Tanaka Masao looked at the silent Yotsuya Miko, a little smug.
"I just need to make a small move, and people will be incredibly touched.
How about it, Miko? Isn't your affection for me skyrocketing now?"
After a few seconds of silence, Yotsuya Miko looked up, her beautiful large eyes wide, and finally spoke.
"Do the people others yearn for look that terrifying?"
Tanaka Masao: …
"Don't say things that ruin the mood! Just be moved, alright?!"
Hearing Tanaka Masao's angry roar, Yotsuya Miko shrunk her neck, saying somewhat timidly.
"But I'm telling the truth. Those guys are all terrifying and grotesque. How could anyone possibly yearn for such monstrous things?
The people they yearn for, they should just go find them. Why are they bothering me?"
"Alright~ alright~ alright~"
Tanaka Masao was very satisfied with Yotsuya Miko's answer.
"Since that's the case, I'll be a good person to the end and clear out all the evil spirits in your house, so you won't have to be afraid anymore."
"No… no, don't!"
Yotsuya Miko understood Tanaka Masao's meaning almost immediately.
If he cleared them all out, wouldn't that include her father?
Although she couldn't acknowledge him, being able to see him every day and have that thought was still nice.
"Tanaka, please, don't harm my father. He's harmless."
Yotsuya Miko quickly pleaded.
"Even though my father became a ghost, he's not terrifying or vicious at all. He's still as gentle and kind as he was when he was alive."
"I'm too lazy to explain it to you; you're not worthy of hearing it. Evil spirits are evil spirits, and they should leave this world that doesn't belong to them.
Mark 85, combine!"
Seeing the light glow on Tanaka Masao's chest, Yotsuya Miko quickly stepped forward, grabbed his arm, and stopped him.
"No, really, don't! I don't want my father to truly leave my side.
The evil spirit you want to eliminate is a loved one I yearn for!
If you spare him, I'll agree to anything you ask."
The imposing aura around Tanaka Masao receded.
"Anything?"
"Anything."
"Then I won't be polite."
As he spoke, Tanaka Masao's signature smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
If Yotsuya Miko's father, Masamori Yotsuya, knew that Tanaka Masao was using his safety to threaten Yotsuya Miko, he would surely evolve from a kind, harmless, ordinary lone spirit into a vengeful ghost in an instant.
…
About ten minutes later, Yotsuya Miko, her face flushed, opened her front door and said somewhat guiltily.
"I… I'm home."
"Miko, you're back. Why are you out so late…"
A woman who resembled Yotsuya Miko, with her hair tied in a side ponytail in front of her shoulder, exuding the aura of a good wife and loving mother, walked out upon hearing the sound.
This person was Yotsuya Miko's mother, Yotsuya Touko.
As soon as Yotsuya Touko came out, she saw Tanaka Masao next to Yotsuya Miko, and her eyes widened in surprise.
"Miko actually brought a man home late at night!"
Seeing Yotsuya Touko, Tanaka Masao was also very surprised, sighing inwardly.
"As expected of a mother of a two-dimensional anime heroine, she's so young and beautiful.
And compared to the innocent heroine, this mature aura is truly charming."
Though both mothers, Yotsuya Touko was clearly more elegant and attractive than the somewhat playful and mischievous Sawamura Sayuri.
Regarding this, Tanaka Masao expressed:
"I am not Cao Cao; it just so happens that I like mature and charming women. Being Cao Cao isn't a sickness; it's a lifestyle."
Tanaka Masao showed his best smile and greeted her.
"Hello, Older Sister, I am Tanaka Masao."
Hearing Tanaka Masao's words, Yotsuya Touko snapped out of her surprise and replied.
"Hello, Tanaka-kun, I am Miko's mother, Yotsuya Touko."
As she spoke, she glanced at Yotsuya Miko, gesturing for her to introduce who this person was.
Feeling her mother's gaze, Yotsuya Miko had no choice but to say with a forced smile.
"Mom, this… this is my boyfriend."
After saying that, her entire face was so red it looked like it was about to cook.
That's right, after Yotsuya Miko pleaded and said she would agree to anything Tanaka Masao asked, Tanaka Masao made a rather simple request.
That was to spend the night at her house as Yotsuya Miko's boyfriend.
Although Yotsuya Miko was a bit reluctant about this request, she thought that besides damaging her reputation, it didn't seem too out of line.
So, after some hesitation, she agreed.
It's just that, having to say it herself now, it was still so embarrassing.
"Boy… boyfriend!"
Yotsuya Touko was clearly extremely surprised by this.
She didn't understand how her daughter had gotten a boyfriend so quickly, and bringing him home late at night—that couldn't be simple, could it?
However, thankfully, this was Japan, and for their children dating, even elementary school students, most parents didn't object, let alone Yotsuya Miko, who was already an adult.
She looked at Tanaka Masao. Although he wasn't very handsome and was a bit chubby, he gave the impression of an honest, simple, and relatively obedient ordinary boy.
As long as it wasn't suddenly bringing home a delinquent with dyed hair, it was all acceptable.
"I see, then please come in quickly."
Yotsuya Touko quickly let the two in, and at the same time, she asked.
"Tanaka-kun probably hasn't eaten yet, right? Dinner is ready, so let's eat together."
"Ah, then thank you, Older Sister Touko."
Although Yotsuya Touko found Tanaka Masao's form of address a bit strange, she didn't mind.
After all, she was still young, not yet at the 'auntie' stage, so being called 'Older Sister' was fine.
At the dining table, the four sat together.
Yotsuya Miko felt a bit uncomfortable and just focused on eating.
Her younger brother, Yotsuya Kyosuke, was curiously observing the man who might become his future brother-in-law.
"Is this Older Sister's boyfriend? No wonder Older Sister has been acting a bit strange lately. So she got a boyfriend.
I wonder what kind of man he is. Will he bully Older Sister?
Also, he seems to be staying overnight tonight. Have the two of them already progressed to that stage?"
Meanwhile, Yotsuya Touko actively chatted with Tanaka Masao to understand his situation.
Facing such parental questioning, Tanaka Masao was well-practiced; he knew exactly what they wanted to hear.
In his narration, he and Yotsuya Miko had met a week ago.
That day, Yotsuya Miko had lost something, and he helped her find it. Then they exchanged contact information and gradually became close through chatting.
During this time, Tanaka Masao also subtly revealed his identity as first in grade, and that he would help explain any problems Yotsuya Miko didn't understand.