Because the Hero Association had issued a nationwide lockdown order, almost all shops on the streets were closed.
Mitsuki drove alone through the lifeless streets, her heart filled with unease.
Even though she was in the car, she felt no sense of security. She constantly felt like something was watching her from the shadows, ready to pounce from the roadside darkness at any moment.
Her husband, Masaru, had originally wanted to come with her, but she said someone needed to stay home and watch their son. Helpless, Masaru had to stay behind.
But besides this reason, there was another reason she hadn't told her husband... her conversation with Tsuki couldn't be known to a third person.
The car arrived safely at the Uzaki Family's door. After several days, she rang the doorbell again.
"Coming, coming—" A man's voice came from inside.
The door opened.
Mitsuki was stunned.
Standing at the door wasn't Tsuki in her wedding dress, but a rather robust middle-aged man.
Uzaki Fujio, Tsuki's other husband.
Seeing the handsome, hedgehog-haired woman standing outside, Fujio was taken aback. His gaze lingered on her face for a moment. After confirming he didn't know her, he asked politely, "May I ask who you are?"
Mitsuki quickly recovered, gave a slight bow, and said in a soft voice, "I'm Tsuki's friend. Is she in?"
Fujio scratched his head, wondering how he didn't know his wife had a friend like this?
And coming to visit at a time like this.
But since she'd said so, he still stepped aside and made a 'please' gesture. "She's inside. Please come in."
With that, Fujio invited Mitsuki inside.
At that moment, Tsuki and her son, Uzaki Kiri, were packing their things.
Several suitcases were spread out on the living room floor. Clothes were folded neatly and sorted into different cases.
Tsuki was crouched on the ground, holding a folded jacket, about to put it in a case. Just then, she looked up and saw Mitsuki.
The jacket nearly slipped from her hand, sliding down, but Kiri, who was quick, caught it.
"Mom, be careful." Kiri's tone was a bit exasperated. He refolded the jacket and put it in the case.
"Sorry, sorry."
Tsuki apologized to her son guiltily. The corner of her eye couldn't help glancing at Mitsuki, inwardly complaining—
'What is she doing here?'
Fujio came over and pointed at Mitsuki.
"Tsuki, this lady says she's your friend."
'Friend?' Hearing that one word, Tsuki's expression grew even more peculiar. She opened her mouth to say something, then swallowed the words.
Mitsuki gave a slight bow, a perfectly appropriate smile on her lips. "Sorry to bother you so late, Tsuki. I'd like to talk to you about something. Do you have time?"
Tsuki very much wanted to say 'no', but she also knew that this woman's visit was definitely not for anything good.
She could only take a deep breath, barely put on a smile, and pretend to be very familiar with her. "Of course. Come to my room."
With that, Tsuki led Mitsuki into the bedroom.
Kiri watched his mother and that strange aunt disappear around the hallway corner, scratched his head, and said, "When did Mom get a friend like this? I've never heard of her..."
The bedroom door closed. Tsuki locked it.
"What are you doing here?"
To avoid being heard by her husband and son downstairs, Tsuki's voice was very low, but her tone was urgent and sharp.
Mitsuki didn't answer immediately. Instead, she glanced around the nearly empty bedroom, then looked back at Tsuki.
"Mrs. Uzaki, are you moving into the Nishikawa Palace?"
Seeing the family packing, Mitsuki guessed the reason.
Now the whole world was in a panic because of the Anomaly Association. Both of Tsuki's daughters, Hana and Yanagi, were part of Makoto's harem, and they were essentially Makoto's in-laws. Naturally, they qualified to move into the Nishikawa Palace.
Tsuki was in no mood to beat around the bush. A trace of anger appeared on her usually gentle face. "Say what you have to say quickly, or I'll call the police."
"Call the police?"
Mitsuki smiled slightly. "Mrs. Uzaki, you wouldn't want the whole world to know about your relationship with your son-in-law, would you?"
Tsuki's face instantly turned pale.
Mitsuki pressed her advantage. "Ma'am, you wouldn't want your husband to find out you cheated on him, would you?"
Tsuki stumbled in fright, falling back onto the bed behind her.
At that moment, Tsuki stared straight at the ceiling, as if her soul had been sucked out.
Half a minute later, she barely managed to pull herself together. She looked up at Mitsuki. "...What do you want?"
Mitsuki briefly recounted her son's situation.
Escaping from Impel Down, refusing to go back, refusing to turn himself in, starving himself at home...
Except for his wanting to join the Anomaly Association, Mitsuki said everything she could.
Finally, she said she wanted Tsuki to put in a good word for her son with Makoto, to give him a chance to reform.
Tsuki was silent for a moment. "I can help. But... I can't guarantee that Makoto will agree."
"It's fine. As long as you're willing to help."
Mitsuki gave a slight bow.
The bedroom door opened again, and the two returned to the first-floor living room.
Kiri was crouched in the living room, packing the last suitcase. Seeing his mother come out, he casually asked, "Mom, what did you talk about with that auntie?"
Tsuki slapped the back of her son's head irritably. "Adult stuff. Kids shouldn't interfere."
Kiri touched the slapped spot, looking aggrieved.
'I'm already an adult, okay?'
Tsuki turned to her husband, who was putting on his shoes at the entrance. "Fujio, Mitsuki-san will be coming to the Nishikawa Palace with us."
Fujio was stunned. He exchanged a glance with the equally bewildered Kiri. Father and son simultaneously looked at Mitsuki—
'This shapely, wild-tempered beauty.'
'Did she also have a daughter in Makoto's harem? Or... was she herself?'
Fujio's gaze unconsciously swept over Mitsuki's body,
Then quickly looked away. His Adam's apple bobbed.
Although not as hot as his own wife, she was still definitely curvaceous.
Especially that short hair and wild temperament, it could very easily arouses a man's desire to conquer.
He swallowed his saliva, thinking to himself, 'Makoto really had it too good.'
"Drive."
Tsuki kicked him in the knee.
Fujio quickly begged for mercy and fled out the door carrying luggage to his Toyota.
Mitsuki sat in the back seat. Tsuki sat next to her.
Kiri sat in the passenger seat, stealing a glance at Mitsuki through the rearview mirror, then a glance at his mother.
Fujio started the car. He also stole a glance at Mitsuki through the rearview mirror.
Fujio suddenly felt that Makoto having more women wasn't a bad thing for him. After all, it would help distract that kid's attention, keeping him from setting his sights on his own wife.
Tsuki sat in the back, remembering what Mitsuki had said to her. The more she thought about it, the angrier she got.
A sense of revenge welling up inside her. Tsuki tilted her head, her lips almost touching Mitsuki's ear, her voice so low only the two of them could hear.
"Makoto won't let you off."
Although Mitsuki had been threatening her just now, in a way, she was also threatening Makoto.
Tsuki felt that if she told Makoto on her, Mitsuki would definitely get what was coming to her.
Mitsuki smiled slightly and didn't answer.
She certainly knew the cost of doing this, but for her son, this was the only path she could take.