Her eyes were filled with helplessness and dependence, as if Kanjuro was the only piece of driftwood she could grasp in this emotional wreckage. She feared losing even this "accomplice" and "understander" after being abandoned by Shinichi.
Kanjuro watched the girl in his arms completely break down her defenses and rely entirely on him, knowing the time was right. He didn't answer directly; he simply tightened his arms, pulling her deeper into his embrace, using action instead of words.
This embrace was both an affirmation and a deeper confinement.
(Truly... a perfect reaction.)
(Guilt, dependence, and the fear of being abandoned by the only 'kindred spirit'...)
(Shinichi Kudo, you deserved this loss.)
(From now on, your angel will be 'cared for' by me.)
Kanjuro's chin rested lightly on the top of Ran's head. At an angle she couldn't see, the corner of his mouth curled into a cold, satisfied arc. The scenery outside the car window rapidly receded, carrying the completely fallen girl toward a dark future from which there was no return.
The storm had arrived. And the girls at the center of the vortex were being dragged step by step into deeper degradation by the darkness named Kanjuro.
Inside the car, Ran's crying gradually subsided, leaving only faint sobs. She leaned against Kanjuro's chest, as if she had found a temporary haven, even though the haven itself might be the source of the storm.
Kanjuro lowered his head and could clearly see her tear-dampened eyelashes trembling fragilely like butterfly wings. He stretched out a finger and very gently wiped away the traces of tears on her cheek, his movement possessing an almost devout tenderness.
Ran lifted her misty, tear-filled eyes and looked into his deep gaze. At this moment, there was none of his usual indifference or calculation, but rather a warmth and pity she had never seen before—enough to make one drown. It was as if she were the most precious treasure in the world.
He didn't speak, just slowly and tentatively lowered his head.
Sunlight streamed through the car window, casting soft light and shadow on his defined profile. His closeness carried an irresistible magnetic field, causing Ran to forget to breathe, forget to think, and even forget the heartbreaking breakup that had just occurred.
His lips finally landed softly on her forehead.
It was like a feather brushing the surface of water, carrying soothing warmth and an almost sacred reverence.
Like a silent vow, and like the understanding and acceptance of all her pain.
This kiss, brief and restrained, shook Ran's currently ravaged heart more than any fervent demanding could.
She closed her eyes, tiny teardrops still clinging to her long eyelashes, glistening in the sunlight.
A strange warm current, mixed with sorrow and comfort, spread from the kissed forehead, flowing through her limbs. Her tense body finally relaxed completely, softly nestled against him.
In the front, Sonoko, who saw this scene through the rearview mirror, finally raised a genuine, relieved smile.
She murmured softly to herself, her voice carrying undisguised cheerfulness:
"That's great... Ran can finally get rid of that terrible great detective who always makes her wait and cry."
In her opinion, Shinichi Kudo only brought Ran uncertain waiting and repeated disappointment, while Daddy Kanjuro could provide genuine "warmth" and "protection."
Although this "warmth" was backed by bottomless darkness, Sonoko had long chosen to selectively ignore it.
She skillfully brought the car to a smooth stop at an intersection before a red light.
Taking advantage of this brief pause, Sonoko unbuckled her seatbelt, turned lightly, leaned over from the driver's seat, extended her arms, and gently wrapped them around Kanjuro's neck from behind, affectionately pressing her cheek against the back of his neck.
She didn't speak, just held him quietly, as if sharing the joy of this "victory," and also declaring her unshakeable belonging.
Kanjuro didn't move, allowing Sonoko to hug him. One of his hands still gently rested on Ran's shoulder, while the other covered Sonoko's encircling hands.
Inside the car, sunlight flowed serenely.
A man, holding the girl who had just broken with her past because of him and whose tear stains were still wet, with the accomplice behind him who was completely dependent on him, like a vine.
The light and shadows outlined the contours of the three figures nestled together, and the scene actually presented a strange and twisted harmony and tranquility. It was as if all the sins, all the schemes, and all the pain were temporarily isolated outside this warm carriage.
Kanjuro slightly closed his eyes, feeling the gradually steady breathing of the girl in his arms and the woman's unreserved dependence behind him.
(Is this... the feeling of being needed?)
(No, this is just the satisfaction that comes from controlling everything.)
(But... enjoying a moment like this occasionally isn't bad.)
A subtle curve played on his lips. During this brief stop, he seemed truly immersed in the "bubble of happiness" that he had personally woven, built upon the suffering of others.
The green light turned on. Sonoko returned to the driver's seat, fastened her seatbelt, and the car smoothly merged back into traffic.
However, that momentary, twisted tranquility inside the car was deeply etched into Ran's dazed consciousness like a brand, becoming yet another indelible milestone on her path of descent.
As the lights of Tokyo began to turn on, Kanjuro parked the car downstairs from Eri Kisaki's law office. He thoughtfully opened the door for Ran, his hand naturally resting lightly on her waist. Ran's face still bore traces of un-dried tears, but more than that, there was a dependence as if she had found her destination. She leaned slightly against Kanjuro; the intimate atmosphere between the two was almost palpable.
When Eri Kisaki opened the door and saw her daughter standing so intimately with a handsome stranger, and when Ran's eyes flickered, avoiding her gaze with a complex mix of shyness, guilt, yet unusual determination, the shrewd and capable female lawyer instantly understood something.
Her gaze met Kanjuro's in the air. Kanjuro did not flinch; instead, he met her gaze, the corner of his mouth curling into a gentle smile that carried an undeniable possessiveness, as if silently declaring: Your daughter now belongs to me.
A fleeting ripple crossed Eri Kisaki's eyes: surprise, worry, and perhaps a sigh of understanding. She knew her daughter; Ran's posture meant she had made an important, possibly irreversible choice in her heart. As a mother, she keenly sensed the unfathomable aura around Kanjuro—he was far from as simple as he appeared. But she also knew that any direct questioning or opposition now might push her daughter toward him faster.
Therefore, Eri Kisaki suppressed all her emotions, and her habitual, elegant yet slightly distant gentle smile appeared on her face. She didn't question or probe; she simply stepped aside, like an ordinary mother welcoming her daughter and her "first love": "You and Kanjuro are back?"
"Mom, Older Brother Ye Xiao is back!" Ran quickly introduced him, her voice carrying a trace of unnoticeable nervousness.
"Mom, we haven't seen each other for a long time. Are you still willing to accept me?" Kanjuro greeted her politely, his demeanor impeccable.
Eri Kisaki nodded, her gaze lingering between the two for a moment, then she suggested in a relaxed tone: "It looks like you haven't had dinner yet? I've just finished work, too. How about... the three of us go out to eat? I know a nice new restaurant nearby."
This suggestion was unexpected for Ran. She had prepared for her mother's interrogation, but instead received such gentle acceptance. She looked at Kanjuro in surprise, her eyes full of anticipation.
Kanjuro naturally complied, nodding with a smile: "The honor is mine, my dear mother."
Ran was instantly overjoyed, as if she had received the world's blessing. She hooked one arm through Kanjuro's and affectionately held her mother with the other, a supremely happy and radiant smile blossoming on her face. She chirped: "That's wonderful! This way, our family can eat together! Older Brother, Mom! And me!"
She naturally used the terms "family" and "Older Brother," completely immersed in the picture of "happiness" she had woven, dominated by Kanjuro, utterly unaware of the turbulent undercurrents beneath.
Eri Kisaki looked at her daughter being so happy, her expression complex, but in the end, she just gently patted her hand.
The restaurant environment was elegant and quiet, with soft lighting. The three sat by the window, and the atmosphere seemed harmonious. Ran enthusiastically ordered dishes, occasionally chatting and laughing with Kanjuro and her mother, trying to create a warm family atmosphere. Kanjuro responded calmly, chatting with Eri Kisaki about trivial topics, displaying impeccable manners. Eri Kisaki maintained a polite smile, secretly observing Kanjuro's every subtle expression and movement.
However, the tranquility of this "family dinner" was quickly broken.
The restaurant door was violently pushed open, and a figure rushed in with hurried gasps and uncontrollable rage, instantly drawing everyone's attention.
It was Shinichi Kudo!
His face was exceptionally pale, his forehead covered in cold sweat, yet his eyes were sharp as knives, fixed intently on Kanjuro and Ran. Clearly, he had used the brief window of his transformation to track them down recklessly. The burden of forcefully recovering his body by drinking Baijiu caused him to tremble slightly, but the willpower ignited by betrayal and fury supported him.
He walked step by step toward their dining table, his gaze sweeping over Ran, who was sitting close to Kanjuro with a lingering smile on her face, before finally settling on Kanjuro's calm, unperturbed expression.
"Ran!" His voice was hoarse from agitation and physical discomfort. "Tell me... what you said on the phone, it wasn't true! He forced you, right?!"
Ran was startled by Shinichi Kudo's sudden appearance, and the color instantly drained from her face. Subconsciously, she leaned closer to Kanjuro, a subtle movement that acted like a sharp knife, piercing Shinichi Kudo's heart once more.
"Shinichi... you... how could you..." Ran was incoherent, shocked by his appearance and scorched by the profound pain in his eyes.
Kanjuro slowly put down his wine glass, raised his eyes, and met Shinichi Kudo's nearly blazing gaze. His expression remained tranquil, even carrying a faint, almost pitying mockery.
Eri Kisaki watched the sudden confrontation calmly, not speaking immediately. She wanted to see how her daughter would handle it.
"Kudo," Kanjuro began, his voice chillingly steady, "Ran has made her choice. Please respect her, and stop interrupting our 'family' dinner."
"Family?!" Shinichi Kudo sounded as if he had heard the most ridiculous joke. He looked sharply at Ran, his voice trembling with despair. "Ran! Look at him! Do you know him? Do you know who he really is?! We are the ones who are—"
"Shinichi Kudo!" Ran abruptly cut him off and stood up. Although her face was pale, her eyes held a desperate determination. "I've already made myself clear! We are finished! I am with Older Brother Ye Xiao now, and with Mom. We are the family! Please leave!"
Her words echoed through the elegant restaurant like a final judgment.
Shinichi Kudo stumbled back a step, looking at the Ran before him who felt so utterly unfamiliar, looking at Kanjuro sitting there, controlling everything like a victor, and looking at the silent Eri Kisaki... A massive wave of despair and helplessness, like ice water, completely engulfed him.
The intense physical pain and the emotional trauma exploded simultaneously. He felt his vision blur as the side effects of the transformation rushed over him like a tide.
Shinichi Kudo's body shook violently from the pain and anger. Listening to Ran's ice-cold words and seeing her protectively shield Kanjuro without hesitation, the last thread of rationality in his eyes snapped completely.
"Bastard—!!!"
A hoarse roar erupted from deep within his throat, carrying despair and unwillingness bordering on collapse. He forcefully fought against the immense pain of his body about to disintegrate, struggling up from the floor like a wounded beast, clenching his fist, and swinging with all his might towards Kanjuro's detestably calm face!
The punch carried all his rage, confusion, and heartbreak; it was incredibly fast and astonishingly powerful!
Kanjuro could have easily dodged, or even countered. With his abilities, Shinichi Kudo was no match even in perfect condition.
But he didn't.
In a thousandth of a second, his eyes met Eri Kisaki's across the table. Eri Kisaki's pupils constricted slightly. She knew Kanjuro's strength too well; the figure like a Demon God in the Old School Building Basement eighteen years ago was still an indelible nightmare and a secret brand deep in her heart. She instantly understood Kanjuro's intention—the Scheme of Self-Injury.
In a flash of lightning, not only did Kanjuro not block or evade, but he subtly adjusted his angle, allowing Shinichi Kudo's fist to land squarely on his cheekbone!
"Bang!"
A muffled thud.
Kanjuro staggered backward, a clear red mark immediately appearing on his face. He let out a timely, suppressed groan, his brows tightly furrowed, his face instantly covered with expressions of "pain" and "endurance," like a genuine, helpless victim.
"Older Brother Ye Xiao!" Ran screamed in horror, her heart nearly leaping out of her chest. Without thinking, purely out of instinct, she spread her arms and shielded Kanjuro even more firmly, like a hen protecting her chick, turning her back to the crazed Shinichi Kudo.
"Shinichi Kudo! What are you doing?!" Ran's voice became sharp with extreme anger and fear. She glared at the boy who was once so familiar but now felt utterly strange. "How dare you hit someone?! Our relationship is over! I was the one who didn't want you! It has nothing to do with Older Brother Ye Xiao!"
Her words were like a barrage, every syllable a knife fiercely gouging Shinichi Kudo's heart.
"Did you hear me?! I chose to be with him! I think he's better than you! He knows how to take care of me better than you! He's more of a man than you!"
Ran shouted excitedly, tears welling up again, but this time, it was out of distress for Kanjuro's "injury" and anger at Shinichi Kudo's "violence." Kanjuro's "lack of resistance" and "injury," in her eyes, further confirmed his "kindness" and "patience," while Shinichi Kudo's impulse solidified his "terrible" and "unreasonable" nature.
Shinichi Kudo remained frozen in his punching posture, his fist still hanging in mid-air. He looked at Ran's eyes, filled with protectiveness, accusation, and even... a hint of disgust, and listened to the incredibly hurtful words pouring from her mouth. All his strength seemed to be instantly drained.
The physical agony surged again, fiercer than before. He could feel his bones contracting and his muscles tearing. The time limit for the transformation had arrived, and due to the strenuous movement and emotional agitation, the backlash was especially severe.
"R... Ran..." He managed to utter two words with difficulty. His vision began to spin, and his body uncontrollably slumped downward.
This time, he truly had no strength left to stand.
In the second before he completely lost consciousness, the last thing he saw was Ran turning around without hesitation, anxiously checking the injury on Kanjuro's face, and Kanjuro... in an unnoticed angle, aimed toward where he was falling, a fleeting, cold, and cruel curve playing on the corner of his mouth.
That look seemed to say: See? You tried your hardest, yet you couldn't harm me in the slightest. And she chose me.
"Shinichi!" Eri Kisaki ultimately couldn't stand by completely. She quickly stepped forward and supported Shinichi Kudo, who was about to collapse onto the floor. She gave a complicated look to Kanjuro, who was being "delicately" fussed over by Ran, and her heart felt icy cold.
She knew Kanjuro had won. Completely.
Ran, Eri Kisaki, and Kanjuro's Trio Trip
After the commotion tonight, Ran's heart was thoroughly pushed toward Kanjuro. The more Shinichi Kudo struggled in pain, the more it highlighted Kanjuro's "innocence" and "victimhood."
This dinner, this conflict, was entirely within Kanjuro's calculations from start to finish.
The restaurant erupted in an uproar, and other guests turned their heads. Waiters rushed over nervously.
Meanwhile, under Ran's anxious inquiries and gentle touches, Kanjuro slowly straightened up, his face still bearing the expression of "suppressing pain." He gently held Ran's hand and whispered, "I'm fine, don't worry... It's just that Kudo seems not so well."
He played the role of "victim" and "concerned party" to the fullest.
Ran looked at the unconscious Shinichi Kudo, who was being supported by her mother. A complex emotion flickered in her eyes, but it was quickly replaced by distress for Kanjuro.
"Let's go, Mom. This place..." Ran looked at Eri Kisaki, her voice carrying a hint of plea.
Eri Kisaki looked at the unconscious boy in her arms, then at her daughter nestled beside Kanjuro, and sighed deeply and helplessly.
"Let's go."
She knew that this night had changed many things. Some beautiful memories, perhaps, could truly never be recovered. And the tentacles of darkness had firmly grasped the person most important to her life.
The chaos in the restaurant gradually subsided. Waiters and the manager handled the aftermath. Kanjuro, carefully supported by Ran, left the restaurant with Eri Kisaki, abandoning the mess and the unconscious Shinichi Kudo behind them. Ran didn't even spare a glance back; her entire attention was focused on Kanjuro's "injured" face, her heart filled with heartache and deeper disappointment toward Shinichi Kudo.
After an unknown amount of time, Shinichi Kudo (or rather, Conan Edogawa) slowly woke up on a sofa in the restaurant Restroom. The intense physical pain had subsided, replaced by the familiar weakness of a child, and... the indescribable emptiness and agony deep in his soul.
He struggled to sit up, greeted by the concerned yet slightly awkward face of the restaurant manager. He shook his still-dizzy head as memories rushed back like a tide—Ran's resolute words, Kanjuro's feigned "pain," and finally, Kanjuro's cold glance as he left, seemingly seeing through everything, tinged with pity and mockery.
He leaped off the sofa and staggered to the restaurant entrance, just in time to see Kanjuro's car, carrying Ran and Eri Kisaki, merge into the night traffic of Tokyo and disappear.
At that moment, overwhelming helplessness and monstrous hatred nearly consumed him. He clenched his fists tightly, his nails digging deep into his palms, his small body trembling violently from extreme rage and unwillingness.
(Kanjuro... Ran... Lawyer Eri Kisaki...)
(Just you wait!)
He walked dejectedly down the night streets, his small figure casting a long, lonely shadow under the neon lights. After walking for an unknown duration, he finally returned to Dr. Agasa's familiar house.
"Shinichi? What's wrong?!" Dr. Agasa was startled to see Conan's despondent and pale appearance, and quickly pulled him into the house.
Conan (Shinichi Kudo) slumped on the sofa, burying his face deep in his palms, his shoulders trembling slightly. He wasn't crying, but the exhaustion and despair emanating from the depths of his soul made Dr. Agasa's heart race with fear.
Under the doctor's anxious questioning, Conan, his voice hoarse and broken, recounted everything that happened tonight, including how Ran had resolutely broken up with him, how she defended Kanjuro, and Kanjuro's obvious act of self-harm to gain sympathy.
"...That bastard! He definitely did it on purpose! He was clearly acting! Ran... how could she not see through it?!" Conan's voice carried irrepressible anger and pain.
After listening, Dr. Agasa's expression also became incredibly solemn. He sighed, his chubby face full of worry: "Shinichi... I understand how you feel right now. But... you must calm down."
He pressed down on Conan's slightly trembling shoulders, his tone serious: "In your current state, you can't do anything! Don't forget, you are Conan Edogawa now! Your body is limiting you!"
"But Doctor! Am I supposed to just watch Ran be deceived and controlled by that guy of unknown origin?!" Conan suddenly looked up, his eyes bloodshot.
"Of course not!" Dr. Agasa said decisively, "But if you act impulsively now, not only will you fail to save Ran, but you might also alert the enemy or even expose your own identity! That would lead to true, irreversible ruin!"
He took a deep breath and said in a low voice: "Right now, the most urgent thing is not to settle scores with Kanjuro, but to find the people from the Black Organization who turned you into this! Only by getting the antidote and fully restoring yourself to Shinichi Kudo will you have the power to protect Ran and expose Kanjuro's true face!"
The doctor's words were like a bucket of cold water poured over Conan's anger-scorched reason. He slumped back onto the sofa. Yes... he was just a powerless elementary student now. If he couldn't even protect himself, how could he fight against the unfathomable Kanjuro? How could he pull Ran back from that twisted "happiness"?
A sense of powerlessness, like cold vines, wrapped around his heart, tightening further.
He looked at his small palms, a surge of unprecedented humiliation and anger churning in his chest.
(Black Organization... APTX-4869...)
(Only by finding them and getting the antidote... can I...)
He closed his eyes, forcibly pushing that heart-wrenching pain and his bone-deep hatred for Kanjuro to the deepest part of his heart. Now was not the time.
He had to endure.
Endure this humiliation, endure this heartache, and endure the agony of watching his beloved fall into another's arms.
"I understand... Doctor." When he opened his eyes again, Conan's gaze had returned to its usual calm, but beneath that calm lay bottomless ice and determination. "I will be patient. I will continue to investigate the Black Organization."
His voice was low and firm, carrying a maturity and weight that was completely inconsistent with his apparent age.
"But before that..." He looked out at the pitch-black night sky, his gaze seemingly piercing through the darkness to lock onto the man who had taken everything from him. "Kanjuro... just you wait. One day, I will personally tear off all your disguises! I'll make you pay the price for everything you've done!"
At this moment, the once high-spirited Great Detective was forced into dormancy, turning all his anger and pain into an obsession for revenge. The road ahead was full of thorns, and he could only carry this heavy cross, walking alone in the darkness, waiting for the day he could reclaim everything. And the shadow of Kanjuro had already become another target he had to destroy, second only to the Black Organization.
The night was deep, and moonlight, like liquid silver, flowed quietly across the bedroom floor through the gaps in the curtains. Ran lay on her side on one side of the bed, her breathing steady and deep, her long eyelashes casting soft shadows under her eyelids. It was clear that the emotional fluctuations and choices of the day had exhausted all her energy, and she had fallen into a dreamless sleep.
Kanjuro reclined on the other side, his arm lazily wrapped around Eri Kisaki's shoulder. She leaned into his embrace, her well-maintained face appearing exceptionally soft and beautiful in the moonlight, though her brow was slightly furrowed, carrying a trace of imperceptible worry.
"It seems," Kanjuro's voice was very low, like the night wind brushing against harp strings, carrying a satisfied magnetism, "our daughter has finally walked out of that young boy's unrealistic dream." His fingertips unconsciously twirled a stray lock of Eri Kisaki's hair.
Eri Kisaki looked up at him with a complex gaze, not taking the bait, but instead asking in a low, confirming tone: "The matter with the Suzuki Family... was that your doing as well?" She asked subtly, but they both understood the unspoken implication.
The corner of Kanjuro's mouth curled into an almost imperceptible arc. He neither admitted nor denied it, merely asking back in a matter-of-fact, flat tone: "Don't you know me by now?" His expression was as if he were discussing the weather rather than a horrifying tragedy.
Eri Kisaki fell silent for a moment, then, as if giving something up, she let out a soft sigh.
"Forget it... anyway, my body and heart have long been yours. As long as..." She paused, her voice even softer, but with a hint of pleading, "As long as you ensure Ran's safety."
"Of course," Kanjuro lowered his head, his nose almost touching her forehead hair, his voice carrying a near-doting yet bone-chilling promise, "Ran is my precious daughter; how could I let her be harmed?" He placed special emphasis on the word "my."
As he spoke, he applied slight pressure with his arm, pulling Eri Kisaki toward the middle of the bed, toward where Ran was fast asleep, with an irresistible tenderness.
Eri Kisaki's body tensed instantly. She instinctively pressed her hand against his chest, stopping him with an urgent whisper: "Don't... this isn't good... Ran is still..."
"Shh—" Kanjuro's gaze moved past her, falling on Ran's peaceful sleeping face, his eyes deep. "She's sleeping very soundly; she's exhausted. And..." His voice was low and full of control, with a fateful certainty, "Sooner or later, she'll have to know the true relationship between us. It's better she gets used to it early."
His words were like an invisible net.
She looked at her daughter's defenseless sleeping face so close at hand, then felt the undeniable presence of the man behind her. Finally, she slowly relaxed her body, allowing herself to sink into this dangerous and warm confinement.
.. 0 Request for Flowers 0 --- The moonlight remained tranquil, as if silently witnessing the deepening of a dark secret and a road of no return continuing to stretch out in the night.
The next morning, the sun was bright, as if the conflicts and undercurrents of last night were just an unreal dream.
When Ran woke up, she was the only one in the bedroom. She rubbed her slightly sore eyes. Yesterday's exhaustion hadn't completely dissipated, but her spirit felt strangely... relieved? It was as if a heavy burden had been lifted, even though that burden was the relationship she once cherished as a treasure.
She walked out of the room. Her mother, Eri Kisaki, had already prepared breakfast, acting as elegant and composed as ever, with no signs of anything unusual. Kanjuro was also already sitting at the dining table. Seeing Ran come out, he gave her a gentle and warm smile.
"Good morning, Ran. Did you sleep well?" His voice was gentle, his concern evident. His gaze lingered on her face, as if trying to confirm whether she had truly recovered from yesterday's blow.
"Mm, good morning, Brother Ye Xiao, Mom." Ran nodded and sat at the table. Looking at Kanjuro's gentle eyes and feeling his silent care, the guilt she felt for betraying Shinichi Kudo seemed to be diluted a bit more. She even felt that perhaps letting go of a tiring wait and starting a new relationship where she was cherished and protected wasn't something unacceptable.
After all, Brother Ye Xiao was such a good and gentle person, always appearing when she needed him most... (Wait!)
A thought poured down like cold water, causing Ran's hand holding the chopsticks to pause slightly.
(Brother Ye Xiao... is clearly my brother!)
This realization caused an unnatural blush to instantly rise on her cheeks, and her heart felt a wave of panic. How could she have such thoughts? How could she develop a dependence and... affection for her own brother that transcended familial love? She shook her head inwardly, trying to dispel this absurd notion.
However, her mind couldn't help but picture Kanjuro standing behind her, protecting her from Shinichi Kudo's fist (even though she was the one protecting him, psychologically she felt protected), the comforting kiss on the forehead in the car, and his current gaze as gentle as water... These feelings were completely different from her feelings for Shinichi Kudo; they were deeper, carrying a sense of reassuring belonging, yet also... more taboo.
She stole a glance at Kanjuro, who was talking softly with her mother. The sunlight outlined his perfect profile; he was composed in manner and spoke eloquently, exuding a mature and charming charisma.
(If... if he weren't my brother...)
As soon as this thought emerged, Ran forcibly suppressed it, but her heart rate accelerated uncontrollably. She lowered her head and ate her breakfast silently, the food tasting like wax, her mind filled with chaotic thoughts.
After breakfast, Ran prepared to go to school as usual.
"Be careful on the way," Eri Kisaki urged.
Kanjuro also stood up and walked to Ran's side. He naturally reached out and helped her tidy the slightly messy bangs on her forehead, his movements intimate and natural: "Come back early after school, don't get too tired."
His touch made Ran's body stiffen slightly, and a subtle electric current seemed to spread from the point of contact. She looked up, meeting Kanjuro's eyes that seemed to see through everything, and her heart skipped a beat. She...
...forced a smile and nodded: "Mm, I know, Brother Ye Xiao."
Walking out of the house, the fresh air calmed her down a bit. She looked back; Kanjuro was still standing at the door, smiling as he watched her leave. The sunlight spilled over him, plating him in a warm halo, his figure tall and reliable.
Ran looked at him, her eyes incredibly complex and her heart heavy with worry.
(What on earth is wrong with me?)
(I clearly should only treat him as a brother...)
(But... why is my heart in such a mess?)
(Maybe... it's just a temporary lack of adjustment? After all, I just ended an important relationship...)
She tried to use logic to convince herself, but the hazy and immoral sentiment deep in her heart, like the tender shoots of a vine, quietly grew, entangling her dependence on her "brother" and her admiration for her "protector," leaving her utterly confused.
She turned around and walked toward the school, but her steps were no longer as light as they used to be. Kanjuro's receding figure was like a giant puzzle, deeply etched in her heart, signaling that the road ahead would be even more tangled and unpredictable.
Her so-called "letting go" and "starting over" were, from the very beginning, built upon a twisted and dangerous foundation.
---------------------------------
I hope you're enjoying the fanfiction so far! If the story has you hooked and you can't wait to see what happens next, you can unlock 30 chapters in advance over on my Patreon: patreon.com/TLHimejima1
Every bit of support means the world to me so if you're loving the ride, don't forget to drop a Power Stone and let me know.