice anything unusual and extended his fist toward Takanashi Akiko.
"Alright. Let's continue our battle tomorrow."
"Mm! Auntie's fired up too!"
Takanashi Akiko didn't return the fist bump. Instead, she wrapped both hands around Kuroha Akira's fist.
And so, although Kuroha Akira failed to become friends with Takanashi Mirai, he inexplicably became gaming buddies with her mother instead.
After leaving the Takanashi house, while waiting for the car, Asato Hitomi asked Kuroha Akira,
"Akira-kun… you're not just extending this "battle front" so you can play more games, are you?"
Kuroha Akira instantly broke into a cold sweat. How does the Class Rep always manage to see through his schemes?
He certainly wasn't going to admit it, so he kept up the mission excuse.
"No, not at all. Getting Takanashi-san to leave her room really isn't a one-day job. Does she look like she's ready to communicate normally right now?"
"Then I'll tentatively believe you, Akira-kun. But… don't drag this out too long, okay?"
"Got it, Class Rep! I promise to complete the mission you entrusted me with before the Cultural Festival starts!"
"Hehe… that's good… Oh, Akira-kun, during the Cultural Festival, shall we go browse the stalls together?"
"Sure, if your schedule allows. You're the Class Rep, so you'll be busy, but I should be pretty free."
Kuroha Akira casually agreed to this promise—a promise that would later give him extreme stomach pain.
"Hehe, so it's settled then? No backing out, okay?"
"I won't back out. Why would I?"
"Just making sure. I know Akira-kun is a man of his word."
If Kuroha Akira brought Shinomiya Shion to the Cultural Festival, he'd most likely spend the entire day with her.
So Asato Hitomi wanted a reason to pull him away from that girl.
Now she had one.
Moments later, the female butler Rui-san arrived at the Takanashi entrance in another sedan—even more luxurious than the one they'd taken before. Kuroha Akira couldn't identify the brand.
After Kuroha Akira got into the car, Asato Hitomi said to him from outside the door,
"Oh, by the way, since you're planning to come to the Takanashi house again tomorrow, should I pick you up, Akira-kun?"
"Wouldn't that be too much trouble for you, Class Rep?"
"No trouble at all. After all, I'm the one who asked you for help. So, Akira-kun, set a time. I'll pick you up tomorrow morning."
"Then let's say eight o'clock—same as school time."
"Understood… Then, see you tomorrow, Akira-kun."
Watching the Class Rep wave goodbye, Kuroha Akira put two fingers to his temple in a casual salute.
"Osu, see you tomorrow, Class Rep."
Asato Hitomi watched Kuroha Akira drive away.
The smile on her face remained.
It was a subtle, profound smile.