The next morning.
Belle went to the garage to take out the trash as usual, but as soon as she opened the back door, she found that the trash she had thrown away over the past few days had been taken out of the bin and tossed aside.
Belle froze at the sight.
"Who is it? So inconsiderate!"
"Rummaging through all our family's trash!"
Belle looked around as she spoke, thinking it was someone's prank.
But she didn't see anyone.
Seeing this, Belle opened the lid of the trash can, only to see a large eye with two horns, emitting a faint red mist, staring right at her.
Belle:!!!
Belle slammed the lid shut, her face full of disbelief. After pinching herself to make sure she wasn't dreaming, she dashed toward the house, leaving the trash aside and shouting, "Brother!!"
Inside, Hoshimi Aya was also jolted awake by the noise. Seeing only the pitch-black darkness and Tailless, she assumed Tailless was responsible.
She didn't think much of it and went back to sleep. After all, she had no job, no money, and her stomach was empty.
It was better to sleep a bit longer and look for a job at noon; that way, she could save on a meal.
Besides, she had already decided to stay here for the next few days.
Until she found a stable job and a place to live, or decided to seek help from someone else, she planned to stay here temporarily.
As for the trash can, she had already moved in.
She was so pitiful; even if Belle and the others found her, they surely wouldn't have the heart to kick her out, right?
Meanwhile, outside the trash can.
Wise arrived at the trash can holding a broom, with Belle behind him, followed by the Bangboos 01, 03, and 18.
"Brother, be careful!"
Belle said fearfully from behind Wise.
"Don't worry, Belle!"
"I want to see exactly what kind of monster this is!"
With that, Wise opened the lid of the trash can and fell silent.
Inside, a Fox-Haired Person wearing an H.S.O.S 6 uniform was curled up asleep in the trash can.
It was Hoshimi Aya, the one who had come to their shop the previous night hoping they would take her in.
Seeing her brother staring blankly into the bin, Belle leaned over and was equally stunned by the scene inside.
"Is this... Hoshimi Aya?"
"Why is she sleeping here?"
"Could it be that she has nowhere else to stay?"
Belle said as she looked at Hoshimi Aya in the trash can, recalling her plea for shelter the day before.
"That shouldn't be right. Someone from the prestigious Hoshimi Family couldn't possibly lack a place to stay."
"Perhaps there's some hidden secret behind this."
Wise speculated while looking at Hoshimi Aya.
Hoshimi Aya, who had just fallen back asleep, was woken up again. She sat up groggily and saw Belle and Wise as soon as she opened her eyes.
Hoshimi Aya:...
"I'm just staying here temporarily."
"It's just a trash can; it shouldn't cause you any trouble, right?"
"You won't mind, will you?"
Hoshimi Aya asked them somewhat dazedly.
If they minded even this, she would have to sleep on the streets for the next few days.
After all, the trash can belonged to them.
Fortunately, she had made it through one night safely.
"Why are you sleeping here?"
"The famous Hoshimi Family shouldn't be unable to provide you with a place to stay, right?"
"Why do you look so pitiful?"
Belle asked Hoshimi Aya, puzzled.
"...My name may be Hoshimi Aya, but I'm not the Xing Jian you're thinking of."
"You should also know about the person who looked exactly like me yesterday; I just escaped from them yesterday."
"That's why they're looking for me. She's the one from the Hoshimi Family you're talking about, while I'm just all alone."
"I don't even know if I can support myself!"
As she spoke, Hoshimi Aya put on a pitiful expression.
Seeing her like this, both Belle and Wise felt a pang of sympathy.
"Brother, why don't we take her in?"
"She's so pitiful, she doesn't even have a place to live."
Belle looked at Wise beside her and pleaded.
"No!"
"Belle, did you forget what I told you yesterday?!"
Wise refused.
Hoshimi Aya's identity was far too suspicious; he couldn't allow such an unknown variable to stay by their side.
Belle was his sister; she could afford not to think about such things.
But he couldn't. He was the older brother and had to protect his sister's safety. He had to consider these matters carefully, especially since this involved their Teacher!
Just then, Hoshimi Aya's stomach growled at an inappropriate moment, immediately drawing Belle and Wise's attention.
"I'm sorry, I haven't eaten all day yesterday."
Hoshimi Aya said sheepishly, mostly because she felt embarrassed being stared at by the two of them.
"Are you really not going to reconsider taking me in?"
"I can be your muscle; I'm actually quite strong!"
"I can protect you."
Hoshimi Aya asked again.
The protagonists' place was truly her best option, whether in terms of information or living conditions.
She really didn't want to go to the Cunning Hares. Although Belle was a good person, they were genuinely poor.
Other places were even worse, and she didn't know where to find Victoria Housekeeping.
So she could only turn to the protagonists. If she tried to find information on her own now, she might attract Hoshimi Miyabi's attention.
Although the protagonists would eventually interact with Hoshimi Miyabi and the others, it was still early in the plot; Fourteenth Street hadn't even been eroded by The Hollow yet.
Meanwhile, Wise began to think again. They had suspected yesterday that Hoshimi Aya knew of their identity as Phaethon.
It seemed they were right; Hoshimi Aya did know who they were, otherwise she wouldn't have offered to be their muscle.
"I'm sorry, but your identity is still too suspicious for us."
"If you can clearly explain who you are, perhaps we can take you in temporarily."
Wise pondered.
To be able to escape from H.S.O.S 6 unscathed—setting aside her appearance—her strength was certainly not an issue.
He and his sister indeed lacked means of self-defense. Taking in a fighter wasn't a bad idea; she could even be sent into The Hollow for commissions when they had nothing else to do.
But all this was predicated on Hoshimi Aya's identity being legitimate and her not being in conflict with them.
"Really!"
Hoshimi Aya said joyfully upon hearing Wise's words.
This was a pleasant surprise!
Hoshimi Aya then recounted everything that had happened from yesterday to today, including why she knew the name Carole Arna.
However, Hoshimi Aya didn't reveal everything. For instance, she didn't mention being a transmigrator, only sharing her memories of being in this world.
As for her past, she simply brushed it off with the excuse of amnesia.
She also attributed her reason for coming to find them to a voice in her heart.
Belle and Wise exchanged a glance, nodded, and chose to believe Hoshimi Aya's words for the time being, deciding to take her in.
...
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