Chapter 4: Shuuto’s Charm

​1

​Shuuto, Luxuria, and Sakura Tsuda hung around the game room for a while before finally heading out of the school.

​The dorms were only about a five-minute walk from the academy, and the path took them along a road bordering the riverbed. Out on the banks, students were making the most of their free time—some playing catch, others simply sprawled out on the grass. Occasionally, a few local residents who weren’t affiliated with the academy could be spotted among them.

​It was a peaceful, idyllic scene, save for one jarringly out-of-place sight.

​A lone girl was lying on a blue plastic tarp. Several large bags were huddled around the sheet. It was far too much luggage for a simple outing, and there was no obvious reason for her to be camping out on a tarp in the middle of the day.

​The girl was Kagura Kamino.

​“What do you think she’s doing?” Shuuto asked.

​“A picnic… maybe?” Sakura answered, though she sounded entirely unconvinced by her own suggestion. She tilted her head in confusion.

​“I’m curious. I’m gonna go check it out.”

​Shuuto trotted down the slope toward the riverbed and ran over to where Kagura lay.

​“Hm?”

​Noticing his approach, Kagura sat up. “Do you need something?”

​“Not exactly, but… what are you doing out here?”

​“Urban camping.”

​“Huh?” Shuuto let out a dumbfounded noise at the unexpected answer.

​“The five-million-yen debt is gone, but I used every last cent I had. I couldn’t pay my rent, so I got kicked out of my dorm room.”

​“Are you serious…? Dammit, I should’ve raised the stakes by another hundred thousand or something.”

​Shuuto winced at his own oversight. He hadn’t expected her to be completely penniless. Perhaps he’d been so overwhelmed by the sheer scale of the five-million-yen figure that he hadn’t thought it through. For a normal high schooler, that kind of money was just too abstract.

​“I’ll get my VP allowance next month, so I can pay the rent then. I’m living here until then.”

​“Next month? But the payout isn’t for another four weeks, right?”

​“Easy.”

​No, it’s really not.

​Shuuto had already stuck his nose into Kagura’s business, and since he was partly responsible for her current predicament, he couldn’t just leave her to rot. However, his options were limited. As an “Unqualified” student, Shuuto was basically living as Luxuria’s sugar baby at the moment.

​“Luxuria! Come here a sec!”

​He had no choice but to consult the person actually holding the purse strings.

​“Coming~!”

​Luxuria trotted over, with Sakura trailing close behind. Shuuto gave them a quick rundown of Kagura’s situation, and then—

​“Could you let Kagura stay in your room instead of me?”

​“Ehhh? No way! I don’t wanna be apart from my Darling~!”

​Luxuria grabbed Shuuto’s arm and started swinging it back and forth like a pouting child. Despite himself, he found the display a little cute.

​“Besides, where would you live, Shuuto-kun?”

​“I was thinking… maybe Sakura would let me stay at her place?” Shuuto asked tentatively.

​When they had been arguing over whether he’d stay with Luxuria or not, Sakura had seemed open to the idea, but her feelings might have changed. After all, the “annoying big brother” she’d grown up with had just been revealed to be unrelated by blood. It wouldn’t be strange if she suddenly decided she didn’t want to live with him.

​“I guess I have no choice. Fine by me,” Sakura nodded.

​“Thanks. See? It’s fine, Luxuria.”

​“Wait, wait! How about this? Why don’t the three of us—Shuuto-kun, Kagura-chan, and me—all live together?”

​“Uh, wouldn’t that be a little cramped?”

​“It’ll be fine! My room is pretty big, you know?”

​He couldn’t argue with that, but…

​“A twin-beauty harem! Doesn’t that sound great?”

​“It’s not like I’m interested in that kind of—”

​“Onii-chan, just come live at my place,” Sakura said, suddenly grabbing his other arm.

​“Wait, what?”

​“No, no! I wanna live with Shuuto-kun~!”

​“You guys are fighting? It’s fine. Kagura will just sleep out here,” the girl on the tarp chimed in.

​「「That’s a no!」」 Luxuria and Sakura shouted in unison.

​Despite their bickering, it seemed they both had a soft spot for the girl.

​“Gah, this is such a pain! Fine! Let’s just all four of us live together!” Luxuria yelled.

​“What?! No, that’s just reckless…” Shuuto started to protest, but—

​“Good idea. Let’s do that,” Sakura agreed with a nod.

​“You’re okay with this?!”

​And so, the four of them headed toward Luxuria’s room.

​Because Luxuria had a 97% compatibility rate, she was granted a special “Extra Suite,” which was essentially a two-bedroom apartment with a living-dining-kitchen area.

​Technically, the two bedrooms were already designated as Luxuria’s and Shuuto’s, but…

​“The first ever ‘Who Gets to Sleep in Shuuto-kun’s Room’ conference is now in session~!”

​Luxuria, Sakura, and Kagura gathered around the circular table in the living room to begin their deliberations.

​“So, we’re going to have one girl-only room and one Shuuto-plus-one room. Who wants to be with Shuuto-kun?”

​“Whoa, hold on. Why are we splitting it two-and-two? Normally, you’d just split it by gender.”

​“That wouldn’t be fair! That would mean three girls in one room and Shuuto-kun all by himself. Isn’t that a total waste?”

​Shuuto found himself lacking a solid rebuttal.

​“Question,” Sakura said, raising her hand.

​“Yes, Sakura-chan, go ahead.”

​“I think it’s scandalous for members of the opposite sex to share a room. Therefore, since we’re siblings, Onii-chan and I should be the ones to share.”

​“You two aren’t blood-related, so I think that’s even more scandalous!” Luxuria countered immediately.

​“Urgh… we’re back at another stalemate!” Sakura gnashed her teeth in frustration.

​“Question,” Kagura raised her hand next.

​“Yes, Kagura-chan?”

​“Kagura is a loser, so I’m fine with Shuuto’s room. I will submit to his beastly desires.”

​“Hey! What kind of person do you think I am?”

​“A beast riddled with lust. All adolescent boys are like that.”

​She was being brutally honest.

​“Denied! Being an outlet for desire is a reward, so if you really think you’re a ‘loser,’ you should go to the girls’ room,” Luxuria said with a dead serious expression.

​“Hm. I see… then I’ll take the girls’ room.”

​“I’m pretty sure that’s not a reward…” Shuuto muttered.

​“Oh? Are you planning on attacking us that violently? You’re such a handful, Darling~” Luxuria teased, squirming playfully.

​“Wait! I wasn’t agreeing to attack anyone! I just meant that if someone were to be attacked, it wouldn’t be a reward…!”

​Shuuto scrambled to correct himself. He realized that the conversation was spiraling into dangerous territory and figured it might be safer to just keep his mouth shut.

​Regardless, with one resident for the girls’ room decided, it came down to Luxuria or Sakura sharing with Shuuto.

​“I guess we should settle this like true Valhalla Academy students, with a game—”

​“Luxuria. I have a proposal,” Sakura interrupted.

​“And what would that be?”

​“Let’s rotate. Every other day.”

​“Well, well. For someone who claims to be Shuuto Tsuda’s little sister, you’re playing it awfully safe, aren’t you?” Luxuria asked with a smirk, her tone dripping with condescension.

​“Guh… say whatever you want. I just have a firm grasp of my own abilities. I know I can’t beat you yet, so I’m choosing the path that guarantees me the most benefits without a fight.”

​“Hold on. Sakura, do you actually want to sleep in the same room as me?”

​“I-It’s not like I want to!”

​“!!”

​Shuuto felt a sharp pang of rejection.

​“I just thought that if we switched every other day, Onii-chan would be better able to control his… impulses! I should have won a game to decide who sleeps with you, but I can’t win, so this is the next best thing! It’s definitely not because I want to sleep with you! I mean, who would?! You pervert!”

​“Okay, okay! I get it, just stop talking…”

​There were no tears in his eyes, but his heart was sobbing.

​And so, it was decided: Shuuto would share a room with Luxuria and Sakura on alternating nights.

​The evening flew by as they showed Kagura around the kitchen and bathroom. They ended up settling for a quick dinner of convenience store food before taking turns in the bath. With four people, the last person was bound to be finished quite late.

​Kagura had volunteered to go last, claiming that since she was the freeloading guest, she didn’t mind waiting. While she was in the tub, the others relaxed in the living room—gaming, prepping for tomorrow’s classes, or scrolling through their phones.

​“Finished with the bath. Thank you,” Kagura’s voice called out as she entered the living room.

​“Wha—?!” Shuuto yelped, nearly dropping his phone.

​Kagura had appeared wearing nothing but a single bath towel wrapped around her body.

​“Kagura! Put some clothes on!”

​“I don’t have a change of clothes.”

​“Why not?!”

​“I sold my pajamas and loungewear to help cover my living expenses. I wash my underwear every day and reuse it.”

​Just how poor is she?!

​“Then what did you usually do…?”

​“I stayed naked when I was in my room. Like a nudist.”

​“Just… just put something on for now. You can borrow my gym clothes or something…”

​“Sto~~~~p right there!”

​Luxuria lunged into the conversation. “A mere commoner isn’t allowed the ‘Boyfriend Shirt’ privilege! You only get that if you become Shuuto-kun’s slave or cross the line with him!”

​“Wear this!” Sakura intervened, shoving a spare set of her own pajamas at Kagura.

​“Thank you.”

​Kagura accepted them simply and reached for the knot of her towel.

​“Whoa!” Shuuto whipped around to face the wall. She was way too nonchalant about this.

​“Done. You can look now.”

​“No! Don’t look yet!” Sakura yelled over Kagura’s voice.

​Which one is it?! Unfortunately, Shuuto had already turned around the moment Kagura spoke. He saw her wearing Sakura’s pajamas—they were baggy around her arms and legs, but the fabric across her chest was strained to the absolute limit.

​Shuuto spun back around immediately. How is she wearing clothes and yet looking even more scandalous than before?!

​“No bra?! That’s a definite no! Absolutely not!” Sakura was panicking. “Wait, I feel like I just lost… I’m taller than her, but my chest is smaller? It makes me look like a board…!”

​“Sakura-chan, size isn’t everything. Big breasts have their charms, and small breasts have theirs too,” Luxuria offered helpfully.

​“Don’t call me small! I’m not that small. It’s just that you two are freakishly huge!”

​“My, I’m honored by the compliment,” Luxuria teased before adding, “Fine, I’ll lend her one of my bras.”

​The sound of rustling fabric filled the air behind Shuuto. They were presumably stripping her top off to fit the bra.

​“Mmph… tight…”

​“Ehhh?! Are they bigger than mine?! Can you stand it?”

​“Hmm… I’d rather not wear one if it’s like this…”

​“That’s not an option,” Sakura’s voice was firm.

​“Shuuto-kun~? What do you think~?” Luxuria called out.

​“Don’t ask for my opinion!”

​But Kagura and Luxuria were already standing right in front of him.

​Kagura was wearing a cute pink bra, but her breasts looked like they were being forcibly shoved into it. She looked genuinely uncomfortable.

​Wait, this is no time for analysis.

​“Couldn’t you just buy a bra at the convenience store or something?” Shuuto suggested.

​Sakura shook her head. “I’ve never seen bras for sale at a convenience store. Oh, but they might have bra-tops…”

​“Bra-tops?” It was a term Shuuto wasn’t familiar with.

​“It’s like a camisole with a built-in bra. Hang on, I’ll go buy one! A size up from Luxuria’s should work, right?”

​“Probably!” Luxuria nodded.

​In the end, Sakura successfully retrieved a “bra-top” from the convenience store, and the crisis was averted.

​It had been a chaotic first day, to say the least.

​2

​Shuuto was feeling incredibly restless.

​The results of their rock-paper-scissors match meant that Sakura was the first one to stay in his room.

​(How many years has it been since we slept in the same room?)

​The last time was probably a family trip back in middle school. They’d gone to Osaka for four days during summer break. He remembered the four of them, parents included, sleeping on futons in one large room.

​Sharing a room with just the two of them might actually be a first.

​(I just went with the flow, but is Sakura really okay with this?)

​For the time being, Shuuto arranged some floor cushions and set out a blanket. He intended to let Sakura have the bed while he slept on the floor.

​“Onii-chan, can I come in?”

​“Yeah.”

​Sakura stepped inside.

​“Wh—?!”

​Shuuto’s eyes nearly popped out of his head, and he hurriedly looked away.

​She was only in her underwear.

​“W-Why aren’t you wearing your pajamas?!”

​“Well, I just… I wanted to make sure you knew that I’m not exactly small either…”

​“I could tell just by looking!”

​“!! So you were always looking at my chest? You creep!”

​“That’s not what I meant!”

​Though, since he had been looking just now, he couldn’t exactly offer a strong denial.

​“I get it, you’re not small. Now go put some pajamas on.”

​“It’s fine. It’s not that cold anyway.”

​If she was okay with it, he supposed he couldn’t complain.

​“Well, you’ll catch a cold if you’re not careful, so get into bed. I’m sleeping on the floor.”

​“Eh? Use the bed.”

​“But I can’t let you sleep on the floor, Sakura.”

​“Um, well, about that…”

​Sakura looked down, fidgeting nervously. Then, in a tiny, barely audible voice, she said, “Couldn’t we just… sleep together?”

​“Huh…? Wouldn’t that be a bad idea?”

​“I-It’s not bad! W-We’re siblings, after all…”

​“We aren’t blood-related, though…”

​“Are you saying you’re planning on doing something wicked to your little sister, Onii-chan?”

​“No! Not at all! Not even a little bit.”

​“Not even a little bit?! Isn’t that a bit rude?!”

​Man, this is impossible…!

​“But still, is it really okay to share a bed?”

​“I don’t want you catching a cold. It would be a pain to nurse you back to health, and I’d be worried if I had to leave you in Luxuria’s care.”

​(True, who knows what she’d do to me if I was bedridden…)

​“Well, if you’re sure, Sakura…”

​“I said it was fine, didn’t I?”

​Sakura crawled into the bed, turning her back to him as she lay down. Shuuto tentatively climbed in as well, lying down with his back to her.

​「「…………」」

​The silence was deafening.

​It wasn’t exactly nervousness, but since they’d been so distant lately, having her this close felt surreal.

​(Crap-crap-crap-crap-crap!!)

​Since her back was turned, she likely hadn’t noticed, but Sakura Tsuda was currently having a total internal meltdown.

​(I’m in the same bed as Onii-chan! What do I do, what do I do, what do I do?!)

​Ever since she found out they weren’t blood-related, Sakura had indulged in plenty of fantasies. But those were all cute things—like holding hands on the way home from school or going on a date to a cafe. Jumping straight to sharing a bed was far beyond anything she’d prepared for.

​To make matters worse, seeing Shuuto fight Felicia today had made her fall for him all over again, which only added fuel to her internal panic.

​(He was so cool…)

​Since coming to the academy, Shuuto hadn’t really stood out. He’d been stuck in his old habits and hadn’t been taking the games seriously at all. It had irritated her to see him mocked as “The Unqualified.” She’d felt a constant sense of frustration, thinking, He’s actually way stronger than this!!

​And then, he’d achieved a massive victory that proved everyone wrong.

​Onii-chan really is the best…!!

​And now, that very brother was right here in the same bed.

​This is bad. What do I do…?!

​Wait… maybe this is my chance to make up for all the times I was cold to him!

​If I just tell him the truth—that I like him, but I thought we couldn’t get married, so I ended up being salty… and then, if I ask him to be my boyfriend…

​—LIKE I COULD EVER SAY THAT!!!

​Sakura writhed in internal agony.

​It was impossible. Too embarrassing. Given how she’d treated him until now, it was 100% impossible. Plus, the thought of being rejected was terrifying.

​What if he says, “I can only ever see you as a sister”?!

​If he shut down the possibility entirely, she didn’t think she’d ever recover.

​“Sakura.”

​“H-Hyah?!”

​Her voice cracked as she jumped at the sound of her name.

​“Thanks.”

​“Eh?”

​“The bed really is much easier to sleep in. We have school tomorrow, and it would’ve sucked if my body was all stiff and sore.”

​Oh, Onii-chan…

​Choosing this moment to thank me… what a thoughtful guy…

​“I-It’s nothing… I just didn’t want to deal with the hassle of you being sick.”

​And I’m just hopeless. Why can I only ever say things so bluntly?!

​“I know, I know,” he said with a wry chuckle that made her face flush.

​“I’m a lucky guy,” Shuuto said, his voice thick with emotion. “I could’ve ended up completely alone in the world, but I’m so glad you’re here. Thank you, Sakura.”

​“Onii-chan…”

​“As long as I have you, I feel like I can keep going. Right now, I’m still not producing great results… but I’m going to work hard and find my strength. I’m going to win the Crusade. I’ll do it to protect this world where you live.”

​“…Yeah. I’m counting on you.”

​Sakura felt a warmth spreading through her chest.

​(…He really does cherish me.)

​He might not see her as a woman yet, but being loved by him was a source of pure, unadulterated joy.

​And then—that feeling gave Sakura the tiny push she needed.

​She rolled over to face him.

​“…?! Sakura?”

​She gently wrapped her arms around Shuuto from behind.

​Her heart was thudding like a drum against her ribs. He could surely feel her pulse. It was mortifying.

​But if he cherished her this much… she wanted him to know that she cherished him too.

​“Good luck, Onii-chan. I’m rooting for you.”

​“…Yeah.”

​Sakura made a silent vow.

​It might be impossible right now… but one day, I’m definitely going to make you fall for me.

​3

The morning after Kagura and Sakura had moved in—

​“Morning.”

​“Good morning, Darling! ♡”

​Shuuto headed to the washroom, where he found Luxuria washing her face.

​She looked as though she’d only just splashed some water on herself, but the fact that she was already this radiant was frankly terrifying. Her hair was glossy without even a brush through it, and her well-defined features were striking even without a drop of makeup.

​“Hehe, how was last night?”

​“How was what?”

​“Did you get all lovey-dovey with Sakura-chan?”

​“O-Of course not!”

​Even as he said it, Shuuto felt his face heat up as he remembered her hugging him from behind. He was probably turning a light shade of red.

​“Aw, what a waste. And here you were, non-blood-related siblings, all alone under one roof.”

​Fortunately, it seemed Luxuria hadn’t caught on. She puffed out her cheeks in a dissatisfied pout. “Boo. So boring.”

​“The way you’re going, nothing’s gonna happen on my days either, is it…?”

​“Nothing is going to happen, so consider this your fair warning.”

​“Pffft!”

​While they engaged in that idle banter, they made their way into the living room…

​Breakfast was already laid out on the table.

​“!?”

​It was a traditional Japanese-style meal: grilled fish, shiro-ae, and miso soup. For a breakfast, it wasn’t too heavy, yet it felt substantial enough to be satisfying—a perfect balance.

​“Kagura made it,” Sakura said, already seated at the table.

​“It is only natural to work if I am living here for free,” Kagura added as she emerged from the kitchen.

​“Where did you get the ingredients?”

​“I used what was available.”

​Looking closely, everything had been prepared using only the groceries Shuuto and Luxuria had bought previously.

​“I also performed a light cleaning of the rooms.”

​Now that she mentioned it, there wasn’t a speck of dust to be seen, and the trash had vanished. Even the plumbing in the washroom and kitchen seemed to be sparkling.

​“No way. So you’re bad at games, but a pro at housework? Honestly, with these kinds of domestic skills, how are you so terrible at gaming?”

​Luxuria wasn’t trying to be mean; she sounded genuinely perplexed.

​“Games and housework are different. Both require adaptability, but the cognitive load required to face a human opponent versus an object is too distinct.”

​She had a point.

​In housework, one could build a set of patterns and solutions through experience. While not impossible with humans, it always carried a degree of uncertainty. After all, you could never be sure if an opponent would act rationally, and every game developed differently. Housework lacked that specific kind of chaos.

​Still, Shuuto couldn’t help but think that if she was this efficient at chores, she shouldn’t be that catastrophic at games.

​“Please, eat.”

​“Oh, right. Let’s dig in—Wow, this is delicious.”

​The fish was grilled to perfection. The miso soup had a rich dashi base that gave it a clear, defined flavor despite being lightly seasoned. The shiro-ae had a simple, rustic charm.

​“This is bad! Darling’s stomach is being held hostage!” Luxuria cried out, suddenly panicked.

​“Darling, remember the meals I made! They were good too, right?!”

​“Of course. Your cooking is great too, Luxuria.”

​“Haaah! ♡ I knew it! I love you so much, Darling! ♡”

​“By the way, what did you make?” Sakura asked.

​Shuuto pulled up a photo on his phone. “This was from the night before last.”

​It was a picture of oyakodon. It had been seasoned quite strongly, exactly how Shuuto liked it.

​“…Heh.”

​Kagura let out a small, scoffing laugh.

​“W-What was that for?! It’s fine, isn’t it?! One-bowl meals are great! And it tasted good!!”

​“…I might be able to win at cooking,” Sakura muttered.

​“Ggggh…! I’m gonna go practice—!”

​“There’s no need to get so worked up, Luxuria,” Shuuto said.

​“You’re the homeowner. You should walk tall. Besides, you’re the one who paid for the food for this meal anyway. Not that I’m one to talk, being a freeloader myself.”

​“Uuuugh… I’m the one in charge, but I feel like I just lost! Since I’m the one on top, I feel even more left out—!!”

​Watching Luxuria squirm, the other three couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

​With four people around, the mornings were incredibly lively.

​He knew he was being a burden to Luxuria financially, and he was making everyone live in a cramped space, but Shuuto was genuinely having a great time.

​However, a problem soon arose.

​“Kagura, you look a bit pale. Are you okay?”

​Shuuto noticed the change on the third night of their communal life.

​After they had finished dinner, he caught a glimpse of Kagura’s face and thought she looked unusually ghostly.

​“Always look like this.”

​Kagura simply shook her head in denial.

​He felt like she seemed a bit low on energy, but since she was the quiet type to begin with, he wondered if he was just imagining things.

​But Shuuto’s concerns proved to be well-founded.

​The next morning, when Shuuto woke up and entered the living room, the lights were on but no one was there.

​Wait, did I forget to turn them off last night?

​Puzzled, he walked toward the kitchen to get some water, and…

​“Kagura?!”

​Kagura was collapsed face-down on the floor.

​“What happened?!”

​“Uugh… nngh…”

​She only groaned in pain and couldn’t answer him.

​I have to call an ambulance.

​Shuuto pulled out his phone and dialed 119.

​“It’s starvation.”

​“…Come again?”

​Listening to the doctor in the examination room, Shuuto reflexively asked him to repeat himself.

​“She was likely on an extreme diet.”

​“No, I don’t think that’s it…”

​“Perhaps she was pretending to eat so as not to worry you? Anyway, we’ll replenish her nutrients via an IV drip. You can take her home once it’s finished.”

​When Shuuto returned to the hospital room, Kagura was lying in bed, hooked up to the IV.

​Starvation… Extreme dieting…

​That couldn’t be right, Shuuto thought, tilting his head. Since the doctor said so, it must be true, and he hadn’t pushed the issue at the time, but the more he thought about it, the less he could imagine Kagura dieting. She always seemed to enjoy her meals, morning and night.

​“Shuuto… I’m sorry.”

​Kagura’s eyes were open.

​“You’re awake.”

​“Yes. Caused trouble.”

​“Don’t worry about that. But… were you really dieting?”

​“…No.”

​“But the doctor said it was because of hunger.”

​When he relayed the doctor’s words, Kagura’s eyes began to wander. She looked as though she was debating whether or not to tell him the truth.

​Was she actually dieting after all…?

​“…Wasn’t enough. The food.”

​Kagura spoke in a tiny, apologetic voice.

​“Eh? But you were eating quite a bit, weren’t you?”

​“Kagura… is a massive glutton.”

​She said it with her usual deadpan expression.

​“Is that so? You should have just told me.”

​“As a freeloader, I could not say the food was insufficient.”

​“Well… I guess that makes sense…”

​Gurgle—

​Kagura’s stomach let out a long growl.

​“…Want to go grab some food after the drip is done?”

​“Yes.”

​“—And while I’m the one who invited her, I’m really sorry for making you pay for this, Luxuria.”

​“It can’t be helped. You don’t have much money, Shuuto.”

​Being told that so directly stung a little.

​It might be old-fashioned, but words like useless man or kept man flashed through his mind.

​He’d escaped the status of being ‘Unqualified’ by beating Felicia, so he hoped his next VP allowance would be a decent amount…

​The group had come to a yakiniku restaurant in the commercial area.

​Valhalla Island, where Valhalla Academy was located, had a commercial district with shopping malls and restaurants. It was designed so that one could live their entire life within the island. Naturally, there were people living there just to work, so not every resident was affiliated with the school.

​They had chosen yakiniku because when Shuuto asked Kagura what she wanted to eat, her answer was simply: “Meat.” It didn’t sound like the answer of someone who had just left the hospital, but if it was just hunger, he figured he’d let her eat whatever she liked.

​Shuuto sat next to Luxuria, with Kagura opposite him and Sakura diagonally across at the four-person table.

​“Sakura-chan, are you sure you don’t want to sit next to Onii-chan?”

​“…It’s fine.”

​“Oh? Is this your ‘salty’ mode?”

​“If you don’t understand why this seat is better, you’ve still got a long way to go.”

​Luxuria teased, and Sakura fired back. This kind of exchange happened often now that they lived together, and Shuuto had grown used to it. While it looked like they were clashing to an outsider, the truth was that they weren’t on such bad terms once you spent time with them.

​They were just able to speak their minds without sugarcoating anything.

​Sakura talked quite a bit when she was around Luxuria, which allowed Shuuto to see different sides of his sister, something he found quite enjoyable.

​“Kagura, you seem pretty hungry. Is the all-you-can-eat menu okay?”

​The three of them nodded.

​And so, they ordered the all-you-can-eat course.

​“It is all-you-can-eat, so I may order as much as I wish?” Kagura made sure to confirm.

​“Yeah, that’s how it works.”

​“Understood.”

​The ordering was done via a tablet, which Kagura immediately snatched up.

​“Is there a ‘Select All’ button?”

​“S-Select All…? This isn’t a game, I don’t think a system like that exists.”

​“Inevitably. I shall order everything in order, starting from the left.”

​…She was joking, right?

​But in reality, Kagura’s appetite was monstrous.

​She ordered meat after meat, and proceeded to devour them all.

​Stunned by her sheer voracity, Shuuto, Luxuria, and Sakura all found their chopsticks coming to a halt.

​“Delicious. Delicious.”

​Shuuto was primarily in charge of the grilling, but if he left things alone for even a second, Kagura would snatch the meat and it would vanish in an instant.

​“L-Luxuria, Sakura! Eat quickly!”

​He began intentionally tossing meat onto Luxuria’s and Sakura’s plates.

​“Okay!” “Got it…!”

​The two of them began eating as if trying to keep up.

​Shuuto had almost entirely given up on eating himself. He tried to grab whatever was finished grilling, but if he hesitated for a moment, Kagura would swoop in.

​“Delicious. Delicious.”

​Without a change in expression, she continued to shovel meat into her mouth. Every so often she would take a bite of rice, but even those ‘bites’ were enormous. Her rice was gone in the blink of an eye, and she immediately ordered a refill.

​“Hey, look at that girl…”

​The restaurant began to buzz.

​The staff were running ragged just to keep up with the demands of a single table.

​In the end, Kagura continued to eat for the full ninety minutes.

​“This will be the last call for orders.”

​“Eh… Over already?”

​She actually looked disappointed.

​Apparently, Kagura had just set a new record for the most orders ever placed at this establishment.

​“I’m sorry. She really ate way too much…”

​“Oh, don’t worry about it! Our prices are set with the assumption that people like her will show up occasionally. It looks like the rest of you didn’t eat nearly as much anyway.”

​While Shuuto was busy apologizing, the manager just gave him a bright smile.

​“Honestly, it was a pleasure to see someone enjoy the food that much. Oh, would it be okay if I posted about this on social media? Just to say someone thought our food was super delicious?”

​“Yes.”

​Kagura gave a firm nod.

​Even after eating that much, she didn’t look the least bit uncomfortable.

​“I had no idea you were such a glutton…”

​“I do not usually require this much,” Kagura said with a hint of modesty.

​That said, with a stomach of that potential, there was no way the same amount as an average girl would ever be enough.

​“Okay, okay! From today on, you can buy as many groceries as you want!” Luxuria announced.

​“Is that okay?”

​“Yep! I’m super rich, after all. Besides… I think it’ll make Darling happy. Right? Darling would be happy if Kagura was satisfied.”

​“Luxuria…”

​Luxuria really did do so much for Shuuto’s sake, even at her own expense.

​But I can’t just keep relying on her for everything, Shuuto thought.

​4

Starting from a certain day, Shuuto began coming home late.

​Every day after class, as soon as homeroom ended, he would simply say, “I’ve got some stuff to take care of,” and disappear on his own.

​Kagura Kamino didn’t think much of it. She had only just met Shuuto, after all, and she couldn’t exactly say she had a handle on his daily routine yet. Even though they had been living together for a short while, there was always the possibility that him coming home early back then had been the exception, not the rule.

​Luxuria, however, was a different story.

​“This is weird.”

​After playing a few games in the Recreation Room, Kagura was walking home with Luxuria and Sakura.

​“What could Darling possibly be up to?” Luxuria groaned, crossing her arms with a heavy pout.

​“If you’re that curious, why don’t you just ask him?” Sakura replied, her voice flat and disinterested.

​“I already did! He just said, ‘I’ve got some personal business.’ What even is ‘personal business’ anyway?!”

​“Who knows.” Sakura remained icy.

​“Kagura, what do you think?” Luxuria asked.

​“Maybe he made a friend,” Kagura offered.

​“Would he really play with a friend until late at night every single day?”

​“I wouldn’t put it past Onii-chan,” Sakura said noncommittally. “If a friend had an interesting game in their room, he’d probably just move in.” She paused, then added, “Though, I doubt that’s what this is.”

​“Wait! Sakura-chan, do you know something?!”

​“He didn’t tell me anything, but I can take a guess,” Sakura said, looking a little smug.

​“Tell me! Tell me~!”

​“No way. If Onii-chan isn’t saying anything, it means he doesn’t want people to know.”

​“Stingy~!” Luxuria ruffled her own hair in frustration. “I bet it’s a woman. Maybe he’s got a girlfriend? Darling is handsome, kind, and amazing at games… he’s gotta be popular!”

​In reality, Shuuto’s history with women was non-existent—his age was equal to the number of years he’d been single—and he had never been popular in the slightest.

​However, Luxuria was blissfully unaware of that fact. To her, Shuuto was the ideal man. It wasn’t a stretch for her to imagine that her perfect man would be just as attractive to other women.

​“No, I can’t take it! I’m so curious I won’t be able to sleep tonight~ And sleep deprivation is the ultimate enemy of beautiful skin~!” Luxuria pumped her fists in a sudden burst of determination. “Kagura, you’re coming with me after school tomorrow. We’re going to uncover Shuuto’s secret.”

​“…?”

​“We’re tailing him.”

​“…Is that okay?” Kagura asked.

​“It is a slave’s duty to ensure her master isn’t being led astray by some strange woman.”

​“…Are you surprisingly the jealous type?”

​“Good point,” Sakura chimed in. “Didn’t you say you were fine with him having two or three girls at once?”

​“As long as Shuuto is happy, I’m fine with it! But, but… if he’s meeting other women behind my back, of course I’m gonna be curious—! I don’t want him keeping secrets from me!”

​“Wow, what a high-maintenance woman…” Sakura said, pulling back slightly.

​“Kagura! Tomorrow, meet me in front of the tree by the school gate! Make sure Shuuto doesn’t spot you!”

​Ignoring Sakura’s jab entirely, Luxuria pointed a finger dramatically at Kagura.

​The next day, when Kagura arrived at the meeting spot, Luxuria was already there.

​However…

​“…You look weird,” Kagura muttered.

​Luxuria was sporting a brown hat, a poncho-like cloak, and a pair of sunglasses. She looked incredibly suspicious.

​It was the classic “detective” outfit seen in fiction, but in reality, it was so eye-catching that it seemed entirely ill-suited for a tailing mission.

​“You just don’t get it, do you~! This is the official stalking uniform of the human world! A detective wore it in one of the manga Shuuto was reading. And detectives are the pros of tailing people. Here, Kagura, you too.”

​Kagura was handed a detective hat and sunglasses.

​She put them on for the time being, but she had a feeling this wasn’t right. I guess some people really can’t tell the difference between reality and fiction, she thought.

​A short while later, Shuuto emerged from the school building.

​They waited until he passed through the school gates before beginning the tail.

​Fortunately, Shuuto didn’t notice them at all. He seemed to be in a hurry, lacking the leeway to pay attention to his surroundings. Then again, he likely never even considered the possibility that he was being followed.

​Shuuto headed toward the residential district.

​“The residential area…? Usually, academy students live in the dorms, so this is where the people who work on the island live, right? How strange,” Luxuria whispered.

​Since the workers had families, the island was equipped with schools ranging from elementary to high school… but the population was small.

​“Wait, wait, don’t tell me he’s having a secret affair with a married woman…? As expected of Darling, winning over an older woman… No! Seriously, what is he doing here?!”

​Luxuria’s suspicion was reasonable.

​Eventually, they arrived at a construction site.

​Scaffolding was set up around a five-story apartment complex. It looked like they were doing repairs or repainting the exterior walls.

​“Yo, kid! You’re here!”

​“Yes, sir! Ready to work!”

​It was refreshing to hear Shuuto responding so energetically, a far cry from his usual cool and quiet demeanor.

​Shuuto entered a prefabricated shack and changed into work clothes. He put on a helmet, fully prepared, and began carrying materials for the scaffolding.

​“…A part-time job?” Kagura whispered.

​“Looks like it,” Luxuria replied.

​“Why would he work a job? He’s Luxuria’s kept man.”

​“Not a kept man—he’s my Master ♡”

​Either way, his livelihood was guaranteed. Had he suddenly decided he wanted to be independent?

​“It’s for Kagura’s sake.”

​The voice from behind made them both jump.

​It was Sakura.

​“Did you tail Shuuto too, Sakura-chan?”

​“No. I just saw some weirdos following Onii-chan, so I followed them. What are you two doing?”

​“’Weirdos’?! This is a detective’s uniform!”

​“Did you get that from Onii-chan’s manga? Real detectives don’t wear things that stand out this much.”

​“T-They don’t?!”

​“…………I might actually have a chance of winning if we took a common sense test about the human world,”

​“If a game was on the line, she’d actually study for it, so you’d probably lose,” Sakura added.

​“We won’t know until we try,” Luxuria barked, sparks flying between her and Sakura.

​However, more than their bickering, Kagura was bothered by those words: for Kagura’s sake.

​“For my sake? What do you mean?”

​“You’ll find out tonight, so I won’t spoil it. He’s probably saved up enough from his wages by now, so he’ll likely talk to you.”

​Just as Sakura had predicted, Shuuto called them all into the living room that night.

​“Luxuria, take this.”

​Shuuto sat in the formal seiza position while operating his smartphone.

​Luxuria’s phone let out a ping, notifying her of an incoming transfer.

​“I’ve been working that part-time job for the last week to save this up. Use it to help with the food expenses. I’m going to keep working and send money regularly from now on.”

​Kagura finally realized.

​The food expenses had increased because she was staying there.

​Shuuto had been working to cover that cost. He was “Unqualified” and had no VP, so he had been working his heart out after school…

​Why would he go this far for someone he’d only just met?

​“I have plenty of VP to spare, so I don’t really need it~ And Kagura’s been able to eat her fill lately anyway.”

​“I’m the one who brought Kagura here. So, I wanted to do something for her myself. I’m sorry—could you just humor my ego for a bit?”

​“Goodness, you really are a pushover. But that’s what makes you so wonderful ♡”

​“Oh, and one more thing.”

​He showed them his screen.

​“I have this much left over, so I want to use it to buy presents for Luxuria and Sakura. I can only afford something cheap, though.”

​“Wait, why so suddenly?”

​“Does a guy need a reason to buy a gift for the people he cares about?”

​““The people… he cares about…!””

​Luxuria and Sakura both clutched their chests and groaned.

​“What’s wrong?! Are you feeling sick?!”

​“I’m fine… this is a normal reaction…”

​“Catching us off guard like that… that’s just cheating…”

​Luxuria smiled while breathing heavily, while Sakura glared at Shuuto with a look of pure resentment.

​“In all seriousness, Luxuria and Sakura, you’re always taking care of me. The least I can do is get you a present.”

​Luxuria stared at the phone Shuuto held out, thought for a moment, and then shook her head.

​“Darling. Let’s put my share toward Kagura’s food as well.”

​“Are you sure?”

​“Yeah. Right now, seeing Kagura eat her fill makes you the happiest, doesn’t it, Shuuto? For me, Darling’s smile is the best present I could ask for.”

​“Luxuria…” Shuuto whispered her name, his chest tightening with emotion.

​“Then, just for Sakura—”

​“I don’t want it either.”

​“Eh? But…”

​“There’s no way I could accept it after Luxuria said something like that. It would just make me look like the bad guy.”

​Sakura looked away, and Shuuto smiled.

​“Thank you, both of you.”

​Watching the three of them, Kagura couldn’t help but wonder.

​—O Dearest Gods.

​Is humanity truly a race that deserves to be destroyed?

​Kagura didn’t know.

​She had been taught of the vile atrocities committed by mankind.

​The wars within their own species where blood washed blood.

​The cruel and inhuman crimes that made one want to look away.

​The discrimination, the hatred, and the genocides born from them.

​The environmental destruction that threatened their very survival…​Et cetera, et cetera…

​And yet, the humans Kagura was interacting with were so warm.

​Of course, there had been that woman who exploited Kagura and drove her into poverty.

​Not every human was good.

​But on the flip side, not every human was wicked either.

​There were good people and bad people. Both existed.

​No, perhaps the same human possessed both goodness and malice within them.

​Such complex and imperfect beings.

​Is it really okay to just… wipe them away?

​“It’s perfectly fine to move forward with the total annihilation.”

​The person sitting in front of Kagura dismissed the thought with a look of utter boredom.

​“If their intellect is so low that they can’t even defeat an Angel, then they no longer have any value in existing, do they?”

​—The Celestial World.

​It was a small, cozy room. In the center was a table lined with a lavish spread of food. These dishes were slightly different from those found in the human world; they were the delicacies of Heaven.

​Two figures sat facing each other at the table.

​One was Kagura, and the other was—

​“They are the height of imperfection. But they do have their sparks. When they pour their affection into others, they truly are beautiful. I hear that even during major disasters, they naturally help one another in the affected areas. It’s been called a ‘disaster utopia.’”

​It was one of the Gods, Freya.

​Freya barely touched her food, instead sipping slowly from a glass of red liquor. She didn’t appear drunk. Despite the alcohol, her complexion was pale, and as usual, there were dark circles under her eyes.

​Kagura was eating, though at a slower pace than usual.

​Today was Sunday. Kagura had lied to Shuuto, saying she was going for a walk, in order to come here. And while being provided a meal by Freya, she had voiced the doubt that had been on her mind.

​She was promptly shut down.

​“Are you dissatisfied with my answer? Hahaha, look at you, thinking for yourself like a big girl.”

​The plate in front of Kagura became empty.

​Freya pushed a platter of assorted meats toward her.

​“This matter isn’t something for you to worry about in the first place. You need only listen to the words of God and act accordingly. You are all God’s puppets; you don’t need to bother your head with such tedious thoughts.”

​Freya said it as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

​“I’m not insulting you, you know? We are quite satisfied with your performance. You are a very high-spec puppet indeed. I’m expecting great things from you, okay~?”

​That was right.

​Kagura and her kind had no freedom. No rights. No will of their own.

​All they had was the duty to obey God’s commands.

​Because they, the Angels, were the messengers of God.

​Kagura stuffed her mouth with meat.

​(It tastes… awful…)

​The gratin she’d just eaten, the pizza, the hamburger, the cake topped with ice cream… it all tasted terrible.

​It was the first time food had ever failed to taste good to her. Just how do you have to cook something to make it turn out like this?

​It was just a little strange.

​She, who could find joy in eating even scraps, found this magnificent feast absolutely repulsive…

​Maybe she was just a little tired.

​It was exactly as Freya-sama said.

​Don’t think.

​Just do as you’re told.

​You don’t want to go back, do you? Back to those days when you couldn’t eat for days on end, and even when you could, it was nothing but scraps or stolen bread—

​“Anyway. That Unqualified guy… he’s definitely a bit dangerous.”

​Freya spoke while toying with a fork.

​Her gaze remained fixed on the fork as she spun it skillfully, her voice trailing off with disinterest.

​“His skill in games is the real deal. And he has charisma. When a strong, good guy is in a community, it raises the morale of the whole group and makes everyone else stronger. Well, it would be fine if a guy like that had come from within humanity… but he has the blood of a Traitor flowing in his veins.”

​She flicked the fork into the air.

​She caught the spinning utensil as it fell back down, and then—

​“I won’t have our sacred Crusade defiled.”

​With a loud thud, she stabbed the fork into the table.

​Her expression didn’t change. It was the same lifeless, unmotivated face as always.

​But Kagura felt a chill run down her spine.

She could tell God was angry.

​“Gula, Angel of Gluttony. Dispose of the Unqualified. Make him taste a defeat so absolute that he’ll never be able to crawl back up again.”

​Kagura—Gula, the Angel of Gluttony—gave a small nod.

​Shuuto had been kind to her.

​But Kagura was an Angel, a messenger of God. She could not defy God’s orders.

​I’m sorry, Shuuto…And ​Thank you for the delicious meals.