Chapter 757: Another Unexpected Visitor

How to describe Touko's room?

Messy, very messy.

An old globe, stationery piled haphazardly, a mishmash of gossip magazines and philosophy books from street stalls, a large collection of wind-up tin toys barely distinguishable from junk, and various personal items occupied almost every space in the room.

It's no exaggeration to say that apart from the bed in the center for sleeping, not a single spot could be called clean and tidy. It was hard to associate this with the intelligent, mature, beautiful lady before them.

Even Shinji, who had lived with her for several years, covered his eyes, unable to bear the sight.

"Although I didn't have high expectations for your room, this level of mess is really... How long have you been here?"

"A month? Or a month and a half? I can't remember clearly," Touko replied while clearing a place for Shinji to sit.

"You can't even remember that... Katou, you tell me."

"One month and ten days."

It was hard to imagine how Katou could find a foothold in such a messy room. One couldn't help but admire her professionalism.

"I didn't receive any news for forty days? The secrecy is too good," Shinji said with a bitter smile, whileTouko showed a proud grin.

"Of course. Before I came, I told Byron that if news of my presence here leaked out, I would leave immediately."

"Do you dislike seeing me that much?"

"If I didn't want to see you, you wouldn't be sitting here now. I said I wanted to test the bond between us. If you found me too easily, it wouldn't be a real bond. Besides, does it matter now?"

"Indeed, it doesn't matter."

Yes, no matter how much she had avoided it before, the moment he hugged her, it all became irrelevant.

"But to become this messy in just over a month, your self-care ability has decreased quite a bit."

Based on Shinji's experience, even for Touko who suffered from chronic laziness, it would take two months to make a guest room over 40 square meters this messy. He had underestimated the severity of her laziness, and her thick skin as well.

"This is all your fault," she said.

"How can this be our fault?"

Shinji was dumbfounded.

"Of course, it's your fault. During the time I worked for you, I didn't have to do these things myself, so my self-care ability deteriorated."

"To be able to argue so forcefully with such flimsy reasoning, I'm learning something new," Shinji laughed, amused by her. Taking care of someone could lead to this.

As Touko said, during her time with Shinji, she was treated like a princess, with everything done for her — of course, it wasn't like this from the beginning but was forced into being.

Sakura and Fujino were both traditionally good girls, capable of all household matters. They would habitually clean any dust or dirt they saw. One can imagine what would happen when living with someone with such poor living habits as Touko.

Every time they entered her room, the two girls would consciously or unconsciously help tidy up. At first, Touko wasn't used to it, but soon she began to enjoy this life of being taken care of. Later, when Shinji saw her accounts in a mess, he simply stripped her of financial control and handed it over to Fujino, who had a natural sensitivity to money.

As long as she was there, Fujino and Sakura would regularly help clean her room and prepare an extra portion of food for her. Living expenses were given daily to prevent her from accidentally spending it all, and there were special channels and accounts for purchasing magic-related items. That's why Touko said she had no money when she ran away from home; it was all managed by Fujino.

Even when she went to the Tohno family, there was Hisui, a professional maid with mild obsessive-compulsive disorder, responsible for her food and daily life, with professional standards higher than the two girls at the Matou house.

After getting used to such a life, even normal people would become lazy, let alone Touko who already suffered from chronic laziness. The result was a complete deterioration with no cure.

"Suddenly, I feel that Justeaze's words make a lot of sense," Shinji said.

Touko asked curiously, "What did she say?"

"She said that when you left without even washing the dishes, you definitely wouldn't last long."

"Hmph, I've lasted three years, haven't I?"

"Yes, yes, you've suffered. katou, why didn't you help tidy up?"

"I said, the master doesn't allow it. She says she won't be able to find what she needs. The maid sent by the Iselma family was also sent away by the master."

What Katou said was indeed true. Shinji's living habits weren't much better. Sometimes after Sakura cleaned his room, he would feel a bit uncomfortable, finding everything odd, but he would get used to it after a while. After all, a clean and tidy room was always more pleasant to look at than a messy one.

Therefore—

"Katou, this time you must listen to me. Those are all excuses. Next time, no matter what she says, help her tidy up regularly. If she can't find anything, she can just ask you. Your memory system is more reliable than the human brain."

"Certainly."

Katou appeared and responded, "Shall I start now?"

"I'll help too. In this environment, I don't feel like doing anything," Shinji said as he stood up and began to tidy up the magazines on the tea table.

Touko quickly protested, "Wait a minute, you two. I'm the owner of this room. What about my opinion?"

"You can express your opinion, but I won't listen," Shinji replied.

"I'm sorry, master. I think Master Shinji is right," Katou added.

Seeing Shinji and Katou working in sync, each taking care of one side, Touko gritted her teeth in frustration.

"Traitors, all of you!"

"Be grateful," Shinji said. In just a few seconds, he had already collected a stack of magazines.

"This is the first time I'm cleaning someone else's room. Even Sakura hasn't enjoyed this treatment."

"I don't want to enjoy it if you're offering," Touko said. But despite her words, she didn't stop them and even joined in the cleaning effort herself.

After about ten minutes of busy work, Katou, who was cleaning the floor, suddenly stopped. One of her eyes changed from gold to red.

"Master, someone is approaching in the corridor," she said.

"Who is it?"

Touko put down the cloth in her hand and asked.

"It's Miss Estella."

"The Silver Princess? What does she want with me?"

Touko frowned slightly.

Shinji, with one hand on his chest and the other supporting his chin, looked at the door with great interest:

"Hey~ This is getting interesting. The sister just met with Waver, and now the younger sister comes to find you."

"The Golden Princess met with you? That is indeed very interesting," Touko's posture and expression mirrored Shinji's.

Soon, there was a knock on the door.

"I'm sorry to disturb you so late. Is Ms. Aozaki Touko here?"

An indescribably beautiful voice struck their souls. It was undoubtedly the Silver Princess.

"Yes, I'm here. I'm coming," Touko responded.

As she answered, Katou had already disappeared into thin air, and Shinji had quickly hidden under the bed.

Touko adjusted her glasses, the laziness on her face disappearing, replaced by the intellectual elegance she showed at work.

"Well then, let's see what these sisters are up to, shall we?"