Tokyo: They say it's just dating, but they're serious about it.

Seeing how much Mikoto liked it, Sayuri couldn't help but feel delighted and clapped her hands in praise.

However, Mikoto seemed to be so overjoyed that she forgot to tighten her bodice. After she sat down, the loose bodice was stretched open a little more by the weight of her chest, and her voluptuous, milky-white skin immediately revealed a deep cleavage.

As if guided by a sixth sense, Sayuri instinctively turned her head to look at Katsuhiko.

Just as Sayuri had predicted, Katsuhiko was propping his elbow on the table, resting his chin on the back of his hand, tilting his head to glance at Mikoto, his eyes wide open...

When Sayuri looked at him, he remained in his pose. Then, his eyes slowly turned to Sayuri, a look of innocent confusion on his face, and he asked, "What's wrong?"

Mikoto coughed awkwardly, covering her mouth. She pinched the hem of her dress, which was about to slip off her shoulder, and pulled it up slightly. She then tightened the belt around her waist, lowered her head slightly, and covered her smiling eyes with her hand.

Sayuri paused for a moment, then quickly said, "You haven't taken out the birthday present you prepared for Manager Mikoto yet..."

She realized she was being a bit paranoid, perhaps too petty. Besides, it was rude of Katsuhiko to stare so blatantly at Mikoto's chest...

Doesn't she realize how awkward things are for Manager Misaka right now? It's not like she doesn't have any...

“Oh right,” Katsuhiko nodded frankly, handing the lucky cat piggy bank under the dining table to Mikoto, and then said, “Happy birthday, save up your money, and when you have a child in the future, use the money in here to buy diapers for him.”

Even now, Chika still occasionally uses traditional, repeatedly washed diapers.

Mikoto hugged the white porcelain piggy bank with the lucky cat design, unable to put it down.

Then came the lighting of candles and making wishes... Mikoto closed her eyes slightly, clenched her hands loosely, held them to her mouth, and mumbled something.

Sayuri's ears twitched. She felt that she could vaguely hear the word "baby" coming from Mikoto's mouth. It seemed that Mikoto and her boyfriend had a very good relationship and were thinking about having another baby. They were probably getting married soon.

This made her think of herself again, wondering when she would be able to marry Katsuhiko. Actually, a wedding house and such didn't really matter. She was very confident in her ability to take care of the baby, after all, she had often looked after Chika since she was a baby...

At the birthday party, only Sheng Yan seemed carefree, eating heartily...

Since it's a birthday, we should naturally be happy.

At this time, birthday parties usually involve singing karaoke and having fun. Of course, Mikoto's resources are limited, and she can't afford "luxury" home karaoke equipment. She also doesn't have time for entertainment, let alone home videotapes.

Then, the three of them played rock-paper-scissors.

The loser either sings a song, dances, or drinks.

Playing with people you like makes you feel neither tired nor aware of the passage of time.

Chika played with the three lunatics for a while, was forced to sing a few children's songs and dance a dance, and then locked herself in the sofa to doze off.

By this time, Mikoto had finished the two bottles of vodka she had prepared. Mikoto and Sayuri were dizzy and disheveled, and they started playing rock-paper-scissors.

Mikoto's erratic behavior was somewhat expected, but Sayuri's jumping and hopping around was quite novel, since she was usually shy and reserved, "neither proactive nor refusing, and completely submissive."

Katsuhiko has a decent alcohol tolerance. Although he was a little dizzy, he was still rational and walked steadily.

Worried that Mikoto might sit on Chinatsu, he carried Chinatsu back to the nursery, changed her diaper, and coaxed her to sleep.

Back in the living room, Mikoto brought out two dozen bottles of beer, making a total of eighteen bottles.

Since he owns a convenience store, his home storage room also serves as the store's warehouse.

As soon as the beer was placed on the coffee table, Sayuri and Mikoto each grabbed a bottle opener, looking like they wanted to open them all.

"It's midnight, go to sleep now."

Sheng Yan strode over and snatched the bottle openers from their hands, opening four bottles in a short time.

"It's okay, I don't have to work tomorrow, I'll drink some more..."

Mikoto's black kimono had slipped down her shoulders, and her milky-white skin was flushed pink from the alcohol. She mumbled, resting her chin on Katsuhiko's shoulder and nuzzling his ear with her nose, "I'm so happy you came to celebrate my birthday. Let's have a baby together..."

Xiaobaihe's flushed forehead was pressed against Shengyan's arm. She grabbed his hand, shook her shoulders, and mumbled indistinctly, "Husband...when are you going to marry me? Do you like me? Do you like me...?"

It was already late, and Sheng Yan was too lazy to go back. He led them both into the bedroom, put two glasses of water on the bedside table, and then went to check on Chinatsu in the children's room.

He then collapsed and fell asleep on the sofa in the living room.

At eight o'clock in the morning, Chinatsu's voice, as if stretching, came from the children's room.

Katsuhiko opened his eyes smoothly and tilted his head to look at the children's room. Chika always had a secret signal when she got up.

Mikoto opened the bedroom door barefoot, glanced at Katsuhiko, and then walked towards the children's room while pulling up her clothes that had slipped off her shoulders.

Her face was flushed, and her steps were unsteady, clearly indicating a strong hangover.

"I'll go over there!"

As he spoke, Katsuhiko walked to Mikoto's side, patted her shoulders with both hands, gently pressed them against the wall, then pinched the sides of her clothes, slowly pulled them down her shoulders.

Mikoto looked up slightly, seemingly bewildered, then suddenly jolted awake and abruptly turned to look at the bedroom.

Little Lily was fast asleep on the mattress.

"No, no, people will die, people will die..." Mikoto's flushed face turned even redder, seemingly unable to contain her shame and trepidation, she bit her lower lip and lowered her head.

Sheng Yan simply took a step back as her clothes slipped past his shoulder.

At this moment, Mikoto straightened her left leg, her foot on the floor, and lifted her right leg, placing the sole of her foot on the wall. She also laid her hands flat on the wall, her fingers scratching at the plaster.

The flush from a hangover still lingered on her body.

“That’s the feeling,” Katsuhiko gently pinched her chin and lifted it slightly. “It’s amazing.”

A flicker of excitement flashed in Mikoto's eyes, but she quickly ducked into the bedroom and closed the door behind her.

Chinatsu seemed to still be angry about the workbook gift Katsuhiko gave her. From getting up, washing up, to eating, she kept her little face puffed up and looked sullen.

Mikoto went into the bedroom and didn't come out again. She was quite relieved to have her daughter in Katsuhiko's care.

Katsuhiko simply reheated the leftovers from last night.

"Eat quickly, and after you finish eating, I'll take you to learn how to fight."

Qianxia's puffed-up cheeks suddenly tightened, she blinked, and asked, "Who are you going to hit?"

“Hit whoever bullies you,” Katsuhiko handed the small spoon to Chika, then asked, “How did they bully you?”

Chinatsu glanced at Katsuhiko and whispered, "They say I'm a wild child without a father..."

“I understand. You’re not embarrassed to call me Dad, you just resent me as your father.”

"Hmph~" Chika grabbed the small rice spoon, turned her head and laughed.

"If you call me 'Dad,' I'll go and beat up those kids who bully you, okay?"

"No~" Chika laughed, looking up. "I can make them all cry by myself."

"Is there anyone you can't beat?"

Chinatsu's eyes darted around, then she stared intently at Katsuhiko and whispered, "I can't beat Rieko-sensei, can you help me?"

"After the fight, you can call me Dad, right?"

"Hmph~" Chika shook her little head and laughed.

Katsuhiko immediately put on a stern face and said, "Hurry up and eat!"

"Pah!"

After dinner, Katsuhiko glanced into the bedroom and saw that Mikoto and Sayuri were both asleep. Without saying goodbye, Katsuhiko took Chinatsu and left the house.

I found the nearest Kyokushin Karate training course in the newspaper; it has adult and children's groups.

The club, located on the Waseda University campus and not officially recognized by the university, is called "Inamon Kyokushinkai".

It looks like a project started by college students, and it seems quite impressive.

Go check out the situation first. With the help of the [Focus Potion], as long as you have the correct training routine, you'll be fine.

The main advantage is the low tuition fee; you can join for 3000 yen and pay a monthly membership fee of 2000 yen.

On my way to Waseda University, I passed a convenience store. In front of it was a pile of household garbage that was ten times heavier than Chinatsu's. An elderly cleaning man, who looked to be in his sixties and was wearing an orange uniform and a white mask, was slowly cleaning it up.

The white iron roller shutter door was also sprayed with haphazard red paint.

It looks like it was done last night; there's even a challenge posted: "Respectfully submitted by Group 21!"

Those who don't know the situation might think they're being chased for debt, but in reality, it's just henchmen demanding protection money.

They probably just bullied a widow and her child... I went to learn how to fight today, and we'll start fighting tonight. I wonder if the [Focus Potion] will give me a boost.

Following the address, Sheng Yan arrived at the university gymnasium. On the outdoor playground, there were also young trainees wearing white taekwondo uniforms, humming and hawing.

Sweating profusely, they practiced their stance, punches, kicks, and blocks... hitting the air and kicking the sandbag.

For a moment, Sheng Yan felt old... How long had it been since he last stepped onto a university campus? Sheng Yan thought about it and realized that he had never actually been admitted to university; it was all just a fleeting image left in his memory by "himself who disappeared".

The club was rudimentary, the equipment was dilapidated, and the members were lazy... However, some of the guys seemed to have some real skills, jumping three feet high and doing backflips with incredible agility.

Katsuhiko can't do a backflip yet...

Katsuhiko, carrying Chika, walked to the reception door. After explaining his purpose, a young man named Murayama, who looked like a professional fitness coach, greeted him with droopy eyelids.

Katsuhiko didn't waste any words. He showed off the 200,000 yen in his pocket and said directly: "Money is not a problem, but I won't pay first. I'll try it out. If I'm satisfied, my daughter and I will join you, and we'll even help you get more customers..."

Murayama stared wide-eyed at Katsuhiko's pocket full of money, stunned for a long while, then suddenly stood up and grabbed Katsuhiko's hand again. His body seemed to be trembling because of the rapid flow of blood.

“Mr. Takenaka, I promise I won’t let you down…” Murayama said loudly, then turned and ran into the training ground.

After he ran away, Sheng Yan looked at his hand; it was white from being gripped so tightly and it hurt.

Taking advantage of Chika's inattention, he shakily pulled out a [Focus Potion] from his pocket, tore off the cap, and drank it down.

The moment the glass bottle disappeared, Katsuhiko's mind went blank.

It's like entering a "top student" state, with clear hearing and sharp eyesight, as if data is flowing through my brain, calculating and organizing... making everyone else seem like an idiot?

Just then, Murayama trotted over mysteriously and whispered, "Mr. Takenaka, our department head Kanzaki is right here. She'll come over and give you a demonstration..."

"Oh?"

"Minister Kanzaki rarely takes action, but luckily you brought your daughter, who is very interested..."

Chapter 23: The 21-Year-Old Karate Club President with a Debt of 320 Million Yen

Before Yuma Kanzaki came out, Murayama was still talking incessantly to Katsuhiko, his eyes filled with admiration.

Their department head Kanzaki's master was a disciple of Mas Oyama, the legendary "King of Karate" and founder of Kyokushin Karate, and one of his most outstanding students.

It can be considered officially authorized, belonging to a branch of a prestigious and righteous sect...

Yuzuru Kanzaki is currently a third-year student in the Faculty of Letters. She is one of the few athletes who earned her first black belt during her second year of university, and she has reached the quarterfinals and even the semifinals in the All-Japan Lightweight Championships.