55: The Return of the Crows

"Return of the crows" refers to the filial piety of caring for one's elders.

According to the "Compendium of Materia Medica"—

This bird, when newly born, is fed by its mother for sixty days and then returns the favor for sixty days.

After Chisato had cared for the Dark Wing for only one day, it rewarded him with a significant gift.

Thinking about the blonde hair he had seen earlier, he had some vague guesses, but they were scattered fragments, not yet pieced together.

"Let me sort this out…"

Chisato put away the book he was reading, took out the blonde hair, and examined the two receipts closely.

The receipt from his meal with Kazusa had the number 106, meaning they were the 106th customer of the day at that restaurant.

The receipt from the crows had the number 109, indicating that the customer who dined there did so shortly after them.

He began to understand why the Dark Wing hadn't followed him.

It needed to come in through the window…

His thoughts started to clear up. He continued to examine the dirty receipt, noting what was ordered.

A cup of watermelon juice and a cup of cold coffee.

Common drinks, and at first glance, nothing seemed unusual. But Chisato broke out in a cold sweat.

He remembered his two wives from the simulation.

The one with a striking figure and alluring face liked all kinds of coffee.

The one with dazzling blonde hair who liked to sit on his lap preferred watermelon juice.

"Gulp… It must be a coincidence…"

Chisato swallowed hard, not wanting to think further, as it felt like a bad omen to him.

"Caw…"

The Dark Wing made a soft call, as if saying to accept reality.

After a moment of silence, Chisato knew that some things couldn't be avoided. He held the blonde hair and, with a sense of resignation, began to ask,

"Is someone following me?"

"Caw!"

"…Are they two women?"

"Caw!!"

"Is one of them black-haired and the other blonde?"

"Caw, caw!!!"

"…"

With the increasingly clear answers from the Dark Wing, Chisato's heart sank.

His left hand, holding the blonde hair, began to tremble slightly.

He realized there was no need to ask further.

The wives he had pursued in the simulation actually existed in this world.

And now, they have officially found him!

The taxi, after circling nearby, stopped back at the starting point.

"Thank you, driver."

After politely paying and getting out, Utaha walked into a nearby supermarket.

Although she had told Eriri earlier that the day's mission was over, that was an outright lie.

Utaha's plan was to trick that annoying blonde fool back first, then return secretly to meet her dream lover before the fool noticed.

This series of actions could be summarized as—sneaking a bite.

Utaha didn't think there was anything shameful about sneaking a bite. Based on Eriri's reactions, it seemed that the fool was quite interested in Chisato.

Knowing this, her actions to prevent giving up someone who might be with her for life became justifiable.

If she ended up marrying Chisato, she would just have their daughter acknowledge that fool as a godmother as compensation.

'Eriri, don't blame me for being unscrupulous; love is war, inherently selfish and without any retreat or morality.'

Utaha quietly walked through the supermarket aisles, her expression of guilt gradually fading to one of indifferent determination.

While in the taxi, she had looked up the "Touma" surname she vaguely recognized online.

As expected, she found extremely useful information.

The girl Chisato sent home was the daughter of the world-class pianist Youko, named Touma Kazusa

She was also somewhat famous domestically, having frequently won awards in piano competitions, though she seemed to have lost interest in them in recent years.

As for Touma Youko, there was a lot of information online about her, mostly concerning men and scandals.

Recalling the topic of financial support she overheard between Kazusa and Chisato, Kasumigaoka Utaha's lips curled into a cold smile.

Regardless of whether the girl was like her mother, with a predatory nature towards men, she wouldn't allow the situation to continue.

If Chisato needed money, she alone was enough.

Even if he were to be supported, it wouldn't be by anyone else.

Utaha had already decided that, as long as Chisato was close to the dream version of himself and remained affectionate towards her, she could accept him.

She could let him manage her manuscript fees.

Even if he didn't work and stayed at home all his life, it wouldn't matter.

She would earn money to support him and the family; he just needed to take care of their daughter and stay where she could see him. 

As long as he stayed with her for life, it would be enough.

Carrying fruit from the supermarket, Utaha's steps grew lighter.

She had already planned her reason for visiting: to say she was a new tenant in the same apartment and to ask for future guidance.

He would surely thank her, and she would take the opportunity to get a cup of tea, establish initial contact, and then add him on LINE as peers.

In the future, she would chat with him often, subtly probing his true nature. If he was similar to the dream version, she would confidently proceed to the final stage.

Whether directly or subtly, she would make her move and win him over completely!

A smile spread across Utaha's face.

The dream version of him particularly liked her in black stockings, and today she was wearing a pair, slightly sheer.

When she entered the house, she would casually lift her skirt to let him see, hoping to make a strong first impression.

But she had to be careful not to make him think she was a promiscuous woman.

Kasumigaoka Utaha's smile grew brighter.

Her future husband, wait a bit longer; the beautiful wife is coming to visit you~

As Kasumigaoka Utaha climbed the apartment stairs, someone suddenly pressed on her shoulder from behind.

She turned around, and the sight startled her, causing her to retreat several steps.

"I knew it… I knew it! You nasty woman!!!"

Eriri, holding a flashlight-equipped phone away from her chin, angrily stepped forward and grabbed the startled Utaha's arm.

"I knew you were trying to sneak around secretly!!!"

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