[TSSIM] Chapter 406: Got Found Out

Watching Chika, who seemed guilty, Homura decided not to press further.

It was all too obvious anyway, so why bother?

Maybe Chika had started planning ever since she got the information from Megumi? After all, if Chika were just going to see Kaguya, was it really necessary to bring him along?

Moreover, everything after that seemed to fall right into Chika's calculations, although Homura hadn't expected her to act so naturally.

She intentionally created distance, knowing that even if he really didn't talk to Ai, whispering would still be pinned on him.

Eventually, to conform to her own goals, Chika even intentionally provoked him.

It was amazing how she could pull out all sorts of means when necessary.

Her kindness and innocence weren't a facade at all, but being born into a minister's family definitely made her manipulative and calculating!

With a helpless smile, Homura reached out and ruffled Chika's hair.

Seeing his smile, Chika understood that he had been aware of everything she had done, and she couldn't help but blush shyly.

"Kaguya-chan actually figured it out too..." Chika quietly admitted.

Upon hearing that, Homura thought for a moment, then nodded.

Kaguya must have guessed when he went to cook, right? That was when he heard a faint sound coming from Ai's earpiece, which she had stuffed into her ears.

Homura couldn't help but feel that being able to hear that was almost superhuman, leaving him amazed.

"But Kaguya didn't seem to mind, did she?" Homura asked.

"Nope..." Chika nodded slightly.

"Well then, that settles it." Homura shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly. "No need to worry that our opinion of you will change, because you haven't changed, right?"

"..."

"Yup!"

At this moment, Chika was in such a good mood that she started skipping as she walked.

===

"Okay, Homura-kun, I'm home." Chika said with a bright smile.

"You can contact me anytime." Homura gently patted her head. "Though I'm sure you girls will have a lot to worry about."

"But you'll definitely have time tonight, right, Homura-kun?" Chika asked with upturned eyes.

"Yeah, I usually stay up late at night."

After all, Homura spent his nights catching up on anime on the System.

"In that case, no problem!" Chika said, looking at him with a mischievous smile. "How about a 'chu' for goodbye?"

Seeing her expression, Homura raised his eyebrows.

Despite her mischievous smile, why did she look so cute?

"Mmph..." 

In the end, they exchanged another peck before parting ways.

"Goodbye 'chu' delivered, so it's time to say goodbye." Homura waved his hand with a smile, turning to leave.

Watching his departing figure, Chika reached for her lips.

"Heehee..."

While giggling, Chika entered her house gate with brisk steps.

===

"I'm back."

Homura shouted loudly towards the living room.

"Welcome back, nyaa~!" Rin poked her head out and greeted Homura.

"What's everyone up to?"

"We're chatting. By the way, Homura-kun, how are Kaguya-chan and Chika-chan?"

Before Homura could reply, Eriri hurried over.

'As expected... got found out in an instant...' Homura thought with a wry smile as he saw her demeanor.

"I bet they're doing great..." Eriri started to emit an ominous aura. "Especially since the scent on Homura is so strong..."

Homura chuckled wryly and patted her head, instantly reducing her ominous aura a bit.

"Nyaa? What scent?" Rin looked puzzled.

"Obviously, it's the scent of girls, what else?" Elf chimed in, eager to stir things up.

Sniff Sniff

"Hmm, I can't smell anything..." Elf shrugged her shoulders after sniffing Homura. "Guess my talents aren't in this area."

"Oh? Anything interesting happens?" Nozomi joined in, curious.

"Forget it, I won't ask you!" Eriri turned away. "I'll just ask Chika and Kaguya directly!"

"I think it's faster if you ask me... I won't lie, y'know..." Homura scratched his nose.

"I know that of course... but I want to hear from their mouth..." Eriri said while gritting her teeth.

With that, she dashed to the activity room and fetched her laptop.

"Homura-kun, what's going on~?" Nozomi poked him playfully in the side.

"You already figured it out, right?" Homura said calmly.

"But I want to hear it from your mouth... Did you plan this all along?" Nozomi asked again.

Homura sighed helplessly.

"Actually, this time, I really didn't... Believe it or not, I got outsmarted a little..."

"Nyaa?" Rin was surprised.

Elf and Nozomi were equally astonished.

Homura, outsmarted by someone? Seriously?

"Okay, let's head inside first." Homura shrugged and walked away.

Seeing his figure, the three girls exchanged glances and followed him inside.

Once they were all inside, Eriri started a group video call.

On the laptop screen were none other than Kaguya and Chika.

Amid everyone's surprised stares, Homura hugged Megumi without saying a word and just stood there holding her for a while. After greeting everyone else, he sat next to Haru and started grooming her fur.

Megumi looked at Homura and understood why he acted that way, smiling faintly.

"What happened?" Kaguya asked confusedly.

After all, the recent scene had unfolded outside the laptop camera's view.

"I just did something surprising."

Homura spoke with a smile as he watched Kaguya and Chika on the laptop screen.

"Surprising...?" Kaguya muttered to herself, lost in thought.

"Homura-kun... Eriri... What's this about?" Chika asked with a hesitant tone.

"I haven't even had a chance to say anything yet, and Eriri is already questioning you girls..." Homura smiled wryly.

Eriri gave him a look for a moment and then turned serious, staring at Chika and Kaguya on the screen.

"Come on, spill it. What exactly happened?" Eriri asked with a serious tone.

At this moment, Utaha crossed her arms and suddenly stepped in front of the camera, staring at the screen with a poker face.

Seeing this, Elf and Nozomi exchanged glances, understanding each other's thoughts.

They mimicked Utaha's actions and also appeared in front of the camera.

Kaguya: "..."

Chika: "..."

What happened? Were they having a trial here?

Just as Homura-kun predicted, Eriri figured it out straight away!

At the same time, Mashiro saw this and mimicked them too, but since her expression was naturally expressionless, her attempt at seriousness turned out unexpectedly cute, instantly reducing the tension!

"Mashiro... which side are you really on?" Utaha asked with a twitching mouth.

Nanami quickly reached out to pull Mashiro out of the camera, but Mashiro started struggling, further deflating the serious atmosphere.

Even Homura couldn't help but have his eye twitching.

Seeing this, Elf realized it was getting out of hand and hurriedly left the camera.

Elf grabbed Muramasa and, despite her protests, dragged her in front of the camera, making her strike the same stance as Utaha. Acting as if nothing happened, Elf also assumed the same stance again.

Kaguya: "..."

Chika: "..."

Meanwhile, Nozomi's eyes darted around for a moment, and then she began to act. She first pulled Eli over, who rolled her eyes but surprisingly cooperated. After a while, Umi and Maki were also pulled in by her.

"..."

At this point, currently at the Minamiya residence, all the girls capable of poker faces, except Megumi and Mashiro, were now gathered in front of the camera.