Near Ikebukuro, Sakura Apartments.
Luo Shu casually parked the car in a spot and stepped out, walking towards Mahiru Shiina and Mira Tsubakihara, who were retrieving luggage from the trunk:
"This is the place. What do you think?"
"...So this is it?" Mahiru Shiina looked up at the apartment building.
Luo Shu moved beside her, also gazing upwards:
"It's actually quite convenient to live here—though many of those conveniences are more for my benefit."
"For instance, there's a vending machine right in the lobby past the fingerprint-locked entrance. The location is close to Ikebukuro Station, making shopping and dining easy."
"Is Ikebukuro Station convenient for dining?" Mahiru blinked in surprise, as if this contradicted her understanding.
At that moment, Mira Tsubakihara approached with a cheerful smile and explained: "Of course it is—Shu-kun is Chinese, after all~"
"Oh!!" Realisation dawned on Mahiru. "That does make sense."
"With Ikebukuro being a hub for the Chinese community, there are plenty of Chinese restaurants nearby. No wonder Luo Shu-kun finds it convenient."
Mira tilted her head slightly, puzzled. "Oddly enough, when I bought this place at eight, I never expected it to turn into a Chinatown."
"Hence why I specified it was convenient for me," Luo Shu sighed, shooting Mira a glare. "And don't mention buying an apartment at eight again—it makes me jealous."
Mira burst into laughter, while Mahiru giggled beside her.
Luo Shu exhaled, heading towards the lobby as he added:
"By the way, the current residents here are either Mira's bodyguards or acquaintances of ours. Recently, we've also arranged for round-the-clock security patrols, so safety isn't something you need to worry about."
Mahiru blinked at this, then turned to Mira with a questioning look.
Recognising the unspoken question, Mira pinched Mahiru's cheek playfully:
"As for rent, just pay a symbolic 50,000 yen."
"Not a yen more—big sister won't take it."
"But—!"
Mahiru tried to protest, but Luo Shu cut in:
"On top of that, you'll be responsible for cooking and laundry."
"Oh, and if we ever get pets, feeding them will be your job too."
The words that sounded like an order made Mahiru Shiina swallow her refusal.
Though the girl still felt she was imposing by living in such a place, on one hand, she found it hard to refuse Mira Tsubakihara's forceful insistence, and on the other, Luo Shu's words had given her an out.
Caught between these two factors, Mahiru Shiina tacitly accepted the living arrangements.
Seeing Mahiru fall silent, Luo Shu finally headed towards the elevator:
"Well, let's go meet the neighbours in the same building first."
Hearing this, Mira Tsubakihara linked arms with Mahiru, and the two followed Luo Shu with small steps.
...
In Luo Shu's home.
"Miss Mira's little sister?"
Kisara, her pink hair cascading to her waist and dressed in loungewear, smiled warmly at Mahiru Shiina, who sat primly on the sofa with the poise of a young lady from a distinguished family.
Mahiru, who found Kisara's gaze somewhat unsettling, nodded at the girl Luo Shu had just introduced:
"Um, hello, Kisara-san."
Taking in Mahiru's well-mannered demeanour, Kisara quickly assessed the threat level in her mind before turning to Luo Shu with a strained smile:
"She's a very cute girl, isn't she, Shu~kun~?"
Glancing at Kisara's unfocused eyes, Luo Shu remained unruffled:
"You know, Kisara and Mahiru are quite similar!"
"Eh?" X2
Mahiru and Kisara both turned to Luo Shu in unison.
"Same gentleness, same talent for housework and cooking."
As Luo Shu said this, he couldn't help but smile at Mira Tsubakihara: "Looks like we can comfortably be freeloaders in the future."
Hearing this, Mira Tsubakihara also glanced at Mahiru Shiina and Kisara before exclaiming in surprise:
"Now that you mention it... that does seem true."
Imagining future scenes of Mahiru cooking for her, Mira immediately said with exaggerated seriousness:
"If Mahiru became a mother, I'd definitely be the happiest child."
Hearing this, not just Mahiru Shiina but even Luo Shu was stunned.
How did this escalate so quickly?!
Meanwhile, Mahiru Shiina blushed furiously upon processing the words:
"Mira-nee, saying things like 'mother' at a time like this is too embarrassing!"
'You're much older than me...' Mahiru wanted to say this, but considering Mira's sensitivity about age, she didn't dare voice it.
Though Mahiru remained silent, she could clearly hear Kisara muttering:
"Mother? Does Shu-kun like that sort of thing? But I don't think I have any maternity wear..."
Mahiru stared at Kisara with a horrified expression.
'This girl is similar to me?'
'You call this similar?'
Luo Shu, who also heard the muttering, quickly coughed:
"Ahem, Kisara, is there any supper? I'm hungry."
Snapping back to reality, Kisara headed towards the kitchen while replying:
"Ah, supper? There's only some noodles left at home. Shall I make you some noodles?"
Luo Shu quickly asked: "Noodles? Do we have any with minced meat topping?"
"Yes, yes, I'll make it right away."
Watching Kisara enter the kitchen, Luo Shu turned to Mahiru's strange expression and awkwardly explained:
"This girl cares about me a bit too much."
"I can tell." Mahiru nodded, then glanced at Mira, who continued to smile, sighing helplessly.
Well, if the person involved isn't complaining, what could she, as the younger sister, possibly say?
Luo Shu continued explaining: "Besides Kisara, Sharon also lives on this floor, though she's rarely home due to work."
"When we're free tomorrow, either I or Mira can take you to meet her."
Mahiru nodded while thinking: 'So they're all neighbours indeed!'
"Speaking of which, it's getting late." Mira suddenly glanced at Luo Shu before saying, "Mahiru, do you want to sleep with your big sister?"
Mahiru immediately shook her head:
"No, the room I saw earlier just needs some tidying up and it'll be fine for one night."
"Are you really sure?" Mira pouted pitifully.
"Really." Mahiru sighed inwardly - 'If I sleep with you, I'll just become your body pillow, right? No way! I'd get suffocated.'
"Alright then." Mira stood up and waved at Luo Shu: "I'll head back next door then. Goodnight~"
"Ah, goodnight."
Mahiru responded before also rising:
"Then I'll also..."
"Go ahead."
Luo Shu waved them off. After they left, he glanced around Mira's room.
Hmm, Mira Tsubakihara did have a room in his house for sleeping, but today Miss Mira wouldn't be staying here.
As for the reason... Kisara would probably assume it was because Mahiru Shiina, that little sister, had come over, so they needed to avoid any impropriety?
Thinking this, Luo Shu glanced back at Kisara, still in the kitchen, then took a slight breath:
"Seems like I'll need an excuse to separate today... Hmm... Maybe I should just lay it out plainly... Otherwise, if Kisara comes chasing with a knife..."
Eyeing Kisara holding the kitchen knife inside, Luo Shu sighed with some hesitation, temporarily setting the matter aside as he recalled the intel Sharon had sent earlier.
Then, he sent a message to Meer.
[Arrange a meeting for me with Nurarihyon.]