---
Fortunately, Kiyono—despite his three-no status—had a clean record and had not done anything illegal. Additionally, he was young enough that the process went smoothly with an acquaintance's endorsement.
As the two men spent more time together, their relationship naturally grew closer. They even played chess during their train ride back to the countryside, giving the impression of having a pleasant conversation and hitting it off immediately.
However… right now, Old Father was still on the Anna–childhood-friend side!
The man thought to himself: after all, Hakamada Sosuke was a child he had watched grow up, and after so many years of affection, Old Father would absolutely not waver easily!
"Moreover, purely in terms of their relationship, what Anna did might not be a good thing."
The head of the household glanced at Kiyono beside him, feeling a sense of schadenfreude—most relationships between teenagers are very pure. Perhaps there were slight differences in material and other conditions, but the feelings were still innocent, sincere, and beautiful.
But when this kind of affection was mixed with gratitude, it became different. Their relationship would subtly shift. Even if Anna didn't mind, the boy might have reservations, and this would become the first stumbling block in their relationship.
If it wasn't handled well, this kid's relationship with his daughter would definitely become distant.
After all, Kiyono was just a little boy, and boys at this age tend to attach great importance to some insignificant things.
Old Father had already seen through the future!
Time flew by quickly.
A week later, Kiyono walked alone on the street, looking at the brand-new resident certificate and national health insurance card in his hand, filled with emotion.
After going through countless difficulties, he had finally become a member of the two-dimensional family!
From this moment on, he would be free as a bird in the sky and a fish in the sea, able to do anything without restraint—he could even find a more upscale internet cafe!
At that moment, Kiyono's hand holding the documents suddenly stiffened.
A familiar yet unfamiliar voice came from within his mind.
[New identity information detected. Successfully recorded into the system. After this simulation ends, it will be synchronized to reality as your reward.]
The corpse was speaking!
Kiyono's eyes widened. So that meant when he returned to reality, he would also have a form of identification?
You did well!
Secretly giving the system a thumbs-up, Kiyono put these two papers deep into his backpack, feeling joyful.
Now it was time to deal with another matter.
"What gift should I buy for Uncle…?"
Kiyono stroked his chin. He definitely had to give a gift; one must have a conscience. Perhaps Yanami's Old Father helped him for his daughter's sake, but he still put in his best effort for him, so he absolutely had to show his appreciation.
Even if his current capabilities were limited, he had to express his attitude—let the other party know he remembered this favor. This was a matter of character.
As for Yanami herself… he also had to give her something, but it couldn't be too formal. Being too serious would hurt their feelings. In fact, there was already a hint of that now.
After thinking it over, he came to a conclusion.
"I'll just buy food!"
He was tight on money now, so he could only show a small token of appreciation, and after much thought, only food could serve as a gift among inexpensive items.
Fortunately, he often hung out with Yanami, and through immersion, he was already well acquainted with all the delicious places nearby.
As for Yanami's father, he preferred tea, so buying a yokan would be good. It was one of the most famous tea snacks in Japanese tea ceremony—perfect as a gift. The shop's address was on the commercial street five hundred meters ahead.
As for the girl, she seemed recently obsessed with strawberry milk pudding—the inexpensive kind. He would buy her a few different flavors and some snacks.
With the shopping list finalized in his mind, Kiyono got on his bicycle and started shopping.
About an hour later, he arrived in front of the Yanami family home, carrying the gifts, and rang the doorbell. It was strange to say, but every time he had come to the Yanami family before, he always felt a guest-like detachment; now, he inexplicably felt a hint of "home" intimacy.
The door opened quickly. A blue-haired beauty with a side ponytail stood in the entrance, her eyes gentle; with a slight smile, she said:
"Oh, the Yanami family child is back."
"This humble one is the second son of the Yanami family, who came from Ueno to Edo to seek refuge with Big Sister. I ask for your continued care in the future." Kiyono cooperated, putting down the plastic bags, stepping back a few paces, and bowing. His voice was sharp and clear, like a sword.
The blue-haired beauty's eyes lit up. With one hand subtly cupping her flushed cheek, it was as if she had returned to a hundred years ago and suddenly seen a young samurai who made her heart flutter.
Just as she was about to say more, another voice cut in.
"Alright, alright, stop acting out a historical drama here!" Yanami jumped between the two, stiffly changing the subject. "Where are the things? Did you get them?"
Kiyono smiled and nodded, walking in with practiced ease, while the pillar of the household sat leisurely on the sofa, adopting a posture of contemplating life.
"Uncle, you've really gone to a lot of trouble these past few days." Kiyono took out the yokan box and placed it on the table in front of him.
Old Father looked at the exquisite wooden box with surprise. He knew it wasn't expensive, but he understood Kiyono's intention and felt quite pleased—some things, whether done or not, give completely different feelings.
For a moment, a faint "Favorability +5" prompt seemed to appear above the head of the household.
"What about me? I'm the one who deserves the most credit!" The blue-haired girl leaned in front of him, her face full of dissatisfaction.
"Yours is here." Kiyono coughed and handed her the plastic bag.
"It's the latest strawberry milk pudding!"
Yanami's eyes sparkled, as if she had found a treasure.
This guy… seems to know Anna's preferences very well?
Old Father looked at Kiyono.
"Ah, it's almost time for my part-time job. I'll take my leave now." Kiyono's phone alarm went off. He took it out, checked the time, and spoke hurriedly.
"I'll go with you." Yanami naturally followed behind.
Yanami's father stood up, instinctively reaching out his hand, but finally sat down dejectedly. Don't ask him why he didn't offer to drive his daughter; if you ask, it's because he had already experienced a painful lesson yesterday.
The setting sun dyed the streets red. Yanami walked through the orange-red afterglow, and the evening breeze came from afar, rustling the girl's dark hair and skirt.
Kiyono stood in front of his bicycle, his right hand on his chest, bowing slightly—like an elegant butler greeting a young lady's outing.
"Please get on, Young Lady."
Yanami paused, her expression peculiar.
"Men are so fickle. To please women, one moment they're a wandering samurai from the Edo period, the next they're a butler from a zaibatsu family," the girl sighed.
"If you are willing to pay more, I can even customize an exclusive role just for you."
"Are you a host!?"
Yanami sat on the back seat, her small hand gripping the hem of his clothes.
The setting sun stretched the girl's shadow to Kiyono's right, and her rounded knees occasionally brushed his thigh.
Today, the bicycle seemed deliberately slowed. During the wait at a red light, the glass curtain wall of the building opposite reflected specks of light. Yanami looked up at his profile, feeling inexplicably at a loss for words.
Kiyono… would he overthink things?
Yanami was the first to start overthinking. She actually knew very well that what she had done would definitely cause a subtle change in their relationship. Although they had helped each other in the past, it had never escalated to the level of family and parents like this time.
—Putting herself in his shoes, if she owed Kiyono a favor, she would definitely feel very guilty, and this kind of emotion was precisely the poison that cools relationships.
But even though she had thought of this point at the beginning, she resolutely chose to do it.
Because she couldn't just stand by and do nothing.
"Recently…" she mumbled, trying to return to their usual relaxed atmosphere. "You seem to have gotten along very well with my dad?"
"Men are creatures who can become friends with just a pot of wine and a game of chess," Kiyono's voice was light. "Of course, I will also work hard to improve my relationship with Miss Yanami."
This guy was three times more affected than usual!
Yanami used her canine tooth to tug off her hair tie, and her loose hair brushed his arm with the wind.
"Kiyono, stop the car for a moment. I'm a little hungry and want to go to the convenience store to buy something to eat!"
She had to do something!
Yanami entered the convenience store worriedly, first buying a can of lemon tea, pretending to study the calorie chart on a snack bag. Cold air floated in the instant frozen food section nearby.
"I'll buy this."
She picked up two bags of snacks and placed them on the counter, glanced at the "Supermarket Sale Day!" poster on the wall, then tilted her head to gaze at Kiyono, a bright smile on her face, and pointed ahead, saying casually:
"This week's sale day… want to come shopping together? You can help me carry things, which would also be a way to repay this young lady."
The girl's idea was good: as long as she found a reason for Kiyono to clearly repay her, and then said a few playful words, they should be able to return to their previous mode of interaction, but…
"No need for such trouble. Just tell me what you want to buy, and I'll deliver it to your door," Kiyono said with a cheerful smile.
It's over! With this meticulous care, he really was treating her as a benefactor!
She wanted the old, foolish Kiyono!
Yanami's mouth twitched, her expression wavering with unease.
Kiyono paid for the snacks voluntarily, and also thoughtfully added five skewers of oden and a meat bun for her. The girl ate fish balls and the bun, her unease growing stronger.
Inside the store, Kiyono was even more like a considerate boyfriend, holding her hand—she had accidentally cut herself yesterday and had a bandage on her finger—under the strange gazes of the Big Sisters. He said:
"Miss Yanami, don't touch anything hot today."
The girl didn't know whether to laugh or put on a stern face, her expression inexpressibly complex.
That evening, Yanami couldn't concentrate at all; her gaze unconsciously fixed on Kiyono, and she bit her cherry lips.
Could it be… that they would always maintain this subtle state?
Anxiety flooded her heart.
No, she didn't want this.
They had only just managed to slightly close the distance between them!
Sure enough, she still had to speak her true feelings, just like before!
Thinking this, the blue-haired girl took a deep breath, then walked straight to Kiyono, grabbing his wrist with an astonishing, undeniable force and leading him to the end of the corridor.
With a snap, Yanami's small hand slapped against the wall behind him, her lake-blue eyes slightly upturned as she looked at him from below.
"Why…"
Her tone slowly weakened.
She didn't know how to weave her emotions into the correct words.
She could understand Kiyono's current feelings; he must be feeling uneasy, awkward, wanting to repay the favor—precisely because she understood, she couldn't bring herself to say it.
Tell Kiyono not to worry about it?
For someone who values emotions like him, it would be impossible not to care!
Ah, ah, why did things turn out this way…
The girl felt her eyes grow warm.
But just then, she suddenly heard a faint chuckle.
Yanami looked up in a daze and saw the boy in front of her flash a mischievous smile.
"Hmm… Eh?"
Huh? Huh, huh, huh!?
She finally realized something; her heart raced, shame and joy surging simultaneously.
"This is a small return gift for your presumptuousness."
Kiyono lightly patted her head. The girl exaggeratedly said, "Ouch."
"You're such an idiot. Even if it's repaying a favor, I wouldn't do it this way. As a future great writer, you can choose any model or celebrity you want then. Who knows—this move of yours might have a 2000% return; you've practically struck gold."
The boy's exaggerated tone made her laugh.
That's great, that's great.
"Future returns are for the future, so…"
Kiyono turned his face away and coughed.
"You don't have to worry about it affecting our relationship."
Like ripples spreading across a lake in the spring breeze, Yanami's eyes gently fluttered. She lowered her head slightly and playfully punched the boy. The last ray of the setting sun filled the corridor, and their shadows overlapped.
"Mm."