Hayashi Shuichi had long known Eri harbored feelings for him, but he never imagined they ran this deep.
Guess love really does start in the cradle. One childhood rescue, and she'd carried it in her heart ever since.
He opened his mouth, expression tangled—only for Eri to blush furiously and swat his chest. "Jerk!"
His reaction was answer enough.
"Isn't a jerk exactly what you wanted?"
"…You just wanted me to make the first move!" Eri bit her plush lip, eyes shimmering with grievance.
"Young miss, I'm still cuffed," Hayashi Shuichi rattled the handcuffs helplessly. "Even if I wanted to take the lead, I can't."
"No way I'm unlocking you. What if you bolt?" Eri shot him a sidelong glance, then—face flaming—reached behind her back and unclasped her bra.
In an instant, the air in the room thickened, charged with a sultry haze that coiled around them like vines.
…
"Did you… prepare anything? What if I get pregnant…"
"Don't worry. I found some in Mom and Dad's room."
…
After a storm of passion, the room thrummed with a blush-inducing warmth.
Eri curled against Hayashi Shuichi's shoulder like a sated kitten, breath coming in soft pants. Her cheeks glowed rose, hair tousled across her shoulders, happiness radiating from every pore—body and soul utterly fulfilled.
"Can you uncuff me now?" Hayashi Shuichi grumbled. "The whole time, I felt like you were the one forcing me."
"Liar," Eri huffed, giving him a shy smack. "If you weren't into it, I could've tried all I wanted and gotten nowhere."
"Where'd you even get these cuffs?" Hayashi Shuichi shook his wrist curiously. "They feel… real."
"They are real," Eri explained. "Found them in Mom and Dad's room too. Probably from when they worked with the police."
"Anything else in there?" Hayashi Shuichi mused. "Like… a police uniform?"
"How'd you know?" Eri's eyes widened. "Mom's closet has a nurse outfit too. No idea where she got it. What's the point if you never use them?"
"Uh… your parents are wild."
Hayashi Shuichi's mouth twitched. Unlike the innocent girl, he instantly understood the purpose.
"Unlock these and put them back before your parents get home and murder me."
"Nonsense. They've always liked you," Eri murmured, nuzzling his chest, voice soft with lingering bashfulness. "Even if they found out, they wouldn't mind."
"That's not what I meant…" Hayashi Shuichi leaned in and whispered the true function of the cuffs and uniforms.
"W-WHAT?!"
Eri's face exploded crimson; her words stumbled over themselves in panic.
"T-That's how they're used?! I—I'm getting the key now!"
She scrambled into her nightgown and leapt off the bed—only to stagger, nearly face-planting.
"You okay?" Hayashi Shuichi called, concerned.
"Your fault!" Eri shot him a glare, wobbling out of the room.
Hayashi Shuichi figured she'd be quick. Instead, he waited… and waited… half an hour.
Finally, Eri reappeared in the doorway.
"Unlock me already—my wrists are killing me," he pleaded, rattling the cuffs.
Eri sidled to the bed, sheepish smile in place. "Sorry…"
Hayashi Shuichi's eyes bugged. "Don't tell me you lost the key."
"…Yeah," Eri nodded meekly. "Searched Mom and Dad's room forever. Nothing. Wait—you can pick locks, right? Can you do it yourself?"
"Young miss, both hands are tied. How?" he countered.
"Oh!" Eri's eyes lit up. "There's a locksmith ad by the building entrance. We could call them!"
"These are police cuffs. No locksmith would touch them," Hayashi Shuichi sighed, shaking his head.
"Saw the bedpost off?" Eri suggested. "We've got tools."
"That post is steel," he groaned. "You'd saw for a day and barely dent it."
"What now?" Eri fretted. "We have school tomorrow, and my parents are back in the morning. If they see you like this, I'll die."
"Calm down. If these are real police cuffs, same-model keys are universal," Hayashi Shuichi said, forcing calm. "Call Officer Megure. Have him bring a few types."
"Is that… okay?" Eri bit her lip, hesitant. "They'll know the second they see you…"
"Better them than your parents," Hayashi Shuichi muttered. "I'll eat the embarrassment. First—find me some clothes."
…
Officer Megure arrived near 3 a.m.
Eri let him in, and he immediately griped, "How does Lin-kun manage to cuff himself playing around?"
"H-He didn't mean to," Eri mumbled, face red, eyes darting away.
"Where is he?" Megure yawned, rubbing sleepy eyes. "I just fell asleep when you called. Unlock him, then I'm back to bed."
"That way…" Eri pointed to her bedroom, head bowed, fingers trembling.
Megure stepped in, took in the girly decor, then the mortified Hayashi Shuichi cuffed to the bed—and froze.
He'd assumed Hayashi Shuichi had been fiddling with cuffs at Eri's place and accidentally locked himself.
This? This was not that.
"Kids these days…" Megure clucked, realization dawning.
Hayashi Shuichi burned under the stare, wishing the floor would swallow him. Still, he thick-skinned it: "Quit gawking—get me out."
Megure tried his keys one by one. No dice.
He frowned, inspecting the model. "Trouble. This is an obsolete type. My keys won't work."
"Other officers?" Hayashi Shuichi pressed urgently.
"I'll call around," Megure scratched his head. "Old keys like this… maybe only Inspector Samezaki has one left."
After several calls on Eri's landline, Megure grinned in relief. "They phased these out years ago. Samezaki lost his ages back. Good thing Sato-senpai still has one at home. I'll swing by and grab it."
Megure dashed off. Hayashi Shuichi lay there, expression blank.
Eri sat beside him, kneading his cheeks. "What's wrong? Mad at me?"
He frowned, glum. "I was hoping Megure would keep it quiet. Now the whole First Division's gonna hear about this humiliation."
Eri's eyes flickered with guilt. She hung her head. "I'm embarrassed too… who knew the key was missing…"
Then—lightbulb. "Wait. I didn't find the cuffs in the bedroom. They were in the study…"
Hayashi Shuichi's lips curved. "Your lawyer parents—studying and 'exercising' with toys on standby. Impressive."
"Shut up!" Eri's face flamed; she smacked him, half-annoyed, half-flustered. "You were thinking the same thing buried in that car with the foreign woman!"
"Young miss, we're here now—why bring her up?" Hayashi Shuichi sighed. "Vina didn't get her chicken."
"Hmph. It was never hers." Eri stood. "I'll check the study. Key might be there."
This time, she was back in minutes—footsteps racing, face beaming. "Found it!"
She unlocked both cuffs, then carefully returned them to the study, tidying everything to hide any trace.
"If I'd known it was in the study, we wouldn't have bothered Megure," Hayashi Shuichi said, rubbing the red marks on his wrists. "I'll page him—tell him not to come. Save him the trip."
Problem solved, Hayashi Shuichi prepared to leave.
He stood—only for Eri to tug his sleeve, eyes shy but hopeful.
"It's so late. Reiko's definitely asleep. If you wake her…" Eri murmured, cheeks pink.
"So you're saying…"
"Mom and Dad aren't back till morning." She bit her lip, pulling him back to bed, voice barely a whisper. "Stay tonight. Leave early tomorrow."
…
Dawn barely broke, the city still veiled in mist.
Streets empty, the rare car rumbling past.
Hayashi Shuichi yawned, eyes bloodshot, dark circles stark, steps unsteady as he trudged home.
They'd said "rest" at Eri's. But two teenagers tasting forbidden fruit for the first time? Rest was the last thing on their minds. Round two ignited fast—and kept going till sunrise.
He'd plowed all night without a break. At first light, he bolted.
Did Reiko notice I was gone?
Heart pounding, he slipped his key into the lock.
Lights still on. Reiko was slumped over the living room table, fast asleep, small face etched with exhaustion and worry.
The silly girl… waited up all night?
Guilt crashed over him. He scooped her up gently.
"…Onii-chan?" Reiko mumbled, eyes fluttering open. "Why so late?"
"Got tied up at Eri's," Hayashi Shuichi explained, carrying her to bed.
At Eri's name, Reiko snapped awake.
She glanced at the wall clock, saw the hour—and her face darkened like a betrayed wife. "You slept at her place?"
Hayashi Shuichi raised his wrist, showing the cuff marks. "Got locked in handcuffs. Eri couldn't find the key. Ended up calling Officer Megure for help… but it was in the study all along."
He'd promised no lies—so he stuck to the truth. Selectively.
Reiko, burned before, wasn't buying it outright.
She wrinkled her nose, sniffing him thoroughly—then nodded, satisfied. "No Eri smell. You pass!"
Of course not. He'd showered before leaving, avoiding Eri's soap to mask any trace—just a quick rinse.
"Alright, it's early. Sleep more."
He tucked her in and turned to leave. Reiko's voice stopped him.
"Onii-chan… new shirt? Wasn't that what you wore last night?"
"The old one got ruined by scissors," he said calmly, pulse racing. "This is Eri's dad's."
Reiko found it odd—why would scissors ruin a shirt?—but exhaustion won. Her head hit the pillow, and she was out.
Hayashi Shuichi fixed her blanket, stepped out, and finally exhaled…
(End of Chapter)
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