After returning home, since it was close to midnight, Shirou hurried everyone to wash up and go to bed. After some chaotic movement, each person went to their own room.
He was the last to finish, turned off the lights in his room, and was just about to close his eyes when he heard a light knock at the door—knock knock knock.
Thump! Shirou flipped up in an instant, his body tensing in a ready-to-act stance.
He didn't really suspect it was an enemy. After all, enemies wouldn't be so polite as to knock, giving him enough time to react…
Opening his eyes, he saw the door slightly open. A girl in thin pajamas was trying to quietly squeeze in. As she came through, her chest was squished like soft white cake by the narrow gap, the fabric letting out a faint rustling sound as it brushed against the doorframe.
It was Nono!
"It's so late—what are you doing here?"
Shirou wanted to ask in a low voice, but Nono turned on the lights as she entered. The sudden brightness made him squint. She then dashed over, pushed him down with a sudden step, and straddled him.
"…?" What the hell is this again?
Faced with the direct lighting and the pressure of the girl sitting on him, Shirou recalled the last time he was researching with Sami and Nono suddenly insisted on observing. He really wanted to crack open her skull and study how her brain functioned.
"Hmph… I came for serious business!"
"What kind of business?"
Nono blinked, her gaze sweeping over Shirou's bed—it was clear, with no space for someone to hide. The wardrobe was also open, a few summer tops hung neatly, and the pants and socks folded tidily below. No one had been here.
Relieved, Nono looked down at Shirou. "...Did you talk to the Tokyo families about Aoiya today? That guy, Minamoto Raikou, are you sure he's reliable?"
"Huh? Wait, Nono, you came to my room in the middle of the night just to talk about this?"
Annoyed, Shirou tried to push her off. As he freed his legs, he sat up and met her eyes at close distance. Their breathing mingled, warm and rhythmic between them.
"Here's his card and contact," he said, showing her a dark business card with a gentian emblem, then pulling out his phone. "He messaged me tonight, said the investigation's underway. If they find something, they'll contact us."
"So you really let him investigate Aoiya? But we didn't even tell the Mother of Nuwa about this to keep Melusine a secret…"
"This has nothing to do with Melusine. Minamoto doesn't know anything about what happened during the typhoon that day. I didn't tell him anything about her either."
"No way, I still don't trust it. What if this family's involved with Aoiya too? If they're checking themselves, we're screwed!"
Shirou scratched his head. "Okay, okay, you're right… but then who can we trust to investigate? Everyone could be suspicious."
"You don't need to make it that complicated!" Nono crossed her arms with a smug look, her loose pajamas forming a deep crease. "I've got General Melusine. She can go in as a spirit and scout everything out!"
"Whoa, nice! Smart thinking. But, uh, one question, Nono."
"Speak!"
"How's Melusine doing with her studies on human society? Does she even know what infiltration or intelligence gathering means?"
"...And as a spirit, she can't interact with the physical world. If she's exposed and panics, will she just go berserk and ruin the whole thing?"
"…" Nono's confidence wavered. "It's fine. I'll train her a bit more. In no time, she'll be ready for real missions!"
"You've got this. I believe in you." Shirou gave a thumbs up. Symbolic encouragement—his favorite kind.
—
In the days that followed, Melusine was ruthlessly subjected to Nono's training, forced to study bizarre infiltration tactics and solve weird exercises.
When she questioned the accuracy of online sources, Nono told her that didn't matter—the point was to build caution and strategy into her battle style instead of charging in headfirst. Melusine's expression looked even more pained.
One day, she snuck off to Shirou for comfort. He casually handed her an old book from Sami's stack: Sex Trials: A History of Human Civilization.
Just reading the title, Melusine lit up like she'd found a treasure. All her stress vanished. Clearly, reading strange books was the best antidote to academic pressure.
Soon after, Shirou got word from Minamoto to meet in Tokyo again. He canceled the day's plans and said he'd head out alone.
"I'm going with you! That private club requires a female companion, right? We'll be your plus ones!"
Nono winked at him and made up a half-truthful excuse to exclude the oblivious Sami. The real plan: Shirou would meet Minamoto, while Melusine, under Nono's direction, would infiltrate the family base.
"Good, we also need to buy her a few new outfits."
Shirou exchanged a glance with Nono, then looked at Sami cheerfully licking her fingers after a scallion pancake.
"Sami, here's the deal. We've all got different things today…"
"Oh! That works out. I need to visit the University of Tokyo library for my research anyway."
"Perfect. Tokyo trip, let's go!"
—
"Is this where you went last time?" Nono asked as they arrived in Ginza's Kabuki-za theater.
Shirou nodded. "Minamoto's family reserved a show here before. The lead was Nakamura Kankuro. But by then, Minamoto had already left."
"Wow, all guys?" Nono pointed to the posters.
"Of course," Shirou explained. "Female kabuki was banned for its ties to prostitution. 'Youth Kabuki' with pretty boys took over… though that had similar problems."
"So you mean that pretty boy poster guy?"
"That's Kazama Ruri. Young and talented. Must've had powerful backing to perform here."
Suddenly, the theater doors opened. A swarm of glamorous women emerged—rich ladies, punk rockers, businesswomen—all excitedly discussing… Kazama Ruri.
Something felt off.
"I'm going to check this out," Nono said.
"Be careful," Shirou warned.
She blended in perfectly with the crowd and returned shortly—carrying boxes.
"What are those?"
"Kazama Ruri's signature makeup gift sets," she said dryly. "Some brand manager sold them to me."
Wait, she was supposed to investigate, not get swindled by capitalism!
"Hold on," Nono added, "I heard them say he works in Kabukichō too… isn't that shady?"
"…You don't want to know."
Kabukichō—Tokyo's infamous red-light district. And Kazama Ruri was apparently a host catering to female customers.
No wonder those women were obsessed. That man wasn't just an actor—he was a professional seducer.
They next headed to Ginza's luxury shopping district—one of the world's most expensive places alongside Paris' Champs-Élysées and New York's Fifth Avenue. The crowd was intense.
Shirou and Nono held hands to avoid getting separated and slipped into a traditional kimono shop.
"Welcome to Watori & Some! Are you here for custom kimonos or cosplay rentals?"
Shirou tried to decline, but Nono's eyes sparkled.
"I want that shrine maiden outfit! A real one!"
Shirou didn't even have the strength to argue. The clerk explained that unlike amateur cosplay in Akihabara, their outfits were professionally tailored for kabuki performers.
"Sure, sure," he said, defeated.
They then dealt with the gift sets. Nono expertly unpacked the small bottles and stuffed them in her pockets—making Shirou question why the original packaging was so huge.
After lunch at Ginza's famous Ukai-tei teppanyaki, Shirou arrived at Minamoto's private club, showed his card, and was let in easily.
Nono, now in a red-and-white shrine maiden outfit, stayed outside with spirit-form Melusine to keep watch.
Inside, Shirou passed through ornate bronze doors, under a chandelier, and into a lounge named "Tamamo-no-Mae."
Shirou wasn't impressed—it looked more like a luxury bathhouse. He headed to the private room and waited.
And waited.
Half an hour later, Minamoto finally arrived.
"Sorry, my sister ran off from home. We had to mobilize people to find her."
"Whoa. Is she okay?"
"She's fine. Already been brought back."
Minamoto handed over a thick file.
"All this on Aoiya? Isn't this your internal data?"
"You're not an outsider, Shirou."
"…Huh?"
He was seriously confused. Minamoto seemed even more friendly than before.
What the hell was going on?
They talked for over an hour. At the end, Minamoto said his family would launch a formal black-market investigation of Aoiya soon. If Shirou wanted, he could even join the team under a special title.
"Sure! Great! Thanks!"
Minamoto left in a sleek black Hummer. Shirou turned to look for Nono—only to find a girl in a shrine maiden outfit standing silently in an alley, head down, avoiding anyone in a black coat.
"Hey! Nono, weren't you tailing Minamoto? Or did you send Melusine?"
He walked up and gave her a souvenir bottle of custom lotion with a rubber ducky.
The red-haired girl quietly followed him.
As they headed toward the JR station, Shirou still debated whether to grab some ramen.
"Hmm? Nono, why so quiet today?"
He turned.
She lifted her head slowly, revealing a pair of dull, innocent rose-colored eyes… completely lacking Nono's usual spark.
Crap.
She looked like Nono—but she wasn't.
He'd grabbed the wrong person.
(End of Chapter)
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