Chapter 527: This Child Must Not Be Allowed to Live!
To prevent Shirakawa Sawahei from being threatened alone by his father again, Xiao Mo dragged him away at a run from Tachibana Kaisuke's sight, leaving a certain extreme hero to suppress his killing intent alone.
To explain his innocence, Shirakawa Sawahei looked back and gave Tachibana Kaisuke a helpless look. What that look ultimately became in Kaisuke's eyes, Shirakawa Sawahei had no chance to find out. He was pulled away by Xiao Mo, and no one dared to stop them along the way. It was only when they reached the entrance that the girl gently released his wrist.
"I'm sorry... Shirakawa..."
"Please don't take my father's words to heart... he actually... doesn't mean any harm... it's just because of work..."
"I'm really sorry... for causing you trouble." Miss Tachibana Tomoku's eyes were teary, her voice trembling, "I actually... I've also recently..."
"I'm really sorry anyway..."
Shirakawa Sawahei hadn't yet figured out the girl's train of thought when Miss Tachibana Tomoku began a new round of apologies. He gently pressed the girl's shoulder, puzzled, "Why are you apologizing... your father..."
"Because... because..." Xiao Mo stammered, "Didn't my father force you to join his organization?"
"Hmm?"
Shirakawa Sawahei showed a confused but silent expression, and Tachibana Tomoku quietly continued, "Joining an extreme organization like that... must have made Shirakawa greatly troubled, right... When my father asked me about you before, I already found it a bit strange..."
"Now it seems... it turns out my father took a fancy to Shirakawa's talents... so he wants you to join..."
Shirakawa Sawahei: "..."
Xiao Mo's train of thought... it's a pity she's not writing scripts...
"I don't have any talents..."
"You do!" Xiao Mo earnestly said, "Shirakawa has many talents, it's not surprising at all that my father noticed you..."
"..."
The girl's eyes dimmed slightly as she spoke: "Sorry... Shirakawa... about my father's profession, I've been hiding it from everyone for so long..."
"If Shirakawa feels scared..."
"Keeping... keeping some distance from me... I wouldn't mind..."
"I wouldn't feel sad at all..."
Even though she said that, the pitiful and helpless little emotions in Xiao Mo's eyes completely betrayed her thoughts. This girl has always been like this, her lies never seem credible, the pure heart skill doesn't seem to have been activated much either...
"But it's not your fault, is it?" Shirakawa Sawahei patiently said, "You haven't been clear about your parent's profession before, right?"
"I-I always thought they were company employees who frequently went abroad on business trips..." Tachibana Tomoku said softly.
"So you see, keeping this a secret from us wasn't something you caused, and the extreme organizations, wouldn't target ordinary people without reason either."
"No, they wouldn't." Tachibana Tomoku quietly clenched a fist under her sleeve, "I won't let my father harm Shirakawa... because..."
"Because Shirakawa is my friend."
The girl's ears turned red again, and seeing this, Shirakawa Sawahei chuckled softly and continued, "Then do you still want me to distance myself from you because of this?"
"I don't want that..." Tachibana Tomoku's face continued to redden.
"Then let's keep things as they are."
"Mm, keep things as they are."
After this dialogue, the boy and girl exchanged a smile. Seeing the girl's mood stabilized a bit, Shirakawa Sawahei began to ask, "Where's your mom? Why did I only see your father... Didn't we agree to go for New Year visits together?"
Although the initial agreement with Tachibana China was to visit on the third day of the New Year, things changed. On the first day of the New Year, he was brought back by Little Arrogant's convenient ride, and then led all the way to Xiao Mo's side. Because of this, he thought the plan should also change accordingly.
"Mom's in the kitchen... learning to make wagashi with me."
"Then let's go say hello." Shirakawa Sawahei suggested, "Since I'm here, it wouldn't be right to only see your father."
"Mm... I'll take you."
After the previous misunderstanding, Xiao Mo now treats the scumbag like she's afraid to break him just by holding or by mouth...
Hmm... a bit strange?
Anyway, it's now incredibly difficult for Tachibana Kaisuke to approach the old scumbag Shirakawa Sawahei. Even if he just wants to come over for a few words, his daughter would stay nervously by Shirakawa's side, afraid he might say something excessive to the old scumbag.
Tachibana Kaisuke: ???
Shirakawa Sawahei enjoyed an impenetrable defense from his learning companion, feeling helpless towards Tachibana Kaisuke. However, did he want to step out from Xiao Mo's protection to directly confront the extreme hero?
Sorry, let me buff up first. I'll regroup with Tachibana Kaisuke after I'm ready!
Not long later, Tachibana China came out from the kitchen as well. Similar to Tachibana Kaisuke, Xiao Mo's biological mother's presence was quite powerful, giving off a sense of the extreme female hero. The apron seemed out of place on her. She wiped her hands, saw her husband's angry gaze, Shirakawa Sawahei's innocence, and quickly surmised the situation with a smiling expression.
"Mr. Shirakawa, you're here, and quite early, not like the New Year's third day we initially agreed on."
"The plan changed a bit, so I decided to come earlier. Hope I haven't caused you trouble."
"Not at all, it's no trouble. Xiao Mo, the food is almost ready, why not bring Mr. Shirakawa along to get ready for our meal?"
"Okay... Shirakawa, come with me this way."
"Is it this way?"
Xiao Mo instinctively clutched Shirakawa's hand, afraid he might get lost and caught by her father. Shirakawa hesitated for a moment but didn't break away, letting the girl lead him through the He Style Courtyard.
Tachibana China watched Shirakawa's departing back, her gaze gradually fixating on his wrist, and her smile slowly faded.
The couple exchanged glances, their longstanding understanding not needing words, quickly sharing their thoughts.
Tachibana China/Tachibana Kaisuke: This kid cannot be kept!
At the dining table, the old scumbag soon felt the deep plots from the Tachibana couple. One playing the good cop, the other the bad cop. Xiao Mo had firmly believed her father wanted Shirakawa to join the extreme organization, so no matter what stance he took, he couldn't dispel his daughter's suspicion. Thus, the later-coming wife's role was crucial.
The meal pressured Shirakawa heavily. He tentatively asked Tachibana China about the New Year visit plans, only to be evasively brushed away with her smilingly deflective answers.
"When is the New Year visit?"
"Ah? That's not urgent. Some preparations are needed. After all, we originally planned for the third day of the New Year. Bringing things forward is quite tricky..."