68: No Early Love, Dynamic Balance of Morality

"Leonora, you dare come back?"

Humming a cheerful Nordic melody, Leonora replied with ease:

"Why wouldn't I dare to come back?"

"You're so domineering!"

"Does Akira need Yuki and Mana's permission to find a lover?"

"My dear mother, what about me?"

"You went after my childhood friend as your lover. Shouldn't you have at least informed me first?"

Alice emerged from the corner, sneaking up behind Leonora and asking in a haunting tone.

"Eek! Alice, you're so mean! You scared me on purpose!"

"Mom, so what if I scared you?"

"After doing something so outrageous, can't I even question you?"

"Hehe! If I had told you, Alice, you would've never agreed."

"I'm not stupid, of course I had to cook the rice before it could be eaten."

Leonora stuck out her tongue, showing no remorse as she spoke with confidence.

"Stop acting cute, you irresponsible mother!"

"Hehe! Alice, I didn't know about your relationship with Akira beforehand."

"If I had known, I would've never fallen for him."

"It's your fault for hiding it so well."

Alice was furious.

So now it was her fault?

This unreasonable mother was just too much.

Even now, she showed no sign of remorse.

At least apologize properly!

"Mom, why are you in a wheelchair like Mana?"

"Because of you!"

Seeing Akira, who looked completely satisfied and at ease, Suou Yuki felt her anger dissipate slightly.

As long as her son was happy, what reason did she have to be angry?

After all, it was just a lover.

Suou Yuki used this reasoning to勉强说服自己.

"Ahaha!"

Akira scratched his head awkwardly. He knew his three-day disappearance would upset everyone.

But between being a beast and being worse than a beast, what choice was there?

Of course, he chose the former.

"Mom, let me tell you a little story."

Akira began, his tone lively and expressive:

"Once, a couple went on a trip and missed the last boat. The next one wouldn't come until the next day, so they had to stay at a nearby inn for two nights."

"The inn only had one room left, so they had to share. That night, the girl drew a line and said, 'Cross this line, and you're a beast.'"

"When she woke up, the guy hadn't crossed the line. So, she slapped him and said, 'You're worse than a beast!'"

"The next night, she drew the line again. This time, the guy, remembering the previous night, tried to cross it but was too nervous. In the morning, she slapped him again and said, 'You're not even as good as a beast!'"

Everyone: "..."

No wonder Akira, this playboy, acted so decisively.

Without hesitation or guilt.

He didn't give them any chance to interfere.

Suou Yuki looked both amused and exasperated. "Where did you hear this story?"

"From our neighbors in China!"

"Hesitation leads to defeat; decisiveness leads to victory."

"Then why aren't you decisive with your childhood friends?"

Suou Yuki asked, annoyed.

"In China, high school relationships are considered 'early love' and are forbidden."

"Eating the forbidden fruit too early isn't good for a girl's health."

"Eriko's poor physical condition is because she's always fantasizing and, well, 'self-relieving.'"

Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!

A series of laughter erupted from the girls.

They all looked at Eriko with sympathy.

Having such a mischievous older brother was both a blessing and a curse for Eriko.

So tragic!

How many of Eriko's embarrassing secrets had Akira exposed by now?

"Ahhh! Akira, I'm going to kill you!"

Eriko turned into a golden-haired loser once again, her face as red as an apple.

She lunged at Akira, ready to fight.

"Miss Eriko, it's time for your lessons."

"Please come with me."

Suddenly, a plain-looking middle-aged maid appeared beside Eriko, reminding her expressionlessly.

"Oh… I see."

Eriko instantly went from a furious golden retriever to a wilted eggplant.

She stammered, pleading:

"B-Big brother, c-can you please ask Grandma to go easy on me?"

Her daily schedule now included:

Flower arrangement, painting, cooking, art appreciation, and more.

Of course, physical training was also mandatory.

Pfft!

Hahaha!

The girls laughed even harder, unable to stand straight.

The scene was just too dramatic.

One moment, Eriko was ready to charge at Akira.

The next, she turned into a meek little sister.

"Go on, tie up your mom first, then get your revenge."

At Akira's reminder, Garura's eyes lit up. She quickly pulled out a rope.

In a flash, she tied up Yashiro like a caterpillar.

He couldn't do it himself, but Garura could!

After a few seconds, Yashiro snapped out of her daze.

Realizing she'd been tied up by her own daughter, her calm expression flickered with panic.

"Garura, what are you doing?"

"Mom, you enjoyed hitting me earlier, didn't you?"

"Now it's my turn to get back at you."

Garura smiled brightly, her tone triumphant.

"Akira, I really know I was wrong."

Yashiro regretted provoking Akira.

Now she was going to be done in by her own daughter.

(PS: Wuwuwu! Ninth update, my head is spinning, my drafts are exhausted, I'm going all out!)

"Where's Mom?"

"Grandma is personally training her."

Well, the mother-daughter duo's fates were equally tragic.

"Eriko, as your brother, I really can't help you."

"Grandma is doing this for your own good."

"You should be grateful for this precious spring break."

Akira spread his hands, suppressing a smile as he spoke seriously.

Eriko's anger, which had just subsided, shot up again.

And it kept rising.

How could you say something so heartless?

If it weren't for you exposing my secrets one after another,

I wouldn't have been targeted by Grandma.

Forced to endure these torturous lessons.

"Aunt Emi, thank you for supervising Eriko."

"Young Master Akira, it's my duty."

The middle-aged maid, Emi, showed a stiff but gentle smile, her tone kind.

But when she turned to Eriko, her expression became stern again, putting immense pressure on Eriko.

"Miss Eriko, please come with me."

"Every minute you waste will be added to your lessons."

"I… I understand."

The once-fiery Eriko now looked like she was about to cry.

She didn't even dare to bare her teeth at Akira anymore.

With her golden head drooping, she obediently followed the maid.

"Why do the Kujou family maids treat you and Eriko so differently?"

Although the Kujou family maids were well-trained and never showed any disrespect,

Everyone noticed the clear difference in how Emi treated Akira and Eriko.

Even their titles were different.

"Because respect is mutual."

"They've been in the Kujou family for most of their lives, watching me grow up."

"I respect them, so of course they respect me."

"My silly sister clearly doesn't have that awareness."

"She just treats them like ordinary servants."

"So, Emi only sees her as the Sawamura family's young lady."

"Often, you can judge a person's character and ability."

"Just by observing how they treat those around them."

"If they don't even respect their own subordinates,"

"They're bound to fail someday."

"Don't forget, the most popular trend in this country is 'the underdog rising.'"

"In China, it's called 'Are kings and nobles born great?'"

Akira's words made his childhood friends ponder.

Then, their faces showed a hint of defeat.

This playboy's casual display of virtue outshone them.

If it weren't for his philandering, they'd feel unworthy of his perfection.

"My son is amazing!"

Suou Yuki looked at her handsome, gentle, and perfect son.

Smack!

She couldn't help but hug Akira's head and plant a big kiss on his cheek.

Leaving a faint pink lip mark.

"Mom, why do you all keep kissing me?"

Akira complained helplessly.

Since childhood, too many older sisters had kissed him.

"What, Sayuri and Leonora can kiss you,"

"But I can't?"

Suou Yuki pinched Akira's cheek, demanding an answer.

"Mom, as long as you're happy."

What else could Akira do? He could only let his mother have her way.

Garura, who had just been beaten into submission, saw Akira return and instantly revived.

She jumped onto Akira's back.

Shouting with envy:

"Akira, Akira, you've already done baby-making with Leonora!"

"Let's do it too!"

Akira firmly refused:

"No, high school students are forbidden from early love."

"This is my principle."

Everyone was speechless.

Why did his morals suddenly become so strong now?

"I feel like Akira's morals are in a dynamic balance."

Kashiwazaki Sena blinked, voicing everyone's thoughts.

"Sena, you're so right."

"I also feel like Big Brother's morals are sometimes high, sometimes low."

"High enough to make us ashamed, low enough to have no bottom."

Suou Yuki clapped in agreement.

"Ahhh! How can this be?"

Garura shook her head, holding her little head.

Her long legs wrapped around Akira's waist as she cried:

"Then why don't you have a baby with my mom first?"

"My dad's not around anymore anyway."

"My mom's genes are super good."

"I thought I was strong,"

"But my mom is the hidden boss of the family."

"I can't beat her unless I go all out."

"Squinty eyes are always scheming. I hate them."

Garura's unusual thought process struck again.

Her words left everyone stunned.

"Yashiro, do you regret it now?"

"You spoiled Garura as a child, never teaching her proper values."

Akira sighed, scolding her.

"Akira, you're no better."

"If it weren't for you and Leonora, Garura wouldn't have such outrageous ideas."

Yashiro shot back, shifting the blame.

"Yashiro, I've endured you for a long time."

"As the saying goes, 'A gentleman's revenge is never too late.'"

"Did you think I was still the little kid you could bully?"

"Garura's right. Squinty eyes are always scheming."

Clang!

Akira's right hand grasped the air, and a white light flashed.

The sword Tai'e, which Yuki had been holding, unsheathed.

A sharp sword intent filled the hall.

Akira turned, his eyes gleaming as they met Yashiro's unprepared gaze.

The sword intent in his eyes instantly overwhelmed Yashiro's spirit.

"Garura, what are you waiting for?"

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