Makoto got home a little after 8 p.m.
He didn't really do much at Mayu's place today—mostly just chatted with the beautiful teacher and watched some shows together.
So tonight, Mayu didn't let him look at her chest.
Makoto could tell that ever since that night, especially with the "halo effect" in play, Mayu had become noticeably more conscious of him.
Particularly after that overly ambiguous night.
If nothing unexpected happened, it wasn't just Makoto who couldn't sleep that night. Mayu was probably also lying in bed moaning softly, unable to fall asleep.
Fill in the blank: "Muffled moaning" means lying in bed at night, unable to sleep, softly moaning and wanting to ( ).
The Yukinoshita couple wanted to meet him, which he had already anticipated.
After all, he'd met them before during the time loops.
Whether it was the strict and rigid Mrs. Yukinoshita or the gentle and easygoing Mr. Yukinoshita, he had managed to win both of them over through repeated efforts in the time loop.
That is, he got close to them.
And he'd long since realized something strange: despite having spent so many years in the time loop and experienced so much, he could remember every single thing that happened.
Normally, the longer a person lives, the more memories fade over time—except for a few significant events.
But he remembered everything with perfect clarity, and his brain showed no negative effects.
Obviously, this was the result of the time loop.
At bedtime, just as Makoto was about to put down his phone, Ichika sent a message.
He opened it—another photo.
Still her in a short-sleeved shirt and shorts, sweet smile, perfectly angled.
But the drink bottles and bento boxes from the previous photo were gone.
Ichika: "I think this one turned out even better."
Makoto: "Did you secretly clean up to save your image?"
Ichika: "Just tell me—is it pretty or not?"
Makoto: "Pretty. Love it. Can't get enough."
Ichika: "Then I'm satisfied. I'm going to bed now. Good night."
Makoto had just received the message and hadn't replied yet when another message came in:
Ichika: "By the way, am I the first girl to say goodnight to you?"
Makoto glanced at the "Good night" Yukino had just sent and replied: "No."
On the other end of the call, the girl curled up in bed frozen with her smile still on her face.
I'm not the first?
Then whose subordinate is that, acting even faster than me?
Ichika instantly lost all drowsiness and tapped her screen: "So, you're quite popular after all. I wonder which girl said goodnight to you?"
Makoto: "It was Yukinoshita."
With a whoosh, Ichika performed a dramatic "sit up in shock while dying of illness" move.
She bolted out of her cozy bed and stared at her phone in a daze.
"Only an idiot would date him."
That line Yukino had once said to her echoed in her mind.
Ichika bit her lip.
So Yukinoshita lied to me?
Said one thing, did another?
How's that any different from a manipulative girl?
Ichika pressed her lips tightly together and typed: "You and Yukinoshita seem to get along really well."
After sending it, she couldn't help but feel nervous.
It was a clumsy attempt to probe, but if she didn't ask, she wouldn't be able to sleep tonight!
She waited and waited—finally, Makoto replied: "Good night, cute Ichika."
That's not what I wanted to hear!
Forget it. I'll ask next time.
Ichika: "Good night."
…
Makoto put down his phone and thought to himself, fishing is really fun—especially when the bait bites the hook on its own, it's even more fun.
Two days later, Sunday.
Makoto received a message from Yukino in the morning.
Not just a "good morning"—she also mentioned her parents would be arriving at 8:30 and asked when he would be free to meet them.
Makoto thought for a moment and agreed to meet Yukinoshita at 10.
After getting her reply, he immediately knocked on Mayu's door.
"Good morning, Miss Matsukaze. Are you free today?"
Makoto got straight to the point.
"I am. What do you need from me?"
Still in her pajamas, Mayu was as gentle as ever.
Makoto explained that he would be meeting the Yukinoshita couple.
Mayu was surprised: "You and Yukinoshita-san are already at the meet-the-parents stage?"
Makoto: "Of course not. I just helped her with something, and her parents want to thank me in person."
"I see."
Mayu visibly relaxed.
Then she realized—why was she so nervous?
She turned away, hiding her blushing face behind her falling hair: "Since it's her parents, I suppose I don't need to go with you?"
Makoto replied seriously, "I can only feel at ease if you're there."
Mayu's face turned bright red in an instant.
She clenched her fists in joy and shyness, then relaxed and whispered, "Okay, I'll go with you."
"Thanks."
At 9:30 a.m., Makoto and Mayu left together.
The meeting place chosen by the Yukinoshita couple wasn't a café or somewhere typical—it was a private home.
Yukino had explained via text that this was her mother's temporary residence in Tokyo, used for work.
Clearly, the Yukinoshita couple took this meeting seriously.
Since it was a house visit, Makoto bought some fruits and desserts on the way as gifts.
When they rang the doorbell, Mayu whispered, "Feels like we're attending a parent-teacher conference."
"If it's a parent-teacher conference, then what's my role?" Makoto teased.
Mayu blushed and giggled: "My colleague?"
Makoto: "I think being your child would be more fitting."
"How is that fitting?! There's not that much of an age gap!" Mayu protested shyly.
Makoto thought she had a point.
Though Mayu was good at taking care of others, her homemaking skills were only average.
If we're talking about homemaking and caregiving, clearly Nino is the better fit.
Now that I think about it, Nino could totally be the kind of woman I'd want as the mother of my children.
Soon the door opened. Standing before Makoto and Mayu was a stylish, elegant, and beautiful woman.
She was Mrs. Yukinoshita.
Unlike Yukino's flat figure, her body was curvaceous with the mature charm of an adult woman.
"Sorry to interrupt, Mrs. Yukinoshita, I am a teacher from Toyonosaki School, Matsukaze Mayu."
Mayu appeared slightly reserved.
Makoto, on the other hand, was much more relaxed: "Hello, my name is Fushimi Makoto."
"Hello, please come in."
Mrs. Yukinoshita's eyes flashed with a hint of surprise.
She hadn't expected Makoto to bring a teacher along.
The three of them arrived at the spacious and well-lit living room, where Yukino and her father were also present.
When Yukino saw Mayu, her expression mirrored that of her mother's.
After exchanging greetings, Makoto handed over the gift, and Mrs. Yukinoshita smiled and thanked him.
Yukino quietly stood up to pour tea and also brought over some snacks.
"Originally, I had planned to invite my other daughter as well, since Fushimi-kun, you've been such a great help... By the way, is it okay if I call you Makoto?"
Mrs. Yukinoshita remained exceptionally gentle throughout, behaving like a very easy going elder.
"Of course, it's fine," Makoto said, knowing this wasn't her "true face."
Sitting beside him, Mayu blinked and thought, I'll call him Makoto too, that feels more intimate.
After exchanging a few simple words, Mayu curiously asked, "Mrs. Yukinoshita, you mentioned that Fushimi-kun helped with a major task, could you tell me more about it?"
Mrs. Yukinoshita's smile widened: "To put it simply, it's a collaboration that I had been struggling with for a long time. With his help, our family successfully finalized this business deal."
Mayu looked at Makoto in surprise, her expression clearly asking: You have this kind of ability?
Then, she brightened up, thinking: No wonder he's my favorite student, he's really impressive.
Yukino, sitting across from them, had her eyes flickering. When she received her mother's call that day, she felt much the same as Mayu did now.
Not only had she received rare praise from her mother, but her mother was also paying more attention to her.
The reason for all of this was pointed at Makoto.
Is this how you're planning to win me over?
Improving my relationship with my mother, giving me more of her love and care, and making our family better.
Yukino sighed inwardly.
Can I really handle this kind of approach?
Moreover, this guy has a lot of secrets.
Just the fact that Makoto can chat easily with my mother—Yukino thought—makes me feel like I could never do that.
At that moment, Mrs. Yukinoshita asked with a smile, "By the way, I heard from Yukino that you seem to know quite a bit about our family's situation?"
Yukino immediately became tense.
This involved the time loop!
Makoto noticed Yukino's shift in mood and thought: Ah, Yukino is reacting to this.
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