Just as Yukinoshita Yukino was suspecting that Luo Shu had a lot of issues, Luo Shu, hearing Nakahara Mizuki plotting to get him drunk, couldn't help but laugh and said, "Mizuki-nee, did you forget how old I am?" Although before crossing over he was an adult, in this world, he was a bona fide high school student. How could a high schooler drink alcohol?
Nakahara Mizuki picked up the bottle to pour him a glass. "What does it matter? It's not like there are any outsiders here anyway." Mika, who was next to them, quickly snatched away the bottle; his face, already somewhat dark and Indian-looking, grew even darker. "Don't go teaching a kid to drink, you idiot."
"Tch, damn pervert." Mizuki, angry at having the bottle snatched away, muttered with a biting tone. "Next time before you badmouth me behind my back, how about you say it a little more quietly?" Mika, speechless, set the bottle aside, then offered an apologetic smile to Luo Shu. "Sorry, since today's supposed to be a celebration, I didn't want to dampen the mood with any killjoy talk."
Hearing this, Luo Shu immediately showed a look of understanding. He'd found it odd—Mika obviously knew he was about to be transferred, so why hadn't he mentioned it? Now it made sense: it was because of the celebration.
And just as Luo Shu had this realization, a very soft voice from Yukinoshita Yukino drifted to his ears. "Um…senior Luo Shu…" "What is it?" Luo Shu turned and saw her exquisitely beautiful face, just a short distance away—practically within arm's reach.
"…It's a bit too close," she said, pointing to his head which was stuck right smack between her and Chisato, with one hand pressing down on both their shoulders. "Ah, sorry about that." Luo Shu immediately let go, then turned to glance at Chisato, who hadn't uttered a word and was just rapidly tapping away on her phone.
Once she got a reply from Kurumi, Chisato finally grumbled, "No way, the departmental transfer is really happening?" Saying this, she turned, full of resentment, to Luo Shu, "So, is little Yukino also joining your new department?" "That's right," Luo Shu nodded and didn't deny it at all. "How could this be!!" Chisato let out a wail, dashed over to Takina, and hugged her tight, snuggling in.
"We just finally got a super beautiful girl to join, and now she's with another department!" "Takina, I'm so sad." "Hey, hey, hey… you want some mushrooms? They're edible now." Takina, glancing at the closest sukiyaki pot, said in an offhand tone. "And anyway, calling her a super beautiful girl, don't you worry you'll make the newcomer feel embarrassed?"
Yukinoshita Yukino replied very calmly, "No, I don't really feel embarrassed, because it's just stating a fact." At this, the four people sitting in the room, as well as Luo Shu who was standing, all looked over in unison. "…Did I say something wrong?" Yukinoshita Yukino asked, a little confused by their reaction.
Since she would be his future subordinate, Luo Shu had no choice but to smooth things over: "No, nothing wrong, it's just that…well, Yukino, you're a little too straightforward sometimes." "Thank you for the compliment," Yukinoshita Yukino said sincerely.
Seeing this, Luo Shu felt a bit helpless, but Chisato, on the other hand, cheerfully called out, "Alright, guys, stop standing around—let's sit down. Sukiyaki won't taste good if it gets cold." Hearing this, Luo Shu promptly pulled Kisara over to sit beside Mika, and Kisara sat right next to him. On the other side, Chisato patted the seat by her side, gesturing for Yukinoshita Yukino to come over and sit.
Seeing this, Yukinoshita Yukino hesitated a little and glanced at Luo Shu, but in the end, chose to take the seat next to Chisato. Witnessing this, Mika, seated next to Luo Shu, whispered, "Still just a student, huh." Normally, in Japan, new recruits would be expected to sit next to the department head, always ready to pour drinks, serve tea, and help out with little tasks. Such is the so-called senpai culture.
As Luo Shu was using the communal chopsticks to get himself some extra-flavorful braised cabbage, he commented, "She's only just started high school, comes from a good family, it's normal for her to be a bit naïve. Besides, our department doesn't really have that kind of culture, does it?"
At that, Mika's tone grew a little more cautionary, "When there's just a few people, it's fine, but with a big group you might run into trouble." He could already see signs of the issue, just from Yukinoshita Yukino joining the department. The second daughter of a local prominent family joining SDS sent a signal that was all too clear.
After finishing off a cabbage leaf, Luo Shu huffed at the steam and said, "Isn't promotion and a raise a good thing?" Mika shot him a look and reminded him, "Do you really think becoming a department head before you've even finished training will really be a good thing?"
After all, when it came down to it, Luo Shu had only been at SDS for three days—barely enough time for a proper internship at a corporate company, let alone develop the necessary awareness for work on the mystical side of things. From both a rational and emotional perspective, Mika hoped Luo Shu could spend another month or two learning from Chisato and Takina.
Luo Shu understood Mika's intentions, but still refused politely, "For me, this situation is already the best it could be. Director Lacus believed in this too, which is why she suggested Chief Kirika let me head my own division." After seizing the knowledge of that so-called Prince of Hell, Vasaggo, Luo Shu knew that the basics of the mystical side would no longer be a stumbling block for him. At the same time, he realized that while Mika wanted him to learn from Chisato and Takina for on-the-ground experience, that kind of hands-on knowledge—while useful for the front-line—might not suit him best. After all, their backgrounds and abilities were so different that forcing himself into the mold of an experienced operator could end up backfiring.
Recognizing this, Luo Shu chose to gently decline. But that didn't mean he was unwilling to take any advice: "I'm able to look after myself, but as for Yukino, I'll have to trouble the Lycoris side to help her out a bit more." Compared to Luo Shu, Yukinoshita Yukino was an utter rookie through and through, without any of his special conditions. Handing her over to Lycoris for training would probably be best.
Seeing that Luo Shu wasn't just being obstinate but actually had his reasons, Mika smiled, "You're still someone who started out from our side—I'll always help with little things like this." Right as Mika finished speaking, Nakahara Mizuki immediately grumbled, "You two, talking work-business at a party is a huge no-no! Quit with this wretched overtime behavior already!"
At Mizuki's rebuke, Luo Shu and Mika exchanged glances and both broke into a smile. "Let's dig in, then!" Mika picked up his chopsticks, about to grab a piece of Kobe beef, but before he could, Chisato nimbly snatched up the piece and deposited it in Yukinoshita Yukino's bowl.
Mika froze, reached for another piece of beef, only to see Chisato, hands lightning-fast, scoop it up and toss it into Kisara's bowl. At this, Mika finally smiled, tossed down his chopsticks, rolled up his sleeves and declared, "Don't any of you dare get in my way, or I'll have to teach Chisato a lesson right here and now!!"
On either side, Luo Shu and Nakahara Mizuki hurried to restrain him: "Calm down, Mika! Just calm down!" "Hey, it's a celebration dinner, at least let her off the hook this time!" Chisato completely ignored Mika's outbursts, and slyly flicked another piece of meat into Luo Shu's bowl before tossing another one into her own mouth, "Aah…" Mika's struggles only grew fiercer…