Alicia, after her embarrassing misunderstanding, finally cald down sowhat.
"Feeling calr now?"
"Mm…"
Alicia nodded like a little pecking chick, still looking quite ashad.
"In that case, let's talk about your considerations and conclusions."
Rei Ao's tone was unhurried, as if worried he might frighten her off again.
"I…"
Alicia montarily didn't know what to say. Her party might still be waiting for her, so logically speaking, she should go back. Yet, she didn't want to pay the price required to do that.
"Could I…stay here for the ti being?"
She ventured cautiously.
"So, that's the choice you've made."
Rei Ao showed no surprise and spoke simply:
"This place is Yukino's apartnt. If you want to stay, you'll have to ask her. As long as she agrees, you can stay here."
"I don't mind," soone said from the other room—Yukino stepped out of her bedroom. Her cool gaze flicked briefly at Rei Ao, annoyance still evident from before.
She also sent him a private ssage in the chat group:
Yukinoshita Yukino: "Don't assu I'm oblivious to your intentions toward Alicia."
Rei Ao: "Haha, do I make it that obvious?"
Yukinoshita Yukino: "Hmph, you're just a big…lecher."
She glared at him icily.
Yukinoshita Yukino: "But you are not allowed to force her into any trades."
Rei Ao: "Yukino, you underestimate . Forcing others is not my style. A trade must be consensual. That's how it was between us, wasn't it?"
"…!"
Yukino flushed at the mory. Indeed, at the ti, she had insisted on the transaction herself, and she'd ended up unable to escape Rei Ao's grasp.
Yukinoshita Yukino: "I believe you. That's enough, right? As for Alicia, I'll look after her."
Rei Ao: "Alright."
"Since Yukino's fine with you staying," Rei Ao said to Alicia, "I won't interfere."
But he did add, "Still, I hope you won't beco a lazy bum like Mabel."
Alard, Alicia vigorously shook her head.
"I won't! I'm definitely not going to be a slacker."
"I can do chores, clean rooms, handle laundry, maybe even learn to cook!"
"Great, that's settled."
Seeing her so energetic, Rei Ao felt reassured and prepared to leave. Yet, just as he took a step, he heard a soft grumble:
"…Who are you calling a lazy bum? You're the lazy bum, pfft…"
"Oh?"
Rei Ao's lips quirked. Aborting his exit to the front door, he instead turned toward a different door in the apartnt—the one leading to a certain bedroom.
Yukino's eyelid twitches; obviously, she, too, had heard Mabel's mutter. Indeed, Mabel had no idea what she was getting herself into.
But Yukino did not intend to stop him. After all, Mabel's laziness had grown increasingly severe day by day. Even Yukino's good-natured patience was wearing thin.
'Let Rei Ao teach her a lesson,' she thought.
The door to the smaller bedroom opened with a click.
Mabel, who'd been eavesdropping behind it, froze, seeing Rei Ao's mischievous grin.
Doom.
"M-Master… I—I didn't an it! I was just… I'm sorry. I won't badmouth you anymore!"
"Ha, oh really? Too late!"
…
Alicia jumped at the startled cries echoing from that room.
"U-Um, Yukino, wh-what's happening in there?"
Lacking Yukino's sharper hearing, Alicia understood only part of it.
"It's just Rei Ao teaching Mabel not to be a lazybones. Go on and rest; don't mind the noise."
With that, Yukino turned away, heading for her own bedroom. She had no interest in hearing any further odd sounds that might make her entire body heat up. Sleep was the better option.
"E-eh…?" Alicia blurted, still not quite understanding.
Monts later, strange noises reached her ears, making Alicia's entire face burn red.
"Eeeek…!"
…
The next morning…
"Rrrrring—!"
"…Mmm…"
A delicate hand switched off the alarm.
The owner of that hand slowly sat up, eyes foggy with sleep.
"Tsk, morning already," the girl muttered. It was Ai Hayasaka, rubbing her not-yet-alert face. She forced herself awake. Checking the ti, she got out of bed. Waking early was already her habit—she needed to look after Lady Kaguya Shinomiya.
She never lazed around in bed. In one swift, practiced routine, she washed up, changed clothes, and was soon ready. It was almost ti for Kaguya to be roused.
Reaching Kaguya's door, she knocked:
"My Lady, it's ti to get up."
After a few seconds, a voice inside replied:
"Oh… Ai? You may enter."
Receiving permission, Hayasaka opened the door. She found Kaguya kneeling on her bed, bleary-eyed. Hayasaka was about to step forward when she froze in place.
Ding! A system-like prompt flashed before her eyes:
[Ding! You have been invited to join the "Trading Chat Group!"]
"Huh…?"
"My Lady, why did you stop? Sothing the matter?"
Kaguya Shinomiya, noticing Hayasaka motionless in the doorway, frowned.
"…Ai? Did you find sothing strange?"
Confusion was plain on Kaguya's face. Hayasaka studied her mistress's expression. Kaguya looked serious but also genuinely at a loss—she evidently saw no strange interface or prompt.
So only Hayasaka can see it…
Suppressing the shock rolling through her mind, Ai Hayasaka gently bowed:
"Lady Kaguya, I don't feel well. May I excuse myself for a mont?"
"What? You're not feeling well? I'll have the driver take you to the hospital right—!"
"…!"
Seeing Kaguya about to summon help, Ai Hayasaka felt a warmth in her chest. Lady Kaguya's concern for her was genuine. But this she had to refuse:
"No, My Lady, it's just a mild strain on my eyes. Let wash my face—then I'll be fine."
"Oh, oh! Go on quickly, then."
Kaguya let out a breath of relief.
"Don't push yourself."
~~~
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