In crossover anime, who isn't a childhood friend?

As Chiya released her hand from her shoulder, a slight sense of loss welled up in Kazusa's heart.

"But it really wasn't necessary. I did compliment Aunt Yoko's evening gown before we left, but that was out of politeness. You should understand that, Kazusa. Getting jealous of your own mother is just too much..."

As soon as Minamoto Chiya began speaking, he was met with a clearly emotional and angry glare from Kazusa.

"I already said it has nothing to do with that!" Her face turned even redder, and her voice involuntarily rose a little as she replied.

What is this guy thinking all day?! How can she be so unreasonable?

"It was just a joke, there's no need to be so angry." Yuan Qianye suppressed a laugh and quickly tried to calm him down.

"If I weren't weaker than you, I would have swung this right away." Kazusa said in a tough tone, raising her fist in a pretentious manner.

“There’s no need for that. For a pianist, the most important thing is the hands.” Yuan Qianye said gently, “Isn’t that what your favorite mother told you?”

It would have been better if she hadn't mentioned it, because as soon as her mother was mentioned, Kazusa's face immediately darkened again.

Yuan Qianye seemed oblivious to her obvious change in mood and continued to say to himself, "Isn't this expression just fine now?"

"?" Kazusa frowned slightly as she looked at him.

"Just keep this expression. If you have any complaints, just tell your mother directly."

From the moment she entered the banquet hall, Yuan Qianye sensed the source of Kazusa's impatience mixed with a hint of displeasure.

Of course, it couldn't really be because he was jealous of his mother; his life story wasn't that bizarre or melodramatic.

The banquet hall was filled with waiters carrying drinks, and social occasions are inseparable from the influence of alcohol.

Therefore, in the past half hour, Yoko, who had been leading him and Kazusa to greet other people and frequently clinking glasses with them, had already downed three drinks.

You know, she got sick before because of irregular work and rest and alcohol. Although she is now completely cured, it still makes Kazusa worry.

Not to mention that before leaving today, Kazusa had already given her mother some instructions, and Yoko's reply was quite obedient, but after arriving at the banquet, she showed no restraint whatsoever.

This attitude of completely disregarding her own health naturally displeased her concerned daughter, who couldn't even manage a smile.

Kazusa stared silently at Minamoto Chiya until he felt a chill run down his spine and became uncomfortable before she finally spoke softly, "You know me so well, yet you didn't directly try to persuade her for me just now."

No, how can this be related to me?

Yuan Qianye felt very wronged.

However, this incident also made him realize more clearly that girls can indeed become unreasonable at times.

"It's not easy for me to speak on this matter from my position, and besides, I haven't had the chance to say it yet."

"She treated you like her son in the car on the way here."

"Don't talk nonsense!"

If I were her son, how could I stay with you?

"Aunt Yaozi's exact words were, 'I always feel that if I had a son, he might not be as outstanding as you today, but he probably wouldn't be much worse than you in terms of appearance.'"

"There is no difference."

"The difference is huge!"

Gen Chiya sighed, seemingly out of exhaustion and a sign of weakness.

Seeing him like this, Kazusa's mood actually improved, and the corners of her lips curved into a barely perceptible smile.

"Alright, let's go back to the venue. I'll help you persuade your aunt to drink less." Yuan Qianye's tone softened. He didn't think there was anything shameful about it. It was okay to be a little soft in front of a girl you like. As long as you can be firm when necessary, that's fine.

“You look so beautiful today, it would be such a waste to just hide here. I see that there’s already a band set up next to the banquet hall. There might be a dance later, and we can go down and join in the fun. You usually stay cooped up in the music room and don’t have any entertainment activities. I think that’s why your aunt thought of bringing you out to relax.”

Kazusa refused almost instantly: "I can't dance."

"It's okay, I'll teach you."

Some scenes that felt familiar to Yuan Qianye reappeared, only this time he was the one who took the initiative to invite them.

"I'm not really good at it either. I'm just enjoying the atmosphere. Just follow my steps and take it one at a time."

Kazusa didn't agree to this, but talking to him did make her feel much better, and she finally agreed to go back with him.

By the time I left, the banquet hall was already even more lively.

After scanning the room, they saw Yoko sitting on a deep red velvet sofa by the window, with an opened bottle of Dom Pérignon champagne on the black marble table in front of her.

As they approached, Yoko had just poured some wine into her empty glass. The golden liquid bubbled and rose gracefully into the glass, creating a beautiful display of light, bubbling liquid.

To be honest, champagne, judging from its appearance, does have a magical power that makes people want to taste it as soon as possible.

"Oh, you're back so soon. I thought you two would be spending a lot of time alone. I was just thinking I should call you and tell you there are more private VIP rooms upstairs. If you two are tired from the socializing earlier, you can go up there and wait for me to finish."

Yoko chuckled and teased, bringing the wine glass to her lips. Just as she was about to take another sip, Kazusa snatched the glass away with a cold expression.

“We’re not going anywhere. This is it, and that’s it. You’ve already done your quota for today.”

Yoko looked at Gen Chiya in astonishment. He suppressed a laugh and shrugged, indicating that he couldn't help either.

So, the next moment, Yoko acted like a child who had been forbidden from drinking sugar by an adult, turning to her daughter and trying to plead softly, "I don't usually drink much at home, but today is a special occasion, so how about just one more glass... no, half a glass! Okay?"

She was met with Kazusa's increasingly cold gaze.

"Sigh..." Yoko sighed softly, seemingly giving up after her unsuccessful attempt, her smile complex: "My daughter has grown up. That's wonderful."

"Don't say such embarrassing things. It has nothing to do with me. At least take care of your own health."

"Okay, I got it. I promise I'll drink juice from now on tonight, but in exchange, how about you grant me a request?"

“I won’t agree. This is for your own benefit. Why should I trade it? Besides, your health is your own. Please be more considerate.”

"Hey—it's just a small request, just consider it fulfilling my wish... Chiya, don't just stand there watching, come over and help me persuade them..."

Yoko's request was simple and not excessive. It wasn't as outrageous as when she teased them about getting married on the spot and taking a year off from school to give her a grandson so she could be a grandmother.

She simply noticed an upright piano on the stage to the side of the banquet hall and suddenly felt inspired to have the two of them play a duet together, any piece would do.

Being coaxed and pleaded with by her own mother, and considering that this wasn't the first time she'd performed on stage with Yuan Qianye, not to mention that they'd even shared a kissing scene during filming before...

Although it was just a camera trick and they didn't actually kiss, in Kazusa's mind, being so close that she could feel his breath was almost the same as kissing.

"Since Auntie has said so and made a guarantee, then I think there is no problem, at least there is no problem on my side."

After Chiya said the same thing, Kazusa had even less reason to refuse.

Finally, after a slight sigh and confirming her mother's assurance once again, she agreed.

She and Yuan Qianye arrived at the side stage where the piano was placed.

Her skirt was quite long, and when she stepped onto the stairs, Yuan Qianye took her hand and helped her up.

The moment they walked to the piano, someone in the room started clapping, and soon the applause grew louder, drawing the attention of most people in the room.

…………

Chapter 104: The Maid Mother's Late-Night Conversation

"How was it, Kazusa? Did you have fun tonight?"

Around nine o'clock in the evening, on the way back, Yoko leaned close to her daughter and asked in a soft voice.

Kazusa pursed her lips, glanced at her mother, and asked, "Are you happy? I guess you could say I'm happy."

After being put in her place, her mother stopped drinking alcohol and started drinking juice obediently, just like her.

She was led by Qianye onto the stage to play Bach's G minor fugue together, which earned her a warm round of applause from the audience.

As a result, her previous stereotype of various business and political figures as seemingly well-dressed but actually full of scheming and cunning has faded considerably.

Later at the banquet, she was a little embarrassed, and Qianye helped her get food several times. He knew her dietary preferences, so he didn't need to ask and brought her whatever she liked to eat.

As the band began playing music, she felt a little nervous, but he still pulled her into the center of the dance floor. He took her hand and pressed his body against hers. He moved in sync with her steps, guiding her to sway gently to the rhythm of the music.

Overall, the experience wasn't as terrible as she had initially thought. Once her initial worries disappeared, she became completely immersed in the enjoyment.

However, because she needed to match her evening gown, she unusually wore high heels that she would almost never consider wearing normally. As a result, after leaving the dance floor, not only were her toes a little sore, but her heels were also rubbed raw and red.

As soon as she sat down again in the rest area on the sidelines, he noticed her the moment she bent down to check her ankle. He lifted her ankle and carefully examined the redness and swelling, his movements so smooth and efficient that she didn't have time to refuse. He then got up and left, returning shortly after.

Holding a bandage he'd somehow acquired, he half-squatted in front of her, casually placing her feet on his knees and gently applying it to the back of her feet.

Overall, apart from her mother's uncontrollable behavior at the beginning, which slightly annoyed her, nothing unpleasant happened during today's trip. In fact, everything that followed made her extremely happy...

But how could he possibly reveal such true thoughts while Chiya was still present?

"It's alright, nothing special."

Therefore, when faced with her expectant mother, Kazusa simply turned her gaze to the window and gave this simple, seemingly indifferent answer.

Yoko wasn't surprised; that's just how tsundere is.

She felt a little regretful and guilty, because it was her neglect of Kazusa when she was a child that led to Kazusa developing this sullen personality.

But then I thought, maybe Chiya just likes that kind of thing. If I really went to the trouble of raising Kazusa to have the same cheerful personality as I did when I was young, then maybe the two of them wouldn't see eye to eye today.

Thinking about it this way, she felt much better.

He then turned to the other side and met Qianye's gaze, exchanging a knowing smile and winking secretly, as if hinting at something.

"?"

Yuan Qianye was puzzled.

He was still savoring the adorable sight of Kazusa's rosy little feet fidgeting nervously on his thighs, her toes clenched tightly, when he had just helped her apply the bandage, and he was reflecting on how his recent changes in sexual preferences seemed to be quite subtle.

However, since my future mother-in-law has taken such a proactive approach, it would seem rather impolite not to respond.

Therefore, even though he didn't understand her intentions, he still went along with it and raised the corners of his lips.

Soon, the vehicle stopped in front of the apartment building where Gen Chiya lived.

"Alright, thank you for taking the time to spend with my daughter and me tonight. It's getting late, go back and get some rest."

"I should be the one thanking them. They took me to broaden my horizons, let me meet different people, and I learned so much. They even thoughtfully prepared a suit for me."

"No need for verbal thanks. Please continue to take good care of my Kazusa at school and in her daily life."

"that's for sure."

"I don't need him to take care of me..." Kazusa muttered softly from the side.

Yoko heard this but didn't react. She continued speaking to Chiya, "There are no other men in the Touma family. The other suit I bought for you today is only fits you. Also, take the clothes you changed out of at my place back with me when you have time."

"Yes."