The Door of My Bathroom Leads to the Comic World!

Sui had not expected Sayuri to be so bold. Caught off guard by her blunt question, he spat out his tea directly onto the woman sitting across from him.

Sayuri's face was now wet with tea. Sui, panicking, quickly grabbed some tissues and handed them to her, apologizing profusely. "I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to—just got a little too excited."

A faint twitch appeared on Sayuri's otherwise flawless forehead. She took a deep breath, wiped her face, and then fixed her wine-red eyes on him with a dangerous glint. "If that's the case, why are you so familiar with where my daughter keeps her key? You know the layout of her apartment so well, and it's clearly not your first time cleaning it, is it? Care to explain how you're 'not' living with her?"

Faced with her rapid-fire questions, Sui was momentarily stunned. He couldn't exactly explain the truth—that while he and Utaha weren't romantically involved 'yet', she frequently flirted with him.

Seeing his silence, Sayuri smirked and took another sip of tea. "You don't need to be so tense," she said casually. "I'm not some rigid, old-fashioned mother. I wouldn't interfere in my daughter's private life."

In truth, Sayuri was secretly delighted at the thought of her daughter having a secret relationship. She had always worried that her daughter, being such a homebody, would struggle to make friends or experience romance. So, seeing Sui's closeness with her daughter brought her relief.

Not to mention, Sui seemed like a good boy—attentive, family-oriented, and even responsible enough to help clean. He seemed perfect for her messy, headstrong daughter.

Sui, however, felt a weight lift off his shoulders. Though, internally, he was still frustrated. 'I'm not even Utaha-senpai's boyfriend!'

"But..." Sayuri suddenly continued, her tone turning serious, "It's inappropriate for you two to live together in secret. If you're in a normal relationship, I wouldn't object—in fact, I'd encourage it! However, she hasn't stayed here overnight yet, right? It's important she spends more time at home. You're welcome to visit her, but she should focus on her work."

Then she added with a smile, "By the way, her father wants to meet you. Don't worry, he's a good man."

Sayuri leaned in slightly, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial tone. "Also, make sure you're using protection. You two are still students, and there's plenty of time before marriage. But if you plan to get married after high school, I could help convince her father."

Sui's head started to ache as Sayuri's lecture continued. Just then, the sound of the front door opening caught his attention. Utaha had returned from school.

The moment Sui saw her, he felt a wave of relief wash over him.

"Hey... what's going on here?" Utaha asked, surprised to find a woman sitting with Sui in her living room.

"Senpai, you're finally back!" Sui quickly stood up, relieved. "Your mother's been waiting for you."

But then, both Utaha and Sayuri spoke simultaneously, "Who is she?"

"Huh?" Sui was taken aback.

Wait—wasn't this woman supposed to be Utaha's mother?

"Sui," Utaha said with a dangerous edge in her voice, narrowing her wine-red eyes, "you invited a stranger into my apartment? That's a bit much, don't you think?"

Sayuri blinked, equally confused. "Wait a minute. Didn't I see you entering this very apartment last time I followed my daughter?"

As the misunderstanding deepened, a voice suddenly called out from the door. "Mom, what are you doing in Utaha's apartment?"

It was Eriri, who had just entered the scene, her face full of surprise.

"What?" the three of them exclaimed simultaneously.

"So you're 'Eriri's' mother?" Sui said, realization finally dawning on him. 

He had been mistaken all along.

But in hindsight, it made sense. Eriri and her mother didn't exactly resemble each other closely—Eriri had blonde hair and blue eyes, which must have come from her father, while her mother's purple hair and wine-red eyes had made Sui confuse her for Utaha's family.

Now that he looked more closely, though, there were some similarities in their facial features—both mother and daughter had twin ponytails.

"I'm terribly sorry!" Sayuri quickly bowed in embarrassment. "I'm Eriri's mother, Sayuri. Please forget everything I said earlier."

Sui let out a small sigh of relief, though the awkwardness still hung in the air. Sayuri had thought Sui was her daughter's boyfriend, but it turned out he was actually spending time with someone else.

"What did you say earlier?" Eriri asked, glancing between Sui and her mother with suspicion.

"And why are you even here, Mom?" Eriri demanded, placing her hands on her hips and glaring at her mother.

Sayuri, feeling flustered but still trying to save face, stammered, "I—I'm just looking out for you. As a mother, it's normal to follow your daughter to make sure she's safe!"

Eriri's eyes narrowed. "So, you 'were' secretly following me!"

Sayuri, looking guilty, quickly tried to change the subject. "I didn't realize you weren't living here..."

"Of course I don't live here! I live 'next door to the one next door!'" Eriri shouted in frustration.

"I see," Sayuri muttered, before pausing and turning to Sui with a confused expression. "But if that's the case, why were you in my daughter's apartment just now, helping her clean up?"

She glanced from Sui to Utaha, the wheels turning in her head. "Wait… are you playing both sides?"

Sayuri's eyes narrowed, looking at Sui suspiciously.

Eriri's face flushed a deep red. "Mom! What are you even saying? S-Sui and I are just friends!"

"Really just friends?" Sayuri asked, clearly unconvinced. "It looked like more than that when he was cleaning your room."

"Oh?" Utaha stepped closer to Sui, her eyes narrowing as well. "Do you often help her clean up her room, kouhai-kun?"

Before Sui could answer, he felt a sharp pressure on his foot as Utaha stepped on it lightly, but firmly, with a teasing smile.