"Let's eat, President."
Hearing Miyoko's voice from downstairs, Youko and her daughter came to the living room from the second floor.
The dining table was adorned with several more dishes, and glasses were arranged quite formally, accompanied by drinks from the refrigerator.
After Chisato brought the last dish to the table, he was greeted by Youko and sat down.
Picking up her chopsticks, she tasted the freshly grilled frog fish, giving a thumbs-up and praising it unstintingly.
"It's extremely delicious. I can see why Kazusa has such a good relationship with you."
Such wise words ignited a spark of anger in Kazusa's eyes, and she gritted her teeth as if she were about to slam the table and get up at any moment.
Fortunately, Youko knew her daughter's temperament; her slightly provocative words were intended only to make a point, and she didn't say anything further to tease Kazusa's nerves.
"Come, Suzumiya-kun, let me toast to you. Thank you for taking such good care of Kazusa at school."
Chisato picked up his drink and gently touched the rim of his cup to the wall of the other cup.
"No, we're friends after all. Besides, if anyone is taking care of the other, it should be Kazusa taking care of me."
"Regardless, I still need to find a chance to formally thank you. This child has had a bad temper since she was little. While all the other children form groups, she has always been alone."
"I don't think that's the case. I think being independent is cool."
"What a cool perspective—"
Youko teasingly echoed Chisato's words, turning to look at her rosy face.
Compared to the Kazusa who had been entirely different during their earlier conversation, she couldn't help but smile, realizing that her daughter was engaging in friendly banter.
"This is the first time I've heard such a statement."
"After all, the teacher's evaluation of her since she was a child has been that she is introverted and withdrawn, and that she needs to focus more on her social growth as a mother would."
"That's just Touma not wanting to socialize."
"If she wanted to, she could make friends anytime. Being unable to make friends and being unwilling to make friends are two entirely different things, in my opinion."
"Does Suzumiya-kun really think so highly of my daughter?"
"I'm just stating the truth as I see it."
"I see. The two of you really have a good relationship. What exactly do you usually do together?"
"Mom, why are you so annoying?"
At the dinner table, Kazusa, who had been eating vegetables while pretending to be an ostrich, finally couldn't hold back her words.
"Where did this chatter come from while we're eating?"
"I'm just glad you're finally willing to call me 'Mom.'"
Youko looked at her strangely, "But I'm not even talking to you. Why are you so anxious?"
"...You keep talking like a chatty woman. You're making me embarrassed in front of my friends."
Kazusa racked her brains and finally found a somewhat reasonable excuse.
But it was still futile.
She intended to support Chisato, yet the other party had an entirely different mindset; she wanted to establish a good relationship with her future mother, which required sufficient and friendly communication.
To be honest, the current conversational atmosphere was very conducive.
The dinner table is an important place to enhance relationships, allowing for open discussions about one's situation.
So when Youko looked over, sporting a pitiful expression that was inappropriate for her age yet perfectly suited to her, and asked,
"Am I really annoying?"
Chisato shook his head and deny her question.
"This is absolutely not the case. Miss Youko is very kind. I enjoy chatting with you."
"...!"
As Youko beamed at her, Kazusa gritted her teeth, nearly breaking the chopsticks in her hand.
In this round of unspoken competition between mother and daughter, the mother emerged victorious.
"Alright, don't worry about her. Let's continue the topic we were discussing."
"Normally, at school, I would go to the music room at noon to find Touma and ask her for piano lessons."
"Hey, can Suzumiya-kun also play the piano?"
Chisato rubbed her head in embarrassment. "Well, I'm a complete novice. I don't know anything; I'm just interested in the piano."
"Oh~~~"
Youko understood immediately and glanced at Kazusa beside her with a half-smile.
At this moment, she grasped the reason for her daughter's sudden inquiry about previous piano teaching materials.
It was likely at that time that Chisato took the initiative to mention her interest.
"So, the reason you are here today is that you want Kazusa to teach you piano-related knowledge?"
"Yes, I teach her academic subjects in the morning, and she teaches me piano in the afternoon. We help each other; this is what we agreed on beforehand."
"The study group that helps each other—I miss that so much. I also experienced it in college when I lived and studied with friends before exams."
"Those were truly unforgettable and happy times."
"It's a bit different. I still have to go home at night."
"Why don't you stay here? There are so many rooms. It would be great if you went to school together the next day."
Youko said this in such a natural tone that it was hard to tell whether it was intentional or not.
Kazusa spoke again at that moment, "Suzumiya, you don't need to pay attention to her. Anyway, she treats everyone in such a casual manner. She doesn't behave like a mother at all."
"Hey, it's really sad to hear that from your own daughter. Miyoko, you must be careful not to raise a child with such a twisted personality."
"President, please don't worry. With the workload you've assigned me, I won't have time to find a boyfriend in the next few years, let alone have children."
From beginning to end, she was just a migrant worker, and she said this with a hint of resentment.
"Really, why should Miyoko worry about her boyfriend now that she's so cute? If it doesn't work out, I'll introduce someone to you."
Youko leaned over and pinched her subordinate's cheek.
"President, please don't do this. The children are still watching."
…
Lunch was very lively.
Even though her daughter had been dissatisfied during this time, her mother still asked for Chisato's contact information, inviting him to dinner together later.
It was clear that Youko was very pleased with her daughter's first friend.
"Without disturbing you, I have to go back to my room and take a nap to recover from the jet lag."
After sending her subordinates away, Youko left these words and stretched as she went up to the second floor, leaving the two young people alone again.
"Why don't I go back today? Your mother is here; you both should have a lot to talk about. It wouldn't be good for me to keep disturbing you."
"Don't leave."
Kazusa grabbed Chisato's wrist.
Although some unexpected things had happened along the way, what she wanted to say remained unchanged from the beginning to the end.
"...Let's go to the practice room. I have something to tell you."
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