Time approached late afternoon, nearing evening.
Asaba Yuma and the others had just returned to the Video Store. Before they could even settle down, a knock sounded at the door. Seeing this, Zhe went to open it.
"Hello, I'm looking for Aya."
The girl at the door, who was Hoshimi Miyabi, said to Zhe, who had opened the door.
"... Aya is looking for you."
Saying this, Zhe walked back inside, preparing to leave the space for the two sisters to be alone.
After all, the conflict between the two of them previously had not been minor. Since Hoshimi Miyabi had taken the initiative to come over now, it saved them the trouble of trying to set things up between them.
When Hoshimi Harumasa came out, she was momentarily stunned to see Hoshimi Miyabi. However, remembering that their conflict was over, Hoshimi Harumasa walked up to Hoshimi Miyabi.
"What is it you need from me?"
Hoshimi Harumasa asked doubtfully, unable to quite understand why Hoshimi Miyabi was looking for her.
"Sister, I want to ask you out to hang out."
"I wonder if you're free?"
Hoshimi Miyabi extended her hand in invitation.
However, before Hoshimi Harumasa could refuse, Rin came scurrying out of the secret room.
"We're free! Aya is willing to go too!"
Rin scurried to Hoshimi Harumasa's side, taking Hoshimi Harumasa's hand and placing it in Hoshimi Miyabi's hand, then pushing Hoshimi Harumasa out the door before closing it.
Hoshimi Harumasa:...
"Fine, I'll go."
"Where are we going?"
Hoshimi Harumasa asked, simultaneously trying to pull her hand free, but failing. Her hand was held tightly by Hoshimi Miyabi.
"Let's just go for a walk together."
"You'll find out when we get there."
Saying this, Hoshimi Miyabi pulled Hoshimi Harumasa toward the subway station.
Hoshimi Harumasa saw this and was silently led along by Hoshimi Miyabi.
...
HAND Headquarters.
"Why did you bring me here?!"
Hoshimi Harumasa looked at the towering building not far away, confused about why Hoshimi Miyabi had brought her here.
"I'm bringing you to see where I work."
Saying this, Hoshimi Miyabi led Hoshimi Harumasa toward the building. As they walked in, the rate of turning heads was off the charts; practically everyone they passed would turn to look.
In a short while, Hoshimi Miyabi brought Hoshimi Harumasa to the office of H.S.O.S 6.
Tsukishiro Yanagi and Harumasa were buried in work, correcting documents, while Soukakku was playing with toys and doodling on his desk.
"Ryu, everyone!"
"I brought my sister over."
Hoshimi Miyabi introduced them.
This announcement caused the two who were busy working to stop their pens and look up.
Soukakku, upon noticing them, immediately ran over to the two of them to observe.
"Two Section Chiefs!"
"Sister Yanagi, look!"
Soukakku pointed at Hoshimi Miyabi, who was wearing casual clothes, and exclaimed in shock.
"Is this the Section Chief's sister?"
"I apologize for any offense caused when we first met in The Hollow, as I didn't know your identity. I'm sorry."
Harumasa stretched, speaking with a tone of apology.
Tsukishiro Yanagi walked up to the two of them and extended her hand toward Hoshimi Miyabi.
"Hello, let me formally introduce myself."
"My name is Tsukishiro Yanagi. You can call me Ryu. Of course, I don't mind if you call me Sister Yanagi like Soukakku does."
"That lazy fellow over there is Asaba Yuma. You can just call him Harumasa."
After shaking hands with Hoshimi Miyabi, Ryu introduced her.
"However, Section Chief, I think you should tell us about these things in advance next time."
"This kind of surprise visit—what if we were off work and resting? Wouldn't we have made a wasted trip?"
Tsukishiro Yanagi perked up and flashed a smile, teasing. After a brief moment of thought, Ryu immediately guessed Hoshimi Miyabi's intention.
She probably couldn't handle her sister, so she brought her over hoping they could act as wingmen to set things up.
Of course, Ryu wasn't the only one who guessed; so did Harumasa, who was Hoshimi Miyabi's second external brain.
"Sister Yanagi is absolutely right!"
"If I had known Section Chief and the others were coming, I would have prepared a lot of delicious food to treat you!"
Soukakku put his hands on his hips and grinned cheerfully. He had completely forgotten about Hoshimi Harumasa deceiving her earlier. After all, he was childlike; he couldn't stay angry for that long. Furthermore, knowing it was a misunderstanding naturally cleared things up.
"..."
Hoshimi Miyabi couldn't handle the enthusiasm of H.S.O.S 6 and could only maintain a smiling expression while nodding and listening.
"Sister, don't be nervous. Just treat this like your own home."
"This is the exclusive office for H.S.O.S 6."
"You can come whenever you want from now on."
Hoshimi Miyabi looked at Hoshimi Harumasa and smiled.
She had always hoped to have a younger brother or sister before, but unfortunately, her mother...
"Mm, I understand."
Hoshimi Miyabi acknowledged.
"Everyone, since the Section Chief's sister is here, let's knock off early today!"
"I know a hot pot place with especially good flavor. It's still early, so if we reserve now, it should be just the right time when we get there."
Ryu adjusted her glasses and took out her phone.
"Yay!"
Soukakku cheered and bounced slightly upon hearing Tsukishiro Yanagi suggest finishing work early to go eat hot pot.
"That works too. Sister, you probably haven't had dinner yet, right?"
Hoshimi Miyabi asked politely. Of course, even if she had said she already ate, Hoshimi Miyabi would still have taken her along.
Hoshimi Harumasa shook her head, indicating she hadn't eaten dinner. She really couldn't handle this boisterous atmosphere.
But since she was already here, she felt awkward dampening everyone's spirits.
"I'm sorry, since you're finishing early, I actually have something else to do."
"I won't be joining you all."
Harumasa said with an apologetic smile.
Upon hearing this, Hoshimi Harumasa frowned. She recalled that Harumasa hadn't obtained that special serum yet at this time.
This meant Harumasa was still suffering from the symptoms of Ether Compatibility and needed frequent treatment to suppress them.
Moreover, it seemed that even with frequent suppressive treatment, the time Harumasa could survive wasn't very long.
"What a spoilsport! I really don't know what you take all those days off for."
"The Section Chief's sister is here for her first gathering with us, and you're going to miss it!"
Tsukishiro Yanagi frowned, looking somewhat helpless. Although she vaguely guessed the secret Harumasa carried, she didn't know the specifics.
"Sorry, sorry. I was actually planning to ask to leave early too."
"But I ended up leaving a bit early. I will definitely join next time!"
Harumasa scratched the back of his head, smiling apologetically.
Tsukishiro Yanagi sighed, "Fine, fine. Since the Section Chief didn't say anything, forget it. You absolutely must come next time, or I won't let you off!"
After that, the group left HAND Headquarters. Hoshimi Miyabi, Tsukishiro Yanagi, and the others headed to the reserved hot pot restaurant.
Harumasa, however, left alone, heading somewhere unknown.
...
Inside the Hot Pot Restaurant.
"Sister, this tripe looks really good. Try some."
Saying this, Hoshimi Miyabi placed a piece of tripe into Hoshimi Harumasa's bowl.
"I think you should eat slowly. You can't eat this much by yourself."
Hoshimi Harumasa silently looked at the bowl that was almost piled into a small mountain and refused.
On the side, Soukakku stared intently at Hoshimi Harumasa's bowl with shining eyes.
"Soukakku, do you want to share some with me?"
Hoshimi Harumasa noticed Soukakku's shining gaze beside her and asked.
"Really?!!"
Saying this, Soukakku quickly handed over his own bowl.
Seeing this, Hoshimi Harumasa transferred more than half of the ingredients in her bowl to Soukakku.
Meanwhile, Tsukishiro Yanagi kept dropping ingredients into the pot. The ones she had just added were all fished out by Hoshimi Miyabi and placed into Hoshimi Harumasa's bowl.
Neither of them managed to get many pieces for themselves.
---------------------------------
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