After walking in, Eriri was in the middle of creating something.
Her "creative process" consisted of taking selfies with her phone while wearing a red qipao, sheer black pantyhose, and an old-fashioned pair of round black glasses.
Her silky, lustrous golden hair was done up in twin buns, and the slits on either side of the dress revealed flashes of her enticing skin tone.
When Eriri saw Hikaru enter, she panicked for a moment, but her expression soon returned to normal.
She then put down her phone and struck a cosplay pose for Hikaru.
"How is it? Don't I look pretty good like this?"
"It's indeed good," Hikaru replied.
He sat down and leisurely offered his critique.
"Even though you're blonde, it's surprisingly fitting with a qipao."
As he spoke, his gaze roved over the girl's body without the slightest reservation.
That piercing look made Eriri a bit uncomfortable—though it did her no harm, it still gave her goosebumps. At the same time, she couldn't help recalling what happened a week ago.
She quickly changed the topic.
"Hikaru-kun, why do I feel like you've changed from before?"
"Perhaps. After all, even the sun doesn't stay the same forever."
"You really are vain," Eriri muttered softly. Still, she couldn't take her eyes off Hikaru's face.
She couldn't deny his words, either.
Beneath his midnight-black hair was a calm face holding a slight smile. But above all else, there were those eyes—so clear and tranquil.
His irises were gray with a brownish hue, like amber, highly translucent and reflective, shimmering with layered iridescence under the light.
This alone made for a strikingly stunning impression.
Even though Hikaru had withdrawn the radiance of his life's essence, his appearance alone delivered a powerful impact on ordinary people.
Simultaneously, he carried himself with such composure and detachment that, even as he stood like a blazing sun in everyone else's eyes, he looked completely at ease—almost as if he were in a plane separate from reality.
That subtle aloofness didn't push others away; on the contrary, it made him even more captivating.
Eriri used to think Hikaru was only so-so in terms of looks, but as she grew older, she found herself more and more mesmerized whenever she set eyes on him.
Especially now, with Hikaru looking straight at her.
Now, he was here just for her.
Who wouldn't feel a little lightheaded?
Sure enough, Eriri's cheeks flushed red, her heart raced, and a sultry light shone in her eyes—the sort that appears in a woman when she's fully bewitched.
Eventually, it was Eriri herself—faster than Hikaru—who made the first move and climbed on top of him.
Naturally, lunch was delayed, and the afternoon shopping trip was canceled.
But Eriri didn't regret it. She was simply brimming with happiness.
Afternoon came.
Hikaru pulled up his pants and left. The moment he stepped out, Sayuri stepped in, bombarding Eriri with more questions.
"Mom, don't tell me you have a thing for Hikaru?" Eriri suddenly asked.
That question silenced Sayuri for a beat; then she quickly brushed it aside with a forced laugh.
But Eriri had seen it clearly. Twice, she'd noticed Sayuri's eyes light up whenever she looked at Hikaru.
…
And it was quite the coincidence, wasn't it?
When Rias, Akeno Himejima, and Koneko—who had arranged to visit on the weekend—saw Hikaru, their eyes lit up in exactly the same way.
Even though they tried convincing themselves that Hikaru's power was far more terrifying than his looks, the moment they laid eyes on his almost divine face, they couldn't help but focus on it.
Kiba Yuuto and the shut-in vampire Gasper didn't come along. The former had something on his mind these past few days; the latter was such a recluse that even seeing Rias could make him shrink into his box.
Hikaru guessed it was most likely due to the Holy Sword user. As a survivor of the Valper experiments, Kiba Yuuto had a special sensitivity to Holy Swords.
No doubt the two Holy Sword wielders sent by the Church—and the Holy Sword stolen by Kokabiel's men—were somewhere nearby.
"Please, have some tea," Asia said, handing tea to the three visitors.
She admired how poised and elegant Rias and Akeno were—mature, beautiful, and refined (and quite blessed in the chest, too). That was Asia's ideal of what she wanted to become.
But the truth was Rias and Akeno were just as envious of her. After all, how many women could get away with living under the same roof as Hikaru?
Before long, Koneko, Asia, and Est—three adorable little "lolis"—ran off to play together.
Rias didn't know how to begin, so Akeno stepped in, explaining they had specifically come to thank Hikaru for his help, bringing two gifts along.
In reality, deep down, Akeno was thinking that if Rias hadn't said the wrong thing before, right now it might be her and Hikaru having their weekend alone together.
Fortunately for Akeno, Rias was clueless when it came to romance; otherwise, Akeno might have found herself worrying for once.
~~~
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