How to raise a random guy's wife

"I see..." Ran Kobayashi asked Sora Kobayashi, "Daddy, Daddy, are there any games we can all play together?"

“There are many,” Kobayashi Sora thought for a moment, “For example…”

Draw the Joker card.

Joker is a card game with simple rules and easy to learn. It only requires a deck of cards, involves a certain amount of luck, and also requires some strategy.

Everyone gathered in a room, and Kobayashi Sora explained the rules while shuffling the cards.

One joker is left in the deck of cards. The cards are then dealt equally to all players. After a player collects the cards, they can play any two cards of the same rank.

Once all players have no cards of the same number in their hands, the card drawing phase begins.

The first player randomly selects a card from the next player's hand. If the card drawn has the same number as a card in their hand, they can play it. Otherwise, it's the next player's turn to draw a card from the player to their left, and so on counter-clockwise.

During this process, cards of the same number will be played repeatedly. As the number of cards remaining decreases, the person who holds the joker at the end is the loser.

As for the punishment...

"Let's use these." Eriri took out a large box of liqueur-filled chocolates. Even if you didn't recognize the brand, you could tell from the packaging that they were expensive. She asked Kobayashi Sora, "But Ranran can't eat them, right?"

"To prevent the liquor filling from melting into the outer chocolate layer, high-alcohol-content liquors such as rum, brandy, and whiskey are generally used in the production of liqueur-filled chocolates. People who don't usually drink alcohol can easily get drunk," Kobayashi Sora replied. "They are indeed not suitable for children."

Ran Kobayashi raised her hand, "Ranran can use orange pudding instead!"

Kasumigaoka Utaha laughed, "Then let's make it a reward."

"You've been found out." Xiao Linlan tilted her head. "Then... Lanlan can sing for everyone. Lanlan learned a lot of nice songs in kindergarten."

"That's great!" Hashima was really looking forward to hearing the adorable Ran Kobayashi sing.

Just thinking about it is so therapeutic.

"Eat in moderation," Kobayashi Sora warned in advance, "especially if you can't hold your liquor."

"I think I accidentally ate too much back then," Kobayashi Megumi recalled from a long time ago. "It was Eriri who brought the chocolate that time, I think."

Chapter 953 Harsh Reality

That happened when Kobayashi Sora and Kobayashi Megumi were in their second year of high school. They went out to relax together while making "The Cherry Tree Promise".

Megumi Kobayashi still remembers the jewel-like lake surrounded by fiery red maple leaves, its tranquility tinged with intense brilliance.

In the evening, Eriri took out a large box of liqueur-filled chocolates, just like she is now.

Because the food was so delicious, apart from Kobayashi Sora in another room, Kasumigaoka Utaha, Eriri, and Kobayashi Megumi all ate too much and became quite drunk.

Upon hearing Kobayashi Megumi mention this, Kobayashi Sora immediately recalled the scene in the hazy night when Kobayashi Megumi, slightly tipsy, secretly ran into his room, lay on top of him, and gazed at him with dreamy eyes, looking incredibly cute.

When Kobayashi Sora turned her gaze to Kobayashi Megumi, she met her eyes.

Kobayashi Megumi clearly remembered what happened that night, and a cute blush appeared on her cheeks.

Even though I'm a mother of a seven-year-old now, I still feel shy when I think about the little things from when we were in love.

Eriri's face turned even redder.

She got drunk from eating chocolates with liqueur fillings, which led to her sleeping with Kasumigaoka Utaha.

Eriri also put Kasumigaoka Utaha in charge.

Eriri never imagined back then that Kasumigaoka Utaha would actually be in charge now.

Kasumigaoka Utaha whispered in Eriri's ear, "I really took responsibility."

"Gulp!" Eriri almost choked on her own saliva. Does Kasumigaoka Utaha have mind-reading abilities?

Or is it that... we are telepathically connected and thinking the same thing?

As soon as Kobayashi Megumi uttered those words, the expressions of the four adults underwent subtle changes.

Mayu Sagara and Izuru Hashima looked at each other in bewilderment.

Eh... what's with this atmosphere where only we have no related memories?

Are liqueur-filled chocolates really this blush-inducing and heart-pounding?

I can't eat too much, what if I get drunk and do something to Mayu...? (Thinking to myself as I sail out to sea from Hashima.)

I need to eat more, because if I get drunk, I might do something at sea... Sagara Shin thought to herself.

With the rules explained, the game officially begins.

Everyone takes turns drawing cards, then picks out pairs from their hands, and then begins drawing cards.

Ran Kobayashi sat between Sora Kobayashi and Megumi Kobayashi. Children were given priority, and Ran Kobayashi drew a card first.

Ran Kobayashi looked at the fan-shaped arrangement of playing cards in Megumi Kobayashi's hand, her fingertips sliding back and forth across them. "Shall I just pick one?"

“Mmm,” Kobayashi Megumi replied, “Ranran can take whichever one she wants.”

"Lanlan wants this one!" Ran Lin drew a card. "The 8... is here!"

Ran Kobayashi played two 8s.

"Well done," Kobayashi Sora explained from the side. "You'll win when you play all your cards."

Xiao Linlan held the cards with some difficulty in her small hands, counted them carefully, and felt that she had a high chance of winning.

Megumi Kobayashi reached out and took one of Kasumigaoka Utaha's cards. "Hmm... I don't have any."

Kasumigaoka Utaha raised an eyebrow slightly and reached out to draw Eriri's card.

After Eriri, it's Hashima's departure from the sea, then Mayu Sagara, and finally, Sora Kobayashi draws Ran Kobayashi's card.

"Another card gone~" Kobayashi Ran hummed the melody of some song, then pulled out a card from Kobayashi Ran. "Hmm!"

The melody abruptly stopped.

Xiaolin Lan's expression clearly froze.

Wow~ Super easy to understand.

Eriri could tell from Ran Kobayashi's expression that Ran had drawn the Joker card.

Several pairs of cards were played, and it was Kobayashi Sora's turn to draw Kobayashi Ran's card.

Kobayashi Ran laid out the cards with both hands and handed them to Kobayashi Sora, looking at her father pitifully.

Kobayashi Sora sighed, sliding her finger over her daughter's cards while observing her expression.

As Kobayashi Sora's fingers slid across the screen, Kobayashi Ran's expression showed a fleeting moment of surprise.

This should be it, but Kobayashi Sora wants to confirm it again.

Just as her finger left the card, Ran Kobayashi suddenly called out, "Wait a minute!"

She put the cards behind her back, rearranged them, and without even looking at the new order, handed them directly to Kobayashi Sora.

Let's leave it all to luck!

Although this is a good way to reduce one's own mental stress, it also means that Kobayashi Sora can no longer help her daughter.

Even he couldn't possibly draw the Joker just because he wanted to... He did draw it.

Kobayashi Sora pretended to look for a card with the same number, then shook her head in disappointment, feigning that she hadn't found one.

Ran Kobayashi re-examined her hand, her eyes lit up, and she began humming a song again.

I almost couldn't help but laugh when we went out to sea at Bo Island. Although Kobayashi Sora was dressed very well, Kobayashi Ran had already given herself away.

The Joker must be in Kobayashi Sora's hands now.

Wait a minute... I noticed a detail while sailing off Po Island.

Kobayashi Sora got her Joker from Kobayashi Ran, and Kobayashi Ran got her Joker from Kobayashi Megumi.

Was Kobayashi Megumi's Joker card originally in her hand, or did she draw it from Kasumigaoka Utaha?

If it's the former, then it's nothing.

If it's the latter, then Kobayashi Megumi just drew the Joker.

However, she carefully compared the cards in her hand and pretended that she hadn't drawn the Joker.

Her performance was exactly the same as Kobayashi Sora's.

They truly are a perfect couple...

After two more rounds, Ran Kobayashi was the first to run out of cards and win. She happily hugged the rice cake and observed the battle.

The Joker is in Kobayashi Sora's hand... Sagara Mayu nervously stared at the two remaining cards in Kobayashi Sora's hand, her fingers twitching back and forth. Which one is it?

Kobayashi Sora's lips curled up, and her eyes narrowed into crescent moons, making her look like a happy fox.

Ah... you can't tell anything from this guy's expression.

Sagara Mayu closed her eyes and randomly drew a card.

"Wow~ lucky~" Although she didn't play a card, Mayu Sagara's expression was quite relaxed.

"I've played all my cards~" Eriri also played all her cards and hugged Ran Kobayashi, who was holding mochi.

When Hashima was drawing her card, she was very relaxed and had two cards left in her hand.

Judging from Sagara Mayu's expression just now, she probably didn't draw the Joker card from Kobayashi Sora's hand... Huh?

Hashima stared blankly at the Joker card he had drawn, casting an incredulous look at Sagara Mayu.

You've plotted against me?

Sagara Mayu casually looked away, took the cards from Kobayashi Sora's hand, and played the last card in her hand. "The rest are up to you."

This is what the game of drawing the Joker is all about... Seeing Kobayashi Sora also play her last card, Hashima Izumi reluctantly accepted reality.

Chapter 954 Clash of Masters

Only Kobayashi Megumi, Kasumigaoka Utaha, and Hashima Izumi remained on the field.

Seeing Kobayashi Ran's previous expression, Kasumigaoka Utaha immediately deduced that the Joker was in Hashima Izumi's hand.

Seeing Kasumigaoka Utaha's hand touch the Joker, Hashima Izumi couldn't quite control his expression.

Almost the instant her expression changed, Kasumigaoka Utaha immediately shifted her target.