Aunt Xiangzi, how did you manage to live?

Then, Chu Hua smiled without changing her expression and moved her octopus-like tentacles onto her own body.

"I know everything Xiaomu knows! That makes it even more unacceptable! Don't take Xiao away from me! No, no—"

Kazama, feeling somewhat helpless, and Hatsuka, whose lips still held a smile, exchanged a glance.

Isn't this child going a bit against the natural order...?

Chapter Twenty-Nine: I Still Prefer Your Unruly Side

The Bluetooth speaker in the room was playing Kazama's personal playlist randomly, but the pleasant music was easily drowned out by Mortis's shouting.

"I don't want to—Xiao can't be taken away by someone else! Without you, Xiao Mu and I would have no one to rely on!"

Seemingly feeling that the presence of Mikasa was a bit too much of a threat, Metis clung to Kazama's clothes like a child experiencing a crisis for the first time, refusing to let go.

It seems she considers Chu Hua a formidable imaginary enemy.

"Even if we're talking about making a family of three, Su Shi is better than Chu Hua!"

Is there still something from the mortal world here?

Chu Hua hadn't considered this, and the smile on her face became a little stiff.

"Oh dear, this child is always so outspoken. No, no, how could I be taken away by someone else? Metis, be good."

Kazama patted her little head calmly, just like he would soothe a grumpy beagle he kept at home.

Although Metis made a lot of noise and spoke loudly, she could only rage helplessly here—cough, no, she was anxiously helpless.

Ultimately, it's just kids being unreasonable.

He winked at Chu Hua, who understood and gradually calmed down.

"That's right, Xiaojun won't break off her friendship with Metis just because we're very, very good friends."

So Chu Hua simply joined in stroking Metis's fur, echoing what Kazama had just said.

"Why did you two suddenly become a team...!"

Although Metis was a bit silly, he wasn't so stupid that he couldn't see Chu Hua's emotional fluctuations.

"Because we've always been in this together."

Despite Metis's questioning, Chu Hua remained smiling, but with a gentle smile, she pulled Metis's hand away from Kazama's clothes.

Then gently wrap it in your own hands.

"Since he is Xiaojun's companion and also Xiaomu's other personality, I will treat Metis as a partner as well."

Chu Hua's eyes sparkled, yet her movements seemed to carry a certain irresistible quality.

"Nice to meet you, Metis-chan?"

"Uh, um..."

Unfortunately, Metis is a coward who responds better to gentleness than force. As long as someone greets her with a smile, she will be driven by the principle of not hitting a smiling person and end up in an awkward situation.

"Alright, look at you, you've made such a mess of Xiaojun's bed."

Taking advantage of Metis's hesitation, Chu Hua smiled and sat down on Kazama's bed as well.

Then he lifted Metis, whose lower body was still wrapped in the blankets, out like a kitten.

"Xiaojun was just discharged from the hospital not long ago, we can't cause him any more trouble like this."

As the blonde girl spoke so gently, she quietly and virtuously tidied up the messy bedding into a perfectly square piece of tofu.

"Well, I knew Xiaojun wasn't the type to take good care of herself. In that case, I'll apologize for my inappropriate behavior in this way."

Chu Hua shrugged a little embarrassedly, then began to tidy up Kazama's apartment with an air of seriousness.

"Varied--"

So this is how you defuse awkward situations and get others to lower their guard!

Teacher Da Mo was speechless.

No matter how slow she was to realize it, she could see with her own eyes that although Chu Hua said she was going to tidy up Kazama's house, her hands had already unconsciously begun to touch Kazama's other personal belongings.

Ordinary as bed sheets, yet extraordinary as those private items in the bedside closet that might not be suitable for public display—

"I thought this was a privilege reserved for Xiaomu and me, Xiao!"

As if waking from a dream, Teacher Da Mo immediately went to Kazama to complain.

Little did he know that this person was now watching Chu Hua's retreating figure as she tidied up her house, a look of wistful reminiscence on his face.

"I never thought I'd see this again... Chu Hua tidying my clothes and taking care of my daily life..."

"What are you saying... Xiaojun, are you reminiscing about the times I took care of you in the hospital?"

The blonde girl, who had been busy working, blushed suddenly upon hearing this. She seemed both shy and encouraged, and walked briskly to the table to rearrange the messy items neatly.

"Are you just going to stand by and watch, Akatsuki?!"

"What else could it be, Metis!"

Metis, of course, wouldn't understand what moved Kazama—after all, Mutsu, as his mother, had no idea how to tidy up her son's room. It was usually Aunt Suze and Aunt Hatsune who took excellent care of him in terms of his daily life.

It's been almost ten years since I last saw Hatsune Miku busy in her room.

At that time, Mu was still trying to get everyone to accept Akatsuki's existence, and the kindness shown by Momo, Hatsune, and Aine warmed his entire childhood.

Honestly, he would give anything to return to his carefree childhood.

"Please stay in my room from now on... Chuhua..."

At that moment, the Bluetooth speaker in the room was playing "I Really Want to Stay at Your House," and with the music playing, Kazama couldn't help but burst into tears.

"I...I'd be more than happy to!!"

Standing in front of the table, Chu Hua blushed and stammered in agreement, then buried herself in tidying up the house with even more effort—although she probably misunderstood.

Teacher Da Mo looked up at Chu Hua, who was thoroughly enjoying herself and even secretly pleased with herself, and then glanced at Kazama beside her, who had inexplicably become very sentimental—

"You two are simply a case of one willing to hit and the other willing to be hit!"

Finally, he could no longer bear it and faced reality.

"So Metis, you know this kind of proverb. That's impressive."

Kazama couldn't help but clap his hands.

"Just because I don't often take control of my body doesn't mean I'm illiterate—wait, that's not the point, is it?!"

Metis was truly exhausted and speechless.

"Mortis Sauce, what would you like to eat for dinner later? I can buy the ingredients and cook it for you."

Chu Hua glanced at the refrigerator, which was practically empty except for the drinks, and shook her head with a helpless smile—of course, despite her thoughtfulness, she completely ignored Metis's opinion.

"Don't change the subject, Chuhua! I'm talking to you two..."

Miss Metis, who had been indignant, gradually came to her senses, and her previously loud voice gradually quieted down.

"...Is it really okay to eat anything?"

Finally, she cautiously raised a question, a stark contrast to her earlier firm and resolute attitude.

I still prefer your rebellious self, Metis.

Chapter Thirty: I'm Trying to Decipher Your Heart

Click click click.

In the small but perfectly formed apartment, a blonde girl stood in front of the cutting board, carefully chopping vegetables.

She tied her stunningly beautiful, medium-length golden hair up with a hair tie, revealing her lovely, snow-white nape. The remaining ends of her hair were styled into a lively ponytail that hung down her back, swaying gently with her elbows like a foal's tail.

Mikasa focused intently on chopping vegetables, intending to make a sandwich for Mortis—which was, of course, one of the few food reserves the Kazama family had.

"Hmph, hmph... I'll let bygones be bygones for the fact that Chu Hua is going to cook for me!"

Little Ancestor Metis was well aware of the principle that one is obligated to those who offer food or gifts. Seeing Chu Hua's busy figure at the stove, she obediently refrained from complaining.

"Alright, alright, you can play whatever you want. I'll go help Chu Hua out."

Kazama didn't intend to be idle either. He casually handed the computer to Metis like an old father earnestly instructing his daughter, and then got up and went to the stove.

"It's okay, Xiaojun. I can do this on my own."

"Oh, how can I let guests come to my house to do chores? Besides, I used to cook for people all the time, so you can rest assured and leave it to me."

"Hehe, it's a bit rare to see a boy who helps out in the kitchen. If Fangtang is coffee creamer, then Xiaojun, you're the kitchen creamer."

"Oh, oh, it's an honor, but the truth is not like that, Detective Chu Hua."

"Oh? Then what is the truth, my Mr. Watson?"

"The truth is that Mr. Watson's mother couldn't cook or take care of children at all, so only her relatives and friends volunteered to take on this responsibility. But young Watson couldn't bear to see his aunts working so hard, so he couldn't help himself and started helping from a young age. Yes, that's the simple truth."

"Hey—you're so cute, little Watson."

Are these two playing some kind of role-playing dialogue game?

Kazama and Hatsuka chatted enthusiastically and seemed to get along very well, while Metis, sitting at the table, felt somewhat lonely, his eyes filled with resentment as he stared at their backs.

Xiao is completely hopeless.

Metis once thought he was very reliable and dependable, and I believe Xiao Mu felt the same way from the bottom of her heart.

As a result, he was so easily deceived by Chu Hua.

Alas, how tragic and lamentable.

Metis slumped her head and shook it. Unable to participate in the cooking task, she leaned her upper body against the table and idly fiddled with the Kazama family's Bluetooth speaker.

The songs came and went, and finally the melody that flowed quietly from the speakers settled on a ballad that Metis had never heard before.

It seems to be an old song from almost twenty years ago.

I always thought I was an enigma, someone difficult to understand, but after you get to know me, I'm actually not that hard to understand.

A tranquil melody, tinged with a touch of melancholy, filled the entire room and naturally reached Kazama and Hatsuka's ears.

"This sounds like a Chinese song from the early 2000s? I've never heard it before. I didn't expect Xiaojun to listen to songs like this."

"It's just because I'm an archaeologist who keeps his word."

For Chu Hua, this might just be a song she heard in her childhood, which is still loved by the public today—but for Xiao, it is a genuine Chinese classic from almost half a century ago.

Now that we've arrived in this unfamiliar time and place, let's take this opportunity to find out what kind of music Mom and my aunts liked to listen to when they were young.

He added these early 2000s songs to his playlist with this in mind.

"Hmm, I think it sounds pretty good."

Chu Hua had obviously never heard this song before, but she was still immersed in its melody, and even the way she cut the lettuce became in sync with the rhythm of the song.

"Xiaojun rarely talks about her family... but she just told me. Could it be that the scene reminded her of something?"

She spoke with extreme caution, after all, she was inquiring about someone else's privacy.

“That’s right. The last time I went into the kitchen and worked with someone like this was with an aunt who took good care of me.”

He skillfully took the sandwich bread and bacon and ham from the side and handed Chu Hua the portion she needed.

"Feeling nostalgic?"

"No need to reminisce."

After all, it's still in progress right now.

"Would it seem strange if I said I wanted to know more about Xiaojun's family?"

"Absolutely not."

"So, Xiaojun always talks about her mother and the aunts who take care of her... What kind of person is her father?"

“Father, I did not come.”