After confirming the commission, Mori Minami took her leave directly.
Recently, due to her daughter's matter, she had delayed quite a bit of work, and she was already approaching her limit. Just the life-threatening calls she received had already reached more than a dozen. If she delayed any longer, something big would definitely go wrong.
As for Wakaba Mutsumi, she was naturally left behind, waiting to return home together with Kaito.
She didn't bring any luggage. After all, in this interstellar era, as long as you're not short on money, anything missing can just be bought directly.
Thus, a new temporary household member was added. Although it was only temporary, Kaito still decided to make some good dishes to entertain the little Mutsumi girl.
On the way back, he specifically went to a convenience store and bought a bunch of ingredients. At the same time, he didn't forget to prepare a share for Secretary Sakiko.
———
[Thirty Minutes Later]
There was still some time before dinner. Secretary Sakiko had returned home first, planning to take a bath before coming.
Kaito entered the password, unlocked the main door, put down the grocery bags he was carrying, and at the entrance, took out a brand new pair of indoor slippers for Wakaba Mutsumi. As he handed them to her and was about to say something, a cheerful voice suddenly rang out, "Pervert! You're finally back!"
Somehow having awakened from sleep, Kumiko drifted over like an enthusiastic puppy and leapt into his arms.
Kaito casually caught her. Although she was a blade spirit, she could still be touched.
The newly evolved Kumiko had clearly undergone a significant transformation.
First was her height. She used to be just a little over one meter four, but now she had shot up all of a sudden, already surpassing Secretary Sakiko and approaching one hundred sixty centimeters.
Next was her figure. From the previous Amazonian flatlands, she had now developed like a budding flower. Roughly speaking, she should be one size bigger than Kita and approaching the level of Gremlin Ryou.
Although it was still somewhat regrettable... compared to before, it was already a huge improvement. At least she now had some obvious curves.
'So blade spirits also experience a second stage of growth after evolution?'
'If this kind of thing happens a few more times, won't Kumiko go from the current bean sprout to a supermodel-height, curvy green-haired big sister?', Kaito imagined in his mind what Kumiko would look like grown up, 'Alright, it just feels weird.'
"Hmph hmph, not even blinking? Pervert must have been captivated by my figure, right?", Kumiko placed her hands on her hips, revealing a slightly smug and cute expression.
While surfing the internet before, she had accidentally discovered a senior relationship expert and learned quite a few obscure little tips from them.
Although the pervert was powerful and quite handsome, after all, he was still a teenage boy in puberty. Having strange thoughts about beautiful females was something inevitable.
'Sigh, in the end, it's all because of my damn charm!'
'Captivated by your figure?'
'Feels... not even close to Bocchi.'
Actually, Soyo was also pretty great, but during the tutoring incident last time, Kaito had personally experienced the heart of a little introvert. Because he had experienced it, he had more authority to speak on the matter.
'Gotta say, heavy, very substantial.'
'Just a little blade girl, laughable at best.'
If Kaito were to rank the girls around him, Bocchi and Soyo would no doubt be at the top of the strength tier, true powerhouses standing above all.
Yumiko would be a step below those two, temporarily in T2.
As for Gremlin Ryou, she barely rated a B, slightly above the average line, which could put her in T3.
The rest, like Kita, Nijika, Anon and the like, didn't even have a B, all should sit at the kids' table. Kumiko was no exception.
"What's with that look in your eyes?", Kumiko wrinkled her cute little nose thoughtfully, "Or wait... pervert, are you actually one of those... tsunderes?"
Pak!
The power of the Personality Correction Fist was unquestionable. One moment Kumiko was proud and smug, the next she was clutching her head, nearly in tears.
Kaito coldly ignored her accusing gaze and introduced, "This is Miss Wakaba, the one you saw last time. She'll be staying here for a while."
"Staying is fine, but why hit me...", Kumiko pouted in dissatisfaction but still looked over at Wakaba Mutsumi.
The cucumber spirit hadn't spoken from the beginning, quietly watching this bickering "father-daughter" (not really) duo, with a faint smile on her lips.
Though faint, it was definitely there.
Meeting Kumiko's gaze, she didn't feel awkward and calmly greeted, "Good evening."
The young blade girl wasn't unfamiliar with the girl in front of her, they had seen each other last time at Wakaba's villa, just didn't really talk much.
However, seeing that the other also had long green hair like herself, Kumiko instinctively felt a bit of affection toward her.
The girl cleared her throat and said seriously, "My name is Kumiko, a divine blade spirit, and the second greatest being in this household. As for the third... just a fat cat, not worth mentioning."
"Meow! Meow!"
'Who are you calling fat!'
Kirara, who had snuck over unnoticed, meowed in protest, then rubbed against Kaito's leg, 'Boss, look at her!'
Actually, the relationship between this blade and cat wasn't that bad. When Kaito wasn't home, the two got along decently well, more like bickering friends.
Wakaba Mutsumi liked this kind of atmosphere. It had a warm, family-like feel, far better than a luxurious but cold mansion.
"Besides the bedroom I stay in, you can pick any of the other vacant rooms," Kaito stepped past the entryway, carrying the groceries into the kitchen, "Dinner will take a bit longer. If you're bored, Miss Wakaba, you can watch some TV in the living room."
"Mutsumi," The doll-like girl softly opened her cherry lips, uttering a simple unit of data.
"Hm?", Kaito didn't quite get her meaning.
"Call me Mutsumi, or Little Mutsumi."
The cucumber spirit looked at him with those brilliant golden eyes, "Don't call me Miss Wakaba."
'Because… it sounds too cold.'
'I don't want to become distant from you.'
The girl didn't have many friends. Besides Sakiko, there were only the former bandmates who had also drifted apart after the group disbanded.
Now, it felt like… there was once again someone she wanted to get close to.
Sakiko aside for now.
'If Soyo knew… will she be happy for me?'
"Then I'll call you Little Mutsumi," Kaito didn't mind. After all, they were going to live together for three months. Just using her surname did feel too distant.
Two simple characters, a name that had been called by friends many times in the past.
Wakaba Mutsumi lowered her gaze slightly. Her long lashes trembled lightly, like a butterfly about to take flight, hiding the stirring emotions in her golden eyes.
She raised one slender white hand and gently pressed it to her chest.
At that moment, hearing his voice, this place felt warm and soft, as if a baby bird had fluttered into her heart.
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