Izumi Chiyo looked at Sato as though she had discovered a huge secret. Her eyes sparkled with amazement.
"Miyabi?"
She suddenly asked tentatively.
Sato froze for a moment. After thinking it over, he quickly realized that Izumi Chiyo had probably figured out who he was.
So he nodded straightforwardly.
"That's me."
A mixture of surprise and realization flashed through Izumi Chiyo's eyes.
No wonder little Nohara was helping recruit people for the Gensokyo website. It turned out he was actually its founder!
However...
Izumi Chiyo's gaze suddenly traveled up and down Sato's body as though she were examining some rare treasure. A satisfied smile gradually appeared on her face.
Sato felt baffled under her scrutiny.
Why did it feel like Izumi Chiyo was looking at him strangely?
"Wait! What are you two even talking about?!"
Meanwhile, having been left out of the conversation, Izumi Sagiri suddenly stood up in irritation and dissatisfaction, feeling embarrassed at being ignored.
She had been listening the whole time but was completely lost. The two of them were speaking in riddles, exchanging one sentence after another before wearing meaningful smiles.
What is all this supposed to mean? Why does everyone understand except me?!
"Miyabi, it's Miyabi, Sagiri!"
Covering her mouth, Izumi Chiyo giggled.
Miyabi?
Izumi Sagiri looked at Izumi Chiyo blankly, then turned to look at the faintly smiling Sato. She still didn't understand.
Why does my daughter suddenly seem a little silly?
Izumi Chiyo sighed inwardly and continued,
"The author of the light novel you like!"
Izumi Sagiri froze.
Then her mouth suddenly fell open.
She whipped her head toward Sato, staring at him in shock.
"You mean... that Miyabi?"
"That's right, that Miyabi."
Smiling, Izumi Chiyo patted Sagiri's shoulder and leaned toward her ear.
"This is your favorite author, Sagiri. Don't you want an autograph or something?"
There was a teasing temptation in her voice, like a mischievous succubus luring someone in.
Izumi Sagiri's eyes gradually became unfocused.
But suddenly she snapped back to her senses, shoved Izumi Chiyo away, and cried out in embarrassment,
"Okaa-san, what are you saying?!"
Wh... what favorite author?!
It's just my favorite work, that's all! Don't say things that make people misunderstand!
The girl's cheeks flushed crimson as she glared indignantly at her mother. At the same time, she secretly observed Sato's expression.
When she saw that he hadn't reacted at all, she quietly let out a sigh of relief.
"Hehe."
Mrs. Izumi laughed, brimming with the vitality of a young girl.
Sato could only sit there maintaining a polite smile. However, the way he looked at Izumi Sagiri had become somewhat strange and surprised.
Who would've thought little Sagiri was actually one of his readers...
After fooling around for a while, the mother and daughter finally calmed down.
After thinking for a moment, a glimmer appeared in Izumi Chiyo's eyes as she looked up at Sato.
"Regarding the manga matter..."
Sato looked at her expectantly.
"I'm sorry, but I can't agree."
Hearing that, disappointment was difficult for Sato to hide.
Izumi Chiyo truly was highly skilled. Naturally, convincing her would have been the best outcome.
Still, her refusal wasn't entirely unexpected.
"However..."
Izumi Chiyo suddenly changed her tone and looked at Izumi Sagiri.
"Although I won't join, you can ask Sagiri. Sagiri is very talented too. She's only this little bit worse than me!"
She held her thumb and index finger close together, leaving only a tiny gap between them.
The gesture looked remarkably cute.
Sagiri?
Sato stared at the equally bewildered Izumi Sagiri in astonishment.
This shut-in girl?
Could she really do it?
Izumi Sagiri looked at Izumi Chiyo in confusion as well.
"O-Okaa-san?"
Izumi Chiyo smiled at her. Then a trace of worry flashed across her face.
Gently stroking her daughter's head, she spoke earnestly.
"Sagiri, you're still young. You can't keep drawing those kinds of things forever."
Izumi Sagiri froze.
Then she tightly pursed her lips, displaying the stubbornness unique to a young girl.
Seeing that, Izumi Chiyo sighed softly inwardly, feeling somewhat guilty.
Back then, she had thought Sagiri was too young to understand anything, so she never avoided drawing manga in front of her.
What she had never expected was that this little sapling would grow crooked so quickly.
She bore an undeniable share of responsibility for all of it.
And little Nohara's invitation this time might be a chance for things to change.
Meanwhile, Sato looked at the silent mother and daughter in confusion.
The atmosphere between them felt rather strange.
It seemed there was something here that he didn't understand.
What did "those kinds of things" refer to?
Illustrations?
If it was illustrations, couldn't she keep drawing them forever?
Sagiri's talent wasn't low. In the future, she would definitely become one of the big names in the illustration world.
Illustrations from artists of that caliber commanded astonishing prices. It wasn't uncommon for a single commission to cost over a million yen.
"Sagiri, consider this a request from Okaa-san, alright?"
Izumi Chiyo suddenly walked over, pulled Sagiri into her embrace, and whispered softly into her ear.
Izumi Sagiri remained silent for a long time.
It was as if she had gone through an intense internal struggle.
Finally, she looked up at Izumi Chiyo's hopeful gaze and nodded weakly.
"Okay."
At once, a warm smile blossomed across Izumi Chiyo's face.
Only then did she finally feel at ease.
Afterward, she turned toward Sato and took his hand.
Then she turned and took Izumi Sagiri's hand as well, placing it into his.
"Little Nohara, I'll leave Sagiri in your care from now on."
Sato took a deep breath and nodded solemnly.
As though he had just accepted some tremendously important responsibility...
Huh?
Huh?!!
Wait, that's not right!!!
Sato suddenly stared blankly at the small hand he was holding.
Then he looked up at the smiling Izumi Chiyo.
I only came here to invite you to draw manga!
I didn't come here to propose to your daughter!
Have you misunderstood something?!
Suddenly, he felt an intense gaze fixed on him.
Looking up, he saw Izumi Sagiri's face flushed bright red.
The girl stared tremblingly at the hand Sato was holding.
Then, in embarrassment and anger, she suddenly shouted at him,
"Pervert!!"
"Big pervert!!"
"Super big pervert!!"
"Super ultra mega pervert!!"
Sato: "..."