Marcarita had endured enough. With a playful glare, she leaned forward and gave Chiga a sharp headbutt.
Chiga only smirked and flicked her forehead in return, earning a soft yelp from her. The two soon broke into rough play, tumbling across the sofa. Within moments, Marcarita's clothes were disheveled, while Chiga's remained perfectly neat — as though untouched by their scuffle.
Suddenly, Chiga reached out and gently pinned her down, his voice lowering to a whisper.
"Stop fooling around. We have guests."
Marcarita blinked in surprise.
"Guests? Why didn't I sense them?"
Chiga's expression turned serious. He helped her fix her slightly open collar and murmured,
"The ones coming this time aren't ordinary."
---
Outside the door, a sphere of radiant, multicolored light shimmered before fading away. From within emerged Grand Zeno and his entourage, arriving directly from Beerus's temple.
Grand Zeno's two attendants were about to push the door open, but the Grand Minister lifted a hand to stop them. With his usual calm smile, he said,
"When visiting someone's home, one must knock. It's proper etiquette."
He gave a respectful bow to Grand Zeno before stepping forward and knocking softly.
The door soon opened — and standing there was Marcarita.
The moment she saw who it was, her eyes widened.
"Grand Minister!?"
Before she could even recover from the shock, a cheerful, childlike voice came from behind the Grand Minister.
"Huh? You're the Angel from Universe Eleven, right? What are you doing here?"
At the sound of Grand Zeno's voice, Marcarita froze. Her twin ponytails practically stood upright as she peeked past the Grand Minister, confirming it was indeed the Omni-King himself.
Whis, who had been standing nearby, was completely ignored.
Marcarita's mind went blank. She just stood there, muttering "Zen-Oh…" under her breath, completely motionless — until Chiga appeared behind her.
"Why are you standing here like an idiot?" he muttered, lightly tapping her shoulder. "Move aside."
He gently pulled Marcarita behind him, facing the Grand Minister with composed confidence.
The Grand Minister's gaze lingered on Chiga for a moment, his usual serene smile unbroken.
"This must be Uchiha Chiga, yes? I've heard quite a bit about you from Whis. It's a pleasure to finally meet."
His tone carried respect — surprisingly humble for someone of his divine standing.
Chiga returned the smile.
"There's no need for formalities. May I ask what brings the esteemed Grand Minister here?"
Before the Grand Minister could answer, Grand Zeno excitedly waved his small hand.
"Of course, we came to play! I heard there are lots of fun things on this planet!"
Chiga looked at the tiny being floating before him and chuckled softly.
"You're here to play? Then you're guests. Come on in — let's talk inside."
With a polite gesture, he stepped aside, guiding them in.
Grand Zeno floated through the doorway, his guards following closely behind. The Grand Minister inclined his head.
"Excuse the intrusion," he said, entering with grace.
From behind, Beerus and Whis exchanged nervous glances.
"Chiga," Whis whispered as they entered, "you must be careful. If you anger Zen-Oh, this entire universe could—"
Chiga cut him off with a wave.
"Relax. They're guests, and I'll treat them as such. But if someone causes trouble…"
His eyes narrowed slightly — not a trace of Ki released, yet Whis felt an icy chill crawl down his spine.
"You're not thinking of fighting Zen-Oh, are you?" Whis asked, swallowing hard.
Chiga smirked.
"I'm not that bored. Let's just keep things peaceful."
He turned to Marcarita, pinching her cheek gently.
"Hey. Snap out of it. Your father's here — aren't you going to greet him? That's not very polite for a daughter."
Marcarita blinked and shook her head rapidly, her composure slowly returning. Then, panic flashed across her face as she clutched Chiga's arm.
"Chiga… is the Grand Minister here to take me away? Even Zen-Oh's here… I'm scared…"
Her voice trembled, and so did her body.
Chiga sighed softly, his tone unusually gentle as he wrapped his arms around her.
"Don't be afraid. I'm here. As long as you don't want to leave, no one — not even Zen-Oh — can take you away."
Marcarita stared at him, her heart pounding. For a moment, she forgot to breathe.
"Um," Whis raised a hesitant hand, "can Lord Beerus and I come in now?"
Chiga nodded wordlessly. Whis quickly dragged a still-stunned Beerus inside.
Of everyone present, Whis was the most on edge. If anything went wrong, the Seventh Universe would be the first erased. Between Chiga and Zen-Oh, neither side was someone he wanted to test.
---
Upstairs, Vados and Lazuli descended after hearing the commotion.
When Vados saw the Grand Minister and Zen-Oh, her eyes widened momentarily — but she quickly composed herself. With perfect poise, she motioned for Lazuli to stay silent, then bowed deeply before the Grand Minister and Zen-Oh.
Her calm elegance earned a nod of approval from the Grand Minister. Among his children, Vados resembled him most. Yet his fondest affection was still reserved for Marcarita, who stood silently at Chiga's side.
By the time Chiga guided Marcarita into the living room, Zen-Oh and the others were comfortably seated on the sofa. Cups of steaming coffee rested on the table — an arrangement clearly prepared by Vados, who now carried herself like a gracious hostess.
Lazuli, having learned the identity of their visitors, stared in disbelief. The small, blue being before her — the one sipping coffee — was the supreme ruler of all universes.
Zen-Oh held his cup in both hands, taking a sip. His eyes lit up with delight.
"What is this drink called? It's bitter and sweet at the same time! Amazing!"
Vados smiled politely.
"It's called coffee. A popular beverage from Earth."
Zen-Oh instantly downed the rest of the cup, grinning in satisfaction. The Grand Minister watched the scene with a gentle smile, his presence radiating serenity.
For a moment, even the gods of destruction felt like mere guests — in Chiga's home.
---