Ai held Akashi's small hand as they walked down the stairs.
The first floor of the Cat's Eye Café appeared ordinary—a cozy café where customers sipped their coffee in peace.
But as they descended into the basement, the atmosphere changed completely.
The warm ambiance gave way to a cold, industrial steel design.
Scattered steel frames filled the area, and in the center, a ring stood starkly.
This was the underground base of Cat's Eye Café.
As they descended, Ai's chatter remained relentless:
"So, Akashi-kun, you're an orphan?"
"Why are you helping Bacardi? Are you one of those child assassins trained by him? A loyal pawn?"
"How despicable! Even a child isn't spared!"
Her vivid imagination worked overtime, crafting an elaborate backstory for Akashi.
Akashi could only roll his eyes in silence, exasperation evident.
Step by step, they descended, and luckily, no mishap occurred.
He breathed a quiet sigh of relief—navigating stairs in his current small frame was precarious enough.
---
When they reached a secure section, Ai pressed several buttons on the wall.
With a metallic hiss, an iron wall shifted, and the steel plates slid apart, revealing a hidden armory.
Racks of weapons emerged, glinting under the fluorescent lights.
Seeing the arsenal, Akashi's eyes lit up with joy.
The sight of firearms filled him with relief; nothing calmed his nerves like the feeling of being armed.
"Two Glock pistols, a pair of Berettas," he began, ticking off items.
"And a few pocket pistols. I'll need extras of those."
While listing his preferences, he knew his current small body couldn't handle the heft of larger firearms. Pocket pistols were essential.
Hearing this, Ai frowned slightly, her curiosity piqued.
"How does a kid like you know so much about pistols?" she asked, her tone sharp.
"Are you sure you weren't raised by that guy from a young age?"
Her expression turned serious, but her words took an unexpected turn.
"Listen, there's no future in being an assassin like a scumbag like him!"
"How about joining us instead? I'll teach you how to steal!"
Before Akashi could respond, Ai reached out and pinched his cheek playfully.
Her audacity left him speechless.
'Switching from assassin to thief? Is that any better?'
'This girl really has some twisted ideas!'
He shot her a sharp glare, but to Ai, his reaction only made him more adorable.
"Oh my gosh, you're so cute!" she exclaimed.
Taking advantage of the moment, she leaned in and planted a kiss on his cheek.
A jolt of embarrassment and anger surged through Akashi.
His eyes widened in disbelief as he glared at her.
'Damn it! I'm your brother-in-law!'
---
Not wanting to endure more of Ai's antics, Akashi quickly decided to hypnotize her into compliance.
He focused, attempting to put her under his influence.
But Ai simply blinked, unfazed.
No change, no reaction.
It hit him immediately—her willpower was too strong for his hypnosis to work.
He couldn't help but feel incredulous.
'This mischievous girl has such a strong mind? That's just unfair!'
Realizing hypnosis was useless, Akashi sighed inwardly and shifted tactics.
He put on his best innocent act.
"Big Sister Ai, can you hurry up and load the weapons for me?" he said, his voice full of childlike urgency.
"I came straight here after school ended. I have to get home for dinner soon!"
Ai's eyes widened in surprise.
"Wait, aren't you an orphan?"
"I got adopted!" he replied smoothly.
Hearing this, Ai's expression softened into one of pity.
Her imagination ran wild again.
She never expected such a beautiful little boy to have faced such hardship.
Despite her emotions, she didn't forget his request.
She carefully selected several pistols, ensuring the safety mechanisms were engaged.
Then, with great care, she tucked them into Akashi's schoolbag.
"Be careful not to let these go off accidentally!" she warned, her voice a mix of concern and sternness.
Satisfied, she led him out of the armory and back upstairs, her playful demeanor replaced with a hint of responsibility.
---
Akashi's schoolbag was small, unable to hold much.
It carried only a few pistols and some boxes of ammunition.
With his weapons secured, Akashi felt satisfied—his mission for the day was accomplished.
He turned toward the exit, ready to leave, but his gaze lingered on the Cat's Eye Café.
The café was a classic scene, rich with intrigue and significance.
'I still have a third opportunity to check in,' he thought.
Without further hesitation, he activated the system.
Check in!
A soft click echoed as the interface captured an image of the café.
In the system's display, the scene shimmered with a purple-gold radiance.
The light transformed into a glowing treasure chest, which opened to release streams of luminous energy that merged into Akashi's body.
---
『Ding! Congratulations, host! The level of Pear God Fall has been upgraded to lv3!』
As Akashi pushed the door open, the system notification rang in his mind, though he barely registered it.
At that moment, a sudden gust of fragrant wind brushed past.
Before he could react, a hurried figure collided into him.
The impact knocked both of them to the ground.
Pinned beneath the stranger, Akashi's mind went blank, overwhelmed by the unexpected turn of events.
Instinctively, he pushed with his small hands.
But thanks to the lingering effects of the mysterious spinach, his strength was extraordinary.
With a sharp motion, Akashi pushed the woman upward, her weight seemingly no match for him.
The sight was surreal—a seven- or eight-year-old boy lifting a grown woman off himself with ease.
Her long black hair cascaded down like a waterfall, and for a moment, Akashi found himself staring at her face.
It was delicate and beautiful, with features as if painted: a heart-shaped face, willow-like eyebrows, and eyes full of gentle charm.
Recognition struck him instantly.
It was Hitomi.
Suspended in the air, Hitomi's expression froze in astonishment.
Her body defied gravity for a moment before she turned red, rolling to the side to regain her balance.
Her gaze darted to Akashi briefly, filled with disbelief and confusion, before she scrambled to her feet.
Without a word, she rushed upstairs, her destination clear—she was headed to find her eldest sister and demand answers about Bacardi.
What she didn't realize, however, was that the man she sought was right in front of her all along.
---
Akashi, still sprawled on the ground, blinked in surprise before shaking his head with a chuckle.
Ai hurried to his side, helping him to his feet.
"It's just like Second Sister to crash into someone and run off without even apologizing!" she huffed.
"Akashi-kun, are you okay?"
Akashi waved her off casually.
"It's fine, no problem at all!" he said, brushing himself off.
Given his physique, it would take much more than a bump like that to faze him.
Not wanting to linger, Akashi grabbed his schoolbag full of weapons and headed for the door.
Outside, he flagged down a taxi, waving goodbye to Ai as the vehicle pulled away from the Cat's Eye Café.
The car sped off, carrying him toward Eri's house.
---
Meanwhile, back at the café, Hitomi stormed down the stairs in a flurry of frustration.
She had just learned from their housekeeper, Uncle Saeba, that her eldest sister had abruptly canceled an operation she had been planning.
Worried and confused, Hitomi had rushed back to the café to find answers.
But despite her efforts, she'd missed Akashi.
As the realization sank in, disappointment flickered across her face. And she didn't expect that the child she bumped into was the one she was looking for.
However, something about the encounter nagged at her.
That child…
Though he appeared young and innocent, there was something about him—an aura, a presence—that inexplicably reminded her of Bacardi.
The thought unsettled her, leaving her standing in silent contemplation.