"Um…"
The black-haired girl slowly walked up to Mr. Shi, pulling her suitcase.
"Hello, my name is Takina Inoue. I've been assigned here starting today. Please take care of me."
The girl—Takina Inoue—had a flat expression, didn't bow politely, and even gave off the impression that she was in a bad mood.
"Assigned?" Just then, Utaha Kasumigaoka came to Mr. Shi's side and asked, confused.
"Mr. Shi~ Mr. Shi." Kanna also arrived, pulling on Mr. Shi's pants.
"Come." Mr. Shi smiled, squatted down, and picked her up.
"Oh~" Kanna happily wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Hello, are you Chisato-senpai?" Takina Inoue didn't look at them, but instead asked Utaha Kasumigaoka.
"Ah?" Utaha Kasumigaoka was stunned for a moment.
Takina Inoue continued calmly, "Chisato-senpai, the Commander ordered me to learn from you. Although it's not my original intention, learning from the top Lycoris will surely help me improve quickly and return to headquarters sooner."
"Um… I'm not Chisato," Utaha Kasumigaoka explained awkwardly.
"Then…" Takina Inoue hesitated for a moment and looked at Mr. Shi.
Mr. Shi was mortified: "…It's even less likely me, right? Didn't you just hear what Kanna called me?"
Takina Inoue frowned slightly: "Then, where is Chisato-senpai?"
"Don't worry, she'll be here soon. She's washing vegetables right now."
"Washing vegetables?" Takina Inoue's frown deepened.
"In any case, please have a seat first." Mr. Shi gestured for her to sit on a nearby stool.
"No need, I'll just wait for Chisato-senpai like this," Takina Inoue coldly refused.
"Alright…"
"Um, Mr. Shi…" Utaha Kasumigaoka tugged at Mr. Shi's sleeve and asked curiously, "What does Lycoris mean?"
"Don't worry about it."
"Don't try to fool me!" Utaha Kasumigaoka pinched his arm in dissatisfaction.
"Hiss—I get it, can I explain it to you later?"
"Hmph~" Utaha Kasumigaoka let out a soft huff before releasing him.
"Mr. Shi, are you hurt?" Kanna asked considerately, even extending her small hand to gently rub the spot where Utaha Kasumigaoka had just pinched him.
"It doesn't hurt~" Mr. Shi couldn't help but rub Kanna's chubby cheek.
"That's good."
"Kanna is still the cutest."
"I'm sorry I'm not cute, then." Utaha Kasumigaoka eyed him askance.
"It's okay, you're not cute, but you're beautiful," Mr. Shi said with a smile, comforting her.
"Tch~" Utaha Kasumigaoka turned her head away, not letting him see the slight upturn of her lips.
"…" Takina Inoue, standing opposite the three, expressionlessly watched their interaction, which resembled a family of three.
This is the place the Commander sent her to learn from?
This is where the top Lycoris stays?
Is it really okay?
"Chen ge, I'm here." Just then, Chisato Nishikigi's lively voice rang out, and she skipped out.
"Ah, a Lycoris." Seeing Takina Inoue's appearance, Chisato Nishikigi immediately knew her identity.
"Chisato-senpai." Takina Inoue nodded in greeting to Chisato Nishikigi.
"Oh~ How cute. What's that mark on your face? A medal?"
"No…" Takina Inoue paused, her expression a little strange, but immediately returned to normal: "It's not."
"I see. Welcome." Chisato Nishikigi familiarly approached Takina Inoue and hugged her.
"Yes, Chisato-senpai."
"No need to be so formal, just call me Chisato, you…"
"My name is Takina Inoue."
"Okay, then I'll call you Takina."
"I understand…"
"Hehe~ Chen ge." Chisato Nishikigi finally released her and excitedly moved closer to Mr. Shi.
"We have a new employee in our shop."
"…She's not here to be an employee." Mr. Shi twitched his lips.
"Eh? Didn't you say to take care of her?"
"Can making her an employee be called taking care of her?"
"You can't just let her live and eat for free, can you?"
"You're quite the homemaker. Although she was fired…"
"Um, I wasn't fired!" Takina Inoue suddenly interjected.
"Uh…" Mr. Shi was a little embarrassed; it seemed their conversation had been overheard.
"Ahem, is, is that so?"
"Yes, I wasn't fired, just demoted. I believe that by improving myself with Chisato-senpai, I'll be able to return soon."
"Eh? What's so good about DA?" Chisato Nishikigi couldn't help but retort.
"…" This made Takina Inoue choke up. For a moment, she really couldn't think of anything good.
She was just like other Lycoris, training, completing missions, and doing her best before leaving DA as an adult.
What's so good about DA?
Can you kill people freely?
Even she didn't think that was a good thing.
"Chisato-senpai, why did you leave DA?"
"I told you not to be so serious with me, just call me Chisato."
"Then… Chisato."
"Mm-hmm!" Chisato Nishikigi nodded in satisfaction, then explained, "Actually, I left DA to find my savior!"
As she spoke, she happily hugged Mr. Shi: "I want to live with Chen ge! To live the life I want."
"Live the life you want… dating?"
"Oh dear~ While it's not exactly that, you could say so," Chisato Nishikigi waved her hand bashfully.
"Dating?" Takina Inoue stared seriously at Mr. Shi, a male. This was indeed something she had never thought about.
But she had absolutely no interest in it right now.
"Hello, my name is Mr. Shi." Mr. Shi introduced himself when he saw her looking at him.
"Mr. Shi?"
"Yes, I'm from China, and this coffee shop is mine."
"I see… Then, I'll be troubling you, Mr. Shi."
"It's a small matter, but just as Chisato said to me earlier, you can't live here for free."
"No problem, I can do any task."
"No, you don't need to do any tasks. We're not a place like DA here. Just follow Chisato and listen to her arrangements."
"I understand."
"Hehe~ Then, Takina, please take care of me from now on."
"Mm." Takina Inoue nodded faintly.
"Chisato, you should take her to arrange her room first. We'll have dinner together later… Takina… Is it okay if I call you that?"
"Yes, it's fine."
"Then Takina, you haven't had dinner yet, have you?"
"No."
"Then it's perfect, we'll eat together later."
"Okay."
"Then Takina, come with me." Chisato Nishikigi pulled Takina Inoue upstairs.
After the two went upstairs, Utaha Kasumigaoka finally couldn't help but ask, "Alright, now tell me, what's with Lycoris and DA?"
"I'll ask Chisato if she's willing to disclose it first."
"Is it something incredible?" Utaha Kasumigaoka asked.
"It will overturn your worldview."
"Heh~ I've personally seen dragons and magic, how much more can it overturn?" Utaha Kasumigaoka crossed her arms, rolling her eyes.
"Alright…" Mr. Shi shook his head with a wry smile, almost forgetting about that.
"However, this involves Chisato's background, so it's better to get her permission first."
"Chisato's background? Alright then."
"Mm." Mr. Shi went to the staircase and called upstairs: "Chisato!"
"What's wrong, Chen ge?" Chisato Nishikigi quickly responded.
"Poetry Feather wants to know about Lycoris and DA, should I tell her?"
"Tell her, we're all family, there's nothing to hide."
"Okay."
Mr. Shi carried Kanna towards the kitchen: "Let's go, sit in the kitchen and talk."
"Is there a lot to say?" Utaha Kasumigaoka followed him.
"At least it's not something that can be finished in one go."