Yuu hesitated for a moment, then answered honestly, "A girl—a transfer student who's just arrived. She has a very strange personality and likes to be alone. I think, besides me, she doesn't have any other friends who can take care of her."
"..."
As those words left his mouth, a heavy, intense aura began to blanket the entire living room.
Her pale, cute face was shadowed, her bright glass-bead-like pupils turning dark like a deep, silent black hole. Sora stared straight at him, unblinking.
Yet, the next second, she returned to her usual self. Hugging her black rabbit plushie, she said, "A transfer student? You're really popular."
"Yeah, I'm aware of that." Yuu laughed awkwardly, unable to act smug as he once did. "Well... I just want to visit her. I'll try to come home as soon as possible."
"No need to rush," Her voice was toneless. Sora played with her plushie, not looking at him. "It's only seven in the morning. If you prepare food first, coming back at eleven or midnight is fine too. I don't mind."
If Yuu truly took seriously the words of a pouting girl, it'd mean he never deserved having had two girlfriends who nearly reached marriage level.
"Calm down. No matter what happens there, I'll come home to eat with you." Walking past the dining table, Yuu reached out and ruffled her small head. "No one can steal your big brother—be it a demon king or even a summoning circle from another world. I promised that from the start."
"If you really don't want me to go, I'll pretend I didn't see this message and ignore whether she lives or dies."
A brief silence followed, then Sora let out a heavy sigh, puffed her cheeks, and hugged her plushie tightly.
"...Yuu is so unfair!"
In that case, she had no choice but to let him go.
No matter how strong her jealousy, no matter how deep her affection—Sora didn't want to trade Yuu's tenderness toward her for her own selfishness.
The gentler Yuu was, the more she didn't want to disappoint him; the more afraid she became that one day, his kindness would vanish because of her actions.
Simply put, since Yuu had spoiled his little sister this much, even a prideful Sora would feel guilty.
"Sorry. I'll bring dessert back when I return."
Yuu stood up and began clearing the plates and bowls from the table.
When Sora set down her rabbit to help, she asked casually, "Is this transfer student pretty?"
"It's not about whether she's pretty or not..."
"Hmm?"
"...She is pretty."
Yuu never lied to Sora—that was a rule he set for himself.
Sora's expression didn't change, as if she'd already mentally prepared herself. "No wonder. If she weren't pretty, you wouldn't care enough to run off and take care of her, right?"
"What kind of person do you think your brother is? Am I someone like that?" Feeling his pride insulted, Yuu got slightly angry.
Sora ignored his feigned anger and continued questioning, "Based on your story, there's no one at her house—maybe she lives alone? Yet she still called you over and asked you to take care of her without hesitation... Hehe."
For some reason, the tiny girl chuckled coldly, her voice like clear ice.
Just like Yuigahama, when it came to matters involving boys and girls, these girls' brains suddenly became sharper than Sherlock Holmes.
"True, just a simple guess."
Yuu immediately gave up and confessed. "Yeah, that's right. She really likes me. She probably called me hoping to flirt, right? I know—it's all just tricks."
"You know that, yet you're still going?" Her gaze turned sharp. Sora stared at his profile and spoke slowly, "Even though I know Yuu isn't that kind of person, could it be... you plan to take advantage of the situation?"
"I wouldn't push anyone, let alone a boat—get it?"
Cutting her off, Yuu carried the bowls and chopsticks to the kitchen. Since he felt absolutely no guilt, he stated it openly.
"You don't need to worry too much. I'm just visiting. I have no intention of seizing the opportunity to enter the adult world... Even if I did, it'd only be after I have an official girlfriend."
"..."
As if speechless, Sora fell silent.
She offered no further comments until Yuu returned to his room to get ready, put on his bag, and walked toward the door. She only silently watched his back.
"I'm leaving."
Just before he closed the door, Yuu finally heard her soft voice.
"...So, Yuu, do you want to date this transfer student?"
"Who knows? Maybe, if she were more honest."
His steps paused. Yuu turned around.
Seeing the silver-haired girl standing in the shadows by the entrance, as if afraid she'd be left alone in the house, trembling in solitude, he smiled brightly, like sunshine, and said, "But even if I dated her, if she didn't allow me to come home to feed my little sister, I'd break up with her right away! That's definite—no negotiation."
Sora blinked in confusion, then suddenly burst into laughter.
"Hahaha..."
As if the dark clouds in the overcast sky slowly cleared, revealing a vast blue sky, her smile was pure and warm.
"Stupid Yuu, don't compare me to a cat!"
"Meow~"
A real cat sat beside her feet, joining her in staring at the teenager standing by the door.
"I know—Yuu belongs to me. No one can take him away..." she murmured. Sora turned and casually waved her hand. "Remember, come home on time for lunch. If you're too late, I'll get mad."
"Okay, I'll be back soon."
With a smile on his face, Yuu closed the front door, then quietly exhaled toward the street outside.
Unfortunately, he forgot that during the first mission, he'd proudly said, "Whenever you want to introduce your girlfriend to me, go ahead. Though I can't promise that after meeting me, you two won't break up."
If he remembered that, maybe things would be easier now?
Though he could also be seen as a bastard who cycled through three girlfriends in less than two months...
No matter how the world changed, anyone else had to pass through his little sister first before becoming his girlfriend.
"After this mission ends and before the next one starts, I should properly discuss this issue with her. Otherwise, it'll keep repeating..."
Putting this problem aside for now, Yuu walked toward the station while pulling out his phone.
Yuu: {I'll make porridge for you. Do you have the ingredients at home?}
Masuzu: {I have lots of Weider-in jelly in muscat and peach flavor.}
Yuu: {Sorry, my cooking skills aren't advanced enough to make porridge from nutritional jelly.}
Masuzu: {Then I leave it to you. I'm suffering terribly now—I need a hug. Hurry and warm me up.}
Yuu: {Hugs aren't necessary.}
Masuzu: {That's exactly the main point, you know? Oh, by the way, if you're going to the supermarket, buy me a box of cherries too.}
Yuu: {This is the first time I've visited someone bringing cherries.}
Masuzu: {I don't want to eat them—I just want to lick them out of boredom.}
Yuu: {Alright, as long as you're happy.}
Putting his phone away, Yuu didn't know whether to laugh or feel annoyed.
...Conversations with Masuzu could never be serious.
But they were quite fun.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Soon after, Yuu boarded the train and headed to the apartment where Masuzu lived.
On the way, he stopped by the supermarket to buy porridge ingredients. After that, he arrived beneath the luxurious apartment building. Instead of pressing the intercom, he directly called Masuzu.
"I've arrived. Open the door."
"..."
No response came from the receiver, but shortly after, the automatic glass door slowly opened. He stepped inside.