"Give me the cake, I'll go find her," Akio said. "You and Himeko head back to Tenshukaku first and chat with Makoto and the others. I'll come find you once I've dealt with Furina."
"Oh... alright." Clorinde nodded, handing over the cake with an expectant look.
Her husband definitely needed to teach Furina a lesson! How infuriating! Did Furina really intend to abandon them and leave alone? She wouldn't allow it!
"Darling, make sure you teach Furina a good lesson," Clorinde said, leaning up to kiss the corner of Akio's lips.
"I will," Akio nodded, flying angrily toward Tenshukaku.
"Oh no, Furina's poor butt is doomed," Murata Himeko chuckled gleefully, enjoying the spectacle. She had never seen Akio this angry before.
"She deserves it," Clorinde said coldly, arms crossed tightly in irritation. Furina had gone way too far this time!
...
Inside Tenshukaku, Furina lay on the bed, swinging her legs happily as she read a novel. Hearing the door open, she didn't even raise her head and cheerfully said, "Hehe, Clorinde, what flavor cake did you buy? You know I love vanilla—"
"..."
"Hm? Why aren't you saying anything? Clorinde?"
When no reply came, Furina lifted her head in confusion and saw Akio standing there with a dark expression. She opened her mouth, about to speak—
"The cake is here! But so is my hand! Furina, are you begging for a spanking?" Akio placed the cake on the table and approached her menacingly.
"Huh? Eh? Ehhh?" Before Furina even understood what she'd done to make Akio furious, he'd already picked her up, placed her firmly over his knee, and landed a sharp slap onto her backside.
Instantly, pain flared on her butt, and Furina's eyes widened in shock as she stared at Akio.
"Waaaaah! Akio, what are you doing?!" Tears immediately sprang to Furina's eyes as she whimpered in confusion.
She hadn't done anything to make him angry, right? Why was he spanking her butt?!
Furina kicked her legs and struggled, desperately trying to break free—but her strength was no match for Akio's.
"You still dare to struggle?" Akio's hand landed again and again on Furina's pert little behind.
"Waaaah! Stop it... waah..." Furina sobbed pitifully, pleading for mercy.
"You like to face everything alone, don't you?"
"You love putting on a show, don't you?"
"You prefer carrying all these burdens alone, don't you?"
"You want to abandon us and leave by yourself, don't you?"
Akio's furious words accompanied each relentless slap, making Furina cry and squirm helplessly.
Hearing the commotion, Raiden Makoto, Raiden Ei, the Raiden Shogun, and Yae Miko hurried inside, stunned speechless at the sight of Akio angrily spanking Furina.
The four women stared blankly, mouths slightly agape. They knew Akio had always been incredibly gentle and accommodating toward them—when had he ever gotten so furious at one of his women?
This was the very first time they'd seen Akio spanking one of them so angrily; it looked genuinely painful.
"Help me! Sisters, save me!" Furina cried out to the four women, tears streaming down her face.
"Darling..." Yae Miko began tentatively, intending to plead for mercy, but Akio silenced her instantly with a single stern glance.
"No one is allowed to plead for her! Today, I'm teaching her a proper lesson," Akio declared furiously.
Seeing Akio this enraged for the first time, even Raiden Makoto and the others didn't dare plead for Furina anymore.
"From the very beginning, I've told each of you clearly—I am your strongest support, and I'll solve every hardship for you. If there's something troubling you, don't keep it bottled up, tell me!"
"Did I say that or not, Furina?!" Akio demanded angrily, so upset that he even called Furina by her full name.
"You... you did!" Furina whimpered miserably.
"And yet you still dared to act this way?!" Akio shouted, smacking her again.
"Aaahhh! It hurts! Darling, stop spanking me!" Furina burst into fresh sobs. Akio's palm truly hurt!
"So now you remember I'm your husband?" Hearing Furina call him 'Darling,' Akio's heart softened slightly. Looking at Furina's backside, even through her clothes, he noticed it was beginning to swell slightly and felt a pang of guilt.
As soon as Akio finally released her, Furina scrambled desperately to the far side of the bed, clutching her rear end and staring at him pitifully, tears still sparkling in her eyes.
"Furina." Akio sat down next to her gently.
Seeing him move, Furina flinched in panic, quickly covering her butt and begging pitifully, "Darling, darling, I'm sorry, I'm wrong, everything's my fault, please don't spank me again..."
"..." Akio paused for a moment, then sighed, saying softly, "Furina, Clorinde already told me everything—your entire conversation..."
"Explain clearly—what exactly did your chat with her mean? And what is this prophecy of Fontaine? Tell me everything you know," Akio said quietly yet firmly.
"I..." Furina's expression changed instantly to panic, and she shook her head in fright. "I... it's nothing! I was just joking with Clorinde! She made it up! She's exaggerating! You can't trust her!"
"She... she must be mad because I asked her to call me big sister, so she got you to punish me by spanking!" Furina rambled nervously, waving her hands frantically.
"Why would I hide anything from you? I'm the Hydro Archon... You're my husband! Why would I ever conceal something?"
"Hahaha... Darling, let's eat cake instead... I'm hungry..." Furina forced a stiff smile, crawling forward awkwardly to grab the cake.
"Furina!" Akio's anger reignited instantly at her behavior, and he shouted sharply.
"..." Furina froze mid-movement, trembling in place, too afraid to move.
Akio's furious shout startled even the other four women, who had never seen him this angry before. It was genuinely frightening.
"Darling, calm down, let's talk this out," Yae Miko quickly stepped forward, soothing him gently.
Akio closed his eyes and took a deep breath, nodding slowly. When he opened them again, he reached out and gently pulled Furina toward him.
In an instant, Akio's divine power enveloped Furina, carefully probing her condition.
"I... I..." Furina shook her head anxiously, wanting to pull away but afraid to anger him further.
"So that's how it is..." After a short while, Akio opened his eyes again, golden eyes gazing quietly at Furina as he murmured thoughtfully.