Tokyo Soft Rice King.

This reminded Kuroba Akira of the same headphones worn by the female protagonist in an anime she used to watch. A quick check revealed they were all incredibly expensive headphones, costing thousands of dollars. Even though it was probably just a soft advertisement, it still made her want to complain. Saying they came from poor families was ridiculous; they were all rich and powerful! These were headphones that a working girl couldn't afford!

There was an electronic keyboard near the window, and next to it was a guitar and a sheet music stand, so it seemed like they were playing music.

As Aunt Akiko mentioned before, all the models she built herself were displayed on the figure cabinet next to her bed, and the bed was also full of cute plush toys... It does resemble a high school girl's room to some extent.

To have a room like this at such a young age, and to buy her whatever she wants, Aunt Akiko really spoils this daughter too much.

Then Kuroba Akira could completely understand why she didn't want to leave the room, after all, this was the room that a shut-in would dream of.

Even Akira Kuroba felt that if he were living in a room like that, he would definitely choose to become a shut-in.

However, the reality is that Kuroba Akira has nothing in Kobayashi's room... Now, for the time being, he has a bunk bed that has become a decoration and a beautiful woman to sleep with, so he has become somewhat fond of staying in bed.

Previously, Kuroba Akira would rather go to the school library to read than stay in an empty room.

However, her room probably wasn't always arranged like this. It must have been gradually furnished as she grew up to be the way it is now. Since she was able to attend school normally before, her room is definitely not the reason she chose to stay at home.

Noticing that Kuroba Akira was observing her room, Takanashi Mirai scratched her cheek and said a little embarrassedly.

"I know this room is a bit over the top... but my mom designed and decorated it all herself, and it's really convenient to use..."

"I see, it was Aunt Akiko's doing."

Hearing her say that, Kuroba Akira could understand. After all, she was still just a student and didn't have enough funds to even think about renovating the room.

Only an adult would have the financial resources to transform a room like this. In fact, you can tell from the layout of the living room that Akiko Takanashi is actually a 'real super homebody'.

It seems that Mirai Takanashi is not the kind of willful rich girl, but rather more like a mama's boy.

“Those headphones were all birthday gifts from my mom. She started buying me headphones when I was in first grade. Every year since then, she has bought me the latest headphones… I checked the prices, and they seem to be quite expensive.”

Takanashi Mirai scratched her head and started grumbling.

"Seriously, people only have one pair of ears, why get so many headphones? It's like I'm some kind of audiophile... It's just a waste of money..."

She seemed to be complaining, but Kuroba Akira could still tell that she was very happy because her mother gave her gifts every year.

In fact, many times adults simply don't know how to express their love for their children, so they keep trying to satisfy their children's material needs with money and material things.

Especially for parents who have been separated from their children for a long time and were unable to be by their side as their children grew up, there is an invisible barrier between them when they meet again, and they become as unfamiliar as strangers... At this time, all they can think of is 'paying money'.

However, now that they are adults, they have forgotten how they felt when they were children. For children whose values ​​are not yet formed, money is not the most important thing, nor can it buy a child's feelings.

The reason Takanashi will be happy in the future is not because the headphones she received are so good or expensive, but because 'Mom remembered her birthday' makes her feel 'loved'.

Many parents don't know how to get along with their children, which is the root of many family tragedies.

Kuroba Akira immediately thought of Shion and the class president. Both of them had very strained, even hostile, relationships with his mother.

In fact, Kuroba Akira himself was the same. Although the conflicts in his family had been completely resolved before he transmigrated, there were still many troubles in his family that drove him crazy in the first thirty years of his life.

However, the main conflicts in his family stemmed from his capricious father... Kuroba Akira never saw him in his prime, because he was still young then. After he became conscious, he witnessed his down-and-out father abusing his family.

Actually, it would have been one thing if he had just been beaten himself, but he couldn't stand seeing his bastard father lay a hand on his mother, so it often turned into a 'filial piety' fight... After all, hitting a woman is a cowardly act.

Compared to these negative examples, the mother and daughter in the Takanashi family only had a temporary minor conflict, but they could still sit together to play games, eat, build models, and discuss anime—they couldn't be more harmonious.

"Sorry, there are no other chairs in the room, so please sit on my bed."

Takanashi Mirai sat cross-legged on the gaming chair, and Kuroba Akira unceremoniously sat on her bed.

"Speaking of which, where's Hitomi?"

"The class monitor had something to do at home today, so he didn't come with me."

Upon hearing that it was about Hitomi Anri's family, Mirai Takanashi frowned and said.

"What's going on with Hitomi's family... could it be another order from her mother?"

"Huh? So you knew why the class monitor left you?"

Kuroba Akira remembered that the class monitor had said that she hadn't explained it to her childhood friends.

In fact, she really didn't know either, and when she heard Kuroba Akira say that, she was dumbfounded and asked him in return.

"Huh? Does Hitomi's reason for leaving us have anything to do with her mother?"

"Uh, you don't know?"

"Tong didn't explain it to us, how am I supposed to know!"

"Then how do you know it was her mother's order?"

"It's just a guess. Ever since, Hitomi's mother has been very controlling. When Hitomi was little, she made her do some kind of bride training. My mother even pointed her finger at Hitomi's mother and lectured her about it at a housewives' gathering..."

"Wow, Aunt Akiko is so fierce..."

I can't imagine what Aunt Akiko, who always has squinted eyes and looks so soft and gentle, would look like when she's angry.

"But my mom said they've made up now and are even good friends."

"Wow, have the mothers tried to mend their relationship first... Takanashi-kun, aren't you planning to make up with the class president?"

Then she hugged her knees, pouted, and said...

“It’s not that I don’t want to make up… it’s that Tong chose to leave us. If she really cares about us and wants to repair the relationship, shouldn’t she be the one to take the initiative to apologize to us first?”

"Indeed, you have a point."

In this matter, the class monitor is indeed at fault. From the perspective of these childhood playmates, it is the class monitor who actively abandoned them, and for no reason at that. Anyone would find that unacceptable.

But the class monitor hasn't chosen to repair the relationship yet, and she must have her reasons.

Perhaps once the conflict between her and her mother is resolved, she will reconcile with her childhood friends.

"Speaking of which, my mom is also Takanashi, and you just call her Aunt Akiko, right? So just call me Mirai, but don't add any sauce, I don't like it."

"Even though the class monitor calls you Mirai-chan..."

"You can call me Tong, since that's what she's always called me since she was little."

"So, you're saying our relationship isn't ready yet?"

"That's not right, I'd much rather my friends just call me by my first name now..."

The fact that she herself used the word 'friend' still made the shy Takanashi Mirai feel a little ashamed.

But she has already accepted Kuroba Akira. Being able to play games together and have a great time is enough to make them good friends. Moreover, she has now invited him into her room, which is a privilege only good friends can receive.

"So just call me Future, and I'll just call you Ming."

"Okay, I understand, future."

It's quite rare for Japanese people to address someone by their first name without any formal title, especially since they are obsessed with etiquette.

It seems that Takanashi Mirai is a straightforward girl.

Then she asked about something that had been bothering her for a long time.

"Speaking of which, Ming, you're that goddess's follower, aren't you?"

"Goddess?"

Kuroba Akira looked puzzled, not knowing who she was referring to.

"That's the super pretty girl I ate with when I first met you at the family restaurant, she was even Makoto's classmate... It's the goddess named Shion Murasaki!"

She looked excited, and her face even turned a little red at the end of the story.

"oh oh……"

So it turns out they were talking about Ziyin... Judging from her current fangirl-like expression, calling her "Goddess" so exaggeratedly, she's completely captivated by Ziyin's beauty.

As expected, Ziyin's bewitching beauty appeals to both men and women.

Then, in the future, he continued with a sigh.

"I used to think that Angel was the most beautiful woman in the entire entertainment industry, but I never thought there was someone who could compare to her..."

"And who is the angel?"

"You don't even know Angel Lady? She's the hottest and youngest talented actress right now, Tsukimi Ranyi! The big screens on the pedestrian street and the trams are full of her soft drink commercials!"

"Oh! I've never heard of that..."

I vaguely remember seeing it in a TV commercial, but Akira Kuroba has never been the type to watch commercials seriously, so I never paid much attention to it.

In the future, he looked stunned, his mouth agape enough to fit an egg.

"Really? Are you from outer space?"

They came from another world.

Is it really as exaggerated as you say?

"I'll find you that promotional image for that amazing movie that everyone was raving about. Take a look for yourself!"

Takanashi Mirai switched to her desktop, turned on her computer which was in standby mode, and found the movie poster of Lan Yi from Tsukimi.

"oh oh……!"

Upon seeing it, Kuroba Akira was genuinely amazed.

A woman in pure white floated in mid-air, her toes touching the water's surface, like a budding flower, or an angel descended to earth...

If this picture isn't photoshopped, Tsukimi Ayane is indeed a stunning beauty comparable to Murasaki no Miyako Shion.

If we previously mentioned that Shion's looks are at a 120-point level, then Tsukimi Rii is probably at a 115-point level.

The five-point difference isn't due to looks, but rather hairstyle. Tsukimi Rii is a short-haired girl, while Kuroba Akira isn't a fan of short hair.

However, her hair color is a striking silver-white, which is a different kind of stunning compared to Ziyin's jet-black and glossy hair.

No wonder it's called an 'angel'; the 'pure white and clean' feeling of this painting does indeed evoke images of a pure angel.

Even just looking at their faces, Tsukimi Ran might be prettier... mainly because her expressions are more captivating.

Unlike Ziyin, who is as cold as an iceberg when she doesn't smile, her smile in the poster gives people a warm feeling like sunshine.

Then Kuroba Akira began to compare the differences between the two in his mind. Tsukimi Ran was shorter than Shion, but her cup size was larger, almost reaching the level of a large cup. When she wore a pure white fitted dress, it could support a beautiful curve.

Kuroba Akira thought that Shion was an exceptionally beautiful girl of unparalleled beauty, but he didn't expect that there was someone who could rival her in appearance.

Does this mean that women in this world are generally very beautiful?

"But with a goddess as beautiful as her, is she really going to be a voice actress instead of an actress? I'd love to see these two in a movie... that would be so dreamy!"

"She's a voice actress; I'm the one who chose her."