Cocoyasi Village.
At dinner time, Leno ate at Belle-Mère's house together with the two sisters, Nojiko and Nami.
This time, the lady of the house didn't make things difficult for the three of them. The family enjoyed a quiet, peaceful dinner together.
The only thing that puzzled Leno and the others was that during the meal, the little girl Aileen kept glancing at them with a strange look in her eyes.
That gaze seemed to carry a hint of… pity?
It was downright bizarre.
After dinner, Genzo pulled Leno aside and chatted with them for a long while. It was obvious he cared deeply about their situation.
As for Belle-Mère, perhaps because of the role she had set for herself at noon, she barely spoke throughout the evening. She only asked a few simple questions, keeping the atmosphere fairly harmonious.
In the end, when Leno took out two Pure Gold rings and explained their effects, the expressions on the couple's faces changed instantly.
Even little Aileen was so shocked that her mouth hung open, unable to say a word for a long time.
Immortality—such an inconceivable thing could really be achieved so easily?
The couple stared at the rings in their hands, stunned for quite a while before finally snapping back to their senses.
They immediately and sternly warned everyone that this matter must never be leaked—especially to Aileen. Otherwise, they would end up facing enemies from all over the world.
At that, Aileen became unhappy. Why did both her parents get one, but she didn't?
She hurried forward and tugged on Leno's clothes, pouting without saying a word, her eyes watery as she looked up at him.
She didn't say anything, yet somehow it felt like she had said everything.
Seeing her pitiful expression, Leno reached out and flicked her forehead, then said with mild annoyance,
"If you want to never grow up, I can give you one right now."
After a pause, his eyes turned teasing.
"When everyone around you grows up and you're still a little kid, you'll have to call them all big brother and big sister~"
The moment she heard that wearing the ring would stop her from growing up, the little girl was so frightened that she immediately let go and staggered back several steps, terror filling her eyes.
All children long to grow up quickly, and Aileen was no exception—if anything, she was even more impatient.
Just imagining the people she usually scolded growing up before her, while she stayed a child forever…
The thought alone made her scalp tingle and her whole body tremble. What kind of hellish scene would that be?
Yet despite being terrified, her gaze still kept drifting toward the rings in her parents' hands, the desire in her eyes impossible to hide.
Her conflicted expression—wanting it yet fearing it—left Leno both amused and helpless. He could only lower his voice and explain gently,
"Don't worry. You won't be left out. When you grow up, I'll give you one too."
"You're such a greedy little thing. How could your big brother ever forget you?"
"Hehe."
Hearing Leno's promise, Aileen stuck out her tongue shyly.
At the same time, she thought to herself that big brother really did care about her—saving all the good stuff just for her.
Rolling his eyes at her, Leno didn't bother with her anymore. Give this girl a little sunshine and she'd bloom instantly, and her personality was far too impulsive.
The reason he hadn't let Belle-Mère keep the Pure Gold for her was simple—he was afraid that one day she'd have a sudden impulse and sneak off with it.
With the previous incident of stealing a Devil Fruit as a lesson, Leno had immediately crushed that idea.
By the time they left Belle-Mère's house, it was already past midnight. A faint chill lingered in the streets as the three of them slowly walked back to their own home.
As they walked, Nojiko suddenly seemed to think of something and burst out laughing.
Leno and Nami both turned to look at her, confusion in their eyes.
"What's got you so happy?"
"Hehehe~" Nojiko clung to Leno's arm, laughing so hard she could barely stand straight, her chest brushing against him again and again.
"Do you remember when we were kids? One time we came home late at night like this, and Belle-Mère was waiting at the door with a stick, beating us until we were jumping all over the place."
As she haltingly recounted their embarrassing childhood memories, the three of them quickly dissolved into laughter. Memories of childhood always came hand in hand with joy.
When they got home, Nami went straight into her bedroom with crisp, efficient movements, which surprised Leno a little.
But that was fine. He turned his gaze to Nojiko beside him and noticed that at some point her cheeks had already taken on a rosy hue.
"Well, Nojiko… it's getting late. We should head in and rest too~"
Her voice was as soft as a mosquito's buzz as Nojiko lowered her head and hurried into her bedroom.
Seeing this, Leno smiled and shook his head. They were practically an old married couple already—how was she still this shy?
Inside the bedroom, the lights were dim. Before long, faint rustling sounds could be heard.
After a while, Leno's voice sounded from the darkness, carrying a tone of negotiation.
"Nojiko, how about you use your Devil Fruit ability?"
"Why?"
"I want to experience what being with a vampire feels like, hehe."
His laughter carried a slightly lewd edge as Leno kept urging her on.
He had already come up with plenty of new ideas. With her Devil Fruit ability, he was sure Nojiko could last a long time.
"Y-you… don't touch me like that. Fine, I'll use it~"
Nojiko's voice was suppressed and trembling, as if she were holding something back.
Soon, a flash of blood-red light flickered briefly in the bedroom. Immediately after, that lewd "hehe" laughter rang out again.
Just as Leno was about to really let loose, the bedroom door was suddenly shoved open with a loud bang.
The room lights snapped on at the same time.
Seeing who it was, Nojiko let out a cry. In her vampire form, she quickly grabbed the blanket and wrapped herself up tightly.
Leno, meanwhile, froze in place bare-chested, his hands posed like dragon claws, staring blankly at the intruding Nami.
He had just been praising her in his heart for being considerate—so why was she here to ruin his moment now?
Nami hugged her own blanket and slowly walked over to the bed. Under the light, a rosy glow could be seen on her cheeks.
Her eyes were fixed firmly on Leno, her tone leaving no room for argument.
"I'm sleeping with you tonight."
"Huh? Th-that's not very appropriate, is it?"
Leno's voice stuttered. What kind of joke was this? His blood was already boiling—he was barely holding it back.
If you come here, what am I supposed to do?
Thinking about it, he really was unlucky. At noon on the beach, Aileen had interrupted him. Now her older sister too?
"What's inappropriate about it? We're not doing anything—just sleeping together."
Nami tossed her blanket straight onto Leno's head and continued,
"Or are you saying I've disturbed your good time?"
"…"