Come In and Sit for a While?

As they passed by a convenience store, Megumi Kato suddenly said, "Kotomi, wait for me here for a bit. I'll just grab a few things and be right back."

"Oh, okay," Kotomi nodded.

Megumi turned and entered the store. A few minutes later, she came back out.

"Did they not have what you were looking for?" Kotomi asked, noticing that Megumi didn't have a convenience store bag with her.

Megumi shook her head. "No, I just bought one item. It wasn't worth spending money on a plastic bag, so I just put it in my backpack."

Megumi didn't say what she had bought, and Kotomi didn't press further. However, she had seen Megumi go to the snacks section through the store window.

What did she buy from the snacks section?

When they reached Kotomi's house, instead of saying goodbye as usual, Kotomi asked, "Megumi, do you have time today? Would you like to come inside for a bit?"

"I'd love to, but wouldn't it be rude to show up empty-handed?" Megumi hesitated, looking a bit concerned.

"There's nothing wrong with that!" Kotomi quickly reassured her. "The yokan and tea you brought last time were more than enough. My parents loved them. Besides, we're still high school students—there's no need for us to bring expensive gifts when visiting."

"I'm glad your parents liked them."

Hearing that Kotomi's parents enjoyed her gift, Megumi looked genuinely happy.

"As for returning the favor, I'll give you a gift in return. I just haven't figured out what you like yet. Is there something you're particularly fond of, Megumi?"

"I don't have anything I especially like, so I can't really say what I'd want as a gift... Haha, I can't think of anything right now," Megumi responded awkwardly.

"Headphones? Teacups? Tableware? Manga? Handicrafts?" Kotomi suggested a few items, but Megumi shook her head at each one.

"Those are things I already have, and I wouldn't say I'm particularly attached to any of them. If you really want to give me something, let me think about it for a bit," Megumi replied calmly.

With that, Kotomi could only nod. As expected of a "side character heroine"—even her preferences were so subtle that she herself couldn't easily name them.

Like most ordinary girls, Megumi probably liked a lot of little trinkets, but if asked to choose a favorite, she couldn't.

"Shall we head inside?" Kotomi stepped aside, making way for Megumi.

Megumi's eyes brightened as she smiled. "Then I'll gladly accept your invitation~"

"My mom's been hoping you'd visit more often. After your visit last Sunday, my parents wouldn't stop praising you when I got home. They said you're a really good kid. Honestly, it sounds like they wish you were their real daughter," Kotomi half-joked.

"Your parents are very kind and easy to talk to. And your mom has such a youthful personality."

Low emotional intelligence: Your mom acts like a child.

High emotional intelligence: Your mom has such a youthful personality~

Kotomi could only laugh awkwardly. "My mom's always been like that. Dad often teases her, saying she's almost fifty, but sometimes acts like a little girl."

"You'd never guess their age, though—they both seem so young. I bet your parents must take great care of their health," Megumi commented.

"Huh? Well, my dad does exercise for a few hours on his days off. He smokes occasionally, but he doesn't have a nicotine addiction or a drinking problem. My mom's a full-time housewife, so she has plenty of free time, but she's never been to a beauty salon."

"Really? She's never been to a beauty salon? My mom would be so jealous if she knew that. She might even come over one day to ask your mom for beauty tips! My mom goes to the salon a few times a month for treatments," Megumi said with a laugh.

Even if she did come to ask, I doubt Mom could teach her anything, Kotomi thought.

Kotomi's mom, Izumi Akina, couldn't even remember the last time she went to a beauty salon—maybe years ago. After going once, she never returned, saying it was boring to spend half a day there. She preferred staying home and watching TV.

As for the skincare and beauty regimens that most women begin focusing on after turning thirty, Akina had never paid much attention. She ate and drank whatever she wanted, yet still managed to maintain her figure and overall health with grace and poise.

Some women enhance their appearance through rigorous self-care routines, while others, like Akina, seem to naturally exude beauty without any effort. In the world of women, being born beautiful can be quite... "frustrating" for others.

After opening the door, Kotomi led Megumi inside, and they happened to run into Izumi Akina, who was coming downstairs, holding freshly sun-dried bedding from the balcony.

"Mom, I'm home," Kotomi said.

Seeing her daughter back, Akina smiled and said, "Welcome home, Kotomi. Aimi's in the living room. Oh, and Megumi's here too! Welcome, welcome. Come in and make yourself at home."

"I'm sorry for intruding while you're busy," Megumi said politely.

"Oh, it's no trouble at all! How could it be an intrusion? I'm thrilled you're here," Akina replied with a big smile. "Would you like some dessert?"

"Oh, no, no, I'll be leaving soon. You don't need to go through the trouble."

"Oh, come on~ I was hoping you'd stay for dinner! How about spending the night? I bet Kotomi would be so happy she'd bounce around like a little kid. She might even beg to sleep in the same bed with you!"

"Who would be that happy?!" Kotomi blurted out, her face turning red. Her mom could really go overboard sometimes.

No wonder Dad always says she acts like a kid…

"Heehee, getting shy already? Didn't you and Megumi sleep in the same bed when you missed the last train and stayed in Tokyo together?"

Akina then shifted to a mock-serious tone, resting one arm on her bedding and the other on Megumi's shoulder.

"Young lady, you shared a bed with the precious daughter of the Izumi family! You'll have to take responsibility!"

As soon as she said this, Akina's expression changed to a mischievous grin.

"Hehe~ I'm just teasing. Don't take it seriously. Come on in, don't just stand at the door. I'll go put the bedding away—you two make yourselves comfortable."

With that, Akina left, carrying the bedding upstairs. Shortly after, there was a thud, followed by a soft "Ow!" It seemed she had bumped into something while carrying the bedding.

"Sorry about my mom, Megumi," Kotomi said, smiling apologetically.

"It's okay. I already experienced her warmth during my last visit. Having a mom like her must make every day fun, right?"

Fun?

Yeah, it is.

As long as Izumi Akina was around, there was never a shortage of laughter in the Izumi household.