Chapter 36 – Mai Isn't Happy
The next morning.
As expected, since it was the weekend, Maki and Mai showed up at the courtyard bright and early.
Maki saw the door still locked and guessed her teacher was still sleeping. Shrugging, she grabbed a heavy staff and began practicing her swings in the yard.
Meanwhile, Mai went straight for the doormat, lifted it with practiced ease, and fished out the spare key. Her little face lit up with a smug grin.
"Hehe, Brother Shinsuke is such a slacker. Guess I'll have to wake him up today!"
The small figure dashed upstairs, stopping in front of Shinsuke's room. Rubbing her little hands together, she carefully reached for the doorknob.
"Knock, knock! The sun's already burning your butt, Brother, time to get up!"
She shoved the door open, hopped across the floor, and leapt straight at the bed.
"Witness Mai's Mountain-Crushing Drop!"
Thump! Thump! Thump!
She bounced twice off the mattress.
"…Who's making all that noise…"
A sleepy voice drifted out. Yuki Tsukumo cracked open her bleary eyes, tugged the blanket down just enough to peek out, and saw Mai staring at her in shock.
"Oh… it's just the little brat," Yuki mumbled before yawning, pulling the blanket back up, and—without hesitation—snuggling closer to the figure lying beside her, burying her head against his chest.
Her first time had left her both exhilarated and utterly drained. She'd underestimated just how much stamina Shinsuke had. No wonder he'd been mooching off others for years—he was practically a human pile driver. Even as a Special Grade, she'd barely kept up.
Now, exhausted to the bone, she planned to sleep till afternoon at the very least.
"It's yesterday's big sister! Why are you in my brother's room?!"
Mai's little face froze in bewilderment. Instinctively, she yanked the blanket further down—only to spot another outline beside Yuki. Her brother.
"Ah! Brother's here too!"
Her mind crashed.
What on earth was going on?
Why were her brother and that pretty lady sleeping in the same bed? Was she… cold or something?
"Mai, out. Your brother needs to get up and change."
Shinsuke sat up with a sigh. Of all nights to forget to relock the door… really, what a habit.
Thankfully, his recovery ability was monstrous. Even after fighting all night, he didn't feel the slightest fatigue.
"…Oh."
Still full of questions, Mai walked out, carefully shutting the door behind her.
She went back to the yard and quickly relayed what she saw to Maki.
Maki, too focused on training to care, replied casually, "Maybe she was cold and didn't want to sleep alone."
"Yay! Sister thought the same thing as me!" Mai clapped her hands, delighted. If her sister and she thought alike, that must mean she was really smart.
Not long after, Shinsuke came out looking perfectly normal, calling them over for breakfast as if nothing had happened.
They were just a pair of kids, too young to understand, and he had no intention of explaining.
Over the next few days, Yuki didn't leave. She stuck around the house, freeloading meals, taking up space, and—on top of that—she was now freeloading him too.
And the debts she already owed? At this rate, he doubted they'd ever be paid back.
"…Sniff sniff… so moved," Yuki murmured dramatically between mouthfuls, as though mooching off him was some kind of heartfelt romance.
Leaving the cinema, Yuki Tsukumo clung to Zen'in Shinsuke's arm, still savoring the romance film they had just watched.
"…Was it really that great? It's just a movie," Shinsuke muttered, lips twitching.
Why did dating feel more exhausting than mooching off others?
"You don't get it. You're such a block of steel," Yuki teased.
Since she'd never been in a relationship before, she'd spent the past few days cramming in all the stereotypical "couple activities." To her surprise, she found there was more to life than saving the world—it could actually be fun.
"Come on, let's head back. Otherwise those two little brats will complain I've stolen you away again."
At first, Maki and Mai hadn't cared much. But after watching the pair go on daily dates for several days straight, the two girls were fuming. That was when they finally understood what "boyfriend and girlfriend" meant.
When they got home, they saw Maki swinging her staff with full focus, while Mai sat sulking on a stone at the doorway, cheeks puffed out in misery.
She had once thought it'd be nice for her brother to have a girlfriend. But now? Now she was furious.
She'd realized that ever since Yuki showed up, her brother barely spent any time with them—no, with her.
And that made her upset. So upset she even wished her brother would never get a girlfriend, so that she, her sister, and her brother could stay together forever.
"Little Mai, why the long face? Look what I brought you," Yuki chirped as soon as she saw the pouting girl.
"Hmph! Even if you bring me something tasty, I'm not forgiving you. And Brother too—don't think cake will make me forgive you two heartless meanies!"
Mai turned her head with a huff, but her eyes kept darting toward Yuki's hands.
They always went out and left her and Maki behind. She refused to forgive them so easily.
"Alright, alright, don't be mad. I'll return your precious big brother to you soon, promise."
Yuki chuckled, patting Mai's head. Honestly, she couldn't figure out how this gruff man managed to be so popular with little girls.
"…Really?"
Mai peeked up hopefully, though her gaze lingered on the cake in Yuki's hands, swallowing hard.
"Of course. I've got a mission tomorrow—it'll be a long one. While I'm gone, your brother will have plenty of time to play with you two."
She handed the cake over, bought with Shinsuke's money of course.
"Go on, share it with your sister."
"…Gulp. Fine, just this once I'll forgive you."
Mai took the cake, eyeing the strawberries on top as her mood instantly softened.
For the sake of cake, she could begrudgingly forgive these two traitors. Hugging the box, she skipped over to where Maki was still training.
"When are you leaving?" Shinsuke asked.
"Tomorrow. I've stayed long enough. If I hang around you any longer, I might really go soft."
Yuki straightened, reminding herself of her purpose. Romance was sweet, yes, but she wasn't here to play house. She was the woman who would unravel the origin of curses.
"…Want to come with me? Help me search for the root of all curses?"
Her eyes glimmered with a trace of expectation.
Shinsuke didn't hesitate. "Pass. I'm not looking to play hero."
Saving the world was something for protagonists. He wasn't interested in grand ideals.
He just wanted to keep getting stronger, to do what interested him—and maybe prevent a few regrets along the way.
Like this woman. He wasn't about to watch her walk down the same doomed path.
"…Fine," Yuki said, a touch of disappointment slipping through before her cheer returned.
"You're right. It doesn't suit you anyway."
With his personality, he was more fit to laze around at home. From a certain perspective, he'd make a surprisingly good househusband.
She smiled at the thought. She could handle the outside world, and he could handle the home.
"What's so funny?" he asked.
"I'm happy," she replied simply.