Soyo-chan, Version 2.0—Courtesy of Me! [106]

"Dinner? Ah, well…"

Tsuzuki Chihiro genuinely had no idea how to handle the situation in front of her. Who could've predicted that after going home at noon to do her makeup and then meeting up with Reki in the afternoon, she’d just so happen to run into Soyo’s actual mother?

Of course, it was also partly her fault for taking the wrong route.

"Soyo… still won’t forgive me, huh? Even though this dinner is nearly a week late, there was nothing I could do."

Nagasaki Rina looked at her daughter, who seemed distant and indifferent. She didn’t overthink it, assuming that Soyo was still upset about what had happened the previous Sunday.

After all, she had first brought good news, only to abruptly leave due to work, turning joy into disappointment. And afterward, she got so caught up in things that she completely forgot to call her daughter and apologize.

Even Soyo would be angry at her mom for that, right?

But Rina had no idea that her casual words had just sparked a revelation in the girl standing before her.

That keyword—"a week."

In an instant, Chihiro connected the dots to Soyo’s strange behavior last Sunday night.

What if… Soyo wasn’t just angry because she had come home late that day?

If it were simply about breaking their promise to cook dinner together, Soyo wouldn’t have been that upset. But if Soyo’s mom had come home first that evening, everything suddenly made sense.

So… there were things Soyo didn’t want to tell her. Or rather, a vulnerable side she didn’t want her to see.

"Mom… I don’t not forgive you."

Tsuzuki Chihiro had no idea what Soyo would have done in this situation, but looking at the woman before her, she got the impression that she really did love her daughter.

"How about you wait here for a bit…? I’ll go upstairs and change?"

"Change? What for? Your outfit looks just fine."

Nagasaki Rina chuckled, reaching out to pat her "daughter’s" head.

"What do you feel like eating tonight? Mom will take you out—huh? Soyo, when’s the last time you washed your hair? It feels a little dry."

Of course it does. It’s a wig. How could it feel the same as real hair?

No matter how well-made, a wig was still a wig. Even the most natural-looking, silky-smooth ones had a tendency to be fragile and break easily.

Besides… it wasn’t like Chihiro did this often enough to justify spending a fortune on an expensive wig.

"Ah… well…" Chihiro took a half-step back. "Since you insist, I guess I’ll go along with it."

Sorry, Soyo. I just stole your mom and your cozy family dinner… Ugh, I really did my best here.

But…

Looking at Nagasaki Rina, who was only slightly taller than her, Chihiro suddenly came up with an idea to make it up to Soyo.

The only problem? It was kind of… mean.

Maybe because Rina was worried about getting called away for work again, she made sure to pull Chihiro straight into the car, turning off her phone in the process.

Chihiro figured Soyo’s mom hadn’t let her go upstairs to inform the real Soyo because she didn’t want anything ruining her chance to make it up to her daughter tonight.

The adult world sure is full of pressure, huh?

"Mom… where are we going?"

"To get some meat. You always eat vegetarian food—pasta with veggies, fruit salads… Look at you, you’re skin and bones!"

"Am I really that skinny?"

Chihiro puffed up her cheeks in protest. Her body was totally balanced, okay? And her chest size was the same as the real Soyo’s—not exactly something that could be grasped with one hand.

Nagasaki Rina only smiled at her "daughter’s" words. Since she was driving, she couldn’t keep looking at the girl in the passenger seat, but she cherished moments like these—spending time with her child.

Honestly, Rina missed the days when her monthly income was just enough—enough to provide for her daughter without the crushing responsibilities of her current position.

But things were different now. As a senior executive, she had a mountain of work weighing on her shoulders.

"We’re here."

Rina pulled into a parking lot, then led Chihiro into a high-end teppanyaki restaurant in Tokyo’s Ginza district called Ukai-Tei.

The restaurant’s interior was an elegant blend of traditional and modern aesthetics, with a mix of private rooms and open dining areas—perfect for personal gatherings or business dinners.

Rina had been here once before for a work-related meal, and she had quite liked the atmosphere and dining experience.

Not to mention, they served only the finest ingredients—premium A5 wagyu beef, a selection of top-quality seafood, and even vegetarian pasta, which her "daughter" loved.

"Let’s find a seat."

"Uh… this place looks expensive."

"Soyo, what are you saying~?" Rina reached over to pinch "her daughter’s" cheek, smiling. "Today is Mom’s way of making up for things, and this much is nothing to worry about."

"…Alright then."

Chihiro wasn’t worried about whether Soyo’s mom could afford it. She was worried about what would happen when she brought the real Soyo here in the future—would her wallet survive?

If not, she might have to activate her emergency funding source… otherwise known as Grandma.

"Soyo, you’ve really changed a lot…"

As the meal was served, Rina watched "her daughter" eat, occasionally taking a few bites herself but mostly just gazing at her with a warm expression.

"Changed a lot?"

"Yeah. You actually take care of your appearance now. When I touched your face earlier, I could feel the makeup."

"Cough cough… I-I guess? I mean, I’m older now. You can’t keep looking at me like I’m a little kid, Mom."

This whole meal was giving Chihiro anxiety. Thankfully, her disguise had two layers—though her skin had a light dusting of powder, washing it off wouldn’t alter the overall contours of her face.

The real changes—her adjusted facial features—couldn’t be removed with just a simple wipe or face wash. Only a proper makeup remover would do the trick.

She had already learned her lesson from the disaster at her grandma’s house, so this was her Disguise 2.0: Upgraded Version.

Of course, certain prosthetics were still vulnerable. If someone deliberately scratched or peeled at them, they wouldn’t hold up.

But Chihiro seemed to have forgotten one thing—Soyo never wore makeup.

Luckily, it didn’t seem like Soyo’s mom suspected anything. Or rather, it probably never even crossed her mind that someone might be impersonating her daughter.

Which meant… this was a great chance to learn more about Soyo, wasn’t it?

But was it really okay to ask about someone else’s private matters like this?

"Soyo, there’s something I want to tell you."

"…Huh?"

"I don’t know if you’ll want to hear it, but I think you’re old enough now… There’s something you should know."

"…About what?"

"Your scumbag father."

"…Huh?!"

Wait.

She didn’t even ask!

She didn’t ask anything just now!

This was all Soyo’s mom bringing it up on her own—it had nothing to do with her, Tsuzuki Chihiro!

---

T/N: FUCK I FORGET HER MOTHER's NAME WAS IT RINA??

This is a fan translation of 素世同学，恭喜你被我优化了 by 杰克喵. All rights to the original work belong to the creator. Please support them by exploring their original work or sharing it with others if you can. Thank you for reading and supporting my efforts to bring this story to a wider audience!