Tokyo: I took in a homeless girl

"We already had extra rooms left, so you can fit in. Clothes are no problem either. We're planning to go shopping in Ginza tomorrow afternoon, so why don't you come with us?"

"I," Shiori Mine pursed her lips, somewhat hesitant for some reason.

Maki Miyazawa was much easier to talk to than she had imagined, which was quite unexpected.

Recalling what Mana Miyazawa had said to her in the RV earlier that day, Shiori Mine took a deep breath, as if she had made up her mind.

"I understand. I'll stay here until I go to Osaka."

"I might as well stay at home instead of just staying in Osaka."

Seeing that she was taking the bait, Miyazawa Maki pressed her advantage, saying, "Isn't Haruno going to write a second novel? By the way, you're one of his editors, right? Wouldn't it be more convenient for you to communicate about work if you lived together?"

"That's true."

Shiori Mine would find it hard to disagree with what Maki Miyazawa said.

After all, she had promised Sawayama Haruno that she would help revise the content of the second book.

It would indeed be much more convenient if the two lived under the same roof, since Shinjuku is quite a distance from Minato Ward, and it would be even more impossible for Haruno Sawayama to go to Bunkyo Ward all the time, which would cause considerable trouble for his creative work.

If I move into the port area, I can take care of both Haruno and the company at the same time, and sometimes I can even help Haruno with things that are inconvenient for him to do in person.

Of course, the most important thing was that Miyazawa Maki had been constantly persuading her since earlier, which made Mine Shiori feel a little embarrassed.

After all, Miyazawa Maki was already married to Sawayama Haruno, and yet she was so generous as to want her to move in. It felt like a dream, and Mine Shiori couldn't refuse her request at all. She could only agree half-heartedly.

The poor, petite girl was unaware that she had fallen into a trap carefully set by Maki Miyazawa. Although Maki Miyazawa wasn't exactly clever, she was incredibly adept at ensnaring people.

Suguha Ezaki had already guessed what she was thinking, but it wasn't appropriate to say it directly while sitting to the side. She could only hope that her master was more capable of accepting things.

On another car.

"Ah-"

"Ah, Ah-"

Sawayama Haruno suddenly sneezed three times in a row. After taking the tissue that Mana handed him and blowing his nose hard, he looked somewhat bewildered.

"Strange, is someone talking about me behind my back?"

"You've caught a cold, you idiot, haven't you?"

Ayano Yui was reading a brother-sister themed manga on her phone when she came across a scene where the female lead berated the male lead as an idiot older brother, and she immediately applied it to the current situation.

After putting down her phone, she asked curiously, "Normally, you wouldn't sneeze three times in a row if someone was calling your name."

"Maybe there are three people?" Haruno glanced at her and said casually, "Aren't Maki and the other two in the other car?"

"There shouldn't be such a coincidence."

Mana Miyazawa looked at her boyfriend with some concern: "Could it be that you caught a cold from taking photos for too long this afternoon and getting chilled by the wind?"

During the afternoon photo shoot, the girls had to keep touching up their makeup and changing clothes. Except for the girl whose turn it was to go for the photo shoot, the others basically stayed in the warm RV.

However, the male lead, Haruno Sawayama, stood outside the entire time except for the time he was changing clothes. Some of his clothes were summer clothes, and standing for so long in such cold weather would easily make him catch a cold.

"My body isn't that weak."

Sawayama Haruno waved his hand dismissively and said, "My parents are probably just nagging me. After all, I'm going back to Osaka in a couple of days to prepare for the New Year."

"To be honest, the rooms at home are not enough for the six of us to sleep in. My mother has suggested that we rent a guesthouse outside and move in together. Besides, the filming location is near Universal Studios, which is still a bit far from Quannan City."

“I’m fine with it.” Ayano Yui pouted and complained softly, “But my parents keep insisting that I go back for dinner. Even if it’s not New Year’s Eve, I have to go back at least the next day. It’s a little troublesome.”

"Isn't that normal? You'll be going to university next year, so they'll definitely make you go back and show up during the New Year's Eve celebrations this year," said Sawayama Haruno with a helpless expression.

Not only did Ayano Yui's parents say this to her, but even Sawayama Haruno's parents emphasized to him that they absolutely had to bring Ayano Yui back.

Other girls can choose not to appear in front of their relatives, but Ayano Yui cannot, because she plays a very important role in this New Year's Eve family gathering, and all the relatives must offer her their blessings.

It was supposed to be a blessing, but it was really just casual conversation. Ayano Yui definitely won't escape this ordeal.

Sawayama Haruno had already planned to bring Miyazawa Maki and Ayano Yui back with him. As for the others, they would stay at the guesthouse for one night and then he would bring the two girls back to join the main group the next morning.

Although this plan went against his principle of treating everyone equally, given the special circumstances, it was the only way to go. The other girls were quite understanding of Sawayama Haruno's approach.

"It would be better for Xiaowei to go back. It's a rare New Year's Eve, and it's also an important time for her to go to university."

Mana Miyazawa chuckled beside her, "I also had a meal with other relatives on New Year's Eve before I took the college entrance exam."

"The situation is different!"

Ayano Yui's eyes widened as she protested, "Mana-nee applied to the University of Tokyo! If I got into the University of Tokyo, I'd definitely eat with my relatives every day!"

"She wasn't admitted through a special program; she probably wouldn't have been accepted to the University of Tokyo for ages." Haruno Sawayama was somewhat speechless.

He and Mana Miyazawa both entered the University of Tokyo through the regular entrance exams, while Yui Ayano and Suguha Ezaki's situations were different.

The former was favored by a senior professor at the university because of his amazing artistic talent, and was thus admitted to the university without taking the entrance exam.

The latter was admitted to the university as a special talent due to the honors he had won in kendo competitions over the years.

Strictly speaking, the school exam had nothing to do with the two of them, and they already knew the results before the new year, which is why some relatives wanted to take advantage of the New Year's Eve to come and get together.

"Tch, no matter how you look at it, I find it all very troublesome."

Ayano Yui snorted twice and said, "But since my idiot brother is willing to go back with me, then let's go back. With you, such a talented person, around, the attention of the elders at home should be diverted quite a bit."

Chapter 387 Maki Makes a Painful Removal!

It was already past ten o'clock when they got home. As soon as they entered, the women went straight to the sofa. Miyazawa Maki sighed and picked up the salmon balls, complaining about how tired she was from her day.

She had so many expectations for the kitten. Sawayama Haruno thought to herself, "The other person can't understand what you're muttering at all. It seems like Saury Ball has been trying to pounce on me since just now."

He hadn't petted salmon balls for several days, and after a tiring "workday" today, seeing the cute kitten suddenly gave him the urge to go and cuddle it. No wonder so many office workers like to pet kittens whenever they have a spare moment; it's truly therapeutic.

"You can also choose to touch something else."

Mana Miyazawa, who entered the room a step later, seemed to have figured out what Haruno Sawayama was thinking and blurted out this sentence out of the blue. However, with so many people watching, Haruno Sawayama couldn't touch her even if she wanted to.

"Forget it." He shook his head and sighed. "I still need to pack up the clothes I brought back. I don't know if the walk-in closet will be able to hold so many."

The girls brought back a total of twenty pieces of clothing, which was the total number of items they selected in one go. Although it doesn't sound like a lot, wedding dresses are best kept separate, otherwise they can easily be damaged if piled up with other clothes.

Sawayama Haruno still had to clean up after everyone, and just thinking about it gave her a headache. Fortunately, Miyazawa Mana quietly offered to help.

And so, the two put aside all other things at home for the time being and decided to put away all the clothes, including the wedding dress. As for Ayano Yui, she was the first to run to the bathroom to take a relaxing bath.

Meanwhile, Suguha Ezaki was pulled back by Maki Miyazawa, and she was about to face Maki Miyazawa's "bad idea".

On the sofa, Shiori Mine had just sat down and hadn't rested for long when Maki Miyazawa, who was holding salmon balls, suddenly said, "It's getting late now."

"Ok?"

She glanced at the other person with a somewhat blank expression, as if she didn't understand Miyazawa Maki's intentions.

Suguha Ezaki, standing nearby, immediately understood what Maki Miyazawa meant. In the past, when Miyazawa said something like that, it usually meant that she and Haruno were going to take a bath, and after the bath, they would have to do some embarrassing things.

However, the current situation doesn't seem to allow it. Besides, Haruno and the others have only just returned, so why are they in such a hurry to talk about this?

Unable to understand what Miyazawa Maki meant, Ezaki Suguha hesitated.

But the other party clearly wouldn't give her much time to think. After finalizing the plan in the car, Miyazawa Maki said without hesitation, "I mean, the accommodation arrangements for tonight!"

"Thinking about it carefully, although there is an extra room in the house, the bedding and other things haven't been made yet, right?" Miyazawa Maki added.

"Don't worry about that, the bedding has been washed and we can put it on anytime," Suguha Ezaki couldn't help but say.

These items were cleaned and dried before they were bought, in order to prevent Shiori Mine from suddenly moving in one of the future. Suguha Ezaki had made preparations well in advance, even preparing brand new toothbrushes, tooth cups, and slippers.

Since everyone went to buy it together, she didn't believe that Miyazawa Maki wouldn't know. Sure enough, did the other party want to drag her and her master along tonight?

After thinking it over, Suguha Ezaki decided that she couldn't let Maki Miyazawa get away with it so easily.

After all, she knew Mine Shiori's personality all too well. If things really developed that way, she would be so embarrassed that she would want to disappear into a crack in the ground. She might even run home before dawn the next day, let alone continue to stay here.

Everything should be done step by step. The fact that her master has been able to stay here for three days is already a good start. If things are rushed, it may scare her away and damage the slow-burning relationship between her and Sawayama Haruno.

"Put it on"

Maki Miyazawa frowned immediately.

She didn't think as much as Suguha Ezaki did; she simply wanted to expedite her plan to prevent Riho Morikawa from having any opportunity to take advantage of it.

So the silly girl started thinking about how to effectively refute Esaki Suguha's words. As her thoughts wandered, she caught a glimpse of Salmon Ball lying lazily on the sofa, and a brilliant excuse instantly popped into her head.

"Oh, you mean that new set of bedding?"

Miyazawa Maki cleared her throat and said innocently, "I remember now, the salmon balls seemed to have crawled inside to sleep before. I don't know if there's any cat hair in there. I think it would be better to wash it again."

"Meow meow meow??"

Salmon Ball, who was lazily enjoying the soft sofa, suddenly widened his eyes after hearing what his number one female cat owner said.

It won't take the blame for this!!!

Although he often wandered around, it was because Sawayama Haruno always smelled like a cat in heat when she was with other women, forcing him, with his sensitive nose, to hide everywhere.

But no matter what, it never went to "throw itself around" in the new mattress. It was clearly a brand new mattress that smelled of clean lavender!

"Really?"

Suguha swallowed back what she was about to say. For a moment, she almost looked at the innocent kitten on the sofa with suspicion, but then she thought about her best friend's thoughts.

I have a feeling it's fake without even being told.

"It's just cat hair, it doesn't matter, the salmon balls are clean anyway."

Seeing this, Shiori Mine quickly said, "Let's use that one."

“No, no, you’re a guest.” Miyazawa Maki didn’t give her a chance to refuse, and shook her head before saying, “How about this, you can stay in the same room with Suguha tonight, since you’re teacher and student anyway.”

"Besides, the beds in each of our bedrooms are quite large, more than enough for two people. Or is it that you, Shiori, are not satisfied with sleeping together?"

Maki Miyazawa's words left Shiori Mine no room for refusal. Things had developed to this point, and she was frozen in place, unsure of what to say.

Seeing that Miyazawa Maki was determined to carry out her plan, Ezaki Suguha sighed imperceptibly, then said softly, "If that's the case, then there's nothing we can do."

She paused, her gaze gradually shifting to Mine Shiori's face, and asked with a hint of inquiry, "Master, is it alright?"

"Sure, as long as it won't cause you too much trouble."

Shiori Mine's tone was full of confusion. From the beginning, she felt that Maki Miyazawa's attitude towards her was a little strange, but she couldn't put her finger on it. She could only attribute it to her way of welcoming a girl who had just joined the family.

Is that so?

What are you talking about?

The three women pondered for a long time, and even Ayano Yui, who had gone to take a shower the first, came out after they had just finished talking.

Upon seeing Miyazawa Maki's slightly eerie smile, Ayano Yui immediately became puzzled.

What do you miss when you take a shower by yourself?

"No, I was just talking about where the master will stay tonight."

Just as Suguha Ezaki was about to explain things to Yui Ayano, Maki Miyazawa interrupted her first.

"and many more!"

She jumped up from the sofa, grabbed Ayano Yui who had just finished showering with a nervous expression, and said in a serious tone, "I just remembered that there's something I forgot to tell Yui. Come here for a second."

"what?"

Ayano looked bewildered, but seeing that Miyazawa Maki seemed to be in a hurry, she followed behind her upstairs.

However, after only a few steps, the other party quickly stopped again.

"Xiaowei, I need to talk to you about something!"

Standing on the stairs, Maki Miyazawa turned around and suddenly put her hands together in front of her, looking extremely sincere.

This attitude only confused Ayano Yui more. After hesitating for a moment, she asked, "What is it?"

"That's the plan for tonight." Miyazawa Maki coughed twice, then feigned a pitiful look and said, "Could you spare some time tonight?"

Time is the amount of time that someone spends with Sawayama Haruno tonight.

According to their tacit agreement, it should have been Ayano Yui and Sawayama Haruno's turn to get intimate tonight, but Miyazawa Maki's plan was there, so it naturally had to be adjusted. However, she couldn't force Ayano Yui, so she had no choice but to resort to this method of negotiation.

Ayano Yui realized the other party's true intentions at this moment. She wondered why Maki-nee was being so proactive today, even though she was in an inconvenient physical condition. Could it be that...?

"Sunoha and Shiori?"

Ayano Yui looked at Miyazawa Maki with a strange expression.