"Natsumi, I'm hungry."
Natsumi Sakura tapped Muxiao's forehead irritably but couldn't help breaking into a smile. "You didn't eat dinner? Tohka and that organization you mentioned… so stingy they didn't even feed you?"
"Not exactly," Muxiao typed. If I'd eaten dinner there, you'd probably be even madder. Of course, he'd never say that to Natsumi. "Your house's food is just tastier."
"Hmph, obviously," Natsumi said, her eyes glinting. "Mom's cooking is always amazing. But you know, my cooking's pretty great too. Next time, I'll let you try it."
She dashed downstairs. "Mom, Mom? Is there any food left?"
Natsumi's mother stared, baffled, as her daughter carried plates of food upstairs. Didn't she just say she wasn't hungry? Why's her appetite suddenly back?
Setting the plates on the floor, Natsumi propped her chin in her hands, watching the tentacle monster devour his meal with gusto. His enthusiasm made her hungry too, so she grabbed a bowl and joined him.
"This morning, I went to the hospital with Mom for a check-up. When I got back at noon, you were gone. Do you know how worried I was? I'm not saying you can't go out," Natsumi said, finishing a bowl of rice and wiping her mouth with a tissue. "But next time, at least tell me first."
Listening to her nagging, Muxiao set down his chopsticks. His tentacles slipped under her clothes, gliding over her skin as she let out a soft whimper, her mind sinking into a haze. He handed her the phone.
Her eyes dazed, the ponytail girl read the message instinctively. "I'm going out tonight… Huh?! You're going out again?!"
Snapping out of it, Natsumi yanked the wandering tentacles from her clothes, tossing them aside. Hands on her hips, she glared at the tentacle monster.
"Didn't you say to tell you first? I'm telling you this time," Muxiao typed, playing cute.
"You…"
This guy! Natsumi gritted her teeth, half-laughing, half-exasperated as she stared at him. Her firm stance softened. "It's less dangerous at night, but Muxiao, I'm coming with you!"
"Uh, you sure, Natsumi? I'm not going for a stroll—I'm investigating supernatural traces—"
"What, you think I'm a burden? That I'll get in your way?"
"…"
"What's the harm? If Natsumi-senpai wants to come, invite her along," a sudden voice came from the window. Natsumi jumped, eyes wide, and shot to her feet.
"Tohka?! What are you doing here?!"
Tohka Matsubara leaned in from the window, sticking out her tongue with a cute expression. "Senpai, I'm here to see Tentacle Lord, obviously. He's going to investigate supernatural beings tonight, and I'm tagging along."
Facing the now-dangerous Tohka, Natsumi bristled with caution, her gaze sharp. "What are you scheming? What do you want with Muxiao?"
"Worried about Tentacle Lord more than yourself? Wow, Natsumi-senpai…" Tohka sighed, her expression complex as she studied the familiar yet unfamiliar girl. "Don't you know Tentacle Lord's way stronger than me? I'm the one who should worry about him taking me out."
"Of course Muxiao's stronger, but when it comes to schemes and tricks, innocent, pure Muxiao's no match for cunning you."
Tohka was speechless. "Innocent and pure? Sure, Tentacle Lord's so pure. If I hadn't just seen his tentacles slip under your clothes, I might've believed you."
Natsumi's face flushed crimson.
As she stood speechless, locked in a standoff with Tohka, Muxiao kept munching away, oblivious to the girls' tension.
"Muxiao, stop eating! What's going on with you and Tohka Matsubara?" Natsumi asked, conflicted. "Why does it feel like you two are always sneaking around behind my back?"
"Tentacle Lord and I are partners, Natsumi-senpai," Tohka said, her playful grin fading into seriousness. "I messed up with the Daisuke thing, and I can apologize for that~ But since you rejected my brother's confession, we have no conflict. We're natural allies."
Natsumi was at a loss. She still didn't like this changed Tohka—she preferred the old, gentle, kind version. "Tohka, why… why did you become like this? Can't you go back to the old you? The gentle, kind you?"
"Gentle and kind?" Tohka's face went blank, then she burst into giggles. "That version of me was a failure. Why would I go back to being a loser?"
"Natsumi-senpai, if you became a monster and gained this power, you'd make the same choices I did."
"We're not the same. Even if I became a monster, I'd never be like you!"
Muxiao kept eating.
"You sure about that? Want to test it? I can turn you into one of us. I have that power. Natsumi-senpai, do you have the resolve to become a non-human monster?"
To everyone's surprise, Natsumi answered without hesitation. "Of course!"
Muxiao finally looked up from his meal.
"…Looks like I underestimated you—or rather, your feelings for Tentacle Lord. Since he's a monster, you don't mind becoming one too?" Tohka said. "In that case—"
Swish—
Three tentacles shot through the air, blocking Natsumi. Muxiao said nothing, but both girls understood. Natsumi's heart warmed, her gaze softening as she looked at him.
Tohka sighed helplessly. "Tentacle Lord's not on board. Looks like he really cares about you, Natsumi-senpai."
So… enviable.
For reasons she couldn't quite grasp, a pang of inexplicable jealousy surged in Tohka. Shaking it off, she checked the time. "Tentacle Lord, it's time to go… If Natsumi-senpai wants to come, let her. You can't go out together during the day, so a night outing could be like a date."
A date?
Natsumi's eyes sparkled. "Muxiao, a date~"
Muxiao sighed, setting down his chopsticks and standing. "You can come, but be extra cautious around that Shima Izuki woman. Try not to interact with her too much."
"Tentacle Lord, why are you more wary of Izuki than me? She's just a normal human, right?" Tohka rolled her eyes.
"A normal human doesn't mean harmless. Shima Izuki's a master of manipulation—way beyond what you two students can handle."
"…"
"…"