Ten minutes later.
Arthur returned to his residence.
He changed out of his clothes.
Moving quietly, he slipped into bed beside Yotsuya Miko, who was still sleeping soundly, and closed his eyes to rest.
Meanwhile, elsewhere.
A thousand meters up in the sky, Tohru flew at a steady, unhurried pace, taking in the night view of the city below.
Flashes of old memories surfaced in her mind.
Mostly scenes from her journeys.
Arthur's figure suddenly appeared in her thoughts.
"Tohru, do you want to become my personal maid?"
That line seemed to echo right in her ear.
"Maid…"
Tohru couldn't help but murmur.
An old memory resurfaced.
She had once met a human thief girl whose dream was to become a maid.
They had chatted about what they wanted to do after gaining freedom.
The thief girl had answered:
She wanted to become a maid.
To wear a cute maid outfit.
To fall in love with her master.
She had spoken from the heart.
No one forced her—being a maid was the girl's genuine, voluntary choice.
It was her free choice.
And yet, after gaining freedom, she chose to serve someone.
Back then, Tohru couldn't understand.
Now, she seemed to understand a little.
But only vaguely, half-understood.
So she continued to soar across the night sky.
At that moment, in a parallel world that overlapped with the main world just beyond the atmosphere, a figure stood among the clouds.
A golden halo shone above his head.
Snow-white wings stirred gently at his back.
Eyes as clear as the sky after rain gazed downward.
His gaze pierced countless invisible layers of space without obstruction, locking onto Tohru flying below.
After a moment, he withdrew his gaze.
A flash of golden radiance enveloped him, and his figure instantly vanished from the clouds.
Tohru remained completely unaware.
――――――――
Morning, 8 a.m.
Bzzz… Bzzz… Bzzz…
Yotsuya Miko's phone lit up, vibrating constantly with an incoming call.
Arthur opened his eyes.
Glancing at the still-sleeping Miko, he reached out with invisible psychic power and floated her phone to his hand.
An incoming call.
The name displayed: Yurikawa Hana.
"Miko, wake up. Your best friend's calling."
Arthur called out softly.
"Mmm…?"
Miko furrowed her brows, a faint hum escaping her throat before she slowly opened her eyes.
Her face was drowsy and dazed.
"Yurakawa's calling."
Arthur placed the phone in front of her.
"Oh!"
Blinking, Miko's mind gradually cleared.
She took the phone and pressed it to her ear.
"Hello, Yurikawa Hana."
Her voice carried a trace of sleepy laziness.
From the speaker, Yurakawa Hana's energetic voice came through:
"Good morning, Miko!"
Though Miko hadn't put it on speaker, Arthur's sharp hearing easily picked up every word.
"Morning, Yurikawa Hana," Miko replied.
Catching Arthur smiling slyly at her, her cheeks flushed faintly pink, and she returned a shy, sweet smile.
Even though she wasn't wearing a single stitch of clothing.
She no longer felt as embarrassed as before.
Seeing this, a mischievous glint flickered in Arthur's eyes.
Meanwhile, Yurakawa Hana continued:
"Miko, yesterday I found this dessert shop online that looks amazing—let's go check it out!"
"Ah!!!"
A startled cry rang out.
Miko's body trembled, her fair face instantly turning bright red.
Following her gaze—
Arthur had leaned over at some point and taken a bite of a cherry.
On the other end of the line, in a high-rise apartment, Yurakawa Hana frowned at the sudden scream. She quickly asked:
"What happened? Are you okay?"
"N-nothing."
Miko's trembling voice came through.
"Really nothing?"
Though Hana's frown eased slightly, she still wanted to be sure.
"It's fine. I just nearly dropped my phone."
"I see."
Hearing that, Hana relaxed, all suspicion fading away.
She smiled and said again:
"Anyway, about that dessert shop—want to go?"
Miko: "Where is it, and when?"
Hana: "Meguro District. How about nine o'clock?"
Miko: "Okay, let's meet at Meguro Station. That's it, I've got something to do, hang up now."
Click.
"???"
Staring at her phone, Hana furrowed her brows, practically seeing a row of question marks pop up over her head.
What's with you, sis?
Why Meguro Station?
Don't we always meet at Tabata Station in Kita Ward?
Whatever. Not important.
Though puzzled, Hana didn't overthink it and brushed it aside.
――――――――
Back at Arthur's place.
Miko, cheeks burning, had hung up the call while resisting the tingling sensations coursing through her. She shot Arthur a reproachful glare.
"Heh, he chuckled."
Unfazed by her glare, Arthur grinned and went on eating steamed buns and cherries.
Mouth full, hands still reaching for more—like a greedy child.
He savored the taste.
He had to admit, Miko really was something. People shouldn't be judged by appearances.
She usually hid herself so well.
But now that she had shed her disguise, revealed her true self—
Arthur realized she was close to a C.
He'd thought she was just a sour lemon, but in fact, she was a sweet peach.
Watching Arthur's shameless greed, Miko flushed even deeper, her whole body trembling with indignation.
Her voice shook as she tried to protest:
"Um… Arthur, I have to meet Yurikawa Hana later…"
Arthur looked up at her with a smile: "It's only fifty minutes until nine. No rush."
"Besides, the flagpole's already raised."
"This is your fault—you've got to deal with it."
"Eh!!"
Startled, Miko instinctively glanced toward the "flagpole."
Sure enough, a tall, sturdy pillar stood proud.
The game was about to begin.
Knowing Arthur's "skills," Miko frantically shook her head: "Not now! I'll definitely be late."
"Then… how about this."
Arthur leaned in close to whisper in her ear.
"!!!"
Miko's eyes flew wide.
Her face was filled with shock and shyness.
"You choose," Arthur said, leaving it up to her.
"…Fine."
Blushing furiously, torn with embarrassment, Miko gave him a glare before finally making her decision.
Arthur smiled triumphantly and stood up.
Miko knelt down beside the flagpole.
Half an hour flew by.
The clock ticked to 8:30.
Arthur gave the flagpole a shake.
"Mmph!!!"
Miko's eyes widened, her cheeks puffed out like a hamster with its mouth stuffed full of food.
Another twenty minutes slipped by.
Quickly washing up and getting dressed, Miko hurried out the door toward the station, rushing to make it to Meguro Station by nine.
While Miko went to meet Yurakawa Hana—
Arthur spent some time tidying the bedroom, washing everything that needed washing.
Just then, a message came from Akashiya Moka.
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