Chapter 80: If you dare to fight, I'll throw you out!
"So, Mr. Mahiro still remembers me and the other children."
The petite Sasha sat like a miniature adult at the desk, her expressionless face carrying a hint of resentment.
"Ah haha, haven't I come…?"
Mahiro sat on the sofa opposite her. Even when Sasha said that, he could only force a smile.
After all, he had left her here to manage everything alone for so long, so it was understandable for her to complain a little.
After parting ways with Tina Sprout, he picked up Enju, who had just finished school, and brought Asaka to Arcadia.
Enju went to play with her little companions, discussing things like 'Heavenly Punisher Girl'.
And little Asaka was teaching her juniors swordsmanship.
As for him, he could only miserably face little Sasha's complaints, and incidentally check if there was anything that needed to be procured.
"Sigh…"
Seeing that he completely lacked the dominance he had displayed when eliminating members of the Five Wings Association and Scorpio, little Sasha couldn't help but sigh.
"Mr. Mahiro, I understand that as a perverted***, you are very busy, collecting children everywhere and bringing them under your evil clutches, but please don't abandon us. Occasionally, you should come and see us, who are left alone in empty rooms.
Whether it's me or the other children, we all miss you very much."
Although… why did that sound so strange?
Nevertheless, he readily agreed that as soon as he got through this busy period, he could come over frequently, or even live there.
And it had to be said that he had indeed not misjudged her; Chisato Fuse had great management talent, especially her superb intelligence, which kept everything in perfect order.
The entire Arcadia was thriving.
There was just one more thing—
"Speaking of which, has anything happened in Arcadia recently? Why do I feel like the children aren't as enthusiastic when they see me as before?"
"It seems Mr. Mahiro's senses haven't dulled."
Chisato Fuse neatly stacked the processed documents and put them into a drawer before continuing, "It's not that they're not enthusiastic to see you; on the contrary, every child particularly hopes to see you. It's just that they've been busy with our affairs, so they've restrained that feeling, not wanting to trouble you."
"Ah?"
"Didn't you notice? Your clothes."
Sasha said something incomprehensible, then pointed to the corner of his jacket, where there were several dirty little handprints.
"If I'm not mistaken, those should be handprints left on you by Cursed Children like us… No, to be precise, only we can leave such filthy marks on you."
Sasha's choice of words was very inappropriate, but in her heart, this was how it should be, and a fact that could be spoken and faced directly.
"It's just strange, Mr. Mahiro. You've added another little sister for us, but I haven't seen her this time. Has something happened?"
When Sasha mentioned it, he realized.
"Indeed, I've added another sister for you, but it's not possible right now. You'll be able to see her in a few days."
Recalling Tina Sprout's adorable appearance as she tugged at his jacket with her small, dirty hands, Mahiro couldn't help but smile.
Afterward, after briefly understanding the current situation of Arcadia from Sasha, he left with Enju and Asaka.
He did not stay overnight.
After all, he still had a bodyguard mission, and even if he didn't stay long in the Holy Residence, he at least had to be available on call. This was the most basic professional ethic.
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"What do you want for dinner tonight?"
"Anything Lord Mahiro makes is fine."
"I want to eat hotpot!"
"Alright, then we'll have Wagyu beef hotpot tonight!"
Compared to Aihara Enju's frankness, Asaka Mibu seemed a bit more reserved.
You still don't understand, Enju, only the crying child gets the milk, Xiao Asaka.
So, after deciding to have beef hotpot for dinner, they went to the supermarket to buy ingredients.
But on the way back, they saw a police car violently smashed into scrap metal, its entire body twisted and deformed.
Outside the police cordon, a large crowd of onlookers gathered, each holding their phones and snapping pictures, discussing the violent attack on the police.
Without needing to guess, given the tragic state, almost everyone believed it was done by the Cursed Children, because under normal circumstances, ordinary humans simply couldn't achieve such a degree of destruction.
Especially the dents on the car, it was clear someone had smashed it down with force.
Fortunately, there seemed to be no casualties; even the patrol officers in the car were only unconscious.
However, hearing those people cursing that the Cursed Children deserved to die, both Enju and Xiao Asaka looked a bit sad, even if their expressions remained normal on the surface.
"Alright, there's no need to be sad about this. Let's go, let's go home and eat hotpot."
Mahiro placed his hands on their heads, gently stroking them.
Back home, Mahiro was preparing ingredients in the kitchen, while Enju and Xiao Asaka were watching anime in the living room—or rather, animated cartoons.
Actually, Xiao Asaka wasn't that interested, but Enju's high enthusiasm pulled her into watching together.
How peaceful...
Seeing this scene, Mahiro couldn't help but sigh inwardly, perhaps this was the meaning of home.
When he returned to the Irregular at Magic High School world, he would find a way to make everything develop in such a peaceful direction.
"Dinner's ready, go wash your hands and get ready to eat!"
"Got it!"
After washing their hands, the few of them gathered around the dining table, watching the ingredients gurgle in the pot.
Just as they were about to start eating, the doorbell suddenly rang.
Mahiro turned his head to look at the wall clock and frowned.
"It's so late, who could it be?"
"Yotsuba-chan~"
Accompanied by a half-dead groan, a beauty in a kimono rushed in as soon as the door opened.
She wore a large mask over her mouth, her face was flushed, and she was coughing incessantly.
If he hadn't caught her just in time, she probably would have hit her head directly on the steps of the entrance.
"Miori? Why are you here at this hour?"
"Hey... hey, I..."
The kimono-clad girl took out cold medicine and a nutrient drink from her shopping bag, pointing at herself repeatedly as if trying to say something.
However, before she could finish, she collapsed into his arms with a plop.
What's going on???
Yet, the situation wasn't over. A few seconds after Miori Sima fainted in his arms and he gently placed her on the ground, another dark figure also entered his field of vision.
Tendo Kisara entered the door, clutching her stomach and with an utterly haggard face.
"Mahiru-kun... forgive my intrusion... please... please make me some food..."
Plop.
As if a replica, Kisara also collapsed into his arms.
And she was hungry, just like their first meeting, except this time she didn't fall to the ground.
And she was still carrying a supermarket bag filled with various ingredients.
"Who is this woman?"
Enju, holding chopsticks, squatted beside Miori, poking her cheek repeatedly with the tip of her chopsticks.
"Mahiro-sama, please allow me to sweep this woman out the door."
Without him noticing, Xiao Asaka had already drawn her katana, the sharp blade slowly emerging from its sheath.
Perhaps due to her training in swordsmanship with Kisara, she had also learned from Kisara in some aspects, such as her attitude towards Miori Sima, always harboring a strange hostility.
It was unclear what ideas Kisara had instilled in her.
But before she could fully draw it, Mahiro tapped her on the forehead.
"Learning swordsmanship from your master is enough, don't learn all that other nonsense!"
"Ugh... I know."
Xiao Asaka whimpered, covering her forehead.
Then, under his direction, she and Enju moved Miori Sima into the house.
However, upon entering the living room, perhaps smelling the hotpot, the two instantly revived, sitting directly at the table, even seemingly forgetting their usual bickering, becoming unexpectedly harmonious.
Especially Miori Sima, who had just said she needed him to feed her medicine.
Now, she just took out the cold medicine herself and chugged it down.
And Kisara was eating the cooked vegetables, saying things like "So delicious" and "It's good to be alive."
Yotsuba Mahiro: "???"
No, you two came together to freeload, didn't you?
Fortunately, he had prepared plenty of ingredients, basically three days' worth, so even with two extra eaters, it was perfectly fine.
"It's really embarrassing to have you treat us to a meal, Yotsuba-chan."
Miori Sima said, picking up a slice of cooked beef and putting it into her mouth, chewing it quietly.
"If you feel embarrassed, then pay for the meal for me," Mahiro said expressionlessly, like a ruthless debt collector.
However, Miori showed an expression of "What are you saying? I don't understand~ We still have to cooperate sincerely later," and managed to get away with it.
"Exactly."
Kisara, with her eyes closed and diligently stirring her chopsticks, said sternly, "We both brought our own ingredients, but that vixen over there is here for a free meal, isn't she? How hateful, hurry up and get out."
He couldn't agree with the "brought her own ingredients" part.
The ingredients Kisara brought were all for making curry.
It could be said that except for the whole piece of beef that could be sliced for hotpot, all the other ingredients were his.
Even the pot was.
It was understandable, though, after all, this young lady couldn't cook.
Freeloading wasn't a one-time or two-time thing; he was used to it by now.
"Oh, my, so it's you, Kisara? Your big chest made it so I couldn't see your face."
Kisara, successfully enraged by Miori, crushed the chopsticks she was holding, making a strange cracking sound.
"I'm sorry, Mahiru-kun. Can you get me another pair of chopsticks?"
"...Changing chopsticks is fine, but please pay for this pair of chopsticks," Mahiro still said expressionlessly, like a ruthless debt collector.
To be honest, he had long anticipated what kind of chemical reaction these two women would create sitting at the same table.
Like water and sodium, they would explode if put together.
However, after he said that, Kisara did show some remorse, as it was indeed impolite to "accidentally" crush someone's chopsticks.
But she was quickly enraged again by Miori's comment, "As expected of the Mother Orangutan, so strong."
"Alright, stop arguing."
As soon as Yotsuba Mahiro spoke, the two of them indeed quieted down.
He then turned to Kisara and said, "Since you're here, President, let's talk about work."
Hearing the word "President," Kisara immediately perked up, showing a shrewd and serious expression, ready to listen carefully.
"This mission is the same as usual, a Saitenshi's designated mission, the content is escort. The start time will probably be within these two days. As for the reward, it's a total of twenty million."
Just the total price of the heads of those two old geezers, Kikunojo Tendo and Qi Wu Xuanzong, combined.
"And it's the usual rule, half will be paid by the Holy Residence on the day the escort begins, and the other half will be settled at the end."
"Understood."
Kisara nodded seriously, "Then does the IFA need any support?"
This time, not only Kisara, but even Enju and Asaka pricked up their ears to listen carefully, but the next second they were interrupted by Miori.
"Oh, you must be Enju, right? I've heard a lot about you from Satomi and Yotsuba-chan. How do you like your combat shoes? Do they still fit?"
"Huh? How do you know?"
"Of course." Miori unfolded a metal fan to cover her mouth and smiled slightly, "After all, they're produced by our Sima Heavy Industries, and I personally supervised them."
"Oh! You made them? Hmm, they're good."
"Right, right. If your feet grow and the shoes get tight, tell me, big sister will make you new ones. And the same goes for Asaka-chan, if you need me to provide weapons, I can personally forge a sword for you, no problem. Old antiques from the last century are better off in the trash, you know~"
Miori wanted to win over not only Enju but also Asaka.
Unfortunately, Xiao Asaka didn't buy it and coldly refused immediately:
"No need, this sword is a gift from my master, and I find it very useful. Besides, even if I had new equipment, I wouldn't have anywhere to use it..."
The first half of her sentence made Kisara overjoyed, while the latter half was Xiao Asaka looking at him with resentment.
She had worked hard to cultivate her swordsmanship to protect Mahiro-sama, but in the end, she never had a chance to use it...
For Xiao Asaka, who always considered herself a sword, this was the saddest thing.
She liked Mahiro's gentleness, yes, but sometimes she also hoped that Mahiro-sama could treat her as a tool, just like other IFA.
"Alright, alright, don't look at me like that. This escort mission is a bit complicated, so I need Xiao Asaka to come with me."
"Really?!"
Upon hearing this, Asaka Mibu's eyes immediately lit up, as if she had found the meaning of life.
"It's true. And Enju, you too, come along."
Enju raised her hand high and happily replied, "Okay!"
And Asaka Mibu, as if making a vow, said she would not betray his trust and would definitely complete the mission.
She's really serious.
"Oh my, it seems I really do need to custom-make a weapon for Xiao Asaka~"
"Then I'll leave it to you. I need a katana, and preferably a naginata as well."
Mahiro commissioned the weapons on Asaka's behalf.
"No problem~ Since it's Yotsuba-chan asking, I'll naturally fulfill it no matter what~"
After speaking, Miori moved her chair closer, smiling as she hugged his arm, and unexpectedly blew a breath into his ear, "Even the price is negotiable~"
"And since I'm fulfilling your whims so much, Yotsuba-chan, why don't you agree~ Quit your job at Kisara's place and come work for us in the IFA department specially set up for you at our company?"
"I can offer you generous compensation, Yotsuba-chan, much more than that Kisara fellow~"
As she spoke, Miori leaned in closer, almost pressing against him.
She then pulled out a check from her sleeve, wrote a long string of zeros on it, and placed it in front of Mahiro.
"I know, Yotsuba-chan, you really need money. Now, as long as I sign my name, this check becomes valid~"
However, this string of numbers left Kisara dumbfounded.
A whopping one billion yen!
"Oh my, it seems you're very surprised, Kisara. This is the market value of nearly a hundred IFA, you know~ Surprised, aren't you? So, how can a poor company like yours deserve to have such an excellent IFA like Yotsuba-chan~"
After speaking, she immediately looked at Mahiro and said intimately, "And Mahiru-kun, you can do whatever you want with me. Staying by my side is better than staying with Kisara, who has a pair of vulgar breasts but is surprisingly chaste, isn't it?"
"That's still better than your flat chest!"
With a bang, Kisara slammed the bowl onto the table with such force that it almost shattered.
But then her face flushed as she said, "And... and Mahiru-kun isn't the kind of person you're talking about at all...."
"Oh, oh, you know, Kisara? Only people with well-proportioned breasts look more elegant in a kimono~ So, no one would fancy someone with vulgar, tasteless big breasts like yours."
Miori gently fanned herself, smiling triumphantly.
She even earned Enju's approval.
"Master...."
Asaka looked at Kisara with a worried expression.
"It's okay, I'm okay, Asaka."
Kisara mumbled this, but she didn't look okay at all.
She lowered her head, the shadow of her bangs obscuring her face, and a popping sound, like a blood vessel bursting, could be heard.
Even though there was no food left in the bowl, she mechanically moved her chopsticks back and forth between her mouth and the plate.
"Snow Shadow... do you want to suck the blood of a female snake demon?... I can't do anything about you... Hehehe."
Kisara, driven to mental instability by anger, began talking to the demonic blade she carried.
"I say."
With a 'snap!', Mahiro put down his chopsticks and pulled his arm away from Miori, creating some distance.
He said coldly:
"It's fine if you two argue. But if you try to fight in my house, be careful, I'll throw both of you out onto the street. Do you understand?"
Just one sentence instantly extinguished all their anger, and even the previous tension vanished without a trace.
The two immediately sat up straight, picked up their chopsticks, and quickly scooped food from the pot to stuff into their mouths.
Because they knew very well that if they continued to fight, Mahiro would truly do as he said.