"You're just a little kid, all alone in an orphanage. Every day, you'd be bullied by the older kids, go hungry and cold, and could only hide under the covers and cry on nights when no one was around. Do you really want to live that kind of life?"
Guchuan crouched down and smiled into Shiho Miyano's eyes.
"It's not as miserable as you make it sound," Shiho Miyano retorted softly.
Besides, it would still be far better than spending her childhood in the Organization.
"Be good and stay here honestly."
"But we're not related in any way. Why should I live with you?" Shiho Miyano said, pouting.
"They say a distant relative is no match for a close neighbor. I'm the Kudo family's neighbor, and you're the Kudo family's relative. Of course that means we're connected."
"But..."
"Ding-dong~"
"Wait here. I'll see who it is." Guchuan patted Shiho Miyano on the head, cutting off her words.
"Mr. Guchuan, I've brought your certificate of commendation."
"Oh my, you're far too kind. I told you not to bother delivering it, but you insisted on bringing it over." Guchuan warmly welcomed the middle-aged police officer inside.
"Although Mr. Guchuan does not seek fame or profit, the police cannot fail to commend an outstanding citizen like you." The middle-aged officer wore an awkward smile.
Wasn't this something you specifically demanded? When did it become us forcing it on you?
"And this is?" The middle-aged officer looked toward Shiho Miyano.
"This is my little sister," Guchuan introduced with a smile.
Shiho Miyano obediently stayed behind Guchuan. She was still somewhat nervous around police officers.
"I see." The middle-aged officer nodded.
The pajamas this little girl is wearing are clearly not child-sized. Besides, isn't Guchuan the only son in his family? Where did Mr. Guchuan get a sister from?
The middle-aged officer did not dare ask. He could only smile along from the side.
"Did you come alone?" Guchuan asked.
"Huh?" The middle-aged officer did not understand what Guchuan meant.
It's just delivering a certificate. How many people were supposed to come?
Could Mr. Guchuan be asking for Yumi Miyamoto to come? I heard that sons from powerful families liked trampling on other people's dignity. Could Mr. Guchuan be like that too?
"I heard that whenever the Metropolitan Police Department gives out commendations, there are always reporters covering it?" Guchuan prompted.
"Ah, yes, that's right." The middle-aged officer grew a little nervous.
Isn't it going too far to call reporters just to promote this? It'll definitely stir up public sentiment.
"Mr. Guchuan, there actually was supposed to be a reporter coming. But there was a car accident on the way, and the reporter was taken to the hospital," the middle-aged officer explained.
"That's truly unfortunate."
"Yes, yes." The middle-aged officer nodded repeatedly.
At the Guchuan residence, the middle-aged officer felt as though he were sitting on pins and needles.
"Since the certificate has been delivered, Mr. Guchuan, I'll take my leave," the middle-aged officer said as he stood.
"Why not stay a little longer?" Guchuan said.
"No, no, that won't be necessary," the middle-aged officer refused.
I've been sitting here all this time and haven't even been offered a sip of water. If I don't leave soon, I might get thrown out.
As the middle-aged officer walked out the door, his mouth twitched at the sight of the Porsche 356A in the courtyard. The car had mysteriously vanished from the Police Station last night, yet it had appeared at Mr. Guchuan's house this morning.
So Mr. Guchuan happened to own an identical one too.
After seeing off that police officer who preferred to remain anonymous, Guchuan waved the certificate around in front of Shiho Miyano.
"Look, this is a commendation from the Metropolitan Police Department. It even has their official seal on it. I told you I'm a good person, but you wouldn't believe me."
Shiho Miyano could not help laughing.
He's already such a grown man. Why does he still like showing off like a child?
Still, he had received a commendation from the Metropolitan Police Department. This guy who looked so unreliable was actually a good person after all.
It was just that someone as dark as her did not deserve to embrace the sun.
"Why are you getting all depressed again?" Seeing Shiho Miyano sink back into gloom, Guchuan patted her shoulder.
"You're so young, yet you always have such a gloomy face. You look even more mature than I do."
Shiho Miyano felt a little helpless at Guchuan's words.
"Could it be that you're just too childish?"
"Oh, you dare talk back?" Guchuan feigned rage and reached over to tickle Shiho Miyano.
"What are you doing? That's so annoying!"
Shiho Miyano dodged left and right, but Guchuan still tickled her until she could not stop laughing.
Are you a child or something? You actually like tickling people. And we've only known each other for such a short time, yet you're already making jokes like this. Hmph! He really has no sense of boundaries.
"Kids should smile more."
"Hmph~ I'm not a kid." Exhausted, Shiho Miyano flopped onto the sofa and buried her face in it so Guchuan would not see her smile.
"All right, I bought you some clothes. See if you like them."
Guchuan placed his hands beneath Shiho Miyano's arms and lifted her up from the sofa.
"Ah~ Let go of me!"
Shiho Miyano wriggled energetically in Guchuan's hands like a fish.
"I've let go. Pick something you like and put it on."
Guchuan placed a large bag on the sofa, and Shiho Miyano picked it up with a blush.
Wearing pajamas that were so oversized was indeed uncomfortable. This man might be unreliable, but he had a kind heart.
Being around a kind person made Shiho Miyano feel under great pressure.
Shiho Miyano opened the bag. As she looked at the dazzling assortment of clothes inside, her expression grew darker and darker. By the time she reached the end, her eyes were practically spitting fire.
"These are the clothes you bought for me?" Shiho Miyano asked as she looked at the innocent-looking Guchuan.
"Yes. Which one do you like?" Guchuan asked.
These clothes cost me a fortune. They're expensive, yet you still look unhappy.
"Who gives White Stockings to a child?!" Shiho Miyano threw a pair of White Stockings into Guchuan's face.
That damn Loli-con. So when he brought me home last night, he really did have some ulterior motive. Now he's finally stopped pretending, hasn't he? Buying these clothes to satisfy your perverted tastes.
And I actually thought you were a good person.
"Don't lots of little girls in manga like wearing White Stockings?" Guchuan put on an innocent, clueless expression.
He had deliberately not bought black stockings because he was afraid Shiho Miyano would react too strongly.
"Can manga and reality be the same?" Shiho Miyano puffed up her cheeks in anger.
This awful man could so easily stir up her emotions.
"But there are plenty of normal clothes too." Guchuan pointed at the Maid outfit, Cat ear outfit, and Sailor uniform on the sofa.
"Those aren't normal at all!"
In the end, Shiho Miyano chose an outfit that looked relatively normal and changed into it. She hid all the other clothes in the wardrobe, afraid Guchuan might use them for something strange.
"Hmph~"
Before you continue