Chapter 93
After finally releasing her grip, Mai-senpai lifted her foot and brought it down hard, stomping right on Mineo's shoe.
Mineo realized immediately that this was her little way of getting back at him for teasing her earlier. Because of that, he didn't mind it at all.
Mai-senpai pulled her phone from her bag and tried to call her mother. However, after the ringing tone droned on for a long while, the call went unanswered.
She looked up and stared at Mineo without saying a word. Breaking the silence, Mineo spoke up:
"Since there's no answer, just let it be."
"Try calling again tomorrow. It's late now. Let's just go buy some groceries and head home. It's rare for me to visit, so I want you to have a taste of my cooking skills."
"Unbelievable. To think a scoundrel like you actually knows how to cook. Can you even make sure the food is actually edible?"
"Whoa, is Mai-senpai looking down on me? For your information, I don't just 'cook'—my food is so delicious it'll literally make you swallow your own tongue!"
"Make me swallow my tongue? Do you really think I've never had high-end cuisine before?"
"Well, Mai-senpai is a big star, so of course you've had plenty of gourmet meals. But let's put it this way: everything you've eaten up until now is nothing compared to what's coming. Tonight, I'm going to whip up some authentic Chinese cuisine. After all, this is our first official meeting, so we should celebrate it properly."
Mineo intended to go grocery shopping with Sakurajima Mai, but once they arrived at the supermarket, he realized a stark reality—no one could see him, and they couldn't see Mai-senpai either.
In this situation, "buying" groceries practically turned into taking them without paying. Mineo felt a bit awkward about the whole thing.
Mai-senpai looked at Mineo with a flat, unreadable expression.
"Does this situation feel magical to you? Seeing that others can't perceive us... are you thinking about something 'special' right now?"
"Something special? What do you mean by that, Senpai?"
Noticing Mineo's curious gaze, Mai-senpai gritted her teeth slightly and spoke in a cold, accusatory tone:
"To be honest, based on my understanding of Mineo-kun, the moment you realized people couldn't see you, you definitely started having some filthy thoughts."
"For example, sneaking into an underwear boutique, or a women's bathhouse! Are you really telling me you never thought about that?"
Hearing Mai-senpai's words, Mineo was genuinely baffled.
"Senpai, is that really how you see me? Please, I have principles. How could I possibly think of something like that!?"
"If anyone else said they had principles, I might believe them. But if it's you, Mineo, I can't trust a single word!"
"When we first got to know each other, you were the one who asked me to wear a Bunny Girl outfit and take pictures for you just so you'd believe I was the real Sakurajima Mai, wasn't it?"
"Do you think that's the kind of thing an online friend says? Did you really expect me to think you had any principles or integrity after that?"
Dammit, back then I had no idea you were actually the real Mai-senpai! I'm actually the one feeling helpless here, Mineo thought.
He recalled the words he had typed back when they first started chatting, and a slight shiver ran down his spine. It seemed Senpai's grudge against him ran quite deep.
"Mai-senpai, since you think so poorly of me, why did you still dare to bring me home? Aren't you afraid I'll turn into a hungry wolf once we get inside?"
"Just try it if you dare!"
Mai-senpai gave a cold snort.
"I keep this bottle of Anti-Wolf Spray ready at all times!"
After finishing their grocery run, Mineo followed her back to her apartment. Catching a glimpse of Senpai's beautiful silhouette as she leaned over to change her shoes, Mineo couldn't help but offer a compliment:
"Senpai really is a superstar. Even the way you change your shoes looks so elegant and high-class."
"Mineo, I'm warning you one last time—stop staring at my feet!"
"Senpai, you're so stingy. A little peek won't cost you anything!"
"Besides, after I marry you later, I'll be seeing them every single day anyway!"
"You... you scoundrel!"
Mai-senpai looked like she genuinely wanted to hurl all the vegetables in her hands at his head. This jerk was constantly provoking her! Did he think she was incapable of getting angry?
"Alright, alright, Senpai, don't be mad. I'm just talking, don't take it so seriously! So, the kitchen is over there, right? I'll get started. Oh, and Senpai, could you get me a pair of indoor slippers...?"
"Do you honestly think there are men's slippers in my house?"
Sakurajima Mai opened the shoe cabinet, pulled out a pair of her own slippers that were slightly oversized, and tossed them toward him.
"Use these if they fit. If they don't, deal with it!"
"I'm going to take a shower. If I catch you peeking, you're finished!"
"A shower? Didn't you already take one this afternoon, Senpai?"
The moment the question left his mouth, Mineo realized that her shower earlier had been interrupted by his sudden arrival. Seeing Mai-senpai's sharp, piercing gaze, he quickly corrected himself:
"Uh, I mean—Senpai, please, go ahead and shower!"
"Heck, shower ten thousand times if you want! I'll be in the kitchen cooking. I guarantee you'll be tasting something heavenly in just a bit!"
As Mineo carried the vegetables into the kitchen, Mai-senpai stood at the entrance for a few seconds, lost in thought. After a moment, she turned toward her room. Grabbing a change of clothes, she disappeared into the bathroom.
Mineo didn't know if Mai-senpai was doing it on purpose or if his hearing was just too sharp. The sound of splashing water from her shower made his curiosity stir. With the water running that loud, was she intentionally letting him know she was mid-shower to give him a chance to peek?
Mineo set down the potatoes he had just washed and called out toward the bathroom:
"Senpai, do you need someone to scrub your back? It's usually 20 yen per person, but I'll give you a 50% discount!"
Thud!
Before Mineo could even finish his sentence, a loud impact echoed. It sounded like Senpai had chucked a bar of soap directly against the bathroom wall!
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