Kasumigaoka Utaha felt a ticklish sensation and a strong desire.
Where was it ticklish?
Her heart, of course.
What did she want?
She, of course, also wanted to read Tanaka Masao's novel.
Tanaka Masao saw Kasumigaoka Utaha's black-stockinged legs rub together uncomfortably a couple of times and instantly understood her thoughts.
What, you ask why Tanaka Masao could notice such subtle changes in movement?
Was it because he was a warm-hearted guy?
Of course not, it was because he was a pervert, and his eyes never left the places they were supposed to be looking at.
"Senior Kasumigaoka, do you want to read it?"
A flicker of joy crossed Kasumigaoka Utaha's face before it vanished. She lightly coughed and said, feigning indifference, "If Junior Tanaka insists...
I'm not saying I can't make time to read it."
"Heh, she's getting tsundere with me now. Just wait until I string her along."
"Oh, right, Junior Tanaka, can I ask you a question?"
"What question, Senior Kasumigaoka?"
"Have you ever been in a relationship?"
At the mention of love, Fujiwara Chika became interested, looking curiously at Tanaka Masao.
If she remembered correctly, Tanaka Masao had a great beauty like Yukinoshita Yukino by his side, but the two didn't seem to be a couple yet.
"Oh, Senior Kasumigaoka, you're so mean."
Tanaka Masao acted shy.
"I'm still a pure, innocent boy who's never been in love."
Kasumigaoka Utaha was speechless. Had she been hypnotized just now?
How could she have even thought of being in a relationship with such a creature?
And becoming Tanaka Masao's first girlfriend, his 'white moonlight'.
He wouldn't, for the sake of so-called perfect memories, kill her himself if she didn't die, would he?
After all, what's more devastating than a dead 'white moonlight' is a 'white moonlight' you killed yourself.
So, Kasumigaoka Utaha gave up the idea of dating Tanaka Masao.
Do you think Tanaka Masao suffered a huge loss this time?
No, no, no, Tanaka Masao was actually thinking clearly this time; he won big.
If Kasumigaoka Utaha had really, in a moment of lovesickness, confessed to Tanaka Masao, what would he have done?
The two of them currently had almost no emotional ties or foundation.
If he agreed immediately, then with Kasumigaoka Utaha's possessiveness, he might even be tied to her. Forget about the vast garden outside; even a fake flower nearby wouldn't be allowed.
If he refused, then with Kasumigaoka Utaha's character of loving fiercely and being able to let go, there would be no future.
So, the best approach now was to first let her calm down, then gradually draw closer in their daily interactions, slowly integrating into each other's lives.
Step by step, lower her psychological bottom line, make her gradually fall in love, unable to leave him, and then, with some gentle persuasion...
Yukinoshita Yukino: Why is someone using my exclusive verb?
It must be said that Tanaka Masao had, at this moment, initially grasped the art of balance and push-and-pull.
Patience, Tanaka Masao, you need patience. Your good days will come.
The three of them read novels for quite a while at the coffee shop. By now, it was evening, and it was getting late, so they naturally had to go back.
Tanaka Masao saw the two off at a nearby station and waved goodbye. After they left, he pondered what he should do.
He had an appointment with Goto Hitori to visit her house tomorrow, to draw for her and also tutor her, giving some guidance and such.
Going back and forth would be a hassle, so he didn't plan to return to Chiba today.
Finding a random hotel to stay in was certainly an option, but that would be boring.
Going directly to Goto Hitori's house wasn't ideal either; they had agreed on tomorrow, and going a night early would surely catch them unprepared.
Fujiwara Chika's family situation was special, so he couldn't go there easily.
Kasumigaoka Utaha seemed to live alone, but they had just met, and their relationship wasn't intimate yet. Forget about doing anything intimate; whether she'd even agree was a question.
Other people he knew in Tokyo...
Eriri, he had spent the night at her house several times already; it was boring now. He'd consider it next time.
"Oh, right, there's her..."
Thinking this, Tanaka Masao took out his phone and sent a message to that person.
...
Ten minutes later, Tanaka Masao stood in the night, saying to a figure who was hurriedly running towards him from behind, "You've arrived."
"I've arrived."
"You shouldn't have come."
"Huh? But didn't you ask me to come?"
Yotsuya Miko looked at Tanaka Masao, who had his back to her, and for a moment, didn't know what he was up to.
Was he possessed by a ghost?
Tanaka Masao turned around. This Yotsuya Miko, really, didn't she know how to play along with him?
Yotsuya Miko: But I have no experience, I don't know how to play.
That's right, after some thought, Tanaka Masao finally decided to favor Yotsuya Miko tonight and spend the night at her house.
Although he had also just met her today, compared to Kasumigaoka Utaha, Tanaka Masao offered Yotsuya Miko an irresistible condition.
That was, Tanaka Masao said he would help exorcise her house tonight.
As for how the exorcism would be done, you don't need to worry about that; Tanaka Masao would decide everything.
So, even though it was very late, and even though Tanaka Masao said he was coming to her house, she came in the end, hoping to no longer live in constant fear every day.
Tanaka Masao walked beside Yotsuya Miko and asked, "Are there other people in your house?"
"Yes, my mother, my younger brother, and..."
As Yotsuya Miko spoke, a trace of struggle flashed in her eyes before she continued, "...and my father. He has passed away, but he's still at home."
This was a secret buried deep in her heart. Ever since she awakened her spiritual sight and saw her father's soul, although she was very excited and happy and wanted to say a word to him.
But she didn't dare.
She didn't dare to openly expose herself amidst the surrounding ghosts.
Nor did she dare to disturb her father, fearing that her intervention might affect him.
She felt that being able to see her father's figure every day was enough.
She hadn't even told her family this secret, and only in the safe zone beside Tanaka Masao did she dare to speak it aloud.
Tanaka Masao nodded upon hearing this. He also knew about this from the anime and couldn't help but exclaim, "Yotsuya, you're truly lucky."
"Lucky."
Yotsuya Miko probably understood what Tanaka Masao meant, a bitter, somewhat helpless smile appearing on her face.
"Perhaps."
Seeing her deceased father was certainly a lucky thing, but being unable to acknowledge him and having to live in such a high-pressure environment every day was not easy at all.
"Actually, I used to be quite afraid of ghosts too, but then I heard a saying, and I stopped being afraid of them."
Hearing Tanaka Masao's words, Yotsuya Miko asked curiously, "What saying?"
"The ghost you fear is someone else's longed-for person."