Chapter 22: It Should Be Paired with a Short Skirt

"Kaye, you're back so late..."

As soon as he stepped into the bedroom, the delicate, plaintive cry of Little Tomie drifted from the desk. Looking at Little Tomie, who was dressed in a porcelain-colored kimono like a doll, Udo Kaye apologized repeatedly.

"I stayed out with my classmates for too long today. Look, I bought you some snacks."

Little Tomie scrambled up from her comic book, gazing up at the snacks on the desk that loomed over her like a mountain, and immediately chirped in a sweet voice.

"I want to eat potato chips~"

"Alright, I'll open them for you right away."

Breaking the chips into pieces and placing them beside Little Tomie, Udo Kaye smiled as he watched her munching away, looking perfectly content and happy.

Little Tomie was so much easier to get along with. If it were Tomie, she would likely be sitting to the side right now, arms crossed, fuming, and waiting for him to exhaust his efforts trying to coax her.

Next door, Tomie—who knew Udo Kaye had finally returned thanks to her connection with Little Tomie—was simmering with annoyance in bed.

"Tch... day in and day out, god knows where he goes to fool around, never taking me... or coming to find me!"

Recalling the kiss they had shared on the rooftop just a few days ago, followed by the rare day of intimacy before Udo Kaye retreated back into his usual aloof, distant self, Tomie felt her temper flare.

Some things are just like that: take a step back, and you feel more cheated the more you think about it; endure for a moment, and you only grow more incensed. Tomie had never been a girl who excelled at suppressing her bad moods.

So, the moment Udo Kaye heard footsteps in the hallway, he hurriedly and frantically hid Little Tomie inside the wardrobe.

"Kaye, the chips~"

Little Tomie cooperated, shrinking into the palm of Udo Kaye’s hand as he cupped her and tucked her away in the corner, though she wondered silently what kind of fit Tomie was throwing now.

What was there to be so angry about? Coming over in the middle of the night to disturb her and Kaye's private world—it was so annoying!

Thoughts aside, seeing Udo Kaye’s apologetic face outside the wardrobe door, Little Tomie offered comfort.

"It’s okay, go see her quickly. If she discovers the situation between us, she’s bound to lose her temper at you again."

Having played a little trick by deliberately bad-mouthing Tomie, Little Tomie waved at Udo Kaye with a squinting smile before pulling the wardrobe door shut.

Downstairs, Tomie, who felt every move Little Tomie made, curled her lip in disgust, her mood plummeting.

The stifling frustration of knowing one’s boyfriend has a mistress but being unable to expose her—what kind of situation is this?!

Angry as she was, Tomie knew she couldn’t expose Little Tomie. Setting aside the fact that it would put Udo Kaye in a difficult position, she would also lose a perfectly placed mole she had planted right by his side.

She hadn't forgotten about that girl Kayoko, whom Udo Kaye had picked up on a rainy day—the one who was humble to the core!

Men simply couldn't resist a girl like that: not bad-looking, decent figure, lacking self-confidence, and habitually dependent on others!

Whether in life, work, the kitchen, or the bedroom, this kind of woman did whatever the man said. She wouldn't resist; she was the type of woman who knew exactly how to arch her back when asked.

No man could resist that. A man might choose a partner based on beauty, social standing, or family background. But if given the choice, every man would pick a woman like Kayoko, with her soft temperament and pleasant looks.

Even if she herself was stunning, how many men in this world didn't stray?

So, in every sense, that damned, tea-sipping split personality couldn't be touched for the time being.

Thinking this, Tomie composed herself and reverted to the role of the fretful, willful girlfriend.

"Why are you here?"

Watching Udo Kaye walk down the stairs, Tomie crossed her arms and looked away, clearly unhappy.

"I turned down several invitations today for your sake, and you go out to play without me!"

"..."

*How was I supposed to know you’d turn down other invitations? Usually, in these situations, you’d be happily running off with them.*

"What is that look on your face?"

Udo Kaye didn't speak. Instead, he went to the refrigerator, took out the Aoba-brand orange juice she liked, and handed it to her.

"I'll take you shopping tomorrow."

Looking at the orange juice Udo Kaye offered, she recalled how she had complained yesterday afternoon about being out of it, and he had gone out specifically to buy some today.

*I suppose you're sensible enough...*

Secretly pleased, Tomie maintained her annoyed expression, took the juice, and plopped down on the sofa.

Seeing Tomie’s anger subside, Udo Kaye let out a sigh of relief. He sat down beside her and watched as Tomie took a contented sip of the juice.

Aoba orange juice had a distinct, bitter aftertaste. He didn't know why Tomie, who loved sweets and high-end delicacies, was so fond of its flavor.

Udo Kaye didn't dwell on it. As he watched Tomie tilt her head back to drink, exposing her snow-white neck, his gaze began to wander uncontrollably down her throat.

Her white short-sleeved shirt was stretched slightly by her budding chest. Her long, shapely legs were tucked to the right, her pearl-like toes twitching playfully from time to time.

For a moment, Udo Kaye was transfixed.

Tomie’s beauty was nearly flawless. It wasn't as if Udo Kaye hadn't seen other women naked, but even the instructors in films, who were heavily enhanced by beauty filters, couldn't compare to her.

Her skin was like that of an AI beauty—unrealistically beautiful, exuding a strange, jade-like luster.

Tomie naturally noticed Udo Kaye’s gaze. Seeing him staring at her without blinking, a faint, imperceptible smile tugged at the corner of her lips.

Pretending not to notice his state, Tomie set down the juice and shifted her legs, displaying their perfect curves as much as possible before his eyes.

"I remember you have white silk stockings, don't you?"

Udo Kaye’s whisper made Tomie freeze for a second, followed by a roll of her eyes.

"No!"

*When I offered them to you, you didn't want them. Now? Even if you begged me, I wouldn't give them to you!*

She retorted with an angry snap. Udo Kaye, startled by her sudden shout, realized with a start why he had blurted that out.

"By the way, are you sleeping at my place tonight?"

Tomie rolled her eyes.

"Who’s sleeping at your place? What are we to each other, anyway?"

"..."

Tomie’s words left Udo Kaye in silence, not knowing how to answer.

Seeing him stay quiet, Tomie’s expression dropped instantly. She stood up, huffing, and headed toward her own home.

Watching her leave, Udo Kaye sat alone in the living room for a while before silently preparing to return to his bedroom.

However, just as he reached to turn off the lights, the door he kept specifically for Tomie suddenly opened. Udo Kaye thought, *Why is this young lady back again?*

He turned around, full of confusion.

A bright figure in pure white, tinged with a hint of pink, appeared before him. The edges of her socks hugged her rounded thighs, creating a subtle, perfect indentation.

"It should be paired with a short skirt."

Arms crossed, Tomie waited for Udo Kaye’s heartfelt praise, but the expression on her face shifted from haughty anticipation to sheer bewilderment.

She looked down at the pink hot pants she was wearing, then back at the deeply regretful Udo Kaye. Her expression began to twist and distort.

"UDO KAYE!!!"