An encounter with Twilight's family

Just as Twilight was pondering, Yor looked over.

The loose strands of hair framing her face were rimmed with a soft halo by the warm yellow light overhead, and her fingers unconsciously rubbed the folds of her skirt.

"Sir, you've been staring at me for a while now. Is there something you need?" Her voice was cool, but a barely perceptible wariness lingered at the end.

An assassin had to stay alert at all times.

Twilight's fingers stiffened slightly around his coffee cup. Despite deliberately watching her from the corner of his eye, she had caught him precisely.

His Adam's apple bobbed, and he lowered his eyes, feigning shyness. "Ah, no. I just thought you were very beautiful."

The invitation to the government dinner three days from now flashed through Yor's mind, her younger brother Yuri's words from last week still ringing in her ears.

What the man before her said delighted her, and she walked over. "Does that mean you find my appearance attractive?"

"Huh, um... yes." Twilight avoided her overly direct gaze.

Just as Yor was about to speak, the fitting room curtain swept open with a rustle. Anya rushed out. "Papa, Anya knows how tall she is now!"

She looked up at the unfamiliar woman before her, her eyes sparkling with curiosity, and asked, "Who's this?"

"Another customer."

Yor abruptly turned her head away. She stared at Anya's little hand clutching the hem of Twilight's clothes, her face flushing slightly.

I almost asked another woman's husband out. I hear that sort of thing can get you killed by his wife, but if it were me, I'd definitely kill her right back.

...No, if I keep thinking like that, my identity as an assassin will come out sooner or later. I need to be more ordinary.

Bzz, bzz, bzz-

Anya suddenly straightened her back, her gaze darting between Twilight and Yor.

Twilight: If I get the chance, I'd like her to play my wife, but someone with such sharp instincts is too dangerous. Better forget it.

Yor: If I get the chance, I'd like him to accompany me to the party as my date, but I must avoid meeting his wife.

Anya folded her arms across her chest and suddenly started spinning on the spot, her pink pigtails swinging into a blur. "Ahhh~~~ Anya's so lonely without a mama~~ I want a nice mama~"

Her sweet little voice echoed through the spacious clothing store, startling Twilight into crouching down to soothe her.

Yor's eyelashes fluttered violently. "Didn't your wife come with you?"

She watched as Twilight crouched to meet Anya's eyes. "My wife passed away two years ago. I'm raising her on my own now."

Just the right touch of hoarseness colored his low voice. At some point, the dusk beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows had seeped into the room, casting shifting shades of shadow across his profile.

Yor's heart skipped a beat, and her cheeks turned a light pink.

I won't get killed even if I ask him out!!

If Karen had known what she was thinking, he would have laughed himself to death.

Come on, who would be killing whom here?

Good grief, who could possibly kill you?

"Um..." Yor told Twilight that she wanted to invite him to pose as her boyfriend.

Karen emerged from the restroom at just the right moment, glancing at the two people talking and Anya at their feet.

Oh no, this little thing has Mind Reading!

Anya suddenly trembled violently. She clung tightly to Twilight's calf, even the tuft of hair on her head quivering.

Her secret had been discovered.

"What's wrong? Why are you suddenly so scared?" Twilight bent down and scooped Anya into his arms, her fingers gripping his tie tightly.

Karen took off his sunglasses, his eyes reflecting Anya curled up in Twilight's arms. "I must have startled her when I came out of the restroom just now. Sorry, little girl."

The curve of his lips carried a hint of danger. The toe of his leather shoe unconsciously scraped the floor, making a grating sound.

I know you have Mind Reading, but you don't need to be afraid of me. I'm just an unremarkable assassin who happens to rank second in the world.

The world's second-ranked assassin!!

Hearing Karen's thoughts nearly scared Anya out of her wits.

She was doomed. Now that she knew what the world's second-ranked assassin looked like, was Anya's life about to end?

Sorry, Papa. Anya can't keep playing with you all anymore.

"Anya? Anya? Sorry, Mr. Karen. My daughter doesn't seem to have recovered yet." Twilight gently patted Anya's back.

Karen put his hat back on, pulling the brim low. "It's getting late. I should go."

As he turned, the hem of his trench coat brushed Anya's toes.

Adorable little Miss Anya, who has Mind Reading, I hope you won't say anything you shouldn't. Otherwise, your brand-new family will be torn apart.

The neon lights along the street came on one after another. Karen stood outside a convenience store and tore the wrapper off a lollipop.

As the cloying strawberry flavor spread through his mouth, he gazed at the arcade's flashing sign and chuckled. "Of course, what I was thinking just now was a joke... Anya's the only one in that family who'd be easy to deal with."

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. But laying a hand on a kid... my conscience wouldn't let me."

He toyed with the metal coin in his pocket, its edge glinting coldly beneath the streetlight. "More importantly... that ability is useful. It makes pinpointing targets so easy. I could take her along as a human tracker someday."

Ring, ring, ring-

Karen stared at the unfamiliar number that had suddenly lit up his phone. His left hand had already closed around the steel pipe concealed at his waist.

He pressed the answer button. "Hello, this is Karen Nocturne. Who's calling?"

Were they planning to distract him with a phone call, then ambush him from behind?

"This is Henry Henderson. Mr. Karen, please come to the academy at ten tomorrow morning. We need to discuss how to divide up the duties for the exam."

"Understood." After hanging up, Karen bit the lollipop to pieces.

The streetlights stretched his shadow long, and the plaintive cries of a stray cat drifted over from the distance.

He rubbed the metal coin in his pocket, his lips curling into a cruel smile. "I remember there being a scumbag who actually took his own misfortune out on children. Let me deal with him."