Chapter 28: Encounter Beneath the Snow

Mrs. Mizusaki was silent.

In the past half hour of talking with her daughter, she naturally understood her daughter's intention to pass on.

Unwilling to part?

Of course. Ever since Aki passed away, and she was once again left all alone, Mrs. Mizusaki had poured all her energy into work.

Only this way could she briefly forget the pain of losing her daughter and barely support her motivation to keep living.

Now, after being lucky enough to reunite with her daughter, she was once again facing separation.

Mrs. Mizusaki's face showed a pleading expression, and she said softly, "Mr. Kaito, is there really… no other way to let Aki stay?"

The pain of eternal separation from a loved one always stirs people's hearts.

Several girls turned their gaze toward Kaito, faintly carrying a look of anticipation.

Among them, Soyo was the most nervous. Looking at Mrs. Mizusaki, she always thought of her own mother.

Such a strong woman, and yet one who also deeply loved her daughter.

If possible, she truly didn't want to see Mrs. Mizusaki, who had just reunited with her daughter, lose her again.

Kaito thought for a moment and asked, "Is there something Mizusaki-sensei was most familiar with before her death? Preferably something she used frequently."

"Of course there is!"

Seeing that things seemed to have taken a turn for the better, Mrs. Mizusaki looked happy, "The piano in the practice room. Aki used to play it for four to five hours every day. It should be the thing she was most familiar with."

"Then it can be done," Kaito nodded, "I can transfer Mizusaki-senpai's place of haunting from the music classroom in Tsukinomori to inside the piano. However, long-term contact with a soul can damage your life energy."

"That's okay!", Mrs. Mizusaki was overjoyed.

Although her daughter would still remain a bound spirit, being imprisoned at home versus outside, how could those be the same?

As for damage to life energy…

As long as she wasn't possessed frequently, even if there was some damage, it would be limited and not life-threatening.

After informing Mizusaki Aki of this, the ghost girl no longer intended to pass on and become a princess.

If she could stay with her mom, even being a bound spirit would be something to look forward to.

What came next was simple.

Kaito helped Mizusaki Aki move to a new home and also took a drop of Mrs. Mizusaki's heart's blood and dripped it onto the piano, establishing a connection between the two.

After doing all of this, Kaito left amid Mrs. Mizusaki's countless expressions of gratitude.

The commission payment had already been transferred to his account: a full twenty million yen, twice the previously discussed amount.

Converted to dollars, it was nearly two hundred thousand or so, definitely very sincere.

Although Kaito didn't particularly value money, he also didn't mind having more of it.

The only flaw was that, because this commission didn't involve exterminating an evil spirit, there was no merit reward.

———

Leaving the villa area—

"Today's experience really was full of ups and downs…"

Although Yumiko said this, her beautiful eyes sparkled brightly.

To witness the other side of the world with her own eyes and even participate, this feeling was simply addictive.

"Although there were some twists, the outcome was good in the end," Nagasaki Soyo gently brushed the hair beside her ear, her smile warm, "It's all thanks to Kaito-kun."

"It was just a transaction," Kaito didn't take credit. Glancing at the sky, dusk was already falling.

Soyo also realized it was getting late. Normally, it wouldn't matter, but tonight her mom had already mentioned coming home early to rest. Though regretful, she still said goodbye.

However, before leaving, she still deliberately exchanged contact info with Kaito.

Looking at the contact list and the cute pink stuffed cat avatar, Soyo seemed lost in thought.

Normally speaking, one's avatar and ID can reflect their preferences.

After all, no one would use something they hate as their avatar, right?

'So that means… Kaito-kun actually really likes cats?'

Secretly noting down this bit of information, the smile at the corner of her lips grew deeper. Like a delicate flower holding dew, soft and fragrant.

———

[The Next Day]

It was lunchtime. Friendly students took out their lunchboxes and gathered in small groups, chatting and laughing about recent fun topics.

In a corner seat, the stunning black-haired, blue-eyed girl also took out a bento from her desk. Even though she was all alone, her back remained perfectly straight.

It had been more than half a month since the new semester started.

Japan is a country with a strong tendency toward cliques, and as a microcosm of society, schools are no exception.

Usually, within just a few days of the new term, people with similar personalities and interests would form their own circles. It was very difficult for outsiders to join halfway through.

As a transfer student who had only arrived a few days ago, Yukinoshita Yukino, though remarkably beautiful, had a rather cold demeanor.

Because of this, few dared to approach and talk to her.

Yukino had long been used to a solitary life.

When she was young, her looks were so cute that they stirred jealousy and isolation from the girls around her.

Now, she already had the power to protect herself, but still had no interest in making friends.

Especially after encountering Yukitan, her attention was more focused on that cat.

Thinking of the clever and well-behaved cat at home, Yukino's gaze softened without her even realizing it.

For most pet owners, raising a cat or a dog is not much different from raising a child.

You have to worry about its food, water, and toilet needs, and also its health.

Thankfully, Yukitan was really very well-behaved.

It never randomly hissed, and more than that, Yukino only taught it once how to use the toilet, and it had learned how to do it, and even knew to press the flush button afterward with its paw.

When bathing it, it didn't resist or cry. It just quietly crouched there. Anyone who saw it would praise it as an excellent cat.

'I already filled the food bowl this morning, and added water too.'

'I wonder what Yukitan is doing now?'

Yukino sighed, 'I still have two more Japanese literature classes this afternoon. What a torturous day.'

Just as she was preparing to wash her empty lunchbox in the water room, a shy classmate came up to talk.

"Yukinoshita-san, Teacher Hiratsuka asked you to come to the office."

"Alright," Yukino nodded and thanked the messenger before heading to the office.

———

"You're here?", Hiratsuka Shizuka was still in her familiar white lab coat, currently munching on a piece of bread.

Hearing the door open, she quickly stuffed the remaining crumbs into her mouth, chewed a few times, then grabbed the cola next to her and took a huge gulp, finally letting out a satisfied burp.

"Buurrp~ So full!"

Yukino: "…"

She already knew the word "lady" didn't apply to Hiratsuka-sensei, but this eating manner was simply too wild.

She sighed and got straight to the point, "Hiratsuka-sensei, why did you call me here?"

"Just wanted to check on you."

Hiratsuka Shizuka also sighed, "After all, you're living far from home, studying alone out here, and you're such a pretty girl. It's worrying."

"This was my sister's request, right?", Yukino's mood was a bit complicated. When it came to Yukinoshita Haruno, her full-blooded older sister, she couldn't say she hated her, but she definitely didn't like her.

Thanks to the teachings of that strong and cold mother, the relationship between these two sisters had never been close since childhood.

At least, that's how Yukino saw it.

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