"I'm dying!"
Lucian collapsed on the ground, completely drained. His waist and back ached, his limbs were soft, and he couldn't move an inch.
Hoshiguma, just as drenched in sweat, clenched her fists and shouted, "Good!"
The usually calm big sister actually looked excited for once. She sat down beside him.
"This round is mine. When it comes to stamina, you can't beat me."
Lucian immediately shot back, "No, no, no. I obviously won more. So I win."
They were like kids arguing over rock-paper-scissors. The match that was supposed to be one round became best of three, then best of five, then best of seven.
By now, neither of them remembered how many rounds they'd actually done.
In the end, Lucian's stamina gave out first. He couldn't move a finger. He was definitely going to be sore for days.
But he still felt wronged. "Was it because I drank too much yesterday? I woke up feeling weird. My waist hurt, my legs were weak."
"Actually, I feel like this every time I drink with you, Hoshiguma. Am I allergic to alcohol or something?"
"......Probably not. You're imagining it."
Hoshiguma quickly looked away, refusing to meet his eyes.
Even a righteous woman like her felt guilty after doing something questionable. She dropped the topic of who won or lost and got up to buy Lucian an energy drink.
A true brother-in-arms indeed.
Lucian liked this feeling—roughhousing with someone, then flopping down to rest together with an even closer bond than before.
…But something was different this time.
Real men, real brothers—after going all out, everyone stank of sweat.
No one had the right to complain. Just mutual disgust and moving on.
But women's sweat… that was just unfairly distracting.
Lucian tried not to stare, but he couldn't look away from Hoshiguma as she tilted her head back to drink. Beads of sweat rolled down her neck, glistening as they slid along her pale skin.
And she wasn't guarding herself at all—she casually lifted her shirt to wipe her face.
Maybe it was an Oni gift or just her personal constitution, but despite being a seasoned fighter, her skin was flawless—white and soft like milk.
She was tall and muscular, but her proportions were long and model-like.
Her toned stomach, the line of her waist—healthy, striking, beautiful.
It was the kind of beauty that felt pure. Gorgeous, but not the sort that stirred any improper thoughts. Just something you wanted to admire.
…But—she was lifting her shirt a little too high!
That black thing! Was she wearing the ten-Lungmen-Dollars-for-three-pairs bargain bin kind!?
Hoshiguma, please—treat yourself better! A woman's underwear should be good quality! Don't make your brother worry about you like this!
"…Your breathing is even messier than before."
Her smug voice drifted down from above.
Lucian snapped to attention—he'd unconsciously leaned right up to her.
This wasn't sneaking a peek; he was staring outright. Practically nose-to-skin.
But Hoshiguma wasn't angry. She actually sounded amused. "If you want to look, fine. But can you pick a better time?"
"I'm drenched in sweat. With you this close, even I get embarrassed. Mind if I pull my shirt down?"
"G-go ahead—sorry, sorry."
Lucian couldn't even speak properly. He spun around instantly. As her clothes rustled behind him, he stammered out:
"So, uh… Hoshiguma… maybe you should be a bit more careful."
"I'm fine, but if you're like this at the Lungmen Guard Department, some idiot might—"
"They won't."
She wasn't saying those people didn't exist.
She finished adjusting her clothes, leaned in close to his ear, and whispered with a mischievous smile:
"I don't show that kind of opening to anyone else."
"I am a woman. I do have shame. And I know exactly what distance I should keep with different people."
She patted his shoulder, telling him he could turn around.
Seeing him visibly relax only delighted her more. "You really don't understand women at all, Lucian."
"I might be a scary brute and not as pretty as Ch'en, not as stylish as Swire, but I'm still a woman."
"A woman who lets her guard down around a man she doesn't like is either stupid or malicious. The women in your Penguin Logistics are the same, aren't they?"
Lucian thought for a moment. "Actually… yeah."
He was the only man at Penguin Logistics. He washed everyone's clothes. He saw them sprawling around the sofa in nothing but underwear on a daily basis.
Croissant didn't count—she was a genuine idiot bakery loaf.
Exusiai and Texas probably saw him as family. That's why they didn't care.
So if he reversed the roles… Hoshiguma must also see him as family. As a younger brother she trusted completely!
Of course! It all made perfect sense!
Lucian's eyes glistened. "I get it, Hoshiguma. You're my big bro. If you never get married, then I'll never get married either. We can be bachelors together!"
"No, you didn't get it at all." Hoshiguma laughed.
Whether he was pretending to be stupid or actually stupid, she genuinely enjoyed the relationship they had.
Romance, marriage, all that was too troublesome for Hoshiguma.
But 'brothers'? That was easy. Less risk of falling apart, more room to breathe.
Still, Lucian always had to say one more thing.
After his grand epiphany, he added, perfectly serious, "But Hoshiguma, there's one thing I don't agree with."
"Inspector Ch'en is pretty. Swire is stylish. They're both beauties. But you're not some savage giant woman. You're a gorgeous, stunning beauty too."
"…Are you serious?" Hoshiguma's breath hitched.
Lucian nodded hard. "I'm dead serious. Because you're a beautiful woman, I always worry some bastard at the Lungmen Guard Department might take advantage of you. Back in the Slums I could keep an eye on things, but now that you're official, we barely get to meet."
"So yeah… whenever I get dragged in for questioning and happen to see you, or when I stop by your place to drink… I'm always happy."
He scratched his cheek sheepishly. "Even if I get drunk out of my mind every time, I'm glad you haven't changed."
"If one day you tell me you're retiring to get married… that'll be the first time in my life I drink alone."
"...I won't change."
Hoshiguma said it with complete seriousness.
She stared straight into his eyes, voice full of oath-like weight.
"As long as you don't want me to change… I won't. If you want me to stay your Hoshiguma, then I'll stay your Hoshiguma. …Want to pinky swear?"
Lucian gawked. "Whoa, Hoshiguma, you're this sentimental? You're way too old for—ow!"
Hoshiguma jabbed him with a smile. "A pinky swear isn't just for children. Some cultures treat it as a sacred promise. Break it, and you lose that finger."
"It's not a joke. No one will ever trust you again. You lose your place in society."
"That's way too serious," Lucian said, shaking his head frantically.
But Hoshiguma was already holding out her pinky.
Lucian stared at her long, pale finger. After a moment of hesitation, he offered his.
Their pinkies hooked. They shook once, like a handshake.
Hoshiguma nodded with satisfaction. "Good. Now it's a promise."
"You don't have to be that serious," Lucian said with a wry smile. "Whenever you don't want to be the big sister anymore, just say so. No matter what we become, you'll still be family to me."
"…Me too."
Hoshiguma smiled gently, serene and beautiful.
Neither of them wanted to let go. Their pinkies stayed locked together.
And then—
A voice ruined everything:
"What are you two doing?"
Lucian and Hoshiguma jolted, instantly pulling apart like guilty teenagers.
Texas and Blaze stood nearby—who knew when they'd arrived.
Blaze squinted suspiciously at them. "You two… this situation… this atmosphere… don't tell me you already had all the fun without me! Why didn't you wait for me!?"
Hoshiguma muttered under her breath:
"Another idiot… perfect."
====
Note: No powerstones....? :(