Chapter 23: Mei and Ayano as Tools
"It feels like as long as Satoru is there, our presence is completely unnecessary."
After leaving the neighboring family and returning to their own home, Mei immediately relaxed, plopping down onto her sofa and even bouncing a little.
However, her lips were now pouted, and her tone sounded clearly displeased.
"Indeed, I think so too. In fact, I feel like we might have just been third wheels, getting in the way of someone trying to pick up girls."
Not just her, Ayano, who was sitting nearby, was the same. Sipping her coffee quietly, she spoke calmly and elegantly.
Yet the disdain in her eyes as she glanced at a certain someone across from her was unmistakable.
"So I already said it's not like that! I told you, it was for something important. And you two really did help me, you know."
Of course, that certain someone would never admit to such a thing, nor did he have any intention to.
Even though the two of them hadn't seemed to play a major role in the earlier conversation, their presence was actually crucial.
Without Mei, he wouldn't have been able to naturally approach the Hoshimiya family, let alone have an opportunity.
And Ayano's presence was a necessary condition for him to appear there normally. Otherwise, what would it look like if just he and Mei went to their house alone?
...Of course, merely being used as "tools" would never satisfy the two of them.
"Something important, like winning over that cute little girl? I don't know where you met that child, Satoru, but using us as tools to pick up girls just because she's too adorable—that's really shrewd of you."
Ayano's words were far more biting than Mei's, dripping with sarcasm.
During the earlier situation, she had held back and didn't speak up.
But honestly, she had long been dissatisfied.
What was this all about?
Satoru had mentioned before that he was targeting the younger sister of the Hoshimiya family.
Though she didn't know how he knew her, his intentions were clearly too obvious—he just wanted to get closer to the little sister.
Now that he succeeded, it might seem like a good thing, but being left on the sidelines like that had left a bad taste in their mouths.
"Yeah, exactly! And because of that, I've made Mukuro-chan dislike me even more!"
Naturally, Mei was also very unhappy.
She had genuinely wanted to get along well with Mukuro, but now she had become the "bad example," the "villain who tried to force-cut her hair." She was probably already blacklisted by Mukuro!
Seriously!
This is just too unfair!!
"There's no other way, it's necessary right now. I'm sorry, but it really is something important."
"Now that you've succeeded, can you at least tell us what you're trying to do?"
"Sorry, not yet. The timing isn't right, so I can't say for now. I'll explain once it's successful."
"..." x2
Once it's successful...
Does that mean after he's successfully wooed that girl?
Hearing this, both of them couldn't help but roll their eyes, their expressions filled with undisguised contempt.
Beep beep beep.
Just then, Satoru's phone happened to ring.
"Someone's calling me. Sorry, I have to go."
"...That was from Honjo, wasn't it? Is the person involved jealous after learning about your actions, so you need to rush off to explain?"
"I already told you it's not like that. I'll handle this matter properly. Sorry for the trouble, you two. Next time I'll treat you to a meal~"
Satoru responded with a mix of amusement and exasperation, then stood up and finally left, leaving the two girls watching his retreating figure with slight displeasure...
"Really, being so secretive like this is completely unlike Satoru's usual style."
"Maybe he encountered some troublesome matter. It seems this situation is really complicated."
However, contrary to what someone might have expected—that they would be speaking ill of him—the two girls were unexpectedly worried about him instead.
They knew Satoru well enough—he had always been someone who would directly state what he wanted to do and say, putting everything out in the open.
Only when it came to particularly troublesome matters would he handle them alone.
And this time, being so evasive and secretive, it seemed he must have encountered unprecedented trouble.
Though they were somewhat displeased, they could still understand Satoru's position.
"Probably so. But even so, I need to work hard to change Mukuro-chan's impression of me! So, Ayano-chan, please make cakes with me!"
"...Yuigahama-san, you just want me to teach you, don't you?"
"Ehehe~ Ayano-chan is better at making them anyway~"
"Sigh, I really can't do anything with you."
Looking at the simple-minded girl smiling foolishly while begging before her, Ayano let out a slight sigh and answered with a wry smile.
Of course, she didn't actually dislike this kind of behavior...
What none of them knew—including Satoru and the others—was that back in the Hoshimiya household, in Mukuro's room, she was currently communicating with a "mosaic"-like object...