"Plans for the future?"
Kaito set his teacup down on the coffee table, a little surprised that she had suddenly brought it up, "If I had to say, probably just… going with the flow."
For ordinary people in Japan, there were only a few paths after graduation: continue studying, enter a company and become a salaryman, or get married and settle down as a full-time housewife or househusband.
But he wasn't an ordinary person. School was just a way to experience life. With no shortage of money, there was no need to work.
As for the future, he would simply follow his interests, do whatever he liked.
"I see…"
Togawa Mizuho looked a bit regretful. She had been hoping to take this chance to introduce Kaito-kun to a job with excellent pay and benefits, basically accompanying the Togawa family's young lady shopping and chatting, with top-tier pay across the board, and a direct full-time position upon graduation.
Unfortunately, one side was interested while the other was not. She had clearly been thinking too optimistically.
She took a small sip of tea, then remembered something else, "I heard you've also opened an exorcism office?"
"That's right."
"In that case, the Togawa family does have some connections in this field. Whether it's introducing clients or anything else, if you don't mind, you can call me anytime. I'll do my best to help."
"That's my job! I'm the president's assistant!"
At the side, the little secretary Sakiko finally couldn't hold it in. Talking about other things was fine, but now even her job was about to be taken by her own mother, what place would she have left in this household?
"Sakiko, you're so noisy! You can't stop Kaito-kun from moving toward better opportunities, can you? He's improving, what about you?"
A shocking blow straight to the knees.
The blue-haired girl looked as if she had taken an arrow, completely unable to refute it. After fumbling for a while, she finally tugged at Kaito's sleeve, pitifully, "President…"
People naturally had closer and more distant relationships. Compared to Mizuho, whom he had only met a few times, the little secretary was clearly closer to him.
Kaito coughed lightly and still chose to stand on Sakiko's side, "I appreciate your kindness, Ms. Mizuho, but I'm quite satisfied with my current life and don't have any plans to change it for now."
That was a refusal.
"Well then…", Mizuho couldn't hide her disappointment, but since he had made himself so clear, she couldn't press further without risking lowering his impression of her.
The atmosphere dipped slightly, but just then, movement came from the entryway. Mutsumi, who had stayed late at school for gardening club activities, returned home.
With her as a buffer, the mood eased. Mizuho exchanged a few concerned words with her friend's daughter and reined in her own thoughts, chatting normally until Togawa Sadaharu called to urge her home. Reluctantly, she said her goodbyes and took Sakiko with her, under the pretext of "bonding mother and daughter."
———
At the same time—
[Gotou Household, Second-floor Bedroom]
After finishing her part-time job and taking a shower, Gotou Hitori sat on her bed holding her phone, hesitating over whether to send the president a simple "good night."
Even though they had already crossed the closest boundary, she was still shy and socially anxious by nature. She couldn't act like a proper girlfriend in front of him, let alone act spoiled.
But she couldn't stay like this forever. A relationship should be a two-way exchange. If only one side kept taking the initiative, it would slowly wear down the other's feelings. One day, they would grow tired.
At the thought of a future where she might break up with the president, the girl buried her face in the blanket, screaming internally like a prairie dog.
'That kind of thing, absolutely not!'
"It's just a good night message!", Bocchi encouraged herself, "It's no big deal!"
But when she actually faced the screen, she hesitated again, 'What if the president has already gone to sleep? Will my message disturb him?'
While she wavered, her phone suddenly vibrated.
Startled, she quickly looked at the screen and saw that it was a message from Miura.
[Yumiko: Hello hello, Bocchi-chan, good evening!]
[Yumiko: I've got good news for you, I've made plans with the president to go buy uniforms for the school festival tomorrow~]
[Yumiko: Take the day off work tomorrow and come along too!]
'Eh-eh-eh?'
The socially anxious girl typed carefully: [Do I… have to come too?]
[Yumiko: That's right! Let me tell you a secret, I've already booked a room. Everything's ready, just waiting for the final piece. You haven't seen the president in other uniforms before, right?]
[Yumiko: This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! You and I together, we'll make sure he doesn't escape!]
The faint glow of the screen lit up the girl's flushed cheeks. Gotou Hitori bit her lip, her mind spinning, [D-Do I… have to go all out too?]
[Yumiko: Exactly! Sisters united can grind an iron rod into a needle! Don't you want to get back at him for last time?]
'Last time…'
Hitori recalled that unforgettable night, the dimly lit love hotel, the intoxicating air itself.
Though only a few days had passed, it felt like much longer.
Her cheeks grew hot as she remembered her lover's thick, crow-like eyelashes, his slender yet powerful waist, and those deep, tranquil eyes like a lake that seemed capable of pulling her in completely. It felt like a feather brushing lightly against her heart, her breathing gradually quickening.
[Gotou Hitori: I…I understand…]
[Yumiko: Hehe~]
A mischievous smile emoji appeared on the screen, followed by another message, [You definitely won't be disappointed!]
After a long while, when no more messages came, the pink-haired girl turned off her screen, her pounding heart slowly settling.
She patted her burning cheeks, opened another chat window, hesitated, and finally typed a line.
[Nijika, I'm not feeling too well… Can I take tomorrow off from work?]
[Eh-eh-eh?]
A reply came almost instantly. a worried voice message, ["Bocchi-chan, are you sick? Are you okay? Do you need me to come check on you?"]
Even through the screen, she could feel the warmth and concern of that sunshine-like girl.
'Ugh…'
Hitori let out a silent cry in her heart. She felt like the kind of bad woman she had always hated, lying with such an excuse to deceive Nijika, and then going on a date with the boy Nijika liked.
That's right, even though Nijika always insisted she didn't feel that way, even the tsundere shop manager could see through her hidden feelings. There was no way Hitori wouldn't notice.
She felt guilty about sneaking ahead like this, but at the same time… a strange sense of forbidden excitement rose in her heart.
'No! No! I can't think about it any more!'
Shaking her head, Hitori forced those messy thoughts away and quickly explained that she was fine and just needed some rest, which finally reassured Nijika.
[If you're not feeling well, you should rest for a few days. The shop will be fine with me, Ryou, and Kita, don't worry.]
[I've already told my sister about it, and she said you should focus on recovering. Of course, your pay will still be given.]
Hitori felt even more guilty, [Nijika… sorry.]
[It's okay, get some good rest~ Good night~]
———
In the girlish bedroom, after sending the final message, Ijichi Nijika rolled over on her bed and let out a small sigh.
With Bocchi taking time off, the shop would definitely be busier.
'Come to think of it, I haven't had a break in a long time either.'
She couldn't even remember the last time she saw Kaito-kun.
She wondered how he had been lately.
'Ugh~'
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