Mother and Daughter in the Dark

This is what some gentlemen call the "mother-daughter set meal," or more professionally, "Mother-daughter donburi."

Kevin isn't stupid. What else could be the conflict between Sakurami Haruharu and Yuzuriha Inori? Of course, it's because of his complicated relationship with both of them, which the relatively conservative and elegant housewife can't accept.

A stepmother and an adopted daughter? That won't do either! It's too shameful for Sakurami Haruharu!

Add to that the shocking declaration Ouma Mana after her return, and it's already quite remarkable that this married woman with a limited heart didn't go to Siberia to dig up her grave and desecrate it.

Therefore, this awkward topic has always been a minefield that Kevin tries his best to avoid.

Originally, he planned to bring along the two people who were on good terms with Sakurami Haruharu to ease the tension, but he was stabbed in the back by that idiot Shizuka Marikawa, which dealt him a devastating blow.

As Yuriko Takagi dragged the troublemaking airhead away, the door closed softly, and Kevin forced out an awkward smile.

Sakurami Haruharu pretty face pale with cold, slowly walked over, sat up straight, bit her lower lip tightly, her slender hands clasped at the hem of her clothes, her knuckles white, and finally she suddenly looked up, her shoulders trembling.

"... I can satisfy any of your physical needs..."

"Puff!"

Kevin spat out the warm water he had just drunk, his face filled with astonishment.

Are you mistaken? I'm here to apologize and reconcile, not to force someone into prostitution.

"... You can do anything to me alone, but not that one thing!"

"I've already wronged Kuroshu; I can't push his daughter into this fire!"

As Sakurami Haruharu spoke in a low voice, seeing that the villain in front of her was "unmoved," she ruthlessly unbuttoned her jacket. With each inch of skin exposed, her sense of humiliation and sorrow intensified.

"Stop, stop, stop! This place is too private, let's go outside!"

Kevin quickly stopped Sakurami Haruharu from driving off on her own initiative, hurriedly buttoned up the wife's clothes, and forcibly pulled and carried her out the door.

"Not at home! You want to be in the wild too!" Enraged, Sakurami Haruharu bit Kevin's hand, her teeth sinking into his flesh, the sweet and metallic taste lingering between her lips and teeth.

"Have you had enough? It hurts! If you want to know what really happened between me and Yuzuriha Inori, can you please give me a break first?"

As Kevin hurried to the park bench, he put down the enraged wife and gave a cold snort, which finally made Sakurami Haruharu, who had regained some of her composure, slowly relent and listen with a hint of disbelief.

It took Kevin nearly half an hour to explain the reason why Yuzuriha Inori and Mana were one body with two souls, and to carefully analyze the differences in their feelings for each other.

For the somewhat immature Yuzuriha Inori, his attachment to him was more like that of a father and older brother, while for Mana it was a pure yet somewhat twisted love.

Although he guessed that the two girls' thinking was already fixed, and that they were the kind of people who were rather stubborn, once they made up their minds, they would not waver.

But in order to comfort the married woman in front of him, Kevin had no choice but to lie and utter ambiguous words under the bitter and sorrowful gaze of Sakurami Haruharu.

"Perhaps, as they grow up and meet more outstanding people, their thinking will change."

Sakurami Haruharu remained silent for a long time, it was unclear whether she had truly taken it to heart. After a full quarter of an hour, she slowly raised her head and bowed deeply.

"I'm sorry... and... thank you..."

Kevin, who had been prepared to be severely scolded, was somewhat taken aback.

"Don't doubt it, the reason I've waited ten years to see you is because of this..."

Sakurami Haruharu pursed her lips tightly, and after regaining her composure, she fell into self-reflection.

In fact, this married woman was a very gentle Yamato Nadeshiko-style traditional woman. Even though she and Kevin had an accidental relationship, she didn't cry or make a fuss, and she didn't blame him excessively.

Sakurami Haruharu only asked the BSAA at the time to guarantee the safety of her family. Kevin almost lost his life during the trip to the Big Island, which was enough to pay off that debt.

After that, this man not only raised and cared for her stepchildren, but also provided strong support for her research, granting her every request for funding and technology.

During the Siberia expedition and the Moonlight War, Kevin fulfilled his promise with his life.

He may not care about these things, but he cannot be ungrateful.

Therefore, even though Sakurami Haruharu felt extremely awkward every time she saw Kevin, she maintained at least basic politeness and respect from the bottom of her heart, and was even willing to go to Los Angeles to reshape 2B's body.

However, compared to what he gave, what I did was far from enough.

When Kevin perished in Siberia seeking revenge for his true name, Sakurami Haruharu's guilt towards this man became even more overwhelming.

Kevin scratched his head and breathed a sigh of relief. It was unbelievable that the guilt that had weighed on his heart for so long had dissipated so easily.

But now that he's free from debt, he finds the Sakurami Haruharu even more beautiful and captivating.

Kevin even felt a little smug about the absurdity of that night, and a desire to give her a happy life stirred within him.

Perhaps, this is the charm of an intellectual wife.

Who says women have to be unreasonable? Who says men have to be lustful?

The man shook his head and chuckled, realizing that even though they had long since reconciled, their arrogance and prejudice had distanced them from each other.

"Doctor, dinner's about to be served, let's go..."

Kevin let out a long sigh of relief and gestured to Sakurami Haruharu was sitting quietly on the bench.

Unexpectedly, Sakurami Haruharu pursed her lips tightly and lowered her head awkwardly.

"Could you help me up? I was so excited just now that my contact lens fell out on the street..."

The intellectual wife, her gaze somewhat unfocused, followed Kevin's lead, groping around. Just as she grasped something solid, her leaning body was lifted onto the man's back by strong arms.

"You've got a great deal. You're the first person to receive this kind of treatment, old friend..."

Amidst the soft gasps of surprise from the Sakurami Haruharu, Kevin's slightly teasing chuckle echoed in their ears.

The phrase "old friend" undoubtedly redefines their relationship. Friends, huh? Sounds pretty good.

Sakurami Haruharu sensed the sense of security she felt surrounded by wings, and her tense mood relaxed a little, a faint smile quietly appearing on her lips.

However, the two, focused on mending their relationship, failed to notice the fleeting pink figure on the distant mountain.

Chapter 572, Section 601: Mother and Daughter in the Dark

At lunchtime, Yuriko Takagi and Shizuka Marikawa, who had originally planned to mediate the fight, were shocked to see Kevin carrying Sakurami Haruharu and walking in with an air of nonchalance. Their eyes widened in surprise, and they almost dropped their jaws.

As Sakurami Haruharu put on her spare contact lenses, the four people who had become friends through Toko City sat down at the dining table to eat, the atmosphere intimate yet slightly reserved.

After lunch, the four of them cleaned up the dishes together, then drank afternoon tea and played some card and mahjong games to pass the time.

"It's a perfect score! Four hidden triplets!"

"Self-draw! Pure suit, straight flush! Pay up! Pay up! Pay up!"

Sitting at the east gate, Shizuka Marikawa excitedly pushed her cards forward, her face already piled high with chips of all sizes.

This clueless fool, who doesn't understand social etiquette, is surprisingly talented at playing cards. He can not only accurately calculate the points, but also remember the approximate positions of two-thirds of the cards.

In addition, the female school doctor had incredible luck, so she dominated half of the dozen or so rounds.

Kevin, who had intended to teach Shizuka Marikawa a lesson at the card table, was instead thoroughly outplayed by this idiot. He couldn't help but twitch his lips and hand over his chips.

Unlike Kevin's intentional revenge, Sakurami Haruharu and Yuriko Takagi, who rarely managed to take time out of their busy schedules to relax, seemed quite happy.

"Let's play another round!"

Kevin, undeterred by setbacks, secretly vowed to teach the outspoken Shizuka Marikawa a lesson. The four of them shuffled and cut the cards with increasing skill.

However, just as the dice were rolled, there was a knock on the door in the courtyard. Yuriko Takagi, who was sitting on the south side for easy access, opened the door and was met with an unexpected face.

"Saya? What brings you here?"

Yuriko Takagi's expression showed a hint of surprise, her gaze darting away, and she instinctively covered the crack in the door, not wanting her daughter to see Kevin inside.

However, after not seeing her for four or five years, the once sharp-tongued and arrogant woman couldn't help but move her lips as she saw her mother so flustered and instinctively protecting the person behind her.

The relationship between her mother and father was more like a union of interests, lacking genuine care. Saya Takagi sighed softly, hesitated, then hugged her somewhat uneasy mother and whispered in her ear.

"Mother, I've come to say goodbye. I'd like to go for a walk with Xiao..."

Yuriko Takagi's heart tightened, and she hurriedly pulled her daughter out the door to ask her about her condition in detail.

It turns out that Takashi Komuro married Rei Miyamoto several years ago, but due to his own indecisiveness in taking sides in Toko City, he was excluded from the SCP Foundation's power circle, and his personal development was not smooth.

As a result, in just three years, the restless Rei Miyamoto, in search of so-called "security," set her sights on a new target.

During Takashi Komuro's period of decline, the defeated contender, Saya Takagi, returned to the battlefield and was finally able to be with Takashi Komuro.

Furthermore, the two received a project that was suitable for them to complete together. In order to prove themselves and further develop their relationship, they decided to take on the task and go on a long trip.

Yuriko Takagi patted her daughter's head, knowing that Saya Takagi's somewhat stubborn personality came from her father, so she stopped trying to persuade her and nodded gently in agreement. However, as she turned away, her eyes were slightly red.

"And, I wish you happiness..."

Saya Takagi waved her hand, but gritted her teeth and finally uttered the words that had been weighing on her mind for so long.

After receiving her daughter's approval, Yuriko Takagi returned to the house and leaned against the door, tears welling up in her eyes.

At that moment, a bunch of keys was tossed into Yuriko Takagi's arms. Kevin reluctantly got up, slammed down the bad hand of cards, and gave a slight smile to the purple-haired married woman who was also his subordinate and lover.

"They'll be staying at the Crawford Manor tonight, and their flight to London International Airport is at eight o'clock tomorrow morning. Go ahead, they have a couple of days off."

Yuriko Takagi was slightly taken aback upon hearing this, then nodded emphatically, grabbed Shizuka Marikawa who was packing up the chips, and left, leaving the surrounding atmosphere even brighter.

As for why the boss behind him knew all this, is there even a need to ask? He was always so meticulous that he considered the needs of everyone close to him, even when it came to his death.

So let's spend more time with him and Chunxia. This little school doctor who only causes trouble should be taken away.

Yuriko Takagi gripped Shizuka Marikawa's right hand tightly, a sweet smile playing on her lips.

"They're all gone, what are we going to do?"

As the door closed, the dark red sunset cast its last rays, and the room returned to an eerie silence. Kevin coughed and tapped the table, asking a question.

"You... are too early..."

Sakurami Haruharu unconsciously gripped the hem of her clothes with both hands, her voice hoarse.

"Uh, I meant dinner..."

Realizing the woman had clearly misunderstood, Kevin quickly explained, trying to salvage what little integrity he had left.

Sakurami Haruharu's cheeks flushed red from one side to her ears, and she hurriedly got up to cook.

"I'll help!"

Kevin volunteered to go into the kitchen and help out, and the two of them quickly got to work in a flurry of activity.

However, whether due to a lack of skill or the impact of her previous words, Sakurami Haruharu made a series of mistakes.

"The pan is hot... Oil! Oil! Oil!"

"Don't move! The shrimp vein hasn't been removed yet!"

"You've got light soy sauce! This needs dark soy sauce!"

Because Sakurami Haruharu was distracted, a series of accidents occurred in the kitchen, with flames and black smoke appearing intermittently. The eerie scene of flickering light and darkness reminded Kevin, who was equally flustered, of his first time messing around in the chemistry lab.

Finally, when a table full of unrecognizable delicacies arrived, the two men, their faces ashen, simultaneously lost their appetites and had no choice but to order takeout to tide them over.

In the awkward atmosphere, the two finally made it to night. Then, without saying a word, Kevin finished washing up first and went into Ouma Mana's room to prove his innocence.

Sakurami Haruharu breathed a sigh of relief and walked towards the bathroom in the dark, hoping to wash away her fatigue and tension as soon as possible.

As night deepened, Kevin sensed a prying gaze and abruptly stood up. In the moonlight, the elongated shadow was lying on the headboard, flashing him a seductive smile.

"Real name? No way, Chunxia lives next door..."

Kevin's face twitched as he pressed down on Ouma Mana Ouma's hand, which was reaching under the covers, his tone revealing a hint of persuasion.

"Okay, I won't do anything reckless today, I'll just take you to see the play..."

Ouma Mana withdrew her hand without leaving a trace, and with a strange smile, pulled Kevin towards the door.

At that moment, the sound of rushing water came from the bathroom. Pulled by Ouma Mana, Kevin, who dared not make a sound, could only let it go.

Why is she still taking a shower after all this time? The man was also a little puzzled and couldn't help but worry about Sakurami Haruharu's condition.

As the distance drew near, the graceful figure was projected onto the frosted glass through the light, writhing like a snake, its two slender arms placed haphazardly, in a bizarre posture.

The soft, buzzing murmur broke through the sound of the water and reached their ears, like a lament. As the rhythm quickened, the voice gradually rose in pitch, and some emotion was on the verge of exploding.

As the figure on the frosted glass slumped down like a dead snake, the uncontrollable sobbing in the throat finally formed clear characters in their ears.

"... Kevin!!!"

"Bang!"

The glass door, which concealed her shame, was roughly pulled open, and a cold, mocking voice made Sakurami Haruharu's face turn deathly pale.