After sending off the little boy, since there was still so ti before six o'clock, Yutsuki and Mukuro took a slight detour and went to the shopping district to kill ti.
"Is Yutsuki onee-chan here to buy groceries for dinner?"
Mukuro asked curiously.
"No. We haven't reached the point where we need to restock ingredients at ho yet. Besides, Shido is in charge of cooking today."
Yutsuki shook her head, then, as if thinking of sothing, asked a question.
"Right, Mukuro. Is there anything you want or like?"
"Ufu? Sothing Muku likes?"
Mukuro tilted her head in confusion.
"Mhm. I want to buy a gift to welco and celebrate your move into the Spirit apartnt."
"N-No need to go to such trouble for Muku! Just giving Muku a place to stay makes Muku deeply grateful. How could Muku dare to make any more extravagant requests!"
Hearing Yutsuki's words, Mukuro hurriedly waved her hands.
"Alright, alright, we're family, there's no need to be so polite. Just accept it honestly. I'm not planning to give anything too expensive, so don't worry."
Yutsuki patted Mukuro's shoulder, speaking with a generous manner.
"However..."
Mukuro still hesitated.
"By the way, I've already decided on this. Refusing won't work, you know?"
"Ugh..."
Although a bit flustered, seeing Yutsuki's forceful attitude, Mukuro fell silent for a mont before speaking sowhat reluctantly.
"If you ask what Muku likes... A comb."
"Ah, ah. A comb, huh..."
Yutsuki nodded in sudden realization and clapped her hands.
"Alright, then let's pick a gift other than a comb!"
"Eh?"
Hearing Yutsuki's words, Mukuro widened her eyes in surprise.
"Did Yutsuki onee-chan not ask Muku what she likes to buy it for her?"
"Well, asking and then buying that exact thing as a gift is kind of boring, isn't it? There's no sense of surprise at all. Furthermore—"
Yutsuki shrugged, reached out a finger to lightly flick Mukuro's forehead, and said with a wicked smile.
"Looking at your expression, I understand. Even though you like combs, I am not the person you secretly hope will give you one, right?"
"Wh-Why do you say that? Yutsuki onee-chan, you are overthinking it."
Mukuro's cheeks flushed red, and she looked away, giving an awkward, evasive response.
"You really are cute."
Seeing Mukuro's reaction, Yutsuki chuckled and shrugged.
Then, after walking around the shopping district a few tis, Yutsuki stopped in front of a boutique accessories shop.
"Mhm, this one. I'll go in then."
"Muku wants to go together."
"It won't be a surprise if I let you see what I buy." Yutsuki shook her head with a bitter smile and said, "You wait here for a mont, I'll be right back after buying it."
"Ufu... Muku understands."
"No peeking, okay?"
"N-Muku would never do such a tactless thing!"
"That's good then."
Hearing Mukuro's reply, Yutsuki gave a light laugh, turned around, and walked into the shop.
(So all of Muku's thoughts were seen through? As expected of Yutsuki onee-chan.)
Mukuro sighed silently in her heart. Just as Yutsuki said, for Mukuro, who cherished her hair, a comb held quite a special aning. Although if Yutsuki gave her a comb she would still happily accept it, if possible, she hoped more to receive a comb from Shido.
(If Nushi-sama's heart belongs to Yutsuki onee-chan, then perhaps Muku has no chance of winning at all.)
Taking out pen and paper to take notes, Mukuro sighed with unease.
Yutsuki didn't make Mukuro wait very long. After about ten minutes, she walked out of the store carrying a shopping bag.
"Here. This is my gift for you, Mukuro."
"Thank you,Yutsuki onee-chan."
Taking the shopping bag from Yutsuki's hand, Mukuro looked down. Inside the bag was an exquisitely wrapped square gift box.
"What is this?"
Mukuro asked curiously.
"Well, you'll naturally know once you open it after getting ho. For now, I picked it based on the impression I have of you. I hope you like it."
"Muku's impression?"
Seemingly intrigued by Yutsuki's words, Mukuro, who originally didn't care much about the gift, felt a bit of expectation rise in her heart.
(Exactly what object is placed in the box? Yutsuki onee-chan said it is not a comb—A bracelet? A necklace? Or so kind of hair accessory like a hairpin or hair tie? No, perhaps her earlier words were just a smokescreen? And it actually is a comb?)
Constantly guessing the contents of the gift in the bag along the way, Mukuro suppressed her curiosity and returned to the Itsuka residence together with Yutsuki.
Then—
—Pop! —Pop! —Pop!
"Welco to the Spirit apartnt! Mukuro!!"
"...Eh?"
At the entryway, looking at the colorful confetti floating in front of her eyes, and Shido and the others holding party poppers, Mukuro was stunned for a mont before reacting, letting out a bewildered sound.
"What is going on here?"
Seeing Mukuro's surprised performance, the Yamai sisters nodded in deep satisfaction.
"Kuku—Looking at the Key Shrine Maiden's reaction, our battle was completely undetected. As expected of my comrade, an existence possessing deceitful acting skills comparable to a demon. Such a perfect deception."
"Praise. As expected, Yutsuki is very good at this kind of covert mission."
"Why do I feel like what you two are saying doesn't sound like a complint to ..."
Yutsuki looked at the Yamai sisters speechlessly.
Battle?
Mukuro turned her gaze to Yutsuki.
"Well, we've been secretly preparing this for the past few days. The original plan was for Shido to ask you out today, while we prepared at ho. But I didn't expect you to co looking for , so I inford everyone in the chat group and took over the mission of taking you out."
"I see... Muku did not notice at all."
Hearing Yutsuki's explanation, Mukuro finally realized the true intention behind Yutsuki calling Kotori earlier.
"My, a welco party? Why didn't I get such good treatnt when I joined? Biri-chan, I feel like you don't love enough."
"It is so nice for Mukuro-chan~ I also really want to go on a proper date with Honey and act spoiled to my heart's content."
Nia and Miku said with envious faces.
"You two don't even live in the Spirit apartnt to begin with."
Yutsuki roasted them expressionlessly.
"Although there was a slight deviation from the plan, leaving this mission to Yutsuki-nee was a wise choice. If we left it to the clumsy Shido to keep Mukuro company, he might have blown the secret halfway."
Kotori looked at Shido with a wicked smile.
"That wouldn't happen... probably. Ahem—"
After giving a sowhat weak rebuttal, Shido coughed twice, adjusted his mood, and smiled at Mukuro.
"Anyway, let's go in first. It's weird to talk standing in the entryway. Have a good ti today, Mukuro."
"Mhm..."
Mukuro nodded, feeling a bit flattered.
Taking off her shoes, Mukuro followed everyone through the entryway and hallway, entering the living room.
"Ufu—"
Mukuro couldn't help but widen her eyes and let out a gasp of amazent. What caught her eyes was a dreamlike space decorated with colored ribbons. On the large table in the living room, all kinds of delicious food were laid out.
"Co on~ Eat and drink to your heart's content! You are the main character of the party today! Mukuro-chan!"
"H-Have a good ti..."
"Mhm!"
Nodding happily, Mukuro looked at everyone and said gratefully.
"Thank you, everyone! Muku feels happier now than she ever has before."
———————
At eleven o'clock at night, the party having ended, Mukuro returned to her room.
"Phew..."
After taking a bath and changing into her pajamas, Mukuro dove headfirst onto the soft bed under the blanket, letting out a sigh of relief.
(Although it was very fun, I am also a bit tired after playing.)
Rolling over on the bed, Mukuro looked at the ceiling, recalling all the interesting things that happened during the party.
After the party started, everyone enjoyed the food while playing various gas: Monopoly, karaoke, card gas, etc. But what left the deepest impression on Mukuro was undoubtedly the Russian Roulette ga played with Takoyaki mixed with xican hot sauce, brought by Yutsuki.
Looking at Kaguya, Yuzuru, Nia, Miku, Natsumi—watching them unfortunately fall victim one by one, rolling on the floor with pained expressions, and then noticing a curve of joy rising on Yutsuki's lips.
For so reason, Mukuro felt a chill down her spine.
(Everyone... is so gentle...)
Mukuro couldn't help but sigh in her heart. She had clearly done such terrible things before. Even if she were condemned, Mukuro wouldn't have any room to argue, yet everyone accepted her without holding onto past grudges.
Just how lucky was she? Carrying a bit of sha and gratitude, Mukuro realized this once again.
"...It is so quiet."
Staying in this quiet, empty room, realizing that the happy and lively ti had already beco a mory of the past, Mukuro felt a bit lonely.
"If Muku were to return to being all alone in the universe now, she would definitely break down in less than a day."
Just how did she manage to spend so much ti in that godforsaken place back then? Looking at the night sky outside the window, Mukuro sighed with so lingering fear.
If she continued like this, she might keep letting her thoughts run wild. Realizing this, Mukuro sat up from the bed, planning to do sothing else to divert her attention.
"Speaking of which, Yutsuki onee-chan's gift is still unopened..."
Suddenly rembering this, Mukuro took out the shopping bag placed by the bed. The impact of the surprise party was so successful that she had temporarily forgotten about it.
(Yutsuki onee-chan said she picked it based on her impression of Muku. What exactly is it?)
With a little curiosity and expectation, Mukuro carefully unwrapped the packaging and opened the gift box.
Inside the box, resting amidst cushioning sponge, was a palm-sized, exquisitely carved pink stage, with a transparent crystal ball fixed on top.
Inside the transparent crystal ball, snowflakes danced continuously. Four small rabbit dolls were placed inside, just like a family, snuggled closely together in perfect intimacy.
"This is..."
Mukuro took it out, holding it in her palm to observe it carefully. She noticed that behind the stage, there was a winding key.
"...A music box?"
Looking a bit uncertainly at the crystal ball in her hand, Mukuro hesitated for a mont, then turned the winding key.
—Click— Click— Crack!
Accompanied by the turning of the mainspring, the gears in the box made faint sounds. Soon, an ethereal lody began to play from the music box.
As light as feathers falling from the sky, as warm as flickering firelight in a fireplace, as gentle as falling drizzle in spring.
The gentle music flowed through this empty room, as if trying to soothe the loneliness in Mukuro's heart, filling this small world.
"Incredible... Muku feels... as if she is no longer alone..."
Her finger gently stroking the surface of the crystal ball, Mukuro looked at the smallest rabbit inside. Right now, it was carefully protected by the other three rabbits, sleeping peacefully.
"You truly are a child of happiness." Mukuro showed a slight smile and said, "Therefore, please do your best to grow up, and try hard to repay everyone for the happiness you have received."
Saying that, Mukuro turned off the lights. Accompanied by the music, she gently closed her eyes.
She had a premonition that she could get a very comfortable, good night's sleep today.
(Thank you for the gift,Yutsuki onee-chan.)
...
"Mhm, I understand. Thank you for your hard work, Maria, Marina."
Standing at the gate of the Spirit apartnt, after hanging up her phone, Yutsuki looked up at the extinguished lights on the sixth floor, and sighed with a self-deprecating face.
"I really have terrible taste."
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