The next morning.
Sol helped Anby into the bathroom, and the two washed up together until they were both spotless.
Last night had been... intense—so much so that Anby was unusually quiet this morning, glancing at Sol but unable to bring herself to speak.
After they finished washing, Sol wrapped his arms around her. Her soft, smooth body felt like warm jade in his embrace. "Anby, how about we come clean to Nicole? We could all live together."
"No."
Anby's bright eyes met his, full of resistance.
She knew this was wrong—and yet she'd done it anyway.
She was afraid that if the truth came out, she'd lose both Sol and Nicole.
Everything in the Cunning Hares had been so good before. She didn't want that to change.
"Secrets don't stay hidden forever. Sooner or later, we'll have to talk about this," Sol said softly, holding her small hand and letting his warmth flow through. "I'll handle everything. No one's going anywhere."
"Really?"
Anby's voice trembled slightly.
"Of course."
Sol smiled gently, certain.
He'd long known that greed often led to misfortune—but humans were greedy creatures.
When something good stood before you, you had to hold onto it with everything you had.
Time, power, love—they were all the same.
His previous life had been far from perfect. Having been given another chance, he wanted to seize every bit of happiness that came his way.
The process might be painful for a time, but giving up on either of them? He simply couldn't.
"Alright. I trust you." Anby looked into Sol's eyes and spoke earnestly. "But if it doesn't work out... I'll step back."
Her voice dimmed. "After all... it was you and Nicole first. I'm the one who did wrong later."
Guilt pricked her heart. If only she'd restrained herself, if only she hadn't fallen for Sol—she wouldn't be facing this dilemma now.
"How could it be your fault?" Sol ran his fingers through her silver hair. "Honestly... from the very start, my goal wasn't just one person."
"Huh?"
Anby looked up, startled—then suddenly felt a strange urge to bite him.
"Come on, let's get some breakfast."
Sol chuckled, helping Anby dress.
Helping your girlfriend get dressed—surely that made her feel cared for, right?
"D-Don't move so much," Anby murmured, her cheeks tinged pink.
"…"
Sol gave an innocent look.
Wasn't a little physical contact normal in this situation?
A few minutes later.
Anby finally slipped into her green combat uniform—though today, the valiant "green battle girl" looked a bit worn out.
Hand in hand, Sol and Anby walked next door to the Cunning Hares' main quarters. Baal, still tired from her disrupted sleep last night, was napping in Nekomata's room.
The moment they stepped inside, they ran into Billy, who had just gotten up.
"Huh?"
Billy looked first at Anby's room—the door shut tight—then at Anby herself, walking in with Sol from outside.
Wait a sec. Anby, where did you sleep last night?!
"You're up early, Billy. Lighter asked you to drive at the Outer Ring today—don't forget." Sol tossed him a small pouch of Dennies and grinned. "Make sure you look good out there. Don't embarrass me."
If he was going to confess his scummy behavior to Nicole later, he couldn't have extra eyes around.
Three people talking was a private conversation. Four would feel like a tribunal—not a good look.
"Huh? Lighter asked you to tell me to drive?" Billy blinked, confused—but one look from Sol made him catch on fast. "Oh! Oh, right! That's true! But I already turned him down—I'm heading out to buy some Starlight Knight merch today!"
"Then go quickly, Billy. If you're late, it might sell out."
"You're right, Anby! I'll head out right now!"
Tears welled in Billy's eyes as he left.
Now that Sol, Anby, and Nicole were like a family, he and Nekomata were the outsiders.
He, a founding member of the Cunning Hares, reduced to sitting at the same table as Nekomata...
Maybe tonight he should knock on Sol's door and invite his boss to watch Older Sister Monica together instead...
Once Billy was gone—
Sol made Anby a rich, nourishing breakfast. After eating, they quietly slipped into Nicole's room to wait for her return.
But perhaps because of last night's exhaustion, Anby soon dozed off, her head resting softly on Sol's shoulder.
…
Two hours later, the sun was high in the sky.
Nicole and Nekomata returned to the Cunning Hares, dusty and worn from their all-nighter. Though fatigue showed on their faces, both were brimming with energy.
They'd spent the entire day and night running through Nicole's network, selling every scrap of intel they could.
The effort paid off—Nicole had earned a total of thirty million Dennies, several months' worth of profit for the Cunning Hares.
As Nicole and Nekomata prepared to share their excitement, they noticed that Billy, Anby, and Sol were all nowhere to be found.
"What a drag. I wanted to show off a bit, but they're all out." Nicole yawned and turned to Nekomata. "You worked hard last night. Go get some sleep. We'll tell them the good news when they're back."
"Ahh~" Nekomata covered her mouth as she stretched lazily. "Got it, Boss Nicole. If Sol sees how hard I worked, I bet he'll give me a nice reward."
Her pink tongue flicked out as she licked her lips, savoring the thought of those super cat treats.
"What did you just say?"
Nicole blinked, certain she'd misheard, and looked at Nekomata suspiciously.
"Nothing!" Nekomata straightened up immediately. "I mean— Boss Nicole will definitely take pity on me for working so hard!"
"Don't worry, your mackerel's guaranteed."
Satisfied, Nicole waved her off.
Relieved, Nekomata darted into her room and collapsed face-first onto her bed—only to spot Baal still sound asleep.
With a grin, she pulled the tiny Bangboo into her arms, enjoying a bit of Sol's treatment for herself.
And so, one of Sol's cuddle buddies was now cuddling another in her sleep!
Meanwhile, Nicole, half-asleep herself, opened her own door—ready for a long, satisfying nap.
But the moment she pushed it open, she froze.
Anby was in her bed.
Holding her man.
Sleeping soundly together.
So green. So bold!
"I must be seeing things..."
Nicole rubbed her eyes, trying to clear her vision.
"Welcome home, Nicole."
Sol smiled gently and raised a hand in greeting.
Hic! Nicole choked on air, her mind short-circuiting.
She rolled her eyes and fainted backward—right into Sol's arms.
"Did she just pass out from shock?"
Sol checked her pulse—steady, calm, only sleepy. He breathed a sigh of relief.
Still, as he looked down at the two beautiful women sleeping on either side of him, a headache began to form.
This... wasn't quite how he'd imagined things turning out.
When they woke up—how on earth was he going to explain this?