Tokyo Unnatural Forensics

Chapter 575, Night at the Villa!
This villa, arranged by the Imperial Household Agency, boasts a spacious and layered interior. The living room, where they are currently, connects to the open-plan dining room and kitchen. A simple yet elegant chandelier hangs from the high ceiling, casting a warm, soft light. The walls are a soft off-white, adorned with several reproductions of evocative Japanese paintings. Outside the large floor-to-ceiling windows lies a meticulously maintained Japanese garden; in the night, stone lanterns emit a hazy glow, creating a tranquil scene against the backdrop of distant mountains and forests.

A thick, light gray carpet covers the center of the living room, where large, comfortable fabric sofas and armchairs are placed. The solid wood coffee table and side tables have smooth lines and are decorated with exquisite ceramic tableware and art pieces.

The entire space exudes an understated luxury and controlled tranquility, with every detail showcasing exceptional taste and institutional order, as if even the flow of air follows some invisible order.

The living room was filled with a much more relaxed atmosphere.

Uesugi Muneyuki was busy in the open-plan western-style kitchen, skillfully searing steaks, the enticing aroma of oil gradually wafting through the air. He wore a plain apron, looking like a considerate and loving family man, subtly overlapping with his previous image as a gentle and refined nobleman.

Perhaps it was the lively atmosphere, or perhaps it was a subtle hint from Uesugi's gaze, but Minami suddenly clapped her hands and suggested with a smile, "It'll be a while before Muneyuki-kun prepares dinner. How about we play a game? It's so boring waiting."

"A game? What game?" Saito Asuka looked up, somewhat curious. Her doubts lingered, but seeing how interested the others seemed, she too felt a little playful.

"How about playing 'UNO'? The rules are simple, and it's fun with lots of people." Miss Minami took out a brightly colored deck of cards from the living room cabinet and waved it around.

This is indeed a suitable choice for the current situation. It doesn't require a complicated strategy; it mainly relies on luck and a little bit of reaction to quickly liven up the atmosphere.

Mikoto elegantly picked up her teacup, took a sip, and smiled, "Sounds good. It's been a long time since I've played this game."

Erina Ikeda shrugged, looking indifferent but willing to play along: "Sure, it'll be more fun if we bet a little something?"

Minami seemed to have been prepared, or rather, had received some kind of tacit understanding. Her eyes sparkled as she smiled and said, "As for the prize... let's make it related to Muneyuki's hobby!"

"Winning brings rewards, losing brings punishment!"

Asuka's cheeks flushed slightly. She felt that this reward and punishment was a bit strange, but seeing that her nominal mother, Mikoto, and the ultimate busty monster both seemed unfazed and even a little eager to try it out, she couldn't bear to spoil the fun. She could only quietly agree, "...Okay."

The game began. UNO's simple rules quickly warmed up the atmosphere. Several people sat around the coffee table, and the sounds of cards falling, exclamations, and laughter rose and fell.

"Reverse! It's your turn, Ikeda-san!"

"Draw Four! Sorry, Asuka-chan!"

"UNO! I only have one left!"

For a moment, the room was filled with laughter and chatter, while Uesugi Muneyuki simply watched their game with a smile, a peculiar meaning flashing in his eyes.

Bad Minami, good Minami.

While they played, they also chatted about various interesting things happening around them.

Mikoto shared some embarrassing stories from her early days with Uesugi, as well as interesting anecdotes from her time as a forensic pathologist. Ikeda talked about some interesting things in the fashion world and her mother's life in Spain, including Barcelona and Real Madrid. Minami and Asuka chatted about some interesting behind-the-scenes stories in their lives recently.

For a moment, the living room was filled with the girls' cheerful laughter. The subtle barriers and sense of competition that had existed before seemed to have faded considerably during the games and casual conversations, and their relationship seemed much closer.

Asuka would occasionally glance at Uesugi Muneyuki, who was busy in the kitchen.

Forced into the task by Minami, he focused intently on frying the steaks, occasionally adjusting the oven temperature or refilling everyone's glasses with juice, just like a perfect logistics manager.

He rarely interrupted, but occasionally, when he heard something interesting, he would offer a gentle smile.

But Asuka felt that something was off.

The harmonious atmosphere felt so natural, yet also as if it had been carefully orchestrated.

There is a conspiracy!
Asuka, who is best at reading the room, felt that something was wrong. The game was suggested by Minami, but the rewards and punishments were not clearly stated. Uesugi Muneyuki, on the other hand, was detached from the matter, yet omnipresent, like a background figure in this girls' gathering.

However, she had only recently awakened her abilities in the Otherworld, and this feeling was still fleeting.

As Asuka became engrossed in the game's outcome, the amusing gossip about her seniors, and the increasingly familiar interactions, her doubts faded away.

The aroma of the steak grew stronger, and everyone's laughter became more relaxed. She herself gradually loosened up and even began to take the initiative to "attack," enjoying the simple fun of the game.

"Draw Two! Assistant, it's your turn!" Asuka played her card with a hint of smugness, temporarily putting aside the strange feeling that she couldn't quite put her mind to.

The game came to an end in a seemingly lighthearted and enjoyable atmosphere.

However, Asuka Saito gradually realized that she seemed to be caught in an invisible net. Mikoto Ishihara's seemingly casual guidance when playing her cards, Erina Ikeda's crucial "assistance," and Minami Watanabe's perfectly timed "mistakes" were all subtly pushing her towards a dead end. When her last card was blocked by Minami's precise "Draw Four," she suddenly realized that this was a tacitly orchestrated scheme by the three of them.

"Oh dear, Asuka-chan, it seems you've completely lost." Ishihara Mikoto put down her cards, her tone gentle, but her eyes held a subtle, unspoken meaning.

Reina Ikeda leaned back lazily on the sofa, a playful smile playing on her lips: "Well then, according to the rules, the final punishment is coming."

"Alright, let's eat first." Uesugi Muneyuki brought the pan-fried steak to the table, along with roasted vegetables and a delicate sauce, the aroma filling the air.

The group sat around a rectangular solid wood dining table, and the subtle atmosphere brought about by the previous game "punishment" seemed to be temporarily diluted by the delicious food.

"I'm starting," everyone said, clasping their hands together.

Asuka cut the tender and juicy steak, her taste buds conquered by the deliciousness, but she was still bothered by her previous failure, and she secretly glanced at the others.

Mikoto Ishihara ate with extreme elegance, chewing slowly and occasionally exchanging a few words in hushed tones with Muneyuki Uesugi beside her. The conversation was unrelated to romance, consisting only of ordinary conversations about forensic medicine. However, when her eyes met his, they always revealed a complex emotion that was difficult to completely conceal, a mixture of dependence and resentment.

Erina Ikeda ate with great gusto, seemingly unaffected by the food. In fact, she was in high spirits because of her "victory" in the game. Her mixed-race features looked particularly striking under the lights, exuding a wild vitality.

When Uesugi Muneyuki poured her red wine, she would look up and give him a smile that was both provocative and familiar. Her bare feet, beneath her long, beautiful legs, would even secretly rub against Uesugi's calves under the table.

Minami plays the role of a sweet fiancée, occasionally making jokes with Uesugi Muneyuki, quietly praising his cooking skills, her smile sweet, her eyes full of possessiveness. Uesugi Muneyuki responds with a gentle smile, occasionally patting the back of her hand, their behavior intimate and natural.

Uesugi Muneyuki himself remained the gentlemanly host. He attentively poured drinks and handed out tissues to each lady, discussing historical anecdotes of Karuizawa or interesting stories from the forensic field. His extensive knowledge and witty conversation perfectly controlled the atmosphere at the table. He seemed completely detached from the previous secret games and punishments, simply a hospitable and skilled culinary host.

Asuka watched this seemingly harmonious scene, but a strange feeling lingered in her heart.

Something's wrong, something's very wrong!

After enjoying a sumptuous dinner, a sense of satisfaction and laziness filled the air. Everyone took a shower and changed clothes. Before resting, Minami once again enthusiastically took out a large fortune-telling box made of washi paper, filled with a handful of fortune slips.

Erena and Ishihara brought four bedding sets and placed them in the center of the living room.

"The last bedtime game! Whatever number you draw is yours!" Minami's eyes sparkled, but Asuka noticed that Ishihara and Ikeda exchanged a knowing look. There was no surprise in their eyes, only a tacit approval that said, "It's finally here."

Smiling, she handed the box to Erina Ikeda first: "You go first! Number 2!"

Ikeda raised an eyebrow, extended her slender fingers, and pulled a folded slip of paper from the box. She took a deep breath, seemingly a little nervous, before slowly unfolding it.

After seeing the words clearly, she visibly breathed a sigh of relief, and even a satisfied smile appeared on her lips.

"I drew black ultra-thin glossy stockings to match with YSL black stiletto heels," Erena said with a hint of languid anticipation.

She immediately sprang into action, changing into the designated outfit without any hesitation in front of everyone. The black stockings were extremely thin, with a lustrous, oily sheen, making her already straight and slender legs appear even more tight and alluring. Every curve was perfectly outlined beneath the shimmering black film, exuding a mature and sexy tension. She then slipped on a pair of classic YSL black patent leather stiletto heels, the delicate heels making her ankles appear even more exquisite. Instantly, she radiated an aura of power, like a bewitching rose blooming in the dark night.

"Wow! Rena-chan's BLACK stockings! They suit you so well!" Minami exclaimed dramatically, then pounced on Ikeda like a puppy seeing its favorite toy, hugging her beautiful legs clad in glossy black stockings. She pressed her soft cheek against the stockings, rubbing it back and forth contentedly, muttering indistinct praises, "Ah~ so smooth and comfortable!"

Ikeda was taken aback at first, then she was amused. The tall beauty reached out and ruffled Minami's hair, her expression a mix of indulgence and exasperation: "Hey, you're exaggerating, Minami."

Why do these engaged couples look more and more alike?

"I don't care, Rena-chan's black stockings are the best! Muneyuki likes them, and so do I!" Minami rubbed and licked her like a puppy, "mua~"

"Alright, it's my turn to draw." Ishihara Mikoto covered her mouth and chuckled, her eyes filled with amusement. "I'm number 3."

"Wait! Wait!" Asuka, watching this seemingly absurd yet hilarious scene—Minami's infatuation with Ikeda's black-stockinged legs, Ikeda's irresistibly sexy posture, and Ishihara's nonchalant smile—finally couldn't hold back any longer: "What's going on? What are you guys trying to do?"

"What do you want to play? It's very simple!" Minami said, rubbing against Rena's black stockings while pointing to four bedding sets lined up on the ground. "Numbers 1, 2, 3, and 4 correspond to these four bedding sets. Then we draw lots, and whatever we draw, we have to dress up according to what's written on the lot. Then we take turns. After number 2, it's number 3, after number 3, it's number 4, and after number 4, we start over. Everyone takes turns again~ Rena-chan is number 2, Ishihara is number 3, and I'm number 4!"

"Huh? Huh? Huh? Huh?" Asuka had a bad feeling and asked tremblingly, "Then, I... I'm number 1?"

"It's me, I'm number 1." Sugi Muneyuki, who was standing next to her, finally couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"Sorry, Asuka, this is an adult game, kids can't participate!"

"It's time for the kids to go to sleep now. Asuka, your room is the second one around the corner on the second floor!"

At this moment, Mikoto Ishihara also pulled out: "ANA flight attendant uniform, gray 40D semi-transparent pantyhose, paired with silver low-cut brown shiny high heels..."

"My turn! My turn!" Minami immediately drew her lot quickly. When the young lady saw the name on the lot, her face turned bright red: "It's a JK uniform? I haven't worn one in years..."

After the first round of drawing, Uesugi Muneyuki took a deep breath and prepared himself.

Miss Minami said that the game won't end until Number 1 begs for mercy.

We can't back down, we'll fight until dawn!
(End of this chapter)