Bath?
Asa froze for a moment.
Before he could react, Haruno had already scooped him up and carried him toward the bathroom.
Unlike Yukino's rather modest figure, Haruno's body was closer to that of Mrs. Yukinoshita herself.
Even in her light home clothes, her curves were perfectly outlined.
Being held like this, Asa only needed to lower his head slightly to get an unobstructed view.
"Haruno-nee, I can bathe myself!"
At the bathroom door, Asa struggled to get down from Haruno's arms.
"No, you're still so small. Let me wash you instead!"
"Don't worry, I have plenty of experience. When Yukino was little, I bathed her all the time!"
Haruno rejected him without even thinking.
Asa could only feel helpless.
This was one of those situations little boys often found themselves in — adults deciding things for them simply because they thought they were still kids.
From Haruno's slightly amused tone, he could tell she was treating him more like a curious new toy.
Like a child who just got a new Transformer and wanted to take it apart to see how it worked.
In the past, he wouldn't have minded. Even Ai had bathed with him before.
But now…
Asa glanced at his own hands, then at the slick, shiny tiles beneath his feet.
Yep… looked slippery enough.
Looking at the beautiful girl next to him already rolling up her sleeves to fill the tub, Asa sighed.
Well, it's not like he'd be at a loss here.
Haruno was like her mother — she responded better to softness than force.
Maybe some close contact could help speed up his "conquest."
'Am I more suited to the yellow-haired ecchi protagonist route?'
As he thought this, Asa walked toward the tub.
Even though he stepped carefully with each foot on the tiles…
The inevitable still happened.
Splash!
The little boy crashed into the girl's back, and the two tumbled straight into the big bathtub.
Haruno was half-leaning in the tub, her thin home clothes soaked and clinging to her skin.
Asa clung to her like a koala.
A strange feeling spread through his body and mind.
"The floor's a little slippery," Asa said innocently, quietly moving his hand away.
"B-be more careful…"
Haruno's pretty face flushed, but she didn't dwell on the strange sensation that had suddenly appeared.
She tried to pull Asa up, but her feet slipped against the slick tub bottom.
Splash!
Another spray of water as they both fell back in.
When startled, people instinctively grab the closest thing to them.
Girls were no exception — in fact, they often did it even more.
Right now, Asa was in Haruno's arms.
"Haruno-nee…"
Asa squirmed a little in embarrassment.
Haruno's expression shifted slightly, her lips parting.
"The tub's… slippery too…"
Her voice was soft, her eyes slightly hazy.
…She actually made that kind of sound.
After that, Asa simply stayed still, soaking in the tub.
He was certain — this bathroom was going to be slippery to the very end today.
---
The next morning.
A handsome boy sat cross-legged on the bed, slowly opening his eyes.
"As expected, absorbing moon yin energy all night is much more effective!"
Asa felt the improvement in his body with delight and pumped his fist.
To absorb moon yin energy, he had to return to his succubus form.
At the orphanage, he had never had the chance.
But absorbing female yin energy didn't require that form.
It could be done whether big or small.
"No wonder incubi in the past couldn't resist going out to hunt women so often!"
"Just absorbing moon yin energy gives such a huge boost — if it's with a girl, the power increase would be terrifyingly fast!"
"But if my incubus identity is exposed, I'd become the prey instead…"
"Maybe I should start with the people around me…"
The images of the Yukinoshita sisters flashed through his mind.
"Yeah, let's build up the relationship first…"
"But before that, I need to have the strength to protect myself."
"System, sign in!"
[Congratulations, host! New location unlocked!]
[Ding — signed in at the Yukinoshita residence. Reward: [LV1. Invisibility] [LV1. Time Stop]
"Two abilities from a single new location unlock!"
Asa was pleasantly surprised.
LV1. Invisibility: Can turn invisible for 30 seconds. Cooldown: 60 seconds.
"Detected two LV1. Time Stop abilities. Fuse into LV2?"
"Fuse!"
LV2. Time Stop: Can stop time in the entire universe except the user for 10 seconds. Cooldown: 30 seconds. Note: Creatures affected will have vague perception; the stronger they are, the more they can sense!
Time Stop plus Invisibility — wasn't this basically doing whatever he wanted?
Knock knock!
"Asa-chan, are you up?"
Haruno's voice came from outside after a knock.
The handsome boy on the bed let out a poof sound as he returned to little-boy form.
"Coming!"
---
After breakfast.
Haruno, being a student at a national university and recently appointed vice president of the student council, had left early for a morning meeting.
Yukino and Asa headed to Shuchiin Academy together.
Even after a whole night, Yukino still couldn't understand why her mother — who only came home once a week — had adopted a younger brother.
And now she'd have to go to and from school with him… Did that mean she was being handed the full responsibility?
And what was with how close Haruno and this little boy had gotten overnight?
They seemed more affectionate than she was with her real sister.
It felt like she was the outsider in the Yukinoshita family.
The more she thought about it, the more annoyed she became.
Puffing her cheeks, she glared at the little boy in front of her, then stepped into the car.
Once seated, her pretty face returned to its usual cold expression.
As the car started, Yukino finally spoke in a cool tone.
"Aunt Mieko already enrolled you in school — Elementary Division, Year 1, Class B."
"Once we get there, you can find your classroom on your own."
"This afternoon I have club activities, so if you want to go home, call Aunt Mieko to pick you up."
Cold voice, casual words — but full of distance.
Asa understood perfectly.
Yukino was venting her resentment toward her mother on him.
He wasn't about to take the blame for that.
"Mm…"
He replied weakly, lowering his head slightly and muttering softly.
"I can find the classroom by myself…"
"I'll buy my own lunch at noon too…"
"After school, I won't trouble Aunt Mieko…"
"I can wait at the school gate until my sister's club activities are over…"
"You don't need to worry, neechan. Back at the orphanage, I often spaced out alone. I'm really good at waiting!"
A soft, timid voice.
A humble tone.
The perfect performance of an innocent act!
Hearing these words, Yukino froze for a moment.
She turned her head to look at the little boy beside her.
His head slightly lowered, the shifting light and shadow fell on his tender face, making him look like a little stray kitten with no home.
Yukino's heart gave a sudden squeeze.
She opened her mouth, eyes filled with guilt.
Unconsciously, her tone softened.
"You don't have to wait at the gate… I'll come get you and bring you to the clubroom."
"I'll have lunch with you too…"
Yukino turned her head, just in time to meet Asa's upturned face.
Clear eyes full of joy, a sweet smile on his cute little face.
As if her promise was the greatest happiness in the world.
Yukino was stunned.
A strange feeling she'd never experienced before rose in her heart.
…
"Mhm, nailed it!"