"Mom, why are you so strict with Dad?"
"What did you mean by 'considering the next step'?"
Faced with her daughter's questioning, Eri simply replied,
"Ran, Mom doesn't want to talk about this right now."
"I've finally finished work—I just want to rest."
"And you brought your father here without even telling me. I didn't scold you for that, did I?"
Ran lowered her head, realizing her mistake. Her voice softened.
"But you two haven't seen each other in so long…"
"I just wanted you to spend more time together."
Eri's heart softened as she saw the helpless look on her daughter's face—her hands tightly gripping the young shota and refusing to let go.
She gently stroked Ran's pale cheeks and gave a small smile.
"You're right... but this is something between adults."
"You're still young, so don't worry too much about it."
With that, Eri stretched, turned away from her daughter, and walked toward the sea.
The stunning woman stood at the shore, gazing into the distant horizon.
Ran bit her pink lips, watching her mother's retreating figure. A strange feeling crept into her heart…
It was as if her parents were drifting further and further apart.
She sank into the recliner and let the little shota sit on her lap. Holding Akashi in her arms, her lavender eyes shimmered with a hint of sadness.
"Akashi… what do you think is going on with Mom?"
"Why did things suddenly turn out like this?"
"Could she have… fallen for someone else?"
"You live with her, right? Has she been seeing anyone recently?"
Akashi calmly replied,
"No. Auntie Eri is always swamped with work. There's no way she has time to meet a man."
"Sister Ran, don't think that way about your mother."
This little succubus shota, of course, knew that Eri had no interest in other men.
After all, the only man in her life was… himself.
But now wasn't the time to brag.
Nearby, little loli Haibara let out a soft, mocking snort.
Ran turned her head toward her and asked,
"Ai-chan, do you know something?"
Haibara shrugged.
"Nothing. I've only been here a few days—how could I know so much?"
"I just find it funny how some people can be so blind when it comes to their own situations."
"??"
Ran didn't understand what Haibara meant, but she still gave the two children a serious warning:
"Akashi, Ai-chan, help me keep an eye on Mom."
"If you see any man getting close to her, report back to me. I'll treat you both to a feast!"
The two children nodded in unison.
Ran then placed Akashi down, grabbed her coat, and ran after her mother to continue pestering her.
Finally left alone, Akashi lay back on the beach chair to relax.
But no sooner had he closed his eyes than a disdainful stare burned into him.
Haibara looked at him as if she were staring at a walking dumpster fire.
"…What's with that look?"
"Hmph!" Haibara crossed her arms and snorted.
Instead of saying more, she shifted the subject.
"I heard from Ran that you met Yukiko on the cruise ship yesterday. But you also have a Yukiko at home?"
"What's going on? Was it that woman?"
The topic was clearly a sore spot for her.
Akashi chuckled,
"You're quick. Yeah, you guessed right."
"The Yukiko on the ship was Vermouth in disguise."
"But I already handled it. She won't be targeting you again."
Haibara's blue eyes widened.
"…You killed her?"
Her little head got flicked.
"What are you thinking? I just convinced her. But it cost me a lot of effort."
"..."
Haibara didn't look convinced. She knew just how ruthless that woman was.
She doubted Vermouth could be persuaded so easily.
What she didn't know was how Akashi had convinced her.
She frowned slightly and continued,
"In that case, doesn't that mean your identity has been exposed?"
If Akashi's identity was compromised… then hers likely was, too.
A heavy pressure began to weigh on her chest.
But Akashi gently took her small hand and comforted her.
"Don't worry. That woman won't report us to the Organization."
"She's not as loyal to them as you think."
Despite Akashi's confidence, Haibara still felt uneasy.
But at this point, she had no choice but to trust him.
Then, as if remembering something, Akashi reached into his system space and pulled out a small blue-and-white pill.
"I almost forgot—I have something for you."
He handed it to Haibara, who looked puzzled.
"…What is this?"
"The antidote to APTX," Akashi said casually.
He had drawn this item before and always meant to give it to her.
After all, he had no use for it. Unlike Haibara, he could transform to escape any danger.
The moment she heard what it was, her eyes widened in disbelief.
"Wait—you have the antidote? I can change back?!"
"…Don't get too excited. It's temporary. Only lasts three hours."
"But you could use it as a reference to develop a permanent one."
Haibara's excitement dimmed a little, but curiosity quickly took over.
"No one in the Organization has managed to create this. I created APTX myself, and I still haven't made an antidote."
"So how did you get this? What's going on?"
Akashi smirked.
"Secret."
That smug look of his was just asking for a punch—no, bite!
Haibara's face turned red with frustration, and she pounced.
She straddled Akashi and chomped down on his shoulder.
"Wah! Are you a dog or something?! Why're you biting me?!"
With a laugh, Akashi rolled her into his arms and flipped her onto her back, sitting on top of the feisty loli.
But Haibara wasn't done. She wrestled back and pinned him again.
"If you don't tell me, I'll bite you again!"
She leaned down to bite, but before her little teeth could reach, Akashi's hands pinched her cheeks.
Her soft face puffed up like dough, and her pink lips puckered.
Then—Akashi kissed her.
Just like that.
Lv3 Imported Sugar skill—activated.
Letting Haibara taste something sweet to calm her temper.
Effect: Outstanding.
Haibara froze.
Her tiny body went stiff… then slowly softened.
Her blinking blue eyes locked onto Akashi's face—as if the world around her had melted away, leaving only him.
As for Akashi—well, aside from Imported Sugar skill with no attack power, he didn't really know how to hold back.
Flexible tongue, electric light poisonous dragon spin, and more…
It was time to teach this bitey little loli a sweet little lesson.