The moment her emotions were restored, Mukuro Hoshimiya stared at the hand so close to her and instantly panicked:
"Remove your hand at once, remove it~~~"
"Stay away from me!"
"—Pervert!!"
Mukuro struggled frantically, causing the restraints binding her to creak ominously.
Seeing this, Tabane Shinonono remarked with a hint of regret:
"As expected, such artificial devices aren't very effective against Spirits."
"Now's not the time to focus on that," Ania quipped from the side, though she made no move to intervene—since the most convenient person had already stepped forward.
"Shu-kun, could you please step back from Mukuro for now?"
Hearing Lacus's words, Luo Shu withdrew his hand from Mukuro's forehead and shrugged at her as she approached.
Lacus sighed in exasperation. "Honestly, saying something like that really wasn't appropriate for this situation."
Knowing full well that Mukuro had regained her emotions, yet still provoking her with such words—when had Luo Shu become so mischievous?
Luo Shu responded with a nonchalant whistle, as if it had nothing to do with him.
If Mukuro could cause him trouble, wasn't it only fair that he seized the chance to tease her a little?
That was only reasonable, wasn't it?
Of course, teasing wasn't the main goal. More importantly, he needed to confirm whether Mukuro's emotional abilities had truly been restored.
And from the looks of it, they seemed to have returned.
Seeing Luo Shu's attitude, Lacus knew he wasn't reflecting on his actions at all. She could only smile helplessly before placing a hand on the still-struggling Mukuro.
"Calm down, Mukuro."
Her words carried a soothing magic, gradually quieting Mukuro, who stared blankly at Lacus before murmuring:
"Big sister?"
"If you'd like to call me that, then it's fine," Lacus replied with a gentle smile before turning to Kurumi Tokisaki nearby.
"Miss Tokisaki, could you undo the restraints?"
"Oh?" Kurumi raised an eyebrow, then warned, "Without the restraints, if this girl goes berserk, no one will be able to stop her."
That was a lie.
Both Kurumi and Luo Shu were fully capable of subduing Mukuro instantly at this distance.
But that didn't stop Kurumi from saying it on purpose.
"It'll be fine." Lacus patted Mukuro's hand reassuringly. "Mukuro isn't the type to cause trouble for others, right?"
Mukuro hesitated but eventually nodded.
Kurumi glanced at Luo Shu, who gave a slight nod in return, before stepping forward to undo the restraints.
Meanwhile, Luo Shu subtly retreated to stand beside Natsuki Minamiya, sending a silent message through the system:
[Is this Lacus's ability?]
[More or less. It's something akin to emotional resonance.]
Natsuki paused briefly before explaining further:
[Lacus once killed a unique demon. Upon coming into contact with its blood, she gained this ability.]
[Essentially, she can project her own emotions—or harmless suggestions—onto others through speech.]
[Which makes her arguably the world's most persuasive negotiator.]
"I see." Luo Shu nodded in understanding, watching as Mukuro Hoshimiya, freed from her restraints, was gently comforted by Lacus with an arm around her shoulder.
Setting aside the mismatch in their apparent ages, the scene did resemble a kind mother soothing her wayward daughter.
That said, Mukuro Hoshimiya seemed... surprisingly easy to console...
As Luo Shu pondered this, Lacus turned her head and smiled at him, saying:
"Why don't you all head to the café in the garden first? Our little Mukuro will need some time to freshen up."
"Ania, you stay and help."
"Understood." Ania nodded in agreement.
"I'll help too, I'll help too!"
Tabane Shinonono eagerly volunteered, only for Luo Shu to hook an arm around her neck and drag her towards the door.
"Ow ow ow, honestly, Luo Shu, if you wanted a date, you could've just said so! Why drag me like this? Unless... you're into forcing things?"
"Just shut up already."
With those words, Luo Shu exchanged a glance with Kurumi Tokisaki before hauling Tabane Shinonono and Natsuki Minamiya out of the confinement room.
...
One hour later.
Copernicus Leisure District, the lakeside park café.
At the outdoor seating area.
Luo Shu and Natsuki Minamiya sat facing each other.
Natsuki Minamiya scooped a portion of mousse cake with her spoon and, as she brought it to her mouth, glanced sideways at Luo Shu:
"You don't seem the least bit worried about Mukuro Hoshimiya going berserk?"
"Kurumi and Tabane Shinonono are keeping an eye on her. One's hiding in the shadows, the other's holed up in the surveillance room—they'll be watching Mukuro."
Luo Shu, who had been reading a cookbook, looked up at Natsuki Minamiya before replying:
"Besides, it was you who explained Lacus's abilities to me earlier. Have you forgotten?"
"Of course not, but you seem overly confident."
At this, Natsuki put down her spoon, picked up her coffee, and took a sip:
"Don't forget, the key to the contract lies with you. Now that you're being excluded, isn't that a major problem?"
While it was good that Lacus was getting along with Mukuro Hoshimiya, wouldn't excluding Luo Shu pose a risk to the contract signing?
This was what Natsuki thought, and what she asked.
Yet Luo Shu calmly picked up his spoon and took a bite of cake:
"Then do you think Lacus herself isn't aware of this issue?"
"Hmm?" Natsuki raised an eyebrow, then gave Luo Shu a strange look. "Wait, don't tell me you deliberately let Lacus approach Mukuro Hoshimiya?"
Luo Shu chuckled, ate another bite of cake, and said nonchalantly:
"What else?"
"Should I, the guy who just beat Mukuro up, try to play the nice guy? Convince her to sign a contract with me obediently?"
"Do you really think she'd trust me? Instead of pulling out the Master of Seal and Unlock to whack me again?"
"Rather than going through all that trouble, it's better to let Lacus try. After all, didn't you see? Mukuro instinctively called her 'big sister.'"
"...You two." Natsuki looked at Luo Shu, her words trailing off.
When had these two reached such an understanding?
Then, realising that Lacus was acting as a bridge between Luo Shu and Mukuro Hoshimiya, she felt a strange sensation.
Why did it feel like the wife was actively facilitating her husband's affair with another woman?
Was it just her imagination?
Just as Natsuki's expression turned subtle, the wind chimes at the café entrance jingled.
The two turned to look and immediately saw Lacus leading Mukuro Hoshimiya through the door.
Seeing this, Luo Shu raised an eyebrow and smirked:
"Looks like things are halfway successful~"