"You must be Luo Shu, the student I spoke to on the phone earlier?"
On the road in front of the Hidden Management Department's headquarters, Luo Shu encountered Sayuri Sawamura, who had just stepped out of her car.
Sayuri Sawamura looked remarkably young, bearing a striking resemblance to Eriri—almost like an enlarged version of her—making it impossible to tell she was already the mother of a high school girl.
Dressed in a kimono, she stepped out of the car holding a small folding fan. After giving Luo Shu a once-over, she smiled faintly:
"That child must have caused you quite a bit of trouble."
"In a way, yes." Luo Shu didn't bother with polite formalities and nodded. "Though given Eriri's circumstances, it's probably just one of many troubles, isn't it?"
"My, it seems Luo Shu-kun gets along quite well with Eriri."
"Oh, by the way, when did you two first meet?~"
Seeing Sayuri's gossipy expression, Luo Shu's face twitched slightly:
"Shouldn't the priority right now be to go see Eriri first?"
Sayuri fanned herself lightly and chuckled:
"My, my, can't you indulge this auntie's curiosity just a little?"
'Your curiosity is a bit too heavy-handed... And why are you asking a guy you just met how he knows your daughter? Screening potential son-in-law material?'
Luo Shu mentally grumbled before replying:
"I met Eriri through a junior, Miss Sawamura."
"Hmm, they seem to share similar hobbies."
'Let's see how you respond to that,' Luo Shu thought with some amusement.
"Similar hobbies?" Sayuri's expression froze instantly.
As the mother who personally raised Eriri, how could she not know what her daughter's hobbies were?
In fact, 80% of the credit for Eriri's current... twisted disposition could be attributed to her.
A connoisseur of sadistic themes.
And a girl who could get along with Eriri while sharing her tastes...
Beads of sweat seemed to form on Sayuri's forehead:
"Which ones do you mean?"
Luo Shu blinked, transforming into the picture of an innocent, cheerful young man.
Sayuri suddenly felt as though she were walking a tightrope—on one side was Eriri's social suicide, on the other, her own:
"Well, roughly speaking... just general interests."
Seeing how direct Sayuri was being, Luo Shu decided not to play dumb and tentatively offered:
"Eri Kashiwagi?"
"Oh heavens!"
Sayuri couldn't help but cover her face with her fan, despairingly muttering:
Sighing, she nonetheless stole another glance at Luo Shu and asked:
"Forgive me for asking, but when we enter that building later... I won't see anything... inappropriate, will I?"
At this point, Sayuri's trust in the explanation that Eriri had merely accidentally consumed amazake was wearing thin.
What if, upon entering, she found Eriri covered in fluids, sitting there with heart-shaped eyes while flashing a peace sign?!
'There's a world of difference between fantasies and reality, you foolish daughter!'
At that moment, Luo Shu, who had understood the underlying meaning in Sayuri Sawamura's words, was somewhat dumbfounded.
Thinking of this, Luo Shu's expression turned slightly awkward as he said:
"That... Mrs Sawamura, the kind of thing you're talking about doesn't exist... After all, I wouldn't just lead you into a trap, right?"
Sayuri Sawamura covered her lips with her fan and muttered quietly:
"That's not necessarily true. Making a mother witness her daughter's corruption could be a form of torment, too..."
'Madam, could you tone it down? I can hear you...'
Although Sayuri was speaking very softly, such words were still far too stimulating for Luo Shu.
But at this point, he could only play dumb:
"Mrs Sawamura, this is just a gathering between friends."
The implication being that many people were involved.
Yet after Luo Shu finished speaking, he clearly saw Sayuri's face and even her ears turn bright red.
'If I may ask, what exactly were you imagining just now?'
Luo Shu suddenly felt that inviting Sayuri here was truly asking for trouble.
'This woman's mischievousness exceeded Eriri's by at least tenfold!'
'What kind of things are you saying in front of your daughter's classmate?'
Luo Shu looked at Sayuri with a mix of exasperation and amusement:
"Madam, surely you don't intend to have this conversation with me on the street?"
'Think of your poor daughter...'
Although the streets were empty at night with only the Sawamura family's driver nearby, if Eriri later found out we'd been discussing this in public, she'd probably jump off a building.
"You're quite right." Sayuri seemed to accept Luo Shu's suggestion, sighing as she said, "In any case, the child becoming like this is partly my responsibility too."
"...Don't say it as if it's already an established fact."
Luo Shu finally couldn't help but retort directly, only to see Sayuri's sly smile.
'I've been played...'
As this thought crossed Luo Shu's mind, he said helplessly:
"Madam, is this really fun?"
Sayuri smiled cheerfully while fanning herself:
"Luo Shu is so adorable. I wish you could become my child."
Her words were full of implications.
Though Luo Shu and Sayuri were unrelated, there was indeed one practical way for him to become her child in reality.
"That's quite an inappropriate joke for a first meeting."
Luo Shu sighed, realising he'd been sighing constantly since meeting Sayuri.
"A daughter meeting a boy late at night and getting drunk to the point of unconsciousness isn't exactly appropriate for a first meeting either."
Sayuri smiled meaningfully before suddenly brightening up:
"But Luo Shu is honest, promptly informing the parents about the situation."
"If it's a child like you, I can feel somewhat at ease leaving Eriri in your care."
Hearing this and imagining having to look after a troublesome child like Eriri, Luo Shu responded with an expressionless "Hmm":
"Sorry, I already have girlfriends. Two of them."
"Eriri hasn't been studying NTR series recently... unless she's moved on to harem series now?"
At this, Sayuri suddenly gave Luo Shu a strange look.
Her gaze suggested she didn't see him as some playboy dating multiple women, but rather as a pitiful, innocent victim trapped by women with questionable tastes.
Seeing this, Luo Shu found himself at a loss for words.
He simply raised his hands in surrender:
"Alright, I surrender."
"Please don't speak to me again until we see Eriri."
A mature older sister acting this flirtatiously was too much for Luo Shu to handle. He surrendered!
With that, he turned and headed upstairs, afraid Sayuri Sawamura might make another outrageous remark.
Sayuri Sawamura smiled faintly before following Luo Shu. The two arrived together at the third-floor lounge.
Upon seeing the figures sprawled on the sofas inside, Sayuri sniffed the air before finally remarking with evident disappointment:
"So they really just accidentally drank amazake?"
Luo Shu's mouth twitched at this, but he chose not to respond, instead walking towards Eriri.
"Do you need help carrying her downstairs?"
Sayuri chuckled at this: "No, let her sleep here."
"???"
Seeing Luo Shu's stunned expression, Sayuri grinned mischievously:
"If possible, could Luo Shu pretend I never came today?"
"Oh, and remember to delete the call records too?"
As she said this, Sayuri playfully winked at Luo Shu.
Hearing this, Luo Shu immediately understood what the woman was plotting.
'Miss Sayuri, are you really Eriri's biological mother?!'
"This doesn't seem appropriate, does it?" Luo Shu genuinely felt this was too cruel to Eriri.
In response, Sayuri gave him a suggestive look:
"My, my! Have you already learned to protect this child?"
Hearing this, Luo Shu raised a hand to cover his face:
"If you leave a girl to spend the night outside like this, I won't take responsibility if anything happens!"
"Please don't take responsibility," Sayuri delivered the killing blow with a beaming smile: "Though becoming a grandmother at this age might be a bit early, if it's Luo Shu and Eriri's child, it would surely be adorable, no?"
'Adorable? More like you've found a new toy...'
Luo Shu's face darkened instantly.
"Child?!!"
Nearby, Kisara gaped in shock:
"A child?! I absolutely won't allow it!!"
"Ara?"
Sayuri glanced at the overly emotional Kisara and immediately realised something. After a quick scan of the room, she sighed and looked helplessly at Eriri, muttering:
"Oh dear, the odds don't seem favourable here."
Meanwhile, noticing Kisara's extreme agitation, Luo Shu quickly reassured her:
"Alright, Kisara, Mrs Sawamura was just joking. No need to be so tense."
The bristling Kisara immediately pursed her lips meekly at Luo Shu's words, not daring to speak.
Sayuri seemed surprised by Kisara's obedience:
"Loyal dog type?"
Luo Shu had no rebuttal, while Kisara shyly covered her face, leaving Luo Shu exasperated.
'Hey, that wasn't a compliment! Well... in a way, it kind of was.'
"In short, as long as I cooperate with your scheme to tease Eriri, that's fine, right?"
At this point, Luo Shu already regretted contacting Sayuri.
He'd only notified the family because letting a girl stay out overnight without explanation seemed improper.
Yet he'd ended up summoning this great white shark.
'This was really...'
"My, my, Luo Shu does care about Eriri quite a bit..."
Sayuri smiled warmly at Luo Shu before continuing:
"In that case, could you do me a small favour and help carry this child to the car?"
As she said this, Sayuri Sawamura added:
"Physical contact restrictions are largely lifted."
Before Luo Shu could respond, Kisara swiftly picked up Eriri.
Seeing this, Sayuri was momentarily stunned before letting out an amused chuckle:
"Well then, since this adorable young lady is willing to help, I'll leave it to you."
With that, Sayuri turned around, glancing sideways at them as she said:
"Auntie is very happy that Eriri has friends like you."
Having spoken, Sayuri turned and left the room.
Kisara immediately followed, carrying Eriri, leaving Luo Shu alone in the room with a helpless expression:
"This is... a complete defeat!"