"I am home."
"Welcome back~!"
"....."
Mizuto, who took off his shoes, was dumbfounded when Yume suddenly came out and greeted him like lightning. He looked at her helplessly and said, "...be patient, okay? I just went home. Wait for me in my room. After I take a bath, I will take care of you."
"...."
Yume's lips twitched, wondering whether he thought of her as a runaway mare who couldn't control her carnal desire. However, she had grown up, and there was no way that she could get angry since some of his words were the truth.
"I will take a bath first."
He didn't mind taking care of Yume, especially when his body was as strong as ever. Moreover, what he did with Akatsuki was nothing but just a little skinship and a kiss, so his body was blazing, wanting to do a passionate exchange. However, he knew that his body reeked of Akatsuki's scent. While the scent wasn't so noticeable, and he also had bought an item to conceal this scent, everything was a safety first, right?
Nevertheless, he was glad to have the "Store" skill, which made everything convenient.
Rubbing Yume's head gently, he walked to the bathroom as he yawned.
"Ah, wait! Wait!"
Yume quickly held his hand and asked in a hurried tone, "How long are you going to stay in the bath?"
"...are you so horny right now?"
"That's not what I mean!" Yume pouted and blushed as she stomped on her feet in annoyance, wondering why this hateful guy always mistook her for a horny girl.
"What's wrong?" He stopped and waited patiently for what she was going to say.
"...."
Yume fell in silence, blushed, then she said, "I-I am going to wait for you in the dining room, okay? I will warm up the food for you." As expected, it was too embarrassing to say that she had cooked dinner for him.
"Warm up my food?" Mizuto felt like Yume was his wife or something. He had just got home from work, and she welcomed him as she prepared him dinner while seeking his attention like a lonely kitty. Still, the words from her mouth gave him some clues, and while he was surprised, he asked curiously, "Did you cook a dinner for me?"
"...."
Yume was in silence, lowering her head, then blushing, feeling a little embarrassed, but at the same time, she also had nervousness, wondering how he would react, especially when he knew how horrible her cooking skill was.
"...."
He wanted to kiss her somehow, but he was afraid that his lips smelled of Akatsuki, so he didn't dare to do it. Still, he took a deep breath and said, "I will finish my bath as soon as possible."
"Um."
Yume felt embarrassed since she knew this smart guy must have noticed what she had done.
"Thanks."
Still, watching him leave to the bathroom, Yume felt happy and also quite impatient as she wanted to see his impressive and cry-like expression as he enjoyed the dinner that she had cooked with her mother.
However, Mizuto tried to search for stomachache medicine as he thought that it was necessary. Frankly, he had eaten dinner, and he wasn't hungry, especially when he had eaten before he went home, but Yume, who was clumsy and didn't have much experience in cooking, had done her best to cook for him, so there was no way for him to not eat these foods, right?
Washing his body from his hair to the tip of his feet, he felt comfort in this mundane activity. It was just taking a bath, but when it was done after a tough activity, it felt several times better. Nevertheless, he wondered why women were such illogical creatures. While he might only move based on his instincts, trying to seek the closest source for immediate pleasure and comfort, they tried to be with him, even ignoring their well-being.
For him, it was impossible to abandon everything for a single woman, yet for them, it was so easy to throw everything for someone they loved.
'Harem...'
He had never thought of this since he had never thought of starting a family so early, especially when his dream was to become a government employee. While he was thinking about making a family in the future, he would only choose one woman instead of many as the reality wasn't so easy.
However, this time, it was different, especially when he gained the system.
Still, this water seemed quite sweet for some reason.
Was it because his stepmother or Yume had taken a bath before him?
Yet, he wasn't a pervert, so he didn't do anything except enjoy his rest, but somehow, the door of the bathroom was opened, and a head poked in, watching him curiously.
"Mizuto, are you done?"
"...I will be done after this."
Did she have much confidence in her skills?
"Okay."
While she couldn't get the answer that she was waiting for, she nodded and didn't urge him anymore, but she couldn't help but stop for a moment to gaze over his wet body.
He also didn't mind since being naked to each other was practically something normal for them. "By the way, Yume, can you help me to take some of my clothes to my room? I forgot to bring them with me."
"Okay."
"Don't give me some formal or mature clothes for your fetish, okay? I am about to rest, after all."
"I-I won't do that! I still have common sense, okay?" Yume pouted, wondering whether Mizuto was an esper since it felt like he could read her mind.
"...."
He didn't even bother to stare at her or say two or three things to show her worldly desire, which was clearly expressed on her face. Still, he suddenly thought of something and...
'She shouldn't do that, right?'
Yume was good and all, but somehow, he wanted her to tone down her pervertness. He scooped up warm water, then rubbed his face, feeling comfort in such a simple action before he turned and asked, "So how long are you going to watch me, ecchi?"
"I-I am not ecchi!"
With that perverted face, you aren't fooling anyone, Yume.
Feeling helpless, he wondered what Akatsuki would do if she were in Yume's place.
'If she's in Yume's place...'
Somehow, he could imagine that Akatsuki would enter his bath, and they would take a bath together. Still, suddenly, he realized something.
Was this her purpose?
Before, even if they had kissed, he had never paid much attention to Akatsuki, yet after that confession, she started to appear in his mind more often.
"How cunning..."
"Who is cunning?"
He glanced at Yume, who appeared in the bathroom once again, staring at his body without hiding her intention. He sighed helplessly and tried to cover his last modesty like a heroine in the ecchi story. "...pervert."
"I am not a pervert!"
---
If there was something different between him and the heroine of the Ecchi story, it was that he didn't engage in domestic violence like the heroine, who smashed the protagonist due to his idiotic action.
"H-How is it?" Yume asked worriedly as she watched Mizuto eat the nikujaga, miso soup, and rice quietly.
"It's good."
He let out a comforting sigh, thinking that they were like newlyweds for some reason. Still, he had to say that her cooking skill was quite good. However, when she thought about her cooking skills originally, he felt a little doubtful. Then, he thought that she must have had a good teacher when she cooked before.
'It must be because of Yuni-san.'
"Can I eat all of them?"
If it had before, he might not have dared to do this, but with his current body and youth, he didn't mind eating quite late like this, especially when he could
"Eat as much as you want! Oh, by the way, this potato is..."
As she talked excitedly about her achievement in cooking and the cooking process, he ate quietly and listened to her. As for his praise at how good her good was? Watching him wolf down her food was that praise.
While she smiled and kept talking, suddenly, a voice interrupted them.
"Mizuto-kun, did you just go back?"
"Yes."
"Does the driving school take much time?"
Yuni and Mineaki came to the living room and asked about Mizuto's experience in driving school. Neither of them had a driving license, and they were curious about it. It was said that among two people in this country, only one had a driving license. It was even rarer, especially for those who lived in the city, since it was hard to find a parking space.
"I plan to get the driving license as soon as possible, so the school takes a little longer."
"How long will you get the driving license?"
"It should be two weeks? If there is no problem with the exam, I can get it right away."
"That's great!"
"So, what kind of motorcycle do you plan to buy?"
"It's a secret, and I can't buy a motorcycle without getting a driving license first."
"It's complicated, huh?"
"Oh, right! Did you know Yume was the one who cooked the dinner?" Yuni suddenly said excitedly before she was stunned when she saw her daughter. "Huh? Yume? Why are you pouting? Are you in the period?"
"I AM NOT!"
Yume pouted and looked away.
Watching Yume pout, Mizuto sighed helplessly and hoped she would tone down her possessiveness.