Tokyo: After years of stagnation, the heiress of the yakuza arrives.

"Bang bang bang!"

"Open the door! It's me, teacher, your good roommate Shido!"

Kuroba Shido stood at the door, frantically banging on it.

"Snap!"

After Kuroba Shido's persistent harassment and knocking, the door in front of him finally opened. Amamiya Kaoru, her face flushed, clenched her fists and gritted her teeth as she stared at Kuroba Shido in the doorway.

"If you say anything like that again, don't come back. Go live elsewhere!"

Threaten them fiercely!

Kuroba Shido blinked: "Teacher, do you also have mind-reading abilities like the club president?"

"Mind reading? What mind reading? What are you talking about?" Amamiya Kaoru asked, puzzled.

Kuroba Shido raised an eyebrow, then looked into Amamiya Kaoru's eyes and frantically muttered...

You're an old ox or a horse, you're an old ox or a horse, you're an old ox or a horse...

Amamiya Kaoru's expression remained strange and puzzled, with a large question mark above her head. After a moment of distraction, she realized that Kuroba Shido was staring straight at her, and a look of panic flashed in her eyes.

Quickly averting their gazes...

My hands clenched tightly, my palms became sweaty, and my heart began to race, thump, thump...

Why is that kid staring at her like that...?

Is she really that pretty?

Kuroba Shido: You're an old ox, you're an old ox, you're an old ox...

The strange situation remained deadlocked for a while before Kuroba Shido finally looked away and stopped the frantic muttering in his mind.

Alright, test complete. Not some filthy, wheelchair-bound character like the Minister, just an ordinary, harmless, socially exploitative old man!

The risk assessment is... harmless to humans and animals!

"It's nothing, just pretend he was talking in his sleep. Let's go inside and talk about it!"

Kuroba Shido acted as if he knew the place well, talking to himself, and then walked straight past Amamiya Kaoru, who was standing guard at the door, and went inside the house.

Amamiya Kaoru: "..."

You son of a bitch...

At least show her some respect, okay? After all, she's the head of this household. Show some presence and authority, okay?

Amamiya Kaoru stood at the entrance, watching Kuroba Shido skillfully change his shoes and walk into the living room, as if this apartment was his birthplace. For a moment, she didn't know which curse to utter first.

Isn't this kid being a little too natural?

Anyone who didn't know better would think she was just a doorman forced to stand guard.

"Hey kid, don't act like you're at home here."

"Teacher, you're being too polite."

Without turning his head, Kuroba Shido said, "What do you mean by treating this as my own home? This place is my strategic refuge, a temporary respawn point. Teacher, you are the respawn point administrator."

Amamiya Kaoru: "Who's the administrator?!"

"That godfather?"

"roll!"

Amamiya Kaoru almost kicked him.

Shido Kuroba had already entered the living room when he stopped.

Because he saw the coffee table.

To be precise, I saw that lump of stuff on the coffee table.

It was pitch black.

Burnt.

It's all wrinkled.

The plate contained what looked like an unidentified object that had survived being sunk in Tokyo Bay, a volcanic eruption, and being deep-fried, before finally returning to the human world to protest its fate.

That thing lay there quietly.

It didn't move.

But it has a very strong presence.

He's better than many living people.

For a moment, Shido Kuroba didn't even dare to recognize it as food at first glance.

If it weren't for the chopsticks next to it, if it weren't for the fact that this was a coffee table, and if it weren't for the lingering smell of "a small-scale battle had just taken place in the kitchen," he might have thought it was a piece of modern art that Amamiya Kaoru had brought back from some strange exhibition.

The title is—

"A Defense After Being Beaten Up by Society"

What's even more terrifying is that the whole family of Big Black was right next to that plate of food.

Big Black stood at the very front, its entire silhouette exuding a heavy aura.

Big Black's wife was squatting behind, with Little Black beside her.

Three mice were gathered around the dish, the scene so solemn it resembled some kind of funeral service.

The Black Feather Warrior said, "..."

Are we going to eat this lump of food?

Will it win?

You're dead, jailer!

"Big Black".

Big Black turned around.

A man and a mouse stared at each other.

Kuroba Shido's eyes suddenly filled with sorrow, like an old father who had finally found his long-suffering son in the ruins of war.

"You suffered while I was away."

Big Black: "..."

It did not speak.

But its eyes seemed to say it all.

bitter.

too bitter.

When I lived in the rat-infested area, although the conditions were poor, at least the food was clearly categorized.

Rice dregs are rice dregs.

The bread crumbs are bread crumbs.

Cordyceps is Cordyceps.

Even with the expired food that Shido Kuroba occasionally throws out, one can roughly determine what the food was like in its previous life.

But this thing on the coffee table is different now.

It has lost the basic dignity of food.

When Amamiya Kaoru walked in, she saw Kuroba Shido's expression, which looked as if he had just returned from a prisoner-of-war camp, and her face darkened.

"What kind of expression is that?!"

Kuroba Shido slowly raised his head and pointed to the plate on the coffee table: "Teacher, did you make this?"

Amamiya Kaoru's expression stiffened for a moment, then she forced a smile and said, "Yeah, what's wrong?"

"It's nothing."

Kuroba Shido shook his head: "I just didn't expect that Master had already mastered the ability to turn ingredients into cursed objects."

Amamiya Kaoru: "???"

Shimotsuki Airi sat on the sofa, hugging a cushion, watching TV with a blank expression.

Upon hearing this, the elementary school student finally spoke up: "Uncle, Xiaoyu said this is dinner."

The Black Feather Warrior said, "..."

He looked at Amamiya Kaoru.

Amamiya Kaoru blushed and said, "It's just that it doesn't look good!"

Kuroba Shido stared at the lump of stuff.

"Teacher, some things can't be described as having a bad appearance."

"What's it called?"

"The appearance of punishment is very good."

Amamiya Kaoru: "?"

"The punishment in criminal law."

Amamiya Kaoru: "..."

Shimotsuki Airi lowered her head, buried her face in the pillow, and her shoulders trembled.

Kuroba Shido walked to the coffee table and squatted down to look at Daikoku.

"Big Black, have you eaten?"

Big Black silently lowered its head.

There was a small black mark around the mouth.

Kuroba Shido's eyes froze instantly.

He slowly reached out, gently touched the black residue around the big black mouth with his fingertip, and then smelled it.

Burnt smell.

Soy sauce flavor.

There was also a strange smell that I couldn't quite describe.

It was as if Amamiya Kaoru's pride had been burned in the pot.

Shido Kuroba closed his eyes.

"Big Black".

His voice was very soft.

Why didn't you wait for me?

Amamiya Kaoru: "..."

Airi Shimotsuki: "..."

Big Black: "..."

Kuroba Shido opened his eyes again, his gaze now resolute.

"Teacher, I don't blame you."

Amamiya Kaoru's lips twitched: "Why does that sound so irritating?"

"Really, I don't blame you."

Shido Kuroba looked at her: "After all, when humanity explores the unknown, there is always a price to pay. Behind every Nobel Prize are countless failed experiments."

Amamiya Kaoru: "So?"

Kuroba Shido pointed at the big black dog: "It's the lab rat from that failed experiment."

Amamiya Kaoru: "..."

Big Black lowered its head and hugged its little paws tightly.

Kuroba Shido looked distressed.

"Look, this has turned the child into an autistic person."

Shimotsuki Airi looked up and corrected her seriously: "Dahei isn't a child."

"Big Black has a wife and children; he's the pillar of his family, which makes his situation even worse."

Kuroba Shido turned to look at his wife, Dahei, and Xiaohei: "You two have also suffered. Watching the head of the family eat this kind of thing must have left you with quite a psychological trauma."

Big Black's wife: "..."

Xiao Hei: "..."

Kaoru Amamiya, finally losing her temper, yelled, "Hey, I'm still here!"

"Teacher, I only put it so tactfully because you are here."

"Is that what you call being tactful?"

"certainly."

Kuroba Shido pointed at the plate: "I haven't even said that this is kitchen nuclear waste yet."

Amamiya Kaoru: "..."

You son of a bitch...

Shido Kuroba was completely unaware of the danger, or rather, he pretended not to notice it even though he was aware of it.

He picked up the plate from the coffee table with a very natural movement.

Kuroba Shido carried the plate to the trash can.

Amamiya Kaoru immediately became alert: "What are you doing?"

Kuroba Shido turned around, his voice heavy with sorrow: "Teacher, let it go. It's already suffering enough."

Amamiya Kaoru: "..."

pat.

The unidentified black substance in the plate was poured into the trash can.

The sound was very loud.

It's like a failed life coming to a head.

Kuroba Shido even tightened the opening of the garbage bag a little more carefully.

"Teacher, remember to throw it away separately later."

Why?

"I'm afraid it will react chemically with other garbage."

Amamiya Kaoru: "..."

After finishing pouring, Kuroba Shido returned to the coffee table and took out a cordyceps from his pocket.

His big, dark eyes lit up instantly.

It was a kind of light of redemption seen after surviving a catastrophe.

Kuroba Shido broke off a small piece of cordyceps and handed it to Dahei: "Here, Dahei, rinse your mouth and protect your throat. Your throat must be quite damaged after eating that stuff."

Big Black hugged the cordyceps and started crunching away.

Kuroba Shido broke off a little more for his wife, Dahei, and Xiaohei.

"You should also have some to calm your nerves, so that the teacher's cooking doesn't leave a shadow on your young minds."

Amamiya Kaoru: "I already told you I'm still here!"

Kuroba Shido shook his head, no longer intending to listen to the old man's ramblings. He shoved the big black dog into his pocket and prepared to leave...

Tap tap tap, Kuroba Shido had only taken two steps when he suddenly stopped and turned around.

"Um?"

Shimotsuki Airi sat on the sofa.

She was hugging a pillow, her face still slightly flushed from trying to suppress her laughter. When she noticed Kuroba Shido looking over, she immediately put on a cool, aloof elementary school student look.

Kuroba Shido blinked: "You good-for-nothing brat, what are you doing here?"

Airi Shimotsuki: "..."

Her little face puffed up immediately.

"That old man is a complete idiot!"

It's completely harmless... Honey, you're swearing like you're being affectionate.

Shimotsuki Airi stared at Big Black: "Where are you taking Big Black?"

Actually, Kaoru Amamiya wanted to ask Shido Kuroba why he was going out so late, but the words came out in a different way...

"The Jingu family." Kuroba Shido blinked.

"The Jingu family?"

"Why are you going to the Jingu family so late?" Amamiya Kaoru frowned.

"Because Dahei still has an unfinished mission!" Kuroba Shido's expression turned serious.

"You'll understand when you reach my age, teacher..." Kuroba Shido shook his head and sighed, looking like he had experienced many vicissitudes of life.

Amamiya Kaoru: "..."

Airi Shimotsuki: "..."

Kaoru Amamiya was about to make a comment, but when her gaze fell on Shido Kuroba's face, she suddenly stopped.

"etc."

She took a step closer.

Kuroba Shido asked alertly, "Sensei, what are you doing?"

What happened to your face?

The black-feathered warrior asked, "Face?"

Amamiya Kaoru reached out and pinched his chin, turning his face slightly to the side.

Kuroba Shido then remembered.

Oh, right.

Kiyoshi Miyazaki's slap.

I was busy testing whether the old cow or horse could read minds at the door, then I went inside to rescue Big Black, and then had a passionate argument with Shimotsuki Airi. I almost forgot that I still had a fresh slap mark on my face.

As Amamiya Kaoru looked at the five-finger mark that hadn't completely faded, her expression gradually became subtle.

"Who hit him?"

"Humans only know how to be biological..."

Speak like a human.

Kiyoshi Miyazaki.

Amamiya Kaoru: "..."

Looking at the handprint on Shido Kuroba's face, Kaoru Amamiya suddenly felt like laughing.

But for some reason, I didn't laugh out loud.

Kiyoshi Miyazaki did it.

In the past, she would probably have just said, "Serves him right, who told this brat to be so foul-mouthed."

After all, it's not surprising that Kuroba Shido gets beaten up for his sharp tongue.

But now, looking at the mark that hadn't faded, she felt a strange unease.

It's very shallow.

It felt like being gently pricked by something.

"Come here." The voice became much gentler.

Amamiya Kaoru turned around to get the first-aid kit.

Kurobashi said, "Master, isn't that unnecessary? It's just a slap mark; it'll be gone in a bit."

"come over."

Amamiya Kaoru turned to look at him, glared at him, displaying a rare, serious demeanor. Perhaps she should show some respect...

Kuroba Shido walked over.

A few minutes later.

Kuroba Shido sat on the sofa.

Kaoru Amamiya held an ice pack and pressed it against the side of his face.

"Ouch—Teacher, be gentle."

"Now you know what pain is?"

"It didn't hurt this much when I was hit, mainly because your technique wasn't good, teacher."

Kaoru Amamiya increased the pressure on her hand slightly.

Kuroba said, "Hiss—good, good, good! Teacher's technique is unparalleled, the pride of the infirmary, the master of Tokyo's ice packs!"

Amamiya Kaoru said irritably, "Stop being so cheeky."

While applying a face mask to Kuroba Shido, she asked, "What exactly did you do to offend that young lady from the Miyazaki family?"

"Speak, what did you do?"

Kuroba Shido's expression was serious: "I simply honestly fulfilled the demands of the club president, who accused the evil club president of using club power to oppress the poor, powerless club members..."

Amamiya Kaoru: "..."

Speak like a human.

"She insists on seeing my treasure," the Black Feathered Taoist said briefly.

Amamiya Kaoru paused.

Shimotsuki Airi also looked up.

The living room fell silent for a second.

Amamiya Kaoru slowly looked at Kuroba Shido.

"What did you show her?"

The Black Feathered Warrior said, "Hey, I can't say. If I do, it won't be a treasure anymore. Since it's a treasure, how can I talk about it? If I do, can it still be a treasure...?"

Amamiya Kaoru: "..."

Airi Shimotsuki: "???"

What on earth is this guy saying?

Amamiya Kaoru pressed the ice pack back onto his face: "Don't mess with her in the future. These young ladies all have strange tempers and are naturally domineering. Hitting people is the least of their worries. Don't provoke them in the future, just stay away from them. If you really can't handle it, come and hide here with your teacher..."

"It's alright, mainly because of the club benefits, otherwise I would have left long ago." Kuroba Shido blinked, and could tell that Amamiya Kaoru was giving him kind advice from her own experience, without any ill intent.

The kind old cow and horse are so cute!

"Club benefits?"

Kaoru Amamiya caught the key words.

"What club benefits?"

"It's nothing, just a regular little thing," Kuroba Shido blinked and said.

"What little thing?" Amamiya Kaoru asked, puzzled.

"house."

Amamiya Kaoru: "???"

The living room quieted down.

Shimotsuki Airi also looked up at him.

Kuroba Shido coughed: "To be precise, it's an apartment, two bedrooms and a living room, with a bathroom, a kitchen, air conditioning and a security system, and it can also provide a separate activity area for the Kuroba family."

Kaoru Amamiya's hand, holding the ice pack, froze in mid-air.

She looked at Kuroba Shido.

He remained silent for a while.

The black-feathered warrior asked, "Teacher?"

Amamiya Kaoru snapped out of her daze and pressed the ice pack back onto his face.

"oh."

The voice was very faint.

Shido Kuroba blinked.

wrong.

This reaction is wrong.

Based on Amamiya Kaoru's normal reaction, she should now be saying something like, "Damn rich people," "The Miyazaki family is really rich," or "You little brat, are you trying to live off a woman?"

But she didn't.

She just said "oh".

Shido Kuroba sensed that the atmosphere was a little subtle.

Amamiya Kaoru took the ice pack off her head and bent down to organize the first-aid kit.

"So you won't have to go back to your dilapidated house anymore, right?"

Her tone was very casual.

It sounded like a casual question.

"Your place is small, dilapidated, and infested with rats."

Big Black poked its head out of Kuroba Shido's pocket.

"squeak?"

Upon seeing Daikoku, Amamiya Kaoru added, "Although it seems now that you were the one who raised the rat."

Kuroba Shido scratched his head: "Probably. The club president said it's a club benefit, so we'll probably be moving in later."

Amamiya Kaoru lowered her head and put the medicine back into the first-aid kit.

"fine."

It's pretty good.

It's better than her place.

It's much better than that dilapidated house in the rat district of Kuroba Shido.

It has security, air conditioning, a bathroom, and a kitchen.

It can even provide a separate activity area for the Big Black family.

Kiyoshi Miyazaki thought of everything very carefully.

The thoughtfulness left Amamiya Kaoru somewhat at a loss for words.

She should have been happy for Shido Kuroba.

A kid who ate discounted rice balls every day, fought with rats for food, and lived in a dilapidated rental room finally had a decent place to live.

This is of course a good thing.

But she wasn't the one who did this good deed.

It was Kiyoshi Miyazaki who did it.

Amamiya Kaoru closed the first-aid kit, her voice still calm.

"Then why did you come here?"

Kurobashi said, "Catch the big black one."

Amamiya Kaoru: "..."

You son of a bitch...

Eh...

His answer was so natural.

Naturally, Kaoru Amamiya didn't know whether to be angry or laugh.

"Little Rain." Shimotsuki Airi, who had been slacking off for half a day, spoke softly and nudged Amamiya Kaoru.

Amamiya Kaoru looked at her: "Hmm?"

Shimotsuki Airi pointed towards the kitchen: "Is your pot still on?"

Amamiya Kaoru: "..."

Three seconds later.

A sharp, popping sound came from the kitchen.

"Aaaaah! My bad!"

The Black Feather Warrior said, "..."

Amamiya Kaoru rushed into the kitchen and frantically turned off the stove.

Shimotsuki Airi silently looked at Kuroba Shido.

"Uncle, you're not staying here anymore?"

"I wasn't originally planning to live here; I'm just taking temporary refuge."

"oh."

Shimotsuki Airi lowered her head.

Her fingers gripped the edge of the cushion.

"What about Big Black?"

"Big Black's wife and Little Black, please stay here for now."

Why?

"The Jingu family has a great beauty."

Who is Da Mei?

"A fancy mouse undergoing boxing training."

Airi Shimotsuki: "..."

"Sir, are you really human?"

Kuroba Shido shook his head: "I am the human form of Ultraman, a high-level intelligent being from the universe!"

Airi Shimotsuki: "..."

The old man is definitely not human...

Kuroba Shido checked the time and stood up.

"Alright, it's about time we went. Otherwise, if Qingzi really sends someone to pick me up, I'm afraid your building will be surrounded by people in black suits."

As Amamiya Kaoru watched him stand up, she subconsciously said, "Your face isn't finished yet."

"No need. Anyway, if we go to the Jingu family, we might get beaten up again."

Amamiya Kaoru: "..."

That sounds terrible.

But coming from Shido Kuroba, it inexplicably had a "he deserved it" feel to it.

Kuroba Shido walked to the coffee table and gave instructions to his wife, Daikuro, and his son, Kokuro.

"You two stay here for now. Don't wander off, and don't eat the food the teacher makes. If you get really hungry, eat some cordyceps. The cordyceps are in the bag."

Amamiya Kaoru: "Hey!"

Kuroba Shido then looked at Shimotsuki Airi: "You good-for-nothing brat, help take care of your wife, Kuro, and your little Kuro."

Shimotsuki Airi puffed out her cheeks: "I'm not a money-loser."

"Will you take care of him?"

"……take care of."

"Good boy." It was quite rare for Shido Kuroba to say that.

Kuroba Shido raised his hand to rub her head.

Shimotsuki Airi immediately stepped back, watching him warily.

"Uncle, don't touch my head, it will make me grow shorter."

"Who taught you that?"

"Light rain."

Shido Kuroba looked at Kaoru Amamiya.

Kaoru Amamiya averted her gaze.

The Black Feather Warrior said, "..."

Teacher, why do you teach everything?

He carefully tucked Big Black away, then walked to the door with his cane.

Amamiya Kaoru followed and stood by the entrance.

Be careful on the road.

She was stunned for a moment when she said that.

Kuroba Shido was also taken aback for a moment.

Then he smiled.

"Don't worry, teacher, I'm best at surviving."

Amamiya Kaoru: "..."

This makes people even more uneasy.

The door closed.

The room fell silent immediately.

The living room, which had just seemed a bit crowded and noisy, suddenly felt like a piece of it was missing.

It's not that a piece of space is missing.

The sound is missing a piece.

Only Big Black's wife and Little Black remained on the coffee table.

Little Black poked its head out, as if looking for Big Black.

Shimotsuki Airi sat back on the sofa, hugged a cushion, and looked down at Kuro.

Amamiya Kaoru stood by the entrance hall, and only turned back after a few seconds.

"Ellie".

"Um?"

Are you hungry?

Shimotsuki Airi glanced at the kitchen.

silence.

"Light rain."

"Um?"

"Let's order takeout."

Amamiya Kaoru: "..."

This time, she did not refute it.

"Alright."

Amamiya Kaoru took out her phone and sat down on the sofa.

Shimotsuki Airi moved aside a little to make room.

After Amamiya Kaoru sat down, the living room remained quiet for a few seconds.

Suddenly, Shimotsuki Airi spoke up: "Little Rain, is Uncle not coming anymore?"

Amamiya Kaoru paused for a moment.

"Who knows?"

She glanced at her phone screen and said casually, "That kid never tells the truth. He'll probably come over for another free meal tomorrow."

Shimotsuki Airi looked towards the kitchen.

"Uncle probably won't eat the food Xiaoyu makes."

Amamiya Kaoru: "..."

Heartbroken.

Shimotsuki Airi lowered her head and patted Kuro's head.

"It's been a bit quiet since the uncle left."

Amamiya Kaoru did not speak.

After a while, she finally opened the food delivery app.

"It's better to be quiet."

Shimotsuki Airi looked at her.

"Xiaoyu, are you unhappy?"

Amamiya Kaoru stopped pointing. "No way!"

"You're lying." Shimotsuki Airi instantly exposed Amamiya Kaoru's lie.

Amamiya Kaoru: "..."

"A little bit."

Why?

"Children shouldn't ask so many questions."

Shimotsuki Airi puffed out her cheeks: "Here we go again."

Amamiya Kaoru raised her hand and rubbed her head.

This time, Shimotsuki Airi didn't dodge... okay, just kidding, actually she didn't dodge.

Amamiya Kaoru said in a low voice, "Some people are troublesome when they come, and troublesome when they leave."

Shimotsuki Airi thought for a moment.

"Uncle?"

"Um."

"Then next time he comes, let him bring his own food."

Amamiya Kaoru: "..."

She paused for a moment, then burst out laughing.

"Good idea."

The emptiness in the living room was somewhat filled by the earnest realism of the elementary school student.

However, when Amamiya Kaoru looked down at the food delivery page, she couldn't help but think of the apartment that Miyazaki Kiyoshi had prepared.

Two bedrooms and one living room.

It has a bathroom, a kitchen, air conditioning, and security.

It can also provide a separate activity area for the Big Black family.

so good.

Those despicable rich people.

……

The Jingu family.

Night gradually fell.

Kuroba Shido limped out of the taxi.

He originally didn't want to take a taxi.

Too expensive.

It's really too expensive.

But there was no other way.

To get to the Jingu family's place by regular transportation, you still have to walk a long way.

In his current state, leaning on a cane and with Big Black in his pocket, if he actually walked over there, by the time he reached the gates of the Shrine, he'd probably have his health bar depleted before any of those wicked women even had a chance to lift a finger.

So Shido Kuroba reluctantly took a taxi.

He kept a silent record of the expenses throughout the journey.

The Jingu family will reimburse you.

The Jingu family must reimburse the expenses.

If he doesn't get reimbursed, he'll lie down in front of the shrine and refuse to get up.

Anyway, he still has Miyazaki Kiyoshi's handprint on his face, his leg is still lame, and he has a big black dog in his pocket that is about to be forced into the Fancy Rat Boxing Championship.

They are clearly a vulnerable group.

Tokyo law should protect him.

I think so?

The car was parked outside the Jingu family mansion.

As soon as Shido Kuroba got out of the car, he sensed that something was wrong.

It's too quiet.

wrong.

It's not quiet.

It's too neat.

On either side of the main gate of the Jingu family, rows of retainers dressed in black suits were already standing.

It extends all the way from the entrance to the inside.

Everyone stood ramrod straight, with solemn expressions and unified gazes.

It was as if they were welcoming some very important person.

Kuroba Shido leaned on his cane, and the large black creature in his pocket poked half its head out.

The man and the mouse stopped at the same time.

next second.

All the retainers of the Shrine House bowed in unison.

"Welcome home, Master Kuroba!"

The voices were in unison.

The momentum is amazing.

The Black Feather Warrior said, "???"