After dinner, Yukiko went to take a shower, leaving Eri alone with Akashi in the bedroom.
Eri, the queen of law, narrowed her phoenix-like eyes behind her gold-rimmed glasses as she hugged a teddy bear to her chest. She gazed at the young boy in front of her without saying a word, her piercing stare practically freezing the air in the room.
Akashi shifted uncomfortably under her scrutiny, his nerves evident.
"Auntie Eri, is something wrong? Did I do something?" he asked cautiously.
Eri's lips curled into a faint, sardonic smile.
"No, no problem," she replied, her tone laced with sarcasm. "Akashi, you seem quite happy that Yukiko followed you home, aren't you? How do her legs feel? Pretty comfortable, I imagine?"
The boy froze, caught off guard by the sudden question. His thoughts involuntarily drifted back to Yukiko, and before he could stop himself, he began to recall the elegant image of her crossed legs.
But just as quickly, his daydream was interrupted by a sharp pinch on his ear.
"Ow!" Akashi yelped, squirming as Eri's grip tightened.
"You're still thinking about it?!" she accused, her voice low and icy. "So it's true, isn't it? Everything she said about you is true!"
"N-no, it's not like that!" Akashi stammered, desperately trying to wriggle free. "Really, it's not! Her legs aren't that great!"
He quickly added, "Auntie Eri, your legs are far better—slender, straight, soft, and, uh, elastic!"
He made a show of wrinkling his nose in mock disgust. "Hers don't even compare to yours!"
Eri raised an eyebrow, her lips curling into a satisfied smile.
"Oh? Is that so?" she murmured, releasing his ear.
Her mood brightened instantly. 'Children are the most honest; they never lie. And this one, at least, knows how to appreciate true beauty. '
She reclined gracefully onto the bed, her long legs clad in black stockings stretched out elegantly.
"What do you think, Akashi?" she teased. "Are they really as good as you say?"
Akashi, sensing an opportunity to make amends, immediately stepped forward. Gently placing his small hands on her legs, he began to knead them with practiced motions.
"Of course, Auntie Eri," he said, his tone earnest. "You're so beautiful; if you'd pursued acting instead of law, you'd have been a Grand Slam Best Actress by now!"
The compliment hit just the right note, and Eri's face lit up with delight.
"Well," she said with a touch of pride, "there were talent scouts who approached me back in the day. But unlike Yukiko, who could only manage average grades, I was accepted into Tokyo University. Naturally, I chose law over a shallow acting career."
She shifted slightly, relaxing further into the bed. "Ah, right there, Akashi! That's perfect~"
She paused, her tone curious. "Wait… how have your massage skills improved so much?"
She recalled his earlier attempts, which were clumsy at best. But now, his hands moved with precision, easing the tension in her legs as if he were a seasoned professional.
Akashi chuckled sheepishly, his small hands continuing their work.
"Well, I figured Auntie Eri must get tired from walking in high heels all day," he explained. "I wanted to help, so I read some books about massage. It's not too difficult once you practice a bit. Is this alright?"
His words were delivered with such sincerity and sweetness that Eri felt her heart melt.
'What a thoughtful child… ' she mused.
As Akashi worked, she felt a pang of guilt for pinching his ear earlier.
'How could I have doubted him? ' she thought, her conscience pricking at her. 'He's such a good boy… '
---
As Akashi's expert massage continued, Eri found herself thoroughly enjoying the experience.
The queen of law, who had always carried an air of authority, gradually gave in to the blissful sensation, her hums of satisfaction filling the room. In her relaxation, she completely forgot the original reason she had brought Akashi to the bedroom—to ask him about the gun she had seen in the van.
Meanwhile, Akashi showed no signs of fatigue. On the contrary, he seemed to take great pride in his ability to relieve Eri's stress.
Along with his massage skills, he decided to employ another peculiar ability, "Updraft v2," enhancing the results. 'Even the most seemingly useless skill has its moment to shine, ' Akashi thought with amusement.
For a brief moment, he entertained the idea of using his 'Steal' on Eri but decided against it. 'Some pleasures are best savored through honest effort, ' he mused, his grin widening.
After what felt like an eternity of kneeling at her side, Akashi's legs began to ache. With a small grunt, he repositioned himself behind Eri, ready to take his massage up a notch.
Placing his hands precisely on her legs, he applied calculated pressure to key acupoints. The result was immediate—a mix of relaxation and tension radiated through Eri's body, and she couldn't hold back a sharp moan. Her hands instinctively gripped the pillow tightly.
Akashi smirked. 'Perfect! '
Despite his youthful demeanor, Akashi was anything but forgiving. He relished the opportunity to turn the tables on Eri, whose earlier teasing had left him flustered. Combining his skills yielded outstanding results, much like a well-synchronized combo attack.
For Eri, this was unlike any massage she had ever experienced. She fought to maintain her composure, determined not to reveal any vulnerability in front of a child. But it was a losing battle. Her face flushed crimson as she buried it into the pillow, much like an ostrich hiding in the sand.
Just then, a voice called from the hallway—it was Yukiko, fresh from her shower.
"Eri! Eri! Akashi! Where are you?" Yukiko's cheerful voice echoed through the corridor. "Which room is mine? And where's the hairdryer?"
Eri's relaxation dissolved in an instant, replaced by a wave of panic. 'Yukiko can't see this! '
She scrambled to her feet, her movements frantic. In one hand, she grabbed Akashi, and in the other, she clutched a neatly folded set of pajamas. Before Yukiko could step into the room, Eri bolted for the bathroom, her voice hurried.
"Yukiko, you can sleep in any of the guest rooms—just not the master bedroom!" she called out. "And the hairdryer is somewhere in the drawers. I'll give Akashi a bath first!"
Without giving Yukiko a chance to respond, Eri slammed the bathroom door behind her, her face still burning.
From the hallway, Yukiko stood puzzled, watching Eri's sudden escape. A playful smirk spread across her face.
"Your face is so red, Eri. What have you been up to?" she teased, her tone sing-song.
She shook her head, muttering to herself, "Oh well, Akashi's already so independent; you don't need to fuss over him so much."
But the bathroom remained silent, and Eri gave no response.
Yukiko chuckled softly as she began drying her damp hair. "If you don't listen to me, Eri, you'll regret it someday."
Satisfied with her little jab, Yukiko turned and headed toward the guest room, leaving Eri and Akashi to their "escape" in the bathroom.