Chapter 15 - A Spoiled Brat

Mei stood near the doorway, her sharp gaze pinned on Raito like a blade against his throat. Despite her age, her presence was formidable—commanding, unflinching, and impossible to ignore.

"The only reason I am leaving them in your care is because my son in law trust you a lot but If anything happens to my granddaughters," she said in a low, icy voice, "you won't need to worry about your enemies finding you. I'll make sure you suffer first."

Raito didn't even blink. "They'll be safe," he replied simply, with the kind of conviction that made even threats sound like facts.

Mei studied him for a moment longer, then gave a curt nod. Without another word, she turned and exited the house, the door closing behind her with a heavy click—leaving behind a silence that felt far too heavy for such a small space.

He exhaled slowly, turning to face the awkward new reality: Raika, who stood awkwardly in the middle of the living room with baby Emi in her arms, both watching him like he was some strange alien dropped into their lives.

"So… where do I put our stuff?" Raika asked, her tone casual, but her eyes sharp.

"Guest room's down the hall. Last door to the right," Raito replied, walking back into the kitchen.

She didn't move right away. Instead, her eyes scanned the room and she let out a sigh. "This place is so plain. No color, no warmth… Just concrete and shadows."

"It's a house," Raito said. "Not a theme park."

Raika shrugged and plopped down onto the couch with practiced ease. "Could've at least bought curtains or something. You live like a hermit."

Raito was already regretting this arrangement.

She's got a mouth on her, Kurai chimed in from the depths of his mind, amusement dripping from her voice. Spoiled too. This is going to be fun.

"This is temporary," Raito muttered under his breath.

You sure about that? You've basically adopted a teenager and a baby.

Raika turned on the TV and scrolled through the channels. "Do you even have real food here? All I saw was instant ramen and black coffee."

Raito opened the fridge, scanning the sparse shelves. "I haven't went grocery shopping yet"

"Well, Emi and I need more than caffeine and sodium, you know."

He shut the fridge with a sigh, gripping the edge of the counter.

You've taken down entire battalions, infiltrated strongholds, and silenced targets halfway across the world, Kurai teased. But this? This is your greatest challenge yet.

Raito didn't respond. He just stood there, taking a long, quiet breath, trying to figure out how long he could survive this arrangement without losing his mind.

And somehow, deep down, he already knew—

This was only the beginning.

The quiet tension in the living room was thick enough to cut through. Raito stood with arms crossed, leaning against the wall while Raika sat with Emi nestled in her lap. The baby cooed softly, chewing on her tiny fist, blissfully unaware of the storm brewing around her.

He leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on his knees. His eyes, sharp as ever, focused on Raika. "We're going to need to set a few things straight."

Raito's tone was calm, but firm. "I need to know some things. Basic information—full names, birthdays, medical issues, allergies. Anything that could come up."

Raika gave him a deadpan look. "Why do you care?"

"Because if someone knocks on this door asking questions, I need to be able to lie well enough to keep all three of us out of trouble."

Raika rolled her eyes, but didn't argue. "Raika Tsubaki. Seventeen. Emi is ten months old. No allergies, no weird conditions. Happy?"

"Almost," Raito said, nodding. "From now on, you're my younger sister. You've come to stay with me for a while. That's what the neighbors, my coworkers, and anyone else will believe."

Raika scoffed. "Seriously? I don't even look like you."

"You don't need to. People just need a simple story they won't question," he said. "Neighbors, coworkers… it's easier if they assume something normal."

Raika's brows shot up. "Alright but I'm still going to school. My grandmother promised me I could keep going, and that doesn't stop just because I'm here."

Raito pushed off the wall, his expression hardening. "Do you even realize the situation you're in?"

"I didn't ask to be dumped here," she shot back. "So don't act like I'm ruining your life!"

"You want to go to school and leave a stranger like me with your little sister?" he replied with no emotion, pointing at Emi. "I have a job. A real one. And even if I don't have to be in the office every day, I can't just vanish from work without people noticing."

"You don't think I have a life too?" Raika stood now, her voice rising. "I'm not just gonna stay locked up in here like some prisoner!"

Raito's remained nonchalant. "And what about the baby? You want to chase your school life while I—someone you barely know—take care of your sister? What if something happens while you're gone?"

Raika bit her lip, clearly conflicted. Emi gave a soft whimper, sensing the rise in tension between them.

"You said you'd protect us," she muttered, holding Emi closer.

Raito exhaled, running a hand down his face. "I said I'd keep you safe. Not be your babysitter."

A pause. Then he added, voice lower now, "I'm not saying you can't go to school because I couldn't care less. But we need to figure something out. If I start missing work, people will notice. And if anyone starts digging into my past—"

Raika cut in, eyes narrowing. "They'll find out who you used to be. Right?"

He didn't respond. He didn't have to because he knew that won't happen since if they do try to dig into his past then they would already be dead before the find something.

She looked down at Emi and sighed. "I'll figure something out. I won't make you do everything."

Raito walked back to the chair and sat, his voice quieter now. "We'll make a schedule. But don't expect me to follow through."

From deep within his mind, Kurai's voice floated lazily.

Ah, domestic arguments. I never pictured you as the fatherly type, Raito.

"Shut up," he whispered under his breath, already regretting everything.