As Horitake and Aoi were huddled together, whispering about the "incidents" of the recent mission, a presence materialized silently behind them. Neither of them knew exactly when she had arrived.
A shadow loomed over Shinobu's face. Though a smile played on her lips, there was an aura of sheer terror radiating from her. Her voice remained as gentle as a mountain breeze, yet the softer it sounded, the more suffocating the pressure became.
"Horitake-san... Aoi... care to share what the two of you are discussing so intently?"
The two conspirators froze mid-whisper.
Aoi, caught red-handed by her superior, was instantly gripped by panic. Horitake wasn't faring much better; cold sweat began to prickle at his brow. Through his time with her, he had learned a vital lesson: the moment Shinobu addressed him as "Horitake-san" instead of just his name, she was genuinely annoyed.
In such moments, the only path to survival was immediate and total submission.
Horitake turned around, offering a dry, strained laugh. "Ah, Shinobu! It's just you. Aoi and I weren't talking about anything important. We were just... reminiscing about the old days."
Aoi chimed in, her voice trembling with forced enthusiasm. "Yes! Reminiscing! Just catching up!"
Shinobu's smile didn't waver for a second. She clearly didn't believe a word of it.
"Aoi," she said, her tone dripping with sweet poison, "it's almost time for lunch. Shouldn't you be in the kitchen preparing the meal?"
"Ah...!" Aoi wiped a bead of sweat from her temple. "Right! Yes! I should be getting on that! Right away!"
Without another word, Aoi bolted for the safety of the kitchen.
Shinobu then turned her unwavering, smiling gaze back toward Horitake.
"Now then, Horitake-san. Doesn't your new home sit right next door? Why are you loitering around my Butterfly Mansion instead of resting in your own house? Surely you don't need to 'crash' here anymore, do you?"
"Ah, well... naturally, I don't need to crash here," Horitake stammered, trying to regain his footing. "But didn't we agree to study the formula together? I came over to get a head start on the research. After all, I'm the one who provided the formula; with my help, we'll finish the medicine much faster."
Shinobu looked at him flatly. "I see. So it's strictly for 'professional' reasons."
She paused, her expression remaining unreadably polite. "However, I've just realized that many of the rare medicinal herbs required for the formula are currently out of stock. It will take a few days for the new shipment to arrive. Until then, there is no research to be done."
She tilted her head slightly. "Therefore, this is a time for everyone to rest and relax. Could I ask you, Horitake, to enjoy that rest in the comfort of your own home? Please try not to disturb the daily operations of the Butterfly Mansion."
Hearing her cold dismissal, Horitake clutched his chest, looking like a man who had been mortally wounded.
"Shinobu! We're a couple! One step away from being husband and wife! How can you say such heartless things to me?"
He put on a performance of great sorrow. "I thought that, given our relationship, I was already a part of this household—or at least half a member. But here you are, pushing me away, excluding me, treating me like a stranger... My heart is shattered!"
"Speak like a normal person, please."
"Oh. Right," Horitake dropped the act immediately. "What I mean is, with how close we are, is there really a need to draw such a sharp line between 'my house' and 'your mansion'?"
Watching him return to his usual self, Shinobu sighed, her sternness softening into a look of weary affection.
"Fine. We are a couple, and there's no need for unnecessary distance. But even in a relationship, a little space can be a good thing. I want to spend these next few days focusing on my sisters. Could you please just let me have this time with them?"
Horitake hesitated, then nodded. "I suppose that's fair. My house is a bit lonely since no one's lived in it yet; it lacks a certain 'warmth.' I can sleep there, but..."
"But what?"
"I'm far too lazy to cook for myself," Horitake said with a grin. "So, for my three meals a day, I'll just come over here and eat with you all. That shouldn't be a problem, right? Surely the Butterfly Mansion can spare a single set of chopsticks for me?"
"I suppose that can be arranged," Shinobu agreed with a nod. She turned toward the kitchen and called out:
"Aoi! Make extra for lunch! In fact, make extra for every meal from now on! Our professional 'freeloader,' Horitake, will be mooching off us every single day!"
Aoi's voice drifted back from the kitchen, sounding amused. "Understood! I've noted it down! Horitake-sama will be coming to the Butterfly Mansion every day to eat for free!"
Horitake pointed at himself, looking conflicted. "A freeloader? Well... fine. As long as the food is good, call me what you want!"
At that moment, Aoi poked her head out from the kitchen, offering a subtle assist to Horitake. "If Horitake-sama is going to be eating here every day anyway, wouldn't it be easier if he just moved back in? It would be much more convenient."
Aoi's logic was simple: since they were already together, they might as well cohabitate to strengthen their bond.
Shinobu immediately saw through Aoi's meddling and shot her a look of mild disapproval.
Horitake laughed and waved a hand at Aoi. "I appreciate the sentiment, Aoi, I really do. But my house is right next door. I should probably sleep under my own roof. If I lived here permanently, I'd start feeling like I'd 'married into' the family and was just living off my wife's success. That wouldn't do for my manly pride."
He paused, a confident smirk playing on his lips. "Besides, I've already made a decision."
Shinobu looked at him curiously. "And what decision is that?"
Horitake looked like a man with a master plan. "Once I marry you, you'll be a part of my household. Naturally, you'll move into my house next door. It wouldn't be very convenient for you to keep living in the dormitory area of the mansion, would it?"
"I suppose not..." Shinobu said, a trace of hesitation in her voice.
"I know you'd hate to be away from your sisters," Horitake continued, his eyes gleaming. "So, I've decided: once we're married and you've moved in, I'm going to tear a hole in the wall that separates our properties. I'll install a gate or a door right there, linking the two estates into one giant compound. What do you think, Shinobu?"
Shinobu's eyes lit up. "That... actually sounds like a wonderful idea."
She genuinely liked the plan. Marrying Horitake wouldn't mean cutting ties with her family at the Butterfly Mansion. By simply connecting the two properties, they would become one large, happy household. It preserved their privacy as a couple while maintaining the warmth of her bond with the girls. It was, in a word, perfect.
As she thought about it more, however, a sudden realization hit her. She narrowed her eyes and shot Horitake a mock-glare.
"You scoundrel... you've had this planned for a long time, haven't you? I bet you picked that house specifically because it was next to the mansion, just so you could pull a stunt like this later!"
Horitake didn't even try to deny it. He simply grinned and nodded with thick-skinned pride.
Shinobu huffed, turning back toward the kitchen with an playful air of indignation.
"Aoi! On second thought, don't cook for this thick-faced brat! There's no lunch for Horitake at the Butterfly Mansion today!"
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