This time, when Shichen left, he brought two people: Frieren and Yami.
He planned to make a trip back to the To LOVE-Ru world. Taking Yami along made perfect sense; bringing Frieren was simply because she didn't fit in. At the café, Frieren had gotten a bit too lethargic—basically checked out, close to giving up on socializing altogether. She didn't get close to anyone, went to bed late, got up late, operating on a completely different timetable from everyone else.
She could hole up in the library "with" Yami, but that was only because she wanted to hunt for novels—truth was, the two of them never actually stayed together. Since she was practically a ghost at the café, Shichen figured he might as well take her along.
…
In the morning, Shichen opened his eyes, glanced left and right, catching one gold and one silver gleam. He rolled over and hugged the gold on his right.
"...What are you trying to do so early?" Yami opened her eyes helplessly, staring at him.
"Just holding you."
"What's the point of that…" Yami turned pink and pouted.
"Hm? That's not what you said the day before yesterday." Shichen grinned at her crimson eyes.
That was when he'd comforted Yami. At first she'd been shy and refusing, but once she got into it, she switched modes and took the initiative. From pure and bashful to bold and forward—like two different people.
"That wasn't the real me," Yami denied at once.
"Really? I thought you could switch the 'darkness' mode at will now?" Shichen countered.
"Regardless, the darkness-me isn't me," she insisted.
"All right, all right." He didn't mind. This Yami was the tsundere type; that was what made her cute.
"Then let go. You're incorrigible first thing in the morning…"
Naturally, she could feel "something" first thing in the morning—he had her completely in his arms.
"Isn't this normal?"
"What if you… and Frieren's right here."
"Oh? You mean if she weren't here it'd be fine?"
"It wouldn't be fine even if she wasn't!"
"We're like a married couple—what's there to be shy about?"
"Married—! You and Princess Lala are the real couple, okay?"
"And you—what are you? A lover?"
"I…" Yami opened and closed her mouth, unable to come up with a retort.
Shichen looked at her pale-pink lips and couldn't help himself—he dipped his head and kissed her.
"Mmph…!" Yami's eyes went wide; after a second she closed them despite herself, put her arms around him, and matched his pace.
On the other side, Frieren opened her eyes, shook her head helplessly, then rolled over with her back to them. So much for sleeping properly in the morning. Were they going to be like this every day? She might as well not have come. Pity it wasn't up to her—she couldn't resist Shichen's forcefulness anyway.
Was she unlucky to have met him? She liked calm, liked the quiet—but thanks to him, she'd seen countless unbelievable things. Thanks to him, her life had become colorful. Before meeting Shichen she wouldn't have cared for any of it; now, she couldn't let it go.
After a bout of teasing with Yami, Shichen finally got up to make breakfast. In this world, no one made breakfast for him, so he had to do it himself. Breakfast for three was simple.
After he finished, Yami shook off her shyness and got out of bed. She hadn't switched to darkness—meaning it was her own will responding, which made her mortified.
She'd let her guard down. But some things had to be faced—at least around Shichen she didn't need to worry too much.
Frieren was still in bed and refused to get up; Shichen's home in this world was luxurious, the bed was luxurious, and it slept very well.
Besides, she didn't like getting up early. That didn't help—Shichen gave her a smart swat to the rear to wake her, then scooped her up and carried her downstairs. Frieren had no strength to resist at all.
At the table, Shichen and Frieren sat on one side; the embarrassed Yami sat opposite. Breakfast was silent. Shichen finished first, then looked at the two eating quietly and, after a moment, asked Frieren: "Frieren, do you want to go to school?"
"No." The refusal was instant.
"…School's fun. Don't you want to experience modern school life?" he tried again.
"No. I've already learned all the modern knowledge. I don't need school." Another flat refusal.
"School teaches more than knowledge."
"Still don't want to."
"…I'm the principal, you know. Once you're enrolled you can do whatever you want."
"Can't I do the same at home?" Frieren looked up at him.
"Not the same. Home is boring."
"I don't think so."
"I'm not asking what you think. You're going—and I'll arrange it."
"…Then why ask me?" Frieren rolled her eyes at him.
"I was soliciting your opinion. I'm very open-minded."
"Then I'm not going."
"Nope."
"…," Frieren decided she didn't want to talk to him and continued eating in silence.
"Yami's going to school in this world—you'll have a companion," Shichen said.
Frieren: "…"
"Yami, I'm leaving it to you," Shichen said.
"No need. Haven't you arranged everything already? Frieren's the type to yield to the inevitable—she'll go. If she doesn't, you can coerce her."
"Coerce?"
"Do what you're best at and bully her."
"…"
Frieren shot her a wounded look.
"That's not what I meant—I want you to look after her at school," Shichen clarified.
"Leave that to Princess Lala," Yami replied.
"Lala, huh…"
"Princess Lala should be on her way, right?"
"About now," Shichen nodded. Term started the day after tomorrow; he figured she'd arrive today or tomorrow.
"Lala is… your woman in this world?" Frieren asked suddenly.
"You could say that…"
"Princess? I thought this was modern. From abroad?"
"No, from space."
"?"
Frieren suddenly got interested—she hadn't met an alien before.
Once they finished and Shichen tidied up, he headed to school to take care of things—plenty to do before the term started, though not all that much.
As for Frieren and Yami, he let them do whatever—one wasn't going anywhere; the other knew the place like the back of her hand.
Neither could manage housework; Shichen found himself thinking he should find someone who could. Lala couldn't cook either. If only he could lure Yuuki Mikan over—pity she was a hardcore bro-con.
After a busy half day, Shichen had wrapped things up; now he could be a hands-off principal. This world really was relaxing.
Back home, as expected, only Frieren was there—lying on the couch watching TV rather than sleeping. Not even pretending to sit properly.
"Where's Yami?"
"Left this morning and hasn't come back," Frieren replied without looking away.
"I see."
Shichen sat next to her, lifted her onto his lap, hugged her, and buried his face in her silky silver hair. Frieren didn't mind and kept watching TV. He didn't mind either—his hands started to wander.
It was a bit small, though.
"Did you just try to pull your hand back?" Frieren asked suddenly.
"Did I?"
"Hmph. Disgusted I'm small, aren't you?" she said coolly.
"Not at all. I like all sizes—you know that."
"Don't think I didn't notice."
"Ahem… you still care about that?"
"I'm a woman too…" Frieren glanced back at him.
"True… Since you mind, I'll help a bit," Shichen said, flexing his hand. Too small to use all five fingers.
"How is that helping?"
"You've read so many books—don't you know this can promote development?"
"…You've done this before, and there's been no change," she pouted.
"These things need repetition."
"I almost believed you… Fine. I can't stop you anyway," Frieren said, giving up resistance.
"That's the spirit." He brought the other hand into play.
"Right, when exactly is this 'Lala' arriving?" Frieren changed the subject.
"So interested in her?"
"I've never seen an alien."
"Should be soon… Ah, there she is." Shichen smiled mid-sentence.
Space rippled in the room, and a pink-haired figure appeared out of nowhere.
"Shichen!"
~~~
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