"Shichen, don't interrupt . I'm apologizing to gumi—no, to Onee-sama," Jeanne said sternly.
"What are you even apologizing for? Stop ssing around. Everyone's watching—don't set a bad example," Shichen scolded.
"I'm not setting a bad example. This is on . I wronged Onee-sama," Jeanne shot back righteously.
"…"
Shichen looked around. No one seed bothered by Jeanne's behavior—everyone was instead studying Kato gumi with open curiosity. In their eyes were curiosity, confusion… and respect.
"Onee-sama!"
From the crowd, Beatrice squeezed through excitedly and threw herself at gumi.
gumi smiled and caught her. "Beatrice. Long ti no see. Did you miss ?"
"Yes! A lot!" Beatrice nodded rapidly, beaming.
"I missed you too." gumi gently rubbed her head.
"Hehe…" Beatrice narrowed her eyes in bliss.
Shichen watched in surprise. Beatrice's attitude toward gumi felt even more reverent than how she treated him. But he didn't mind—family was family.
And Beatrice's affection toward him and her reverence toward gumi were clearly different.
Still, hearing Beatrice call "Onee-sama"… that cute voice gave him a strange sense of déjà vu. He'd once assud Beatrice's "Onee-sama" referred to soone else. Voices really could mislead.
"Sister." Est stepped up as well, tugging at the hem of gumi's skirt.
"Est. Long ti no see." gumi's strength was impressive—she held Beatrice with one arm and lifted Est with the other, hugging both little ones like dolls.
"Mhm. Sister… I missed you." Est wrapped her arms around gumi's neck, smiling.
"That's my spot!" Beatrice protested.
"No, it's mine." Est actually argued back.
"Mine!"
"Mine."
"Alright, alright, don't fight," gumi soothed. "You two share, okay?"
"Okay."
"Mhm."
They exchanged a look and obediently nodded.
Shichen's eyes widened. Those two actually compromised that easily?
"Um… could you respond to too?" Jeanne raised her hand to speak up—still kneeling with her head bowed.
"You can stay like that," gumi said flatly, not even looking.
"Yes…"
"Everyone, don't mind her. Let's get dinner ready first," gumi began issuing instructions. "Tohru, Rem—put in so extra effort and make more tonight. Sella, Leysritt—please help as well."
And sohow, everyone just… listened.
"Okay."
Tohru nodded and headed to the kitchen with Rem.
"We'll help too," the others followed as well.
The rest of the group stared blankly at gumi, like they were waiting for orders.
"Hehe—don't worry about . Do whatever you like. I'll introduce myself properly later," gumi said with a gentle smile.
They glanced at each other, still confused, and dispersed.
A few stayed.
"Mom…?" Illya looked at gumi and blurted it out without knowing why.
"Illya, call 'Sister' instead," gumi said, briefly glancing at Shichen.
Shichen noticed the look… but she didn't explain.
"Sister!" Illya happily corrected herself.
"Good girl."
"Why did Illya want to call you 'Mom'?" Irisviel asked curiously. She didn't sound jealous.
"I'm… connected to Illya in the sa 'source' sense now," gumi answered simply.
"I see… that makes sense."
"Iri, it's been a long ti."
"You really do know everyone," Irisviel laughed. "Just like Jeanne."
She also noticed sothing odd: she felt an impulse to call gumi "Sister" too.
It was weird. Irisviel didn't see herself as a child, ntally or emotionally.
gumi just nodded softly.
"Then… Onee-sama, please take care of us from here on," Irisviel said first, offering goodwill.
"'Take care'? Aren't we family?" gumi smiled back.
"Yes. Family." Irisviel returned the smile.
"Um… I'm family too," Jeanne tried again.
"Keep your head down," gumi said coolly.
"Yes…"
"But I'm the second sister, at least let have so dignity…"
"And when you tried to cut in line, did you think about the consequences?" gumi countered.
"…I couldn't help it. Shichen was right there. And if I didn't act first, who knows how long it would've taken…" Jeanne admitted.
"That's not an excuse for you to jump ahead of ."
"I…"
"Stay down. You can get up once dinner is ready," gumi relented.
"Okay!" Jeanne replied brightly.
…She was still being punished, and she sounded happy about it. The "holy maiden" had fully evolved into a cody act.
"So Jeanne ssed up because of ?" Shichen finally realized.
"More like you couldn't control yourself," gumi shot him a look.
"…You can't bla . Jeanne's charm is lethal."
"Hehe!" Jeanne giggled, pleased by the complint.
"Hm?"
"Hmph—" gumi made a small questioning sound, and Jeanne imdiately shut up.
"And you—no sweet-talking," gumi warned Shichen.
"…Yes, ma'am," Shichen answered obediently.
The café fell quiet for a mont, until Mio walked over.
"O… Onee-sama…"
"Third Sis." gumi reached out and took Mio's hand.
"Onee-sama." Mio said it surprisingly smoothly, like the word belonged in her mouth.
"Mm. How are you feeling?" gumi's gaze slipped to Mio's belly, a flicker of envy passing through her eyes.
"No problems." Mio shook her head.
"…I'm sorry," gumi said softly. "Back then, I took Shichen away and left you alone for so long."
Mio didn't mind. "It's fine. I t Shichen again. That's enough."
She'd once wanted to get even. But standing in front of gumi, she found she didn't want revenge anymore.
Instead, she felt an involuntary acceptance… even respect.
It was so absurd she almost didn't believe herself.
But maybe this was what it ant to be "Onee-sama."
Mio began to understand why gumi stood at the top.
"I'm glad you don't hate ," gumi said. "From now on, let's get along—for Shichen."
"Mm. For Shichen." Mio nodded.
Just like that, they reconciled—directly, almost effortlessly.
anwhile, one particular "second sister" stayed face-down on the floor.
Afterward, gumi reminisced with everyone. She understood them even better than Jeanne did, and it was even easier for people to accept her.
Shichen went with Eriri to help her move in—starting tonight, she'd live here too.
By the ti they finished, dinner was ready.
At dinner, gumi gave a proper introduction, though it was fairly ordinary—her being "Onee-sama" and her relationship to Shichen didn't need explaining anymore.
After dinner, gumi took a shower and—naturally—walked into Shichen's room.
"My room isn't ready yet. I'll sleep with you tonight," she said matter-of-factly, wearing pink pajamas as she climbed into his bed.
"…Preparing a room would be easy," Shichen reflexively argued.
gumi didn't answer. She just stared at him with a blank expression.
"…Ahem. Right. It's late. Making Sella and Leysritt set up a room now would be rude. Fine—sleep here," Shichen pivoted instantly and climbed in beside her, lying stiffly on his back.
"Sotis you're just an idiot," gumi sighed, then snuggled in and hugged his arm.
He felt a soft warmth—subtle, but perfectly placed.
"Finally," gumi exhaled. "I can sleep next to you."
"You've wanted that for a long ti?" Shichen turned to her.
"Yeah. For a long ti."
"…Then I kept you waiting."
"Not that long," gumi smiled up at him.
"Yeah," Shichen smiled back. "We've got plenty of ti ahead."
"Mhm. Sleep."
"…Just sleep? That's it?" Shichen blinked.
"What?" gumi looked at him calmly. "Were you hoping for sothing else?"
"…"
~~~
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