"Back already~"
"Is this… Shichen's world?"
"It doesn't seem that different from our world."
"But there's no Neighboring World…"
"So it's a pretty ordinary world."
"It is an ordinary world," Shichen replied with a meaningful smile at the entrance of the Time Café, "but this world won't be ordinary anymore."
"What do you mean, Shichen?"
"Because you being here makes it extraordinary."
"Ooh~ Not bad, my husband. Nicely said."
"I love that kind of sweet talk."
"Onii-chan's getting smoother and smoother."
"Don't let Shichen's honeyed words fool you," Yuzuru said seriously.
"Didn't Tohka say something about this?"
"Ah~ right, Darling has tons of 'close female friends' over here."
"Question: So does that make us the latecomers? The mistress? The fourth, fifth, sixth…?"
"But Tohka said they're all friendly."
"Even if they're friendly, having too many people can still cause problems~ After all, there's only one piece of meat."
"…Is it really okay to compare me to meat?" Shichen couldn't help complaining.
"That's your fault!"
"…"
Shichen couldn't argue and just walked into the café.
"Shichen-nii, why were you standing outside so long?" The moment he stepped in, Chisato Nishikigi greeted him with a bright laugh. In her red uniform, she looked like a poster-girl.
But she wasn't the only one.
"Shichen-nii, welcome back," Takina Inoue said with a small smile.
"Chisato, Takina—I'm back." Shichen opened his arms, wanting a hug.
Seeing them, he felt a real sense of relief—like he'd actually come home.
"Home" was a strange word. Just seeing it made people feel safe and steady.
Back when Shichen was alone, home was just a place to live. But now, wherever they were, home became something warm—somewhere he belonged.
"Shichen-nii, we still have customers in the shop~" Even as she said that, Chisato happily threw herself into his arms, rubbing her head against his chest.
Shichen ruffled her platinum-blonde hair and looked at Takina.
"I-I'll pass…" Takina turned red and tried to refuse.
"Nope. I want to hug Takina." Shichen let go of Chisato and walked over.
"W-wait—Shichen-nii, customers are watching…" Takina glanced around, flustered and red-faced. "It's just a hug. What's the problem?"
He wrapped her up anyway.
"…Seriously." Takina could only sigh and let him.
"So Shichen is this pushy?"
"So are those two girls sisters?"
"They're really pretty…"
"Onii-chan, you shameless womanizer!"
Everything Shichen did was obviously being watched by Mio and the others inside him, but by now his skin was thick enough that he didn't care.
"Boss, quit flirting and bring us our order."
"Yeah, we didn't come here to watch this."
"Ah!" Takina finally remembered she had to serve customers. She hurriedly pulled away and ran off, face burning.
"Then Shichen-nii, you rest for a bit. I'm going back to work too," Chisato said.
"Okay." Shichen nodded and followed Takina into the kitchen.
"Brother-in-law!"
"Shichen-dono!"
Inside, Tohru and Momo were both cooking, so they couldn't come over.
"Momo, you're helping too?" Shichen walked up.
"Yeah. It's a day off and I was bored," Momo said brightly.
"Day off? Where are Utaha and the others?" "They went out. I think they went to Eriri's place."
"Got it…"
"Shichen-dono!" Tohru pouted at him.
"Heh~ Tohru, I'm back." Shichen patted her head. "Hehe~ Welcome back."
"Brother-in-law, me too!"
"Okay, okay." Shichen also ruffled Momo's pink hair. "Hehe~"
"Alright, keep working. I'm going upstairs to arrange things."
"Okay~"
Shichen left the kitchen, went upstairs, and released Mio and the others.
The room instantly became crowded with more than a dozen girls—so many it was dizzying.
But their beauty made it feel like stepping into a fairyland.
Space wasn't an issue. He could fit another dozen easily. Magic really was the ultimate cheat.
"It looks small outside, but it's huge inside."
"Onii-chan probably did something."
"I can feel spatial fluctuations…"
"So this is Shichen's room?" Kurumi walked to the bed and sat down.
"It's my room," Shichen said.
"The bed is so big… it feels like something outrageous is going to happen here at night," Nia teased.
"As if."
"Oh? Are they more conservative than expected? Even Yuzuru and Kaguya beat them?"
"What do you mean 'even us'?!"
"It's true—those two are always teaming up with Shichen to play 'landlord'."
"I-I… I'm one entity with Yuzuru!" Kaguya protested, blushing.
"Isn't that still two people?"
"Rebuttal. It's not just me and Kaguya—others have teamed up too," Yuzuru said.
"What? There are more pros?!" Nia looked around—her gaze eventually landing on Origami and Sawa.
"Why are you looking at me?" Sawa asked calmly.
"Well… your chances seem high. You and Kurumi are super close, so maybe…"
"Don't talk nonsense! I've never 'teamed up' with Sawa!" Kurumi blurted out, flustered.
"Really? Sounds like you two aren't close enough then."
"Being close has nothing to do with that!" Kurumi snapped.
"Then I must be really close with Sawa," Origami cut in.
"Huh?" The moment she said that, everyone looked at her.
"W-wait—"
"I have teamed up with Sawa," Origami said flatly.
"…," Sawa sighed. She hadn't even had time to stop Origami from self-destructing.
She didn't care if others knew, but before she could rope Kurumi into it, she really didn't want it out in the open.
If Kurumi got cautious, Sawa would never get a chance to drag her into it.
"Sawa, you—!" Kurumi stared at her, cheeks blazing.
Her best friend had teamed up with someone else behind her back to "play landlord" with the guy they liked—and Kurumi had no idea!
"Th-that… Kurumi, listen, I can explain."
"I don't want to hear it! I knew you were acting weird! How did you become so… so…" Kurumi struggled for words.
It was too ridiculous.
"Just listen!" Sawa insisted. "I only teamed up with Origami to handle Shichen. You know it—one person can't beat him. Two people can't either. He's insane."
"I can vouch for that," Nia said calmly. "Shichen really is dangerous."
"I don't care! How can anyone do that kind of thing together…"
"Aiya, we're all family. Once you try it you'll understand—"
"I said no!"
"…Um." Tohka suddenly cut in, breaking their argument.
"What are you even talking about? What do you mean Shichen is 'insane'?"
"…" Seeing Tohka's innocent expression, Kurumi finally cooled down.
"Tohka, you're still too young. You'll understand when you're older," Sawa soothed.
"I'm not young!" Tohka snapped.
"Didn't Mio say you're basically two or three years old?"
"…!" Tohka couldn't argue. She could only look at Shichen for help.
"Shichen, what are you guys even talking about?"
"You'll… understand later," Shichen answered solemnly.
"When is 'later'?"
"Depends…"
Then Shichen quickly pivoted.
"By the way, aren't you hungry? Go ask Tohru for food."
"…Fine! I'm not playing with you guys anymore. I'm going to Tohru!"
Tohka stormed out.
"Phew…" The moment she left, everyone visibly relaxed.
Even though Miku and Mukuro still hadn't "gone all the way" with Shichen, it still wasn't the same as Tohka. Tohka's cluelessness made it more dangerous to talk around her.
"I'll set up rooms for you first," Shichen said, looking around. "Get settled. Then when Utaha and the others come back, you can meet them. From now on, we're family."
"Utaha is family too?"
"'The others'? How many are there?"
"Don't tell me there are more than us."
"Yes—there are lots," Yoshino suddenly said softly.
"…" Everyone fell silent.