Chapter 47: Koizumi's Lack of Confidence in Her Appetite
When Shunsuke returned to the living room, he found Marin and Koizumi already dressed.
"So, how do the clothes fit?" he asked Marin, sensing something a bit off about her.
"Mm... a little tight, but it's fine as long as I don't move too much," Marin replied, tugging slightly at the collar, looking visibly uncomfortable. Shunsuke nearly choked at her nonchalance.
Just a moment ago, she was so shy, and now she was back to being bold and forward. This girl—she was really something.
Clearing his throat as if nothing had happened, Shunsuke headed into the kitchen to start dinner. "If you get bored, Kitagawa-san, you can go play some games in Mrs. Izumi's room. I helped her buy Wet Girls 2 last time."
"Wait! Shun-kun, is that really okay to say!?"
"Even Eriri told her secret identity to Kitagawa-san, so why should you be worried about your hobby?"
"True, but still..." Mrs. Izumi sighed, looking embarrassed. Being a grown woman playing games like that—how could he just reveal it?
But Shunsuke hadn't even considered that. And Marin, meanwhile, was completely fixated on something else.
So, Mrs. Izumi is a fan too, Eriri-senpai is a fan too, Eriri-senpai is really Kashiwagi Eri, Eriri calls Mrs. Izumi "Sensei"...
This…
Excited, Marin eagerly clasped Mrs. Izumi's hands. "Izumi-nee, are you a big name in the industry too?"
"I-Izumi-nee?! That's a bit much..."
Mrs. Izumi protested on the surface, but inwardly she was thrilled, secretly wishing Marin would keep calling her that.
"Hey, Kitagawa-san, are you just trying to flatter her?"
Marin straightened up and puffed out her chest. "Izumi-nee is so young and beautiful, what's wrong with calling her that?"
"Uh, no, it's nothing."
What else could Shunsuke say? It wasn't exactly what they were implying.
"And besides..." Marin looked at him with a mischievous glint. "Why does it matter if I call Mrs. Izumi 'nee'? It's not like you two are mother and son. Or... how exactly do you see Mrs. Izumi?"
Not only was Marin staring at him, but Mrs. Izumi was watching him intently too. Feeling the pressure, Shunsuke quickly turned around to knead the dough.
"Hey, senpai, say something," Marin teased, poking him.
Shunsuke replied coolly, "Sagiri calls me 'Onii-chan,' you call Mrs. Izumi 'Izumi-nee.' Think there's no connection here? This woman has even tried to get me to call her 'Mom'—so go ahead and stick with 'Auntie.'"
"Shun-kun, be nicer to girls!" Mrs. Izumi chimed in, defending Marin—just for the sake of being called "sister"? This is way too easy! Shunsuke fumed internally.
Knowing he'd have to change the subject to escape this conversation, Shunsuke blurted, "Kitagawa-san, you're a huge fan of Eromanga-sensei, aren't you?"
"Of course," Marin replied, puffing her cheeks in annoyance. "But don't just change the topic, senpai!"
"Well, Eromanga-sensei happens to be right here. Imagine—she's a teacher, but they call her 'sister.' Isn't that kind of disrespectful?"
"Huh?" Marin's eyes sparkled as she looked at Mrs. Izumi. "Are you Eromanga-sensei, Izumi-nee?"
"No, no! I don't even know anyone with that name!"
Having grown up, Mrs. Izumi often regretted the wild pseudonym she'd picked in her youth and now tried to keep a strict line between her real life and her past.
But Marin wasn't convinced. "It's totally Eromanga-sensei! You're exactly like in the livestreams!"
In the age of V-tubing, even the introverted Mrs. Izumi had joined the trend and debuted as an independent virtual streamer.
Although Marin, being a student, couldn't watch every live show, she knew all the popular clips. "I don't know anyone by that name!" had already become a running gag in Eromanga-sensei's streams.
Mrs. Izumi sighed, realizing her slip-up. "Just don't tell anyone, alright?"
"Of course! I'm a loyal fan of Eromanga-sensei—I'll follow your every order!" Marin declared, then dramatically knelt down. "Sensei, please let me be your devoted follower!"
"Ahhh—no, no! Please stand up!" Even Mrs. Izumi, though used to such antics, looked a bit shocked.
Shunsuke, taken aback, could only watch as Koizumi stood by unfazed.
"I'm not getting up until you accept me as your follower." Marin was dead serious.
"Alright, alright, fine. Just get up!"
"Yay!"
Once she was on her feet, Marin hugged Mrs. Izumi tightly, the clash of front armor setting waves on the ocean.
Hehe... if I could end up with senpai, wouldn't that make me family with Sensei? What a beautiful thought.
Lost in her happy fantasies, Marin even began to drool a little like a fangirl. Shunsuke was dumbfounded at Mrs. Izumi's unexpected assistance.
Soon enough, Marin dragged Mrs. Izumi off to her room to play Wet Girls 2 together.
Wait, they're actually playing that kind of game together? I was just kidding, Marin, but you're really doing it?
Shunsuke was starting to worry whether Mrs. Izumi might end up in some awkward situations.
....
After the noisy pair had left, the kitchen and living room fell into silence.
Koizumi sat quietly on her chair, not playing with her phone, just waiting patiently.
Her stillness was so complete; she wasn't like Mashiro, whose lack of common sense often made people worry about her.
Shunsuke scratched his head, realizing he had been unconsciously overlooking her all day. In fact, maybe everyone else had too, unintentionally.
This feels like we're pushing her out, doesn't it?
Feeling a jolt of guilt, Shunsuke quickly broke the silence, scrambling for something to say.
"Koizumi, you must have a pretty good appetite, right? This time, any type of noodles you want—I can make them for you. Pho, Japchae, Dan Dan Noodles, Miso Ramen… Name it, I'll whip up any popular dish."
Shunsuke's cooking skills were already excellent, and now, with his "Star Platinum," he was confident he could pass the entrance exam at Totsuki Academy and maybe even claim a spot among the Elite Ten.
Koizumi touched her belly and, surprisingly, showed a rare hint of hesitation. "I'm not too confident about my own appetite. If you make so many... I might not be able to finish it."
Shunsuke almost laughed. Worried about her appetite? Afraid she'd leave food unfinished?
Who was it that ordered double meat with extra toppings at the ramen shop, and looked like they could still go for another bowl?
"Got it. I'll make plenty."
But when Koizumi didn't retort with, "What do you mean by 'got it'?" Shunsuke felt a bit of a pang, an odd sense of disappointment.
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