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Chapter 101 - Chapter 101: Belmod: The Two Inside Are Busy

"Not putting on your clothes yet?" Hayashi Shuichi turned with a teasing smile. "Careful, I might really turn into a wolf."

Fujimine Yukiko suddenly remembered she was still in her underwear. She hurriedly grabbed the altered dress and slipped it on.

As the dress reached her arms, the lounge door rattled again. With a wry smile, Yukiko squeezed close to Hayashi Shuichi once more.

He's already seen most of me anyway... not much more to take advantage of, Yukiko thought, half-resigned.

Pressed together, Hayashi Shuichi instinctively wrapped an arm around her slim waist, just like before.

Yukiko tensed, shooting him an embarrassed glare.

This jerk is getting bolder! she fumed. I nearly fainted earlier, so holding me was excusable. But now? I'm fine, and you're still doing this? Clearly taking advantage!

Hayashi Shuichi wasn't paying attention to her reaction. Someone was approaching the window. He held his breath, wary of drawing notice.

The newcomer stopped by the window and lit a cigarette.

The acrid smoke drifted behind the curtain. Hayashi Shuichi could tolerate it, but Yukiko struggled. Unable to cover her nose, she pressed her face against his chest to avoid the smell.

Hayashi Shuichi glanced through the curtain's gap. Standing by the window was a curvy woman in a purple evening gown, her blonde hair unmistakable.

No way, it's her?

Belmod? Hayashi Shuichi frowned. A renowned international actress and a member of the Black Organization. Was she here for her film career or the Organization's agenda?

Minutes later, Belmod finished her cigarette and left, casting a meaningful glance at the curtain as she did.

When she'd entered, Belmod had noticed the curtain's odd movement. No windows were open, so the rustling could only mean someone was hiding. A veteran of the film industry, she assumed it was a pair of lovers sneaking around.

Instead of calling them out, she'd deliberately smoked by the window, letting the fumes torment the hidden couple.

Pleased with her prank, Belmod left the lounge, spotting two school-uniformed kids heading toward it.

"You'd better wait a bit," Belmod—no, Sharon Vineyard—said with a kind smirk. "The two inside are busy, haha…"

"Busy with what?" Mouri Kogoro asked, clueless.

Hibari Eri, catching the actress's hint, darkened. Her pace quickened.

Belmod watched the girl's reaction with amusement, lingering nearby to see what would happen.

Inside the lounge, after Belmod left, Yukiko hurriedly pulled her dress down.

Hayashi Shuichi slipped on his jacket.

Just as they finished, the door swung open. Hibari Eri stormed in, expecting to catch Hayashi Shuichi and Yukiko in disarray. Instead, the scene was far from her imagination.

"Why were you in here so long?" Eri asked, eyeing them suspiciously.

"Altering an evening gown isn't quick," Yukiko said, a touch guilty. "It took a while to get it right."

Eri inspected Yukiko's dress. It had changed significantly.

Could they really have just been altering clothes all this time?

Eri stepped closer to Hayashi Shuichi, sniffing lightly before wrinkling her nose. "Why's there so much smoke? Did you smoke?"

"Not me," Hayashi Shuichi explained. "The actress who clashed with Yukiko's dress was here, smoking. We got caught in it."

"She said you two were 'busy' and to come later," Mouri Kogoro said, puzzled. "What was she talking about?"

So we were spotted…

Hayashi Shuichi gave a wry smile. Young Belmod's this bored? Playing pranks?

"Just altering clothes!" Yukiko snapped, less composed. The memory of the curtain incident made her cheeks burn. She didn't need a mirror to know she was blushing furiously. "I'm heading out!"

She bolted from the lounge.

"She seems off," Mouri Kogoro noted, slow as ever.

Eri, far sharper, wasn't convinced. "What exactly were you two doing in here?"

"Nothing, really," Hayashi Shuichi said, half-truthfully. "We were altering clothes when someone came in. Yukiko didn't want to be seen, so she pulled me behind the curtain."

"That's it?" Eri's face screamed disbelief. "Then why's she blushing?"

"Maybe it was stuffy in here," Hayashi Shuichi said, stone-faced. "If you don't believe me, I can swear."

Eri huffed and headed for the door. Though still suspicious, she reasoned no one would be reckless enough to do anything scandalous in a public lounge.

Outside, Yukiko patted her cheeks, forcing herself to calm down. She'd be seeing her parents soon—any hint of trouble would be a disaster.

As she steadied herself, she looked up to see the blonde actress who'd clashed with her dress, smirking from nearby.

Recalling Mouri's words, Yukiko's face flushed again.

She lowered her head, trying to slip past Sharon Vineyard, but the American star spoke first. "Nice dress style, young lady."

"Really?" Yukiko paused, forcing a smile. "I like it too."

"I saw needle and thread on the lounge table," Sharon said, eyeing the dress. "You didn't just alter it, did you? Its original design… it's my gown, isn't it?"

(End of Chapter)

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