41: A Match Made in Heaven

Suddenly, Suzuki Sonoko made a shocking suggestion to Akira Sawamura:

"Akira, as your best bro, I strongly support you stealing Kudou Shinichi's girl."

"Go and win Ran over."

"It's too dangerous for Ran to keep running around with Kudou Shinichi."

"I'll help you out, just like Yuuki does. I'll give you all kinds of assists."

"What do you think?"

Akira instantly broke into a cold sweat and hurriedly explained:

"Sonoko-nee, I really don't have any interest in being a homewrecker!"

"Sonoko, shut up right now."

Suzuki Ayako immediately exerted her authority as the older sister, silencing her imaginative and nonsensical younger sister.

"Everyone, I'm sorry. Sonoko has always been careless and speaks without thinking. I'll make sure to discipline her properly when we get home."

"It's fine, Ayako-nee. I'm used to Sonoko-nee's blunt personality."

"Sonoko-nee and I are lifelong bros."

Akira said understandingly.

Although he and Suzuki Sonoko had known each other since childhood, Sonoko was the only girl among his childhood friends who wasn't his childhood sweetheart.

Instead, their relationship had evolved into something more like close buddies.

Every time Suzuki Ayako saw the strange dynamic between Akira and Sonoko, she couldn't help but close her eyes in pain.

She truly couldn't understand how Sonoko, who was also Akira's childhood sweetheart, ended up in this kind of relationship.

"How can someone like Kudou Shinichi have such a loyal childhood sweetheart?"

"The heavens must be blind."

Yakushiji Ryouko didn't bother hiding her disdain for Kudou Shinichi.

In fact, all the higher-ups at the National Police Agency shared her sentiment.

The problem was, they couldn't exactly punish a high school student.

If the media caught wind of them bullying a minor, they'd be the ones to suffer.

In the eyes of the police leadership, Kudou Shinichi was the main reason why the Sakurada Gate's reputation had fallen so low.

"Ryouko-nee, you're absolutely right."

"That's why I think Akira and my best friend Ran are a match made in heaven."

"After all, Akira also sticks by Sakurako-nee no matter what."

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone fell into an awkward silence.

Kujou Sakurako, the person in question, gave the Suzuki sisters a forced, icy smile.

What was this supposed to mean?

That she was destined to be alone forever and never get married?

The other childhood sweetheart also looked displeased.

What did she mean by "a match made in heaven"?

Each of them believed they were the one destined to be with Akira.

Suzuki Ayako was on the verge of tears from her sister's stupidity.

"I'm sorry, everyone. I'll take my sister and leave now."

"I'll make sure our mother disciplines Sonoko properly."

After saying this, Suzuki Ayako dragged her clueless sister away in a hurry.

She couldn't bear to stay any longer and face Akira after this.

Her sister had managed to offend every single one of Akira's childhood sweetheart with just one sentence.

In a way, that was almost impressive.

Even though the Suzuki family was one of Japan's major conglomerates, being hated by so many influential young ladies was more than they could handle.

"Ryouko-nee, you're not much better than Sakurako-nee."

"You're always getting involved in strange and dangerous cases."

"In my opinion, you're the least qualified to roast Kudou Shinichi and Sakurako-nee."

Yakushiji Ryouko narrowed her eyes and warned in a dangerous tone:

"Don't you dare."

"Akira, keep going."

Kujou Sakurako stepped in front of Akira, standing her ground against Yakushiji Ryouko.

You had fun exposing my secrets earlier, didn't you?

"Sorry, Ryouko-nee."

"I think it's necessary to remind everyone."

"If any of you ever run into Ryouko-nee while she's out on official business, solving cases…"

"My advice is to run. Run as far away as possible."

"Why?"

"Onii-chan, what's the meaning behind this?"

"You idiots, it's because there's a high chance you'll end up in life-threatening danger."

"Why else would I tell you to run as far as possible?"

"Didn't I mention it earlier?"

"Ryouko-nee always gets involved in strange and dangerous cases."

"I'm talking about supernatural cases that defy science and common sense."

"Ryouko-nee's combat skills are on par with fighters from the Kengan matches."

"You can imagine what kind of abnormal criminals she ends up facing."

"Ryouko, it seems we've all underestimated you."

"How about a sparring match?"

Kuryuu Shion raised her hand, clearly intrigued by the idea.

"You're no match for me."

"The woman next to you from the Wu Clan might stand a chance."

"If you're looking to die, I can oblige."

"Never mind, then."

Kuryuu Shion immediately backed down.

"Akira, I'm curious. What's the deal with the Wu Clan?"

"They sound really impressive."

Seeing Chitanda Eru raise her hand again, Akira reached out and pinched her cheeks, exasperated.

"Chitanda Eru, are you a walking encyclopedia of questions?"

*Muffled noises!*

"The Wu Clan is a family that migrated from China to Japan 1,300 years ago."

"In the past, their entire clan worked as assassins."

"In modern times, most of them have transitioned to being bodyguards."

*Muffled noises!* "Wow, that's amazing! How did an entire clan become assassins? Surely not everyone was suited for martial arts, right?"

"How do you think Japanese wagyu beef came to be?"

"The Wu Clan is the same."

"What do you mean?"

"You dummy, Eru. Selective breeding!"

"Through artificial intervention, absorbing superior genes from outsiders, and passing them down through generations."

"That's how the Wu Clan became what it is today."

"Those who didn't meet the standards were kicked out of the clan and lived as ordinary people."

"So, Karura has her eyes on your 'seeds'?"

Everyone said in unison.

This was the first time they'd heard about Karura's background.

READ 30 CHAPTERS AHEAD AT p @ treon. com/KyokaSuigetsu

(replace @ with a)