Drained by the Holomems, I landed in the hospital for a week. Don't they know restraint? I could've died!
Finally discharged, time to head home and build some Gunpla.
Reiji's Return
"Home sweet home… Still feels unreal living in this mansion," I mutter. Why am I in a place this grand? Whatever, let's go in.
Click
"I'm back!" I call.
"Welcome home, Master," a voice replies.
"…Huh?" Master? None of the Holomems call me that. Aqua says "Goshujin," but… Tamaki? No, the voice is different.
"Oh, it's you, Mishiro," I say, spotting the dog-eared maid, Shirayuki Mishiro, bowing.
"It's been a while, Master," she says.
Right, her. She calls me Master too. "Why're you here? Alone? Where's Tamaki?"
"I heard you were discharged, so I came to welcome you. Tamaki wanted to come, but I deemed her unnecessary and tied her to a chair."
She knows my schedule? And tying Tamaki up? Harsh.
Meanwhile, Tamaki
"Mishirooo! Why'd you do this?! Let me go! I need to see Master!" Tamaki thrashes, tied to a chair like a caterpillar. NoriPro girls look on, horrified.
Hololive Mansion
"Please, Master, I'll take your bags. You seem tired; rest in the living room," Mishiro says.
"Uh, sure…" Did I just imagine Tamaki wriggling like a bug?
I'm exhausted, so I'll rest. Where's everyone? Usually, they'd swarm me by now.
The answer hits me in the living room.
"What the hell?" I gape.
Ding…
The Holomems sit in seiza, eyes lifeless, wearing signs around their necks:
"I won't attack Rei-kun again - Shirakami Fubuki"
"I won't overdo it anymore - Sakura Miko"
"I won't wear Reiji-kun's used underwear - Natsuiro Matsuri"
What's this? Penance? And Matsuri, you did that?
"Mishiro, what's going on?" I ask.
"Your hospitalization was due to their recklessness. They're serving a three-day seiza punishment. This is day two."
Three days?! That's too much! Poor girls.
Ten Minutes Later
"Rei-kun, I'm so sorry! I won't force myself on you again! Don't abandon me!" Fubuki sobs, clinging to me.
"Alright, alright, stop crying," I soothe.
I convince Mishiro to end the punishment. Fubuki's in tears, but they meant no harm, and I'm fine now.
"You're too soft, Master. You'll get ensnared by some vixen!" Mishiro scolds.
"It's sweet you're worried, but this is overkill," I reply.
Half the freed Holomems pass out from exhaustion, retreating to their rooms. They're not waking up today.
"Ow… My legs are numb," Kurokami groans.
"You okay, Kuro? Here, lean on me," I help her stand.
"Thanks, Reiji… What's with this cat maid?! She shows up, lectures us, and forces us to sit for a day! Insane!" Kuro glares, wobbling like a fawn.
"Rude, this 2P-color Fubuki. And I'm a dog beastman, not a cat," Mishiro retorts.
"2P-color?! Don't lump me with that idiot!" Kuro snaps.
"Both of you cause Master trouble, so you're equally foolish," Mishiro counters.
"Don't call me an idiot! And Mishiro, don't diss me casually!" Fubuki protests.
They're both sharp-tongued today. Usually, Mishiro's sweet with everyone—why's she like this around me?
"Say, Kuro, are you the Kurokami Fubuki?" Mishiro asks.
"Yeah, you know me?" Kuro replies.
"The pro modeler, identity unknown save for her name, sweeping awards since her debut. Only casuals don't know her," Mishiro says.
Kuro's that famous? Am I a casual for not knowing? I don't build hardcore, but still.
"Kuro, you're a big deal, huh?" I say.
"Heap on the praise!" Kuro grins.
"But you're also known for your brash attitude in interviews, clashing with other modelers, and being labeled a troublemaker," Mishiro adds.
"Guh?!" Kuro flinches.
She does that? She's softened with the Holomems, but she's still prickly. I remember her snatching a magazine to show me only her work's photo.
"Great works mean nothing without character. How do you keep placing high?" Mishiro prods.
"You've got a mouth on you! Think you can outdo me?" Kuro challenges.
"Did I say that? But sure, I could make works like yours," Mishiro replies.
What's with Mishiro? She's not usually this provocative. Something up?
"Fine! Let's settle this, maid! You talk big, so you've got the skills, right?!" Kuro snaps.
"A duel? I'm not thrilled, but I'll accept to avoid complaints," Mishiro says, smirking faintly.
She planned this—baiting Kuro into a challenge. Why?
"A diorama-making contest. Two weeks, judged by Master and others. Voting decides the winner. Sound good?" Mishiro proposes.
"Fine. What's the prize?" Kuro asks.
"If you win, I'll buy you 100,000 yen worth of Gunpla," Mishiro offers.
That's generous! You could snag premium kits with that.
"Too generous for a simple contest. What's your angle?" Kuro narrows her eyes.
"Just balancing the stakes for my condition," Mishiro says.
"Mishiro-chan, what do you want if you win?" Fubuki asks, curious.
I'm wondering too. 100,000 yen's a big bet—what's she after?
"Nothing complex. If I win, I want to live here," Mishiro says.
"What?!" Fubuki and Kuro gasp.
Clever. Provoke a duel, set her terms to move in. Well played, Mishiro.
"No way! You're NoriPro! You can't live in Hololive Mansion!" Fubuki protests.
"Then why's she here?" Mishiro points at Kuro. "If she can, why not me?"
"Ugh!" Fubuki falters.
Mishiro's too sharp. Fubuki's outmatched.
"No deal!" Kuro snaps.
"Why not? Scared you'll lose to me, pro modeler? Despite these terms?" Mishiro taunts.
"Grr!" Kuro grits her teeth.
Told you, Kuro. She'll outtalk you.
"I'll pay rent and handle all chores—cooking, cleaning, laundry. Just win, and it's yours. Simple, right?" Mishiro says.
"Fine! You'll regret challenging me!" Kuro declares.
Here we go. I'm too used to this chaos to care.
"For the contest, I'll stay here two weeks. Same conditions, same room. Fair?" Mishiro asks.
"No complaints. No excuses if you lose," Kuro says.
"Kuro-chan?!" Fubuki yelps.
"It's settled. Master, I'll be in your care~♪" Mishiro beams.
"Uh, sure. Just… get along with everyone," I say.
"Of course~♪"
Thus begins Mishiro and Kuro's two-week Gunpla diorama showdown. Side note: the recovered Holomems grumbled, but Mishiro's cooking won them over. She'd have moved in even if she lost, huh?
Meanwhile, Tamaki
"Mishirooo! Two weeks at Master's?! Milk, Yuzuru, let me out! I'll offer my ○○ to Master!" Tamaki rages, locked in a basement, thrashing like a beast.
"What do we do?" Milk asks.
"Mishiro said keep her locked. For Reiji-kun's sake," Yuzuru says.
Tamaki's grudge grows, shunned by her agency. Days later, she escapes to assault Reiji but gets taken down by Mishiro, banned from contact for a while.
Two Weeks Later
"Master, our works are ready. Please judge," Mishiro says.
"Alright…" Did I just see Tamaki raging again?
The judging is blind for fairness. Jurors are me, Sora, Haato, Ayame, Okayu, Pekora, Kanata, and Polka—eight total. I have 2 points, others 1. Azki presents the first work.
"First, 'Battle-Hardened Valor,'" Azki announces.
An MG Gundam Exia Repair with extra damage detailing, evoking a weathered warrior. Rubble and broken Flag parts surround it, suggesting recent combat.
"Battle-Hardened Valor" Using MG Gundam Exia Ignition Mode's repair parts with added damage, it captures a veteran's endurance. Scattered rubble and Flag debris create a vivid post-battle scene.
"Amazing…" Sora gasps.
"Like a real battle-worn Mobile Suit," Haato says.
"Pekora's never seen such realism~peko!" Pekora exclaims.
"I do damage work, but this balance is unreal," Ayame admits.
The 00 vibe is spot-on, with the Flag debris adding depth.
"Next, 'Soaring,'" Azki says.
An MG Wing Gundam Zero EW floats in a water tank, wings spread, no strings attached. Translucent feathers scatter around, creating a mystical scene.
"Soaring" MG Wing Gundam Zero EW posed mid-flight in a water tank, fixed without strings. Scattered translucent feathers enhance the ethereal atmosphere.
"How's it floating?!" Okayu gasps.
"No strings, and the water's real…" Kanata marvels.
"So mystical…" Polka sighs.
"How?!" Pekora demands.
Exia was gritty, but this is otherworldly. How's it done?
"Now, vote for your favorite," Azki instructs.
We write our choices and submit. Some decide quickly, others agonize. I vote after some thought. All ballots are in.
"The results are in!" Azki reveals the board:
"Battle-Hardened Valor": 3 points "Soaring": 6 points
"With 6 points, Mishiro-chan wins!" Azki declares.
"I did it~♪" Mishiro cheers.
"Damn… I lost," Kuro mutters.
A landslide for Mishiro's "Soaring." I voted for it too. "How'd you make it float, Mishiro?"
"Thank you, Master~♪ I used these~♪" She shows… deodorizing beads from a 100-yen store.
"I placed the Gunpla in the tank, packed it with beads, balanced it, and added water slowly to avoid bubbles. Depending on the kit, it lasts six months to a year without changing water~♪"
"That's genius…" Okayu says.
"I wouldn't have thought of that. You got me," Kuro admits.
Everyone's fixated on Mishiro's work, especially Kanata and Polka, entranced.
"As promised, I'll live here now~♪" Mishiro says.
"Deal's a deal. Welcome, Mishiro," I reply.
"Yes~♪ Kuro-san's okay with it?"
"I lost fair and square. I knew it the moment I saw it. But this isn't over. We'll duel again, and I won't lose!" Kuro vows.
"Bring it on~♪" Mishiro smiles.
Kuro took it well. Must've bonded during the build. No drama—nice.
Shirayuki Mishiro joins Hololive Mansion, not as a Hololive member, but a resident. The Holomems, tamed by her cooking, accept her easily. She'd have wormed her way in regardless, huh?
Maybe I'll try diorama-making with Kuro and Mishiro next.
Bonus
"Mishiro… Living with Master?! You'll regret this! I'll live with him and do ○○○○!" Tamaki rants, still locked up, radiating.
"Maybe we shouldn't let her out," Milk says.
"For Reiji-kun's sake," Yuzuru agrees.
Tamaki's avoided by her agency. Days later, she escapes, tries to jump Reiji, but Mishiro stops her, earning a temporary ban.
Author's Note Mishiro vs. Kuro Gunpla showdown! Saw a YouTube trick with deodorizing beads in a bottle—tried it, and it's gorgeous, so I used it for Mishiro's work. Search "Gunpla underwater" to see it! Next, a past-focused episode with a poll for the featured girl. Stay tuned!