I have bound two systems.

Just as Suzumiya Chisato thought, Kudo Midori came to the kitchen to help, not just to help, but also to take this opportunity to find out his general background.

There was no need to hide anything, so he followed the other party's words and slowly told him everything about his situation.

Meanwhile on the second floor.

In Touma and Sa's room.

Touma Yoko took out a green dinosaur doll from the cardboard bag and waved it in front of her daughter as if presenting a treasure.

"How about it? It's cute, isn't it? It's a gift for you."

Touma and Sa took it and casually placed it at the end of the bed.

"Anyway, I just bought it at the duty-free shop when I was bored waiting for the plane to take off at the airport."

"It doesn't matter where the gift comes from. It's about the thought. You can't be so picky."

Touma Yoko adopted a preaching attitude.

But Touma Hesa ​​didn't care. After her mother spoke those cruel words to her mercilessly a few years ago and resolutely left her side, leaving her here alone, she developed a rebellious and disdainful mentality in her heart and didn't want to listen to any of her preaching.

Touma Yoko knew this, but didn't care.

The reason why she suddenly returned home this time was because her original performance plan was cancelled. The reason behind this was naturally her no longer healthy body. Although her current symptoms are not much different from before, the occasional sudden fever and fatigue symptoms have indeed brought about great changes in her life.

The doctor told her not to worry or overwork herself, but she didn't listen and continued to put all her energy into preparing for the concert. As a result, she collapsed on the piano and passed out during practice. If Midori hadn't discovered it in time, the consequences would have been even more serious.

It was after this accident that Touma Yoko had to give up her original plan and return home to seek treatment from an authoritative doctor while recuperating.

However, after careful consideration, she decided not to tell Touma and Kazusa about this fact for the time being. The reason was the same as before: it was not a serious illness that would kill her immediately, and if it was very likely to be cured with the current medical level, there was no need to tell her and let her worry about it.

After all, her own daughter knows that although she appears to be more indifferent and independent than anyone else, she probably doesn't even know how weak and delicate she is inside.

However, after not seeing her for a long time, her precious daughter really gave her a big surprise.

"That boy looks nice. When did you start dating?"

Touma Yoko sat on the edge of the bed with her chin propped up, her gossipy heart that wanted to know more about her daughter's love affair was exposed nakedly.

"…Don't compare me to you."

Perhaps the most important reason is that the male protagonist was not present. When Touma and Sa responded, they were much more confident, calm and natural than before when they were downstairs.

"You deny the relationship... just classmates?"

"Just classmates."

"But the classmate even sent the aunt away when they met at home?"

Dong Ma Youzi mercilessly exposed her daughter's little thoughts.

"You're clearly trying to create an environment where the two of you can be alone, but your methods are too clumsy. I realized what was going on the moment I saw you guys when I walked in."

…………

Chapter 197: A long-awaited heart-to-heart talk

Standing in front of the mother who gave birth to her, the hidden stories behind Touma Hesa's every word and action were completely exposed.

The cover-up she said would be instantly discovered by the other party and ruthlessly pierced.

Touma Hesa ​​gritted her teeth secretly. The more she understood the facts, the more she couldn't suppress her anger.

You know me so well, so you should understand how much I wanted to live abroad with you back then.

But you didn't. You simply denied what I had been insisting on since I was a child, and left me alone on a plane to a foreign country.

Anyway, bringing me along will affect your chances of finding a man outside, right?

So if that’s the case, why do you suddenly come back at this time and stand in front of me and say all this?

Have you had enough of playing with men outside and now want to return to the image of a considerate and gentle mother? Do you want to play a friendly and caring game of house with me, your daughter?

Be less self-righteous!

"Don't worry about it."

Touma Kazusa suppressed her inner emotions and gave this answer as calmly as possible.

There was a faint smile on Touma Yoko's lips.

"That's surprising. I thought you would hate me even more."

"I really do hate you."

"But at least it's better than last year. When I went home for the New Year last year, I invited you to go to the shrine with me, but you completely ignored me, hiding under the covers pretending to sleep, and sulking with me like a child."

"...I still feel the same way about you now, so you don't have to worry about that."

"Really? But I feel like you've matured a lot, not just physically. For example, you actually took the initiative to call me a while ago. Although the time difference caused a little joke, it's still a remarkable improvement for you."

Touma Kazusa sighed deeply, and walked to the window, leaving her mother with her back.

"Did you come back this time just to tell me this kind of thing?"

Dong Ma Yoko smiled,

"It's nostalgic. Your tone has returned a little to its old self."

"…What do you want to say?"

"Nothing. I heard from my aunt that you took many of the musical instruments in the house, as well as the award certificates and photos you had won in the past, to the practice room in the basement. I'm very curious about why you did this, since you didn't care much about these things before."

Touma Hesa's shoulders suddenly trembled and she did not answer.

But even if she didn't say it, Touma Yoko, as a mother, could roughly guess the specific reason why she did so.

"It's because of that boy just now, right? Because music is the only thing you are good at, but talking about it with him makes you feel embarrassed and it seems very ostentatious.

So my silly daughter came up with a solution: just put all the honors you have ever won in a conspicuous place for him to see, and your wish will naturally be satisfied.

Let me guess, did you even perform all the instruments you knew in front of him, just to hear his praise?

all hit.

Touma Kazusa could no longer maintain her nonchalant attitude. She turned around, no longer able to pretend to be calm and unmoved.

She questioned,

"Did you install a camera at home?"

"There are indeed cameras at home, but they are limited to the yard and the gate, mainly to prevent thieves. But if you say so, it means I am right."

Touma Yoko closed her palms.

"That's great. My daughter has finally grown up and started to realize the importance of men. So, what's the situation now? If I don't come back today, are you going to let him stay overnight, or have you already taken that step?"

"Who would do something like that? Don't think I'm the same as you!"

"That's really hurtful. Even I have never brought a man home. From this point of view, it should be you who is going too far."

"I repeat, he and I are not in that relationship!"

"I see. I like him but I haven't gotten him yet. Having a crush on him is quite suitable for you. However, there are some things that others won't understand unless you take the initiative to say it out."

"...You don't need to teach me. If you came back just to mock me, then I'm sorry I won't accompany you any more."

Touma Kazusa strode towards the door. She didn't want to discuss the matter of Chisato Suzumiya with her mother, with whom she had a deep estrangement, in her current messy mood. That would make her feel very weird.

But Touma Yoko stopped her in her tracks with just one sentence.

"I won't force you to tell me anything, but if my curiosity is not satisfied by you, then no matter what questions I ask Suzumiya-kun later, I hope you won't interfere. After all, you and that child are not that kind of relationship, so no matter what I do, it should have nothing to do with you, right?"

"...!"

Touma Kazusa clenched her fists and turned around, only to be met with Touma Yoko's signature, relaxed smile.

How could there be such a mother in the world? Generally speaking, would there be a mother who would threaten her daughter with a smile like this?

Touma and Sa were very angry, but there was nothing they could do no matter how angry they were.

In just a few words, the mother found out her most fatal weakness. Fortunately, the Saiyan had his tail pinched, and the Jinchūriki of the Tailed Beast was pulled out. He was completely reduced to a fish on the chopping board, at the mercy of others.

However, Touma Yoko is not a butcher. The reason why she deliberately said such malicious words was that she wanted to see what kind of reaction her daughter would give whom she had not seen for a long time.

The result was unexpected but reasonable to her.

She had already come to a conclusion the moment she entered the door. After all, this was the first time in more than a decade that her bad-tempered and withdrawn daughter had brought someone home. This was already telling.

Without my knowledge, Kazusa, who used to run after me as a child, has finally awakened her girlish heart that desires the opposite sex.

Touma Yoko reached out and patted the seat next to her. Touma Kazusa sat down reluctantly, her lips tightly pursed, obviously still a little unhappy.

"Forget it. Since you don't want to talk, I won't force you. I know you have a lot of complaints about me, but it doesn't matter. I'm going to stay in China for a while this time. I'm going to repair the relationship between us mother and daughter. If there's any place you want to go, you can tell mom. Disney or the oceanarium are fine. As long as you want to go."

"Do you think I'm an elementary school student?"

"Of course, according to your current performance, there is no doubt that you are."

…………

Chapter 198: Mom’s Assist

"Let's eat, President."

Hearing Kudo Miyoko's voice coming from downstairs, Touma and his daughter came to the living room from the second floor.

There were several more dishes on the table, and glasses were placed quite formally with drinks from the refrigerator.

After the last dish was brought to the table by Suzumiya Chisato, he was invited by Touma Yoko to sit at the table. After picking up the chopsticks and tasting the frog fish he had just fried, he gave a thumbs up and praised it generously.

"It's delicious. I think I know why Kazusa and you are so close."

Such a witty remark made Touma Hesa's eyes blaze with anger, and she gritted her teeth as if she was about to slam the table.

Fortunately, Touma Yoko knew her daughter's temper, so she only said such slightly provocative words and did not say anything excessive to tease Kazusa's nerves.

"Come on, Suzumiya-kun, I'll toast you a glass. Thank you for taking such good care of Kazusa at school."

Suzumiya Chisato picked up the drink cup and gently touched the center of the other person's cup with the mouth of the cup.

"No, she and I are friends after all. Besides, even if she needs to take care of me, she should be the one taking care of me."

"Anyway, just for the fact that you can be friends with her, I have to find an opportunity to formally thank you. After all, this child has had a bad temper since she was a child. Other children are in groups, but she is alone all day long."

"I don't think so, I think it's pretty cool."

"What a cool performance—"

Touma Yoko repeated Suzumiya Chisato's words in a teasing tone, and tilted her head to look at her own rosy face. Compared to Touma Kazusa who was completely different from the one she had just talked to in the room, she couldn't stop smiling.

"This is the first time I've heard of this. After all, her teachers have always described her as introverted and unsociable, not good at handling interpersonal relationships, so as a mother, I need to pay more attention to her growth."

"That's just that Touma doesn't want to do that. If she wants, she can make friends at any time. In my opinion, not being able to make friends and not wanting to make friends are two completely different things."

"Suzumiya-kun actually thinks so highly of my stupid daughter?"

"I just told the truth as I found it."

"I can see that you two have a very good relationship. What do you usually do together?"

"Mom, are you annoying?"

Touma Hesa, who had been eating like an ostrich with her head down at the table, finally couldn't help but speak.

"Why do you have so much to say during a meal?"

"Finally you're willing to call me mom."

Dong Ma Youzi looked at her strangely.

"But I'm not looking for you to talk, why are you so anxious?"

"...You keep talking like a gossip, and you embarrass me in front of my friends."

Touma and Sa racked their brains and finally found a reasonable reason.

But it was useless. She wanted to help Suzumiya Chisato, but the other party had a completely different idea and mentality. She wanted to have a good relationship with her future mother, so sufficient and friendly communication was necessary.

To be honest, the current conversation environment is very good. The dinner table is an important occasion to enhance relationships between people, and you can naturally tell the other person about your own situation.

Therefore, when Touma Yoko looked at her with a pitiful expression that was not appropriate for her age but did not look out of place on her, and asked, "Am I really that annoying?", Suzumiya Chisato shook her head without a second thought.

"That's absolutely not the case. Miss Yoko is very kind and I really enjoy chatting with you."

"...!"

When Touma Yoko looked at her with a ostentatious smile, Touma Hesa ​​clenched her teeth and the chopsticks in her hand were almost broken by her.