A fleeting touch, it was cool, soft, and brief and yet it was enough to make Uchiha Byakuya's pupils contract slightly.
This suddem action from Eto was clearly something he hadn't anticipated.
"Eto…?"
Byakuya gazed at her, his expression carrying a trace of surprise.
At that moment, Eto's face was slightly flushed, but it didn't seem to be out of embarrassment.
Her usual teasing smirk remained firmly in place.
The scene that had just unfolded hit the surrounding investigators like a thunderbolt.
Wiping sweat… and then suddenly kissing him?!
This is too much!
Can't they stop torturing us?!
Meanwhile, Mado Kureo and Mado Kasuka had already taken their daughter Akira and left the training grounds.
If they had stayed any longer, Akira would've probably ended up witnessing a scene unfit for children.
On the other side, Kamishiro Rize observed quietly.
Her eyes flickered with thought.
She seemed… to be learning.
Then, she acted.
With one hand lightly brushing aside her bangs, Rize leaned forward gracefully,
her posture elegant and composed.
She drew closer to Nimura Furuta,adopting the traditional Japanese sitting style.
As the gap between them narrowed to mere centimeters, Furuta's face grew visibly redder and redder.
"R-Rize… w-wait!"
Furuta could now feel her breath against his skin.
His heartbeat pounded in his ears.
But just before their lips could touch, he panicked.
Overcome by embarrassment, he instinctively raised both hands to block her.
"What's wrong?"
Rize blinked in confusion.
"You don't like this?"
"I-I mean… it's not that I don't like it… But… we're not at that stage yet…"
Furuta stammered, his gaze darting anywhere but at Rize.
"What do you mean by 'that stage'?"
Rize tilted her head slightly.
"You know… like Byakuya-nii and Eto-nee…"
Furuta hesitated, his voice growing quieter.
"They're… in that kind of relationship; only people like them should do this… right?"
"Hmm… is that so?"
Rize pondered for a moment.
"If marriage is required, then I guess we can't."
Her tone sounded casual-indifferent, even.
But that one simple remark was enough to silence Furuta.
The thought of the painful and cruel future Rize would have to endure, couple deith the sour-sweet mood of the moment instantly turned things depressing.
The atmosphere between them shifted subtly, turning strange.
However, no one else noticed.
To the surrounding investigators, Furuta and Rize were just a pair of clueless kids.
They had no idea how much those kids' actions were tormenting them.
Already, Byakuya and Eto's flirtation had dealt them a devastating blow.
Now, Furuta and Rize were rubbing salt in the wound.
"I can't take this anymore, I need some fresh air!"
"Aaaargh!! I just want to experience a sweet romance too!!!"
"Alright, alright, calm down."
One of them sighed.
"Tonight, I'll take you guys to a new maid café that just opened; That should cheer you up."
By the time the CCG's working hours came to an end, Byakuya knew it was time for Furuta and Rize to return to the Sunlit Garden.
However, he didn't need to escort them personally.
Washuu Yoshitoki had already arranged for someone to take care of it.
"Byakuya-nii, Eto-nee-see you later!"
Furuta waved cheerfully.
"See you later."
Both Furuta and Rize bid farewell to Uchiha Byakuya and Eto.
"Yeah, get some rest when you get back."
Byakuya nodded.
As the two children were led away by a half-human working at the CCG, naturally Byakuya and Eto also left together.
"Those two kids are really adorable."
Halfway home, Eto hummed a little tune as she spoke.
"Yeah..."
Byakuya responded absently.
Although Eto's sudden kiss earlier had been quite a surprise, his thoughts had already shifted to Furuta and Rize.
Helping them escape from the Washuu Clan wasn't urgent yet.
It still wasn't the right time.
But soon... it would be.
"By the way, you have a 24th Ward investigation tomorrow, right?"
Eto suddenly brought it up.
"Yeah, Kishou and I go down there every week just to keep up appearances for those guys."
Byakuya confirmed.
"Then while you're at it, you might as well lend us a hand."
Eto smirked.
"Lately, we've been dealing with a rather troublesome ghoul organization in the 24th Ward; Most of the ghouls who refuse to join Aogiri Tree have fled to them, their leader is also the so-called 'Administrator' of the 24th Ward, and we can't take them down so easily."
Of course, she was still confident they would win.
It would just take more time than expected.
Although her injuries had fully healed, Aogiri Tree was still a newly established force.
Meanwhile, their enemy was an old and long established power in the 24th Ward.
There was no way they'd be easily crushed.
"Alright."
Byakuya agreed without hesitation.
After all, he could also farm some attribute points while he was at it.
It was a win-win situation.
Eto's tone became playful.
"Then, I'll be counting on you, my king~"
Back at home.
While preparing their dinner, Eto seemed a little absent-minded.
No matter what; she kept on thinking about that kiss.
Looking back on it now, she realized just how bold she had been; It was as if something had taken over her, as though she was possessed.
Still, she didn't feel embarrassed.
Instead, she felt certain.
"I must really like this guy… That's why it felt so natural, right?"
Even after acknowledging her feelings, she still didn't feel shy about it.
Instead, she stole a covert glance at Byakuya, glancing over her shoulder.
"Tch... this bastard is just too evil, without realizing it, he's already made me like him this much."
Byakuya's sudden voice snapped her out of her thoughts.
"Eto, you might want to focus while chopping; You don't want to lose a finger."
With his Mangekyō Sharingan, it was impossible for him not to notice her absentmindedness.
"Oh, come on, even if I do cut myself, I'll heal right away."
Eto dismissed his concern without a care.
With her insane regenerative abilities, something like a kitchen accident was nothing to worry about.
Byakuya raised an eyebrow.
"Maybe. But pain is still pain, isn't it?"
Eto paused.
"...Pain?"
For a brief moment, her mind went blank.
At this point, why would she care about pain?
Then, she finally understood.
Right on cue, Byakuya added-
"You get it, isn't it only natural that I'd be worried about you?"
"...So that's how it is, huh?"
Eto's lips curled into a grin.
"Alright then. Now there's no doubt about it." Eto leaned back, tilting her head a little.
"Lolicon-san, you won't be able to talk your way out of this anymore♥︎~"