78: confused

Early morning, warm sunlight filtered through the gaps in the curtains, casting mottled light and shadows on the floor.

"Sakurako..." he started, trembling, but could not form a complete sentence.

His throat felt blocked, and guilt and self-reproach almost consumed him.

Sato Shinsui was extremely regretful about the mistakes he had made. Although they were not related by blood, their bond was stronger than that of siblings.

Honestly, faced with this situation, he wanted to tell Sato Sakurako that he would take responsibility for her, but would she accept it? Would she accept a brother like a beast?

Although the great changes in the three of them recently had caused him more adolescent troubles, this was no excuse for his actions.

And even if he wanted to take responsibility, he was only a 17-year-old boy; what kind of responsibility could he take? After all, he was still three years away from adulthood.

Lost in thought, Sato Shinsui just stared blankly at Sato Sakurako beside him, but looking at her made him restless. Having just tasted the fruit, he still craved more, but luckily, his moral boundaries suppressed the impulse.

Under Sato Shinsui's gaze, Sato Sakurako woke up shortly after. Seeing Sato Shinsui beside her, tears slid down silently.

She looked down at the marks on her body, then looked up at Sato Shinsui. Her eyes gradually cleared, and then, two lines of clear tears slid down silently.

"Nisan..." she choked out, her voice trembling violently, "You..."

Sato Shinsui opened his mouth but did not know what to say.

He wanted to explain, wanted to apologize, but found any words pale and powerless.

He could only stare at her blankly, his heart feeling like it was being twisted by a knife.

However, at that moment, without him noticing, the floral scent grew stronger again. The rich scent silently entered his nasal cavity, stimulating his nerves.

He felt an inexplicable heat, and his gaze became scorching.

Why did Sato Shinsui not notice? Actually, it was not his fault. After all, without transforming, he was not much different from an ordinary person, at most his physical fitness was a bit better.

And those flowers had been emitting scent since they were brought back, the only difference was the intensity. Who would think that the problem was the flowers?

Seeing Sato Shinsui's scorching gaze lingering on her for a long time, Sato Sakurako could not help but shrink back, showing an expression like a pitiful little animal. This caused Sato Shinsui's string of reason to collapse again, and he reached out his sinful hands once more.

"No... don't... Nisan... please..." Sato Sakurako pleaded weakly, crying in despair. Her voice echoed in the room, but could not stop the nightmare that was about to come.

...

In the underground facility, the huge screen was playing everything happening in Sato Shinsui's room.

In the dim light, a group of different Monsters gathered together. Their gazes were focused on the screen, watching Sato Shinsui's ugly behavior with different expressions.

Some Monsters had disdainful sneers on their faces, as if mocking Sato Shinsui's weakness and incompetence; some Monsters showed arrogant expressions, as if looking down at a humble ant; others had calm expressions, seemingly indifferent to everything happening; even more Monsters looked bored, as if this drama had no attraction to them.

Suddenly, a Monster with mantis-like appendages broke the eerie silence. He made a sound like metal friction and asked tentatively: "My Lord, is it not... too radical to treat Sato Shinsui this way? It might backfire." His tone carried a hint of worry.

Xiang Yan's gaze swept over the Monster like a blade, his tone cold and bone-chilling: "Are you questioning my methods?"

The Monster was so frightened that he trembled all over. Remembering Xiang Yan's recent rampant bullying and the acquiescence of His Majesty, the Monster Emperor to all his actions, he quickly lowered his head and apologized: "I dare not, My Lord, it was my slip of the tongue." After speaking, he fell silent, not daring to say another word.

Xiang Yan snorted coldly, thinking to himself: "Radical?"

He did not need others to tell him that; he had long known his approach had problems, but he did not care at all.

He was not his father; why would he need to be so thorough?

This kid was just a tool; as long as he could achieve his goal, that was enough. The rest was irrelevant.

Moreover, in his opinion, the problems Sato Shinsui was facing now were not problems at all. He had plenty of ways to distort an ordinary person's worldview and thoughts.

Sato Shinsui sat dejectedly on the cold floor of the hallway, his hands clenched tightly, his knuckles white.

He stared blankly at his slightly trembling hands; he had committed beastly acts again.

In the room, Sato Sakurako's suppressed crying sounded like needles, stinging his eardrums and piercing his heart.

He wanted to explain, wanted to apologize, but clearly understood that all words were futile and would only deepen Sakurako's pain.

After hesitating for a long time, he finally gathered his courage, stood up, and knocked gently on the door.

"Sakurako..." he said tentatively, his voice as hoarse as rubbing sandpaper.

"Get out!" A scream came from the room, filled with intense pain, causing Sato Shinsui's heart to shrink violently.

"Sakurako, I'm going to buy groceries, I'll make your favorite food today..." He endured the lump in his throat, trying to make his voice sound calmer.

Before he could finish, the crying in the room intensified, like the mournful cries of an injured little beast, making him unable to bear listening any longer.

Sato Shinsui staggered back a few steps, leaned weakly against the wall, took a deep breath, and turned to flee the house.

The sunlight shone on him, but it did not bring any warmth, instead making him feel a bone-chilling cold.

After a long time, the door opened a crack cautiously.

Sato Sakurako poked her head out, looked around vigilantly, and after confirming that Sato Shinsui had really left, she slowly opened the door.

Her tense body relaxed instantly, like a deflated ball, and she slumped weakly onto the floor.

Tears blurred her eyes again, and she bit her lip tightly, not letting herself make a sound.

I don't know how long it took, she struggled to stand up, stumbled back to her room, locked the door, and sealed herself in this small space, as if only then could she get a glimmer of security.

She curled up in the corner of the bed, burying her head deep in her knees, crying silently.

The room was deathly silent, with only her faint sobbing echoing in the air...

In the living room, Xiang Yan, sitting on the sofa, watched this scene and just yawned boredly.

He had arrived here shortly after Sato Shinsui left the house, but had not taken any action for the time being, because he wanted to see if Sato Sakurako could give him some unexpected surprises.

But unfortunately, Sato Sakurako's series of reactions were all within his expectations, without any surprises at all.

"Snap!"

A finger snap rang out.

Xiang Yan walked slowly to Sato Sakurako's door and knocked gently on it, making a crisp "knock-knock" sound, which seemed particularly abrupt in the quiet hallway.

Sato Sakurako opened the door with a dull expression.

Xiang Yan looked at her, reached out a finger, tapped lightly on Sato Sakurako's forehead, and then turned and left.

Sato Sakurako returned to the room, closed the door, and locked it.