From up close, Toru could see dark clouds within Azuma's brilliant eyes, and he wondered if the man was thinking of hurting him with that heavy killing intention.

But the next second, everything was gone and Azuma was back to his smiling face again.

"So, brother-in-law, it's my win then." He pulled Toru to his feet and patted his back fondly. "I guess I will let you know that my sister loves spicy food. Ebi chili, mapo tofu, spicy braised eggplant, you know, the spicier the better."

Toru looked at Azuma and wondered. This man looked like he was such an easy going person with all smiles, but he could definitely detect danger and some kind of resentment underneath his happy-go-lucky persona. He just didn't know if the feeling was for him or for something else, but Azuma was not one to be taken lightly.

"Thank you. I have limited skill in the kitchen but I will do my best to accommodate your request." He knew that Azuma was trying to help him. Fortunately, the three foods that he mentioned were all his staple when cooking for himself. He wondered how Azuma knew about it, and what a coincidence that it happened to be Azusa's favorite food too.

"I know you're gonna do well, bro. My sis happens to like you very much. She never lets anyone kiss her if she doesn't like them." He then took his jacket and walked off the basement. "I guess I'll see you around then." He gave Toru a wave and disappeared.

After he left, Toru took off his t-shirt and wiped his sweat with it before he decided to take a shower and buy the groceries to cook the food. But when he stepped out of the basement, he saw paper bags on the kitchen table and he took a peek inside to find the ingredients that he needed to cook with.

"Ah, Azuma left it for you, he said that you're gonna need every energy you have to cook for his sister, so he decided to help you with the groceries. I told him to go downstairs, did he not meet you?" Genji saw that Toru was rummaging through the paper bag and he told him that.

"That's… so kind of him. I guess." He couldn't help but smile at the man's oddity. But he guessed if he had a sister as beautiful as Azusa, he would be worried too if anyone wanted to get closer, in case they had some unsavory intention toward her.

"So, are you going to spend the night out?" Genji grinned widely. "Not to worry if you are, I just want to make sure not to lock the door if you do." He chuckled.

"Dad, I know for sure that you never lock the door ever in your life, so stop it." Toru couldn't help but roll his eyes at his father's obvious attempt to matchmake. "And besides, if I do spend the night, I would not inform anyone beforehand. You do know that Azusa has a reputation to maintain here, right? I don't want her to bear the brunt of people's gossip more than she already does."

Genji was stunned to hear Toru's words. He knew his son was a gentleman, but this was beyond chivalry. Like he really cared about Azusa. And he couldn't help but feel happy. His son had experienced too many hardships in life, and he just wanted him to be happy.

"This is the first time I see you care so much about a lady, although it's fitting since Azusa is an extraordinary woman." Genji cleared his throat. "Do you like her that much? Are you going to take her to the mainland with you?" He had such hope and fear in his eyes that Toru couldn't help but feel guilty that he had abandoned his family for so long. He swore he would be back more often to see his family, after all, they were the ones that always supported him when things went awry.

"Dad, that's a conversation for another day. I do like her a lot, and we're getting to know each other slowly. And besides, who am I to make a decision for her? She moved in here from the mainland for a reason, and I am also here for a reason. Let's just take things slowly, okay? You guys seem to love her and I don't want to ruin things for you if somehow we don't work. You know, like she whose name should not be mentioned."

Genji sighed at the mention of the incident that happened many years ago. It was chaos, and the force that drove Toru to leave the island with such a trauma and scar in his heart.

It also took years for everyone to be able to get back to normal after the incident, and he hoped that the crazy woman never came back to the island ever again after what she had done to Toru.

The thing was, she never once showed that she was a psychopath, and it caused Toru to be unable to trust anyone else for a while afterwards. He never showed it, but it affected him quite a lot in his life and his job up until recently. He always dedicated himself fully to the job, to the point that Genji was afraid that he had some suicidal tendency judging from the risks he always took to finish the cases.

So, in a way, Genji was glad that his son could feel something toward the beautiful and kind Azusa. Call it a gut feeling, but he felt like she was just the remedy that Toru needed.

"Son, I wish you all the luck in the world, and most of all, I want you to be happy, no matter what you do, or who you end up with. As long as you're happy, I can die peacefully." Genji suddenly gave Toru a tight hug that surprised the man, but he hugged his father back.

"You don't have to worry, dad. I am fine. Really. And you're going to live a long life until you have at least a couple of grandkids." Toru patted Genji's back fondly. "And dad? I love you."

Genji sniffled for a while to hear the rare words of affection that came out from his son, but then he continued.

"Does this mean you're going to give me grandkids soon?"

Toru chuckled at his father's focus.

"Well, I'm not surprised that you only heard that part, but I promise. Not soon, but I will. When I meet someone that could bear with me and my past."

"That's good enough for me."