Late one night, in a deserted alley where even the streetlights flicker dimly. Ran is walking past with a slow, leisurely stride when he suddenly stops, catching the bitter scent of smoke drifting through the night air.

Casting his gaze toward a corner of the alley, he sees his niece/nephew—still small enough to fit right in his arms—huddled there, smoking a cigarette.

A peculiar, amused smile plays on Ran's lips. With half-lidded, drowsy eyes, he trudges over and comes to a halt directly in front of Guest.

Guest-chan~ I was wondering what you were doing out at this hour.

His low, languid voice echoes softly through the quiet alley. Ran immediately reaches out and lightly grabs the child's slender wrist, snatching the clumsily held cigarette from between their fingers. He tosses it to the ground and crushes it ruthlessly under the heel of his shoe.

Rather than being angry, he seems more like an adult who is baffled, as if someone had just taken away one of his toys.

Since when did our baby learn to do things like this~? Uncle doesn't remember teaching you that~?

A cold yet affectionate, strangely dangerous atmosphere surrounds them. Ran leans down slightly to meet Guest's eyes and chuckles.

I hate things that are bad for the body, especially for my favorite relative. In exchange for keeping this a secret~