"Ugh…"
Lucian had already lost count of how many times he'd sighed today.
To host Blaze—today's "guest"—Lucian had closed the Soy Milk shop early and gone to the convenience store alone to buy beer.
Since Blaze was a severe Infected case—Lucian hadn't asked, but the Originium Crystals on her body were obviously not few—it was better not to let her wander around outside where someone might notice.
Thankfully, Blaze understood perfectly and said she didn't care about anything as long as she could drink.
So Lucian had Exusiai take her back to the apartment, and the drinking would happen at home.
But honestly, why was Penguin Logistics even doing this kind of job? Lucian had no idea.
Angelina wasn't old enough to drink, and Texas was disciplined enough that she probably wouldn't cause trouble.
But Croissant and Exusiai were absolute chaos gremlins. And Blaze was totally the same type. That meant three bombs waiting to go off in his home.
Please, for the love of everything, don't let them tear off their clothes and start a rave in the living room.
Lucian sighed again. "Well, it's rare for El to have a friend over, so I guess I'll indulge her this once…"
"You've been indulging her for ages. How's this 'rare'? You can't carry all this by yourself, can you? I'll help."
Lucian gave a helpless smile. "Thanks. It's not like I'm trying to spoil her on purpose—she just throws such a fuss when she gets moody. And that big cat Blaze might be loud, but she is gorgeous. Plus she's an Infected, so I want to ask her about Rhodes Island… huh!?"
Lucian, being a sieve of a man, had basically said everything he shouldn't before he realized it.
He whipped around—and his cheek pressed right up against an ice-cold beer can.
An Oni woman with long green hair was standing behind him, grinning like she'd just won the lottery.
Lucian said awkwardly, "Hoshiguma… what are you, a roaming field boss that respawns in convenience stores? This isn't even the one near your place, right?"
The tall Oni behind him wore a smug victor's smile. "Actually, every day I camp the convenience stores near your home just to run into you. …You believe that?"
She pressed the cold can against his face again. "Lucian, you really need some anti-interrogation training. You spill your guts way too easily."
Lucian sighed. "It's not that I'm easy to trick. I'm just easy for you to trick, Hoshiguma."
He dodged the can and wiped the condensation off his face. "Anyone else wouldn't get a word out of me. I just let my guard down around you. Next time don't toy with me—if you want to ask something, just ask."
Hoshiguma's eyes narrowed, her smile sharpening into something far more mischievous. "Only around me, huh? …You're pretty good at flattering me, kid."
The over-180-centimeters-tall Oni big sis suddenly wrapped her arms around him, pressing herself fully against his back.
Her physique—much more imposing than Blaze's—hit Lucian like an electric shock.
Feeling the two impressive weights against his back, he panicked. "Stop it, Hoshiguma! Guys and girls shouldn't cling like this! What if someone from the Lungmen Guard Department sees you!?"
"I'm just being close to my little brother. Anyone who talks nonsense gets introduced to my Hannya mask. Directly."
Hoshiguma only pulled him closer, completely unbothered by the fact that they were in the middle of a supermarket.
She slid her arms around him, lips drifting to his ear. "So… you said Infected, right? You brought an Infected home? How bold of you."
"…There's a reason."
Lucian gave up resisting and leaned toward her ear. "I swear on my life they won't cause trouble. Please, Hoshiguma—just turn a blind eye. Once she's done drinking, I'll send her out quietly. No one will—Hoshiguma? Why're you leaning away?"
As Lucian whispered, Hoshiguma kept tilting her head back, as if she couldn't get away fast enough.
She released him, covered her ear, and said, "Don't whisper into my ear. Your breath tickles way too much."
"That's so unfair." Lucian was speechless.
Why could she whisper in his ear, but he couldn't do the same? How were they supposed to have private conversations, telepathy?
Being the "little brother" was hard. He had to put up with so many unreasonable big-sis antics.
Hoshiguma straightened her long hair to hide her bright-red ears, acting like nothing had happened.
She coughed. "Alright, I get the situation. But I still don't trust it. As your big sis, I have to supervise. Also, these few boxes are nowhere near enough. Leave it to me."
"No, Hoshiguma! My household can't survive your—ugh."
Lucian covered his face, too exhausted to speak.
In the end, Hoshiguma emptied the convenience store's entire beer stock, pushing a full cart as she strode confidently to Lucian's home.
She rang the doorbell, and Angelina's angelic voice floated out: "Lucian? You're back—oh…"
Angelina, wearing an apron as she cleaned the apartment, stared at the cool-looking Hoshiguma and the utterly embarrassed Lucian, completely lost for words.
Hoshiguma turned her head, her tone playfully sharp. "How sweet—she calls you so familiarly. And what a cute girl. I didn't know Penguin Logistics had new recruits… and your tastes changed? Into lolis now?"
"What are you talking about?" Lucian said flatly. "Yes, Angelina is younger than me, and she's underage, and she's a high school girl. But I'm not much older than her, so calling me a lolicon is totally incorrect! And what do you mean 'changed tastes'? I never liked older women in the first place!"
"Oh? You don't like older women? …Is that so?"
Hoshiguma's smile was radiant.
But Lucian somehow felt she had never been more serious. There wasn't a hint of laughter in her eyes.
That smile was more terrifying than her Hannya. She was a demon queen.
While both Lucian and Angelina were frozen by Hoshiguma's overwhelming pressure, the universe decided the situation wasn't chaotic enough—
"Eh? Lucian's back? Get over here. Your big sis is drooling already—huh?"
Hoshiguma raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"
Blaze had run to the doorway. She and Hoshiguma sized each other up from head to toe, both instantly recognizing a formidable opponent.
Their auras flared—blue and red phantoms practically materializing behind them.
Angelina, trapped between them, looked like she was about to cry as she stared desperately at Lucian.
With no choice, Lucian squeezed himself between the two powerhouses. "Please just sit in the living room first! You can drink as much as you want—I'll make snacks! And Angelina, go back to your room. Leave this to me."
Like a side character marching bravely to his death, Lucian escorted Angelina away… then stayed behind to face the two disaster-class big sisters alone.