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V6 Chapter 25: Little Mutsumi’s Combat Power
🕑 Added 2025-07-08 14:07:42 +0000 UTCThe warm light of the entryway flicked on.
It wasn't a long trip from Café Ahnenerbe to Haru's apartment in Yokohama. By the time the dusky evening glow had fully faded from the sky, they were already home.
Haru casually unlocked the rusted iron door with his worn apartment key. Behind him, Tomori hesitantly peeked her head inside.
This was only Tomori's second time visiting Haru's place.
The last time had been for a group "study session." But everything had changed since then, especially the relationship between her and Haru.
Now that she was officially his girlfriend, there was no way she wasn't nervous.
…
Mutsumi seemed to pick up on Tomori's anxious mood, but she said nothing, simply watching her in silence.
As the metal door clicked shut, the cat-girl grinned and tried to slip into the apartment, but Haru grabbed her by the scruff before she could dart inside. Fully aware of how restless this little feline could be, he spoke with a hint of exasperation.
"I haven't even started cooking yet. Dinner's still a while off… so just have some candy or something and behave."
"I'll help."
Mutsumi quietly picked up the bag full of groceries. Her delicate arms were slender and pale, clearly struggling a bit to carry that much food all at once.
But Haru knew Mutsumi well. Despite her calm appearance, she could be incredibly stubborn in her own way. She wasn't the type to just sit around and wait.
"In that case… same as last time. Wash the veggies for me, measure out the seasonings, and set the plates and utensils."
As Mutsumi nodded with her usual blank expression, Tomori began fidgeting. She hadn't expected Mutsumi to jump in and help right away, and as a fellow girlfriend, it bothered her that she couldn't do anything.
A wave of anxiety crept into the little penguin's heart.
She had to help too!
Determined, Tomori clenched her tiny fists to her chest and declared earnestly:
"…I want to help Haru too. Please feel free to give me any task at all! No matter what it is, I'll do my best!"
Anything, huh?
Maybe start by giving me a kiss or two—
"Anything, really?"
Haru stroked his chin, eyeing the blinking penguin girl thoughtfully. Honestly, thinking of a suitable task for her was kind of tough.
He was used to cooking entirely by himself. At most, he'd let others help wash vegetables or boil rice.
But Mutsumi could already handle all that just fine on her own. The small kitchen barely had space for a third person anyway...
Still, Tomori looked like she was ready to go to war. Haru had no doubt that if he asked her to carry a buffalo to bombsite B, she'd go straight down mid-lane and do it.
Understanding her feelings, Haru wasn't about to shoot her down. Fortunately, he'd just thought of the perfect idea.
He reached over and scooped up the wobbling Raana.
"Alright then, I'm leaving Raana in your care, Tomori."
A mission of great importance!
Maybe it was the seriousness in his tone, but the penguin girl straightened up and nodded with determination.
"U-understood!"
As she began earnestly watching over the cat-girl, Haru couldn't help but laugh. He gave her a few words of encouragement before turning toward the kitchen with Mutsumi.
But before he could even start pulling out ingredients, the emotionless doll-like girl beside him began tying back her smooth pale green hair.
"Haru, tie it up for me."
Her voice was soft as autumn wind brushing the ear, gentle like floating cotton.
"…Do you even know what you're asking?"
Looking at her pretty, unchanging face, Haru could already guess what she was thinking. With a sigh, he pinched her cheek lightly, then slipped off the hair tie from his wrist.
He pulled Mutsumi close and deftly gathered her waist-length hair into a high ponytail.
"How's that?"
"…Mm."
She could probably tie it herself. But she wanted him to do it.
Haru didn't call her out. He simply patted her head and began preparing dinner.
Under Mutsumi's attentive gaze, Haru picked up the knife in his left hand and began chopping eggplant and cucumbers with precise, emotionless movements. Then, with a flick of the blade, he separated shrimp meat from shell like a magic trick.
Dusting them with starch, he coated every piece evenly before sliding them into the oil, all in under ten seconds.
"…Haru, you're amazing at cooking."
"Want to learn? I'll teach you."
Her praise made Haru's heart swell a little with pride.
But Mutsumi only blinked, then nodded slightly.
Still, her doll-like expression faltered for just a moment. She lowered her head, and a rare hint of sadness crossed her face.
Haru immediately noticed the change.
"Mutsumi, is something wrong?"
Mutsumi was jealous of Nagasaki Soyo.
Soyo had been independent since childhood. She was great at cooking and housework. Even if she dropped out of high school tomorrow and became a housewife, she'd probably be perfect at it.
But Mutsumi had grown up surrounded by maids and butlers. She'd mastered all the etiquette and social skills of a proper lady, but when it came to being a "wife," she was completely clueless.
"I want to learn to cook, so that when you're tired and worn out, I can make dinner for you myself. I want to be the one to draw your bath and help you relax."
"I want to learn how to clean, to do laundry. And when your clothes tear, I want to be able to sew them for you with my own hands."
"If I can't even do those basic things, I'm not fit to be a wife."
The normally silent and reserved Mutsumi lifted her head and stared directly at him.
Just saying the word wife brought visible change to her usually calm face. Her pale cheeks flushed a deep rose, and even the nape of her neck, exposed by her ponytail, turned pink.
…
The sincerity in her voice made Haru freeze. His face couldn't keep up its usual composure.
Wait, we just started dating and she's already talking about being a level 100 wife?
Even with his emotional resistance at full, Haru was no match for this. He was completely disarmed, stuck like someone hit with a status effect he couldn't shake.
Technically, he should've smiled calmly and encouraged her,
"You can do it, Mutsumi."
But instead, his knife nearly slipped out of his hand.
He knew full well that now was not the time to let slip a ridiculous reaction, so Haru steadied his breath, trying to calm his pulse. Once he'd managed to regain some composure, he spoke at a steady pace.
"It's not easy to do all that, Mutsumi. So work hard and take your time learning, okay?"
Mutsumi, her cheeks bright red, kept her gaze lowered. Of course, she'd noticed how Haru had been staring at her face just now.
And that made her happy.
Just like Haru could instantly sense when she was feeling off, the same went for her. With her strong feelings and deep dependence on him, she could also read his subtle changes.
Seeing him react like that proved he'd truly been affected by her.
As the daughter of an entertainer, Mutsumi had developed a sharp sensitivity to reading people. She hadn't missed Haru's telltale signs.
More than that, she could now guess his thoughts through his expressions and the air around him.
"Haru..."
Very unlike her usual self, Mutsumi lightly tugged on his sleeve. In the cramped kitchen, she stepped in closer to him, her movements calm and natural.
"Do you… want a kiss?"
In that moment, the air itself seemed to fall silent. The tempura oil sizzled and rolled in the deep fryer. From the living room came the distant chatter of a variety show.
Drip, drip, drop... Water trickled from the sink.
At some point, Mutsumi had quietly risen on tiptoe. That serene, doll-like face now bore a faint pink blush. As if all Haru had to do was say yes, and she would close her eyes and offer herself to him, without hesitation.
…
Haru remained stone-faced.
No way. Honestly, he was about to explode.
Even with all the calm and restraint in the world, he was still a teenage boy. There was no way his heart wasn't pounding right now.
Not to mention, Haru had always been very upfront about the fact that he was kind of a perv.
The way their eyes met at such close range, the quiet, quickening breath near his ear, every detail chipped away at his sanity. And when he remembered that Mutsumi was now officially his girlfriend, kissing her wouldn't be strange at all.
But the problem was...
Stare…
A little white head peeked into the kitchen, golden eyes narrowed in curiosity. The cat-girl was watching, clearly intrigued.
Your silence is deafening.
"Raana, give us a few more minutes, okay? You don't want the food to get ruined before it's even finished, do you?"
The cat blinked slowly. Before she could say anything, Tomori rushed over in a panic, covering her mouth and gently pulling her away.
"You can't! You can't interrupt Haru right now…"
Once the two girls were back in the living room, Haru's hand on the kitchen knife finally stopped trembling.
Being watched by a middle schooler like Raana, there was no way he could do anything even remotely intimate.
That cat had terrifying memory and observation skills. Whatever that blue-haired woman taught her last time, she remembered it all and every single word. If she saw anything now, she'd definitely be curious and take mental notes.
Worse, if her guardian ever found out she was picking up questionable behavior here and pulled her from the band, it would be catastrophic.
…
Seeing Mutsumi's flushed face as she turned away, pretending nothing had happened, Haru quietly sighed and forced himself to focus on the food again.
But he didn't notice the small frown that briefly crossed her brow.
…
Dinner passed quickly in a warm, relaxed atmosphere.
Raana, fully satisfied after the meal, lay sprawled out on the couch, head resting on Haru's lap like a curled-up kitten.
When Haru mischievously pinched her soft, chubby cheeks, she purred contentedly.
Meanwhile, Tomori had insisted on helping clean up and joined Mutsumi in washing the dishes. Even beside a refined young lady like Mutsumi, the little penguin girl didn't seem the least bit out of place.
Mutsumi, like a petite, stone-faced teacher, calmly instructed Tomori on how to properly scrub and rinse. The penguin girl nodded furiously, taking notes like a model student.
Watching the two girls work together so seriously made Haru smile softly.
Then, his phone vibrated in his pocket.
[Rikki-senpai (note): Haru, can you come to RiNG tomorrow?]
He'd barely taken out his phone when the message popped up. Taki rarely texted him unless it was about training or songwriting.
Ever since Haru had confessed to her, Taki, who'd never been confessed to before had entered full panic mode. That contrast between her usual harsh tone and her panicked reactions only made her more endearing.
And Haru loved teasing her all the more for it.
[TurningIntoCompost: Miss me?]
[Rikki-senpai: …Are you some kind of idiot?]
He couldn't see her face through the screen, but he could clearly imagine it: flushed red, trying to act tough.
[Rikki-senpai: I'm setting up a new Line group. I've been thinking over what you said about "trust issues." I realized during the culture festival performance I still had a lot to work on… So before our next live, I want everyone to really get on the same page. I want to talk about it tomorrow.]
Haru blinked in mild surprise, then raised an eyebrow with a faint smirk.
He already knew that Taki was the type to take responsibility for her mistakes. No matter how stubborn she acted, she always owned up to it and tried to fix things right away.
That was one of the reasons he liked her.
[TurningIntoCompost: No problem. You know about Anon, right?]
[Rikki-senpai: Of course I do. I'm going to talk about that seriously too.]
After all, Anon had left the group without a word and tried to escape to London. Now that she was back, she wouldn't be able to escape Rikki's interrogation.
Good luck, pinkie. Amen.
After exchanging a few messages, Haru put his phone away. Then he remembered, he still had to finish the key illustration for Summer Bloom. He needed to submit it before the Youth Art Expo started.
Just as he was about to get up...
A sleepy cat latched onto his waist.
"This is trouble…"
Was this the legendary Nine-Tails-Sealing Cat?
Raana had fallen asleep clinging to him, and Haru's expression turned complicated.
Perhaps sensing his predicament, Tomori came tiptoeing over.
She looked at the peacefully sleeping cat-girl and, unsure what to do, whispered, "Raana-chan? Don't sleep on Haru like that… you're troubling him."
But the penguin girl's effort couldn't budge the cat an inch.
Blinking helplessly at the sight of Raana sprawled across Haru's lap, Tomori suddenly had an idea. With a look of determination, she turned to Haru and clenched her little fists.
Under Haru's puzzled gaze, she extended her small hand.
"I'll take your place, then. It's my responsibility to take care of Raana-chan now."
"Well, sure, but how are you going to…"
Haru was still wondering how she planned to "take his place" when the serious-faced girl gently lifted Raana's head. The moment Haru slid away from the couch, she lowered the cat-girl onto her lap for a knee pillow replacement.
Somehow, even this movement didn't wake Raana.
Only once she was fully off of him did Haru finally breathe a sigh of relief, a quiet note of gratitude in his voice.
"Tomori, you really saved me there."
"It's no problem! I'll stay here and look after Raana-chan… you go do what you need to do."
Seeing the earnest look on her face, Haru seized the chance and quickly made his way to the bedroom.
After finding his painting Summer Bloom near the paint-stained easel, he suddenly heard the door click softly behind him and a sharp, metallic snick by his ear.
Haru: …?
What was that?
He turned and saw Mutsumi standing there with her usual blank expression.
Looking closer, her delicate hand was still resting on the lock below the doorknob. The sound he heard just now had clearly been the door being locked from the inside.
Wait, what?
Letting go of the knob, Mutsumi took a breath and raised her chin like she was steeling herself.
"No one can see us now…"
A soft pink hue crept over her usually composed face, and her voice trembled ever so slightly, completely different from her normal calm demeanor.
Even Mutsumi knew this was a bold move. After locking the door without permission, she stood by it like a student waiting for punishment.
Haru almost burst out laughing.
Who would've thought Mutsumi could be so forward? It was surprisingly cute.
Earlier in the kitchen, she hadn't gotten the moment she wanted. Now that the opportunity presented itself, she dove in without hesitation. Seeing such an adorable thought process, Haru had no reason to resist. He simply sat down and patted the spot beside him.
…
Without a word, Mutsumi walked over and under Haru's curious gaze turned and sat sideways on his lap.
Whoa, cucumber...
Her sudden "attack" caught Haru off guard. But seeing her porcelain-like cheeks tinged with red, he reached out and gently wrapped his arms around her slender waist.
No matter how many times they embraced, he still thought Mutsumi's waist was the softest.
So delicate and narrow it felt like it might snap if held too tightly. Resting her head gently against his chest, their body heat started to meld together through the thin layer of clothing.
For both of them, this kind of embrace had become second nature.
"Is it because of Soyo that you're feeling uneasy again?"
"…Yeah."
It had been a while since she'd felt that sun-like warmth from him. Mutsumi gently nuzzled her cheek against his chest, greedily inhaling the calming scent of the person she loved.
She held him like she never wanted to let go, letting herself be spoiled and comforted in a moment that was hers alone.
Nagasaki Soyo had said her feelings for Haru might not be "love," but just a kind of "affection born from dependency." That had left Mutsumi feeling deeply unsettled and more than a little hurt.
She could only show that side of herself in moments like this.
Seeing her expression, Haru sighed quietly to himself.
So the harem fire had finally been lit. There was no avoiding it now. He'd have to keep a closer eye on Soyo from here on, make sure she didn't pull any stunts.
If she tried anything shady, no more meat for her.
"I don't know exactly what Soyo said to you, but I can guess the gist of it…"
"But don't worry, Mutsumi. I know what I'm doing."
Mutsumi gave a faint nod, eyes uncertain as she looked up at him.
Haru could guess what was on her mind. When the cat-girl interrupted earlier, it had clearly left her disappointed. Now she naturally wanted to "make up for it."
Understanding that, Haru leaned in and pressed his lips gently to her cheek. A faint cucumber-like sweetness drifted from her soft skin.
Mutsumi's pale gold eyes widened slightly.
The warm light in the room spilled across her like a haze, her translucent green hair catching the glow and shimmering faintly. For a moment, it felt like time itself had frozen.
"…I want more."
Even after the kiss ended, Mutsumi leaned in again. Her body temperature rose, blood rushing with renewed heat. Her heartbeat quickened, in sync with her emotions.
After a brief silence...
She flushed deeply and leaned her head against his chest. Her breathing was uneven now, the rhythm thrown off entirely.
Seeing Haru smile at her, Mutsumi grew even more flustered.
"…Haru, aren't we going to continue?"
"What kind of thoughts are you having right now, little cucumber?"
Haru narrowed his dark eyes at her, his tone caught between amusement and disbelief.
Mutsumi blinked blankly. Then her gaze shifted, falling on something just past him.
"…Wouldn't that be uncomfortable for you?"
You think it takes focus to snipe?
I could be standing at T-side with an AK and still pop five heads while strafing. You think this is hard?
There was no denying Mutsumi's allure was way beyond what he'd expected, especially with how different she was acting right now. Haru, understandably, couldn't stop his body from reacting.
Seeing her face, he sighed and stroked her silken hair, eyes gentle as they rested on her doll-like beauty.
After a pause, he spoke, calm and clear.
"Silly girl, of course we can't."
"I've still got important things to take care of. If I ignored that now, it'd be unfair to you. Besides, we shouldn't rush into this. Use that clever little head of yours."
Just like he'd said...
Haru still had a mountain of unresolved matters to handle. Until he could match his responsibilities with his actions, he wouldn't allow himself to make any careless decisions.
Especially with all the emotional messes still left hanging around him, he needed to stay in control.
Not to mention, this was only theoretical privacy.
…
Only now did Mutsumi remember that Tomori and Raana were still in the living room. That tiny pang of disappointment vanished like mist. She glanced up at Haru's neck.
The mark was gone now, but she hadn't forgotten the way Soyo had once "marked her territory" there.
"You're not thinking of copying Soyo and biting me, are you?"
Haru gave her a strange look, a bit thrown off by her dazed expression. Even without much change on her face, he could already guess what she was thinking.
Why did everyone want to bite his neck?
"…You can bite me instead."
"Mutsumi, have mercy. I don't mind personally, but if your classmates at Tsukinomori saw the mark, we'd never hear the end of it. You're a public figure, after all."
If someone spotted a mark on her neck, the fallout would be nuclear. Haru didn't even want to think about it.
