Anime Crossover: These Heroines Are All Abnormal

Page 24

"..."

Hiiragi Kanna's smile vanished quickly, her expression hardening as she solemnly raised the card in her hand. "I hereby declare that from now on, this will be called the Lovers' Communication Card, or simply the Marriage Certificate. Who agrees? Who disagrees?"

“I agree,” Akane Nanao said, raising her hand despite her initial grumbling.

“I agree,” she said, smiling shyly at Mu Xiaoxiao. “Sorry, Xiaoxiao, I also think this name is better.”

"..."

"Three votes in favor, one abstention, Little one, it's settled then~".

"..."

Whatever makes you happy. You received three marriage certificates, one for yourself, and three are left. If you run out, you'll have to rely on luck to keep using the gacha.

But wait a minute, if it's a marriage certificate, does that mean I'm starting a harem?

Ahem, what harem? I'm just saving poor girls, changing their fate, and giving them a happy future. Yeah, that's all.

I just don't know if we can get enough communication cards. Give me more!

As Mu Xiaoxiao was thinking, Hiiragi Kanna suddenly noticed her senior, "Huh? Xiaoxiao, isn't Touka-senpai here?"

Tohsaka Touka stood silently to the side, as if she were an outsider. When she heard herself mentioned, she forced a smile and said, "He and I are not in that kind of relationship. Kana, you said it yourself that this is a marriage certificate. How could Xiaoxiao just give it away like that?"

"Gan Cai is so nice, I really want to find me more women," Mu Xiaoxiao said with a mischievous smile.

"Ugh, I just think Touka-senpai is a really nice person, she should be considered one of us..."

Listening to their conversation, Touka Tohsaka paused for a moment, then slowly lowered her head. Strictly speaking, I have no relationship with Xiaoxiao at all. We're just upperclassmen and underclassmen, how can we be considered family?

Seeing that they all had small gifts, and feeling like an outsider, Touka felt inexplicably lost and empty inside. Why did she feel sad when it had nothing to do with her?

Thinking about it, she turned her gaze to Tsubakihara Mira. Miss Mira didn't have a gift from Mu Xiaoxiao either, but she didn't seem to care at all. Her face still had that gentle and calm smile, which Touka couldn't understand.

Doesn't she care? But she clearly cares a lot about Xiaoxiao's appearance.

Kanna and Akane were so engrossed in their joy, clutching the communication cards, that they didn't notice the disappointment on their senior's face. Mira, however, did see it, but the mature widow didn't say anything; she simply smiled calmly.

Yoshida was on the phone when the girl rushed over in a panic. "Xiaoxiao, it's...it's Izumi calling. She wants to see you."

Okay, I almost forgot about the hot girl.

This young lady is definitely in a bad mood, Mu Xiaoxiao could tell even with his toes. He made an X with his fingers, "Just say I'm not here."

"Quan said she heard your voice..." Xiao hurriedly said.

"..."

"Give me your phone," what could Mu Xiaoxiao say but answer the call?

"Moshi moshi~".

"Mu Xiaoxiao!!"

Nogami Izumi's furious voice came from the other end of the phone, "Are you trying to avoid me? Damn it! What's going on on your end? Didn't you ask me for help? But when my people got there, they found the problem was already solved. Are you playing me for a fool?"

"Calm down, Quan," Mu Xiaoxiao advised gently. "Why are you always angry every time we talk on the phone? This is not good for your health."

"How can you say you weren't playing a trick on me? How could I possibly be angry?"

Nogami Izumi sat in her bedroom, fuming.

"What's there to be angry about? Wouldn't it be better to resolve this and save you trouble?"

"But you're making me lose face. I feel like I'm being looked down upon—you said I'd help you, but you ended up asking someone else. Are you looking down on me?"

This woman is such a nuisance.

"How could that be? Who doesn't know Miss Quan's capabilities? I trust you completely. It's just that a kind passerby helped us out. Speaking of which, you already know what happened at Xiao's family?"

Nogami Izumi's voice on the other end of the phone had calmed down considerably, perhaps because Mu Xiaoxiao's praise had improved her mood. "I know, those kinds of parents are really outrageous. I made some inquiries, and that man was crushed and is completely ruined."

"Oh, I did it."

Nogami Izumi paused for a moment, then snorted twice, "You're really ruthless than me."

His tone suggested a degree of appreciation.

"Speaking of which, aren't you curious about who helped me?"

"I've found out everything. By the way, how did you get involved with that woman?" The usually fearless Nogami Izumi's voice became more serious. "Never mind, it's none of my business anyway. I'm more interested in knowing what this camera is for. Tell me quickly!"

"You'll see once you try it yourself. It's pointless for me to explain. That's all, bye."

"Hey! Wait a minute, you..."

card.

The girl, dressed in her pajamas and sitting on the edge of the bed, stared blankly at the phone that had been hung up on. She paused for a moment, then jumped up, shouting, "They hung up on me again! This is the second time, Mu Xiaoxiao—"

The maids at the door listened to the commotion in the young lady's room. They remained expressionless but could only mutter to themselves that the young lady was usually quite calm, because no one had dared to provoke her until now. However, she had become somewhat irritable these past two days.

He kept muttering a name.

Chapter Forty-Two: First Love Blossoms

After the barbecue party ended, Tsubakihara Mira reluctantly drove Akane and the others home.

Unlike Yoshida Sho, Tohsaka Touka did not follow Mu Xiaoxiao. Instead, she returned to her own home, a rather large mansion that looked quite impressive. However, apart from the house, the Tohsaka family had nothing left.

"came back?"

"Mother……"

In the courtyard under the cover of night, Touka Tohsaka couldn't help but rush into her mother's arms upon seeing her. Surprised by her daughter's behavior, she quickly put on a smile and said, "It seems you've been doing well these past few days, Touka. You've changed a lot."

In the past, she would never have expressed her thoughts and emotions so openly; she would have kept them all hidden in her heart. Now, her haggard mother could sense the changes in her daughter.

"It's alright, I've made some friends," Touka Tohsaka said softly.

"A friend of the opposite sex? The last person who called was a guy," she laughed.

"Ah."

The mother and daughter chatted for a while longer before Touka Tohsaka was gently nudged by her mother. "Get some rest, Touka. We'll have guests coming to our house tomorrow, so get up early."

"guest?"

“They’re from the Takahara family,” she explained to her daughter. “The head of the Takahara family has a good relationship with your father. He’s willing to help us through this difficult time and will be coming to our house tomorrow to discuss this matter. Speaking of which, the third son of the Takahara family will also be coming. You two used to play together when you were little, so you were childhood sweethearts. Do you remember him? The boy named Yuuma.”

Takahara Yuma?

Touka Tohsaka frowned; she had a vague recollection of it, but it wasn't deep.

They practiced kendo together when they were young, but other than that, there were no special memories. If her mother hadn't mentioned it, she wouldn't even remember that person. Late at night, when Touka Tohsaka returned to her room after taking a shower, she was still a little distracted.

She would be happy if the Takahara family could help her family through this difficult time, but why did she feel a little uneasy?

She didn't sleep, but sat at her desk and opened her diary.

The next morning, Tosaka-senpai got up early and changed into a kimono that she only wore on formal occasions. She and her mother sat in the room where they received guests and met the Takahara family. She also saw Takahara Yuuma, who was sitting next to his father.

She still vaguely remembered his appearance. Her mother was right; she and he were indeed childhood sweethearts. But that was all. Tohsaka Touka didn't have any special feelings for him.

On the contrary, it was Takahara Yuuma who blushed after glancing at Tohka Tohsaka twice.

Tohsaka Touka turned her gaze to her father, the head of the Takahara family, who was talking to her mother. The girl also remembered him; like her father, this man was proficient in swordsmanship, so she had seen him many times at the dojo.

They're not strangers.

However, the girl frowned slightly. She had a bad feeling. The way the man looked at her was strange, making her feel disgusted and repulsed. She had never felt this way before, but this time it was unusually obvious.

Is it because of what happened between Qian and Xiao that I've become more sensitive than before?

"It's been a long time. Miss Tohsaka has become more and more beautiful," the head of the Takahara family suddenly turned to Tohsaka and said, "You should still remember Yuuma, right? You used to play together and practice kendo together."

“Um, I remember Ms. Tohsaka, hello,” Yuma Takahara seemed a little nervous and excited. His gaze toward Tohsaka Touka held a hint of joy, as if he was captivated by her beautiful appearance and temperament.

As for Touka Tohsaka, her expression was much calmer, as if she didn't care about Yuuma Takahara's emotions at all, and she nodded calmly.

“Lady Tohsaka, our Takahara family can help you resolve those debts, and not just debts, but other troubles as well,” the head of the Takahara family withdrew his gaze, paused for a moment, and suddenly made his request, “However, I have one condition.”

Tohsaka Touka was taken aback for a moment, but her mother had expected it. Even the Takahara family, with whom she had a good relationship, would not help her for no reason. She was prepared for this.

"Please say."

“It’s not a difficult condition. I hope to marry your daughter to my son,” the man said with a smile.

"..."

"..."

Touka Tohsaka's pupils dilated at that moment, and her breath hitched. What did he say?

Sitting next to him, Yuuma Takahara was equally astonished and overjoyed. His father wanted to arrange a marriage? He already had a good impression of Touka Tohsaka and had just been attracted by her beauty and temperament.

Of course he was willing.

"In a way, this is a marriage alliance. Miss Tohsaka is marrying into the Takahara family, so we'll be family, won't we? The Takahara family will naturally do everything they can to help you. Besides, my son and Miss Tohsaka have known each other since they were little, they're childhood sweethearts, and maybe they even have feelings for each other. It's a match made in heaven, isn't it perfect?"

Tohsaka Touka clenched her fist quietly under her hands. Seeing her mother deep in thought, her heart turned even colder. Was she really going to marry into the Takahara family? Childhood sweethearts? She had no feelings for them at all.

She wanted to say no.

The moment she opened her mouth, she remembered her mother's hardships and the family's predicament. Should she be willful this once? This kind of marriage could solve the family's troubles, but she didn't know what to do. The image of Mu Xiaoxiao involuntarily appeared in her mind.

"Xiaoxiao..."

The conversation continued.

“Touka marrying into the Takahara family would indeed be a perfect solution,” Mrs. Tohsaka nodded, glancing back at her daughter who was enduring something, and hesitated for a moment, “but she’s still in school…”

“That’s alright, we can get engaged first,” the head of the Yingyuan family said with a smile. “My son is still in school, so we can talk about the marriage after he graduates.”

It is very common in Japan to get married or start working after graduating from high school.

It sounded like a perfect solution, with no problems whatsoever. However, the daughter's behavior was a bit unusual, and Mrs. Tohsaka, as her mother, couldn't have missed it. "Mr. Takahara, could you perhaps give us some time to consider this?"

"Do you still have any concerns? Don't be shy, just say it."

These words were also spoken to Touka Tohsaka. When she saw the man looking at her, Touka gently bit her lip, looked up and met her mother's concerned gaze. Her heart warmed, but she didn't know how to speak. Seeing her daughter like this, Mrs. Tohsaka seemed to understand something.

"The safety of the Tohsaka family is certainly important, but compared to that, your happiness is more important, Touka. I think your father must also think so. Touka, you are our most precious treasure. If we were to sacrifice you for the sake of the Tohsaka family, that would be putting the cart before the horse."

"Mother……"

The girl's nose felt sore.

"I just didn't expect that you'd already fallen in love," the mother said with a smile. Her daughter, who rarely showed her emotions, actually had someone she liked. "You have someone you like? Is it the boy we talked about on the phone last time?"

"Huh? You like this...?"

Does she like him? Touka Tohsaka didn't know. She had no experience in love and knew nothing about it. She had no idea what it felt like to like someone. However, Mu Xiaoxiao's image was always lingering in her heart. She would always think of him and miss him.

Is this what it feels like to like someone?

As for the Takahara father and son, they were already frowning. Takahara Yuuma, in particular, had a pale face and seemed to have been hit hard. Hearing that Tohsaka Touka already had someone she liked made him feel uncomfortable.

"Madam, are you going to refuse?"

“If Touka can accept Yuuma, of course I won’t refuse. It is indeed a good suggestion. But since she has someone she likes, I, as her mother, cannot let her be sad.”

"You like it?" The man scoffed. "Is something this trivial more important than the survival of your family?"

Sensing the other party's aggressive aura, Lady Tohsaka frowned and was about to retort, but before she could speak, the head of the Takahara family's phone suddenly rang. After answering, his expression changed from bewilderment to astonishment, as if he had received some news that made him unable to calm down.

After hanging up the phone, he gave Mrs. Tohsaka a deep look. "I can't believe you guys got involved with that woman. Looks like I've wasted my time."

The doubts didn't last long. Soon after, she received a call from a woman. When she heard the woman identify herself as Tsubakihara Mira, Mrs. Tohsaka was stunned.

"With that woman's intervention, it seems the Tohsaka family's troubles can be resolved. Although we can't become family, I hope our friendship can continue," the man said, knowing his goal was unattainable and not wasting any more time. "We'll take our leave now."

Yuuma Takahara is still reeling from the extreme highs and lows. Of course, he has a great fondness for Touka Tohsaka, his childhood friend, but seeing her aversion to the arranged marriage and hearing that she has someone she likes makes him feel awful.

Yuma Takahara plummeted into hell in an instant.

He was still in a daze when he left the Tohsaka family, until his father's cold voice came, "Useless."

Raising his head, he met the terrifying gaze of the head of the Takahara family. Takahara Yuuma didn't dare to refute. He could only lower his head, cowering and silent, his cowardly nature on full display. He knew in his heart that there was no longer any possibility between him and Miss Tohsaka.

In the courtyard of the Tohsaka family, Touka already knew the whole story.

"Oh, it's Miss Mira."