'Are those traces left by Sakiko?'
'But... Sakiko worked overtime for a long time last night. She should still be catching up on sleep right now and hasn't gone out all day.'
'Also, the smell is off.'
Maybe it's because she joined the gardening club and came into contact with many fresh flowers and plants, Mutsumi is very sensitive to scents.
'The scent on Kaito-kun is not like Sakiko's fresh and elegant one, nor like Soyo's unique rich fragrance. It's more like something I once smelled in passing... an unknown, unfamiliar shower gel scent.'
'In other words... it is a woman I don't know?'
———
Because he already had dinner at the Kita household, Kaito originally planned to take a bath and then rest.
Looking at the direction of the dining table, it was empty, with no leftover takeout boxes, clean to the point of spotless.
He was a little surprised, "You haven't had dinner yet?"
"Mm," Mutsumi lightly nodded, "Because... I'm not really hungry yet."
That was a lie.
In truth, because Kaito wasn't home, even though Kirara and Kumiko were with her, little Mutsumi still lacked a sense of security and couldn't muster any appetite.
She didn't want to eat mentally, but her body honestly expressed the desire to eat.
Just as the girl's voice fell, her flat little stomach quietly let out a "gurgle~ gurgle~" sound. Though it wasn't loud, in the quiet room, it was clear enough to be heard.
Mutsumi: "..."
'Just missing one meal shouldn't be this exaggerated.'
Kaito suddenly thought of a possibility. After two seconds of silence, he met her gaze, "What about breakfast and lunch? You didn't eat those either?"
"...", Little Mutsumi silently averted her eyes and didn't answer.
Kaito sighed.
He had just praised her in his heart as the one who gave him the least trouble, only for the boomerang to come back so quickly.
After all, she's a guest staying over. Mori Minami pays several million a month in food expenses, it wouldn't be right to let little Mutsumi starve.
He thought for a bit, then said, "If that's the case, I'll make you some noodles."
'Noodles?', Mutsumi paused, seemingly thinking of something, and hesitated, "Wouldn't that be... too much trouble?"
"It's not really trouble," Kaito opened the fridge, where a few bright red tomatoes lay quietly, just enough to make tomato and egg noodles.
His movements were quick, the kitchen tools moved at his command, aided by spiritual energy, each action was smooth as flowing water. He soon washed the tomatoes clean and sliced them into evenly shaped pieces. In no time, the task was completed.
Red tomatoes, white noodles, yellow eggs, paired with scattered green scallions and a few dark green bok choy leaves. Different colors perfectly fused into one bowl of noodles. Just the sight of it made one salivate.
"Fill your stomach first," Kaito pushed the bowl in front of her, "I made enough for three people. If it's not enough, you can have more."
"Thank you," The green-haired girl subtly swallowed her saliva. Even though she had eaten Kaito's cooking many times... every time she smelled that scent, her body still reacted with instinctual craving.
Mutsumi picked up her chopsticks and quietly said "I'm starting," before picking up a bundle of noodles, gently blowing on the heat, and bringing it to her mouth to chew slightly.
The noodles were chewy, the egg was tender and smooth, the soup incredibly flavorful. The overall taste leaned toward sweet and sour, a type most popular with girls.
Even a silent, emotionless, expressionless doll-like girl couldn't keep her usual blank face in front of such exquisite flavor. A faint blush crept over her lovely face, and even her golden eyes became moist and lustrous, as if every cell in her body was cheering with joy.
Only by lightly biting her lips could she barely hold back from making a satisfied moan.
Little Mutsumi normally doesn't eat much at home. Even with dishes meticulously prepared by the maids, she only tasted them lightly.
Part of it was to maintain her figure. As the daughter of famous actress Mori Minami and comedian Wakaba, her future debut was practically set in stone, so she naturally had to start managing her figure early.
As for the other part... living in a cage, for a heartless doll, no matter how delicate or luxurious the cuisine, it was tasteless.
Since coming to Kaito's home, this has been the most self-willed time in little Mutsumi's life.
Because it was under the excuse of "treating insomnia caused by lack of security," Mori Minami relaxed her expectations of her. Wakaba hadn't shown up even once.
Eating well, drinking well, and there are cats to pet.
Compared to that large, hundred-square-meter detached mansion, it's here that she truly feels a sense of "home."
"Are you full?", Seeing the girl in front of him looking satisfied, the bowl was also clean, not even a drop of soup left, Kaito pulled out a tissue, leaned forward slightly, and wiped the soup from the corner of her mouth.
His action was very natural, like a gentle father taking care of a young daughter.
A warm and clean, plant-like elegant scent came closer with the shortened distance, gently surrounding her, making the girl slightly dazed.
It wasn't until Kaito sat back down on the chair that the pleasant sandalwood scent faded mostly away, and Mutsumi finally snapped out of it. But... a trace of reluctance flashed in her heart.
"That was a very delicious bowl of noodles," She said softly, "It had... the taste of home."
'The taste of home?'
'That kind of comment is rather rare.'
Kaito raised his hand, subconsciously wanting to pat the girl's silky green hair like he would do with Kumiko, but since he was already seated, it wasn't convenient to do so. He had to give up and instead said, "If that's the case, just treat this place as your home. If you feel lonely, you can also go next door and chat with Sakiko."
"Treat it as... home?", Mutsumi slowly looked up. Her golden eyes were crystal clear, with brilliant light dots reflected from the overhead light.
Her cherry blossom-like lips moved slightly twice, her long lashes trembled lightly, like butterfly wings.
She was silent for a long time, then finally, as if gathering courage, said hesitantly, "Then... can I call you, Onii-chan?"
'Onii-chan?', This time it was Kaito's turn to be stunned.
Once he came back to his senses, his feelings were rather complex.
He's an only child. After joining Courting Death Sect, his master only took him as a disciple. Though there were many junior sisters under other elders, there was still a layer of distance.
Thinking carefully, he really had never been called "Onii-chan" by anyone before.
However...
Looking at the shy girl before him, eyes filled with unease like an abandoned little beast afraid of being deserted, Kaito hesitated for a moment, then still nodded.
"If you don't mind," After all, he really was a bit older than little Mutsumi, so being called "Onii-chan" wasn't strange.
Besides, Kita had already set an example for him.
Since the so-called unbreakable friendship in his heart wasn't that pure, if it turned into familial affection, maybe it wouldn't change anymore? [T/N: So, i*cest as well? *Sigh* Forgive me father, for I have sinned.]
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