Chapter 62 - Sagiri: Where’s My Mom?

"It's really gone," Izumi-san said, her trembling gradually subsiding. 

Kaito set her down gently, letting her stand on her own. 

"But... what about her?" Izumi-san asked, still unable to believe the past few days of terror were over. 

She couldn't have imagined it all, could she? 

"She's gone," Kaito said simply. 

"Gone?" Izumi-san looked at him in surprise. 

"Yes," Kaito replied, raising his hand. Electricity crackled between his fingers. 

"Besides being a teacher, I also work as a spirit exterminator." 

"Oh... I see," Izumi-san said, her voice tinged with awe. 

If someone had told her about spirit extermination before tonight, she would've dismissed it as nonsense. 

But after days of being tormented by a ghost and seeing Kaito's abilities firsthand, she had no choice but to believe him. 

A sense of relief washed over her. 

Just then, a cold breeze swept through, making Izumi-san shiver. 

She realized they were still standing outside and blushed. 

"Um, Kaito-san, why don't you come inside?" 

"No, it's fine," Kaito said, shaking his head. 

"It's getting late. I should head home." 

Izumi-san's eyes widened in panic. 

Even though Kaito had assured her the ghost was gone, she wasn't ready to be alone with her daughter just yet. 

Without him, she knew she'd spend the entire night jumping at every sound. 

"Please, stay the night," she pleaded. 

"I'm a good cook. I can make you anything you want." 

"Thank you for the offer," Kaito said, smiling awkwardly. 

He glanced down at himself. 

"But I'm afraid it's... not convenient for me to stay." 

"Not convenient?" Izumi-san was confused for a moment, but then her eyes followed his gaze. 

Her face turned bright red. 

She wasn't an innocent young girl. 

As the famous "Eromanga Sensei," she knew exactly what Kaito meant by "not convenient." 

It was true—a young man like him, full of energy, couldn't just ignore certain... urges. 

Izumi-san didn't know what to say. 

She desperately wanted Kaito to stay, but she couldn't think of a good reason to convince him. 

"I'll pay you!" she blurted out. 

"Name your price! I'll pay whatever you want!" 

"I don't need money," Kaito said, shaking his head. 

He turned to leave, but Izumi-san grabbed his arm, her eyes pleading. 

"Please, I'm scared." 

"Really, it's fine," Kaito said gently. 

Seeing that he was determined to leave, Izumi-san bit her lip, her expression conflicted. 

After a long moment, she whispered, "If... if you don't mind that I'm older..." 

"I can... help you." 

"Izumi-san, what do you mean?" Kaito asked, raising an eyebrow. 

"I-I mean..." 

Izumi-san couldn't bring herself to say it outright. 

Instead, she pointed shakily at Kaito's head. 

"If you don't mind my age..." 

---

**Back in the Izumi Household** 

Kaito sat comfortably on the couch in the living room. 

The coffee table was now covered with snacks and drinks. 

"Yeah, that's everything. Thanks." 

After ordering some barbecue from a recommended takeout place, Kaito hung up the phone and turned to Izumi-san, who was kneeling on the floor, looking conflicted. 

"Are you sure about this?" he asked, his voice gentle. 

"If you're uncomfortable, we can stop." 

"N-No, it's fine," Izumi-san stammered, her face bright red. 

Of course, it wasn't fine. 

*What kind of woman are you, Izumi?* she scolded herself internally. 

But she knew she couldn't let Kaito leave. 

"It's fine," she repeated, trying to convince herself. 

"He's young, handsome, and... well-endowed. If he doesn't mind an older woman like me, why should I hesitate?" 

With that thought, Izumi-san took a deep breath and decided to embrace her role as the "Eromanga Sensei" for the first time in real life. 

Was this research? 

Or perhaps a "thank-you" celebration? 

Kaito leaned back, enjoying the moment, and picked up the remote to flip through the TV channels. 

Izumi-san, being a seasoned romance manga artist, had subscribed to various paid channels. 

It was late at night, and Kaito quickly found some... interesting programs. 

"Wow, these really exist," Kaito said, raising an eyebrow. 

"Izumi-san, have you watched these before?" 

"Y-Yes," she admitted, her face burning. 

"Izumi-san, you're so honest. Do you have any recommendations?" 

"Please don't ask me things like that!" 

Kaito chuckled, continuing to chat with Izumi-san as she worked. 

Gradually, she began to relax, her initial embarrassment fading. 

She even started to engage in the conversation more freely. 

As time went on, Kaito noticed that Izumi-san wasn't just knowledgeable in theory—she also had a surprising collection of... tools. 

After about ten minutes of watching TV, Izumi-san suddenly stood up. 

"Wait here for a moment," she said, then hurried upstairs. 

When she returned, Kaito was surprised to see her holding a bottle of unopened oil. 

---

"You have this too, Izumi-san?" Kaito asked, raising an eyebrow as he glanced at the bottle of oil she had brought down.

"Well, I need to do research for my manga, and... I was curious," Izumi-san admitted, her face flushing red.

About half an hour later, Kaito was still sitting calmly on the couch, watching a variety show on TV.

His expression was as calm as ever, not even a hint of discomfort on his face.

Izumi-san couldn't help but feel a little defeated.

But then, a competitive spark ignited in her.

Who am I? she thought. I'm the legendary Eromanga Sensei, one of the top artists in the industry!

How can I lose in front of my own fan?

With that thought, Izumi-san looked at Kaito's young, handsome face and decided to go all out.

She switched tactics, moving from using her hands to... something more daring.

Kaito couldn't help but inhale sharply, his composure finally cracking.

He quickly grabbed his phone, pretending to check the status of his food delivery to distract himself.

This only fueled Izumi-san's determination.

The variety show on TV was quite entertaining.

The female guests were attractive, and the pranks were bold and daring.

Since it was a late-night program, there were even some risqué moments.

Izumi-san, despite being out of practice for over a decade, proved that her theoretical knowledge was still top-notch.

She introduced techniques that Kaito had never even heard of, leaving him both impressed and overwhelmed.

But just as things were heating up, a young, timid voice called out from the hallway.

"Mom?"

Izumi-san froze, her face turning pale.

Kaito reacted quickly, grabbing a nearby blanket and draping it over his lap to cover himself.

He turned to the doorway, where a young girl with silver hair, strikingly similar to Izumi-san but with a more youthful and timid demeanor, peeked in.

Sagiri had called out first, but when she saw a strange young man sitting in her living room, she immediately shrank back, hiding behind the doorframe.

Only her small head remained visible, her eyes wide with fear.

If it weren't for her concern for her mother, she would've already fled back to her room.

"W-Who are you?" Sagiri asked, her voice trembling.

"Where's my mom?"

She tried to sound brave, but her voice wavered, making her sound more like a scared kitten trying to puff itself up.

"Your mom had to step out for a bit," Kaito said casually, making up an excuse on the spot.

"You're Sagiri, right?"

"Y-Yes... who are you?"

"I'm Kaito, a teaching assistant at your school. I came for a home visit today."

"Your mom mentioned some issues at home, so she invited me to stay the night and see if I could help."

"What about... the ghost?" Sagiri asked nervously.

She had heard the screams earlier, which was why she had stayed upstairs for so long despite being starving.

But her hunger and worry for her mother had finally driven her downstairs.

"Don't worry," Kaito said with a reassuring smile.

"I've already taken care of it."

Sagiri nodded, though she didn't fully understand.

For her, the most important thing was...

"When will my mom be back?"

"She'll be back soon. Is there something else you need?"

Sagiri was actually starving, but she was too shy to ask a stranger for food.

She decided to wait a little longer until her mother returned.

Just as she was about to retreat back upstairs, her stomach let out a loud growl.

Grrr!

Sagiri froze, her face turning bright red as she felt Kaito's gaze on her.

"I actually ordered some barbecue. It should be here soon," Kaito said, trying to sound casual.

"Why don't you join me?"

Before he could finish, Kaito suddenly inhaled sharply.

Izumi-san, still under the blanket, had pinched his thigh in frustration.

Kaito could even feel her teeth lightly grazing him, a clear warning.

But instead of backing down, Kaito decided to push forward.

"The ghost that's been harassing your family is gone," he said, addressing Sagiri.

"But I'm not sure if she had any accomplices. Why don't you stay here and eat with me? Afterward, I'll check the house to make sure it's safe."

At the mention of ghosts, Sagiri's fear outweighed her shyness.

After a moment of hesitation, she slowly emerged from behind the door and shuffled over to the couch, sitting as far away from Kaito as possible.

She curled up into a small ball, her eyes darting nervously around the room.

"You're Sagiri, right?" Kaito asked gently, trying to make conversation.

It was slow going at first, with Sagiri only responding with short, hesitant answers like "Mm" or "Oh."

But gradually, Kaito's calm demeanor and friendly tone helped her relax.

Thanks to his experience with women—albeit through unconventional means—Kaito was quite skilled at putting others at ease.

Combined with his natural charm and good looks, Sagiri began to loosen up.

She even dared to lift her head and glance at him.

But then she noticed something strange.

The blanket on Kaito's lap seemed to be... moving?

Sagiri blinked, confused.

"Is something wrong?" Kaito asked, noticing her gaze.

"Do I have something on my lap?"

Sagiri hesitated, then whispered, "W-Why are you covering yourself with a blanket?"

"Oh, I just like to stay warm," Kaito said with a casual smile.

"By the way, Sagiri, your mom mentioned you also draw manga?"

Sagiri's face turned bright red, and she immediately tensed up again.

She wanted to bolt back upstairs, mortified that her mother had shared such personal information with a stranger.

"It's nothing to be embarrassed about," Kaito said reassuringly.

"In fact, I'm a fan of your and your mom's work."

"W-What?!!!"