Sachi was browsing through the contents of Namida's phone and thought. For how tech savvy she is, she didn’t bother to install an app to add a password when opening her gallery. Shiro was watching tv with both her hand on her bloated belly, she said. “Sachi-nee, what kind of animals are similar to a platypus in terms of cuteness?” Sachi tapped on the screen a couple of times as she started going through the messages and said. “Have you ever seen a pug before?” Shiro shook her head sideways, she said. “Onee-chan doesn’t allow pets in the house.”

Reiki stared at the floating talisman in front of him as he heard the sound of Enora’s voice coming from it, she said. “Now that you said everything on your mind, out.” Her voice was slowly getting farther away followed by Enrel who sounded very soft. Enrel said. “Reiki still hasn’t told me when-.” Before she could finish it was drowned out by Moranor, she said. “When are you planning on coming back ho- I mean, give Enrel the bar of elven steel back?” She faked out a laugh that had a hint of nervousness to it.

Reiki felt the glare Ketsueki was giving him on the armchair, he said. “Sometime before the end of the week.” He heard the sound of fabric softly rustling as Moranor spoke with a hint of annoyance in her tone, she said. “It’ll take you that long just to drop by again.” Ketsueki’s gaze narrowed as she glared at the back of her little brother’s head, she thought. Somehow, I’m getting infuriated hearing that slightly spoiled tone from that elf. Namida’s head was slightly turned sideways as she stared at Reiki from the corner of her eye, she thought. How long do I have to pretend?

Reiki faked a chuckle and said. “I can’t keep constantly pushing things back in my life.” The sound of footsteps faintly came from the talisman as Enora’s voice was heard, she said. “Alright, I managed to kick Enrel out of the room.” Sachi had a slightly odd look on her face and said. “What kind of pets did you ask Ketsueki?” Shiro had a thoughtful look on her face, she said. “I once asked for a red panda and a turtle.” She had an innocent expression on her face as she looked up at her sister’s friend.

Sachi placed a hand on top of Shiro’s head as she gently caressed her head and thought. How do you even raise a red panda in this kind of climate? Sachi gave her a smile, she said. “No promises but, I’ll try to have a word with your older sister about the no pet thing.” Shiro’s eyes sparkled like stars, she said. “Really? Sachi-nee?” Sachi playfully poked her cheek and said. “No promises, cottontail.” The sound of something bouncing up and down with a hint of squeaking came from the talisman, Moranor let out a sigh and said. “If your royalty, at least act like one.”

It was followed by a faint yawn, Enora said. “I am one and how does one even act like royalty in the first place?” Reiki scratched the side of his head and thought. If I put the talisman away now while those two are arguing, I bet they wouldn’t even notice. He grabbed the talisman that was floating mid-air and placed it inside the tattered pouch he was holding with his left hand. Reiki let out a long sigh of relief as the glare he was receiving from Ketsueki slightly lessened.

Sachi was still browsing through Namida’s phone as she was sliding her thumb across the screen, she thought. I more or less went through everything on her phone. Reiki made his way to Ketsueki who was lazily lying on the armchair while pretending to watch tv. Sachi casually passed the phone she was holding to her friend and said. “Here you go.” Namida took the phone from her, she said. “Thanks.” She paused for a moment as she stared at her phone that was turned on and thought. Wait, wasn’t Shiro the one who was holding onto this?

Sachi waved her hand as a one-third eclair flew into the palm of her hand as she took a bite out of it. Namida’s eyes narrowed as she glared at her friend while Reiki was almost near the armchair his older sister was sitting on. Ketsueki kept her eyes on the tv and said. “Reiki, go change your clothes first.” Reiki stopped midway as he looked down at the green tunic and brown pants he was wearing, he said. “Yes, Onee-chan.” He did a half turn and quickly went up the stairs while Shiro was watching tv while sitting beside Sachi on the couch.

Ketsueki stood up from the armchair while she gave her two friends a meaningful look. Sachi ate the rest of the eclair she was holding as she licked some chocolate off the tip of her index finger. Namida stretched her hands upward while simultaneously standing up from the couch, she said. “I’m going for a short walk to burn off a few calories.” She turned her head onto Shiro who was using Sachi to hide and continued. “How about you, cottontail? Wanna walk for a minute or two?” Shiro grabbed the nearest pillow as she tightly hugged it and gave Namida a polite smile.

Shiro said. “I already walked around the house.” Sachi stood up from the couch as she patted her friend's shoulder a couple of times and said. “Don’t force her to do anything.” Namida spread her arms, she said. “It was only a question.” Ketsueki let out a soft sigh and said. “Shiro, keep an eye on your brother. We’ll be back in five minutes.” She made her way to the front door while Sachi waved at her little sister, she said. “We’ll be back in a few.” She went after her friend while Namida let out a yawn while walking toward her friends.

Namida lazily waved without looking back at the couch and said. “If someone weird sneaks into the house, make Reiki the first one to make contact.” The three of them quickly made it to the front as they started putting on their respective shoes. Shiro stared at the last piece of millionaire shortbread on the coffee table while she didn’t notice her older brother reach the bottom of the stairs. Reiki was wearing a simple white shirt paired with loose jogging pants, he looked around the room and thought. And they’re gone, might as well take this opportunity to rest for a few minutes.

He made his way to the couch and saw his little sister trying her best to keep her gaze on the tv while she stole glances at the shortbread resting on a plate by the coffee table. Reiki sat beside his little sister as he reached for the last piece of shortbread under Shiro’s gaze, he said. “Itadakimasu.” Shiro watched her brother take a bite out of the millionaire shortbread with a bit of drool on the corner of her mouth, Reiki thought. Not awkward at all.

He gulped down a mouthful of food and said. “Shiro, I’m not going to give you some.” His little sister’s entire body slightly jolted as she crossed her arms, Shiro said. “I-I don’t want some, Onii-chan.” She let out a hmph while she watched her older brother from the corner of her eye take another bite. Reiki was in the middle of chewing as he nodded and said. “If you have a bite of this, you won’t be able to have some elven choco for dessert.” Shiro’s eyes widened in surprise as she tightly hugged the pillow she had her arms wrapped around.

She said. “W-What if you only gave me a tiny bite?” Reiki had a helpless smile on his face and said. “Shiro, didn’t you already have this conversation with Onee-chan?” Shiro lazily laid on the backrest of the couch, she said. “But what if Onee-chan’s wrong?” Reiki took another bite of the shortbread he was holding while staring at his little sister, he said. “... Fine, I’ll give you half of it…” He thought. Onee-chan won’t mind… Hopefully… Shiro’s eyes lit up like stars as her gaze wandered onto the shortbread. Reiki passed the shortbread he was holding to his little sister.

Shiro threw the couch cushion she was hugging beside her while she hugged her older brother’s arm and took the shortbread out of his hands. Shiro said. “Thank you, Onii-chan!” She took a bite of the half-eaten shortbread while leaning her head onto her older brother’s shoulder. Reiki moved his gaze to the tv and thought. There’s a good chance Nora and Mora are still arguing… Hopefully, Namida and Sachi weren’t paying too much attention to our conversation. He glanced at Shiro who was happily eating the shortbread while watching tv, Reiki continued his train of thought. Yeah, this kind of life is priceless.

________________________________________________________________________________

Outside The House

Ketsueki was leaning on the front door while Sachi had a talisman that was enveloped in a thin layer of mana while it floated above her palm. Sachi said. “Barrier is complete.” Namida appeared out of thin air as she stood within arm's reach of both her friends, she said. “I did a quick scope around the neighborhood which I think was unnecessary.” She crossed her arms and continued. “Why am I working during my time off?” Ketsueki had a serious expression on her face as she snapped her fingers, she said. “Translation.”

Namida let out a sigh and thought. Should I just come clean?... She saw the look on her friend's expression, Namida said. “I couldn’t translate much.” Sachi scratched her cheek, she thought. When are we going to break it to her that we barely understood a word Reiki said? Ketsueki’s eyes slightly narrowed as she spoke in with a hint of impatience in her tone, she said. “Then what words did you manage to decode?” Namida raised a brow at her friend and said. “Decode?” Sachi gave Ketsueki an odd look while Ketsueki’s eyes slightly widened.

Ketsueki said. “What? You’re always using a laptop you don’t even know the word?” Namida shook her head sideways and said. “No, I know the word. I just didn’t expect to hear it from you.” Ketsueki massaged the temples of her head using one hand, she said. “If you are just here to make fun of me, might as well go home.” Namida's lips curled into a slight smirk, she said. “Fine by me, have fun explaining to Shiro and Reiki why sushi is off the menu.” The slight arrogance on Ketsueki’s expression visibly decreased Sachi let out a laugh and said. “She’s got you there, Ketsueki.”

Namida placed a hand on her chin, she said. “He’s planning to drop by elven territory.” Sachi’s eyes had a hint of panic in them as she gave her friend a meaningful look, she thought. What is she doing? Ketsueki’s brows furrowed, she said. “When?” Namida shook her head sideways and said. “Don’t know.” Sachi quickly elbowed her friend in the stomach as Namida’s entire body visibly winced from the pain. Ketsueki had a pondering expression on her face and said. “Did you at least hear a number or a date?”

Namida moved her hand away from her chin as she pocketed it, she said. “Nope, I couldn’t keep up with how fast they were talking.” Ketsueki moved her gaze onto her other friend while Sachi quickly put on a calm expression and said. “If I heard it correctly, I think it should sometime this week.” Namida glanced at her friend from the corner of her eye as she placed a hand behind her back and gave her a thumbs up. Sachi saw the gesture and thought. We’re so dead when she finds out we're just spewing lies at her face.

Ketsueki pointed at the door she was leaning on using her thumb, she said. “I’m heading back in.” She moved her gaze onto Sachi and continued. “Make sure to be careful when dismantling the barrier. I don’t want the neighbors noticing the fluctuating mana near my house.” Sachi rolled her eyes at her friend as she spoke with a hint of mocking in her tone, she said. “Then why did you bother asking me for one just to tear it down in a few minutes.” She grabbed the talisman that was floating right in front of her. Ketsueki gave her friend a smile and said. “Because I asked nicely.”

Namida let out a scoff and spoke under her breath, she said. “I never knew they changed the definition of nice.” a semi-translucent dome-shaped barrier revealed itself around them while the talisman in Sachi’s hands was visibly glowing, she said. “Maybe she bought the newest release of a dictionary.” The barrier around them was dissipating at a visible pace while Ketsueki stood up straight at exactly the same time the barrier she was leaning on vanished, she said. “I don’t need to hear anything from you two who failed to get a similar position as me.”

The corner of Namida’s lips curved in a smirk, she said. “No thanks, we don’t really like to wag our tails and take orders from the higher-ups.” Ketsueki’s entire body slightly jolted while Sachi let go of the talisman while the barrier kept on vanishing, Sachi said. “At first I loathed this team, but when she started doing her job. I’ve never been so happy to be underqualified in my life.” The barrier around the three girls vanished as Ketsueki moved some stray hair behind her ear and said. “You know, when the evaluation talks came up. It was a close-.”

Sachi grab the talisman that was floating mid-air as she interrupted her friend, she said. “No thanks, I’m not interested.” She pocketed the talisman while Namida crossed her arms while shaking her head sideways, she said. “And I only got here through connections.” She made a shooing gesture at Ketsueki who was blocking the doorway and continued. “Those are words you kept repeating when we first started.” Ketsueki’s lips curled into a small smirk, she said. “I mean, with how you introduced yourself. What was I supposed to think?” Namida showed her friend the middle finger and said. “Bitch, you ask for a detailed introduction as your first order.”

Ketsueki took a step to the side as Sachi let out a chuckle as she made her way to the door and said. “And what did you expect when someone with no status and no fame was appointed to be our leader?” She placed her hand on the doorknob Ketsueki puffed out her large chest, she said. “I expected you two to grovel at my feet.” Namida ignored her friend as she appeared right beside Sachi who opened the door. Namida said. “Can I go first? All I have to do is untie my shoelaces.”

Sachi took a step to the side and said. “I don’t mind.” Namida made her way inside followed by Sachi as she closed the door behind her leaving their friend outside. Ketsueki took a step toward the door as she heard the sound of clicking that came from the inside of the house, she took another step as she stood in front of the door and said. “Hey! What are you two doing by locking me outside of my own house?!” She heard the faint sound of something sliding from the inside followed.

Ketsueki heard Namida’s voice from the other side of the door, she said. “Don’t you have a teleportation spell? I know you have more than one.” It was followed by Sachi who said. “She does have more than one, how about you show us one of the reasons why you’re the leader?” Ketsueki clenched her hands into fists as her knuckles faintly produced cracking noises, she thought. Those two know I installed barriers inside the house! She threw a punch that was fast enough to make the air around her fist visibly tremble, Ketsueki stopped just before her fist could make contact with the wooden door as she knocked normally.

She said. “You two do know Reiki won’t serve dinner if I’m not present!” She heard a chuckle from the other side of the door, Namida said. “But he will make preparations when the fish is here and he’s not fast enough to keep up with us.” Ketsueki’s pupils faintly glowed as she glared at the door, she heard Sachi’s voice coming from inside the house. Sachi said. “How many pounds of tuna are you planning to have someone deliver?” Ketsueki’s right hand was enveloped in a thin layer of mana as she grabbed the doorknob.

The sound of something sliding came from the inside of the house, Namida said. “I mean, I don’t have that much money on hand right now so that best I can do is a five hundred pound fatty tuna.” Ketsueki took a deep breath and gently turned the doorknob a couple of times as it refused to budge, she heard her friend's voice from the other side of the door. Sachi said. “As much as I would love to have a tuna-only feast, I think Reiki would like some variety.”

Ketsueki’s right hand that was holding onto the doorknob slightly shook in anger as she heard her friend's voices from the inside, Namida said. “Don’t worry, we have plenty of mackerel, yellowtail, flounder, salmon, shrimp, and octopus stocked up.” Sachi's voice had a hint of amazement in it, she said. “I keep forgetting you come from a traditional family.” It was followed by Namida who spoke with a hint of hunger in her tone, she said. “Maybe I should ask her to sneak some king crab, scallop, and some uni.” The glow in Ketsueki’s pupils slowly faded while Sachi's voice came from the other side of the door. Sachi said. “Don’t forget the rice and some tofu. Reiki wants to eat some inari.”

Ketsueki heard the sound of footsteps getting farther away along with the voice of her friends getting fainter by the second. The glow in her pupils intensified as she clenched her right hand into a fist as it was enveloped in a thin layer of mana. Ketsueki threw her fist at the door, the wind around her hand was visibly trembling as it was a couple of inches from making contact with it. She saw the doorknob turn and immediately redirected her fist into the air as a violent gush of air with traces of mana fired from her hand.

Ketsueki placed both her hands behind her back as the door opened revealing Reiki on the other side, he had a confused expression on his face and said. “Onee-chan. Namida and Sachi told me you have something to tell me?” Ketsueki had a sweet smile on her lips as she placed a hand on top of his hair which was styled straight, she said. “Where are those friends of mine?” Reiki pointed inside the house and said. “They’re watching tv with Shiro.”

Ketsueki leaned closer to her little brother as she whispered in his ear, she said. “Can you do me one small favor?” Reiki was trying to sneak a peak at his older sister's cleavage that was being provided by her baggy jacket, he said. “What is it?” He saw a bit of the white shirt his older sister was wearing along with part of her black bra. Ketsueki glanced in the direction of the living room, she said. “When making sushi use some of the tubes of wasabi we have and place a lot of it in some of them and tell me which is which.”

She leaned closer to him as Reiki saw more of her black lace bra, he said. “Consider it done.” Ketsueki gave her little brother a big smile along with a kiss on the cheek and said. “At least I know you’ll always be on my side.” She made her way inside the house while Reiki stared at his older sister's butt. Ketsueki waved her hand as the door closed, Reiki thought. She knew I was staring. A man wearing a traditional dark blue kimono appeared a few feet behind him.

Reiki quickly turned around as he stared at the man, he thought. Are teleportation spells supposed to be this common?! The man was taken aback by his sudden motion, he thought. That surprised me… I can’t believe he noticed my presence… The man cleared his throat as he took out a pouch from the sleeve of his kimono and said. “Excuse me, are you Akihito-san?” Reiki gave him a polite bow, he said. “Yes, I am. Who might you be?” The man held the pouch using both his hands and said. “Namida-dono sent me here to deliver this pouch filled with seafood.”

Reiki took the pouch off his hands, he said. “Thank you, I’ll make sure to pass this to her.” The man gave him a deep bow and said. “Please.” Reiki watched the man vanish into thin air and thought. Well, better get started on making dinner.