Kurumi! You Can't Do That!!

"What you want to know is right here." Ratziel opened to display an image and floated steadily toward Qian Huanyue under Nia's control.

"You're a lifesaver, Nia-Nia!"

Nia Honjo planted her hands on her hips and lifted her chin, looking so proud her nose was almost in the air. "Heh-heh. I am a super-convenient search engine, after all."

"So amazing!" Qian Huanyue exclaimed, playing along.

"My, that's certainly true." Kurumi Tokisaki had appeared in the living room without anyone noticing. Leaning against the doorframe, she covered half her face with one hand and let out a theatrical sigh, her mismatched eyes peering at Qian Huanyue through her fingers.

"In Huanyue-chan's heart, Miss Nia's Angel and my Zafkiel are worlds apart when it comes to convenience."

Her tone was plainly teasing, but the hint of jealousy on her face—half real, half put on—said she felt outdone.

"Huh?"

Qian Huanyue's eyes widened slightly. Kurumi's words seemed to catch her off guard.

Seeing Kurumi pretend to be hurt,

she clung to her arm and coaxed, "Why would you think that? Without you, Kurumi-chan, I might've had to sleep in space."

"But someone didn't invite me along when she went into action. Instead, she went looking for a few past versions of 'me' who weren't all that reliable."

There was a faint note of grievance in her voice before she changed tack:

"And in the end, poor thing, she got stabbed through the back."

"Eek...!" With that embarrassing piece of her past laid bare, Qian Huanyue felt the remark come flying back like a boomerang and strike her squarely in the back.

She froze, her face flushing bright red with embarrassment.

"...Ugh, give me a little dignity, San-san." Qian Huanyue looked utterly miserable.

She threw herself against Kurumi and buried her burning face in her shoulder. Her muffled voice came out: "Next time, I'll definitely come to you, San-san."

Kurumi finally couldn't help laughing softly at the silver-haired spirit hiding against her. She reached up and ruffled her hair.

"My, that's more like it."

"So, San-san, what about the Four Heavenly Kings? I feel like I haven't seen them in ages."

At the mention of those embarrassing past versions of herself again, Kurumi's smile turned strained.

"My, my~"

The hand ruffling Qian Huanyue's hair stilled, her fingertips idly winding a strand of silver hair around them.

"Huanyue-chan... you care quite a bit about the past 'me,' don't you?" Her voice was as sweet as ever, yet it sent an inexplicable chill down Qian Huanyue's spine. "Do you find 'us' more interesting than the me you have now? Or do you miss that little experience of getting stabbed through the back... with 'them'?"

That was right. Qian Huanyue had said it on purpose.

She had asked despite knowing better, just to see how Kurumi would react.

Perhaps she wanted payback for the embarrassment of having her past brought up so mercilessly. Or perhaps her mischievous streak had simply got the better of her.

Seeing how things were going, Nia Honjo decided it would be best not to get involved. She began edging away without a sound,

slipping quietly back into her room.

Oh no, oh no.

I didn't hear a thing!! Whatever happens between you two, don't drag me into it!!

Under Kurumi's "kind" gaze, the slyness on Qian Huanyue's face gradually gave way to guilt. She struggled to keep her expression calm.

"Um... I was just curious... San-san, you're away from home a lot, and they're pretty cute too..."

That was as good as pouring oil on the fire.

"My, my~ So 'they're' that cute to you, Huanyue-chan... It seems I need to reconsider how to make you understand more clearly which of us—the 'current' me or the 'past' 'mes'—deserves more of your... 'attention.'"

"They're... they're all important?"

Qian Huanyue delivered the sort of stock line an unfaithful woman would say in a TV drama.

The moment the words left her mouth, the air seemed to freeze solid.

"Heh..."

"My, my... 'They're all important'?" Kurumi repeated. Her smile was beautiful, but it sent a chill down Qian Huanyue's spine. "Huanyue-chan, you really are... greedy."

She leaned in close to Qian Huanyue's ear, her warm breath brushing its sensitive rim. What she said made Qian Huanyue go rigid:

"It seems that for the next month, the strawberry cake, pudding, and gaming equipment someone's been looking forward to might have to say goodbye to her for a while."

...Huh... Huh?!

She could live without games; to Huanyue, they were only a way to pass the time. But losing sweets—

that would hurt.

Qian Huanyue had proved one thing through her actions: never provoke someone who controlled everything that kept the household running.

Otherwise, the consequences would be dire.