Chapter 18: Mio’s Mom’s Romance Guidance
Natsume Mio was still a bit depressed last night, but this morning she thought it through.
It seemed like A Jian rejected her yesterday, but actually, what A Jian expressed was very clear.
Because of his past experiences, his family situation, financial situation, and so on, he felt tremendous pressure, so he wasn’t ready for romance.
It’s not that he doesn’t like her.
On the contrary, it shows that A Jian cares about her exceptionally.
After all, if he was just playing around, he wouldn’t have taken her to that rundown apartment or let her see that old rental room.
Voluntarily telling her these things shows his sincerity.
Hehe, A Jian loves me~
As Natsume Mio thought about it, the corner of her mouth involuntarily curved up.
“Mio, what happy thing are you thinking about?” the woman sitting across from the dining table asked.
“Ha… Mom, n-nothing.” Natsume Mio said with a grin, “I’m just thinking that now high school is finally over, and the holiday is really long.”
“Does Mio want to go on a graduation trip?” Mio’s mom asked.
Natsume Mio shook her head: “No no, I already have holiday plans.”
Natsume Chiho said: “Mio, you don’t actually need to rush into part-time jobs. If you need money, Mom and Dad can give you some.”
“It’s not just for part-time jobs…” Natsume Mio thought for a moment and said, “Part-time jobs and such can also help practice social skills, and the rest of the time I need to practice vocal music.”
“That’s true, the ability to interact with people is also very important.” Natsume Chiho picked up her milk cup, took a gentle sip, then continued slowly, “It can also expand your social circle. It would be even better if you could meet an excellent boy.”
“Eh?” Natsume Mio was slightly stunned, quickly waved her hands, and said, “Mom, what are you saying…”
“This is very important, you know.” Natsume Chiho said in a serious tone, “Back then, your mom met your dad while working part-time at the bookstore. Haha, at that time he was a total romance idiot, and your mom took him down with just a little move.”
“R-really?” Natsume Mio blinked her eyes, looking at her mom with some surprise.
She had never talked about such topics with her mom before, nor had she asked how her parents got together back then.
Natsume Chiho took a tissue paper to wipe her mouth, sat up straight, looking like a mother about to impart knowledge to her daughter.
She looked at Natsume Mio and said: “Mio, do you know what a perfect life looks like?”
“What kind?” Natsume Mio listened quietly.
“Elementary school period: make a bunch of friends and have a happy childhood; junior high period: first love, enjoy the most carefree campus romance; high school period: find the type you like, then date a few times, attempt initial experiences.”
Natsume Chiho pointed at Natsume Mio and said: “Mio, your junior high and high school periods aren’t perfect at all.”
“I think middle school was pretty good…” Natsume Mio pursed her lips and said.
“You didn’t even have romance, how was that pretty good?” Natsume Chiho said, “Your mom told you about this before, but you didn’t listen.”
“Mom… you can’t just apply formulas like doing math problems…” Natsume Mio said, “Were you like that back then?”
“Of course, everything Mom says is from my own experience.” Natsume Chiho recalled her younger days, proudly puffing out her chest that was identical to Mio’s, and said, “Back in high school, Mom had every class heartthrob in the palm of her hand.”
“Ah?”
“Think about it, if Mom hadn’t accumulated some experience in high school, how could I have won your dad later? Don’t look at your dad with his beer belly now; he was handsome back then. Just from what I know, there were two other women chasing him.” Natsume Chiho said.
“I-is that so??” Natsume Mio felt shocked; she hadn’t expected her parents to have such a history.
Natsume Chiho gave a light hum and said: “But still, your mom eliminated those two bad women.”
“Oh… that really wasn’t easy…” Natsume Mio responded timidly.
“So, Mio, since you didn’t have any romance throughout middle school, you can only jump straight to the fourth stage.” Natsume Chiho held up four fingers and said, “The fourth stage is university, where you find the partner to spend your life with in university—the marriage partner.”
At this point, Natsume Chiho’s expression became even more serious as she said: “You must find one before graduating from university. Let me tell you, university is the last time for true feelings; after entering society, romances are all filled with various desires and interests.”
Natsume Mio listened to her mom’s life experiences; though she appeared dismissive on the surface, she silently took note in her heart.
Seeing Natsume Mio’s dazed expression, Natsume Chiho gently shook her head.
“Mio, you’re just like me in every way except in emotions, where you’re like your dad—dumb, block, head, goose.” She said the evaluation word by word.
Natsume Mio didn’t respond; she had finished breakfast, cleared her plate, and got up to put it in the sink.
When her back was to her mom, she cheekily stuck out her tongue.
Who says I’m a dumb blockhead goose?
I’ve clearly completed half of the fourth stage.
The first step is finding the partner to spend your life with, the second is marriage, so it’s half, right?
Natsume Mio put the plate away and went back to her room.
Morning time: first practice facial muscles, voicing, breath control, then pick up the handbook and recite tongue twisters for a bit—these are all necessary training projects for becoming a voice actor.
The morning sunlight was just right, so she sat at the desk, picked up the tablet computer, and opened JUMP+.
A Jian’s 《Chainsaw Man》 had updated with two chapters; she had read them over many times, even memorizing every line.
“If I keep you, I’ll give you bait, um… bread with butter and jam, salad, coffee, and dessert.”
“Did you forget? You’re the one I keep; you can only answer me ‘yes’ or ‘woof.’ I don’t need a dog that says no.”
“I like people like Denji-kun~”
Natsume Mio pondered Makima’s tone in the manga and recited her lines.
She was a very dominant woman who held the upper hand with the protagonist Denji-kun.
It even felt like there was a bit of training involved.
Thinking about it, that made sense: Denji-kun fused with Pochita, and Pochita was a dog demon with a chainsaw on its head, so Denji-kun also fused with Pochita’s personality.
But such lines made Natsume Mio subconsciously recall that dream…
But in the dream, it was reversed; the dominant one was A Jian.
And she actually hoped he would control everything, even enjoying that… sensation of being controlled by A Jian.
Thinking of the romance advice her mom just gave her.
First love, initial experiences, life partner, and such…
A Jian…
If you keep me, will you give me bait?
