The Stand User Of The Daily World

Chapter 168: Just This Move Alone is Ten Elites-Level

Rita was completely thrown off. She had intended to find someone to back her up, but now she'd managed to offend both parties. All the carefully thought-out, heartfelt words she'd planned during the flight had no chance to be said.

Since her gentle approach was no longer an option, Rita steeled herself and decided to play the bad guy, saying:

"Mashiro, your parents might arrive in Japan very soon. If that happens, they'll ignore your wishes, complete the withdrawal paperwork for you to leave the school, and start preparing for you to re-enroll in a school back in England. They'll forcibly take you back there. So before that happens, please reconsider carefully. Make your decision based on your own will—and come back to England with me."

Although she said "reconsider" and "based on your own will," the underlying threat was glaringly obvious.

"Rita, go back yourself."

Mashiro pulled her hands away from Rita's grasp.

"I won't go back until Mashiro agrees to return."

"Go back!"

In an unexpected outburst, Mashiro suddenly stepped forward and shoved Rita by the shoulders, pushing her out of the entryway. Before Rita could process what was happening, she lost her balance and found herself pushed out the door.

"Mashiro!"

Ignoring Rita's anguished cry, Mashiro slammed the door shut with a resounding "bang" and even locked it for good measure.

—Women can be truly ruthless.

"Please wait, hear me out! Mashiro, Mashiro!"

Standing off to the side, Shunsuke listened as Rita pounded on the door and shouted in vain, but Mashiro didn't respond in the slightest.

"Shunsuke… this feels so difficult."

After shutting Rita out, Mashiro's expression crumbled. She clutched her chest tightly, lips trembling, her wide, confused eyes looking to Shunsuke as if seeking comfort.

Before coming to Japan, Mashiro's world had only revolved around painting and Rita. After arriving here, her small world gradually grew to include Shunsuke, and to a lesser extent Mrs. Izumi, Sagiri, and Eriri. Well, if you combined them all together, they barely made up "half" a new addition.

At first, Rita coming all the way from England to visit her in Japan had been a joyful event. Having people she cared about gather in one place was another source of happiness.

Two joyful occasions intertwined should have created a dreamlike, blissful time. So why? Why had it turned into this?

Shunsuke, deeply moved by her pain, gently pulled Mashiro into an embrace. Her small head rested against his chest, and slowly, her pale, delicate arms wrapped around his waist.

The two of them stood there, holding each other, until the sadness that hung over them gradually dissipated.

"Mashiro, go back inside now. Help me make the first episode of Death Note even more refined. I'll handle cooking, and I'll take care of the issue with Rita."

"Are you going to abandon me too, Shunsuke?"

Mashiro lifted her face cautiously from his chest. Her seemingly calm voice was tinged with fear, her orange eyes quivering with apprehension. She was truly afraid—afraid that Shunsuke might end up just like Rita.

"You silly girl. You're mine. Of course, I won't let you go. Even if your parents come for you, I'll never let go. As my pet, you should prepare yourself to be cared for by me for the rest of your life."

Shunsuke lightly flicked her forehead, then leaned down to softly kiss the spot he had tapped. His lips moved gently downward: her bright eyes, the corners of her damp lashes, the bridge of her nose… His voice was both tender and possessive.

"Okay."

Mashiro wiped away the string of drool at the corner of her mouth, pressed her lips together, and nodded before walking barefoot toward the studio.

Reaching the doorway, she hesitated for a moment before glancing back at Shunsuke. Only after that did she step into the room and quietly close the door behind her.

Shunsuke watched Mashiro disappear into the studio. When he turned to the front entrance, the knocking had diminished to a faint tap, and soon after, all noise ceased. Perhaps Rita had tired herself out, or maybe she had left entirely.

Annoyed with Rita's actions, Shunsuke decided to let her cool off a bit longer. He wanted her to reflect on her position in this situation.

What he needed was a Rita who would stay on Japan to help take care of Mashiro—not one determined to drag her back to England. Even if she was a beauty, anyone who tried to steal Mashiro away from him wouldn't be getting any kindness from Shunsuke.

With that thought, Shunsuke carried out his earlier words and headed to the kitchen to start cooking.

"MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA!"

First, he summoned [Golden Experience] to inject the ingredients with life energy. This restored the items, which had lost quality after being stored in the fridge, to not only their original state, but also to the theoretical peak of their natural quality—beyond what they were at their freshest.

Shunsuke felt that, with this trick alone, he could easily earn a top spot among Totsuki's Elite Ten. No preparation needed; his ingredients already surpassed others in quality. How could anyone compete with that?

Looking at the now-vibrant ingredients, Shunsuke called forth [Star Platinum].

"ORA ORA ORA ORA——!"

In the frozen world of stopped time, Shunsuke used his flawless knife skills to prepare all the ingredients in an instant. The moment time resumed, every ingredient was sliced into perfect portions and distributed evenly onto plates, all simultaneously.

"Thanks, Golden Experience and Star Platinum."

In this otherwise mundane world, Shunsuke felt he had discovered uses for his Stands that their original owners could never have imagined—uses that went far beyond anything they would have developed in a lifetime.

With the meal finished, he set aside a small portion in a warming box and brought the rest to the table.

"Mashiro, dinner's ready."

"Okay."

Maybe because of Rita's presence, Mashiro uncharacteristically didn't immerse herself in drawing. As soon as Shunsuke called her, she obediently put down her brush and came out to eat without any fuss.

After the meal, an hour quietly slipped by.

Mashiro returned to her studio, while Shunsuke stretched, got dressed, and walked to the entrance. He opened the door.

"Whoa!"

Rita, who had been sitting on the ground leaning against the door, tumbled inside with a startled yelp.

"…Rita, are you doing some kind of acrobatics?"

Shunsuke hadn't expected her to still be there. She hadn't moved an inch, just stubbornly stayed put outside his door. What if a neighbor had seen her? This might cause rumors that would tarnish his reputation.

"Seriously… so slow, far too slow… I'm completely late now… no sense of gentlemanly conduct at all."

Rita climbed to her feet, her voice carrying a pouty tone. Her pale cheeks were flushed from the evening breeze, and her legs seemed to be trembling.

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