Chapter 33: Completing the Task
Confused by Yuta's approach, Aoi Kiriyama found herself accepting his suggestions without questioning them.
If it was for therapeutic purposes, what Yuta suggested didn't seem unacceptable. Aoi didn't want to be seen as having a psychological problem, and after finding Yuta's method convincing, she paused for a few seconds before speaking.
"Don't tell anyone about today, especially Kaoruko!" Aoi decided to follow Yuta's advice but wanted to take precautions before doing so.
Yuta breathed a sigh of relief. If Aoi herself believed she wasn't sick, it was indeed a positive step for her.
Aoi's main issue was psychological, and what she needed was to overcome this mental block.
"I promise, today's events will not be shared with anyone!" Yuta assured her. He wasn't the type to gossip or spread information.
After receiving Yuta's guarantee, Aoi no longer displayed her usual strong demeanor. Instead, she appeared as a nervous girl, her face flushed with hesitation.
Yuta didn't rush her or pressure her in any way. In the quiet room, Aoi began to sweat from the tension, struggling to make a decision.
Despite her effort, Aoi still found it difficult to let go. Covering her face with one hand, she peeked at Yuta with her eyes half-hidden.
"Promise me… you won't laugh at me…?"
"I promise!" Yuta assured her sincerely, feeling the atmosphere was quite delicate.
Aoi looked down, focusing on Yuta's legs and then her own, and spoke in a very soft voice:
"Daddy…"
After saying it quietly, Aoi felt exhausted and slumped onto the sofa, letting out a long sigh of relief.
"Actually… I feel so much better…" After speaking, Aoi realized that her feelings towards her father weren't as strong as she had imagined.
It seemed she had been using her father as an excuse to reject others all along.
"As a child, I compared my father with people my own age, and it's still the same now. Of course, no one could compare to my father."
Aoi sighed and, glancing at Yuta, found him much more agreeable than before.
"It's strange, I never noticed before, but you're quite handsome when I look closely," Aoi said, revealing her confusion. As someone who values appearance, she had just realized this about Yuta.
[Ding!]
[System Task Completed. Reward: Charm +1, Aoi Kiriyama's Assistance (Permanent)]
Yuta was puzzled by the reward of increased charm and asked, "Why is it different now?"
Aoi Kiriyama, feeling good about Yuta, stood up and took his hand.
"Come with me!"
Her tone was still commanding but softer, like that of a friend. Yuta, curious about the effects of the charm increase, followed her into another room.
The room was as luxurious as before, with many cosmetics and a vanity. Aoi guided Yuta to sit in front of the mirror.
"You should change your hairstyle. I'll help you." Aoi, having noticed that Yuta suited her taste, realized she hadn't paid much attention before.
Though the changes were subtle, after spending over an hour washing and cutting Yuta's hair and doing some maintenance, he noticed a significant transformation.
Not only did he look younger, but his physique also seemed slightly more delicate. Looking in the mirror, Yuta felt he had regressed from nineteen to about fourteen or fifteen years old.
Aoi smiled as she stood beside Yuta. "I didn't expect you to be so much more delicate than you look, but you have quite a bit of strength and seem to have good stamina!"
"I don't feel very happy about this. I don't want to be seen as a kid," Yuta said, not thrilled about appearing so young.
Aoi thought Yuta was referring to their relationship and replied with a smile, "You know about my father. If you can earn more than him, I'll call you 'Daddy~Daddy~' in the future."
Leaning close to Yuta's ear, she whispered, then stepped back with a smile. "It's unlikely, but if you want other rewards, I can accommodate."
"How much does your father make?" Yuta asked casually, not seeing the challenge as impossible.
Aoi chuckled, "He's the president of a major company, making about twenty million a year. If you can earn ten million within a year, I'll call you 'Daddy'!"
Yuta wasn't surprised by the figure. Having been a senior technician at a big company with a substantial salary, he knew that company presidents often made more, and even more for shareholders and founders.
"However, making ten million seems nearly impossible for me now," Yuta admitted. "I might need to start my own company."
"A company? With just you?" Aoi laughed. "Are you interested in me or something? Trying to be called 'Daddy' just from what I said?"
Yuta shook his head and said calmly, "No, I just believe I can be more capable than your father. While I'm not particularly interested in making money, having more of it isn't necessarily a bad thing."
"At least, it might get you to call me 'Daddy,'" Yuta added, addressing Aoi's previous disdain.
Aoi, appreciating Yuta's drive, replied, "I'm not that type of woman who takes such things lightly. I actually like your ambition. If you need my help, just let me know."
She admired Yuta's determination and was curious to see what he could achieve.
In her mind, Aoi compared Yuta to her father.
For one, Yuta was more handsome, younger, and seemed to understand her better. This made her think that the future might not be so dull after all.
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