Luo Shu observed the girl peeking out from the room.
"Dad, do we have a guest today?"
The girl with pink bangs tied with a black ribbon and a mischievous smile was the Fujiwara family's second daughter, Chika Fujiwara.
Luo Shu couldn't help but internally critique the Familia assessment criteria of the Divine Pantheon Reconstruction System. This distinction between Toyomi Fujiwara, who barely appeared, and Chika Fujiwara, who was practically the female lead, provided some benchmark for the system's judgments.
Come to think of it, the third daughter, Moeha Fujiwara, had also appeared frequently in the storyline. If she could become a Familia too... it would basically confirm that any female character with screen time had potential.
As Luo Shu mentally dissected the system's Familia evaluation methods, Daichi Fujiwara responded to his lively daughter's antics with confusion:
"Didn't I mention we'd have a guest?"
"Not at all!" Chika blinked rapidly, her petite face brimming with vivacious smiles.
Just then, another female voice chimed in from the room:
"It's not that he didn't mention it—big sister just wasn't listening. Dad definitely brought it up during dinner two days ago."
As she spoke, the Fujiwara family's youngest daughter, Moeha Fujiwara, emerged behind the door and pushed Chika out of the room:
"Hurry up, you're blocking the way!"
"Tch." Chika clicked her tongue, puffing her cheeks in displeasure. "Moeha's so mean, always exposing me."
"Chika~~" Daichi Fujiwara adjusted his glasses, his expression darkening slightly as he said, "So it's not that I didn't mention it, but that you simply weren't listening?"
Fujiwara Chika didn't respond. Instead, she turned her head towards the kitchen, sniffing the air:
"Ah? What's that delicious smell? Sister, did you make curry today?"
From the kitchen, Toyomi Fujiwara's voice immediately rang out:
"I made some chicken curry. Want some with rice, Chika?"
"Yes, please!!"
"I'll help!"
Watching Chika scamper off towards the kitchen, Daichi sighed helplessly:
"This child..."
At that moment, Moeha Fujiwara clasped her hands behind her back and remarked calmly:
"Come to think of it, I've been playing Chinese Checkers with Chika-nee this whole time. Haven't touched my homework at all."
"Homework?" Daichi stroked his chin, his smile turning mischievous: "Thanks for that, Moeha. Your allowance this month just increased by 10,000 yen."
Moeha's face lit up with a smile, showing no guilt whatsoever about throwing her sister under the bus.
Then, as if sensing something, she turned to Luo Shu:
"Good day. I'm Moeha, the youngest daughter of the Fujiwara family. My sister has been in your care."
'No... saying 'in my care' now is... a bit awkward...'
Luo Shu observed Moeha Fujiwara - who had triggered a system notification - and confirmed his suspicions before changing the subject:
"Today was actually my first time meeting your sister."
"First meeting?" Moeha blinked, then smiled meaningfully: "So it was your first meeting~ That means nothing's started yet?"
"Mhm."
"Dad, if Nee-san fails, can I give it a try? He seems like the type who wouldn't break easily."
"Moeha." Daichi's expression stiffened as he called her name: "Go help Toyomi with the dishes."
"Understood~" Moeha replied nonchalantly, then glanced at Luo Shu again with a smile before sauntering off to the kitchen, hands still behind her back.
Daichi turned to Luo Shu apologetically:
"Sorry about that. She has a habit of saying strange things out of nowhere."
"...Miss Moeha is quite lively." That was the only descriptor Luo Shu could muster.
Honestly, none of the three daughters in this family seemed easy to handle!
'Are they all schemers?'
With this thought, Luo Shu couldn't help but glance at Daichi. Noticing the streaks of white at his temples, he remarked sympathetically:
"Mr. Daichi, you seem to have it quite tough~"
Hearing this, Daichi's previously gentle expression suddenly turned mournful:
"Indeed. With so many women in the house, it's really not easy. One careless moment and my status drops below even Pes's..."
"Pes?" Luo Shu looked puzzled.
"Our family dog." Daichi removed his glasses to clean them. "My wife took him along on her business trip."
"Ah..."
'Taking the dog on a business trip but not the husband... Mrs. Fujiwara certainly marches to her own drum...' Luo Shu internally complained.
Just then, Daichi - who'd been keeping an eye on the kitchen - noticed Chika sneaking bites while carrying dishes.
His eye twitched as he couldn't help shouting:
"Chika! At least pick the right moment to snack!"
"Eh?" Chika Fujiwara, who was nibbling on a piece of curry chicken, quickly hid her right hand behind her back and raised the plate towards Luo Shu: "Would you like some too, guest? Big sister's curry is super delicious, you know."
"Just call me Luo Shu."
Luo Shu first reminded her, then glanced at the curry chicken in Chika Fujiwara's hand before turning to Daichi Fujiwara to ask:
"Is this considered bribery?"
'Getting caught doing something bad and immediately dragging others into it to create accomplice conditions... this kid's technique is worryingly proficient.'
"Hehe~" Chika Fujiwara showed no embarrassment at being caught bribing, instead grinning foolishly.
If it weren't for his eldest daughter, Toyomi, also coming of age and the family patriarch urging him to bring suitable candidates home, he really wouldn't have wanted to bring anyone back.
Sigh...
Daichi Fujiwara exhaled deeply before resigning himself:
"My daughters are quite lively, aren't they?"
Hearing this, Luo Shu glanced at Chika Fujiwara sneaking food, then at Moeha Fujiwara hiding in the kitchen adding mysterious powder to dishes, and finally at Toyomi Fujiwara, who was cooking rice while smiling at Moeha's antics.
With a tone that could either be praise or sarcasm, he said:
"...They're certainly lively indeed."