"Okay, don't feel too bad. I just asked him to prepare a meal, and a piece of meat is indispensable."
"Who would feel sorry for him?"
"Alright, don't be so angry. Mother and daughter haven't seen each other for a long time. Let's have a quick chat. I even brought you a gift."
Youko stood up, nudged her assistant's arm with her elbow, and gestured toward the kitchen with her chin.
"I'm counting on your help over there, Miyoko-chan."
"Yes, yes."
Kudou Miyoko stood up helplessly, took off her coat, and walked to the kitchen.
Kazusa glanced at the kitchen and confirmed that Chisato wouldn't be leaving for the time being, then turned around and followed her mother to the second floor.
…
In the Kitchen.
"I'm sorry, Suzumiya-kun. The president doesn't have any ill intentions; she doesn't mean to look down on you."
"She usually has such an unconventional style and treats everyone the same way. She can be completely indifferent to elders much older than herself and shows this side without hesitation."
"She jokes and communicates freely, so please don't mind her."
Miyoko explained to Chisato while rinsing the green peppers.
"It's fine; I don't mind at all."
Chisato was skillfully cutting the meat, but his words didn't slow his movements at all.
If it were an ordinary family, allowing the guests to cook, waiting for the meal to be served, and then enjoying it might indeed seem inappropriate, as it does not conform to the basic etiquette of hospitality.
But this is not an ordinary family. The Touma family cannot be judged by common standards.
From the way the mother and daughter interacted just now, it was clear there was a deep gap between them.
In her time with Kazusa, Chisato had rarely heard her mention her mother.
Therefore, he completely understood that no matter how awkward this mother-daughter dynamic was, he wouldn't feel dissatisfied.
Of course, the main reason for his attitude was that he held a preconceived favorable impression of Kazusa, and he naturally wanted to showcase his advantages.
If he were a guest in an unfamiliar household encountering a similar situation, Chisato might have reacted differently; he probably wouldn't have offered to cook for them.
"It's best if you think that way, Suzumiya-kun. Once you get to know her, you'll find that the president is genuinely a good person."
"Actually, you can tell just by walking in. Miss Youko treats people kindly, and her tone is refreshing. She doesn't make me feel nervous at all."
"The president will definitely be very happy to hear that."
Miyoko handed Chisato the washed green peppers.
"Is there anything else I can help with?"
"No need. Ms. Kudo must be very tired after getting off the plane. Go and rest for a while; I can manage by myself."
"That's not acceptable. As an adult, my self-respect won't allow a minor to prepare lunch alone. Ah, the garlic needs to be peeled."
"Then it's up to you."
"There's no need for honorifics. But Suzumiya-kun, you're such a good cook; you must be the one who prepares the meals at home."
"Well, since I live alone with my parents, I basically cook for myself."
"Really? You live separately? You take care of yourself?"
"Yes."
"That's impressive. It's not easy for someone your age."
Miyoko was peeling garlic, and while expressing her praise, she inadvertently changed the subject.
"Your parents seem very worried about you."
"Yes, they are very liberal and respect my ideas."
As Chisato thought, Miyoko came to the kitchen to help not just to assist, but also to find out about his background.
There was no need to hide anything. He followed the other person's lead and slowly shared everything about his situation.
…
Meanwhile, on the Second Floor.
In Kazusa's room, Youko took out a green dinosaur doll from her bag and waved it in front of her daughter like a treasure.
"How about this? It's very cute. I brought you a gift."
Kazusa reached out to take it and casually placed it at the end of her bed.
"Anyway, I just bought it at the duty-free shop while waiting for my flight."
"It doesn't matter where the gift comes from; it mainly represents your heart. You can't be so picky."
Youko adopted a lecturing tone. But Kazusa didn't take it seriously.
A few years ago, after her mother had cruelly rejected her with harsh words and left her alone, she developed a disdain similar to a rebellious mentality and didn't want to listen to any of her mother's preaching.
Youko knew this but didn't care.
The sudden return to Japan this time was due to the cancellation of her original performance plan.
The reason behind it was that her health was no longer stable.
Although her performance now wasn't much different from before, she occasionally experienced sudden symptoms.
The fever and fatigue had indeed changed her life significantly.
The doctor advised her not to worry about overexertion, but she ignored the advice and continued to work hard in preparation for the concert.
As a result, she collapsed on the piano during practice. If Miyoko hadn't discovered her in time, the consequences could have been severe.
After this incident, Youko had to abandon her original plans and return to Japan for treatment from an authoritative doctor while practicing peace of mind.
However, after careful consideration, she decided not to tell Kazusa for the time being.
The reasoning was the same as before: it wasn't a serious illness that would immediately threaten her life.
With current medical advancements, it was very likely she could be cured. Therefore, there was no need to tell her daughter and make her worry unnecessarily.
After all, her daughter, while appearing colder and more independent on the outside than anyone else, was actually unaware of her own fragility and delicateness on the inside.
Yet, after such a long time apart, this precious daughter truly surprised her.
"That boy seems nice. When did you start dating?"
Youko sat on the edge of the bed, propping up her chin, revealing her curiosity about her daughter's romantic life.
"...Don't compare me to you."
Perhaps the most important reason for her confidence was that the male protagonist was not present.
When Kazusa replied, she was much calmer than she had been downstairs.
"You deny dating... so you're just classmates?"
"Just classmates."
"So you deliberately sent Auntie away when we met at home?"
Youko mercilessly exposed her daughter's intentions.
"You obviously wanted to create an environment for the two of you to be alone. Your method is too clumsy."
"The moment I walked in and saw you, I immediately understood what was going on."
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