«Ugh! I want to go to the water park too! This isn't fair!»
Yuzu whines.
She hops around the house like a spoiled brat.
But Kagura doesn't budge.
No allowance for an entire month.
She has to pay for the store damage with her own money.
No going out for two months, except for school.
«These are just the first punishments that came to mind! Don't think it ends here! I'll keep piling on more as I go!»
Her mother is absolutely furious.
So furious that even Shin decides to take a walk around the villa's huge courtyard.
He may have been the strongest Monster Reaper of his time, but he knows well—an angry woman is scarier than any bloodthirsty demon.
To the delight of Chantal—and even a little of Rika—they get to enjoy a relaxing Sunday without Yuzu.
«Ah... now this is the life...» Itsu sighs.
He's lying on a deck chair by the pool, completely relaxed.
He's now a regular part of the group.
Hakuto lounges next to him.
Rika, meanwhile, is soaking in the nearby jacuzzi.
Hakuto doesn't take his eyes off her—not even for a second.
A sudden ambush could happen anytime.
Someone could try to kidnap her.
Even in a place this crowded, the threat is real.
But that's not the only reason Hakuto stays alert.
He knows exactly what could happen if Rika's powers went out of control.
He's already seen it—back at the swimsuit store.
And as if that wasn't enough, she's wearing the red swimsuit she bought that afternoon—the sexy one Yuzu helped her choose.
Even without demonic powers, she draws in guys like a magnet.
Hakuto has lost count of how many have approached her so far.
Luckily, none of them have been too pushy.
Chantal is a totally different story.
She monopolizes everyone's attention—
not just because of her stunning figure in a high-cut one-piece swimsuit, or at least, not only because of that.
In just three hours, she's managed to argue with half the people at the pool.
And only because she hasn't run into the other half yet.
She smashed the portable stereo of a group of boys playing music too loud...
«I told you to turn that fucking volume down! Are you deaf or what?! I'll take care of it myself!»
—CRACK!
...she got into it with a boy who splashed her while she was sunbathing...
«You idiot, can't you see diving is forbidden here?! Do that again and your next dive will be from a skyscraper window!»
...she even argued with a six-year-old who cut in front of her in line for a waterslide, and made him cry.
«How dare you cut in front of me, you little shit!»
Needless to say, Hakuto, Itsu, and Rika pretend they don't know her.
All in all, it's a peaceful Sunday morning—except for Chantal.
«Hakotto, look down there!» Itsu points toward the crowd near the entrance.
There's a stir—something's happening.
Hakuto sits up from his lounge chair.
Itsu is right.
A group of people is forming a circle, like they're gathering around something.
«Probably some VIP showed up. This is the most famous water park in Japan,» Hakuto says, then leans back again.
«And all of it paid for by the Kurotsuki family. Yesterday, a free night. Today, the water park. I'm starting to enjoy this.»
Hakuto gives him an annoyed look.
«You're such a freeloader...»
Itsu grins.
«Yup!»
The crowd keeps buzzing.
It grows thicker, then shifts—like they're orbiting something.
Hakuto notices it's not just regular visitors anymore.
Photographers. Journalists. Cameramen.
They're all mixed in with the crowd.
«You were right, Hakotto. It really is a VIP. Your sixth sense is flawless!» Itsu says.
«My sixth sense is the reason you're still alive,» Hakuto replies.
«Oh, come on! You underestimate me that much? You should've known from my fight with Chantal—I wasn't even going all out against you!»
«Right... you and I need to have a serious talk about your true strength!»
Itsu sighs.
«Do we really have to do this now? Can't you give me a break—at least on Sundays?»
Shouting. Camera shutters clicking.
Reporters yelling over each other.
The noise grows louder and louder.
So loud that Hakuto can't even hear Itsu anymore.
«But that really is Ana Garroza! She's even more beautiful in person!»
«Miss Garroza, what brings you to Japan? Are you here for a photoshoot or a movie?»
Those are the only two sentences Hakuto can clearly make out through all the noise.
«Ana Garroza…?» Hakuto sounds confused. «Who's that? Never heard of her.»
Itsu looks at him like he's seeing an alien.
«Are you serious?! And you're supposed to be the human here! She's a rising star in fashion and acting! Everyone knows her! Hakotto, where have you been living?!»
«In a place where people pronounce my name correctly…»
After a few minutes, the crowd starts to thin out.
The bodyguards step in and push back the onlookers and media.
And then, Ana Garroza is revealed—
in all her unimaginable beauty.
Hakuto holds his breath.
She's tall, with sharp Mediterranean features.
Long, wavy raven hair.
Slightly almond-shaped eyes.
Amber irises that shimmer.
Her skin is deeply tanned.
But when she takes off her bathrobe and sits on a reserved lounge chair, wearing only a thin black swimsuit, that's when her beauty truly hits.
Her chest is massive, even bigger than Yuzu's.
Her body is flawless.
Statuesque.
Every detail perfect.
Her hips and ass make Rika's look average.
Rosy lipstick brings out her full lips.
Hakuto and Itsu can't stop staring.
They're mesmerized.
Hypnotized.
But then Chantal storms in.
«What's all this noise over her?!» she snaps, dropping onto the lounge chair next to Itsu's.
Ana is wearing sunglasses, but Hakuto feels it.
For just a second—just a moment—she looks their way.
And she smiles.