Chapter 8: I Won't Be Night-Raided by a Loli

“Mr. Shoichi, you’re back.”

“Mm. Is dinner ready?”

“It’s already prepared.”

Dinner had been set out by Miss Yuko. Shoichi sat down in his chair, preparing to eat.

Ai was also called down by Miss Yuko.

At this point, Ai didn't even know what her status was here.

Was this considered adoption?

“Sign this contract,” Shoichi said, handing a document to Ai.

Ai’s eyelid twitched as she looked at it.

The document before her was not an adoption contract.

The terms stated that Party A would provide Party B with food, clothing, shelter, transportation, and education expenses, totaling two million yen per month, which Party B would be required to repay once they possessed the financial capacity to do so.

The interest rate was also standard.

Ai didn't think two million yen was particularly expensive; this man named Shoichi seemed very wealthy, and two million yen might actually be a massive bargain for her.

But she didn't want to...

“You don't have to sign it if you don't want to. Regardless, this contract has already taken effect,” Shoichi said nonchalantly.

“Huh?”

*Is this the power of a conglomerate family? They don't even need you to sign the contract.*

Ai didn't understand.

Why would this scion of a conglomerate family collude with the Organization? And why would he adopt a little girl who had absolutely nothing to do with him?

It couldn't be because he was both evil and kind, could it?

Shoichi swallowed his food and said, “I’ve already had someone handle your school transfer procedures. Don't go back to your old school; it'll only make you unhappy thinking about your parents. From now on, you'll attend Teitan High School.”

Ai listened to Shoichi's arrangements without a word.

He was even quite thoughtful, knowing how to care for a young girl's psychological and emotional state.

Suddenly, his eyebrows twitched. “Teitan High School?”

“What is it?” Shoichi asked curiously. “That school is quite good, and it's closer to my house. Don't bother going back to your original school, Kogendo High.”

“Oh.”

Ai nodded.

*So 'Ai Haibara' really is a genius.*

A child who could skip grades to high school at this age would be useful to a conglomerate family. No wonder he wanted to adopt me.

Once I grow up, Shoichi will surely arrange for me to work like a beast of burden for his family.

As expected, these people never show kindness without a reason.

A person raised from childhood is clearly more trustworthy.

In just one day, this man had investigated everything regarding 'Ai Haibara' and even arranged her school transfer.

Is this the speed of a conglomerate?

The young master seemed very busy; someone even called him while he was eating.

“Hello, Gin? What is it?”

Ai’s ears perked up.

Although Shoichi lowered his voice, he made no attempt to leave the room to avoid being overheard.

Talking to the Organization so "openly"—he was truly arrogant, as if he weren't afraid of anyone finding out about his collusion with the evil organization.

Ai ate with a calm expression, but her ears were listening intently to the conversation between Shoichi and Gin.

“I threw Akemi Miyano's body into the sea.”

Hearing the news about her sister, Ai nearly bit through her chopsticks.

She suppressed the grief in her heart, refusing to let any unnecessary expression appear on her face.

Shoichi showed a clear expression of impatience and said, “What does it matter to me if you can't find the body? Maybe the fish ate it, or maybe you just didn't look hard enough. I shot her three times, okay? She's definitely dead.”

“So annoying. Don't bother me with such trivial matters; I'm busy every day.”

“Where did I hit her? Would hitting her in the hairline suffice? Do I really need you to teach me how to kill?”

“Also, don't bring these messy affairs to me in the future. Having stains on my reputation would be a nuisance to me.”

After hanging up Gin's call, Shoichi continued eating.

Ai's expression turned cold. Her sister had been killed by the man in front of her.

“You're growing, eat more meat.” Shoichi placed a piece of beef in Ai's bowl and affectionately patted her head.

Ai forced a fake smile.

*Endure!*

Even though he was the murderer who killed her sister, the enemy was strong and she was weak. She had no capacity for revenge and could only continue to endure.

Sooner or later, he would let his guard down. She would definitely avenge her sister.

Shoichi continued to pat Ai's head.

Now he wouldn't have to worry about the little girl he was raising suddenly running away in the middle of the night.

“Get some rest early tonight. I have to take you to school tomorrow,” Shoichi said.

...

Midnight.

The lights in Shoichi's room had been extinguished.

Ai tiptoed out of her bedroom, a fruit knife hidden in her sleeve—the very same one Shoichi had mocked her with when she was cutting baby food.

She truly could not stand the feeling of living under the same roof as her enemy.

She quietly opened the door to Shoichi's bedroom, feeling relieved that this man didn't have the habit of locking his door at night.

She approached the side of Shoichi's bed on her tiptoes.

Ai glanced at Shoichi, preparing to strike.

*Sister, after I avenge you, I will come find you!*

“Ai?”

Hearing Shoichi's voice, Ai scrambled to hide the fruit knife, nearly tripping over her own feet.

A large hand pulled Ai toward the bed.

“Are you afraid of sleeping alone?”

After pulling Ai under the covers, Shoichi patted her back and went still.

Ai didn't dare even breathe heavily.

She glanced at Shoichi and confirmed that the man had not opened his eyes once.

A blush of shame appeared on her face.

*How embarrassing. He said one word and I got scared like that. How am I supposed to avenge my sister like this?*

Gaining a bit of courage, Ai pulled out the fruit knife and stared directly at Shoichi's eyes.

Shoichi's heart skipped a beat, and his body went limp.

Ai said softly, “Thank you for taking me in. This fruit knife is a gift for you. That night, you accepted my knife, so I thought you liked it.”

“Thanks.” Shoichi took the fruit knife from Ai's hand.

*Giving the same knife twice, what a stingy brat.*

Ai remained silent, maintaining a very well-behaved appearance.

She felt utterly pathetic.

She had intended to assassinate Shoichi, but it ended up turning into a gift-giving session.

*If I had been a bit more decisive, I would have been caught by the police and thrown in jail long ago!*

Shoichi patted Ai's head and said, “Go to sleep.”

“I...” *I want to go back to my own room.*

“Have you ever read *Romance of the Three Kingdoms*?” Shoichi suddenly asked.

“N-no,” Ai stammered.

Shoichi looked at her suspiciously and said, “Really? You giving me a knife reminds me of the plot where Cao Cao offered a knife to Dong Zhuo. Maybe I'm just overthinking it.”

Ai tucked herself submissively into the covers.

*Blah blah blah, I have no idea what you're talking about.*

*What "Romance of the Three Kingdoms"? What Cao Cao or Dong Zhuo? I've never even heard of them.*

*Sleep, sleep.*

(End of Chapter)