People in Mygo are emotional firefighters.

"Good evening... Sorry to bother you." He composed himself and changed into slippers.

The aroma of food filled the room, and the table was already set with bowls and chopsticks—a vegetable pasta soup with a subtle sweet fragrance, saury roasted to a golden brown with a slightly charred skin, plump and tempting cabbage rolls, and savory chawanmushi (steamed egg custard) as smooth as a mirror…

"..."

Looking at the steaming hot home-cooked dishes on the table in front of him, which far exceeded his expectations, Ishikawa Mayu suddenly fell silent.

When was the last time I could enjoy a decent, hot meal without having to do anything myself?

"What's wrong, Ishikawa-kun? Is the food not to your liking?"

The sensitive and perceptive Nagasaki Motoyo immediately noticed Ishikawa Mayu's similar behavior, which was filled with concern and anxiety.

“It’s nothing,” he said softly, as if it were just a casual murmur, “I’m just… a little homesick.”

Nagasaki Motoyo paused slightly, then suddenly remembered that her mother had mentioned that the upstairs classmate, Ishikawa, had lost his parents a long time ago and had been living alone all these years.

Alone... in this vast city.

She looked at Ishikawa Masahiro, who had readjusted his state and regained his composure. That faint "lonely" aura that always lingered around him seemed to have taken on a more concrete form at this moment.

"Then... eat more." Nagasaki Motoyo picked up his empty bowl, filled it with steaming rice, and gently placed it in front of him, her eyes even carrying a tenderness that was almost pity.

Chapter Twenty-One: Mine Clearance Master

Ishikawa Mayu felt her whole body stiffen.

Wait a minute... isn't this atmosphere a little off?

I just couldn't help but feel a little sentimental as I looked at this long-lost meal, which still carried the scent of home cooking.

It was as if some strange switch had been triggered, instantly transforming Nagasaki Motoyo's originally gentle, proper, and somewhat aloof demeanor into this... almost radiant, maternal care mode.

"I'm starting to eat."

He practically blurted out a sentence, then immediately picked up a large piece of cabbage roll and stuffed it into his mouth, trying to use food to block out the warm atmosphere that made him feel somewhat uncomfortable.

The cabbage leaves are soft and sweet, the filling is perfectly seasoned, and the aroma of meat blends with the juices of the vegetables.

Surprisingly delicious.

He made an objective assessment in his mind, unconsciously slowing down his chewing speed to savor the taste.

Even so, the gentle gaze from across the room, which seemed even more pleased because he appeared to like it, still made him feel uneasy.

I have to say something to pull the topic away from this strange atmosphere of "motherly love and filial piety"!

He swallowed the food in his mouth with difficulty, picked up the soup bowl and took a sip, then spoke casually.

"But speaking of which, why did Su Shi suddenly decide to treat me to dinner today?"

Nagasaki Motoyo paused slightly in her chopsticks, her overly gentle smile fading as she reverted to her usual polite and considerate expression.

“Isn’t it only right to reciprocate?” Her tone was a little unnatural, and her gaze shifted from Ishikawa Mayu to the plate of cabbage rolls. “Yesterday and this morning, weren’t you the one taking care of me and cooking for me? I’m just… returning the favor.”

"It doesn't seem like she's telling the truth," Ishikawa Mayu thought to herself. But at least she got Sue out of that weird motherly state, so she had achieved her goal. It would be impolite to delve any deeper.

So he simply nodded in agreement, as if he had completely accepted the explanation: "I see. Thank you for your hospitality."

Then he picked up his chopsticks again, ready to continue focusing on the food in front of him.

However, a strange silence fell over the other side.

Seeing how easily he accepted this explanation, without even asking another question, and instead focused on eating his meal, the complex emotions that Nagasaki Motoyo had just suppressed surged up again.

A mixture of shame and inexplicable irritation gripped her.

She suddenly felt that the carefully maintained propriety and distance she had been keeping were now incredibly ridiculous and exhausting.

She took a deep breath, as if giving up on something, with a touch of resignation and despair, and called out to him:

"Ishikawa-kun."

Ishikawa Mayu calmly put down her chopsticks and faced death with equanimity.

The topic we just discussed has probably triggered another landmine, this time it's the kind that explodes late.

"Actually... what I said about 'returning the gift' wasn't entirely true."

Nagasaki Motoyo's voice was lower than before, but it carried a faint, undisguised bitterness.

"Mom promised she could come back tonight; she wants to eat cabbage rolls..." Her fingertips unconsciously tightened, gripping her arm.

Although the words weren't finished, Ishikawa Mayu understood. It was most likely that her aunt in Nagasaki had some unavoidable social engagements or flight delays that prevented her from returning.

And I, just when the other person was at their most disappointed and didn't know what to do about their empty expectations, sent that LINE message.

By a twist of fate, she became the diner sitting across from her, sharing a dinner originally prepared for someone else, a dinner tinged with disappointment.

The air fell silent for a moment, with only the faint noise of the city coming from outside the window.

After Nagasaki Motoyo finished speaking, she did not feel relieved at all; instead, a deeper unease enveloped her.

She kept her head down, not daring to look at Ishikawa Mayu's expression.

Since my parents' divorce, a deep sense of insecurity has haunted me—fear that I am not good enough, fear that I will become a burden…fear that I will be “unnecessary.”

So she tried her best to play the role of an obedient daughter who didn't need her mother to worry about, and the gentle, proper, and flawless Nagasaki Motoyo in the eyes of her classmates. She wrapped herself up with layer after layer of disguise to ensure that she was "needed".

But now, she has personally torn away this disguise, revealing the awkward and fragile self inside who is incredibly disappointed when her mother breaks her promise, and who even spitefully invites neighbors over to eat the "extra" food.

This is me...

"...Am I... being childish? Making such a fuss over something so trivial..."

The words stopped, as if the speaker had lost the courage to continue.

She was afraid to hear the other person's answer, afraid to see any surprise or impatience on Ishikawa Mayu's face.

She was afraid that Ishikawa would find her "troublesome" and "unnecessary to continue their relationship," just like Xiangzi had done, easily letting go and leaving her alone with broken promises and endless questions.

"It's normal to feel disappointed when someone important stands you up. It has nothing to do with being childish."

Ishikawa Mayu's voice rang out calmly, without any of the negative emotions she had anticipated; she simply stated a fact in a plain manner.

He even reached over with his chopsticks and added a cabbage roll to her bowl, then carefully placed a slice of saury on top.

This thoughtful gesture, which even bordered on pushing boundaries, strangely soothed her tense nerves.

However, he then subtly changed the subject.

"However, there is one thing I still need to seriously criticize you for."

Nagasaki Motoyo's heartstrings, which had just relaxed a little, tightened up again instantly!

She almost held her breath, her fingertips gripping the chopsticks turning slightly white, awaiting the expected accusations—accusations that she was emotional, not considerate of her mother, or... was it really too much trouble after all?

Ishikawa Mayu seemed oblivious to her nervousness and continued speaking, his tone even more serious than when he had discussed "loss":

"You always live for the needs of others; you endure illness to avoid worrying your mother; you even feel wrong when you're disappointed in order to maintain your so-called 'sensible' behavior..."

He paused, his voice not loud, but it struck her heart clearly.

"—But have you ever seriously considered that there are other people who also need 'Nagasaki Motoyo'?"

These words, like a faint electric current, unexpectedly pierced through Nagasaki Motoyo's layers of armor, precisely touching the deepest desires in her heart.

She suddenly raised her head, her blue eyes widening slightly in shock as she looked incredulously at the calm-faced boy opposite her.

Ishikawa Mayu met her gaze directly, without the slightest hesitation or wavering.

“For example,” he said matter-of-factly, “your mother needs you. Not a perfect daughter who never makes a mistake and never causes her any trouble, but someone who is healthy and happy, someone who can take good care of herself when she’s occasionally absent, someone who can sometimes rely on her, or someone else.”

He paused, his fingers unconsciously rubbing the chopsticks, and his eyes suddenly began to wander again.

Finally, still somewhat hesitant, she pointed to herself, her tone becoming a little stiffer than before, but she still insisted on saying it:

"For example, the meal you made tonight... I... uh, really liked it."

As if he had accomplished some arduous task, he quickened his pace, trying to mask his slight unease:

"It gave me a feeling of 'coming home' that I haven't had in a long time. So, in a way, I guess I need you too... right? If I always don't think about myself, it might hurt those who need me."

How could I possibly understand? Because I don't know Su Shi's interpersonal relationships, I can only use myself as an example.

Nagasaki Motoyo looked at the guy in front of her. One second he was like an all-knowing philosopher, calm and reliable; the next second he turned into an awkward guy who wanted to dig a hole and crawl into a hole because he said something slightly more honest.

This stark contrast, coupled with his clearly uncomfortable yet forced composure, caused the heavy emotions that Nagasaki Motoyo had been suppressing in his chest to deflate with a soft "poof," as if gently pricked by a fine needle.

An inexplicable urge to laugh eased the stinging sensation in my nose.

She slowly loosened her grip on her arm, picked up her chopsticks, took the saury he had placed in her bowl, and took a small bite.

The fish has a slightly crispy outer skin, while the inside remains juicy and tender. The salty and savory flavor of the grilling perfectly complements the unique taste of the saury.

The taste seems... to be back.

Chapter Twenty-Two: Inviting Guests

That dinner was like a silent turning point.

Since then, the relationship between Ishikawa Mayu and Nagasaki Motoyo seems to have quietly grown a little closer.

This "closer" relationship didn't involve constant chatter; rather, it was an unspoken understanding—at mealtimes, the two would invariably think of each other's kitchens. The Nagasaki family's kitchen, which was never frequently used, experienced unprecedented popularity during this Golden Week holiday.

As for the anniversary video, it was finally uploaded and released just before the end of the Golden Week holiday.

Although there are already ideas for seeking breakthroughs, there is definitely no time to make major changes to the anniversary video.

Besides, this transformation is still in the initial planning stage, and there's not much to it yet. Revealing anything in advance would easily dampen the fans' enthusiasm.

On the afternoon of the last day, an unusually lively atmosphere filled the Nagasaki family apartment.

Ms. Nagasaki has finally returned, weary from her journey.

"I'm back, Su Shi!"

"Welcome back, Mom." Su Shi took her mother's suitcase, a faint but genuine smile on her face.

As Ms. Nagasaki changed her shoes, her gaze subtly and quickly swept over the living room and her daughter.

After a few days apart, Su Shi's complexion had improved significantly; her sickly appearance had faded, and her cheeks had regained their rosy hue.

But Ms. Nagasaki's keen intuition caught a more subtle change—the faint, tense loneliness around her daughter seemed to have faded a little, and her eyes were calmer and more composed than before. There was less of a deliberate effort to maintain perfection, and more of an indescribable sense of relaxation.

Even the home has a more lively and welcoming atmosphere.

Hmph, entrusting this child to Ishikawa Mayu was indeed a good choice!

The woman smiled slightly, giving herself a thumbs-up for her cleverness.

The mother and daughter exchanged pleasantries for a while, chatting about their travel experiences and everyday life.

After a while, Ms. Nagasaki seemed to suddenly remember something and said with a smile, "This time, we really owe a lot to Makoto. I'll go upstairs to thank him now and treat him to a nice meal out! Suze, you can rest at home, I'll be back soon."

As she spoke, she picked up her handbag and prepared to leave.

As was her usual practice, Su Shi would not usually participate in the interactions between her and Ishikawa Mayu, which were at the level of "elder and neighbor," and would only obediently nod and say "okay, Mom."

However, this time—

"Mm," Su Shi replied softly, but as Aunt Nagasaki turned to leave, she naturally took a step back and added calmly, "I'll go too."

Aunt Nagasaki stopped in her tracks, turned around in surprise, and looked at her daughter.

Su Shi avoided her mother's gaze and awkwardly combed her hair.

"I have received a lot of help from Ishikawa-kun these past few days, and it is only right and proper that I should personally go and thank him."

This reason is reasonable and impeccable.

However, Ms. Nagasaki still keenly noticed the rare determination and initiative in her daughter's eyes.

Her smile widened, a knowing look on her face: "Alright, let's go up together then. I wonder what kind of expression that child will have when he sees us, mother and daughter, coming together?"

She could hardly wait to see Ishikawa Mayu's surprised expression.

A few minutes later, the doorbell of Ishikawa Mayu's apartment on the 46th floor rang...

Ishikawa Mayu was playing Arknights when she heard the doorbell and instinctively glanced at the time.

Is Su Shi hungry again at this hour?

He shuffled over in his slippers, looking somewhat helpless, and said casually as he opened the door.