But in the very next moment—a critical hit triggered!
Rui's eyes widened with despair.
What happened?
Was it because it's been so long since she last saw Bacardi that her body reacted?
Why did things suddenly turn out like this?
The young lady from the Kisugi Family turned bright red as she looked at the succubus shota who was seriously tightening his grip. Embarrassed, she turned her head away.
How shameful!
The whole scene was too shocking to process.
Tears welled up in her eyes as she shoved the boy lightly.
"You—! Y-You stop that!"
"Isn't it a little weird that you've gotten smaller?!"
Akashi let out a chuckle, dropping his voice change technique and reverting back to the soft, childish voice of a young boy.
"What's weird is that it's still me!"
"Sister Rui, I'm hungry. I want food~!"
The moment he said that, Rui's face flushed like the burning evening sky. The effect was instantaneous—explosive, even.
Especially under the influence of 『God's Right Hand』, she found it increasingly difficult to stay composed!
"D-Don't be like that! Change your voice back! Quickly!"
Apparently, her psychological endurance wasn't anything special!
This won't do. It's way too tight of a situation!
Left with no other choice, Akashi activated his Lv2『Voice Changing Technique』 and returned to his Bacardi voice.
A moment passed.
Akashi—now dead serious—spoke again.
"LeoCat, it's been a while. Want me to show you what I've learned in the art of stealing?"
Rui blinked in confusion.
The art of stealing?
Was he trying to show off some cheap class tricks?
Her own skills had been passed down from the legendary Phantom Lady, and she'd already achieved mastery.
How could Bacardi possibly have learned such a thing?
And why did the topic change so fast?
How did we even get here?!
Suddenly, Akashi activated his Lv3 『Steal』: Skill.
Success!
With a swipe of his small hand, he brandished two pieces of cloth into the air.
A sweet fragrance spread.
Rui, dressed in a purple gauze skirt, was left dumbstruck.
What kind of theft technique was this?!
"You... You... How did you do that?!"
Succubus Shota laughed with wicked glee.
"Isn't stealing supposed to be this easy?"
He tossed the cloth aside and stepped closer.
Rui stumbled backward, sitting on the ground.
She still couldn't understand what had happened.
Akashi hadn't even moved that much—yet the "theft" had already succeeded.
Completely unreasonable!
This smaller version of Bacardi was seriously odd… and a bit frightening!
She found herself feeling nervous.
But Akashi continued advancing, slowly but surely.
Rui kept retreating, her back eventually pressed against the sofa.
She tried to sit up, using her bare hands to support herself.
Akashi's eyes lit up, and he shouted—
"the wind rises!"
The next instant, he unleashed Lv3's 『Updraft』 Skill!
Two bursts of air surged up, one soaring like a gust from the ground, the other a breeze that sent chills straight to the heart of the trembling girl!
Then—whoosh! Her face was instantly covered.
Akashi gazed at the scene before him, like an oil painting come to life.
Perfect timing!
Without hesitation, the succubus shota leapt forward.
Rui was pushed flat against the sofa—but thanks to the cushion, it didn't hurt.
Then, without an ounce of courtesy, Akashi leaned in—
—and kissed her trembling, tear-streaked lips.
A soft scream echoed through the basement.
But outside, the sound was blocked by a thick mechanical alloy door—no one could hear a thing.
Meanwhile, upstairs in the Cat's Eye Café…
Having finished her chores, Ai Kisugi returned. Finding the shop empty, she switched the café into rest mode.
Then, she walked to the secret switch leading to the underground base and pressed it.
But to her surprise, when the hidden door opened—there was a thick alloy vault door blocking the staircase.
She froze, confused.
What's going on between the big sister and that boy down there?
Why so secretive that even I can't hear anything?
The only time this alloy door had been used before was when Bacardi visited.
Weird! Very weird!
Still scratching her head, the girl gave up and turned back upstairs.
Upstairs, the two Miyano sisters were completely unaware of what was happening below.
They were reminiscing, admiring gems, and envisioning a future life together.
Akemi even sighed, saying she didn't mind if Shiho never finished developing the antidote.
After all, once she mastered the art of disguise, she could live peacefully with Akashi and her sister.
It was almost like a single mother raising two kids together!
Shiho could only shake her head helplessly at her sister's naive dream.
She really doesn't get it.
In just a few days, Shiho had already observed that Akashi had far too many women involved with him!
Her sister's fantasy would never become reality!
Suddenly, a soft female voice called out:
"Mei-chan, do we have guests?"
Because Akemi's true identity couldn't be exposed, the café staff referred to her as "Mei"—a common enough name that it didn't arouse suspicion.
But this time, an incredibly beautiful woman stepped into view.
Wearing just a white T-shirt and blue jeans, her figure was already breathtaking.
Despite having just woken up, she was stunning.
It was none other than Kisugi Hitomi, the second sister of the Kisugi family!
Hearing it, Ai, who just came back from the secret room, answered.
"That's Mei-san's sister. She came here with Akashi."
"The same little orphan Bacardi hired last time!"
At those words, Hitomi's eyes lit up.
Her gaze locked on her little sister, and she asked:
"That little orphan—where is he now?"
Naturally, Hitomi cared deeply about Akashi.
After all, he'd brought the latest news of Bacardi.
Though she'd run into him last time in the café, she hadn't spoken much—her attention was all on finding her eldest sister.
She'd tried to look for Akashi afterward, but he had vanished again.
Now, that kid had pulled off another stunt.
Of course, she'd come looking for him again.
Where is Bacardi? How do I find him? How can I contact him?
Unless she heard it from Bacardi himself, Hitomi would never feel at ease.
Meanwhile, the Miyano sisters overheard the conversation and exchanged knowing glances, quickly falling silent.
They both knew Akashi was Bacardi.
But the Kisugi sisters didn't know.
This might be part of Akashi's plan, and they couldn't let anything slip!
Immediately, Ai told her that their elder sister took the young shota downstairs into the basement.
But soon enough, Hitomi followed—rushing straight to the basement herself.
Yet again, she was stopped at the stairwell.
By the same mechanical alloy door.
It was a vault-grade door, just like the kind used in banks.
Completely soundproof and only operable from the inside.
Frustrated, Hitomi could only pound on the metal.
"Sis! Are you down there?! Open up! Let me in!"
But no matter how hard she knocked, no sound could pass through.
And even if it did—it would be pointless.
Her eldest sister could barely protect herself right now.
How could she open the door?