"Umm..."
The black-haired girl dragged her luggage case and slowly walked up to Shichen.
"Hello, my name is Inoue Takina. Starting today, I've been assigned here. Pleased to make your acquaintance."
The girl—Inoue Takina—looked calm, not showing any sign of politeness like bowing. In fact, she gave off the impression that she was in a bad mood.
"Assigned?" At that moment, Kasumigaoka Utaha approached Shichen's side and spoke up, puzzled.
"Shichen~ Shichen," Kanna arrived too, tugging on Shichen's pant leg.
"Come here." Shichen smiled as he squatted down and picked her up.
"Woo~" Kanna happily wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Hello, are you Chisato-senpai?" Inoue Takina did not look at the two of them. Instead, she addressed Kasumigaoka Utaha.
"Uh?" Kasumigaoka Utaha was taken aback.
Inoue Takina continued calmly: "Chisato-senpai, I've been ordered by the Commander to train under you. Although this is not my wish, I believe training under the number one Lycoris will help me quickly improve myself, so that I can hurry back to HQ."
"Umm... I'm not Chisato." Kasumigaoka Utaha explained somewhat awkwardly.
"Then..." Inoue Takina paused, looking toward Shichen.
Shichen felt a bit embarrassed. "…I'm even less likely. Didn't you just hear Kanna call me something else?"
Takina frowned slightly. "Then where is Chisato-senpai?"
"Don't worry, she'll be here any second—she's washing vegetables at the moment."
"Washing vegetables?" The frown on Inoue Takina's face deepened.
"Anyway, have a seat first," Shichen gestured to a nearby seat.
"No need. I'll just wait here for Chisato-senpai," Takina refused coldly.
"Alright then..."
"Hey, Shichen..." Kasumigaoka Utaha tugged on his sleeve, curiosity all over her face. "What's Lycoris supposed to be?"
"No need to worry about it."
"Don't try to brush me off!" Kasumigaoka Utaha complained, pinching his arm.
"Ow—fine, I'll explain later, okay?"
"Hmph~" Kasumigaoka Utaha snorted softly and let go of him.
"Shichen, does it hurt?" Kanna asked kindly, stretching out her small hand to gently rub where Kasumigaoka Utaha had pinched him.
"It doesn't hurt at all~" Shichen couldn't help rubbing his cheek against Kanna's chubby little face.
"That's good."
"Kanna's just so adorable."
"Sorry for not being adorable then," Kasumigaoka Utaha gave Shichen a sideways glance.
"No problem, you're beautiful anyway," he teased with a laugh.
"Tch~" Kasumigaoka Utaha turned her head away, refusing to let him see the small smile tugging at her lips.
"..." On the other side, Inoue Takina wore a blank expression, silently watching the three of them—like a small family—interacting.
This is the place Commander wants me to train?
This is where the number one Lycoris lives?
Is this really okay?
"Shichen, I'm here." Just then, Chisato's cheerful voice echoed, and she hopped out excitedly.
"Ah, a Lycoris." Noticing Inoue Takina's appearance, Chisato instantly realized who she was.
"Chisato-senpai." Inoue Takina inclined her head slightly in greeting.
"Oh~ you're super cute. The wound on your face, how'd that happen? A medal?" asked Chisato with a friendly laugh.
"No..." Inoue Takina's expression turned a bit awkward, then reverted to calm. "It isn't."
"I see. Well, welcome. I'm glad to have you here." Chisato walked over in a familiar manner and put an arm around her.
"Yes, Chisato-senpai."
"No need to be so formal—just call me Chisato. You're..."
"Inoue Takina."
"Great, I'll call you Takina then."
"Alright..."
"Hehe~ Chen-nii." Chisato, having let go of Takina, happily skipped to Shichen's side.
"Looks like we've got a new employee at the shop now."
"...She's not here to work," Shichen reminded her, somewhat speechless.
"Ehh, I was supposed to look after her though?"
"Is that what you call 'looking after?' How is that looking after if she's made to work as an employee?"
"But we can't just let her eat for free and stay for free, right?"
"You sure know how to manage a household's finances. Even if she was actually kicked out..."
"Excuse me, I haven't been kicked out." Inoue Takina suddenly spoke up.
"Uh..." Shichen felt a bit awkward. She had heard all that.
"Ahem, you're... not kicked out? Right, sorry."
"Yes, I haven't. I was only demoted. I believe if I train here under Chisato-senpai, I can soon improve and go back."
"Ehh, what's so great about DA anyway?" Chisato couldn't help muttering.
"..." This made Takina flounder slightly, seeming at a loss to retort. After all, she couldn't think of anything truly wonderful about it either.
She was just like the other Lycoris—she did her missions until her duty ended, and then she'd leave.
What's so great about DA?
They're allowed to kill people freely?
Even she found that hardly appealing.
"Chisato-senpai, why did you leave DA?"
"I already said—just call me Chisato."
"...Chisato, then."
"Mmhm~" Chisato nodded in satisfaction, then explained: "Actually, I left DA to look for the person who saved my life!"
Saying this, she giggled while hugging Shichen: "I want to live with Chen-nii! To live the life I want."
"Live the life you want...like dating?"
"Ahaha~ not exactly, but sort of, I guess." Chisato waved her hand, somewhat embarrassed.
"Dating..." Inoue Takina's face remained serious, eyeing the man known as Shichen. She'd never considered this matter, and currently she had no interest in it.
"Hello. I'm Shichen," he greeted her.
"Shichen..."
"Yes, I'm from China, and this café is mine."
"I see... I look forward to being in your care, Shichen-san."
"A small matter—but just as Chisato said, you can't stay here for nothing."
"No problem. I can handle any task you give me."
"No, no task. This isn't DA. Just stick with Chisato and listen to her arrangements."
"Understood."
"Hehe~ Great, Takina. Nice to meet you."
"Mm." Inoue Takina gave a small nod.
"Chisato, why not take her to fix up a room? We'll have dinner together later... Takina...mind if I call you that?"
"It's fine."
"Then let's eat together, you probably haven't had dinner yet, right?"
"No, I haven't."
"Great, we'll all eat soon."
"Yes."
"Takina, come with me then." Chisato tugged Inoue Takina upstairs.
After they left, Kasumigaoka Utaha finally couldn't hold back her question any longer:
"Alright, care to explain Lycoris and DA to me now?"
"I'd better see if Chisato's okay telling you."
"Is it some huge secret or something?" Kasumigaoka Utaha asked.
"It'll overturn your worldview."
"Heh~ I've already personally seen dragons and magic, how can I be overturned further?" Kasumigaoka Utaha crossed her arms, rolling her eyes.
"...Fine..." Shichen shook his head with a helpless grin, almost forgetting that little detail.
"Alright then—this involves Chisato's background, so I'd better ask her permission."
"Chisato's background, huh? Alright."
"Mm." Shichen looked up the stairs and called, "Chisato!"
"What's up, Chen-nii?" her voice came from upstairs.
"Utaha wants to know about Lycoris and DA. Is it okay to tell her?"
"Go ahead. We're all family—no need to hide."
"Got it."
"Okay then." Shichen held Kanna in his arms, walking toward the kitchen. "Let's go in there and talk."
"There's quite a bit to explain?" Kasumigaoka Utaha followed behind him.
"Not something you can cover in a single breath."
~~~
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