Chapter 9: Are You Serious?
Haruto froze where he stood.
Staring in shock into the twins' room, Haruto looked inside and said,
Haruto: "What on earth is going on here?"
Inside, he saw the twins sitting at the table drawing with Yuki, and Kaito had two pink hair clips tied into his hair. His surprise instantly turned into laughter.
Haruto: "Puhahaha—HAHA—oh my god, Kaito—HAHA—what is this look?!"
Kaito's eye twitched, but he said nothing.
As Haruto kept laughing, his gaze fell on the table on the floor, where he noticed the pink cups. His laughter slowly faded.
Haruto: "Puhahaha—ah—HA—AAAA—WAIT… DON'T TELL ME—"
Soft footsteps came from behind. At that moment, Shin smiled from his chair and looked at Haruto.
Shin: "Ahh, welcome, Haru bro."
Yuki winked playfully.
Yuki: "Hello, Haruto bro."
But Zen said nothing. He was so focused on the drawing paper in front of him that he didn't see or hear anything around him.
Haruto stammered.
Haruto: "Uh—e-em—h-hello, Zen?"
(He's definitely not hearing me…) Haruto thought.
Then he realized Kenji was missing.
Still confused, Haruto spoke again.
Haruto: "Uh… where's Kenji?"
At that moment, a voice came from beside the bed. It was Kenji, though his words were barely understandable.
Kenji: "It's… uh… over here…"
Haruto noticed Kenji was wearing a dress and a hat, with glittery hair clips in his hair.
Haruto flinched and slowly turned to Shin.
Haruto: "Sh-Shin… p-please…"
Shin didn't understand and just grinned.
Shin: "What are you talking about?"
He was interrupted by a small girl's voice from behind.
Voice: "Aaaah, Haru bro!"
Yuki looked around in confusion, not understanding what was happening.
Haruto turned around trembling and saw Mizu—the 6-year-old niece of Lady Akira.
His hand shook.
Haruto: (voice trembling) "M… m-merhaba, Mizu…"
…
Sora, who overheard Daichi's confused words, stepped in.
Sora: "Daichi, what are you even talking about? Who is that? What is this? Honestly…"
Ren cleared his throat and cut in.
Ren: "Ahem… Sora, this is something Kaito and Haruto need to know. But they're not here right now. We'll be waiting in the meeting room at 9:30 tonight. That's Lady Akira's order."
At that moment, Yoona rushed in, looking worried.
Yoona: "Guys, have you seen Mizu?"
Doctor Mitsuni looked confused.
Dr. Mitsuni: "Mizu? Wasn't she sleeping in your room last time?"
Just then, Tatsuya dropped his serious expression and returned to his gentleman-like smile.
Tatsuya: "Ahahaha! Our little Lady Akira's niece, huh? Why didn't you tell me, Yoona? I could've watched her while you handled your work."
Yoona frowned deeply.
(Or you could've said, 'Yoona, you take care of the child and I'll handle the work,' you sly fox.)
She fixed her expression just as the chef Taro's voice echoed from behind.
Taro: "Dinner will be ready soon. I'll call you all shortly."
As he left to inform the staff, Dr. Mitsuni noticed the cut on Taro's hand.
Dr. Mitsuni: "Ah, Taro, you cut yourself again."
Taro laughed and turned back.
Taro: "Haha, don't worry, Doctor. It's nothing."
Dr. Mitsuni's face turned serious.
Dr. Mitsuni: "Taro, I don't want to hear excuses. Come to my office after you're done."
Taro tried to protest.
Taro: "Ah—bu—"
Dr. Mitsuni: "NO. I'M WAITING."
Realizing there was no escape, Taro smirked.
Taro: "Alright then, you fake doctor."
As Dr. Mitsuni headed to his office, he waved his hand.
Dr. Mitsuni: "I HEARD THAT."
Yoona sighed.
Yoona: "Ah… whatever. She's probably with the twins."
(Turning to Daichi) "So, you're resting until the meeting, right? Strict orders from Lady Akira."
Daichi frowned.
Daichi: "Th-that child… who is she?"
Ren stepped in.
Ren: "That child—Yuki. We don't know his real name. He was meant to be a sacrifice, but he survived. According to Haruto and Kaito, he can't absorb quirk energy."
Daichi's eyes widened.
Daichi: "WHAT?! HOW—HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE?! THAT QUIRK—UGH—"
(He grabs his head as his wound throbs.)
"Wouldn't quirk energy kill him?"
Sora nodded.
Sora: "Normally, yes. But it didn't."
Holding his aching wound, Daichi asked,
Daichi: "Then… where is the child—uh, Yuki?"
Yoona raised one hand.
Yoona: "Yes, where are Yuki, Kaito, and Haruto?"
Sora stood up from the table.
Sora: "Haruto prepared the bathroom to bathe him. Kaito and Kenji went to get him from the twins' room. They were also going to look for clothes, but I'm not sure the twins' clothes will fit him."
Yoona placed her hand on her chin.
Yoona: "Hmm… probably not. Yuki is taller and much thinner than the twins."
Daichi stood up but got dizzy; Sora supported him.
Daichi: "By the way… in the Hunter District, the carriage owner was found dead, along with unidentified bodies. I'll leave that to you, Mr. Tatsuya and Ren."
Tatsuya finally spoke from his armchair.
Tatsuya: "Don't worry, Daichi. I anticipated this, so I already sent my wife and KA personnel."
Ren looked surprised.
Ren: "When did you do that? Only Yoona and Mr. Hakuyaki knew where Daichi went."
Yoona nodded.
Yoona: "Yes, I told Tatsuya."
Tatsuya stood and looked at Ren.
Tatsuya: "Ren, I was with Lady Akira earlier. I heard it from her."
After exchanging a look with Yoona, Sora spoke.
Sora: "Alright. I'll escort Daichi to his room and rest as well. Dinner will be ready soon, and after that, the meeting. Then we'll finally learn everything—including who that person really is, right, Daichi?"
Tatsuya stared sharply at Daichi.
Tatsuya: "Until the meeting, this topic is closed. I don't want anyone losing their appetite before dinner."
Everyone nodded. Sora and Daichi went to their rooms, Yoona returned to her office, and Ren headed to the kitchen for tea.
Meanwhile, Tatsuya whispered to himself in the corner.
Tatsuya: "Such a nuisance… (unintelligible murmurs)… but finally…"
On her way, Yoona stopped by the twins' room to check—and froze in anger.
Yoona: "Mizu! What are you doing here?!"
Kenji, the twins, Yuki, Kaito, Haruto, and Mizu were caught sitting around a pink table having a tea party.
Mizu: "U-um… Yoona sis… tea?"
(She held out a glittery pink-and-purple toy teacup.)
Haruto, Kenji, and Kaito sat motionless—pink clips in their hair and wearing pink-and-purple dresses—completely hypnotized.
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