Is this okay?

Takatsuki Sen was eventually invited by Leng Mo and the others, and now everyone is sitting together in a coffee shop.

For some reason, perhaps because of the previous battle, Takatsuki Sen felt that Leng Mo and the others were filled with a strange sense of oppression.

In a corner of the coffee shop, six people sat around a table.

Now we can finally sit down and have a proper talk about what really happened. The previous situation was too outrageous, too subtle, and even a bit inexplicably exciting. The plot was practically a classic scene from a typical shonen manga.

Although the ending was a little off.

But it doesn't matter!

Let bygones be bygones; what's next is what matters.

"Ahem, so can you tell me why you've come to see me?"

Takatsuki Izumi took a sip of coffee, her gaze sweeping erratically over Leng Mo and the others in front of her.

The coffee cup held in both hands exudes a rich aroma, and its heat is transferred through the cup to the palms, warming up the slightly cool hands.

However, her heart wasn't so warm; at least, looking at the people in front of her didn't make her feel warm.

Because what happened before was so outrageous, she has forgotten to complain about why several grown men have the ability to transform into magical girls, and even fight each other without any sense of incongruity after transforming.

I don't know if something's wrong with me, or if I'm too far removed from the big picture and have overlooked this not-so-outrageous issue.

God's miracles and magic!

God damn magical girl!

This skirt is amazing... It's really pretty. I wonder if I can find the same one to try on.

For a moment, Takatsuki Izumi's thoughts were a bit chaotic, but the next second she shook off her thoughts, took a deep breath to fill her nostrils with the aroma of coffee in front of her, and shifted her attention.

At this moment, Leng Mo took a deep breath, put his elbow on the table, and looked at Takatsuki Sen with a serious expression, as if what had happened before had nothing to do with him.

"It's very simple. We've come to you for only one purpose: to recruit you into our ranks. This includes your subordinates, Aogiri Tree and Yoshimura Eto."

"As expected, you knew who I was..." Takatsuki Sen's expression turned serious.

"I even know you were born, is there a problem with that?"

Leng Mo spoke to Takatsuki Sen without any politeness, his tone conveying an attitude of "If you're so capable, then make your move."

As long as I keep provoking you and stepping on your landmines, I'll have a reason to take action!

Aha! Takatsuki Sen, you have already fallen into my invincible trap!

"You really have no manners, investigating a girl's privacy." Takatsuki Sen frowned, but made no move.

Why aren't you doing anything?

Looks like my stimulation wasn't enough!

Since that's the case, let's reveal our final trump card!

Leng Mo's eyes flashed with a sharp light, as if he had already secured victory, as arrogant and domineering as someone holding the royal flush in a game of Dou Dizhu.

"I know everything about you. You have no other choice. I know everything your father, Yoshimura Kōzen, has done, and I even know your thoughts about him. You can't escape my grasp!"

As he spoke, Leng Mo even seemed happy, as if he intended to use this attitude to make Takatsuki Sen rebel.

Upon hearing this, Takatsuki Sen, sitting opposite, silently turned towards her coffee, her head bowed so her expression couldn't be seen.

"Looks like I'm completely at their mercy?"

“That’s right, you can’t escape now. Even if we calculate that you’ve escaped, we have a way to pinpoint your location, just like before when we could find you anywhere on the street.”

"Fine, I give up. Now tell me what you want us to do."

"????"

No, aren't you going to put up a fight?

Even a token gesture will do!

Leng Mo was suddenly baffled by Takatsuki Sen's cooperation; this was illogical.

Are you playing me?

When Takatsuki Sen saw Leng Mo's bewildered expression, she looked at him with a puzzled expression and asked curiously:

"What's wrong? Why aren't you happy that I've given up?"

"without……"

Leng Mo looked at Takatsuki Sen with a dark face, not knowing what to say. This was not what she had expected. Why didn't she resist when she was being oppressed like this?

Where is your untamed will?

Where is your inner will to resist?

Why did you give up so easily?

Meanwhile, Takatsuki Sen on the other side thought for a moment, then noticed something and her eyes lit up.

He looked at Leng Mo with a funny expression and spoke.

"You weren't trying to incite me to resist from the very beginning, were you, just to beat me up?"

"No...you're overthinking it." Leng Mo felt a cold sweat break out when his thoughts were guessed, and his eyes darted away.

"Pfft! You really can't lie, you saw right through me."

Seeing Leng Mo's reaction, Takatsuki Izumi couldn't help but laugh. She had never seen such a simple person before, so flustered when her thoughts were seen through.

She laughed, feeling much more relaxed. She realized that Leng Mo's personality wouldn't pose any real threat to her; in Leng Mo's eyes, bad things were probably just pranks.

He leaned back in his chair, relaxed, and said earnestly with a smile:

“I’m at my wit’s end. If I were to give up now, I’d have to abandon my current life, which I can’t bear to do. So I can join you, but you need us to provide the necessary supplies. For example—the modification fluid that allows ghouls to eat human food. I know you have it; Antiques was your pilot site, wasn’t it?”

"..."

For a moment, Leng Mo didn't want to speak; he felt an endless sense of defeat.

why?

Even though everything is moving in a favorable direction, why am I filled with a sense of frustration that I can't accept?

hateful!

I clearly had a huge advantage! But I made a mistake on the details!

Why can't I just beat you up and achieve what others can't?

Think about it carefully! As a transmigrator who has come to the world of anime, how can I let go of all the girls I once admired?

However, I, strange·cold, am not the kind of person who is promiscuous, nor am I the kind of person who would pass up a virtual wife just because I see one.

At the very least... I want to leave my former virtual wife with a memory she can never forget.

I'm going to show my spirit and my style!

After thinking it over, I realized that beating him up was the best way to satisfy my desires.

It can leave your virtual wife with unforgettable memories for a lifetime, and also leave traces of your presence!

It was supposed to be a perfect thing, so why did it end up feeling so wrong?

Give me a reason! A reason to take action!

I'd feel a little bad if I didn't give any reason!

That previous situation was an exception! It was just that someone was pushed to the limit and decided to do whatever they wanted!

I, strange·cold, sincerely believe that I am a law-abiding and good person!

I would never do anything so terrible. My flexible moral bottom line and fluctuating conscience further prevent me from doing such a thing.

"Fine, think what you want. I can grant your request. Now, let's go to the antique shop."

Leng Mo's eyes flashed with a sharp light, not letting any opportunity slip by. As long as she dared to say no, it would be his chance!

“Okay, I agree.” Takatsuki Izumi answered without hesitation, a bright smile spreading across her face, as if she had already seen through everything.

"..."

I lost.

Leng Mo never expected that this guy, who refused to meet Yoshimura Kozen even on his deathbed, would agree to meet Yoshimura Kozen at this moment.

I was a little exasperated for a moment...

It's a gate type, definitely.

Chapter Sixty-Eight: Out of money, what to do!

After everything was settled, Leng Mo and the others led Takatsuki Sen toward the antiques.

Leng Mo's feelings were somewhat complicated. Although there were no difficulties, he felt that things were too simple and he was not happy at all.

It's like saving the best part for last, then accidentally cutting off your hand and *snap*! The joy is gone.

Seeing Leng Mo's dejected expression, Takatsuki Sen, who was standing beside him, smiled slightly. She could tell that Leng Mo and his ilk were still easy to get along with, at least they wore their emotions on their sleeves, even though something was off about them in some ways.

But it doesn't matter!

They are much better than complete villains.

When the group arrived at the antique gate, Takatsuki Sen stopped in his tracks.

She looked up at the antique gate, a hint of hesitation, a tremor, and trepidation in her eyes.

Through the glass door, one could see the general interior of the antique. Yoshimura Kozen was focused on wiping the coffee cup he had just washed. He didn't move, even when he noticed Takatsuki Sen's arrival.

Yoshimura Kōzen had long suspected that his daughter was Takatsuki Izumi, but he had never dared to confirm it or face the truth.

He had already figured it out several years ago.

That was when Takatsuki Sen debuted, when her first book was published. She took her book to see Yoshimura Kozen and wanted to tell him that she had published a book.

But... after arriving at the antique shop that night with the book, he refused to go inside.

Finally, remembering that Yoshimura Kōzen had killed his mother, he angrily crushed the book in his hand and stormed off.

After Takatsuki Sen left, Yoshimura Kōzen saw the book that she had angrily thrown on the ground as he closed the door.

He sensed something the moment he picked up the book, because the scent was very familiar.

From then on, the bookshelves of the antique coffee shop were always filled with many of Takatsuki Sen's new books.

Now, standing at the entrance of the antique shop, Takatsuki Sen's eyes flickered with too many emotions to discern, like rain, like wind, like a long-awaited reunion, and even more like meeting an enemy.

Too many tragedies were turned upside down at this moment, and there wasn't even a hand to gently push her from behind.

"Let's go. Don't stand there in a daze. Don't let yourself regret it."

Snapped!

Suddenly, a cold, unfamiliar voice came from the side, and at the same time, a hand shoved Takatsuki Sen from behind.

The force was light, yet it made Takatsuki Izumi stagger slightly. She stared wide-eyed at Leng Mo, who was passing by her and pushing open the door to enter.

All my thoughts were interrupted by this slap, as if it were a hand that lifted the storm clouds and brought the bright sunshine to everyone.

However, Leng Mo didn't care about Takatsuki Izumi's thoughts and feelings, gently pushed open the shop door, and walked in without any politeness.

When Dong Xiang saw Leng Mo and the others return, she smiled and asked them kindly what they would like to drink.

At this moment, Yoshimura Kōzen walked towards the door with a kind smile. There was no need to be weak anymore; the Takatsuki Sen that Leng Mo brought back had already explained everything.

This girl is his daughter.

Standing straight in front of the transparent glass door, she reached out and pulled it open, giving Takatsuki Sen a gentle smile.

At that moment, he knew she knew what he knew.

At that moment, she knew he knew what she knew.

As the breeze blew, his somewhat aged face always carried a look of kindness and gentleness.

"Aite, I'm sorry... I failed to protect your mother."

"I know."

"sorry."

"I know!"