KyokaSuigetsu

40: The Sherlock Holmes of the Heisei Era

"Don't listen to Ryouko-nee's nonsense. There's no such thing."

"According to the Scumbag Law, if a scumbag vehemently denies something, it's usually true."

Suou Yuuki, stroking her dark brown hair, spoke in a faint, melancholic tone.

"Where did you even hear about this so-called Scumbag Law?"

"Of course, Yuuki just made it up!"

"So, it's just you, you little brat, spouting nonsense."

"Akira, it's getting late. This old lady needs to rest now."

"Why d...

39: No Matter How Skilled You Are, a Bullet Can Take You Down

"Mother, I genuinely just like Leonora as a person."

"It's not because there's something wrong with me psychologically."

"My mental health is perfectly fine."

"If there were really something wrong with me, how could I have gone to China to study martial arts?"

"In China, learning martial arts starts with learning how to be a good person."

"China would never pass on its traditions to someone with a flawed character or mind."

"I've also studied psychology on ...

38: Can't Finish, Simply Can't Finish

"Eri-chan, don't get so worked up!"

"Although I am Alice's mother, I am currently single."

"Just as Akira-chan said, people can't always dwell in the past."

"Is there anything wrong with me starting a new relationship?"

"Besides, it's not like I plan to marry Akira-chan."

"Am I not even allowed to be Akira-chan's lover?"

Truly a woman from Northern Europe—she could say such shameless words with absolute confidence.

Eri's spirit was utterly crushed b...

37. You Were Born Before Me

"Of course, the first step is to get along well with your daughter."

"Then, I'll get information from her about your interests and preferences."

"Finally, I'll tell Oni-chan."

"That way, he can change himself to match what you like, Leonora-neesan."

"Yuki-chan, you're amazing. That's actually a great plan."

Leonora clapped her hands in approval.

"That's exactly the kind of trick a player would use."

"At its core, it's just pretending to be someone you...

36. Not Even a Single Reaction

"Thank you, Aunt Sayuri! You're super cute too!"

Suou Yuki turned back with a bright smile, responding with sincere praise.

"Because I finally figured it out."

"Yuki, your personality is exactly the same as this middle-aged auntie who likes to act cute and pretend to be young."

This annoying little sister was truly incompatible with her.

Having a mother who teased her every day was already bad enough for Eriri.

And now, there was also Suou Yuki, who was not...

35. Oniichan, You're Not a Siscon?!

"If you insist on the unrealistic idea of making me return to the Suou family..."

"Then forget it."

"Although I will acknowledge you as my mother by blood..."

"I think it's best if we don't have too much contact in our daily lives."

Sakamura Akira's words were clear, and his actions left no room for criticism.

A true paragon of loyalty and righteousness.

To sum it up, he would acknowledge the blood ties no matter what, but he would never change his name bac...

34: Heart Ailments Require Heart Remedies

"Yuki, the most important thing is that I only just found out about my background."

"My father handed me the investigative report compiled by the Spencer family last night before returning to England."

"If he hadn't gone back, he said he would have kept it from me forever."

Sawamura Akira's words brought a measure of relief to Suou Yumi and Suou Yuki's hearts.

"How could this be?"

"Uzumi, Yuki dear, Akira is the child of the Kujou and Sawamura families."

"T...

33: Biological Siblings

"Akira, with so many childhood friends, how do you plan to take care of them all in the future?"

"If you can't treat everyone equally, you're in for a tough time."

This veiled remark was Kujou Seiko's way of expressing her frustration at Akira giving such a huge advantage to the Nakiri family.

As soon as she said this, the gazes of many girls shifted toward Erina, their expressions tinged with resentment.

Not one to back down, Erina glared right back.

They were a...

32: Aunt and Sister

"Pfft! Hahaha!"

"Akira-chan, did you really just call Mana that woman 'Auntie'?"

Leonora burst into laughter, her face lit up with amusement as she teased.

"What else should I call her?"

"She is Erina's mother, after all."

Sawamura Akira responded instinctively, not realizing the trap he had just walked into.

"Sawamura Akira, you absolute, insufferable bastard!"

"How can you be such a hypocrite?!"

"I'm going to kill you!"

Calling Alice's m...

31: Counterexample

"If you don't believe me, you can call Old Man Senzaemon right now and ask."

"This is what I've mentioned before—phenomena that modern science can't fully explain."

"Kuchishin, simply put, is the heart of a chef."

"A top-tier chef can infuse their intent into their dishes, allowing diners to experience the chef's emotions through their food."

"Erina, I don't know about others, but your grandfather is definitely above the level of a special-grade chef."

"The sca...

30: Culinary Heart

"Perhaps it's because I felt an unprecedented motherly love from Leonora."

After all, Leonora's maternal aura was overwhelming.

Erina smirked mischievously and said deliberately:

"Poor Aunt Sayuri."

A sharp gaze instantly locked onto Akira.

"Erina, there are different kinds of motherly love."

Akira quickly patched up his explanation.

That finally softened the piercing gaze behind him.

"Akira, I challenge you to a Shokugeki!"

"Akira is a ch...

29. So She’s Alice’s Mother

"Haha! This foolish woman is my aunt. Do you think I wouldn't recognize her?"

"Erina, I remember you telling me a long time ago that your only uncle died in a plane crash?"

Akira recalled.

"Oh, you sure remember that well!"

"Because I remember you crying really hard that day."

Erina's face turned red with anger and embarrassment as she shouted, "Urusai! Don't say another word!"

"Akira, don't try to change the subject. With your intelligence, if you still ca...

28: Love at First Sight

"Lord Sawamura is truly worthy of being the modern master of the Tai'a Sword."

"Your swordsmanship is unparalleled, beyond human limits."

"The Shimazu and Kujou families, as well as the Sawamura family, are all noble houses. There's no need for internal strife."

"I never intended to initiate a Kengan match."

"As for the engagement between my son and Lady Sakurako—"

"It was nothing more than a jest at the time and shouldn't be taken seriously."

"Anyone who...

27: Cutting Through Diamond

Damn! That was such a badass line!

Everyone instinctively clenched their fists, feeling an overwhelming urge to punch Akira. Wasn't this the kind of problem people dreamt of having?

"No matter how skilled one is, even if they can dodge bullets, they can't dodge artillery."

"I practice martial arts and swordsmanship primarily for my health."

"It's not about proving who's the toughest."

"And certainly not to gain fame."

"I've always been a pacifist."

"I...

26. The Legendary Sword, Tai'e

As a father, it was a miracle that he hadn't already decided to cut Akira down where he stood.

"Dad, Akira and I are just friends."

"Who he likes has nothing to do with me."

"Who he decides to marry has nothing to do with me."

"I've confirmed my feelings—I just want to help him."

"Because he's my friend, and friends should support each other without expecting anything in return."

Seeing such pure sincerity from Sena Kashiwazaki, everyone couldn't help but...

25: Kengan Match

Ultimately, whether it was the Kujou family, the Shimizu family, or any other party, none of them would willingly give up such immense benefits.

Land, as the most fundamental resource, remained a permanent private asset that could be passed down through generations. No one ever thought they had too much land—only too little.

"Madam Seiko, Lord Shimizu, if I may offer a suggestion."

A tall, elegant woman with long, blood-red hair and black stockings stepped forward, speakin...

24: Kujou Sakurako

"If you're jealous, just admit it. Why say you're exhausted?"

"Why does big brother feel so much like a manga protagonist?"

"A plot where a maid just falls from the sky shouldn't happen in real life!"

"So why is it happening right in front of me?"

Eriri couldn't comprehend it.

"If Akira wasn't outstanding, would you still like him?"

"Of course! I've spent so much time with him. How could I not like him?"

Eriri answered naturally, as if it were the mos...

23: Confession Brings Leniency, Resistance Brings Severity

"Akira, start talking!"

"What exactly is going on here?"

"Confess, and you'll be treated leniently. Resist, and you'll face severe consequences."

Sayuri Sawamura did her best to put on a stern expression, her tone serious as she commanded him.

"Mom's right."

"Akira Sawamura, you've gone too far."

"How could you do something so shameless right at the entrance?"

"Unforgivable!"

The scene she had just witnessed combined with the countless scenarios...

22: Stockings Are the Soul of a Maid

"Of course you can."

"From now on, Yuki, you are my maid."

"Come in quickly."

"My name is Akira Sawamura."

Although Yuki had already thoroughly investigated Akira, she still pretended not to know him and solemnly responded:

"Yes, Master. I will remember it."

"By the way, Yuki, why do you want to become my maid?"

"Master, can I choose not to say?"

She didn't want to tell him that she had come to serve as his maid as a form of repaying a debt.

21. The Maid Who Fell From the Sky

"Mom, can you not be so loud?"

"Are you doing this on purpose?"

Eriri was furious. The last thing she wanted was to embarrass herself in front of Akira.

"Stop whining. This afternoon, I'm taking you to Roppongi."

"We're getting your hair done."

"Just look at that bird's nest on your head."

"If you want to make a fool of yourself at tonight's banquet, then fine, I won't take you."

"I'll just go out alone."

"Mom, wait for me! I'll go wash my hair ...

20: The Scum of Humanity

"Mom, I really have to hand it to you."

"I'm going back to my room to change."

After finishing up Sayuri Sawamura's meticulous grooming, it was already noon.

Feeling mentally exhausted, Akira waved his hand dismissively and turned to slip through the secret passage inside the wardrobe.

Returning to his own room, he quickly changed into his usual outfit—a plain white T-shirt and white jeans.

Over it, he wore a black zip-up work jacket, feeling refreshed as he st...

19: Special Enhancement Tools

"Akira, can you guess what special tools I'm talking about?"

Sayuri Sawamura asked mysteriously.

"Mom, your standards are getting lower and lower."

"At the very least, people should have some—"

Looking at the massive wedding photo hanging above the bed, glaringly obvious in its presence, Akira was completely speechless at Sayuri's sheer shamelessness.

As expected of a seasoned otaku and doujin artist—she was straight-up reenacting the plot of an 18+ manga in ...

18: Overly Prepared

"Akira, do you know why your father and I ended up together?"

Sayuri continued to hint at something.

"Other than Dad having the same hobbies as you, I can't think of any other reason."

"To be honest, I'm not surprised. After all, Dad was from the UK, and twenty years ago, society wasn't as open-minded as it is now."

"Exactly, Akira. Your dad was my best choice, and I was his," Sayuri said with a playful smile.

"I can tell that what bonded you guys more was friend...

17: A Different Kind of Entrustment

"Eriri is such a hopeless case."

"Sometimes I can't help but wonder if her tsundere personality is an innate trait."

"Even the female leads in pure-love anime aren't as tsundere as she is."

Sayuri Sawamura felt that her loser daughter was truly beyond saving.

"As an otaku, hasn't she ever heard the classic phrase, 'Childhood friends can't beat the new girl?'"

"Fortunately, Akira, you're not just her childhood friend—you're her brother."

"Otherwise, I'd re...

16. I Will Protect My Brother's Innocence!

"But for the sake of the Sawamura family's reputation, and for grandmother's health, we must maintain a facade of propriety. Please give me some time to come to terms with all this."

Hearing Akira's words, which sounded almost like a confession, Sayuri and Eriri were completely stunned.

The former couldn't help but mentally rejoice, feeling as if her spirits had soared into the heavens. The latter, however, was filled with a mix of anger, dissatisfaction, and sour disappointment. ...

15. Unfit Mother

"Akira, you big idiot! You pervert! You hopeless womanizer…"

"I don't ever want to talk to you again!"

"In that case, I might as well report you to Grandma too."

"Since you clearly don't intend to speak to me anymore."

"Mom, bye-bye, I'm heading to Grandma's."

Akira sat down at the entrance, deliberately putting on his shoes in an exaggerated manner.

"I'm sorry, Onii-chan! I really know I was wrong."

"Please, I'm begging you, let me and Mom off this...

14. Report

Eriri, as an artist, imagined the living conditions Akira had described.

Absolutely terrifying.

She frantically shook her head, no longer daring to bring up the idea of moving out.

"Our house is one of the most prestigious in all of Tokyo."

"If it weren't for Dad's connections to the Spencer family, do you really think we could've gotten it so easily?"

"Western-style garden houses are much rarer than traditional Japanese courtyard homes in Tokyo."

"Scarcity...

13. In Short, Just Extremely Perverted

"Mom, what about you?"

"Akira-chan, what does this have to do with me?"

Sayuri, who had been clinging onto Akira and pretending to play dead, gave a dry chuckle and acted cute in an attempt to deflect.

"You were the one who introduced Eriri to drawing."

"I don't believe that as her mother, you didn't know about her drawing those kinds of books."

"And I also don't believe that a normal mother would be so accepting of her daughter having such a partic...

Chapter 71: Graphite Dust Bomb

Adam stared at the scene unfolding before him, his eyes narrowing at the precision and coordination displayed by Two-Face’s men. This wasn’t the chaotic and disorganized behavior typical of Gotham’s gangs. The graphite dust bombs had been deployed perfectly, their effects immediate—every piece of armor Jason brought to the fight had been rendered inoperable.

Two-Face stood above, an air of smug satisfaction about him. The man seemed more confident than Jason expected, and...

Chapter 70: Two-Faced Man

Adam listened as Bruce Wayne recounted Harvey Dent’s tragic downfall. It was clear from Bruce’s tone that the weight of his friend’s fate had taken a toll on him. Harvey’s transformation into Two-Face wasn’t just another story of a criminal’s origin; it was deeply personal.

“Harvey was a good man,” Bruce began, his voice steady but laden with regret. “He grew up in a home filled with abuse and chaos. His mother was addicted to drugs, and his father was an...