"Ohh… so this is Shichen's world? It doesn't really look that different~"
"I feel like Brother-in-law's world actually looks more advanced~"
"So it really is another world…"
"There are so many people…"
"By the way, don't you think that person is kind of scary?" Murasame Shizu's nervous voice slipped into the chatter.
"I think she's really pretty~ Her outfit is super nice too~ Excuse me, what's your relationship with Chen?" Lala asked the girl who had always been inside Shichen's body—Yatogami Tohka's other self, Yatogami Tenka.
Tenka had her eyes closed, curled up in a corner, and ignored Lala completely.
"So cold…" Kotegawa Yui muttered.
"She's probably jealous. I bet she's also Brother-in-law's woman," Momo guessed.
"I'm not," Yatogami Tenka opened her eyes to correct them.
"Ah, she talked!"
"Her voice is really cool and icy too."
"May I ask your name?" Lala continued to greet her warmly.
"Don't mind me. I have nothing to do with you, and nothing to do with him either," Tenka replied flatly, closing her eyes again.
"Don't say that, my daughter," Shichen's teasing voice chimed in.
"Who's your daughter?!" Tenka exploded instantly, snapping back at him.
"D-daughter?!" everyone yelped in unison.
"Don't listen to his nonsense, I'm not his daughter!" Tenka hurriedly explained.
"Shichen, what is going on?"
"Don't rush, I'll explain properly later. Anyway, her name is Yatogami Tenka."
"Yatogami Tenka… that's a really pretty name," Lala praised.
Tenka glanced at her once but didn't respond, then shut her eyes again.
She had always been inside Shichen's body. As long as he didn't shut her out, she could see everything happening outside.
And Shichen had indeed never blocked her. Everything that had happened, everything he'd done, Tenka knew.
Of course, she didn't watch every single thing, but she still knew everything that mattered.
Whether it was him "consummating" things with someone, or testing new positions.
Tenka seriously suspected Shichen was doing it on purpose—letting her see on purpose just to rile her up.
Since she knew everything, she naturally also knew all about Lala. Her innocence and naïve cheerfulness reminded Tenka of Yatogami Tohka.
The two of them were really similar—curious about everything, clueless about everything, lively and bright, pure and carefree, always smiling.
Tenka had no idea how to deal with that type.
Lala and the others could see that Tenka's expression was chilly, so they stopped bothering her and went back to taking in this familiar-yet-different world.
This world was more advanced, more cutting-edge tech, more novel things. Their curiosity was completely lit up; they couldn't stop commenting on everything.
Listening to their chatter, Shichen headed back toward the coffee shop.
"Shichen-nii!"
"Shichen-dono!"
"Shichen… nii…"
The familiar faces, the familiar voices—every time he came back, Shichen's body and mind instinctively relaxed.
"Chisato, Tohru, Takina, I'm back!" he said, grinning, hugging each of the three in turn.
There were still customers in the shop, but Chisato and Tohru didn't care in the slightest. Takina was the only one who felt a bit embarrassed.
"These girls are so cute!"
"Don't tell me they're all his girlfriends?"
"Judging by the vibe, yeah."
"As expected of Brother-in-law!"
"Haha, more sisters in the harem~"
"Big Sis, your heart is way too big…"
Inside him, everyone naturally started talking about the same topic Shichen had heard hundreds of times already. By now he was used to it and just tuned it out.
"Shichen-nii, you didn't bring anyone back this time?" Nishikigi Chisato asked with a teasing blink.
"I doubt it," Inoue Takina murmured. "Frieren and Yami aren't here, so I'd guess…"
"Ohhh~ Takina's actually paying attention to how playboy Shichen-nii is now~" Chisato snickered.
"I… am not!" Takina denied in a panic.
"Hehe~ you can come up and meet them later," Shichen said, rubbing the head of Tohru, who was still clinging to him.
"Them, huh~"
"You're the sharp one," Shichen flicked Chisato's forehead and headed upstairs.
"Hey, Shichen-dono, I'm not done charging yet~" Tohru chased after him reluctantly.
"Don't be impatient, there's plenty of time tonight. Right now we're still on the clock."
"Tonight?! Got it!" Tohru perked up instantly.
"Hmm hmm~ if someone keeps being so passive, she'll end up a leftover old lady," Chisato leaned in to whisper at Takina.
"Who are you calling an old lady?!" Takina glared, flustered.
…
Upstairs, in his room, Shichen released Lala and the others.
"You owe me an explanation! Who are those girls?!" As soon as she appeared, Nana grabbed Shichen by the collar and shook him furiously.
"They're just like you," Shichen said cheerfully, not only owning it but pulling her straight into his arms.
"W-wait—everyone is…" Nana instantly went from fierce to tiny and helpless, not daring to look at anyone.
"Nana, stop pretending. We all know about you and Brother-in-law," Momo said, laughing.
"What?!"
"It's wonderful, Nana. I'm happy your relationship with Shichen is good now," Lala said, clapping her hands together.
"Big Sis…" Nana's face was full of guilt.
"Lala doesn't mind," Shichen said, squeezing her waist. "You don't have to feel bad."
"Urgh…" Nana still felt a bit guilty inside.
"Nana, instead of thinking how sorry you are to Big Sis, why don't you team up with her?" Momo suddenly cut in.
"Team up? What do you mean?"
"Those girls from earlier are obviously also Brother-in-law's women. There are probably even more. We should be working together."
"Work together… just how many women do you have?" Nana rounded on Shichen again.
"Well~ you'll find out tonight."
"Tonight?"
"It'll scare you," Frieren added from where she'd flopped onto the bed as soon as she came out.
Beside her, a little black-skinned loli was sleeping under the covers as if wishing she were invisible.
Shichen had wrecked her so badly that she still hadn't recovered.
Even though her body was made of dark matter, a being of thought itself, she'd been physically overwhelmed.
She was starting to doubt her own constitution.
"Scare me? Why?"
"Because there are a lot of them," Frieren said blandly.
"A lot? How many?"
Even before evening came, Nana got a rough idea of the answer.
Tohru and Chisato, Yatogami Tohka and Yoshino, Aqua and the others, Artoria and her crew, Natsuki's group, Emilia's group… a whole flock of girls, each one beautiful, each with her own strong personality and presence.
Seeing so many girls one after another really did blow her mind.
She'd mentally prepared herself, but this still far exceeded her expectations.
How was he supposed to keep up with all of them?
If he spent time with one girl a day, his rotation might not even get back to her within a month.
Nana didn't even really know why that thought bothered her, but it was the one she couldn't shake.
Before coming here, Momo had pulled her aside to talk privately.
She'd asked: did Nana want to team up with her… against Brother-in-law.
Two sisters going at him together. Nana had never imagined something like that—especially as twins.
It sounded insane.
But now, Nana was starting to think maybe Momo's idea wasn't that crazy.
They were twins, after all.
At dinner, everyone gathered around the table, no one missing. Even Eriri had come by, though she couldn't help that familiar sting in her chest when she saw Lala and the rest.
Lala's group was warmly received as always. She'd spent the whole afternoon going around introducing herself; everyone had already formed an impression of her.
And above all, she was an alien.
Except for the people from other worlds, nobody could resist being curious about a real alien.
After Shichen finished introducing Lala's group, he let everyone chat freely.
They were all used to having new faces show up; they immediately started talking to the newcomers. Lala and Momo handled it with ease; Nana was a lot more shy and stiff.
Ryōko ended up next to Aqua.
Shichen had already told her Aqua was an actual goddess. As a doctor, she was very curious.
Murasame Shizu hovered near Ryōko; since this world also had ghosts, Megumin and the others weren't particularly fazed by her.
In no time, Lala's group had blended in. In a few days, they'd probably feel completely at home.
Shichen ate quietly, watching the lively scene with a satisfied heart.
"Top me off with some cola," he said, holding out his glass to the black-skinned loli trying to act like an ostrich—Nemesis.
"Oh." Nemesis obediently poured him a full glass.
"So? Just stay here from now on. I'll take you to see even bigger, stranger worlds later. Let go of that Yami business already."
"Can I even leave? And I've already stopped caring… after seeing all this." Nemesis shook her head.
"That's better."
"But… can I ask one small thing?" Nemesis's tone turned earnest.
"What is it?"
"Can you bully me a little less?"
"That… depends on the situation."
"…Sigh…"