章 522: Rika: "I'll be your host."

Shishio might think something rude, but his face was so polite as if he was facing his own mother. However, he could see Nanami's expression was quite subtle, and she even had fun when she saw him so polite in front of her mother.

After all, Nanami would be lying if she didn't have a grudge against Shishio. While being bullied by him felt nice, she also wanted to have some little revenge.

However, when Nanami noticed Shishio's gaze on her, she quickly lowered her head in blush. She knew that she had been targeted by him, but she didn't hate it. Instead, she might initiate this, so he would bully her more.

Still, Shishio knew the time and the occasion, so he didn't dare to do something so rude in front of Nanami's mother.

Nanami's mother didn't notice this and talked with Shishio happily as if she had accepted him as her son-in-law. Her only regret was that she had to go home today and she couldn't talk with him any longer.

"If you don't mind, how about I send you to the station?" Shishio said without hesitation since he was also quite happy to talk with Nanami's mother. He didn't have any other meanings and just wanted to talk.

Really.

After all, Kyoto and Osaka were relatively close, so it was normal that they were close to each other, right?

Nanami's mother was away from Osaka and came alone to Tokyo to meet her daughter. Her husband didn't accompany her, and she was only with her daughter.

Shishio felt it was too dangerous, so he thought to help both mother and daughter. Once again, he didn't have any other meanings.

Really.

Tokyo was a cold place, and it was also a cruel place.

The husband of Nanami's mother wasn't by her side, so naturally, Shishio decided to accompany her.

While Nanami's mother hesitated slightly since she felt she had troubled him, she didn't show much rejection and even hoped to accept his invitation. However, she couldn't be so blunt and had to act like she couldn't accept it since she didn't want to be seen as shameless.

If Shishio had to give an example, it was like the education video he had watched in the past.

The woman might say "Yamete! Yamete!" but in the end, she screamed "Kimochi! Kimochi!" or "Iku! Iku!" after a while, showing she was just embarrassed to admit that she wanted it too.

Shishio was a gentleman, so he naturally understood this.

Nanami also came naturally since she couldn't imagine what would happen if she left her mother with Shishio. It wasn't that she was worried he might do something to her mother, but it was something natural for a daughter to worry about their parents, right?

Nanami definitely didn't think they could stop near the hotel after they had sent her mother to the station.

Definitely.

However, the trip to the station was quite far, and she was afraid Shishio might feel tired, so it might be better to rest. After all, it was dangerous to drive a car when one was tired. Therefore, it was better to take a rest before they continued their trip.

Right?

Oh, right, Shishio almost forgot.

<Congratulations, you have received an "Ear Cleaning Mastery"!>

"....."

His expression was quite subtle toward Nanami's mother.

Now, what about his own mother?

'There's no way, right?'

Anyway, Shishio decided to put the matter of the system to the side since he had to send Nanami's mother to the station.

Everyone also didn't follow them and let Nanami have Shishio alone for now since she was with her mother. Even if they were dating each other, they still had common sense.

Still, Shishio wondered what was happening to the parents of Ritsu and Misaki since he didn't see them.

'Have they gone back?'

However, Shishio quickly shook his head, wondering why his mind had always been preoccupied with an older woman.

"Come on, Shishio-kun," Nanami's mother said gently.

"Yes, Rika-san." Shishio nodded.

"..." Nanami looked at Shishio and her mother, wondering when they called each other on a first-name basis?

Anyway, the three of them went to the station together.

While the fact that Shishio was driving a car dumbfounded her slightly, considering he was the same age as her daughter, Rika decided not to think too much, especially when she found out about the weirdos that were living on the Sakurasou. She felt driving a car was nothing compared to that fact.

Well, even so, it didn't change the way they could talk freely, and they also used this chance to bring Nanami's mother to the place she wanted to visit. After all, when she came to Tokyo, she didn't have time to walk around.

Osaka and Tokyo might not be much different since they are metropolis cities and the center of the economy in this country.

However, there were some shops in Tokyo that didn't exist in Osaka.

Nanami's mother also wanted to buy a souvenir for her husband.

Still, Nanami sighed in disappointment, wondering when her mother was going to go home.

"What's with that expression?" Rika asked her daughter with a subtle expression.

Nanami was stunned, but she quickly said, "Mom, isn't it bad if you're late for the train? Isn't it better to wait in the station early?" Anyway, she also wanted to recover her stamina since she was going to have a hard fight after her mother went back.

"Well... that's true." Nanami's mother nodded, but she could see something strange about her daughter. She glanced at Shishio, who didn't show much of a change in her expression before she expressed doubt in her heart. 'Is it my imagination?'

Nanami's mother shook her head since she didn't know much about the details. Still, she could tell that her daughter might not be a virgin again, and the one who stole that virginity...

"...." Shishio didn't know why, but he felt the gaze of Nanami's mother was quite hurt.

'This shouldn't be the same routine, right?'

Shishio had a feeling, but hopefully, everything was just his imagination.

The three arrived at the situation, but it wasn't the time for Nanami's mother to go, so they waited on the bench while talking to each other.

Still, as usual, the station was as crowded as ever.

However, even if this place was crowded, the people were as indifferent as ever.

"Well, this place is quite nice." Nanami's mother had this thick Osaka accent, which was quite unique and cute for some reason.

"Is Osaka bad?" Shishio asked curiously.

"Not really. They're friendly to each other, but you should be careful since you might be picked up there," Rika (Nanami's mother) said with a serious tone.

"Me? Being picked up?" Shishio asked in surprise.

"Of course." Rika nodded and asked, "You must have been picked up too here, right?" With his handsome appearance, it wouldn't be strange for girls to approach him.

"...." Shishio was speechless since Rika was right since many girls and even some older women had come to pick him up, asking him to get to know him. Unfortunately, he didn't have a chance to have a deeper relationship since his girlfriends had always been around him. "Rika-san, how about you? You must have been picked up a lot, right?"

"Me?" Rika was surprised, but then she laughed and lightly hit his arm. "No way. I am already an auntie. Who is interested in me?" After all, she wasn't young anymore, and she didn't think someone was interested in her.

"Really? I think you're still cute and attractive, Rika-san. If we meet on the street, I might pick you up," Shisho said jokingly.

"Eh?" 2x

Not only Rika but Nanami was dumbfounded.

Still, Rika was unexpectedly happy and smiled. "Do you think I am still attractive?"

"Of course." Shishio nodded without hesitation.

Their conversation slowly turned subtle, as if they weren't a son-in-law who met his mother-in-law. Instead, they were a woman and a man who happened to meet each other.

"..." Nanami.

"Oh, it's the time for your train," Shishio said when he heard the announcement.

"Ah? Is it time already? I don't expect the time to move so fast." Rika talked so happily with Shishio before, so she didn't realize it was already time for her to go home. Yet, strangely, she felt reluctant somehow.

"Mom! Hurry up and go home!" Nanami quickly said.

"Huh? Why are you telling me in a hurry?" Rika asked in confusion.

"Don't you miss, dad? You shouldn't let him wait," Nanami quickly said in a logical manner.

"It's alright. He's still working." Rika knew her husband's schedule fully. Still, she knew it was time for her to go home. She also couldn't waste this ticket, so she could only go home after the persuasion of her daughter. However, before she entered the train, she looked at Shishio and said, "By the way, you should play in Osaka in the future, Shishio-kun. I'll be your host at that time."

"...Is that okay? Won't your husband think I am a bother?" Shishio asked hesitantly.

"It's okay. It's okay. You don't need to worry." Rika reassured Shishio and even told him to come to Osaka anytime.

"...." Nanami.

Still, no matter if Rika wanted to stay, she had to go, especially when the door of the train closed.

"Shishio-kun, promise me to visit, alright?"

"Yes, I'll visit you, Rika-san."

Shishio waved his hand when he saw Rika left, and it wasn't until the train left that he looked at Nanami, who seemed to be in a complex mood. "What's wrong?"

"Why are you so close to my mother?" Nanami asked with a pout.

"Is that not okay? She's, after all, your mother. I can't act so distant, right?" Shishio said naturally.

"Well, that's true..." Nanami nodded, and she must admit Shishio was good at giving hospitality to her mother, and she was happy that they could become close to each other, yet somehow she also felt there was something wrong with it. However, before she thought or questioned him further, a strong hand wrapped around her waist.

"Your mother is gone now. I am a bit tired from accompanying her. Should we rest a bit? I've seen a good hotel before," Shishio whispered into Nanami's ear.

Nanami blushed and didn't fight back. Instead, she moved closer and showed concern for him. "That's terrible. Let's take a rest. I'll give you a body massage later."

Shishio looked at Nanami, who was really worried about him, yet there was some eagerness on her face. He didn't say much and just held her hand, leading her to her car while thinking that he was glad to have found such a good helper.

Lastly, Shishio was glad that Sorata gave up on Nanami.

However, no one would think that he would encounter a crazy accident a few days later.