"Do you prefer coffee or black tea, Luo Shu?"
Dressed in loungewear, Mira Tsubakihara busied herself at the tea cabinet. Her hair, tied into a simple ponytail with a black ribbon, swayed behind her, drawing the eye.
But Luo Shu was in no mood to appreciate it. Still unsettled, he glanced toward Room 301 next door, then at the balcony, his brow gradually furrowing.
"Is something wrong?"
When Luo Shu failed to answer, Mira Tsubakihara turned around and gave him a puzzled look. Seeing him staring at the wall, she suddenly understood.
"Ah, sorry!"
As though she had instantly worked out what was bothering him, she pressed her palms together and stuck out her tongue apologetically.
"After what happened today, my grandfather was worried about me, so he arranged for some people to stay next door for a while. You saw them just now, didn't you?"
"Some people?"
Luo Shu raised an eyebrow at that, then asked tentatively:
"Who exactly are they?"
"They're security personnel from the American Thor Security Group. Apparently, they're a team that specializes in dealing with people with unusual abilities."
At that, Mira Tsubakihara sighed helplessly.
"My grandfather was already uneasy about me living away from home alone. He said he'd accidentally sold too many guns, so he was worried I'd be in danger out here. Now that this has happened, he's even more nervous."
Turning back to fetch the teacups, Mira Tsubakihara grumbled softly:
"Honestly, I've told him that Japan bans guns and has a very low crime rate. He doesn't need to be as nervous as he was in the United States, but he never listens."
Hearing that, Luo Shu recalled what Mika had said about the Garrison's booming arms business in Japan, then nodded.
"No, I think your grandfather is right to worry."
Miss Mira, have you forgotten that I just killed someone with a gun?
Besides, you probably don't know about the elementary schooler of death. Go past Ikebukuro Station in Nerima, and you're in Beika Town, the crime capital... Luo Shu couldn't help snarking inwardly.
"Huh?" Clearly taken aback that Luo Shu actually agreed with her grandfather, Mira paused, then burst into a giggle. "Why are you just like my grandfather, Luo Shu? You're as wary as a cat."
Luo Shu thought for a moment, then explained, "It's probably an occupational hazard."
From what Mira had said, her grandfather was probably an arms dealer. Someone like that would certainly know more than Luo Shu did about how many weapons there really were in Japan.
For all he knew, the SIG P226 in his possession might even have been manufactured and sold by her grandfather's company.
As they traded questions and answers, Mira Tsubakihara took a tea tin from the cabinet, opened it, put on disposable gloves, and placed some tea leaves in the pot, complaining:
"You took so long to answer that I chose black tea for you. You don't mind, do you?"
"Not at all. Thank you." Luo Shu thanked her, then sat down on the white fabric sofa and looked around the living room.
The living room's decor was very minimalist, and the furniture was simple too.
There was a wall-mounted projection screen, a white fabric sofa, the projector behind the sofa, and a dining area joined to the living room, along with its dining furniture.
The only unusual feature was probably the oil painting of Mira Tsubakihara herself beside the sofa.
Apart from the painting, everything gave Luo Shu a strong sense of familiarity.
Thinking it over, he realized that the layout was actually the same as his apartment's, perhaps even a little simpler.
This doesn't look like somewhere she lives permanently... As Luo Shu mused to himself, Mira Tsubakihara came over carrying cups of black tea.
Before setting down his cup, Mira Tsubakihara smiled and said, "I added a little brandy. That's all right, isn't it?"
"...Didn't you add white sugar?" Luo Shu blinked at Mira Tsubakihara. Drinking alcohol at his age was illegal in Japan, so a little disguise was necessary.
Ginger juice, for instance, or white sugar.
Mira Tsubakihara paused at his words, then set down the cup and covered her mouth as she laughed. "That's right, I added white sugar. I hope it isn't too sweet."
"Now, please take your time enjoying this cup of black tea with white sugar."
Despite the teasing in her words, Luo Shu calmly picked up the tea, blew on it, and took a small sip.
It tasted rich and full-bodied, with a faint sweetness on his tongue. Although he couldn't identify the particular variety, Luo Shu, who had been born in a tea-growing region, knew perfectly well that this tea was very, very expensive.
After a few sips, Luo Shu looked at Mira Tsubakihara, who sat across from him holding her cup and watching him with a smile. He paused, then asked:
"Don't you have anything you want to ask?"
"No, before that, I owe you an apology." Mira Tsubakihara gave him an apologetic smile, cradling her cup. "Because of what happened earlier, I asked my family to look into you."
"So, about you joining Chief Tachibana's SDS department just today... well, it was a little unethical, but I've already read the Metropolitan Police Department's internal file."
Of course, the main reason for investigating him so thoroughly was to establish Luo Shu's identity and determine what dangers he might face at the Metropolitan Police Department.
Without that newly approved internal file, the enthusiastic United States Garrison would probably have gone to retrieve Luo Shu earlier.
You've investigated me this thoroughly. Don't tell me you even know what color my underwear
is?
Hearing how much Mira Tsubakihara had uncovered within the hour since he had been taken away, Luo Shu seriously suspected that the influence wealthy heirs like her could wield in modern society had already surpassed superpowers.
Oh, wait. She already had the power of money!
Seeing how openly Mira Tsubakihara was speaking to him, Luo Shu couldn't help smiling as he asked:
"What did you think after reading the file?"
"Huh? What did I think?" Mira Tsubakihara clearly hadn't expected that question and looked a little bewildered.
But when she saw the smile on Luo Shu's face, she quickly realized he was joking and replied with a smile:
"I suppose I thought, 'I'll get to see you again soon.' And then I breathed a sigh of relief. A pretty ordinary reaction, right?"
Luo Shu, who had been fairly composed until then, immediately lost his composure.
This is bad... She's the kind I don't know how to handle... His expression grew slightly awkward. He took a deep breath, steadied his breathing, and deliberately turned to business:
"Miss Tsubakihara, do you know why the 'Hounds' were following you?"
"This is what you really wanted to ask about, isn't it?"
Mira Tsubakihara took a gift box from her pocket and opened it, revealing a ruby-set ring to Luo Shu.
At the same time, a vertical pupil on the ring's ruby stared fixedly at him.
It was
the Demon Heart's "eye."
Under that eye's gaze, Luo Shu's expression began to freeze.
Before you continue