Skadi, I Have a Girlfriend Now

Exusiai reached out and poked Mizuki's cheek, feeling like he was making fun of her. In front of Lemuen and the others, though, Mizuki did not bite her finger.

"It's nothing. I just suddenly realized that the person I love was already this cute back then."

"Mm!"

Under normal circumstances, Exusiai would definitely have pinched his face and said that Mizuki only knew how to sweet-talk and deceive people. But now, with Lemuen, Mostima, and Fiammetta watching, she was even more embarrassed than usual. Those three were all her close friends, and they were practically her sisters too.

"I... I'm going to change first."

Watching Exusiai flee with a red face, Mizuki and Lemuen covered their mouths and snickered in unison. Their eyes held the same sly glint, and when they looked at each other, it was as if each saw another version of themselves in the other's eyes.

At least when it came to teasing Exusiai, the two of them were remarkably alike.

A kindred spirit, Exusiai and Lemuen both thought. With the looks on their faces right now, anyone who did not know better might think those two were the couple, while Exusiai was just an accident.

"Texas, what are you doing? Did you convert?"

Watching Texas make the sign of the cross over her chest, Croissant reached out and poked her arm.

"No. I'm just praying for Exusiai, hoping that the lightbulb over her head does not really turn green someday, or that she does not get crushed so hard she cannot lift her head."

Just from the way Mizuki and Lemuen were acting, Texas could basically be certain that Exusiai's sister and Mizuki got along exceptionally well. If her sister had arrived a few days earlier, none of them would have stood a chance.

Sora immediately understood what Texas meant as well. She shook her head, feeling nothing but pity for Exusiai.

"Sis, let me introduce you. This is Texas, Sora, and Croissant. Over there is Ho'olheyak."

When she saw Ho'olheyak, Lemuen sensed an unpleasant air about her. They were both schemers, but Lemuen and Mizuki liked teasing people, whereas Ho'olheyak was different. That girl leaned more toward the dark side, the sort who devoured people without even spitting out the bones.

Lemuen now understood what it meant for opposites to attract and like to repel. It was not as though she particularly hated Ho'olheyak, but she could not say she liked her either.

"Being Penguin Logistics's only boy must be tough, right?"

Mostima lightly placed a hand on Mizuki's shoulder, then realized that was inappropriate. Mizuki did not remember them now.

"It really is tough..."

Thinking about what happened every night lately, Mizuki wore a helpless expression. Texas and the others, aware that they were at fault, slightly averted their gazes. There was no helping it—Jellyfish-chan really was good stuff. This morning, Sora had discovered that both her old wrinkles and the wrinkles from staying up late had vanished.

"Xiao Le is wonderful, but her personality is a little too boisterous and impulsive. She keeps causing trouble, so you will have to put in a lot of effort from now on."

"Sis, I'm not as bad as you make me sound!"

Changing clothes did not take long. Exusiai soon came running over in casual clothes. Just as she was about to sit down, she remembered something and took the seat between Mostima and Lemuen instead. Then she pulled Mizuki into her arms, wrapped both arms around his waist, and could not resist rubbing her cheek against his.

After doing all that, Exusiai looked proudly from side to side, clearly showing off, as if saying, "Look, I have a boyfriend to hold!"

That display made a black cross pop up over Mostima and Lemuen's heads. Sankta shared empathy, allowing them to understand each other's emotions to a certain degree. Although Mostima had lost that ability after falling, Exusiai felt the "annoyance" coming from her sister and was utterly delighted.

This was it! This was exactly the frustrated expression she wanted to see on her sister's face. She had been bullied ever since she was little, but Exusiai had finally won once! She had found a partner first!

After sensing the "pride," "happiness," "joy," and "arrogance" coming from Exusiai, Lemuen felt that her little sister had gotten a little carried away. Had this girl forgotten the fear of once being dominated by her?

It seemed necessary to let her know what an elder sister was capable of.

"Mizuki, have you and Xiao Le decided when you're getting married?"

The moment that question came out, cracks instantly appeared in the cups held by Fiammetta and Mostima. Fiammetta, who had not spoken the whole time, set down her juice.

"They've only known each other for how long, and you're already urging them to get married? Isn't that inappropriate?"

"What's inappropriate about it? Maybe Mizuki is the only person in Xiao Le's life who would want her. What if someone else steals him away if she does not hurry?"

Lemuen did not seem to understand why her close friends reacted like that, but it did not matter. Everyone agreed with what she said anyway. Other than Mizuki, no one could think of anyone else who would want Exusiai.

"But... didn't Muelsyse come looking for him?"

Mostima's voice pierced everyone's hearts like a needle. Lemuen, who seemed to have been immersed in the joy of her sister finding a good match, came back to her senses as well.

Right. Mizuki's ex-girlfriend had come.

"Is anyone here?"

At that exact moment, Muelsyse's voice rang out from the doorway. War seemed imminent.

The Snack-Stealing Mostima

After searching for half an hour and visiting nine Penguin Logistics outposts, Muelsyse finally arrived at the Penguin Logistics that had betrayed her.

Looking at the Penguin Logistics sign before her, she stepped forward and knocked on the door.

"Is anyone here?"

A burst of chaotic noises suddenly came from inside the room, though it did not last long. Soon, a somewhat familiar-sounding voice came from within.

"Come in."

With a trace of curiosity, Muelsyse dragged her luggage inside after pushing open the door. There, she saw Lemuen, Texas, and the others sitting on the sofa, but Exusiai and Mizuki were nowhere to be seen.

Muelsyse did not know Exusiai, but the moment she saw Lemuen there, she immediately realized something was wrong. She was an exceptionally smart girl. When Lemuen had previously said she came to Lungmen to visit relatives and help her younger sister vet her boyfriend, Muelsyse had already felt that Lemuen's sister's boyfriend had quite a few similarities with her own boyfriend.

Oh my god, it can't really be such a coincidence, can it?

"Miss Muelsyse? Are you here to commission a job?"

"No, I'm here to find someone."

This was awkward. Muelsyse knew she had probably arrived one step too late. The amnesiac Mizuki already belonged to someone else, but she could not give up so easily. Even if she had to tie him up this time, she would drag Mizuki back with her!

"Find someone?"

"I'm looking for Mizuki. He is my boyfriend—or rather, my fiancé."

Upon hearing that last sentence, Texas and Lemuen's expressions stiffened, though they quickly recovered.

Boyfriend and fiancée were very different relationships. Lovers broke up and got back together all the time, but marriage was not like that. Though marriages could end in divorce, many still looked forward to marriage. An engaged couple was much harder to deal with than a pair of boyfriend and girlfriend.

"Sora, pour our guest a glass of juice. Croissant, go see whether Mizuki is upstairs."

Ho'olheyak was not in the living room right now either. The reason was simple: she did not want to cross paths with this Rhine Lab director too soon. It would be awkward if they ran into each other in the future. Even if Muelsyse did not recognize her, she could guess Ho'olheyak's purpose.

Uh... although Ho'olheyak's purpose had now changed from monitoring Mizuki to something else with ill intent.

"Miss Muelsyse, please have a seat."

Seeing that Texas clearly intended to play the gracious host, Muelsyse raised an elegant brow, then relaxed. Smiling, she casually set her luggage aside.

"Miss is not appropriate. You should call me Madam."

"...Madam Muelsyse."

Miss and Madam—there was another distinction there. Muelsyse and Mizuki had an actual relationship. She was asserting her dominance without saying it outright.

Though they had probably been chatting happily like good sisters before, things now carried the air of drawn swords and drawn bows. Lemuen and Muelsyse both faced each other with smiles.

"Texas, Mizuki isn't upstairs. Maybe he went out to buy groceries, or maybe he went on a date with Exusiai."

Croissant's words instantly darkened Muelsyse's face. Damn it, why had she not received the news earlier? If she had come even a few days sooner, things definitely would not have turned out this way. How long had Mizuki even been at Penguin Logistics before he got taken? Muelsyse remembered that she had chased him for half a month without winning him over. In the end, she had resorted to a combination of force and schemes.

But Texas did not buy that at all. An actual relationship with Mizuki? What a joke. Other than Croissant, was there anyone in this house who was really an outsider? Even Croissant had sat on Mizuki's lap before. He simply was not the kind of person who cared about such things.

Still, Muelsyse was indeed troublesome—and admirable. She had come all the way here from Columbia, and no one knew how long she had searched for Mizuki before this.

"Sorry, it seems Mizuki isn't here. But I never expected Miss Muelsyse's boyfriend to be my sister's boyfriend too. That's unbelievable. Two-timing like that—he can't be forgiven."

Lemuen feigned frustration. Muelsyse was neither angry nor flustered, merely shaking her head helplessly.

"Two-timing? You underestimate him. Aside from me, I have no idea how many other confidantes he has. There are at least five I know of who aren't here."

Muelsyse rolled her eyes. She really was a little depressed. Not to mention anything else, even Magellan, her close friend, had some feelings in that regard for Mizuki. Mizuki had disappeared too quickly, however, leaving no one any chance to react.

"So many?"

This time, Lemuen was genuinely shocked. She had thought there were only Exusiai and Muelsyse. Wait, then... had Mostima and Fiammetta's expressions earlier seemed a little strange?

"There are probably more, but I never looked into it. I only heard him mention a fallen angel and a Liberi, and there are probably another two or three Sarkaz as well."

Muelsyse clenched her fist, producing a crisp crack. Her eyes were full of determination.

"I came this time to drag that guy back. Does he think he can refuse to acknowledge me afterward? It won't be that easy. Even if he has amnesia, he still has to come back with me!"

"Speaking of amnesia... does Madam Muelsyse know why Mizuki lost his memory?"

To keep the conflict from escalating, Texas chose to change the subject. Mizuki's amnesia was at the heart of every problem, and it was something they could not avoid.

"I don't know either."

At the mention of that, helplessness appeared on Muelsyse's face. She was not the sort of unreasonable, willful girl who would make a scene. Mizuki and Exusiai were not here, and she was a guest, so naturally she should behave politely.

"At the time, he only told me he was leaving for a while. Then he disappeared for a month without any news. I searched for him for another month before finally learning he was here."

"Where did you meet?"

"Sami, in an inconspicuous little tribe. Columbia has always supported exploration and expeditions in Sami, and Rhine Lab has a field research division over there as well."

In truth, Mizuki could hear every word Muelsyse said to Texas and the others. He was not out of the house; Mostima had simply carried him into the bathroom to hide, passing information to him through tentacles.

Mostima currently had a hand over Mizuki's mouth, while Fiammetta had covered Exusiai's mouth and taken her back to the bedroom. The two of them knew perfectly well that Mizuki and Exusiai would definitely go straight out to meet Muelsyse if left alone. Mizuki had always hated dragging things out, while Exusiai never gave in easily. They could not just start fighting on the spot, could they?

But now, only Mostima and Mizuki were in the bathroom. At one meter seventy, she was slightly taller than Mizuki. Pressing herself against his back from behind and covering his mouth like this somehow felt very wrong, as though she were forcing herself on a decent man.

"Shh~ Don't let them find out."

Mostima wore a mischievous smile. Lowering her head, she gently bit Mizuki's ear. That spot was extremely sensitive for Mizuki. Aside from Exusiai, no one at Penguin Logistics knew about it—not even Skadi.

But Mostima knew very well. This was not her first time.

"Mm?"

With Mostima covering his mouth, Mizuki's entire body tensed the moment she lightly bit his ear. He did not know whether Mostima had done it intentionally or not. Probably not, right? Otherwise, how could she know that spot was his weakness?

Still as cute as ever.

Mostima recalled that dark, windy night again. She had gone too far while playing and accidentally collapsed Mizuki's tent. For some reason, Mizuki usually slept incredibly deeply at night. Once asleep, he could not be woken, just like Sleeping Beauty.

Seeing Mizuki seem to struggle a little, Mostima felt like teasing him. One hand covered his mouth while the other wrapped around his waist. Mm, it was still as slender as before. But Mostima knew very well that Mizuki was undeniably a boy. She had confirmed it herself.

"Mizuki, you don't want Xiao Le to find out... that I'm pregnant, do you?"

"?!"

Hearing that, Mizuki instantly bristled. Even the tentacles around him, which had been preparing to pull Mostima away, froze. Was she serious?

The answer was no. Mostima was merely bluffing Mizuki. That night had been during her safe period. Still, Ines and W were also to blame. Those two had acted too hastily and even drugged the wrong bowl. Mostima had already seemed to like Mizuki a little, and now she had no choice but to paint Exusiai green.

No, perhaps it should count as painting Fiammetta's head pink instead? After all, she had come first.

"If you don't want that, then don't make a sound."

Oh my god!? Feeling Mostima's hand slide down from his lower abdomen, Mizuki immediately sensed that something was terribly wrong. No, were they even that close, sis?!

While Mizuki in the bathroom was being sweet-talked, tricked, coaxed, and pressured by Mostima, Exusiai in the bedroom broke free from Fiammetta's restraint.

"Fia, what are you doing? Was there really a need to separate and hide the two of us?"

Exusiai looked at Fiammetta with dissatisfaction. Although she did not know why her sisters knew Muelsyse, Exusiai did not think she would lose to her.

"What do you know about apple pie? Your sister discussed it with us on the way here. You alone are no match for her."

Muelsyse could laugh and chat with Lemuen. Could Exusiai's little bit of scheming compare with hers? She would probably get played in circles.

"But we have the numbers advantage!"

Exusiai slapped the bed. She knew she could not beat Muelsyse in that area, but there were more people here. Excluding Croissant, there were six of them. Six against one—the advantage was hers.

"What numbers advantage? Your sister? Or me and Mostima?"

"No, I mean... uh, I mean there are more people on my side. We definitely won't be unable to argue with her."

After thinking about it a little, Exusiai decided not to mention that she and her close friends had already planned to throw a party. She was afraid of getting beaten. She could not exactly say that if Lemuen and the others had not arrived, they would have already mixed seven or eight kinds of drugs into Mizuki's juice tonight.

"You're overthinking it. And I need to tell you... Mostima and I both knew Mizuki before."

"Ah!?"

"That was only a few months ago. Don't look so surprised."

"That's not it!"

Exusiai grabbed Fiammetta's shoulders, her face filled with panic.

"Did Mizuki and Mostima not come upstairs with us?"

"They... damn!"

Fiammetta suddenly remembered that Mostima had directly carried Mizuki into the bathroom. If it had been anyone else, they might have been suspected of ulterior motives. But if it was Mostima, there was no need to suspect anything. That woman absolutely had ulterior motives!