Once a mobster, now Masachika Kuze

The sweet, slightly drawling voice approached the door as the girl asked curiously:

"Yuno nee-san... Why are you shouting?"

Yuno froze for a second, her firm demeanor crumbling under the pressure. Her response came hurried and stammering:

"A-a-ah, I... h-he... it's just that..." Her eyes darted frantically between Ryan, who was laughing uncontrollably, and the door that was about to open.

"I'm coming in, okay?" The sweet, innocent voice announced as the doorknob began to turn.

Without thinking, Yuno let out a high-pitched squeal and shoved Ryan onto the bed. He protested, still laughing: "Whoa, take it easy, pinky!" Then, in one swift motion, she dashed to the door and slammed it shut, shouting even more shrilly:

"W-WAIT A SECOND, MAKIIIIIIII!"

Yuno's voice was so delicate and cute that Ryan nearly choked on his laughter. But the situation worsened when Maki bumped her forehead against the door, letting out an "Owwww" in genuine pain.

Outside, Maki murmured in confusion, "Nee-san?"

Realizing what she'd done, Yuno quickly opened the door, moving in a rush to gently place her hand on her sister's forehead. "I'm sorry! I didn't mean to!"

Ryan, still sprawled on the bed, started to sit up, his eyes catching sight of the figure entering the room. Maki was a slender girl with shoulder-length red hair and bright purple eyes. Despite being at home, she wore elegant clothes that completely clashed with the situation.

At the same time, Maki's eyes met Ryan's. He, of course, responded with his trademark relaxed smile and a casual wave. "Hey there!" He raised his hand as if greeting an old friend.

Maki's face instantly turned red, and she took a step back, glaring at Yuno in indignation. "Nee-san! You brought a boy into your room!?"

Yuno, desperate, clamped her hand over Maki's mouth and began speaking far too quickly: "It's not like that, Maki! He's just here to solve a problem! That's it, understand? Solve a problem!"

Maki, unconvinced, pulled Yuno's arm away and retorted, "Solve problems... IN YOUR BED!?"

Yuno's face turned red with rage. "IT'S NOT THAT, MAKI! YOU'RE GETTING ON MY NERVES!"

Amid the chaos, a more mature, feminine voice echoed from a distance.

"Yuno, dear, why are you arguing with your sister?"

The stifled scream that escaped Yuno was almost comical. She gave a small jump, trying to gesture discreetly for her mother not to come, but it was too late. A woman with long red hair and an air of refinement entered the room, clearly an older, more sophisticated version of Maki.

Her eyes fell on Ryan, who was still sitting on the bed, and she was momentarily speechless before turning to Yuno.

"Yuno, my love, you should've introduced him to me earlier..."

Yuno shot Ryan a death glare that he could almost hear saying: "I'll rip out your organs later."

Taking a deep breath, Yuno forced a sweet smile and began speaking in a polite, gentle voice—something Ryan never imagined he'd hear from her.

"It's nothing like that, Mom. He's here to help with some important matters, you know? Like what I mentioned about missing school for a few days... He's just lying on the bed because he's lazy."

Ryan, slowly getting up, began to reply: "Lazy? You're the one who threw me—"

But he froze upon noticing Yuno's look. Her eyes were dark, almost predatory, sending a chill down his spine. Quickly changing his tone, he smiled and gave a formal bow.

"Good afternoon. I'm Masachika Kuze, a friend of Yuno. It's a pleasure to meet you." His introduction was so robotic he almost expected applause at the end.

"Could you please give us a moment to finish what we were discussing?" Yuno asked, throwing a desperate look at her mother and sister.

Yuno's mother smiled sweetly, adjusting her daughter's hair with gentle movements. "Of course, dear, we'll give you some privacy... but on one condition."

"What is it, Mom?" Yuno asked, her voice soft and low as she averted her gaze, trying not to show her tension.

"I want you to bring him to dinner later." Her reply came with a kind smile, yet it was loaded with expectation.

Yuno let out a faint gasp, attempting, unconvincingly, to argue: "I don't think he'll want to... you know, he has things to do later and—"

"I'll be expecting you, dear. Come, Maki." Yuno's mother ended the conversation gracefully, leaving the room as Maki followed. But not before giving Ryan a final polite wave. He, naturally, returned it with a laid-back smile and a casual wave.

As soon as the door closed, Yuno slowly turned to Ryan. Her gaze was a mix of fiery hatred and utter frustration, as though she was about to explode. She seemed to literally burn with rage, but Ryan, keeping his composure and sarcasm, broke the silence:

"You could've just teleported me to, I don't know, the Pacific Ocean. You know that was an option, right?"

Yuno's voice came heavy, like thunder: "I... forgot I could do that."

Ryan covered his mouth, stifling laughter as he thought: "God, she's ridiculously cute under pressure."

Yuno stepped closer, her eyes blazing with anger, and growled: "Let me punch you."

Ryan raised an eyebrow, sarcasm dripping from his words: "Why would I let you, you crazy woman?"

"Because if I don't, I'm going to explode with rage."

He pondered for a moment, a teasing smile forming. Then, he pointed disdainfully at his face. "Alright, go ahead. Hit me here."

Without hesitation, Yuno clenched her teeth and swung her fist with all her strength, aiming straight for Ryan's face.

At the last second, though, he dodged. Her fist barely missed, creating a gust of wind strong enough to knock over the stuffed animals scattered around the room.

"Welp... you missed your chance." He almost laughed as he spoke.

Yuno grew even more furious, huffing with anger. "YOU JERK! You said I could punch you!"

Ryan shrugged, his expression as smug as ever. "Yeah, but I never said I'd make it easy."

Yuno grabbed his collar tightly, pulling him close, her face radiating pure rage. But before she could act or say anything, Arona's light, mischievous voice echoed in the room.

"If you don't want to end up cuddling with him tonight, Yuno-sensei, you'd better not break the contract twice in one day."

Yuno slowly turned her head, glaring daggers at Arona. "What do you mean, you little brat?"

Arona, unfazed by the tension, picked up a bunny plush from the floor and hugged it, replying with a sly smile:

"If you get really hurt, like when you break a contract, the only way to efficiently regenerate energy is by snuggling with your other half." She pointed the bunny at Yuno, her smile growing. "Sensei-Ryan, Nipaah~."

She mimicked Rika in an absurdly cute and adorable way, prompting a restrained laugh from Ryan.

Yuno, however, dropped Ryan as if he'd turned to acid, pushing him away in disgust as she declared firmly:

"I'd rather die."

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