He spoke softly while gently embracing the girl, his tone both tender and resolute. Tsukimi Sakurazawa said nothing, just quietly leaned into his embrace. The Shinkansen ran as usual, as if it would never stop, as Shirakawa Sawahei glimpsed the scenery fleeting past the car window, feeling once again a sense of confusion and melancholy. Little transparent... She must have some affection... but to say she likes... after all, this girl’s confession progress before was only twenty or thirty, quite a difference from those two sneaky little Black Hearted Lolitas at 99%. Proactively being such a jerk to a pure, kind, introverted, and shy young lady... the guilt was remarkably strong. Shirakawa Sawahei thought for a moment, seemingly recalling a certain promise, showing a hint of relief. The New Year’s shrine visit... perhaps that’s where all the answers lie, right? [Target: Tachibana Tomoku; Progress: 33%] Tsukimi Sakurazawa: Confession successful. Hayakawa Kashi: Confession successful. Ise Yu Yuzhijin: Confession successful. It was December 30th, and there were less than five days until the promised New Year’s shrine visit with Tachibana Tomoku. Getting off the train marked a return to the city, without having to transfer like when they first left. Shirakawa Sawahei held his girlfriend’s small hand and walked out of the station first, looking around. As he just began to respond, Tsukimi Sakurazawa suddenly let go of his hand. "Mother, I’ve kept you waiting." She smiled walking towards a woman in the distance, and the woman, drawn by her call, looked her way, smiling softly as she saw her daughter. Shirakawa Sawahei slowly formed a questioning expression. Was I ambushed? Was this Tsukimi Yamadori’s intention or coincidental? Hopefully, the hand-holding wasn’t seen?! After all, having crossed over to Neon for less than two years, there was still that shock and fear resembling young couples in Huaxia on a date bumping into parents. Shirakawa Sawahei’s mind spun for a moment, but he eventually suppressed his questions, walking over to greet Tsukimi Yamadori. "Mrs. Tsukimi... what a surprise." Tsukimi Yamadori paused, seeming a bit puzzled, and glanced at him, then at her daughter... Shirakawa Sawahei also looked at Tsukimi Sakurazawa... The culpable Beta Male lowered his little head... Shirakawa Sawahei: ??? The enemy jungler was right beside me! No wonder, Tsukimi, when it comes to stabbing me in the back, even now as my girlfriend, you don’t let people down. Tsukimi Yamadori didn’t overthink it, and apologetically said to Shirakawa Sawahei, "Thank you for taking care of Sakurazawa these few days, Mr. Shirakawa. Actually, when she told me she wanted to visit your hometown, I didn’t think it was very appropriate... but since it’s Mr. Shirakawa we’re talking about, I thought there shouldn’t be too much to worry about, so I agreed to her request... I apologize for any inconvenience it may have caused you." "Ah... no, no problem... taking care of Tsukimi is what I should do." Shirakawa Sawahei hinted wildly in front of his future mother-in-law, making a certain Beta Male hiding behind her mother blush and lower her head. "Sakurazawa didn’t cause you any trouble during these days, did she?" "No, on the contrary, she’s been very helpful. My family liked her very much, they didn’t find it troublesome at all." "Is that so?" Tsukimi Yamadori chuckled softly, "That’s great... here is a little token of my appreciation, I hope you can give it to your family as an apology for Sakurazawa disturbing them for so long." "Tomorrow is New Year’s Eve, if there’s an opportunity in the future, I hope to meet with your family, Mr. Shirakawa, to thank them personally." "There will definitely be an opportunity!" Tsukimi Sakurazawa blushed again. Shirakawa Sawahei glanced at his girlfriend, and although he was reluctant, there was nothing he could do. After all, spending the New Year still meant spending it with one’s own family as the first priority. When did this Tsukimi guy plan this? Did she agree to return before New Year with Tsukimi Yamadori from the start? She really is Shokatsu Tsukimi with a flawless strategy, isn’t she? The old player reluctantly waved goodbye to his girlfriend, feeling a bit melancholic. He originally hoped to take one girlfriend away and bring back two. Now, one girlfriend ran off, another one’s attitude is uncertain, likely leading to a chaotic scene... and another girlfriend didn’t come at all, but the troublesome little sister did... What a tragic situation it is... I don’t even know how to explain this to Aunt Higashino when I return... went out briefly, and now without a girlfriend... Who would even believe me if I said this... No choice, backed into a corner, the old player braced himself to endure this stabbing criticism, and then headed over to the cute little Ise Yu’s home. The drive wasn’t far, but for the sake of completing his scoundrel undertaking, Shirakawa Sawahei once again opted for the heart-attack-inducing taxi. Before long, he’d arrived at the door of the cute little Ise Yu’s home, ready to press the doorbell. The bell hadn’t rung yet when the long unseen Ise Yu Yudomura hurriedly opened the door, making a shushing gesture to Shirakawa Sawahei. "Don’t press it! If you do, Jin will lose it!" "Mr. Shirakawa, come quietly over here... don’t alert Jin... she just managed to calm down... if you make a sound, it’ll be over." Shirakawa Sawahei: "..." Why does it suddenly feel like I’m having an affair with Ise Yu Yudomura? I’m here to see my girlfriend, please, how am I supposed to find her if I don’t make a sound? "Let’s chat for a bit first, this is what Jin asked me to do earlier." Ise Yu Yudomura lightly closed the door, giving Shirakawa Sawahei a meaningful look, and started to speak. Shirakawa Sawahei nodded, taking a deep breath. Here it comes, finally, it has arrived, the first boss on the player path, the characteristically erratic yet very understanding Ise Yu couple. Content originally comes from novel fire.net "Isn’t that correct?" Ise Yu Yudomura said seriously, "She often curses you as a scoundrel, claiming never to know such an annoying guy like you, yet often hides alone in her room crying, cursing and crying, crying and cursing, and when she gets tired of crying, she starts gaming... her mom took a peek while bringing her food the other day, all fighting games it seems..." "I think one was called Sekiro... controlling a character with your name, endlessly sending him to die, coldly laughing as he does... it was chilling to watch... tell me, isn’t this a sign of a breakup?" Ise Yu Yudomura sighed, "Back then, there was a period when Jiazi and I broke up as well... her behavior at the time was also to curse me as a scoundrel over and over... it seems everything is destined, just like her mother..." A truly confused player looked at the fake player in front of him, his expression wanting to speak but hesitating. Uncle... you might not know, but really, I am actually a scoundrel.