That's a good question

It was almost seven in the evening.

A café stood in an alley in Chiyoda Ward.

Luo Shu looked up at the "LycoReco" sign written in fancy lettering above the café entrance. Then Tachibana Kirika, who had already opened the door, turned back and asked him:

"Want a cappuccino?"

"No, I prefer a latte with fresh coconut milk."

At Luo Shu's answer, Tachibana Kirika walked into the café and said in surprise, "What kind of strange combination is that?"

Just after Tachibana Kirika entered, an energetic female voice came from inside:

"I'm very sorry, but we're closed today... Huh? Huh?! Boss?"

"One cappuccino and one latte. Oh, add some coconut milk to the latte if you can. Don't get it wrong, Chisato. I've brought a guest with me."

"I won't get it wrong~~"

Listening to Tachibana Kirika's conversation inside, Luo Shu turned his gaze away from the sign and calmly entered the café.

"Welcome~~"

Hearing the door open, a white-haired girl in a red kimono, presumably the staff uniform, turned around with a bright, energetic smile.

"Over here... Luo Shu."

Tachibana Kirika, kneeling on a seat to one side, waved him over. They had just exchanged names, so she now called out to him warmly.

At that moment, the white-haired girl-or rather, the girl whose white hair had a faint golden tint-put on a look of shock and said:

"This time, your guest isn't one of those police department guys who always look so stern you'd think they were mob bosses, but a young man... No way! So you're into younger guys, Boss?"

"Chisato Nishikigi." Sitting beside the table with her chin resting on one hand, Tachibana Kirika said calmly, "That Ferrari you requested for missions is getting scrapped."

"Huh..." Chisato Nishikigi froze for a moment, then immediately prostrated herself. "Please don't do that! I'm begging you! I haven't even driven a sports car once~~"

"Go make the coffee."

"Yes~~" Chisato Nishikigi trudged into the kitchen, deflated.

Tachibana Kirika rolled her eyes at her, letting the troublemaker off for now, then turned to Luo Shu, who was standing by the entrance:

"Relax. This place is a branch of the special department directly under my command. The staff and the manager are all trustworthy."

Even before she said that, Luo Shu had already surveyed his surroundings.

Aside from Chisato Nishikigi, who had gone into the kitchen to work, he spotted a burly middle-aged man standing behind the counter.

The man had dark skin, wore round glasses and a simple purple kimono, and had a face that didn't look particularly kindly. He gave the impression of being Indian.

Noticing Luo Shu's gaze, the man looked up and gave him a friendly smile.

"Mika, your smile only makes people feel more nervous..."

At Tachibana Kirika's words, the burly man called Mika stiffened, then sighed helplessly and continued wiping the glass in his hand.

Luo Shu paused at the sight, then walked to the side, took off his shoes, stepped onto the tatami seating area, and sat down opposite Tachibana Kirika.

"Here, here, here~~ Your coffee's ready~~"

Before long, Chisato Nishikigi brought over two cups of coffee, moving briskly yet steadily, and set them down in front of the pair:

"Here you go. Enjoy."

"Where are Mizuki and Takina?" Tachibana Kirika calmly took her coffee and sipped it casually.

"They went out shopping for supplies. For some reason, a lot more schoolgirls have been coming here for cake lately."

As she spoke, Chisato Nishikigi placed the latte in front of Luo Shu and said with a radiant smile:

"A latte with coconut juice. Enjoy."

"Thanks." Luo Shu took the latte she handed him and sipped it. Finding the flavor familiar, he paused. "This coconut flavor...?"

"Ooh!! You can actually tell..."

At his words, Chisato Nishikigi immediately produced a small black can and struck a sultry pose:

"I added Hainan Coconut Palm Coconut Juice, a big overseas brand. What do you think? Pretty tasty, right?"

"Oh..." Looking at her somewhat familiar Coconut Palm pose, Luo Shu's expression grew a little strange. "I didn't expect to still be drinking this after going abroad."

"Huh? You're Chinese?" Chisato Nishikigi braced her hands on the table, looking astonished, then turned to Tachibana Kirika. "Boss, are you branching out into international crime now?"

At that, Tachibana Kirika raised her right hand and flicked Chisato Nishikigi on the forehead.

"Ow!"

Watching the girl crouch to one side, clutching her forehead, Luo Shu's gaze became a little odd.

The system reacted... Is this girl a heroine too...? But she seems to be one I don't remember much about...

Come to think of it, this world really isn't just Saekano, is it...?

While Luo Shu was pondering that, Tachibana Kirika set down the coffee she had been drinking and spoke to Mika behind the counter:

"Mika, bring over a Type 1 special contract."

"What?" Mika, who had been wiping a glass, was slightly startled. Then he gave Luo Shu an astonished look, as though he were some rare specimen.

Yeah, it feels like he's looking at a panda...

Just as Luo Shu thought that, Chisato Nishikigi, who was rubbing her

forehead beside him, also looked shocked:

"A Type 1 contract? No way... A Special Ability User? And a living one, at that..."

"Chisato!" Tachibana Kirika shot Chisato Nishikigi a warning glare and sighed. "Have you forgotten the confidentiality clauses? Don't say things you shouldn't."

"Of course not, Boss." Chisato Nishikigi immediately put on an ingratiating smile and grinned sheepishly. "But anyone you bring here to sign a contract is one of us, right?"

"Don't be so optimistic, you little brat."

Tachibana Kirika sighed. Just then, Mika came over carrying a briefcase, took out a stack of contracts, and selected one to hand to her:

"This is the first time I've taken one of these out since they were printed."

"It can't be helped. People with supernatural abilities are far too rare, after all."

Tachibana Kirika took the contract, glanced over it, then handed it to Luo Shu:

"Take a look."

Luo Shu accepted the contract and read it carefully. Aside from the benefits Tachibana Kirika had promised earlier, he found more than a dozen additional clauses.

"Special leave, marriage grants, education grants, child-rearing funds, medical insurance, pension rates, compensation for work-related injuries..."

When Luo Shu reached the injury compensation clause, he saw that anyone forced to retire from active service due to injury would be transferred to a technical position, with annual salary compensation of fifteen million yen. After retirement, the pension would also be as high as a million yen a month. He couldn't help sighing:

"A job where you put your life on the line."

"Otherwise, they wouldn't offer such generous terms, would they?" Tachibana Kirika rested her chin on one hand, then narrowed her eyes.

"Incidentally, these clauses don't cover special acquisitions. In other words, you can keep those for yourself. Of course, certain inspections are mandatory."

At those words, Luo Shu fell silent for a moment, then asked seriously:

"You've said all this... but you don't seem to have mentioned who your enemies are."

Hearing that, Tachibana Kirika's lips curled upward, and she said in an amused tone:

"Who are our enemies? That's a good question."