Tokyo Psychic

Page 152

"Please don't leave me... I'll do anything I can!"

Seeing the sudden surge of emotion on "Wakaba Mutsumi's" face, Kurusu Akira quickly bent down to help her up. "You mean, you're going to compete with Toyokawa Shoko for your boyfriend?"

"Wakaba Mutsumi" looked at him with tears welling up in her eyes, "Is it not allowed?"

She said in a tearful voice, "I also want Xiangzi to know what it feels like to be 'betrayed'."

"What if I said... Xiangzi might not care?"

"Huh?"

"Wakaba Mutsumi's" expression froze instantly.

Lai Xixiao took the opportunity to slip her hands under her legs and carry her back to the bed in a princess carry. "However, since you've decided to do this, I guess I'll have to go along with you."

He sat down next to Wakaba Mutsu, looking at the confusion and expectation in the girl's eyes, and asked, "Wakaba-san, do you know what 'love' really is?"

Ruoye Mu nodded. "Xiangzi told me about it."

"What exactly is it like?"

“...Now.” Wakaba Mutsu hugged Kurusu Akira’s arm, her eyes glued to him without blinking.

Lai Xixiao lay half-reclined on the bed, pulling the blanket up for her again, hoping that the girl's illness could be cured quickly after seeing the psychologist.

If she still likes me by then, I'll try to accept her feelings...

Akira Kurishi stroked Wakaba Mutsu's hair and then scratched the tear stains on her cheek.

In this reassuring atmosphere, the girl closed her eyes and fell into a deep sleep after a long time.

Akira Kurusu confirmed that Mutsuka Wakaba was asleep, picked up her phone and glanced at the time; it was almost 4 a.m.

He carefully got out of bed and groped his way back to his room.

Mind Thieves have plenty of ways to operate.

After all, sharing a bed with a mentally ill girl you've just met, especially with her mother at home... only a heartless and immoral beast would do such a thing, right?

Those excuses I made not long ago were just that—excuses.

As for whether Toyokawa Shoko really doesn't mind... Kurusu Akira thinks that this girl can tolerate even An and Subaru, let alone the "half-body" she has known since kindergarten.

However, while one can be tolerant, when faced with a situation that is "infidelity" in every sense of the word, one would probably still find it difficult to control their resentment.

Not entirely. If it were Wakaba Mutsumi, Shoko might...

Forget it, I don't want to.

Akira Kurusu tiptoed to close the door and returned to her own room.

......

Akira Kurusu was awakened by a series of phone rings.

The phantom thief, who had only slept with three children, picked up his phone with a look of impatience.

The contact person's nickname is "Woyan Yizu Lake".

DB Library assigned him to be its editor.

"It's a book signing event..." Akira Kurusu yawned sleepily, then answered the phone.

Good morning, this is Amamiya.

The voice on the other end of the phone was exhausted, probably from working all night; it sounded weak and listless. "I remember, the book signing."

When will the payment for the article be made?

"Tomorrow," Gaen Izuko replied briefly.

Then she saw the call get disconnected.

"That brat..." The woman, with severe dark circles under her eyes from working overtime, stared at the "Call Ended" screen with a ferocious expression, once again feeling an overwhelming longing for her lost "superpowers."

Thinking about it carefully, it seems that I have become more and more like a normal human being since then.

Gaen Izuko sighed and accepted her fate as a corporate slave, then took out an eye mask from her drawer, preparing to lie down on the chair and rest for a while...

Ring ring, ring ring. Several cell phones on the desk suddenly started ringing one after another, emitting clear and melodious ringtones.

Gayan Izuko gave a bleak smile, stuffed the eye mask back into the drawer, and then answered the phone calls.

"Hello, this is Woyan from DB Library Group A."

......

Lai Qixiao walked into the washroom and took out the brand-new toiletries that the nanny had prepared for him in advance.

Just then, a thin figure staggered toward the open door.

When Ruoye Mu saw Laixi Xiao, he immediately avoided looking into his eyes.

"I need to use the restroom," the girl said softly. "Could you please leave for a moment?"

Akira Kurusu put down her mouthwash cup. "What about the other restrooms?"

"...They're all using it."

Akira Kurusu had no choice but to give up her seat to the girl.

If Ye Mu really thought he had slept in bed with Kurusu Akira all night, his earlobes turned a little red when he brushed past her.

However, his face remained expressionless, as if the emotionally expressive "Wakaba Mutsumi" from last night was just an illusion.

After a while, the sound of running water came from the washroom.

Wakaba Mutsu opened the door and fled as if running away.

Akira Kurusu's phone vibrated.

It was a message sent by Wakaba Mutsu from Line.

[Wakaba Mutsumi: How to be in a relationship?]

[Wakaba Mutsumi: I want you to like me.]

[The Attic Thinker: The first step in love is dating.]

[The Attic Thinker: Meaning, you have to come out with me today.]

[Wakaba Mutsumi: Hmm.]

[The attic thinker: I might not be able to go home.]

[Wakaba Mutsumi: Minami won't agree.]

[The Attic Thinker: She'll say yes.]

[Wakaba Mutsumi: Hmm.]

Akira Kurusu turned off his phone and put it in his pocket. According to the plan he and Shoko Toyokawa had discussed, they would bring back tonight a psychologist who was absolutely guaranteed to keep quiet and whose professional skills were reliable, from his day off... Please return to work hours.

As for "not returning home at night"...

He really hadn't decided where to sleep tonight.

If all else fails, go back to the attic.

Akira squeezed a layer of toothpaste onto the toothbrush head, then picked up the ceramic bottle and glanced at it. It was written in Chinese: "Bingquan Toothpaste × Dunhuang Museum 'Flying Apsaras' Collaboration".

It has a strange taste.

After brushing his teeth, he took a picture of the toothpaste with his phone and Googled it—damn it, six thousand yen for just one hundred grams?

Rich people are extravagant.

Come to think of it, Wakaba Mutsu must have a lot of pocket money, right?

Hopefully she can contribute something today.

Although the payment for the article will be made tomorrow, Lai Qixiao has almost spent all the money she earned from her part-time job recently.

He was too embarrassed to continue using Anwa Subaru's credit card to date other girls, so he decided to set his sights on Wakaba Mutsumi's wallet instead.

Akira Lai picked up a new towel, wiped her face, then ruffled her hair with water, put on her thick, non-prescription glasses, looked at her sloppy appearance in the mirror, and left the bathroom with satisfaction.

......

As expected, Minami appeared in the living room dressed to the nines.

According to her own account, she got up at five in the morning to confirm the schedule with her assistant, review her fitness class, shower, put on makeup, and prepare her clothes. After a long four hours, she began her formal work.

Actors don't have days off; they only have work schedules and holidays.

Ruo Yelongwen, as was his habit, poured himself a glass of warm water and took some prescription medications from various bottles and jars.

Akira glanced at it and saw that it was all about treating depression.

"Amamiya, did you sleep well last night?"

Minami Mori asked Akira Kurusu with a concerned expression.

"I slept very comfortably," Akira Kurusu said politely.

This is a lie. He was tormented by Wakaba Mutsu all night and only slept for three hours.

Takafumi Wakaba then suggested, "I remember you had a book signing in Ginza today, right? It's really impressive that you're so young and already making money from writing novels."

Akira Kurisu shook her head. "It was just good luck that I became popular by chance."

Just as Wakaba Takafumi was about to boast a bit, Kurusu Akira suddenly asked, "Wakaba-kun, do you have any plans for today?"

Wakaba Takafumi looked at his wife.

Minami was carefully applying foundation in front of the mirror. "Mumu has a dance class and a piano lesson today... Would Amamiya like to ask Mumu out?"

She winked mischievously at Akira Kurusu, though her mind was full of calculations.

Lai Qixiao immediately denied it, saying, "It's Xiangzi who wants to go shopping with Xiao Mu."

Minami Mori and Takafumi Wakaba exchanged a glance, then readily agreed, "No problem, I'll ask her tutor for leave right away."

Akira Kurishi spent some time in the living room keeping the two seniors company with perfunctory pleasantries.

Wearing a soft light green and beige outfit, Mutsumi Wakaba slowly walked down the steps.

Every step and distance is so precise, as if meticulously calculated, that it appears elegant and courteous, yet upon closer examination, it evokes a profound sense of pity and compassion.

Wakaba Mutsu walked slowly down the dozen or so steps, bowing slightly to her parents, "Good morning, Takafumi, Minami."

"You should say 'Good morning' to Mom separately, okay?" Minami looked at her daughter with a smile.

Ruoye Mu immediately gave her a curtsy, lifting the hem of her short skirt to mid-thigh before saying, "Greetings, Minami."

Mori Minami smiled even more broadly and looked at her husband, "Takafumi, did you hear that? Mumi said 'Good morning' to me~ Do I look like a high school student?"

As Ruoye Mutsu's eyes suddenly dimmed under her gaze, Akira Kurusu quickly approached and grabbed her wrist without saying a word. "Shoko's been waiting too long, Ruoye and I are leaving now."

Then he dragged Wakaba Mutsu away from the living room.

The two adults, completely unaware of what was happening, were left there chatting about work.

Sure enough, as soon as the name "Toyokawa Shoko" is mentioned, they immediately become more relaxed.

Akira Kurusu closed the front door and handed her the pair of black princess shoes that Mutsuka Wakaba had worn the night before.

Ruoye Mu slowly tucked her small foot inside and then fastened the strap.

Her eyes sparkled as she watched Akira Kurusu tying her sneakers, and she immediately squatted down, saying shyly, "I want to try it."

Feeling a little uncomfortable under the girl's warm gaze, Lai Xixiao had no choice but to let go of her hand and let the girl squatting in front of her tie her shoelaces.

Ruoye Mu meticulously tied a pair of beautiful bows, then stood up and looked up at Laixi Xiao as if expecting praise, but also afraid of being criticized. Her face was expressionless, yet she expressed such contradictory emotions, making her both adorable and heartbreaking.

Akira Kurusu reached out and patted her head. "You tie it so beautifully, Wakaba."

Ruoye Mu was stunned for a moment, then grabbed his hand and said anxiously, "Name... call me by my name."

"Then... harmony."

“Mmm,” Wakaba Mutsu nodded vigorously, then immediately returned to a quiet, doll-like state.

Lai Xixiao pushed open the door, and the dazzling sunlight poured down.

The girl behind him squinted uncomfortably.

Even though I see the sun all the time, it feels like the first time I've ever stood in it.