It had been a few weeks since Reina had purchased the hall.In that short time, the once empty, echoing space had transformed into something warmer, more alive. Delivery after delivery had arrived—decorations, sleek furniture, kitchen appliances, a row of computers, a brand-new fridge, and countless boxes of supplies she considered "essential."
But Reina wasn't working alone.She had called in her circle: Ayumi, Hana, Kaito, and Himari, along with Arisa, Sei, Ren, Mei—and, of course, Shion.
The work split itself naturally. The boys handled the heavy lifting, grunting as they carried desks, couches, and stacked crates of hardware. The girls busied themselves with curtains, rugs, wall hangings, shelves, and whatever personal touch Reina approved with a quiet nod. The hall echoed with the sounds of effort, chatter, and the occasional complaint.
By the time the sun began to sink, the place no longer felt like a hollow shell. It had become Reina's.
"Finally done…" Hana slumped onto the floor, her arms sore from folding curtains with Himari.
On the couch, Reina had already claimed her place, her legs stretched out. Shion sat beside her, his quiet presence as steady as always. It wasn't long before Shiro leapt up gracefully, curling herself into Reina's lap. The cat purred loudly, tail flicking lazily as she settled in for a nap.
"Lucky cat," Hana muttered from the floor, glaring at Shiro's content little form. "Getting to nap on Reina's lap while we're dying."
Reina cracked one eye open, a faint smirk tugging at her lips. "Then work harder, and maybe I'll let you nap here too."
Hana froze mid-fold, her face heating. "...Eh?! I-I wasn't serious!"
Ayumi snorted, trying to hide her laugh behind her hand. "Hana, you're too easy."
Himari gave Hana an apologetic smile, still smoothing the curtain in her lap. "I don't think Shiro is giving up her spot any time soon…"
Reina closed her eyes again, resting her cheek lightly against Shion's shoulder. Shion, quiet as always, lifted an arm and wrapped it around her shoulders, letting her lean comfortably into him. Reina didn't resist. The hall had grown colder after Sei's work on the new air conditioners, and she found herself instinctively seeking warmth from both Shion and the small purring ball of fur in her lap.
But it was Himari who broke the silence, her curious eyes scanning the furnished hall."Reina," she asked softly, "if you don't mind me asking… how much did all of this cost?"
The room seemed to pause.
Reina didn't even sit up. With the laziest gesture imaginable, she raised one hand and flicked her finger. Instantly, her luminous halo floated upward, spinning gently until a projection flickered onto the ceiling. Rows of numbers scrolled, before freezing on the total.
¥68,000,000.
The room exploded.
"HAH?!" Hana shrieked, shooting to her feet. "Sixty-eight million yen?! Are you kidding me?!"
Ayumi clutched her head. "That's… that's enough to buy—no, I don't even know what to compare that to—"
Ren gawked, his jaw dropping. "That's… an actual fortune."
Even calm Himari covered her mouth in shock.
Sei, who had just finished adjusting the last air conditioner, almost dropped his screwdriver. "And you just… casually paid that?"
Reina opened one eye again, unimpressed with their panic. She raised a finger toward her halo, where the words "Transaction authorized by ANIER" scrolled calmly in small letters.
"...Blame her," she said flatly.
The group collectively turned their gaze upward, as if the AI could feel their outrage.
"E-Eh?! ANIER?!" Hana sputtered. "The AI spent sixty-eight million yen?! How is that even legal?!"
Ayumi rubbed her temples. "Reina, please tell me you at least checked before she did this?"
Reina let out the faintest hum. "Mm. I trusted her."
Shion, still silent, gave Reina a side glance before murmuring, "...You should probably tell them about the stock trading."
The room froze again.
"...Stocks?" Himari repeated slowly.
Reina's lips twitched into the faintest smile. "ANIER's been trading stocks behind my back. Profits covered most of it. So it's fine."
"'It's fine,' she says," Hana muttered, collapsing back onto the floor. "We're broke if we tried to copy you."
Ayumi sighed in defeat, though her lips curved into a smile. "Only you would treat millions of yen like pocket money."
Ren crossed his arms, half grinning. "At least invite us to dinner in this luxury hall if you're that rich."
"Seconded," Sei added, smirking as he tightened the last screw on the AC.
Mei, quiet all this time, finally spoke up. "...I like it here, though. It feels like a home."
Her words softened the group's mood. Reina closed her eyes, leaning further against Shion as Shiro purred louder on her lap.
"Yeah," she murmured softly. "It does."