Café "Lycoris."
"Welcome! Oh, it's you, Luo Shu~"
When the smiling Mizuki Nakahara saw that it was Luo Shu, her forced smile immediately faded. Looking relaxed, she pointed toward the kitchen.
"The spot you reserved is through the kitchen, in the living quarters. Third door on the left."
Then Mizuki Nakahara added teasingly:
"Heh, you've got some nerve, keeping three gorgeous women waiting this long. I suggest you bring in a few sundaes as an apology, or you'll have a hard time getting through this."
"Nothing I could do. Something unexpected happened on the way here, but it's more or less resolved for now."
As Luo Shu spoke, he pulled the café door shut and glanced at the female customers who still occupied half the seats. Without saying anything else, he nodded to Mizuki Nakahara and entered the kitchen. Passing the busy Mika and Chisato Nishikigi, he called out casually:
"Chisato, make four sundaes for us!"
"Sure, sure. Leave it to me."
At her reply, Luo Shu lifted the curtain and entered the back rooms. Passing the basement entrance, he reached the third door on the left and raised his hand to knock.
Knock, knock!
"Come in."
A familiar voice came from inside. Luo Shu took a breath and pushed the door open.
"You're late."
Inside the Japanese-style room, Tachibana Kirika sat casually on the tatami and glanced at Luo Shu.
"Dragging your feet like this isn't your style."
Natsuki Minamiya glanced at Tachibana Kirika without speaking. Beside her, Lacus Clyne merely smiled and said nothing.
Faced with this scene, Luo Shu could only apologize and explain:
"Sorry. Something unexpected happened just before I came."
Tachibana Kirika raised an eyebrow at that, but sounded unsurprised as she said:
"Hmm? If it was enough for you to call it unexpected, you