Maki Was Unhappy

The next day.

Just as expected, since it was a day off, Maki and Mai arrived in the yard early.

Maki saw that the door was still closed and realized their master was still asleep. She picked up a heavy stick and began swinging it around the yard.

Meanwhile, Mai skillfully found the front door key beneath the mat and opened the door, a wise smile on her face.

"Hehe, Brother Shinsuke is so lazy. Mai's going to wake you up!"

The little figure quickly ran upstairs and stopped outside Shinsuke Zenin's room. She rubbed her hands together, then cautiously placed one on the doorknob.

"Knock, knock! The sun's about to shine on your butt! Get up, Brother!"

She shoved the door open and ran to the bed. With a push off her little legs, she sprang into the air and threw herself onto it.

"Behold Mai's Mount Tai Press!"

"Thump, thump, thump..."

The little figure came crashing down onto the bed and bounced twice.

"Who is it...?"

Yuki Tsukumo sleepily opened her eyes and pulled down the covers. When she saw Mai staring at her in bewilderment, she said, "Oh, it's just the little girl."

Seeing that it was Mai, Yuki pulled the covers back over herself, wrapped both arms around the person beside her, and nuzzled into their chest.

It was her first time experiencing sex, and she'd been so excited yesterday that they'd gone at it almost all night. She'd also underestimated her partner's stamina.

No wonder he'd managed to live off women for so many years.

He was practically a human jackhammer. Even she, a Special Grade Sorcerer, had barely been able to keep up.

Now she was exhausted. She'd need to sleep until the afternoon to recover.

"It's the big sister from yesterday! Why are you in Brother's room?!"

Mai stared at Yuki as she poked her head out from under the covers, her little face blank with shock. She hurriedly pulled the covers down and saw another figure beside her: her familiar older brother.

"Ah! Brother's here too!"

Mai's mind short-circuited for a moment. What was going on?

Why were big sister and Brother sleeping together? Was big sister cold?

"Mai, go outside for a bit. Brother needs to get up and get dressed."

Shinsuke had no choice but to get out of bed.

Had Yuki forgotten to lock the door last night? What a bad habit.

Fortunately, his recovery was ridiculously good. Even after a whole night of exertion, he didn't feel particularly tired.

"Oh."

Mai left the room with her head full of questions and closed the door behind her.

When she got to the yard, Mai couldn't make sense of what she'd seen, so she told Maki about it.

Maki, who cared only about getting stronger, casually replied, "Maybe she gets too cold sleeping alone."

"Wow! That's what I thought too, Sis!"

Mai looked pleased. Her sister had actually thought the same thing as her.

Maybe she really was pretty smart.

Not long afterward, Shinsuke called the two girls to breakfast as if nothing had happened.

They were just kids. They didn't understand anything, and he couldn't be bothered to explain it to them.

For the next several days, Yuki didn't go anywhere. She just stayed at his place, eating and drinking for free—and now she was even freeloading off him in bed.

On top of that, she'd probably never pay back the money she owed him.

"Waaah... That was so moving."

Fresh out of the cinema, Yuki clung to Shinsuke's arm, still savoring the romantic movie they'd just watched.

"Is it really necessary? It was just a movie."

Shinsuke's mouth twitched.

Why did dating feel more exhausting than living off someone?

"What would you know? You're such a blockhead," Yuki teased.

Since she'd never dated before, she'd spent the past few days doing all the things couples were supposed to do.

At last, she'd gotten to experience it. Life wasn't just about saving the world; there were so many other joys.

"Let's go. We should head back, or the two little ones will accuse me of stealing you away again."

At first, Maki and Mai hadn't paid much attention. But after the two of them went on dates every day for several days, the girls had become thoroughly disgruntled.

They'd finally understood what it meant to be boyfriend and girlfriend.

When they got home, they saw Maki practicing diligently, while Mai sat on a stone by the door, pouting with a troubled look on her face.

She'd once hoped Brother would get a girlfriend, but now she was so mad she could die.

She'd only just realized that once Brother had a girlfriend, he wouldn't have any time to play with them—or, to be precise, with her.

It made her miserable. She even wished Brother would never get a girlfriend, so she, Brother, and Sis could stay together forever.

"Is little Mai unhappy again? Look what big sister bought you."

As soon as Yuki walked in, she saw Mai pouting unhappily.

"Hmph! Even if you buy me tasty treats, I still won't talk to you. Same goes for Brother. Don't think I'll forgive you!"

Mai angrily turned her head away, but her eyes kept darting toward what Yuki was holding.

They'd gone out to have fun without taking her and Sis along. She wasn't going to forgive those two heartless people.

"Okay, okay. Don't be mad, Mai. Big sister will give your dear brother back to you right away."

Looking at the adorable Mai, Yuki couldn't help patting her on the head.

She couldn't imagine that a grown man like Shinsuke would be so popular with little girls.

"Really?"

Mai answered, then looked at the cake in Yuki's hands and swallowed.

"Of course. Big sister's going on a mission soon. I'll be gone for a long, long time, so Brother can spend lots of time with you two in the meantime."

"Here, have some cake to cheer you up."

Yuki handed Mai the cake she'd bought with Shinsuke's money.

"Remember to share some with your sister."

"Gulp. Fine, I'll forgive you this time."

Mai took the cake and stared at the strawberries on top, swallowing again.

For the sake of the cake, she'd reluctantly forgive them both.

She carried it over to Maki, who was training.

"When are you leaving?" Shinsuke asked.

"Tomorrow, I think. I've been here long enough. It's time to get down to business. If I stay with you any longer, I feel like I'll waste away."

Yuki came to her senses in time. Falling in love felt wonderful, but she couldn't let it make her forget her goal.

She was going to eliminate the Source of Curse!

"Why don't you come with me and help find a way to eliminate the Source of Curse?"

Yuki looked at Shinsuke expectantly.

"I'll pass. I don't want to be some great hero," Shinsuke replied without hesitation.

Saving the world was a job for the protagonist. He didn't have such lofty ambitions.

He just wanted to get stronger and do things that interested him.

Or prevent certain regrets from happening.

Like the woman in front of him. He couldn't just stand by and watch her repeat her old path.

"All right."

Yuki was a little disappointed, but she quickly got over it.

"You really aren't suited for that kind of thing."

With his personality, he was only suited to lying around at home and looking after kids.

In a way, he'd be surprisingly well-suited to being a stay-at-home husband.

She'd handle the outside world, and he'd take care of things at home.

Thinking of that, Yuki couldn't help laughing.

"What are you laughing at?"

"I'm happy."