Walking along the corridor to the master bedroom, Luo Shu slowed his pace and glanced sideways at Kisara, who was following half a step behind him.
Since it was a funeral today, the pink-haired demon had changed into a pure black knee-length dress without any other colours, paired with matching little leather shoes. Her usually loose pink hair was today styled into a more mature updo.
Though her youthful face didn't quite match the sophisticated attire, her striking, radiant beauty compensated for any shortcomings.
Looking at Kisara like this, Luo Shu coughed lightly.
"Ahem!"
"Hmm?" Kisara tilted her head curiously at Luo Shu. "What is it, Shu-kun?"
At this moment, Luo Shu hesitated briefly before speaking:
"Kisara, there's something I'd like to ask of you."
"Go ahead."
Kisara smiled, unable to suppress her delight:
"Whatever it is, if it's something Shu-kun asks, I'll agree."
Hearing this, Luo Shu stopped hesitating and sighed in relief:
"Well... Kisara, during the funeral period, if Mrs. Sayuri and I engage in any... excessive behaviour, could you pretend not to see it?"
Kisara's smile froze instantly. She opened her mouth, then glanced at Luo Shu, as if trying to determine whether he was joking.
However, when she saw the faint apologetic look on Luo Shu's face, she immediately understood. Lowering her head, she muttered:
"Shu-kun didn't really need to ask for my opinion about this kind of thing, did he?"
After this quiet complaint, she took a deep breath, raised her head, and gave Luo Shu a sweet smile:
"But since Shu-kun has asked, I suppose I have to agree."
"However, next time... could you try not to let me see?"
"As long as I don't see it, it's fine. Shu-kun can do whatever you want, as long as I don't see it... anything is fine..."
Watching Kisara lower her head again as she spoke, Luo Shu sighed and reached out to pat her head, saying nothing.
The lowered head hid Kisara's slight smirk, which quickly disappeared as she resumed her meek, vulnerable expression.
Unaware of this, Luo Shu assumed Kisara was upset and remained mostly silent as he led her to Sayuri Sawamura's room.
Knock! Knock!
Luo Shu gently rapped on the door.
Soon, the gentle yet slightly playful voice of Sayuri Sawamura came from behind the door:
"Come in."
Hearing this, Luo Shu pushed the door open and was immediately greeted by the sight of a woman dressed in a black Japanese-style mourning dress, seated before the dressing table mirror, resembling a violet in bloom.
"Good day, Luo Shu, and little Kisara."
Sayuri Sawamura, her hair styled in a widow's hairstyle, turned her head to reveal a face that seemed to carry sorrow, fragility, and helplessness.
Then, forcing a smile, she addressed the two:
"What brings you both here today?"
Witnessing this, Luo Shu couldn't help but admire her acting skills. Just that performance alone put Sayuri at least ten levels above Eriri—no, the two couldn't even be compared.
He sighed inwardly, took a deep breath, and then stepped forward slowly. Under Sayuri's puzzled gaze, he gently embraced her.
Sayuri was immediately taken aback, freezing in place with a soft "Huh?"
Meanwhile, Kisara, who had been about to respond to the greeting at the door, widened her eyes in shock.
"Wait, wait, Luo Shu, what are you doing?" Sayuri exclaimed nervously, her voice flustered by the sudden hug.
At this, Luo Shu patted Sayuri's back and reminded her:
"Don't move. Let me adjust first."
"Adjust to what?" Sayuri replied, both amused and exasperated. "And what exactly are you adjusting to by hugging me?"
Hearing this, Luo Shu complained, "What else? Didn't you ask me to do these things at the funeral? I've been feeling all morning like I might not be able to pull it off, so I thought I'd come early to get used to it and ease my nerves."
"Eh?"
Sayuri was utterly dumbfounded by his words. She stared blankly at Luo Shu, her cherry lips slightly parted, her lightly made-up face filled with bewilderment and confusion. It seemed Luo Shu's logic had completely baffled her in that moment.
Seeing her like this, Luo Shu planted a kiss on her cheek, then tightened his embrace slightly, muttering:
"Hmm, doesn't feel much different from usual..."
Then, glancing at Kisara, who looked thoroughly unsettled, he suddenly seemed to realise something and exclaimed:
"Ah, actually, it does feel a bit different now!"
At this, Sayuri was both exasperated and amused:
"Hold on, are you using me and Kisara as test subjects?"
She then smacked Luo Shu's hand in annoyance:
"Honestly, stop fooling around and let go already!"
"Mm."
Luo Shu nodded in response—but still didn't release her. In fact, his hands grew even more restless.
Instantly, Sayuri froze.
She stiffened like a butterfly trapped in amber, her entire body tense, not daring to move a muscle.
In that moment, Sayuri suddenly realised she might have made a mistake.
She never should have asked Luo Shu to come over this morning!
Just as regret washed over Sayuri, a soft but deeply aggrieved voice spoke up.
"Um..."
Kisara stared at the two with palpable resentment, her displeasure written all over her face:
"Shu, is this what you wanted me to see?"
"And what you asked me to watch on the way here... was this?"
Hearing Kisara say this, Luo Shu hesitated for a moment before nodding. Then, before Kisara could get angry, he added:
"Won't the effect be a bit too strong for you?"
Kisara seemed conflicted by this question before replying:
"Well... It's actually not that bad?"
"After all, I already knew that Shu-kun and Mrs. Sayuri were a bit... um, well, a bit ambiguous."
"So, seeing you hug each other, apart from the initial surprise, it didn't really affect me much?"
'Other than really wanting to knock Sawamura Sayuri flying, it truly wasn't a big deal...' Kisara muttered inwardly, though she didn't dare voice such thoughts to Luo Shu directly.
Listening to Kisara's diplomatic words, Luo Shu wore a conflicted expression:
"Actually, I was somewhat excited, but it feels rather underwhelming..."
As he spoke, Luo Shu glanced down at Sawamura Sayuri, whose expression was visibly uncomfortable, then suddenly looked up at Kisara:
"How about this, Kisara—why don't you go call Eriri over?"
Instantly, before Kisara could react, Sawamura Sayuri jolted awake, tightly gripping Luo Shu's arm as she pleaded anxiously:
"No, don't call her!!"
"You absolutely must not let her come over!!"
Turning to Luo Shu, she added with a warning:
"I can tolerate what's happening now, but if you call Eriri here..."
"Don't think I won't bite you to death right now?"
Sayuri bared her fangs menacingly, her gaze full of threat.
It wasn't until he saw this expression that Luo Shu confirmed—Eriri's tiger-like boldness truly was inherited from this woman.
"Well, since you put it that way..."
Luo Shu hesitated before tentatively suggesting:
"How about we just let Kisara help out instead?"
Sayuri couldn't help rolling her eyes, but before she could refuse, Luo Shu beckoned Kisara over:
"Kisara, come here and help me hold her down."
"Huh?" Kisara froze in place, stunned.
At that moment, Luo Shu addressed her with complete seriousness:
"Kisara, the choice is yours—will you be a senior this once, or a coward?"
Hearing this, Kisara's face twisted in conflict as she glanced between Luo Shu and the struggling Sayuri. Finally, she took a deep breath, turned around, and shut the door.
Click.
With the sound of the door closing,
Kisara locked Luo Shu, Sawamura Sayuri, and herself inside the room together.
Seeing this, Luo Shu—who had also been nervous—suddenly felt all tension leave him.
Two against one—the advantage is mine!
Charge ahead!