Akashi finally understood the full weight of what it meant to be 'lost in the depths of her embrace'.
Despite his childlike stature, the situation overwhelmed him entirely. He was pressed so tightly against her that even the faintest gasp of air seemed impossible.
His nose was buried, crushed against a plush softness that radiated warmth, and every attempted breath drew in nothing but the intoxicating, floral sweetness of her fragrance. The air around him was thick and heady, leaving him dizzy with each inhale.
Desperation crept in as his small hands flailed, seeking freedom. Yet, each frantic push only met softness that sucked his fingers, offering no grip—no escape.
When he tried to part his lips to cry out or gasp for air, the very sensation of his surroundings overwhelmed him, flooding his senses and silencing his voice.
Akashi's wide eyes brimmed with both panic and disbelief as memories of past predicaments surged forward like a relentless tide, crashing into him.
"This… this Pear God Fall skill is absurd!" he thought, his inner voice teetering on the edge of despair.
Finally, Eri, who had accidentally caused the mess, snapped out of her daze.
Her face flushed red with embarrassment as she quickly pulled his body from her, stood up from the floor and checked on him.
"Akashi! Akashi! Are you okay?" she asked, her tone laced with worry.
Akashi gasped, finally able to fill his lungs with much-needed oxygen. His flushed face relaxed as he let out a long, drawn-out sigh of relief, though his head was spinning.
Eri inspected him carefully and, seeing that he was unharmed, sighed in relief herself.
Almost instinctively, she pulled the little shota into her arms, cradling him gently.
However, the tender embrace made Akashi feel faint all over again, his mind racing from the proximity.
---
"I'm so sorry, Akashi! I didn't mean for that to happen," Eri apologized sincerely, quickly setting him down on her lap to make him more comfortable.
"I don't know what's been going on with me these days," she murmured with a troubled look. "I keep tripping over everything!"
Unbeknownst to her, the true culprit behind these "accidents" was the little succubus talent possessed by Akashi—a passive charm that unconsciously created chaos in his surroundings.
"Well, no more falling," Eri said with a kind smile. "Let's just sit down properly."
"I'll help you now," she added enthusiastically, beginning her task with a lighthearted tone.
As she worked, she glanced at the boy on her lap and teased:
"Akashi, why are you blushing? There's no need to be so shy!"
Her voice carried a playful warmth. "You're so adorable when your cheeks are this red!"
Akashi felt his mind spiral into a haze. The gentle, nurturing demeanor of Eri, exuding the grace of a Yamato Nadeshiko, left him completely entranced.
He was so overwhelmed that he couldn't even recall how he eventually left the bathroom.
All he knew was that it was a cherished memory—a moment he couldn't let go of, no matter how dizzy it had made him.
---
Later that night, clad in his pajamas, Akashi lay down to rest.
His thoughts wandered, replaying scenes from the day: Ran's bright smile, Eri's soothing presence, Vermouth's enigmatic allure, and Shiho's sharp intellect.
Yet, one image lingered more than the rest—Eri's face.
But his thoughts soon shifted to the reality of tomorrow.
He groaned inwardly at the thought of attending Teitan Elementary School.
'Spending the day with the three troublemakers? That's a fate worse than death!'
He sighed, a mix of annoyance and dread.
What troubled him even more was his lack of strength.
His new form, coupled with the racial charm of a succubus, made him dangerously vulnerable.
This unfairly potent allure made him irresistible to others, particularly girls, who were inexplicably drawn to him.
If he left the safety of the apartment—away from Eri and Ran's protection—he risked being abducted by someone foolish enough to take him away.
'I need a solution,' he thought resolutely.
He closed his eyes, hoping that the system he relied on would provide him with some much-needed power tomorrow.
Akashi was lost in thought when the bedroom door creaked open.
Eri entered, dressed in soft blue pajamas and holding a pillow and quilt in her arms.
Her entire demeanor radiated a gentle and serene aura.
"Akashi, why are you still awake so late?" she asked with a warm smile.
Akashi couldn't help but ask curiously, "Auntie Eri, what are you doing here?"
Eri chuckled softly, her expression teasing.
"Since Akashi is staying at my house, of course, Auntie has to protect you!"
Her tone shifted to playful as she added, "Tokyo nights can be scary. Children shouldn't sleep alone. Otherwise, the foggy dogs might come to the window and snatch little kids away to eat them."
She widened her eyes dramatically, attempting to spook Akashi.
The exaggerated expression was so endearing that Akashi couldn't help but roll his eyes.
"Auntie Eri, I'm not a toddler. Stories like that don't work on me," he replied dryly.
Eri covered her mouth and laughed, unbothered by his response.
"I know, I know," she said lightly. "Akashi isn't two or three years old anymore. You're practically a little man now!"
Her gaze lingered on him, a glint of mischief in her phoenix-like eyes.
Akashi felt a wave of embarrassment, as though his face had been run over by a wheel.
"This woman is unbelievable," he thought. "Even kids aren't spared from her teasing!"
"Alright, alright!" Eri said, her tone shifting again. "Akashi may be a little man, but Auntie gets scared and doesn't want to sleep alone. That's why I need Akashi to protect me. Can you protect Auntie?"
The words were spoken like one might coax a child, but her expectant gaze made Akashi nod reluctantly.
Eri's face lit up with a satisfied smile. She placed the pillows and spread out the quilt before turning off the lights.
Without hesitation, she stretched out her arms and pulled Akashi into a snug embrace.
Her entire being seemed to relax, and a contented sigh escaped her lips.
Earlier, in the master bedroom next door, Eri had found herself tossing and turning, unable to sleep.
Her mind kept wandering back to Akashi—was he sleeping well? Would he kick off the quilt? Could he roll out of bed?
The thoughts left her feeling restless and unsettled.
Unable to bear it, she decided to check on him.
But the moment she cradled him in her arms, all those worries melted away.
As for Akashi, the little succubus could only resign himself to the situation.
His attempts at resistance proved futile, leaving him no choice but to endure.
Yet, he couldn't ignore the unintended benefit: the passive absorption of yin energy.
『Ding! Yin energy absorbed, Yin energy +10!』
"Good night, Akashi," Eri whispered softly.
"Good night, Auntie Eri," Akashi murmured back.
The two gradually drifted into a deep sleep, though Akashi found himself struggling for air.
Nestled in Eri's arms, his sleep was restless. He shifted constantly, his small hands wandering unconsciously in his slumber.
Eventually, he rolled onto her stomach, finding a more comfortable position.
The system's prompts began to appear with increasing frequency.
『Ding! Yin energy absorbed, Yin energy +20!』
With an efficiency of 120 Yin energy points per hour, Akashi's energy flowed continuously into Eri, nourishing and strengthening her body as well.
The two, embraced in mutual benefit, experienced a subtle but profound transformation as their physical resilience improved silently and harmoniously.