Unlike her usual habit of hiding in the shadows, Viper sat boldly on the sofa in full lamplight this time, engrossed with Hinami in the book Louis had brought last time.
"Didn't I tell you to knock before coming in?" Hearing someone push the door open, Viper's expression instantly darkened, and she glared at the newcomer.
But she quickly recognized who it was. He wore the same mask, and his build hadn't changed.
"Want me to try that again...?"
Louis sheepishly scratched his head. As a repeat offender, he had deliberately skipped knocking because he wanted to see what Hinami's life was really like.
"Big brother..." Unlike last time, Hinami was clean and neatly dressed. She didn't flee at the sight of Louis, either, but seemed a little dazed.
"All right, all right. I'll leave you two alone." Viper stood and walked out on long legs that were usually hidden from view.
"We can talk once you're done... my third-in-command..." Viper headed toward the door behind Louis. Her makeup seemed a little lighter than last time.
"Wait..." Louis stopped her, took an elegantly packaged long box from the Handbag, and held it out.
"The cosmetics you wanted... I forgot the brand. I think it's a whole set."
"Oh!" Viper's eyes instantly lit up, and she snatched the box from him. Compared to last time, she acted like a completely different person.
"This stuff was seriously expensive. That one box cost me over a hundred thousand yen..." Louis watched someone else take away the thing that had nearly emptied his coffers, his heart aching.
"So, are you going to reimburse me...?"
Viper was already unable to put it down, sniffing it over and over as though she wanted to kiss it. "Where would I get money in this lousy underground dump...?