Chapter 361: I Miss My Sister
Yotsuba Mahiro is dangerous.
This is the conclusion reached by all factions.
Both the Lion King Organization and the Artificial Island Management Corporation hold the opinion that Mahiro's danger exceeds that of the other three Progenitors.
Moreover, unlike the other three Progenitors who are relatively at ease, he poses a significant threat.
Therefore, they have dispatched their respective Watchers to monitor Mahiro's actions.
Previous individuals like Shizuka Koyomi and the transfer student Himeragi Yukina have played such roles.
And Motoki Yaze, who holds a dual identity as a Watcher, is also one of the monitors.
It is precisely because of this that when Motoki Yaze saw Mahiro suddenly appear at his doorstep, he became particularly tense, and cold sweat instantly broke out on his back.
Unfortunately, Mahiro was not looking for him, but rather for his senior, Hinado, who was also standing at the entrance, hiding behind Motoki Yaze.
"What, not planning to come out and talk?"
Mahiro asked again.
Motoki Yaze opened his mouth, wanting to say something.
After all, Hinado-senpai is someone he likes, and coupled with Mahiro's dangerous identity, he felt it necessary to step forward.
But before he could speak, Hinado behind him softly replied:
"Alright, please wait a moment."
"..."
The girl paid no attention to Motoki Yaze, who was about to speak but stopped. She returned to the living room, picked up her schoolbag, and came to the entrance to put on her shoes.
Only when passing by did she quietly leave a sentence.
"Don't worry, I'll be fine."
Then she followed Mahiro and left the apartment.
Night gradually enveloped Itogami Island.
Among the four artificial islands that make up Itogami Island—the West Island is a city that never sleeps.
In this area, densely packed with restaurants and commercial facilities, many shops stay open until dawn.
Most demons prefer the night.
Therefore, in this city with an exceptionally large demon population, the services provided for them are quite abundant.
In a certain sense, this dazzling neon nightscape may symbolize the peaceful coexistence of humans and demons in Itogami City.
However, no matter how brightly the lights shine, darkness never completely disappears from the city of night.
"Whose idea among you Three Saints was it to send that little girl to monitor me?"
In a deserted park at night, Mahiro, who had just brought Hinado out from Motoki Yaze's home, strolled along an observation walkway overlooking the sea.
Walking side by side, they looked like a couple.
But Mahiro's indifferent tone was enough to wash away any ambiguous atmosphere.
Moreover, after waiting for a long time, he still hadn't received an answer from this school senior named Hinado, who was actually Shizuka Koyomi, the head of the Lion King Organization's Three Saints.
"What, not speaking? Are you naturally not fond of talking?"
This time, Mahiro's tone carried a hint of teasing, but Hinado remained silent.
Her lips were tightly sealed, making it clear that no information could be obtained from her.
"Sigh, fine, if you won't speak, then you won't. Since you don't want to talk, just accompany me for a walk."
Without further ado, Mahiro grabbed Hinado's wrist and left the park, arriving at the bustling commercial street.
The commercial street at night was lit up with brilliant lights, filled with the clamor of voices, even livelier than during the day.
However, the people coming and going all clearly wore Demon Registration Bracelets on their wrists.
Since many demons were nocturnal and these creatures didn't need to work at all—they could receive generous compensation simply by providing some blood to research corporations each month—the nights on Itogami Island naturally became a carnival for demons.
And a combination like Mahiro, a strikingly handsome young man, paired with Hinado, a plainly dressed student girl, naturally became the most eye-catching sight on the street.
The demons' first impression upon seeing Mahiro was astonishment, followed by understanding when they noticed the bracelet on his wrist, and finally, when they noticed the plain girl accompanying him, their gazes held a hint of mockery.
Feeling the varied stares from all around, Hinado's brows slightly furrowed.
She didn't understand what this man intended by bringing her here late at night.
"By the way, Hinado, why were you at Motoki Yaze's house?"
Mahiro, who was browsing a food stall, suddenly spoke up, catching Hinado off guard. Still, she calmly replied:
"I was helping Yaze-senpai with tutoring."
"Oh~ Tutoring, huh…"
Mahiro deliberately drew out his tone, and not just his voice—even the glance he cast toward Hinado was meaningful.
This made Hinado feel very uncomfortable.
"Yotsuba-sama, what exactly is your purpose? Why did you bring me here? If there's nothing else…"
"Not allowed."
Mahiro suddenly interrupted Hinado's words and threatened:
"I have no special purpose, and as I said earlier, I just wanted you to accompany me for a walk.
Of course, you can refuse. But if you leave now, I can't guarantee whether your Lion King Organization will still exist in this world by dawn."
"Is that a threat?"
Behind her glasses, Hinado's eyes gradually narrowed, her gaze turning sharp as Cursed Power slowly gathered within her.
Snap!
At that moment, Mahiro suddenly snapped his fingers.
Though the sound wasn't loud and was instantly drowned out by the surrounding noise, Hinado was shocked to discover that the Cursed Power she had just gathered had completely dissipated.
"What did you do to me?"
"Nothing at all. Just a little trick I learned from Natsuki-chan—it's temporary.
Also, don't stare at me with such a scary look. I'm quite timid, you know.
As for what you just called a threat…
Sorry, I don't think it's a threat. I was simply stating a fact and proposing a deal—a deal to ensure your Lion King Organization remains unharmed.
Of course, you can choose not to believe me and leave right now. That's fine."
Mahiro held a skewer of freshly grilled meatballs, speaking casually as if discussing a trivial matter.
Not believe him?
No, Hinado believed this man absolutely possessed such power—otherwise, why would they have spent so much time monitoring him?
Seeing the girl silently follow him, too afraid to leave, Mahiro curled his lips into a faint smile.
"That's more like it. Behave yourself. If you serve me well and put me in a good mood, letting your Lion King Organization off the hook wouldn't be a problem."
The teasing, malicious words that reached Hinado's ears were even more grating than nails on a chalkboard.
If anyone else had said such things to her, Hinado would have undoubtedly eliminated them on the spot. After all, she was set to inherit the name Shizuka Koyomi and earn the title of "Paper Noise" not through connections but through genuine, formidable strength.
Yet, faced with this man alone, she found herself utterly powerless.
Unbeknownst to her, her expression of suppressed anger brought immense pleasure to Mahiro, satisfying his mischievous heart to the fullest.
But it still wasn't enough...
Thus, Mahiro spoke up again:
"By the way, Senpai Hinado, are you dating Motoki Yaze?"
"?"
Hinado looked up at him with slight surprise, unsure why Mahiro would suddenly ask such a question.
After a moment of thought, she shook her head and denied it.
"No."
Hearing this, Mahiro sighed.
"Senpai, you're not being very honest..."
Before Hinado could react, he tossed aside the skewer in his hand, grabbed her wrist once more, and swiftly navigated through the crowd.
Soon, Hinado found herself dragged by Mahiro into a dimly lit alley.
Outside, the clamor of voices and bright lights filled the air.
Inside the alley, it was narrow, silent, and shrouded in darkness.
It felt like two entirely different worlds.
The moment she stepped into the alley, a sense of foreboding welled up within Hinado.
As they reached the depths of the alley, she broke free from Mahiro's grasp.
She wanted to resist, but in the next instant, she felt a sudden gust of wind.
Immediately, the round-framed glasses she had been wearing on the bridge of her nose vanished, and the two braids resting on her chest came undone.
Unexpectedly, her loosened hair was surprisingly long, nearly reaching her waist.
The disheveled strands swayed gently in the alley's breeze.
"So you were deliberately making yourself look plain. Who would have thought Senpai Hinado could look this pretty?"
Mahiro whistled, his face full of teasing and mockery, like a delinquent harassing a young girl.
Honestly, Shizuka Koyomi, freed from her disguise, was quite beautiful, nothing like the plain, unremarkable girl she had appeared to be before.
Her flowing hair and sharp gaze gave her an aura of cool elegance.
She was the type of beauty with an aloof demeanor.
"Lord Yotsuba, I don't know what you intend to do, but please do not overstep your bounds!"
This time, Hinado's voice turned completely cold. She crossed her arms over her chest, took two steps back to put some distance between herself and Mahiro, her expression icy and detached.
Yet, this only caused Mahiro's gaze to darken gradually.
He strode forward and, before Hinado could resist, seized both her wrists and lifted them, pinning her against the wall.
"..."
A faint, strained whimper escaped her throat.
Just as Hinado tried to break free, she found herself face-to-face with Mahiro's eyes at close range, rendering her speechless.
She had seen those crimson eyes before.
But this was the first time she had observed them so closely. Ancient, cryptic spell formations swirled slowly within his pupils.
For some reason, the moment she met his gaze, a chill ran down her spine, as if her very existence could be erased from this world by those eyes at any moment!
And within their depths, she glimpsed a profound, icy coldness.
At the same time, Mahiro's emotionless, indifferent voice softly echoed by her ear.
"You ask me what I want to do? I'd like to ask what you people are trying to do. I'm just living a peaceful life on this artificial island, yet you keep provoking me time and again. Now you ask what I want to do? Miss Shizuka Koyomi, don't you find that utterly ridiculous?"
As he spoke, Mahiro's voice already carried a clear tone of mockery.
But then his tone shifted again.
"Now, let me ask you once more—Miss Shizuka Koyomi, are you and Motoki Yaze in a romantic relationship?"
Hinado couldn't understand why he kept fixating on this question.
But this time, she didn't answer directly.
Instead, she averted her gaze from Mahiro's eyes, slightly rose on her tiptoes to touch the ground, trying to ease the discomfort of her suspended body.
After a long while, she finally managed to squeeze out a sentence.
"..."
She admitted it.
She had no choice but to admit it.
"Motoki Yaze's father, Yaze Akishige, is the head of the Yaze conglomerate. Moreover, Motoki Yaze himself has unclear ties with the Artificial Island Management Corporation. So, whether as a shield or to leverage his status and connections for something, Motoki Yaze is the most suitable candidate."
Hinado spilled all these details as if pouring out beans.
There was no other way—she didn't dare lie in front of Mahiro now.
She truly feared this man might erase her from the world without a trace.
Besides, revealing Motoki Yaze's situation wouldn't cause her any loss. In fact, the secret relationship between Motoki Yaze and the Artificial Island Management Corporation might even pique Mahiro's interest.
Thus shifting his attention away from her and the Lion King Organization.
When conflict arose between the two, she could then place Himeragi Yukina by Mahiro's side, foster their feelings, and ultimately unite them as a couple or something similar.
This way, wouldn't the existence of Mahiro be completely brought under the Lion King Organization's surveillance?
Unfortunately, however.
Ideals are often plump, but reality is starkly lean.
Mahiro wasn't interested in Motoki Yaze's background or identity. What intrigued him more was the relationship between Shizuka Koyomi and Motoki Yaze.
"Oh~ So, how far have the two of you gone? Have you slept together?"
Shizuka Koyomi: "..."
The girl turned her head away without a word, her gaze icy as she stared at him.
"Alright, it seems not, then." Mahiro shrugged and asked again, "Have you held hands?"
Shizuka Koyomi: "..."
Still silent, and this time Mahiro couldn't discern anything from the girl's expression either.
"Fine, no need to say. Then how about this?"
This time, Mahiro didn't wait for her response. He immediately closed the distance between them.
"Mm..."
In an instant, the coldness in Hinado's eyes turned to panic and disbelief. Before her incredulous gaze, the two had already begun a lip-to-lip encounter.
Hmm, very soft, and sweet too, with a faint strawberry flavor.
Hinado's mind went blank for nearly three seconds.
By the time she regained her senses, her fair skin had already flushed with a faint rose-colored blush.
She struggled desperately, trying to break free from his embrace, yet for some reason, her resistance felt unnaturally weak.
The uniquely masculine, scorching heat made her gradually lose the strength to struggle without even realizing it.
This was the first time in her eighteen years that she had ever felt this way.
Soon, her eyes grew hazy, flickering between clarity and confusion as her spirit wrestled with desire.
It was as if an invisible hand had seized her firmly, attempting to drown her in the abyss of desire...
But the next second, Hinado suddenly felt a chill, her body stiffened instantly, and her mind cleared considerably.
Because a familiar sensation had returned.
Her solid-colored leggings and light blue ice-silk underwear had already been removed.
"K..."
Hinado struggled to utter a sound, and Mahiro took the opportunity to release her cherry lips, gazing with interest at the flushed girl before him.
And the girl was glaring at him.
As if anticipating her attempt to speak, Mahiro leaned close to her ear and whispered softly:
"What should I do? Rather than forcing myself on you here, I'd much rather give you a beating."
Shizuka Koyomi: "!!"
Hearing this, the girl's body trembled slightly, as if recalling the terrifying experience from two and a half years ago.
Before she could even beg for mercy, Hinado felt her vision spin.
Mahiro pressed her down with one hand on her waist.
"Damn it, testing my limits again and again, do you really think I have no temper?"
Slap!
A crisp sound echoed through the silent, narrow alley.
Hinado immediately clenched her lips, forcing herself not to make a sound.
After all, if her cries attracted others, it would be far too humiliating.
But the burning pain on her buttocks and the shame rising from the turmoil in her heart brought tears to the corners of her eyes.
Before she could even adjust, Mahiro's second slap had already landed fiercely.
Slap!
"Sending such a rookie to tail me, just how much do you look down on me?"
Slap!
"Are you insulting me?!"
Slap!
"If you really want the Lion King Organization to shine, you might as well wash and tie up both you and that little girl Himeragi Yukina and send you straight to my bed!"
Slap!
"Do you think this is some dating simulator? I don't go for that youthful school romance crap, don't you know?!"
Just like when he had beaten Vatler that day, Mahiro cursed with each strike, denouncing the Lion King Organization's foolishness.
He didn't dislike the Lion King Organization sending him women.
What he disliked was being treated like a fool like Akatsuki Kojou!
Did they really think he was an idiot?!
Outside the alley, it was bustling with activity, while inside, the continuous, unbroken sound of slaps quietly echoed.
No one knew how much time had passed.
The moonlight gradually faded.
Even the lively streets outside had quieted down considerably, leaving only a few employees cleaning the shops.
And now, in that narrow alley, Hinado was leaning against the wall with one hand, holding her buttocks with the other, staggering and limping as she made her way out.
Her disheveled long hair had been braided back into two pigtails.
The round-framed glasses that obscured her appearance were also back in place.
If there was anything different from when she entered, it was the tear stains beneath her glasses and her reddened eyes.
Once again, she had been thoroughly beaten to tears by Mahiro.
In the past, she had never cried no matter what danger she faced, not even changing her expression—yet after meeting Mahiro just twice, she had already cried twice!
Even her first kiss had been taken!
And her delicate little bottom had once again been spanked until swollen, turning into a perky American-style rear.
This time, it was even more swollen—likely the kind that wouldn't heal without lying face down on the bed for at least half a month.
At this moment, Hinado couldn't help but think of her older sister who had taken care of her since childhood, Fujisaka Touka.