Episode 68 - Miki's Home Visit (Part 2)

【At Last, the Visit Begins】

A weekend afternoon.

Wearing a blue-striped early summer dress and carrying a bottle of wine,

Miki stood in front of Ryoko and Shota’s apartment door.

(Alright, Miki. Time to get it together!!)

Ding-dong♪

She rang the doorbell, and Ryoko’s cheerful voice echoed through the intercom.

"Welcome, Miki-chan♡ Come on in!"

(C-Could this be the moment when Shota-senpai’s telekinesis kicks in and the door opens by itself...!?)

—But no, it opened normally from the inside with a click.

Standing there with a radiant smile—

Was Ryoko, wearing a bright floral tunic and soft, comfy pants.

A gentle and relaxed weekend style.

"Miki-chan, that dress is adorable♡"

"Ehehe, really~? Thanks♡"

"Come on in, make yourself at home. Slippers are right here."

"Thanks for havin’ me!"

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【Entering the Ryoko & Shota Nest】

Miki was led into the living room, where Shota greeted her, completely at ease.

Faded jeans and a loose T-shirt.

The embodiment of at-home mode.

"Miki-chan, welcome. I’ve been looking forward to this."

"Shota-senpai, thank y’all for havin’ me over today! I brought some wine—let’s all enjoy it together!"

She handed over the bottle with a slightly nervous smile.

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【W.C. Ryoko’s Setup】

"By the way... Ryoko-ma’am, I know I just got here, but mind if I use the restroom?"

"Of course♡ It’s this way—follow me~"

Ryoko led her down the hall.

"This one’s the bathroom. Feel free to use it. Oh, and by the way—"

She pointed to the door across from it.

"This one says W.C., but… it’s not a water closet—it’s a walk-in closet.

Don’t get them mixed up, okay? It’d be super embarrassing if you peeked inside♡"

She flashed a mischievous grin.

(A walk-in closet...? Wait...
Don't tell me it leads to another world or somethin’...?!)

In Miki’s mind, the door to The Chronicles of Narnia had already swung wide open.

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【First, a Toast】

"Cheers!"

Ryoko had prepared shrimp and broccoli ajillo,

salmon carpaccio, and a fancy cheese platter.

A stylish spread graced the table,

and the three clinked their wine glasses together.

Miki started laying out her strategy.

(Gotta start with a jab. Can’t just dive straight into the core stuff...)

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【The Love Story Interview】

"So y’all are a classic office romance, huh?
How’d y’all end up together?"

"Oh my♡"

Ryoko’s cheeks softly flushed.

"Shota-kun told me,
‘I can’t think about anyone but Ryoko-senpai!’ and confessed to me♡"

"Uh—yeah… that’s true (sweat) 😅"

(Shota recalled how, when they first met, Ryoko had used her powers to make it literally impossible for him to think about anyone else…)

"Right, Shota-kun? Right♡"

Ryoko smiled sweetly at him—

And at that moment, a wave of emotional pressure (a hidden punch) hit Shota directly.

(…Got somethin’ to say about that, Shota-kun?)

"Yep, that’s how it went! I totally fell for her! Good times, haha… (shaky voice)"

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"Y’all really are head over heels.

And what happened the other day in Akihabara, whew, that was somethin’ else."

"Haha, yeah. Ryoko-senpai sure is bold.

I was surprised too."

Miki leaned in closer.

"Come to think of it, that maid café girl—wasn’t she floatin’ off the ground a bit?"

(Here it comes! The core question!!)

Shota glanced at Ryoko.

Ryoko just kept smiling—angelically.

"Yeah, that’s been trending lately—
floaty dance stuff. Entertainment’s wild these days! Right, Ryoko-senpai?"

"Ufufu, you’re so knowledgeable, Shota-kun♡"

(Huh…? They brushed it off…!?)

Just as Miki was about to launch a follow-up—

"Miki-chan♡ There’s something I really want to show you. Come on~"

Ryoko gently took her hand and led her into her room.

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【Top-Secret Mission】

Ryoko quietly shut the door to her room,

offered Miki a seat on the floor cushions, and sat down beside her.

"You know… that day, I asked Shota-kun about it.
But he just kept dodging the question…"

"I knew it… Shota-senpai’s hidin’ his powers even from his wife, huh..."

Ryoko gave a sorrowful smile.

"I thought I knew everything about him… 
But now, it turns out there are still secrets between us…"

(So that’s why he talked to me today… 
He wanted me to help cover for him…)

With a serious expression, Ryoko spoke.

"That’s why I asked you to come today. 
Miki-chan, as a specialist,
I need you to help me find solid evidence of Shota-kun’s telekinesis!"

Miki clenched her fists.

"Y’all can count on me! I’ll search high ‘n low, top to bottom—
leave no stone unturned!"

"Good♡ —Except the closet."

Ryoko gave her a dazzling smile,

and made sure the warning landed firmly.