Miyako lowered her head, using her neat bangs to cover her expression and hide her shyness.
In fact, she had already anticipated being misunderstood; after all, a young boy bringing a girl of the same age home, no matter how you look at it, looks like a couple who are dating.
She just didn't expect Granny Kobayashi to be so direct, assuming that Akira brought her back just to do that kind of thing… and she even gave him money. Does that mean she supports it?
What was he thinking?
And although Akira was complaining wildly in his heart, he appeared calm on the surface, which was thanks to the emotional control brought by the S-rank acting talent he had just obtained.
But in Miyako's eyes, this made Akira seem like an experienced old hand, and that he often brought girls home.
I haven't been deceived, have I? The girl only realized this belatedly.
Fortunately, Akira still stepped forward to explain in time, resolving the trust crisis that had just appeared in their cooperation.
"BBA (Old woman), it's not what you think. I brought her back because she is related to Kuroo."
"Hoh… is she too?"
This sentence immediately made Granny Kobayashi look at Miyako in a new light; originally, she had only regarded Miyako as Akira's accessory and hadn't intended to ask about her.
Although Miyako was indeed beautiful, her beauty only had a fatal attraction for men, while for women, the effect was greatly reduced.
Most women, upon seeing the naturally beautiful Miyako, might feel more envy and jealousy than admiration and fascination.
A natural succubus who could turn straight women into lesbians was a setting that only existed in novels.
What's more, Granny Kobayashi was also well-traveled and experienced; in her youth, she also possessed a beauty score of eighty-five, and she dressed more boldly, living up to the saying, 'This old woman's cheongsam went up to her shoulders back in the day,' so she didn't have any particular feelings about Miyako's appearance.
In the past, everyone she met for the first time would praise her beauty or stare at her, but this was the first time she was 'ignored' like this, or rather, treated as an ordinary person, which made Miyako feel very strange.
What attracted Granny Kobayashi was Kuroo instead?
Miyako remembered Akira saying that Granny Kobayashi was an old witch; could Kuroo actually be Granny Kobayashi's familiar? Witches and cats are a good match!
The girl had already started to let her imagination run wild.
Whether it was Akira or Granny Kobayashi, both were too mysterious for a girl in her adolescence, making her very interested.
"I was wondering how you, boy, managed to trick such a beautiful girl. It seems I overestimated you."
Then Granny Kobayashi showed a kind and amiable grandmotherly smile befitting her age, took Miyako's hand, and asked,
"So, where are you from?"
"…?"
However, this question was asked in Okinawan.
It seemed kind, but it was actually a test, to see her reaction.
Miyako looked bewildered; Granny Kobayashi suddenly said something she didn't understand, and from the pronunciation, it should be the most popular foreign language right now.
It seemed Akira had also said it just now… Was this a new way of greeting?
And Akira, who had also been tested, looked away guiltily and whistled; he knew that he probably couldn't bluff his way through this time.
"Boy, are you lying to me?"
Granny Kobayashi's face immediately darkened, and she glared fiercely at Akira.
"No, I really didn't lie to you. It was really Kuroo who took me to see her, and Kuroo even let her pet his belly."
"…."
Granny Kobayashi was silent for a long time, then finally sighed helplessly.
"Alright, it's possible for such a thing to happen. After all, no one knows what Kuroo is really thinking…"
Then she looked at Miyako again, her cordiality already completely gone, replaced by a cold refusal.
"But you don't meet the conditions, so I have no obligation to take you in."
"Ugh…"
Was she going to be kicked out…?
Miyako felt a little lost, but Akira wasn't flustered at all. Instead, he leaned over and said,
"Don't be so heartless, old woman. You've already adopted three people. What's the harm in adopting one more?"
Granny Kobayashi rolled her eyes at the glib Akira and retorted,
"Do you think I'm some soft-hearted person who takes in anyone homeless? Even if I'm an old woman living alone, I don't feel lonely!"
"If I hadn't brought you guys home, I would have been better off alone! I wouldn't have to cook every day; it would be so much easier!"
"If it weren't for my old man's dying wish, I would have kicked you stinky boy out a long time ago."