The TV blared in the background while raucous laughter spilled from the card room. Ryan didn't need to look to know Himiko had lost again—he could picture her stomping on a chair and downing beer straight from the bottle.
"Again? No way the three of us can't beat her!"
"Can I go throw up first? I can't take this anymore."
"Su's literally dozing off, Kevin. You're just too soft."
"But I'm losing every single round!"
These four idiots are so damn noisy. Isn't anyone coming to shut them up?
Ryan swallowed hard as his gaze fell on Griseo, nestled in Ato's arms. The man was covering his daughter's eyes, though he himself looked oddly satisfied by the chaos.
The plan had gone off-script. A quick adjustment was in order.
Ryan's mind kicked into overdrive, scanning the room for openings.
Mei was helping Kevin stumble toward the bathroom. Klein had blacked out after a few beers. Vill-V had disappeared the moment she entered—maybe the kitchen?
Yes. Fruit peels lay scattered on the cutting board. The cleaver was now in Elysia's hand, and those glittering eyes of hers...
Damn you, pink-haired hag. So quick to retaliate.
Ryan grit his teeth, instantly realizing who had pulled the strings. But in that split second of hesitation, he found his answer.
First, open his mouth and eat the mandarin from Hua's hand. Then—under Mobius's sharp, calculating gaze—eat hers, too.
So sour.
The acidic burst made his teeth throb. Ryan had his confirmation—Elysia was toying with him. With the same ruthless focus he used to face down Herrschers, he snatched the plate from Hua before she could blink.
Feel the pain. Transcend it.
Expression unreadable, Ryan shoved the remaining three mandarins into his mouth, cheeks bulging, jaw working like a machine.
"Delicious. Just… delicious."
The move left Ato stunned. This guy's a real hero. Even in a battlefield of emotions like this, he manages to survive.He struck fast, seized the weapon, turned the tables.
Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant.
"Daddy, why doesn't Uncle look happy when he eats?" Griseo had managed to pull her father's hand from her face, confusion written all over hers.
"You wouldn't get it, sweetheart. Uncle is… fighting."
Ryan wasn't sure who exactly he was fighting. He just looked at Hua, a little stunned, and Mobius, her brow twitching. Despite the acidic assault in his mouth, he felt a strange, petty satisfaction.
Trying to mess with me? You're still too green. Thought you'd stir trouble? What else you got?
Mobius pursed her lips. She hadn't expected him to be this self-destructive. Even just watching him chew made her skin crawl.
Why am I even bothering with this blockhead?
She almost let the thought go—but crushed it instead. No logic was needed. She was annoyed simply because they were there.
Her genius mind whirred to life once more—so consumed, she didn't even notice Hua had already stepped away.
Just as Ryan began to savor his petty victory, Hua returned—with a new plate. Three limes.
"Senior Brother, you seemed to enjoy eating. Have some more."
Shit…
Ryan turned stiffly, scanning her expression for any sign of sarcasm. But her face remained pure, calm—dead serious.
"Senior Brother, what's wrong? Here, let me feed you."
"Wait, let me do it. No—let's do it together." Mobius leaned in, all earlier animosity forgotten. She just wanted revenge now.
Hua frowned but, subconsciously deferring to Mobius as Ryan's "superior," politely extended the plate to her.
Then—unexpectedly—a hand moved in, snatching a lime.
"Senior Brother?"
"I can't eat anymore. Sakura, want a mandarin?" He didn't just offer—he threw it.
Sakura, who had just defeated Su and left him slumped face-down on the table, instinctively reached out and caught the mandarin mid-air. She blinked, examining it in her palm with mild confusion.
She hadn't had a single drink all night, despite hours of playing cards, and her throat was starting to feel dry. Without a second thought, she peeled it and popped a segment into her mouth.
Thud.
The unbeatable assassin dropped straight onto the table.
"See?" Ryan grinned, eyes practically sparkling. "Sakura enjoyed it so much she fainted. Good things are meant to be shared. Come on, Captain, have a taste too!"
Himiko blinked in confusion as she turned toward him.
Hua, still holding the plate of limes, paused for a beat. Something felt… off. But if Senior Brother said so, it must be okay.
"Captain, here—have some fruit. It'll help you sober up."
Himiko glanced between the lime in Hua's hand and the collapsed Sakura, her face pale. "Stay the hell away from me!!"
"Ryan, you bastard! You're using people as pawns!" Mobius, who had been watching in silence, finally snapped.
"Bastard?" Ryan scoffed, tilting his chin up arrogantly and adjusting his glasses with theatrical precision. "Who started this in the first place? Don't underestimate me, Auntie Mobius."
"Hmph. This round is yours, but the next won't be." Mobius coldly mirrored the gesture, pushing up her glasses without blinking.
"Bring it on. I'll enjoy watching you lose with grace."
Are these two actually okay? Ato stared, baffled. Are they nemeses? What even is the goal in this weird war of theirs?
"Childish. Uncle and Auntie are so childish…"
Griseo's brutally honest observation sliced through the room like a blade.
Both "geniuses" froze.
Am I really so bored I'm playing psychological warfare with this buffoon/woman?
Mobius rubbed her aching forehead, wondering how things had devolved to this. She held onto the table for balance—her legs were a little numb from squatting for so long. She glanced at Ryan, who seemed lost in thought as well.
She vaguely recalled the last time they'd watched a film together at the Fifth Research Institute. His hand resting lightly on her shoulder, that impromptu massage—strangely comforting.
If it happened again… No. How could I even bring that up?
"I'll give you a massage later, once everyone's asleep," Ryan murmured, eyes still on the beer bottle he was absentmindedly rubbing. "You looked uncomfortable squatting like that."
Mobius stiffened slightly, glancing his way. It wasn't her imagination. After a long pause, she gave the smallest nod imaginable.
"…Okay."
Night deepened. The villa was a wreck: garbage everywhere, half-eaten pizza strewn across furniture.
Kevin and the others were the first to crash. They were well and truly drunk—this was the first time they'd let go like this since their academy days. One by one, Ryan dragged them off and dumped them into guest rooms.
He originally put Kevin and Mei in the same room, but Mei insisted she needed to "discuss God Keys" with Vill-V.
Heading downstairs, he encountered yet another scene.
Blanca's family was already asleep. Sakura was quietly cleaning up. Elysia lounged on the sofa, gently rubbing her full stomach with a look of bliss.
And on the floor—
Himiko had Hua in a full headlock, pinning her down, smothering the poor girl's face beneath her—ample "justice."
Both were snoring.
Clearly, this was drunk revenge for the betrayal of a "loyal subordinate."
Even half-asleep, Hua mumbled in protest: "Let me go, Captain! I have important questions…"
He looked around but didn't see Mobius anywhere. With a sigh, he headed downstairs.
"Ely, why don't you help Sakura clean up? You've eaten enough to warrant some movement."
"I don't wanna," Elysia mumbled, stretching out like a lazy cat. "I just want to nap. So full…"
Eat and then sleep? What are you, a little pink pig?
Ryan resisted the urge to say it out loud, glancing at the clock. It was well past midnight. He walked over to the cabinet under the TV and pulled out a box.
"Alright, your turn now. Happy birthday, Ely."
Elysia perked up instantly, her violet eyes sparkling. She bounced over and eagerly tore open the box, revealing a delicate hairpin shaped like a white narcissus flower.
"Wowww! It's so pretty! Ryan, you really know how to charm a girl!" she beamed, immediately pinning it into her cotton-candy-pink hair. The contrast of soft white against vibrant pink gave her a glow of innocence that made her look even more enchanting.
She pranced to the mirror, turning her head from side to side to admire the effect.
"It's perfect! I absolutely love it!"
"Glad to hear it," Ryan said, a rare trace of warmth in his tone. Then he cleared his throat. "Now that I've given you the gift… could you please stop messing with me?"
"Nope." Elysia shook her head, grinning wide as Ryan's face tightened like he'd swallowed a lemon. "Also, I wasn't messing with you. I was helping."
"You nearly made me choke on sour mandarins!"
"That was an accident~ I was just following everyone's wishes. After all, if Ryan really doesn't want something, no one can force him. Sometimes… little inconveniences are a form of happiness ♪"
What's happy about being ambushed by citrus bombs? Staying silent would've been better.
That brief interlude earlier—if Ryan had just frowned or released a flicker of killing intent, Hua would've backed off instantly. Mobius too.
After all, his expressionless face when killing the Cocoon had been enough to scare Sakura into avoiding him for weeks.
But he hadn't done that.
Because, deep down, he didn't want to. Intimidation could win you tools—but not companions. Not warmth. And no matter how annoying the noise was, a part of him didn't want to go back to being a weapon.
"You're right," he admitted. "I don't want to face everyone with cold logic or ruin the atmosphere. This isn't the battlefield."
"Knew it!" Elysia winked. "Kevin says you're just a slow burner."
Ryan twitched, silently cursing that big-mouthed bastard. After all these years together, even a rock would show some emotion. And I'm a slow burner? Really?
As he sank into thought, a shadow suddenly loomed. He flinched—Elysia had leaned in close, her eyes gleaming with mischief.
"W-What are you doing?"
"Ryan," she said sweetly, "can't you be just a little more proactive? My maiden heart is at its limit. Who are you choosing, hmm? Hua or Mobius? Or are you going to be greedy and go for both?"
"You're insane." Ryan recoiled. "That's friendship. Teamwork. The pure bond between seniors and juniors! You've clearly read way too much shojo manga."
"Oh?" Elysia batted her lashes. "Then maybe I'm your real target?"
She placed a hand on her ample chest, suddenly looking serious.
"But Ryan… my heart doesn't belong to just one person. That wouldn't be fair. Maybe… you should give me more time."
Who even am I anymore? What is she TALKING about?
Ryan's thoughts were a mess. And then he saw her—Mobius—standing frozen halfway down the stairs, mouth slightly open like she'd just witnessed a crime against nature.
He didn't wait another second.
Bolting for the stairs, he shouted over his shoulder at the utterly delighted Elysia:
"STOP GOING CRAZY!"