How to raise a random guy's wife

On a warm Christmas Eve, two similar people walked together, thinking about different things.

Iori Hashima occasionally looked up at Fumio Sagara, recalling what he had just said.

“That look in his eyes…” Mayu Sagara carefully observed the details of Iori Hashima’s eyes. “Something’s definitely wrong.”

Ping An Mingjin and Tang Keke only stayed in the coffee shop for a short while before they were recognized and had to leave as soon as possible.

Mayu Sagara and Izumi Hashima continued chatting for a while, then noticed Iori Hashima and Fumio Sagara.

After chatting for a couple more minutes, I was a little worried that the two of them might do something inappropriate, so I left the coffee shop to look for them.

Surprisingly, they actually found it.

Bo Island was somewhat skeptical and uncertain about going out to sea, "Is there...?"

“Look at that hesitant posture, look at your brother’s complicated and unfathomable gaze…” Sagara Mayu felt that she had discovered the truth, “It’s probably not unrequited love.”

"Huh?" Bo Island asked incredulously. "But my brother has many girlfriends, it shouldn't be that... um... that bad, right?"

“It’s different,” Mayu Sagara pointed out the key point, “Do you know what it means to be invincible when one is without desires?”

"Eh?"

“It’s precisely because they haven’t developed real feelings that they can treat things so casually, naturally appearing elegant and relaxed.” Mayu Sagara gestured with her chin toward them. “But once they develop real feelings, they become hesitant and indecisive, turning into the person they are now.”

"Okay...that makes so much sense!" On his way out to sea from Po Island, he felt he'd finally grasped the concept. "So, what should we do?"

"What else can we do? Isn't it good?" Mayu Sagara didn't care. "At least things are settled now, which is better than before."

“I mean,” Bo Island added, “how can we help them?”

Sagara Mayu glanced to the side, "Lead by example."

Bo Island setting sail: "Huh?"

"Ahem..." Mayu Sagara coughed lightly twice. "What I mean is, we can consult someone with relevant experience."

"Who would have experience with this kind of thing..." Bo Island suddenly thought of something, "It seems like there really is someone."

-

When Kasumigaoka Utaha drove back, she found that the lights in her house were not on.

The action of opening the door became much gentler.

"She's already asleep..." Kasumigaoka Utaha muttered. "I thought she'd be staying up all night playing games."

After putting down her bag and changing into slippers, Kasumigaoka Utaha walked towards the living room.

But that's fine too. Today I'll play Santa Claus and give that little kid a small gift...

A voice from the sofa in the darkness interrupted Kasumigaoka Utaha's thoughts, "Where have you been?"

"Eriri?" Kasumigaoka Utaha finally noticed Eriri curled up on the sofa. "You're not asleep yet?"

Eriri held up her phone. "I'm reading a light novel."

"Then turn on the light!" Kasumigaoka Utaha said irritably as she turned on the light. "Your eyesight is already bad, and you're reading e-books with the light off."

“This creates a better atmosphere.” Eriri waved her phone, which was in dark mode. “After all, it’s a light novel with a horror theme.”

"Modern light novels cover a wide range of topics."

"After all, the current gimmicks aren't enough, so naturally some people want to take a retro route and find a new path..." Eriri said, then returned to the main point, "Don't change the subject, what have you been doing?"

Kasumigaoka Utaha: "......"

This doesn't look like a child.

She looks more like her mother.

Chapter 856 First Print Limited Edition

"What's wrong? Feeling lonely all alone? Missing me?" The thought of her mother immediately fueled Kasumigaoka Utaha's desire to engage in a battle of wits. "If you're lonely, just call me."

"Who...who misses you!" Eriri glared at her fiercely. "I was afraid that some nasty person wouldn't receive a single gift on Christmas Eve, and would end up feeling wronged and taking revenge on society. I...I was reading a light novel for a while for the sake of social harmony, and also waiting for you."

What a standard arrogant statement!

Kasumigaoka Utaha raised an eyebrow. "You prepared a gift for me?"

"Who prepared this!" Eriri turned her head to the side. "It's just... a random drawing."

"Where?" Kasumigaoka Utaha looked around.

Eriri puffed out her pink cheeks slightly, "In...my room."

Kasumigaoka Utaha went straight to Eriri's room and pushed open the door.

Eriri protested, "Hey, don't you knock before entering other people's rooms?"

"Weren't you outside?"

"You didn't knock on the door while I was inside!"

“I don’t even knock when you’re inside, so there’s even less reason to knock when you’re outside.” Kasumigaoka Utaha pushed open the door and saw the painting on the easel.

Compared to Eriri's usual anime-style drawings, this painting has a more oil painting-like texture.

With her long, flowing hair, Kasumigaoka Utaha stood by the window, gazing at the bustling city outside, like a queen looking down upon her territory, her slightly lowered red eyes flashing with a sharp light.

The blurry, semi-transparent reflection on the glass appears to be just an ordinary reflection at first glance, but upon closer inspection, subtle differences emerge. Although the expression doesn't change much, the overlap with the setting sun on the horizon, and the interplay of light and shadow, reveals a weariness on the face, while the eyes become gentler.

Kasumigaoka Utaha looks down at the world, while her reflection gazes back at herself.

The moment she saw the painting, Kasumigaoka Utaha had the illusion that she was being stared at by her reflection.

She gazed at the painting, and its reflection stared back at her.

His calm yet caring gaze pierced her heart like a sharp arrow, the feeling of being seen through sending shivers down her spine.

In an instant, a mix of complex emotions welled up inside me.

It calmed down in the next moment.

She only wanted to appreciate the painting; she didn't want anything else.

"Who knew you'd cut your hair so short without a word?" Eriri leaned against the doorframe and snorted softly. "If you'd told me beforehand, I could have made some changes, and it would have looked much better."

“It’s fine now,” Kasumigaoka Utaha replied softly. “It’s really fine.”

“I was worried that you would be upset,” Eriri said with a confident smile. “After all, I drew you so beautifully with long hair. If you saw your beautiful long hair after cutting it short, it would be too late to regret it. Hair won’t suddenly grow back.”

"So..." Kasumigaoka Utaha composed herself, "you think I'm pretty?"

Eriri bristled, "It's because I drew it beautifully!"

“I think so too,” Kasumigaoka Utaha murmured. “I was a little disappointed that I didn’t have many photos of my long hair, but it’s okay now.”

Eriri proudly raised her chin. "That's true. My painting is much better than the photograph. Having this painting as a souvenir is enough."

That's not what I meant.

"Hmm?" Eriri tilted her head in confusion, her golden hair swaying and falling over her shoulders. "What does that mean?"

"Even after I cut my hair short, you can still draw such beautiful long hair." Kasumigaoka Utaha's lips curled up, "It proves that the beauty of my long hair has been etched in your heart."

This is already the best way to commemorate it.

"You...me...who remembers me!" Eriri blushed. "This is just a painter's basic skill, don't flatter yourself!"

“How presumptuous of me…” Kasumigaoka Utaha gazed at the painting before her.

She did indeed harbor some unspoken, self-delusional feelings.

Whether it's words or pictures, all creations are expressions of the creator's inner world.

In Eriri's story, Kasumigaoka Utaha gazes at the city, her reflection in the glass staring back at her.

This means that in Eriri's mind, Kasumigaoka Utaha has grand goals but neglects to focus on herself. The difficulties and hardships she experiences in achieving her goals are ignored by Kasumigaoka Utaha, like a reflection in a glass.

But these hardships will not disappear; they will continue to follow Kasumigaoka Utaha until the day she can no longer endure them.

There is a sense of concern and worry in the painting.

If she still had long hair, then the person in the painting would be Kasumigaoka Utaha.

Kasumigaoka Utaha gazes at the city, her reflection gazes back at her, and she gazes back at her reflection.

This is a tragic cycle interwoven with reality and illusion.

Now, Kasumigaoka Utaha has cut her hair short, as if she has broken out of this cycle. The painting depicts her past self, and the reflection is also a reflection of the past.

The meaning changed instantly.

This is not a change in Eriri's feelings, nor a change in the content of the painting, but a change in Kasumigaoka Utaha's appreciation of the painting.

There is one thing that can well corroborate this change.

Kasumigaoka Utaha took a book out of her bag. "Merry Christmas."

"Tomorrow is Christmas..." Eriri muttered as she took the book. "You can't even be bothered to wrap it? That's too... um?"

[The Control Freak, by Shizuko Kasumi]

Eriri looked up sharply, "It's going to be released?"

“Not that fast.” Kasumigaoka Utaha shook her head. “Sonoko and I worked together and got a copy. There might be typos, but there’s nothing we can do about it. We originally planned to release it after Valentine’s Day.”

Could this first-print limited edition be a misprint?!

Eriri's hand holding the book trembled slightly as she forcibly suppressed her excitement. "Well... I'll reluctantly help you find the typos."

So... Eriri suddenly came to her senses.

Did Kasumigaoka Utaha come back so late just for this special gift?

"Did you eat anything tonight?" Eriri asked instinctively, then added even faster, "I'm hungry. I forgot to eat dinner while reading a light novel. Anyway, I'm going to cook something, so if you haven't eaten either, I'll cook a little extra. It doesn't matter how much I cook..."

Kasumigaoka Utaha laughed, “Teriyaki chicken thigh and steamed egg custard.”

Eriri complained, "I asked if you wanted to eat, and you ordered food instead..."

"Huh? Is that not allowed?"

“...Alright then,” Eriri said, holding her book. “It’s been a long time since I’ve had any.”