Sure enough, expecting Eri to have decent cooking skills was asking for too much.
On the dining table, a large plate of unidentifiable green soup sat ominously, its odd texture gleaming under the light. Akashi and Ran both froze in stunned disbelief.
"Akashi, come and try Auntie's curry," Eri called out cheerfully.
"You've been hungry all night; eat plenty!" she added, her tone brimming with enthusiasm as she ladled the mysterious concoction onto Akashi's plate.
'Green? Curry?'
Akashi stared at the "green curry rice" now sitting in front of him. The vibrant, unnatural color made him question everything. He glanced up to find Eri watching him with eager anticipation, her expression glowing with hope.
'Guess I'm dying here.'
Resigned to his fate, Akashi picked up his spoon, scooped up a bite, and cautiously placed it into his mouth.
Just one bite.
Immediately, his tongue rebelled, sending spasms through his entire body. His stomach churned in protest, as though it, too, had been betrayed. The flavor was indescribably chaotic—an unholy symphony of tastes that defied imagination.
Akashi's eyes nearly rolled back in his head.
'This… This isn't food. It's a weapon!'
Eri's cooking skills were just as atrocious as her anime counterpart's. No, scratch that—they were perfectly in line with her reputation for "dark cuisine." A flawless portrayal of her character, if nothing else.
Despite his internal turmoil, Akashi managed to force a polite smile and said, "Auntie Eri's cooking is… delicious!"
"Really?" Eri's eyes sparkled with sudden joy.
Before he could react, she lunged forward, wrapping him in a warm hug.
The slender figure Akashi had always imagined was suddenly... surprisingly full. Her soft face nuzzled against his short hair like a cat seeking affection.
"Oh, Akashi, you're such an honest boy! You know how to tell the truth!" she gushed.
"I knew my cooking was delicious, but Ran always complains. That girl just doesn't know how lucky she is!"
Ran, standing by, was utterly stunned.
'Mom… Are you even speaking human language?'
'Did you really make that for humans to eat?'
And what's with all this affection? Ran thought bitterly. 'You never hugged me like that when I was little!'
'Wait…' Ran's gaze flicked to Akashi. 'Is the curry really… edible?'
Confusion flooded her thoughts. Maybe her mother's cooking had somehow improved? Maybe?
But while Ran was lost in thought, Akashi was experiencing a bittersweet torment.
'Why is my succubus physique such a cheat?'
He had barely recovered from the initial shock of the curry when he found himself caught in Eri's unrestrained warmth. The cold, rational "Queen of Law" he knew from the anime was nowhere to be found.
But this version of her felt... nice. Too nice.
Unfortunately, just as he was beginning to enjoy this surreal moment, the shrill ring of a phone shattered the peace.
Eri quickly answered, slipping on her glasses as her demeanor shifted back to her trademark icy professionalism. However, one hand still rested possessively on Akashi's shoulder, refusing to let go.
He could only sit there, trapped, as she carried on her phone conversation.
Her tone grew colder with each word. By the time she hung up, her brows were furrowed, and her aura exuded an intimidating gravity.
"Auntie has to leave," Eri said with a faint smile, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.
Ran frowned. "Is it about one of your cases?"
Eri nodded. "Yes. The boss of Nagano Real Estate. He had already decided to plead guilty after the trial, but… he died in prison last night. I need to go take a look."
Handing responsibility over, Kisaki said, "Ran, I'm leaving Akashi in your care."
Hearing this, Ran's eyes lit up with excitement. She immediately turned to Akashi and grinned.
"No problem! Leave him to me!"
Akashi could only shiver.
'This mother-daughter duo… Their genes are too powerful!'
Eri reluctantly set Akashi back onto the chair, her hesitation lingering in her expression. After a brief pause, she turned and disappeared into the bedroom to change.
Akashi, feeling a twinge of reluctance himself, glanced toward Ran.
To his surprise, she had picked up a spoon and was attempting to try the green curry.
The moment the curry touched her tongue, her face twisted in horror.
"Bleh! Bleh! Bleh!" Ran sputtered, spitting the curry out as quickly as she could. She turned to Akashi, her expression equal parts shock and confusion.
"Akashi, how could you say this is delicious?" she asked incredulously.
Akashi, ever mindful of maintaining his persona, lowered his gaze and pursed his lips. His voice came out soft yet firm:
"This is already very delicious," he said. "When I was in the orphanage, I was always hungry… So just being full makes me happy."
Ran froze, her violet eyes softening with overwhelming sympathy. Her defenses crumbled in an instant.
"Akashi," she said, her voice trembling slightly, "don't worry. As long as you're in our home, you'll never go hungry again."
She straightened her posture, determination blazing in her expression. "Tell me whatever you want to eat. Your big sister will make sure you have it!"
To emphasize her newfound role, Ran slapped her hands together with a loud, decisive crack, her tone radiating unshakable loyalty. She had seamlessly assumed the identity of Akashi's protective older sister, no transition required.
For a moment, Akashi's mind wavered as he looked at her.
'Really? I can eat whatever I want?'
Before he could dwell on it, Eri reappeared, now dressed in a crisp white blouse, a tailored suit jacket, and a short skirt. Her elegant yet commanding presence resembled a real-life version of "Legally Blonde."
She approached Akashi, her expression softening as she helped him adjust his collar.
"Akashi," she said gently, "Auntie has to head out for work now, but I'll be back this evening. Stay with Ran in the meantime. And if she bullies you, let me know, and I'll teach her a lesson!"
Ran's cheeks puffed up indignantly, her face resembling a steamed bun.
'Mom, who's the real child here?'
'I'm your biological daughter! He's the one you adopted!'
She crossed her arms, huffing silently. 'Also, Akashi is so adorable—why would I bully him?'
Akashi, ignoring Ran's theatrics, nodded obediently. "Auntie, don't worry about me. Focus on your work. I'll behave."
"So good!" Eri said with a smile. If not for her daughter's presence, she might have planted a kiss on him right then. Instead, she contented herself with ruffling his hair affectionately before reluctantly turning to leave.
The sound of her high heels echoed as she strode toward the door. With one last glance, she closed it behind her and left resolutely.
The moment the door clicked shut, Ran sprang into action.
In one swift motion, she grabbed the pot of green curry and dumped its contents straight into the drain.
Then, turning to Akashi with a wide grin, she grabbed his hand and declared, "Akashi, let's go out! Big Sister will treat you to some real food!"
Her enthusiasm was overwhelming as she tugged Akashi along, her energy infectious.
As soon as their hands touched, a familiar notification echoed in Akashi's mind:
『Ding! Upon contact with a high-quality member of the opposite sex, Yin energy is absorbed. Your attributes are gradually improving!』
『Ding! Yin Energy +1!』
A subtle warmth flowed through him as energy transferred from Ran to his system.
'Even Ran qualifies as a high-quality opposite sex?' Akashi thought, marveling at the system's judgment. The energy was undeniably potent—refined enough to meet even his succubus physique's high standards.
Curious, he pondered for a moment. 'How does the system determine who counts as 'high-quality' anyway?'
Almost as if reading his thoughts, the system chimed in:
『Ding! Members of the opposite sex with an appearance score above 85 are classified as high-quality.』
Akashi's face darkened.
'This system… It's so shallow!'
With a resigned sigh, he allowed Ran to drag him out the door, her cheerful chatter filling the air as she led the way.