Tokyo: Becoming the Perfect Male God Starting with a Rented Boyfriend.

Points shouldn't be wasted. They should be used wisely at the right time.

Seeing the two of them enter the kitchen, Yuko Tsukimi volunteered, "I want to help too!"

"No." Tsukimi Sakura's smile remained gentle, but her calm voice carried a hint of undeniable pressure.

"There's no room for so many people in the kitchen. Besides, as a silly mom who can make a mess even when heating up a bento box, I don't feel comfortable letting you into the kitchen at all."

"How could you say that to Mom?" Yuko Tsukimi said, her eyes brimming with tears, deeply hurt. She couldn't find any reason to argue with her daughter.

Miyazawa Itsuki watched this scene with a wry smile; the order of seniority in the Tsukimi family seemed to have been completely reversed.

Is it because she has a mature daughter that the mother acts like a little girl?

Hmm... what would it be like if the Miyazawa couple were still alive?

Miyazawa remained silent, no longer thinking about such matters. He picked up the ingredients in his hand, washed them, and shredded them.

Boom, boom, boom.

The rhythmic sounds echoed in the kitchen. Tsukimi Sakura stopped what she was doing and glanced at Miyazawa Itsuki out of the corner of her eye.

His profile, framed by black-rimmed glasses, wasn't particularly striking, but it exuded an air of earnestness—the kind of quality only a truly focused person could possess.

The vegetables on the cutting board were also cut very beautifully, with uniform size and thickness. The knife work was swift and professional, just like that of a head chef in a high-end restaurant.

Tsukimi Sakura was somewhat surprised.

Such amazing knife skills.

Chapter 18: Impressions of the Saintess's Past

"Does Miyazawa-san cook often?"

Tsukimi Sakuna's voice came from beside her.

Miyazawa pushed the chopped radish to the edge of the cutting board and stopped chopping.

"If we're just talking about the number of times I've been in the kitchen, it's probably quite a lot," he answered honestly. "But that's a completely different matter from cooking. Right now, the only thing I can be proud of is chopping vegetables."

"That's still quite impressive. At least, I don't have Miyazawa-kun's knife skills."

Tsukimi Sakura's gaze lingered on his hand holding the sword, her tone tinged with envy.

It's clear that she really loves cooking.

Otherwise, they wouldn't be interested in other people's knife skills.

"It's nothing really. Knife skills are something you get used to with practice." Miyazawa Itsuki smiled. "But Tsukimi's cooking skills are something I can't learn no matter how many times I try. That's what's truly amazing."

Miyazawa Itsuki has a clear understanding.

Tsukimi Sakuna honed her skills through hard work, while he only mastered the skill through a shortcut. The two are not comparable.

Miyazawa Itsuki sincerely admires those who master superb skills through their own efforts.

In his previous life, he had come into contact with some master-level figures in various fields.

Their skills are unparalleled and beyond compare.

Without the aid of a systematic approach, he still managed to reach that level of skill. This left Miyazawa Itsuki in awe.

Those who reach the level of masters, besides having talent, never slacken in their efforts.

Of course, to reach a higher realm, a realm that humans have never set foot in before, hard work and talent alone are not enough.

It also requires luck.

The panel defines the maximum level LV5 (Legendary) as: a realm that has never been seen before and will never be seen again.

The limit that humans can achieve is only the peak of the master level, and only in a few special fields can people reach this level.

The highest legendary realm, as described on the panel, has never been reached by a human.

The description seemed a bit exaggerated, but considering the panel wouldn't joke about such things, Miyazawa Itsuki believed it. And he looked forward to it.

Although the conditions on its own panel are strange, and from another perspective it is completely a freeloader system, it is not stingy when it comes to giving rewards.

It's all-encompassing, covering a wide range of topics. It even includes superpowers.

Given time, I might actually become the perfect, all-around rental boyfriend.

No, after going to that point, wouldn't it be too strange to still be a rented boyfriend?

Miyazawa Itsuki was thinking about these distant things while chopping up the remaining ingredients.

"Tsukimi-kun, is this alright?"

“Yes, it’s cut very beautifully,” Tsukimi Sakuna smiled. “Thank you, Miyazawa-san. I’ll take care of the rest. Please wait outside for a moment.”

"Then I'll be looking forward to Tsukimi-san's cooking skills."

As Miyazawa Itsuki said this, he walked out of the kitchen.

In the living room, Yuko Tsukimi was busy cleaning.

Because it was a new house, the room was a bit messy at first, but thanks to Yuko Tsukimi's tidying up, it quickly became clean and tidy.

Upon seeing Miyazawa Itsuki emerge, Tsukimi Yuko's eyes lit up, and she warmly greeted him, "Miyazawa-kun, come sit down here. Don't be shy, make yourself at home."

She brought over a cup of warm barley tea.

Miyazawa thanked him for the tea and took his seat at the dining table.

Yuko Tsukimi tidied her hair at her temples and sat down in front of Itsuki Miyazawa.

“Um…” Yuko Tsukimi’s eyes sparkled as she looked at Itsuki Miyazawa, as if she was preparing to start a conversation.

"Miyazawa-kun said before that you and Sakura were students at the same high school, right?"

“That’s right, we’re in different classes. Although we haven’t had any contact in the past, I know some things about Sakuna-san on my own,” Miyazawa Itsuki said. “Because Tsukimi-san is very famous at school.”

"Wow, that child gets so much attention at school."

"Yes."

“Sakuna never talks to me about school.” Yuko Tsukimi said with a hint of helplessness. “She only tells me when things have to be told to her.”

Miyazawa Itsuki's eyes flickered slightly.

Does the "being forced to seek help from one's mother" refer to the "stalking" incident?

All he knew was that Tsukimi Sakuna had almost been followed to her residence, but fortunately, her friends discovered it in time, preventing further incidents.

"Miyazawa-kun, what is Sakuna like at school?"

Yuko Tsukimi asked him with great interest.

"I'm sorry, Madam, I wasn't familiar with Tsukimi before, so even if you ask me, it would be difficult for me to give you accurate information," Miyazawa Itsuki said with a wry smile.

“It’s alright, just tell me what you know. I really care about how my daughter is doing at school. From Miyazawa’s perspective, what kind of child is she?”

"I see..."

Miyazawa Itsuki thought for a moment: "If I had to describe my impression of her... I'd say she's very cute, studies very well, and is said to excel in home economics as well, like a perfect top student."

"Oh? Miyazawa-kun also thinks Sakuna is cute?" Tsukimi Yuko asked with interest.

“I can’t deny that,” Miyazawa Itsuki said.

Why does praising a daughter's appearance in front of her mother suddenly create a strangely ambiguous atmosphere?

However, Miyazawa Itsuki did not say anything flattering about this.

Tsukimi Sakuna's beauty is universally acknowledged.

She has beautiful features and a well-proportioned figure. Although her breasts aren't as large as Naomi Asahina's, they are just right. She has a graceful and elegant beauty.

"Since Miyazawa-kun also thinks Sakura is cute, have you ever thought about pursuing her?" Tsukimi Yuko said with a smile. "If it's Miyazawa-kun, I won't object. Because from the beginning, I've thought Miyazawa-kun is a reliable boy."

Miyazawa Itsuki was glad he hadn't drunk his barley tea when he heard that, or he would have definitely choked.

"...You misunderstood. My appreciation for Tsukimi's charm is just normal; I didn't mean anything by it."

"Oh dear, for young people, 'no' means 'yes.' In my generation and her father's generation, if we admired something, we would act on it."

“Even if that was the way things were back then, times have changed.” Miyazawa Itsuki sighed.

"I hope you understand that I have no intention of being in a relationship right now, and I think Tsukimi feels the same way. There are plenty of guys at school who are more outstanding than me who have pursued her, but she has been rejected by them all. I think a student's responsibility should be to focus on their studies."

“…Perhaps that is indeed the case,” Yuko Tsukimi chuckled foolishly.

Miyazawa Itsuki had a headache.

"I don't quite understand why you're saying these things to me. Don't most parents not easily entrust their daughters to a boy they've just met?"

Yuko Tsukimi waved her hands repeatedly: "Oh dear, Miyazawa-kun, you've misunderstood. I wasn't that serious. I just thought that if Sakura had a reliable boyfriend, at least she would have someone to rely on when I'm not around. That way, some things can be prevented from happening in the first place."

Chapter 19 Tsukimi Sakura's Meal

At this point, Yuko Tsukimi sighed softly.

"Actually, I know that Sakura's appearance is very eye-catching, and we are not a prominent family, so we can't provide her with proper protection."

“I once asked a girl to look after her, and that girl really did a great job. Sakura has been able to live a peaceful life until now thanks to her.”

"But in the end, that child is just a weak girl. There are some things she is powerless to do, and there are even risks to her own life. I am often very uneasy..."

"..."

Yuko Tsukimi paused, then laughed twice: "I'm sorry, Miyazawa-kun, I said something meaningless."

"No, it won't." Miyazawa Itsuki shook his head.

Yuko Tsukimi deeply loves her daughter and is also a kind person; she wouldn't think these words are meaningless. That's what family love is all about.

"Actually, I have a request that I cannot make." Yuko Tsukimi sighed, bowed deeply, and sat up straight to greet him.

"Even if you two aren't in a romantic relationship, I hope that Miyazawa-kun could... take a little care of Sakura at school, and help her out as her inadequate mother when she encounters difficulties she can't handle. I know this request is..."

"can."

"What?" Yuko Tsukimi was stunned.

"It's just a little help, right?" Miyazawa Itsuki said. "It's normal for neighbors to help each other, and I'll also ask Tsukimi to take care of me."

"...Miyazawa-kun, you really are..."

Tears welled up in Yuko Tsukimi's eyes; she was truly a woman prone to tears.

"You don't need to be so polite. In my hometown, neighbors support each other. Humans are social animals after all, and no one can live without the help of others."

He was just looking after the neighbor's child; he had done similar things before.

"Thank you, Miyazawa-kun, I really don't know how to thank you enough." Tsukimi Yuko was deeply moved.

Miyazawa Itsuki gave a helpless smile. At the same time, the kitchen partition door opened, and Tsukimi Sakuna, wearing rubber gloves, brought the stew to the table.

"Dinner is ready."

Looking at Yuko Tsukimi's moved expression, she sighed:

"I'm sorry, Miyazawa-kun. If my mother said anything strange to you just now, please don't mind it. That's just the kind of person she is."

"No, I find chatting with Mrs. Tsukimi very interesting."

Tsukimi Sakuna's gaze lingered on Miyazawa Itsuki's face for a moment, then turned to her mother, who was grinning foolishly, her tone somewhat weary:

"I'm glad you think that way. Anyway, don't take what your mother says too seriously. Just talk to me about anything."

Tsukimi Sakuna gently placed the cutlery in front of Miyazawa Itsuki.

Tsukimi Sakuna's dish consisted of a stew made with radish, potatoes, and chicken, along with miso soup, omelet rice, and a small dish of pickles. It was a very typical Japanese dinner.

With its bright colors and rich aroma, it's hard not to make your mouth water.

The omelet rice is perfectly shaped; it could easily be used as a promotional image for a family restaurant.

"Wow, that's amazing!" Miyazawa Itsuki said sincerely. "It looks absolutely delicious."

Tsukimi Sakuna smiled sheepishly: "It's just a simple meal, nothing special, but I hope it suits Miyazawa-kun's taste."

……

"I'm starting." *3