The Neighborhood High School Girl, Miss Isezaki, Is the Great Saintess Returned from Another World~ And I, Suddenly Awakened as Her Exclusive Mana Supply Uncle, Travel Between Earth and Another World with Time-Space Magic~ - 31. Before and After

31. Before and After

“Welcome back.”

Several hours passed in the parlor with the landlady.

While enduring endless heavy rock band music videos on YouTube with the landlady, my brain was on the verge of going haywire when I heard Isezaki-san’s voice from the front entrance.

Isezaki-san opened the sliding door and entered the parlor. When she saw me, her face lit up with a smile. She was holding a stylishly patterned paper bag, likely containing shampoo.

“Welcome back, sir.”

“Hey there, thanks for having me.”

Isezaki-san smiled while swaying her hair.

“I’ll go change first. Please wait a moment.”

With a graceful half-turn, she left the room. Her beautiful silver hair sparkled as it danced through the air.

After a while, Isezaki-san returned to the parlor and gracefully sat in front of me. At that moment, her hair floated softly, tickling my nostrils with a sweet scent.

“Sir, here’s the shampoo you requested.”

She handed me the paper bag and brushed her hair back. Ah, yes…

“Thank you. By the way… did you cut your hair?”

At my question, Isezaki-san’s face lit up with joy.

“Yes! There happened to be a cancellation, so I got my hair done while I was out shopping! You really notice even the slightest changes, sir!”

Isezaki-san clasped her hands together, beaming with delight. Well, even I can tell when it’s so blatantly pointed out…

“Yeah, it suits you very well… By the way, how much was the shampoo? I’ll pay you back before I forget.”

To be honest, I couldn’t tell the difference. As I was about to pull out my wallet to end the conversation about hair, Isezaki-san gently stopped me.

“No, it was because of me that I drew attention from Levia. I’ll cover the cost.”

“No, no, that won’t do.”

“But—”

“Seina. Men have their pride. Just accept it gratefully.”

The landlady’s decisive voice. Well, if that’s the case. I should pay for it.

“…I understand.”

With a hint of apology in her downturned eyebrows, Isezaki-san looked at me as I took out my wallet.

“Thank you, but how much was it?”

“Um…”

And then the amount she stated far exceeded my expectations. I struggled to keep my face from stiffening as I took out the money from my wallet.

***

“By the way, sir, why are you here?”

“I brought monster meat as a souvenir for the landlady. So, I’m here to enjoy it with her.”

“I see. Well, since we were watching rock PVs to get inspiration for what dish to make, I thought asking Seina would be the best. What’s your opinion?”

It seems watching rock PVs was part of the process of deciding the menu. Quite unexpected, indeed.

As the landlady directed her attention to me, Isezaki-san furrowed her brows in thought.

“Well… I’ve only had Earth Rat grilled on skewers… Its texture is similar to chicken, so how about a chicken hot pot— I mean, a rat hot pot?”

I think chicken hot pot would be fine. Why did she change her mind?

But when the landlady heard that suggestion, she jumped up with excitement.

“Haha! That’s great, a rat hot pot! Let’s start cooking right away! Let’s go, Seina!”

“Yes, grandma!”

The landlady rushed out of the parlor with Isezaki-san following closely behind. The two of them disappeared into the kitchen, leaving me behind. They seemed to get along well.

By the way, both the landlady and the Isezaki-san taught by the landlady are extremely skilled at cooking.

Left alone, I pondered what kind of hot pot they would make, while killing time by watching the insane rock PV playing endlessly on the large-screen TV.

It’s the first time I’ve regretted forgetting my smartphone at home this much.