Sister Skadi, I Have a Girlfriend, Chapter 32

Seeing Ho'olheyak shake her head, Mizuki asked curiously. After all, he had no idea what Columbia's cuisine tasted like.

"Nothing. It's quite good. I was just wondering what it would be like to work at Penguin Logistics."

"Oh, that? How should I put it... I figure you'll get to see it tomorrow. You know, we at Penguin Logistics have special privileges with the Lungmen Guard Department."

There was a somewhat ill-intentioned edge to Exusiai's smile, and Ho'olheyak could not make sense of what she meant for the moment.

Mizuki had been here long enough to roughly understand what Exusiai meant. Special privileges at the Lungmen Guard Department? If having a dedicated jail cell counted, then that was certainly true.

As they ate, Mizuki ate the most, with Skadi coming in second. Their appetites proved that they really were brother and sister.

Everyone in the room ate happily, while over on Reunion's side, W gnawed on a potato. She did not say anything on the surface, but inside, she was practically cursing up a storm.

Ever since Mizuki had left, the mercenary squad's food quality had plummeted at an unimaginable rate. Damn it, and it got even worse after Ines took over the cooking.

Yes, W admitted that Mizuki's food looked a little strange. To describe it in one sentence, it was black in every color. But it was genuinely delicious, and it even seemed nutritious. During the time Mizuki had handled the cooking, W felt like her figure had improved a little.

In any case, it was better than Ines's cooking by who knew how much.

"Ugh."

Hoederer felt the same way. The more he ate Ines's cooking, the more he missed the days when Mizuki was around. Honestly, if Mizuki had been a girl, he would have confessed without hesitation. No matter what, he would have kept Mizuki on the team.

Compared to a bunch of rough men who had crawled out of piles of corpses, Mizuki clearly did not fit in with this squad at all. In fact, many people would think at first glance that he was the one in charge. Ah, no, that actually seemed to be true.

Mizuki mended and washed their clothes, handled all three meals every day, helped cover his friends with blankets in the middle of the night, sang them the lullaby Sister Skadi had taught him to put everyone to sleep, and cared about everyone's injuries and illnesses. No, he could not go on. If he kept talking, Hoederer would have to slap himself. Why had he acted cool and let Mizuki leave back then? He had even said something like, "If you join us next time, I'll introduce W to you."

Luckily, W did not know Hoederer had said that. Otherwise, he would have to check his pillow every night for bombs.

At that moment, Ines was not around. Hoederer and W exchanged glances, and both saw the bitterness in each other's eyes.

Others could choose not to eat, but the two of them really could not. Ines would definitely hold a grudge.

(The next time we meet, either Ines learns how to cook from Mizuki, or W ties him down.)

(Next time we meet, I'm strapping that guy full of remote-controlled bombs. Let's see where else he can run!)

They could think about it all they wanted, but they did not even know where Mizuki was now. W looked at the potato in her bowl, steeled herself, and simply ate it as though it were Mizuki. Hoederer repeatedly called her a warrior.

"When Reunion attacks the city, the food will definitely get better, right?"

Hoederer looked toward the city faintly visible in the distance. There were still seven days before Reunion attacked it.

"Mizuki, come back already! This family can't live without you!"

The Two Who Got Soaked

Life was always plain, and it passed quickly. Nothing happened on Ho'olheyak's first day at work, and no fool came looking for trouble either. Everyone probably knew what had happened to the Cat Gang recently. This peace would likely last for quite some time.

"Where's Mizuki?"

After finishing training and returning to Penguin Logistics, Sora did not see Mizuki or Texas. She wondered if the two of them had not possibly eloped.

"Texas went to discuss business with Rhodes Island, and Mizuki went with her. Kal'tsit has something to discuss with him."

"Aren't you worried Kal'tsit will steal Mizuki away? I've heard she's very good at talking people into things."

As Rhodes Island's famous expert at recruiting people, Kal'tsit had brought plenty of people back to Rhodes Island, and she was exceptionally persuasive.

"If Exusiai isn't worried, what are we worrying about?"

Croissant spread her hands and pointed at Exusiai, who was busy not far away. Exusiai had deliberately changed into home clothes. After greeting Sora, she headed back into the kitchen to continue working.

"What's she doing?"

"She's cooking for Mizuki. Tsk, tsk. Love really is terrifying. It actually turned Exusiai into this."

Since Mizuki usually handled the cooking, Exusiai hummed as she decided to make him something tasty while he and Texas were off meeting Kal'tsit.

However, she was from Laterano, so the only things she knew how to make were various desserts.

"Come to think of it, my sister should have received my letter today, right?"

Exusiai rubbed her chin. Two days had passed, so the express letter she had written should have arrived in Laterano by now. She wrote home sometimes, though not too often, because international letters were far too expensive, and messengers could be attacked by scavengers or bounty hunters on the road.

Besides her own sister, Mostima was the person she most wanted to hear this news. When they were children, Mostima had been the worst, always saying that Exusiai would never get married.

Now things were different. Exusiai had a boyfriend while Mostima was still single. Wouldn't it be a betrayal of all the suffering she had endured as a child if she did not flaunt it right in Mostima's face?

"Still, Texas and Mizuki went together... It feels a little strange."

Exusiai could not help grumbling. She and Mizuki were obviously the couple, yet when she watched Texas and Mizuki leave together, she somehow felt like those two were the real pair. Mizuki's temperament was simply too good; he even looked compatible with Croissant.

Still, Texas and Mizuki were only friends for now, so it should be fine. Of everyone in Penguin Logistics, Texas was the one Exusiai worried about least. She had to watch out for Croissant a little, while Sora and Ho'olheyak were subjects requiring strict vigilance.

But Texas was usually used to being cold and distant, and Exusiai had never seen her discuss romance. There should not be much of a problem!

"Ah-choo!"

The tip of her nose itched, and Texas sneezed. Her brows furrowed slightly. How embarrassing, especially at a time like this.

"Sorry. That was unbecoming."

"It's fine."

Kal'tsit did not care about such things at all. She simply put away the contract in front of her.

"Under the terms of our partnership, Penguin Logistics will provide assistance to Rhodes Island and will also be stationed at Rhodes Island for an extended period."

"Pleasure doing business with you."

The two sides shook hands. This partnership meeting had only been a formality; every detail had been settled beforehand. Kal'tsit could have signed it the night before last, but she had wanted an opportunity to speak with Mizuki alone.

Not only was Exusiai at Penguin Logistics, but there was also the overprotective Skadi and the ill-intentioned Ho'olheyak. Kal'tsit also had dealings with the Melnade Foundation, and she planned to ask later why Columbia was connected to Mizuki.

"So it's my turn next, right?"

Mizuki had been sitting quietly beside Texas. He knew Kal'tsit had specifically called him over because she had something to say, perhaps something related to his past hidden behind mist.

Kal'tsit glanced at Texas, but the latter did not move.

"I'm staying."

"Go wait for me over there."

Mizuki reached out and rubbed Texas's head, casually pinching one of her ears as well. Ever since he had pinched it once in the kitchen, he had become a little fond of the feeling.

Texas did not look like someone who cared about appearance, but she took exceptional care of her fur. Her ears felt very nice to touch, though she had said he could not do that in front of the others at Penguin Logistics.

"Mm. I'll wait for you to come out."

Before the crimson could spread from her neck to her face, Texas stood up and went to wait by the door. She had not expected Mizuki to touch her so casually. That guy... She had said things like that could only happen when the two of them were alone... Oh, that seemed to have been about her tail.

Kal'tsit's gaze toward Mizuki immediately became strange. If she remembered correctly, Mizuki and Exusiai were the couple. Why did it feel like he and Texas had some unclear relationship too?

"So, Ms. Kal'tsit, what did you want to see me about?"

"I do not know about your past, but I believe it cannot be unrelated to someone."

"Doctor?"

Without needing Kal'tsit to continue, Mizuki instinctively spoke the title. She froze at once, unsure how to respond.

"Actually, even if you hadn't said anything, Ms. Kal'tsit, I had already guessed a little. I may have lost my memories, but I sometimes dream about strange things. The Doctor is among them."

Mizuki gently stirred his coffee. Compared to his previously well-behaved demeanor, he seemed like a completely different person.

He was composed with a trace of playfulness, yet somehow seized the initiative with just a few words. He was not doing it deliberately; it seemed to be merely a habit. Kal'tsit stopped what she was doing in surprise.

Her surprise was not because Mizuki could dream of the Doctor. It was because the Mizuki before her now gave her a familiar feeling, like facing the Doctor from the past—the feeling that even a conversation would be led along by him.

"May I ask, Ms. Kal'tsit, where is the Doctor now?"

"Rhodes Island is preparing to bring her back. Do you want to see her?"

"Yes. I want to see her."

Mizuki gently touched his chest. Ever since Kal'tsit had mentioned the Doctor that day, even though his dreams remained unclear, Mizuki's intuition had told him that he had to find that Doctor.

"I think that if I see her, many of my questions will be answered."

Texas had no idea what Mizuki and Kal'tsit discussed afterward. She simply stood guard outside, eating chocolate stick after chocolate stick to suppress the restlessness in her heart.

The rain was rather heavy today. Its chaotic patter seemed to strike against Texas's heart. She did not know how to express her feelings to Mizuki. Until the day Mizuki had saved her life, she had regarded him as an ordinary friend.

But Mizuki had saved her life, and Texas had gradually discovered many of his virtues. It really did not take long to fall for someone.

But Exusiai had fallen for Mizuki first, which gave Texas a headache. What gave her an even bigger headache was that when Mizuki had pinched her ear in the kitchen yesterday, she had actually found it thrilling.

"What are you thinking about?"

Mizuki's voice, clear as water, entered her ears, and Texas hurriedly gathered her thoughts.

"You're done?"

"Mm. There wasn't much to discuss anyway."

Mizuki picked up an umbrella and opened it. He looked at Texas, whose face revealed a trace of helplessness.

"Someone took it."

At places like restaurants and cafés, people often took the wrong umbrellas. Texas's umbrella was not as conspicuous or distinctive as Mizuki's.

"Let's share."

Mizuki made room beside him. His umbrella was not large, but it would probably, maybe, perhaps be enough for two people. Texas did not stand on ceremony and walked straight over to him.

The two walked side by side. Texas noticed that Mizuki was deliberately keeping some distance from her, but that meant his shoulder would get wet.

"Am I that unlikable?"

"No."

Mizuki shook his head. He had only kept his distance from Texas because he did not want to make her uncomfortable. Girls generally cared about such things.

"As long as I'm not."

Texas reached out, wrapped an arm around Mizuki's waist, and pulled him close against her.

"Let's stay like this..."

(Texas's heart seems to be beating very fast.)

Mizuki keenly sensed Texas's unsettled heart, but her expression was as calm as ever. He could only conclude that he was overthinking it.

The two walked through the rain together. They both wanted to keep the other dry, yet each of them ended up soaked on one side.

Exusiai, Your Sister Is Coming to Fuck You

Laterano. Upon hearing that her younger sister had sent an urgent letter, Lemuen sped over in her wheelchair to retrieve it. Exusiai had written home before and even sent back some things, including her salary, but after Lemuen lectured her, she stopped doing that and saved all her money instead.

She was curious what could make her little sister send an urgent letter that traveled day and night. Was she coming home?

Still at the post office, Lemuen opened the letter. Yet after reading only the first sentence, she froze completely.

[Big Sis, I found a boyfriend!]

The shock that single sentence gave Lemuen was several times greater than when she had heard that her dear little sister had blown up Laterano's Pope's Hall.

Was she seeing things? What had she just read? Her dear little sister had actually found someone?!

[We haven't known each other for very long, but he's really nice. He's an Aegir named Mizuki...]

As sisters for many years, Lemuen knew her little sister best. She could see Exusiai's thoughts even from her handwriting. She could practically imagine her dear little sister grinning with incomparable joy as she wrote this letter.

"But what kind of ruthless person could possibly like Little Le?"

Even though they were not biologically related, Lemuen knew her sister's personality extremely well. Exusiai was pretty, not a bad person, and even somewhat considerate, but her personality was truly top-tier even by Laterano standards.

[Big Sis, let me tell you, he agreed to blow up the Pope's Hall with me. I'm so happy! Ah, I don't even know how to explain it to you.]

After reading that sentence, Lemuen's eyelids began twitching for some reason. Fortune and misfortune really did go hand in hand.

But after thinking it over carefully, this method of confession really would strike at the hearts of many Sankta. No Laterano native could refuse such a declaration of love. Naturally, no one dared use such a confession either, because the Pope's Hall was Laterano's holy ground, like Jerusalem in the West's 3D Zone.

There was no doubting the Sankta's devout faith. Even now, there had only been two people who dared blow up the Pope's Hall. The other was the current Pope, Ivan XI.

[Hehe, when I get the chance, I'll definitely bring him back. And I'm going to show him off hard in front of Mostima! That'll teach her to say I could never find someone!]

The letter was not long, but Exusiai's joy and happiness were plain to see. Lemuen believed in her dear little sister's judgment, but she was also worried. Her sister had finally found someone willing to marry her. What if she failed to hold on to him and let him get away, or failed to notice in time that he was not the right person?

A photograph of Mizuki had been enclosed with the letter. Judging from the photo alone, he was quite cute and seemed like a decent person. The first impression he gave was exceptionally good.

"What are you thinking about?"