When they got home that evening, Twilight and Yor prepared a feast to celebrate Richie earning four stars.
Twilight even thought, Richie got eight stars so quickly. My mission is almost complete.
Headquarters had required him to secure eight stars in four months, but Richie had done it in two and a half. It was an unexpected windfall.
It had happened so quickly that it caught even him off guard.
Once he completed the mission, he would probably have to leave this family.
But whatever happened, Twilight felt he could only take things one step at a time.
During dinner, Twilight even asked Richie whether he wanted a kitten. They could go adopt one together that weekend.
He also asked whether Richie wanted any presents, or if there was anything else he wanted.
Richie was very happy that evening, but he did not want a cat, because no one could replace his Sixth Sister.
No one, not a single cat, could replace the Sixth Sister who curled up beside him to sleep every day.
No cat could replace the Sixth Sister who taught him how to play games, who had crouched motionless at his bedside when he was sick, watching over him and waiting for him to wake up.
And she was the only kindred soul he had met in this other world, the only Sixth Sister with whom he could let down every guard and talk freely.
With a cheerful smile, Richie declined Twilight's offer of a present, saying he had only done what he was supposed to.
Then he said his wish was to live with his family forever and ever.
Twilight lied to Richie and the rest of the family too, saying he would stay by their side forever and ever.
Richie read those thoughts in Twilight's