I endured the humiliation and humiliation while being besieged by the ghost story elder sister.

Still somewhat bewildered, Hiyo looked at the girl in front of her and asked Hanako timidly.

"Um... Miss Hanako? Is there something you need from me?"

"You dare ask me that? Are you trying to piss me off?!"

Faced with Hanako's questioning, Nozomi's gaze couldn't help but be drawn to her fair, white thighs.

This was the first time he had ever seen Hanako dressed so scantily. Although he didn't know why she was so angry, Nozomi could only try to appease her.

"I've been a bit busy lately... Arisa and I haven't even been to any club activities because we've been busy with midterms."

"Midterm exams? Weren't you first in your class?! Why are you still working so hard?!"

I seriously suspect that Nozomi just doesn't want to run errands for me anymore. Once she gets to base, she doesn't need me, her strategist, anymore, right?

What a clever move—using someone and then discarding them!

Thinking of this, Hanako's expression grew increasingly grim.

"Well... I have to go tutor Arisa."

Having guessed what Hanako was angry about, Nozomi quickly explained to her in detail why she hadn't been able to bring any sweets during this time.

a long time.

Hanako, who had barely forgiven him, suddenly remembered that she was only wearing a T-shirt and panties. Her pretty face flushed red, and she quickly put her beautiful legs down from the sink.

Then, without looking back, she went back to her room, leaving behind a still shaken Ximiao standing in front of the sink, silently turning on the tap.

He splashed cold water on his face to clear his head, then hurriedly left and headed towards the classroom of Class 1-A.

If Arisa asks me again what I've been doing out for so long, that would be a bit troublesome. As for Hanako-san, I'll deal with that this afternoon…

As Nozomi walked back to the classroom, she thought to herself.

Until noon.

When the lunch break bell rang, everyone in the classroom took out their lunchboxes or got up and headed to the cafeteria.

Seeing this, Ximiao also took out the lunchbox that Bailuos had prepared for him this morning from his schoolbag.

I have to say... having a cat that can do housework makes all the difference!

Arisa, sitting next to him, also took out the same bento box and seemed to be in a good mood.

"By the way, Mio, are you going to your club activity this afternoon? Or are you going in a few days?"

Arisa suddenly asked.

"Hey? Go ahead, the exams are over anyway, so we can put the tutoring on hold for now."

Looking back on the days before the midterm exams, I felt inexplicably empty because I had to empty my ammunition every day so that Arisa could study hard.

That's probably why he felt that Arisa's complexion looked much rosier than before.

"That's it..."

She had originally planned to squeeze him a few more times, but now it seems that Mio won't give her that chance.

Unaware of what strange things Arisa was thinking, Nozomi opened the lid of the bento box with some anticipation.

I wonder what kind of meal Peros prepared for the two of them.

As he completely lifted the lid of the bento box, some still-warm food immediately came into view.

The snow-white rice was covered with fragrant eel, and the tamagoyaki and tofu on the side were also very tempting.

"So...it really is a fish?"

Arisa's expression turned somewhat unpleasant upon seeing the bento box made by Peros.

"What's wrong? I think eel is pretty good~"

Hearing Arisa's complaints beside her, Nozomi, still somewhat puzzled, couldn't help but ask Arisa, seemingly not quite understanding why she would say that.

The girl sighed before she began to explain to Himo.

“Berloss, if you don’t tell her what you want to eat, she’ll almost always have fish as the main dish.”

"Because it's a cat?"

Nozomi didn't take Bailos's strange character design seriously. She picked up her chopsticks and prepared to pick up a piece of eel and put it in her mouth.

however…

"Cough cough~"

Before he could even taste the cat-shaped bento, a dry cough came from Arisa's direction, which made Nozomi turn her head curiously.

Upon seeing Arisa's slightly parted pink lips and her wine-red eyes staring intently at him, he immediately understood what the girl meant.

Without hesitation, he put the eel he had already picked up into Arisa's mouth with his little hand. Only then was she satisfied, and she followed Nozomi's example, picking up a piece of eel and handing it to Nozomi.

Thanks to Arisa, lunch lasted a full half hour, but Nozomi didn't say anything.

Compared to before, when the two of them used one pair of chopsticks to entertain guests, this was much better.

Wait until the afternoon.

When it was time for club activities, after telling Arisa, Hio quickly picked up her clothes to change and headed towards the restroom.

She entered Hanako's room with practiced ease and saw that Hanako, who had already changed out of her pajamas, was sitting at the table waiting for her.

"So...where's my snack today?"

"Well... I forgot to bring it, but it should be fine, right..."

Hio said somewhat awkwardly, her gaze becoming evasive as she looked at Hanako, knowing she was in the wrong.

"...Never mind, just remember to bring it to me tomorrow. What I want is..."

After a moment of silence, Miss Hanako realized she couldn't do anything about the boy in front of her. If she were to harm him, the devil would surely come after her.

I might as well endure it for another day; I won't lose anything anyway...

Hanako thought to herself.

Author's Note: We need Hanako-san as our strategist, from now on~

(╯‵ ′)╯︵┻━┻

Chapter Eighty: A Sudden Visit

"This tea is quite delicious, but why does it taste a little different from the oolong tea I usually drink?"

Ashi picked up the glass of oolong tea in her hand and examined it carefully, as if trying to find some clues inside.

However, Fanxia, ​​sitting on the sofa to the side, did not have such leisure and elegance. She was extremely uncomfortable, with large beads of cold sweat slowly sliding down her forehead.

Nozomi and Arisa haven't returned from school yet. As for Boros, she stood obediently to the side, and there was no way to count on her.

Honoka had no idea why Ami would suddenly come to visit, but she didn't have the ability to kick her out of the apartment.

then.

After weighing the pros and cons, she quietly went to the kitchen and, following the method that Xi Ling had taught her, poured a cup of oolong tea with some added ingredients for Ami.

"So...Ms. Ami, is there something you need that you came all this way?"

Watching the beautiful woman sit there calmly, sipping her oolong tea, she was speechless.

She even had the urge to call and urge Nozomi and the others to come back quickly.

However, Ami didn't intend to do anything to Honoka. The main reason she came over suddenly this time was because she was worried about the presence of Honoka, this unruly element.

After finishing her oolong tea, Ashi slowly placed the cup on the table, cleared her throat, and began to speak unhurriedly.

"You should know that Ximiao is just an ordinary human boy, right? The most fundamental difference between him and other ghost stories is the difference in lifespan."

"...I know, but what does that have to do with you coming to see me and talking to me alone?"

If what she wanted to say was just something simple that she already knew, then Fanxia wouldn't be afraid.

however.

Then, Ashi abruptly changed the subject, abruptly steer the conversation in a completely different direction.

"What I want to know is, when you took in Ximiao, did you treat him like a pet, or did you intend to raise him until he was old enough to get married before making your move?"

"..."

Gazing into the other person's sharp, wine-red eyes, Fanxia subconsciously swallowed.

A sense of unease crept into my mind. Could it be that Ms. Ami had already sensed something was amiss?

Impossible. I haven't been teasing Mio much lately, and Ms. Ami wasn't even in the apartment at that time, so she wouldn't know anything about these things.

But judging from her attitude, she knew she wouldn't let him off the hook if he didn't answer.

For a moment, Fanxia was caught in a dilemma, unsure of how to answer.

at this time.

"Fanxia-neechan, we're back~"

From the entrance hall came the sound of a door opening and Ximiao's clear voice, which, like a lifeline, made Fanxia breathe a sigh of relief.

The expression on her face looked as if she had been relieved, a look that was observed by Ami, who was sitting to the side.

Although Honoka did not answer her question, judging from her reaction, Ami felt that she had already guessed the general answer.

A short while later, Nozomi and Arisa, who had taken off their shoes in the entryway, slowly walked from the hallway into the living room.

The two immediately spotted Ami sitting on the sofa, smiling and greeting them, and Honoka, whose expression seemed a little off.

Ximiao said with a hint of surprise.

"Auntie Ashi? What brings you here?"

"I just came here to chat with someone. I've been quite free lately, and I happened to be passing by, so I stopped by to say hello."

Asami explained to Himeko why she was there without changing her expression. Then, her gaze fell on Arisa, who was standing blankly next to Himeko.

"This guy, did he cause you any trouble, Mio?"