"W-What? Rest for a while?"
Aether was completely stunned.
You're just abandoning your big brother like that?
You say you're resting, but you just want to read manga, don't you?
Is manga really that attractive?
…Okay, fine. It is pretty good.
Even Aether had to admit that.
But that's still not a reason to abandon your brother!
The more he thought about it, the more depressed he felt.
How had Lumine changed so much in such a short time?
"It must be Boss Han. He corrupted her!"
Aether's gaze toward Han Feng immediately turned resentful.
Give me back my adorable little sister!
Seeing the aggrieved look from his "brother-in-law," Han Feng helplessly shrugged.
This had nothing to do with him.
It was just Lumine revealing her true gremlin nature.
And besides—this was nothing yet.
She was just resting at the manga shop for a while.
If Aether found out that tonight Lumine was going to roleplay as a cat-eared girl— he'd probably explode on the spot.
"Lumine, you've been searching for so long without success. Could it be that your brother settled down somewhere in secret and started a family?"
Seeing the atmosphere getting awkward, Noelle joked lightly to ease the tension.
"That's impossible."
Lumine twitched at the corner of her mouth.
Her brother had been intercepted by a mysterious god.
How would he have time to start a family?
But since Noelle didn't know the full story, Lumine didn't mind.
"Though… finding a sister-in-law…"
Lumine rested her chin in her hand, pondering seriously.
If her brother ever found out she stopped searching just to read manga, he'd probably be a little upset.
So she should prepare an apology gift in advance.
Finding him a wife— now that would be a pretty good gift!
"But who should it be~~?"
Her eyes rolled thoughtfully.
Most candidates didn't seem suitable.
But when her gaze landed on Dain at the counter—
her eyes lit up.
This girl would work!
Pretty and adorable!
Her brother wasn't bad-looking either.
They might actually match!
Excited, Lumine stepped forward.
"Dain, are you currently single?"
"Huh? Me?"
Caught off guard by the strange question, Dain—who had been comforting Aether—froze.
Why such a weird question?
After hesitating, he nodded.
"I suppose so."
"That's perfect! I have a brother. He may not be as handsome as Boss Han, but he's definitely good-looking! Would you like me to introduce you sometime?"
"W-What?!"
Dain went completely blank.
His expression stiffened instantly.
Introduce Aether to him… as a romantic prospect?
What kind of absurd logic was this?!
Compared to this—
Mondstadters were much cuter.
At most they just complimented him for being pretty and adorable.
But this woman—she was actually trying to set him up!
And with Aether, of all people…
"Wait, what are you saying?!"
Aether was equally stunned.
Since when did his sister start matchmaking for him?
Was this still the innocent Lumine he knew?
And even if she wanted to introduce someone—shouldn't she pick someone more appropriate?
Dain…
Well, fine, he did look cute right now.
If not for knowing his real identity, Aether might have been tempted.
But he was still a man!
"Huh? Are you two already a couple? Then I'm so sorry, I was being presumptuous."
Seeing the tense, complicated expressions on their faces, Lumine assumed they were together.
No wonder they reacted so strongly.
She quickly apologized.
"I—"
Aether tried to explain, but Dain clamped a hand over his mouth.
They'd only been talking for a few minutes and the topic had already exploded like this.
If it continued, Dain didn't even want to imagine what might happen.
Retreat was the safest option.
He tossed a bag of Mora onto the counter on Aether's behalf and dragged him toward the bookshelves.
"Uh… Boss Han, did I say something wrong?"
Watching them leave, Lumine scratched her head blankly.
Something felt strange.
But she couldn't quite pinpoint what.
"Ahem. Nothing at all. Now come back here—my shoulders are sore again."
Han Feng coughed lightly.
Nothing at all?
That was beyond wrong.
That was absurdity knocking on absurdity's door—absurd to the extreme.
If he told Lumine
that the flashy-haired guy was actually her brother, and that the cute girl was Dainsleif in disguise—her worldview would probably shatter.
Too thrilling.
"Oh! Coming!"
Lumine hurried back behind Han Feng and resumed massaging his shoulders.
Lumine might not have collapsed—but her big brother was on the verge of it.
"Dain, why did you drag me away? I still needed to talk properly with Lumine! That girl's outrageous—trying to introduce me to you!"
Aether fumed.
After years apart, his pure and kind little sister had turned into this!
It hurt to think about.
"If you kept talking, your identity might've been exposed!"
Dain shot back irritably.
Then he subtly moved a little farther from Aether.
Just recalling Lumine's suggestion made him uncomfortable.
Even the way he looked at Aether felt… wrong.
"This is cursed. Let's just read manga."
Without waiting for a response, Dain turned to the bookshelf.
"Hm? The Avengers?"
A newly added title caught his attention.
"Avengers… interesting."
A cold glint flashed through his eyes.
If he had the chance, he too wanted revenge against those who destroyed Khaenri'ah.
This was the one.
Dain grabbed The Avengers and walked into the shop.
"Wait for me, Dain!"
Aether quickly found Digimon Adventure Season 1 and hurried after him.
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