[19] Mizuki Family

Kaoru could only stand in stunned silence, taken aback by the sudden outburst of emotion. His mind raced to understand the situation that had abruptly turned chaotic. In his heart, he sighed deeply. *What now?* he thought, feeling that the peaceful morning was about to give way to a storm of turmoil.

With gentle yet firm composure, Kaoru looked at the girl, who appeared to be in her early teens. "I'm sorry, but I don't understand what you mean," he said, trying to remain calm despite the escalating tension.

However, the girl showed no sign of easing. "Liar!" she shouted again, this time stamping her foot. Her twin-tails flared back, nearly brushing against Kaoru's face.

The woman with blue hair standing behind the girl finally spoke, her voice calm yet authoritative. "I apologise, sir. However, according to the information we received from Asuka, Mrs Shiranui is here," she said, her sharp eyes remaining vigilant to Kaoru's every move.

The woman appeared more mature and composed, with her long blue hair cascading down her back and her purple eyes radiating calm. Her ample chest was prominently displayed beneath her office uniform, adding to her commanding and authoritative presence.

Kaoru sighed again, this time more deeply. "Ahem... So it was Asuka who informed you. Wait, let me confirm this first," he said, reaching into his pocket for his smartphone. However, before he could do anything, a familiar soft voice startled him.

"What's the matter, Mr Kaoru?" Shiranui's voice came gently and attentively from inside the apartment. Kaoru felt his heart race, his body tensing slightly at the sound.

The little girl, who had been shouting, immediately peered into the apartment through the open door. There, she saw Shiranui standing casually, wearing an apron and Asuka's slightly tight casual clothes. The girl's eyes widened at this sight, and inexplicably, her anger flared even more.

"You!" the little girl muttered with intense hatred, her palms beginning to crackle with fierce sparks of lightning.

Kaoru felt a wave of alertness sweep over him. Reflexively, he released a powerful burst of energy, causing the blue-haired woman behind the girl to react immediately, drawing a katana from seemingly nowhere and readying it for use if needed.

However, Kaoru quickly regained control, his gaze sharpening with a deadly intensity. "Don't cause a disturbance here," he said in a low voice, though it carried a clear threat.

The atmosphere in the corridor froze suddenly, as if time had stopped on the brink of destruction. Only the faint sound of breathing could be heard, adding to the palpable tension that felt almost tangible. The air was thick, pressing against their chests as if it was ready to explode at any moment.

"Mr Kaoru?" Shiranui's gentle voice suddenly broke the suffocating silence, unaffected by the tense atmosphere. The sound managed to draw Kaoru's awareness back from the brink of the almost explosive anger.

Kaoru took a deep breath, trying to calm the nearly uncontrollable energy. "Ah~, sorry," he said in a more subdued tone, though his voice still held a sharp edge. He scratched his head casually, trying to mask the tension he had just created. "But I hope you're not here to cause trouble or damage my belongings. That's why I had to be cautious."

The little girl and the blue-haired woman in front of him looked pale, cold sweat trickling down their temples. Their eyes, once filled with anger, now displayed an undeniable fear. They had just experienced something extraordinarily terrifying—an illusion so real it felt as though they had died instantly without even putting up a fight. The sight of their lifeless bodies lying on the ground with Kaoru standing over them sent chills down their spines.

The tension abruptly broke when Kaoru's phone rang, signalling an incoming call from Asuka. Kaoru grabbed his phone, answering it with a swift movement. Asuka's voice came through on the other end, and a brief conversation ensued.

"Asuka, you contacted them, didn't you?" Kaoru asked with a slightly irritated tone, though he tried to keep his emotions in check. He didn't want to prolong the chaos that had already consumed enough of his morning energy.

Asuka, sounding cheerful and enthusiastic, replied, "Yes, I thought it was better to inform Shiranui's family and make sure they knew she was safe. You know, communication is important!"

Kaoru closed his eyes momentarily, taking a deep breath to calm himself. "Yes, I understand. But you should have let me know first," he said in a softer tone, though a hint of lingering frustration remained.

On the other end, Asuka chuckled softly. "Sorry, Kaoru. I promise I'll inform you next time. So, have you met them?"

Kaoru glanced at the little girl, who still looked at him with a mix of anger and fear, and the blue-haired woman who was now attempting to maintain her composure while still holding onto the katana. "Yes, I've met them. But it seems there's been a bit of a misunderstanding."

Asuka laughed again, this time more cheerfully. "Alright, I'll head over there soon to help clear things up. Don't scare them, okay, Kaoru?"

Kaoru simply huffed quietly, ending the call with a touch of annoyance. He looked back at his two guests, trying to regain control of the atmosphere that had become so tense. "Alright, let's calm down for now," he said, lowering his voice in an attempt to restore a more peaceful mood. "Asuka is on her way here; she'll explain everything."

The little girl still appeared wary, but at least she no longer seemed intent on attacking. The blue-haired woman slowly lowered her katana, though she still kept a firm grip on it. Both of them were still filled with tension, but at least the atmosphere was no longer on the brink of exploding.

Shiranui, who had remained unaffected by the tension from the start, smiled gently and stepped forward. "You must be tired. Why don't you come in and sit down for a bit? I can make tea or coffee for you."

The little girl looked at Shiranui, and despite still having some concerns, she eventually nodded. "Alright... But I'm not letting you go!" she declared, shooting a sharp glance at Kaoru.

Kaoru merely nodded, trying to suppress the smile that was beginning to form on his face. "Of course, I'm not going anywhere."