The head of the Kisugi family had her head wrapped in a veil of purple gauze, and she was finding it difficult to breathe.
Suddenly, a faint electric current surged from below, spreading swiftly through her limbs in a flash.
Startled by the shock, Rui trembled involuntarily.
A single tear rolled down her cheek—unnoticed.
No... this isn't right!
She struggled, but her movements were futile.
The moment she tried to pull her hand free, she realized she couldn't move at all.
Through the gauze, she turned her head and saw her wrists tightly bound with bandages.
Were these done by Bacardi?
When did he manage to do that?
Why didn't I notice anything?!
Before she could fully process the situation, Akashi leaned in and kissed her again—right on her pink lips.
Seeing her soft features and adorable, flustered expression, Akashi's heart stirred.
Rui's pupils widened in disbelief.
This is outrageous... absolutely foul play!
Flustered, she cried out, "W-Wait a minute! Wait a minute!"
But succubus shota Akashi wasn't the type to stop once he got serious.
Inhaling her sweet scent, he acted boldly.
His right hand gently touched her lips again.
In the next instant, a high-pitched ringing filled her ears, like a chorus of cicadas chirping relentlessly, and the world seemed to blur and slow.
Then, like a dam bursting open, her senses were overwhelmed by a surge of chaos.
Collapse!
Witnessing the girl's state collapse before his eyes, the succubus shota couldn't help but smile with satisfaction.
Immediately after, he began stacking buffs on himself.
Cyclonus Lv1! Enchantment Lv1! Quick Draw Lv2!
The succubus shota started preaching like a pro.
Special effect activated: Walk on Waves! Base speed doubled!
5.2x speed boost! This is insane!
He didn't even need to exert full force.
Just a casual movement was enough to push things to the limit.
Meanwhile, outside the alloy door, Hitomi's small hands were sore from all the knocking.
But there was still no response from within.
She finally stopped and stared warily at the alloy door at the end of the stairwell.
The thick iron door was sealed tight—smooth with no visible locks or control mechanisms.
So frustrating! Why didn't my older sister think ahead when installing this thing?!
Now I can't even open it if I want to!
Still, it was for safety purposes.
The underground base didn't just contain weapons—it also held countless stolen treasures, all of incalculable value.
So the entire structure had been built to withstand air raids.
If no one inside opened the door, even shells wouldn't blast it open.
So for Hitomi to open it from the outside? Pure fantasy.
After clapping until her hands were red, she finally gave up.
She left the basement, walked to the café's front door, and locked it.
Then she went to the back and locked that too.
This way, even if the "orphan" comes out, there's no escape!
Done with that, Hitomi stopped waiting like a fool.
She hadn't eaten since waking up—and now her stomach was calling the shots.
Upstairs, the two Miyano sisters watched from afar, their attitudes changing when they saw Ai sitting nearby.
Haibara looked at the girls from the Kisugi family—each with their own charm and striking beauty.
For some reason, she couldn't shake the feeling...
Another woman with a close relationship to Akashi?
Her blue eyes shifted thoughtfully. She decided to test the waters.
"Um... why did that sister earlier care so much about Akashi~?"
Faced with the little girl's innocent question, Ai Kisugi let her guard down.
"Well, my second sister definitely wants to ask Akashi where Bacardi is!"
Feigning ignorance, Haibara asked again, "Who's Bacardi?"
Ai's expression darkened.
"He's a scumbag!"
"He tricked two of my sisters—and kept stringing my sister along!"
"She even thought he died and went off to avenge him, almost picking a fight with someone!"
"!!"
Akemi's eyes widened.
She had been living here all this time, yet this was the first she'd heard about Bacardi's messy entanglements with the Kisugi sisters!
Haibara, watching her sister's surprise, rolled her eyes.
Sis, seriously? You've lived here this long and still know nothing?
Ai continued indignantly, "Next time I see that guy, I'll definitely teach him a lesson!"
Akemi frowned, puffing out her cheeks in disapproval.
"Ai-chan, that's a bit unfair."
"You don't know Bacardi like I do. If your sister likes him, he must have some redeeming qualities!"
"!!?"
Ai's eyes widened.
"How could I not know?!
He snuck into my second sister's room and— Ouch!"
Before she could finish, her head was met with a sharp flick.
Behind her stood her second sister, face slightly flushed and eyes narrowed as she lowered her balled-up fist.
"Ai, if you have so much free time, have you finished planning the next mission?"
"Have you completed today's training?"
"Have you figured out how to crack that trap we talked about last time?"
Her long, black hair swayed behind her like the winds of wrath. She was one step away from full blacken mode.
Startled, Ai jumped up like a cat.
"I'm going, I'm going now!"
She bolted toward her room, not daring to look back.
Later, Hitomi turned to the two women and apologized politely.
"Sorry about my little sister. She's a bit blunt and likes to spout nonsense."
"Please don't take her words too seriously."
The two women smiled and shook their heads. "It's fine, really."
Then Hitomi sat down and turned to Akemi.
"Mei-chan...sounds like you know Bacardi too?"
Back when her elder sister brought Akemi to the Cat's Eye Café, she hadn't revealed her identity—nor mentioned that she was entrusted by Bacardi to look after her.
So even after spending all this time together, Hitomi had no idea Akemi and Bacardi were connected.
Akemi chuckled. "Bacardi? He's actually my boyfriend."
Hitomi froze.
She's Bacardi's woman?!
Then why did Big Sis bring her here and even teach her how to disguise herself and change her voice?!
What's going on?!
Haibara's eyebrows twitched.
I can't... I can't handle this!
You clearly know those sisters have deep ties with Bacardi—so why are you outing yourself like this?!
Are you too comfy living here now?! Want to fight your love rivals directly?!
Haibara stared in disbelief.
What on earth is going on in my sister's head...?!