Meanwhile, a slender jade hand appeared at the corner of his mouth, holding a peeled, crystal-clear grape.
"Say 'ahhh'~"
Mai Shiranui lay beside Cloud in a silk nightgown so scandalously sexy it should have been illegal. She gazed at him with bedroom eyes that could enchant souls, personally feeding him fruit.
Those curves threatening to spill free, combined with her breath warm as orchids—enough to turn any normal man into a wolf.
Cloud opened his mouth, accepting the grape, then "accidentally" captured Mai's warm fingertip between his lips, giving it a gentle suck.
"You're so mean~" Mai's cheeks flushed crimson as she playfully swatted his chest—a touch so light it might as well have been a tickle.
Just as the atmosphere grew increasingly intimate, seemingly headed toward "premium content" territory, a slightly cool but equally pleasant voice drifted from the kitchen.
"Food's ready. You two... planning to be lovey-dovey all day?"
Yata Tsukihime emerged from the kitchen wearing an apron, carrying plates of elegant breakfast dishes.
She surveyed the "decadent" scene on the sofa, shaking her head helplessly—though deep in her eyes lurked a hint of... envy she herself hadn't noticed.
Indeed, at some point, three absolutely stunning beauties had taken up residence in this estate.
Mai Shiranui openly claimed the position of "main wife," finding new ways daily to "seduce" Cloud.
Yuri Sakazaki was gentle and considerate, like a little sister next door, warming Cloud's heart with her attentive care.
And Yata Tsukihime had voluntarily come to Cloud's side after the great battle, ostensibly to learn the Yagami-style ancient martial arts, but really to care for Cloud as repayment.
Three women make a show.
Though occasional "battlefield moments" erupted among them over questions like "who gets to spar with Cloud today" or "whose room Cloud sleeps in tonight," under Cloud's masterful "harem management" strategy of "spreading the love evenly" and "keeping things perfectly balanced," crises were always averted—even developing into a strange sort of "sisterly bond."
"Coming! Let's eat!" Cloud performed a carp-flip off the sofa, his left arm around Mai, his right hand pulling up Yuri, flashing a brilliant smile at Tsukihime. "Our little Tsuki's cooking is the best! Here—your reward!"
Before she could dodge, he planted a quick "chu" on her smooth cheek.
"Ah!"
Tsukihime's face instantly turned tomato-red. Her hands trembled holding the plates, yet she didn't actually get angry.
The dining table filled with laughter and joy.
Cloud savored this "corrupt" life surrounded by beauties, food delivered to his mouth, clothes presented at his whim, feeling his existence had achieved perfection.
However, peaceful days always have their little interruptions.
That night, as Cloud sat cross-legged in his room, meditating to absorb the martial will of Ryuhaku Todoh, a message quietly surfaced in his mind.
It was the final spiritual imprint Ryuhaku Todoh had left before his energy dispersed.
The imprint contained no profound martial secrets, no earth-shaking revelations—only an image of a white-haired elder gazing at a ponytailed girl with determined eyes, his expression filled with infinite love and guilt.
"Kasumi..."
"Grandfather is sorry... I couldn't watch you grow up, couldn't find your father..."
"My power, my will, I entrust to that young man who defeated the Emperor... He's someone worth trusting..."
"Please... take care of her for me..."
The message ended there.
Cloud slowly opened his eyes, exhaling a long, turbid breath.
"Take care of Kasumi Todoh, huh?" He stroked his chin, a playful smile curving his lips. "A stubborn, determined girl with a bit of tsundere... This mission, I like it."
Of course he knew Kasumi Todoh. The "daddy-hunting girl" who'd set out on her martial journey at a young age to find her missing father.
At the KOF 96 tournament, she'd performed well as a new member of the Women Fighters Team, but amid those "battles between immortals," she'd still seemed rather green.
[DING! Strong hormonal fluctuations detected in Host. Side quest auto-generated—The Lost Pearl!]
[Quest Description: As a helpful, morally upstanding playboy, how can you ignore a beautiful girl entrusted to you by a dying master? Go forth—find that young woman still struggling for her family's honor and to locate her father. Use your irresistible charm and power to guide her path forward and show her the warmth of human connection!]
[Quest Reward: Based on completion level. Higher completion = richer rewards~]
"Perfect." Cloud rose and pushed open the window.
In the moonlight, his gaze seemed to pierce the distance, locking onto a stubborn figure currently pouring sweat in some unknown dojo.
"Little Kasumi, here I come."
...
Somewhere in the remote mountains of Japan stood an ancient dojo—the birthplace of Todoh-ryu Kobujutsu.
Night had fallen. Deep night.
Moonlight like water poured across the empty training hall, stretching the shadow of a solitary, training figure long across the floor.
Kasumi Todoh practiced barefoot, repeating the most fundamental technique of Todoh-ryu over and over—"Kasane Ate."
She wore a sleeveless white training top with traditional red hakama below. Her lustrous black hair was tied in a high, refreshing ponytail that traced graceful arcs through the air with each movement.
Sweat had long soaked her clothes, clinging tightly to her well-developed, youthfully curved body, outlining breathtaking lines.
In the moonlight, her cheeks flushed with healthy exertion, combined with those bright eyes full of determination and defiance, created a powerfully striking image of strength and beauty.
She was beautiful—a beauty tinged with heroic spirit, like a rose with thorns.
But at this moment, her brow was tightly furrowed.
...
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