"Please make sure she turns out to be a normal girl."
Recalling Lacus's heartfelt plea before they left, Luo Shu could feel the corner of his mouth twitching involuntarily.
Seated in the front of the speedboat beside Tachibana Kirika at the helm, Kisara looked over at Luo Shu with concern and asked, "Luo Shu, are you feeling unwell?"
Tachibana, who was still wearing a grin from earlier, laughed heartily and said, "Little girl, I'd advise you not to ask too much."
"The more questions you ask, the more miserable this guy gets."
"Shut up already."
Luo Shu shot Tachibana an irritated glare before turning toward Kisara, whose face was full of concern. With a helpless sigh, he said, "Don't worry. I'm fine, just a bit annoyed, that's all."
"Oh..." Kisara still looked worried, but since Luo Shu said there was nothing to worry about, she reluctantly shifted her gaze away so as not to make him uncomfortable.
Seeing her act like this only left Luo Shu even more helpless.
After all, how could he blame a girl who had been force-fed ideas she should never have had in the first place? If anything, she was a victim.
Still... my reputation is doomed. Luo Shu could already imagine the teasing glances he'd soon receive from Chisato Nishikigi and the others.
At that moment, Tachibana, eyes on the shoreline under the night sky where several bright searchlights had been set up, spoke without turning her head, "Alright, enough moping. We've still got work to handle."
Luo Shu, leaning against the seat, didn't even lift his head as he muttered, "I need to take a leave of absence."
"How long are you planning to be gone?" she asked, curious.
"Until my own division building is finally finished," he replied lifelessly.
"Get lost."
Tachibana chuckled and cursed playfully before parking the speedboat beside a temporary dock. Standing up, she added, "Don't forget—you still owe me something."
"What thing?"
Luo Shu raised an eyebrow lazily.
"Besides the post-operation celebration and my transfer paperwork, I don't think there's anything else. Don't tell me you want me to handle the cleanup in Chiba Prefecture too?"
"What are you thinking?" Tachibana hopped onto the temporary dock made from metal scaffolding and reached out to help Kisara up, only to see the girl easily leap ashore on her own.
Seeing that, she shrugged and then turned to Luo Shu, saying, "Don't you remember that local politician's family we ran into earlier?"
"Oh, the Yukinoshita family."
Luo Shu responded blandly, "Is this about recruiting the Yukinoshita household? I figured since I'm transferring, that wouldn't be my job."
"What are you on about?"
Tachibana rolled her eyes and waved to Mika, who was using a car's headlights as searchlights on the gravel beach.
"That kind of greenhorn who knows nothing—you think I'd let them join the SDS frontline?"
"I've got no interest in seeing my subordinates end up in body bags."
Hearing that, Luo Shu gave her a deadpan look. "If untrained rookies aren't allowed on the frontlines, then what was I?"
Wasn't he the exact kind of newbie that Tachibana had recruited and thrown straight into combat?
So you do know that's the wrong way to do things!
"You were an exception."
Tachibana responded without a shred of guilt, even sounding proud. "Originally, I recruited you because of your strong mental fortitude. You were perfect for periodically recharging sealed artifacts down in the vault, which would've saved the East Capital Division tons of resources. You were also ideal for being a handler for some specialized abyss-class relics."
"But who could've guessed that the first time I ever forced someone into the job, I'd get a serious warning from Lacus?"
"You should've seen how heavy her tone was just now—she almost outright said if I pulled another stunt like that, she'd have me kicked out."
"You deserved it."
Luo Shu rolled his eyes. Now that he was technically on equal footing with Tachibana, he didn't feel the need to sugarcoat anything. "If the ones taking me on missions weren't Chisato and Takina Inoue but you, I would've tanked the entire mission just to screw you over."
"I believe it."
Tachibana didn't even try to argue. She nodded, totally accepting. "With an ability like yours—one that can completely erase even Kisara's injuries—I honestly believe you'd survive even if everyone else in the country dropped dead."
Then she muttered with some exasperation, "You're really good at hiding things. Wind-type user, strong spiritual resilience—all just a cover. Your real strength is that lifesaving ability."
"But thinking about it, your personality suggests that's not even the full extent of your power, is it?"
Luo Shu didn't bother answering that. He trusted Lacus, who was familiar and reliable, so he was willing to reveal a bit of what he could do. But Tachibana? Not a chance.
When he didn't respond, Tachibana wasn't offended. Instead, she continued, "Anyway, once we get the Yukinoshita family on board, we'll need to offer them at least one SDS membership spot."
"And compared to my frontline unit, your direct division—whose main job is oversight—is much safer and more suitable for a rookie."
Luo Shu gave her another eye roll. "Why not just admit you don't want to babysit a newbie—especially one with no standout traits?"
Tachibana snorted disdainfully. "Since you know that much, hurry up and get off the boat. Don't tell me you actually plan to visit the Yukinoshita household in the middle of the night? Heh, showing up at a house with three women after dark—think you can handle it?"
Luo Shu couldn't be bothered with her. Instead, he looked up at the night sky and muttered lazily, "If we drive there now, we won't arrive until around 8 or 9 PM. Can't you just let me rest for the night?"
He glanced at Kisara, who stood quietly at the dock. What really needed attention right now… was teaching this little devil girl some proper, normal values.
Tachibana pulled out a pack of cigarettes and a lighter. Casually lighting one, she replied, "Of course you can rest. But if you delay any further, those guys from the Onmyo Bureau might start poking around."
"Over there? You mean the Yukinoshita family?" Luo Shu finally caught on. "Why would the Onmyo Bureau…?"
Tachibana smirked. "Who do you think the local officials brought in to help quarantine Chiba's underground elements?"
Luo Shu's expression shifted slightly at that.
Nighttime, Chiba City Hospital.
Ding-dong.
The doorbell to the VIP ward chimed.
Yukinoshita Yukino, who had been peeling an apple for her father, set down the knife and fruit, then walked over to the door.
When it opened, she was greeted by a girl in a high school sailor uniform with long black hair.
"…May I ask who you are?" Yukino asked, visibly stunned.