"Big Brother~~"
With a sweet, drawn-out tone, Luo Shu was suddenly tackled into a tight embrace amidst the dimly lit desert.
Caught off guard, Luo Shu was knocked over by Mukuro Hoshimiya—whose physical abilities had skyrocketed but whose control hadn't kept pace—landing in the soft sand.
Though he didn't feel any pain, Luo Shu couldn't help but want to complain about Mukuro's actions.
"Oops~~" Mukuro Hoshimiya giggled, before getting up.
Finally freed, Luo Shu looked at Lacus and Natsuki Minamiya, who were standing to the side with amused expressions, with a mix of exasperation and speechlessness:
"Instead of just watching, think about where Mukuro is going to stay next."
"Muku will naturally live with Big Brother, of course~" Mukuro declared matter-of-factly before suddenly teleporting behind Lacus and hugging her from behind:
"And with Big Sister too~"
"Ohoho, a left-and-right embrace? How nice."
Natsuki chuckled coldly as she watched Luo Shu stand up and shake the sand off himself:
"With adorable sisters like Lacus and Mukuro staying with you, surely no one at home would object, right?"
Hearing this, Luo Shu froze for a moment before immediately realising something, his expression shifting slightly.
"For example, Kisara..."
Natsuki smiled sweetly, driving the point home before adding:
"Oh, right, there's also Kasumigaoka. She seems to be planning to move next door to you soon. And if I recall correctly, your apartment also houses a landlady, doesn't it? What was her name... Mira Tsubakihara? Tsk tsk, the young lady of the Tsubakihara family~~"
"Feels like your home will be quite lively every morning, doesn't it?"
"In that case, would Natsuki like to join this lively family?"
Though internally panicking, Luo Shu didn't show it, instead countering with a smile:
"I guarantee you'd be the liveliest centrepiece of it all~"
"Don't worry, I'll even carry you with me when bathing, sleeping, or even using the toilet~"
Hearing this, Natsuki's composure cracked as she involuntarily took a step back:
"Hey, hey, don't say something so disgusting!"
"Who wants to be this clingy with you? Do you think we're conjoined twins?"
"You were the one who provoked me first," Luo Shu retorted.
"Then you could have retaliated in a less disgusting way!" Natsuki Minamiya was exceptionally irritated.
"Sorry, I can't out-argue a Japanese teacher." Luo Shu spread his hands.
"I teach English!!" Natsuki raised her voice sharply. When it came to her teaching profession, she wouldn't tolerate Luo Shu's teasing.
"Are you sure?" Luo Shu gave Natsuki a strange look. "Though I've only attended school for one day this term, I've heard several students say your English is very non-standard, and they can't understand what you mean."
Natsuki froze: "...But I teach the most authentic London accent."
Immediately, Luo Shu's expression turned peculiar as he said with a subtle look:
"...You're planning to teach an authentic London accent to Japanese people?"
Natsuki: "..."
"You two really get along well."
Lacus, holding Mukuro Hoshimiya, smiled as she watched Luo Shu and Natsuki bicker.
"Get along well, my foot."
"If this brat didn't have ulterior motives towards me, I wouldn't be quarrelling with him every day. Honestly, students should at least act like students."
Natsuki tapped her head with a folding fan, looking thoroughly vexed.
When it came to teaching and nurturing students, Natsuki took it very seriously.
So, should she teach Toyogasaki High School students Japanese-style English? She'd probably die of embarrassment if her acquaintances found out. Teaching such misleading nonsense...
Hearing Natsuki's words, Lacus said in surprise:
"So, Natsuki, you mean you'll make Luo Shu wait another year and agree after he graduates?"
Natsuki nodded subconsciously:
"Right, at the very least, we should wait until this brat graduates before..."
Before she could finish speaking, Natsuki Minamiya froze.
She raised her head, glanced at Luo Shu's peculiar expression, then turned to look at Lacus, whose face remained sweet and elegant. Unable to help herself, she bit her lower lip and forced out words through gritted teeth:
"Lacus, do you actually think you're being funny right now?"
How much did Luo Shu pay this woman to make her so eager to be cuckolded?
Could it be that wearing that kind of hat is actually addictive?
"Natsuki, wasn't that what you meant?" Lacus seemed somewhat surprised.
Hearing this, Natsuki Minamiya fell silent for a moment before tentatively asking:
"You don't happen to have some kind of Abyss Artefact on you that grows stronger the more hats you wear, do you?"
At these words, Luo Shu spoke in a highly uncertain tone: "There couldn't possibly be that kind of Abyss Artefact, right?"
'But your uncertain tone is making me very nervous...'
Natsuki Minamiya's expression turned extremely subtle.
This thing couldn't actually exist, could it?
Faced with the inexplicably tense pair, Lacus simply smiled and said:
"I merely made the choice with the greatest benefit."
Natsuki Minamiya gave Lacus a deep look before finally saying uncertainly:
"The emotions the Adjuster Drug made you lose... it couldn't be this specific emotion, could it? Is it really that precise?"
Thinking this, Natsuki Minamiya glanced at Luo Shu.
'Who knows if Luo Shu's abilities could solve Lacus's problem...'
With this thought, Natsuki shook her head.
'Never mind, these things can't be rushed. Besides, this current state might actually be the best possible condition for Lacus...'
While thinking this, Natsuki shot Luo Shu an annoyed look and said:
"Now that everything's resolved, the remaining matters probably don't need to be rushed either."
"So I should be able to return to the surface world now, right?"
"If you wish, you can go back anytime," Luo Shu nodded.
"Then let's go back."
Natsuki Minamiya closed her eyes, then looked at Mukuro Hoshimiya beside her and added:
"Oh, right, remember to teach Mukuro some basic mysticism knowledge. Tomorrow I'll handle this girl's transfer to Toyogasaki High School."
"Is that necessary?" Luo Shu sounded somewhat exasperated.
"Don't worry, she'll be assigned to Kisara's class. I'll keep an eye on things to prevent any trouble."
"And when we have more people later, I'll specially create a separate class just for these Familia members who haven't even finished high school, so they can study properly!"
Hearing this, Luo Shu immediately fell silent, but Natsuki clearly had no intention of letting him off. She rattled on:
"Don't even try telling me she doesn't need education. Without schooling, what future do you think she could have?"
"Does becoming an Apostle not require brains? Or does becoming an Angel not need them?"
"Without physics, how would she know how to use minimal force at critical points to cause maximum damage?"
"Without chemistry, how would she know which chemical combinations are harmful to the body, or how to handle them most effectively?"
"Without mathematics, how would she calculate coordinate axes for spatial movement?"
"You should know, even the mystic side follows scientific principles!!"
"Relying solely on instinct and talent won't make one strong, my god!!"
After Natsuki Minamiya's lengthy lecture, Luo Shu could only raise his hands slightly in a gesture of surrender:
"Alright, alright, whatever you say! I'll do as you say."
Seeing this, Natsuki Minamiya lifted her chin proudly, snorted, and promptly exited the Divine Kingdom, clearly returning to the Hidden Management Department garrison in Tokyo.
Watching her go, Luo Shu sighed helplessly, turned to exchange a glance with Lacus, and then—pfft—they both burst into laughter.
"I've never seen someone volunteer for extra work, especially something as mentally and physically draining as babysitting~"
Luo Shu spread his hands, grinning from ear to ear.
"Natsuki-chan, really..."
Lacus shook her head, then hugged Mukuro Hoshimiya, who was also laughing, before turning to Luo Shu:
"But what Natsuki mentioned earlier is genuinely troublesome."
Thinking of Miss Kisara, Lacus smiled:
"Just in case, I'll come with you to your place this time."
"Huh?"
Luo Shu blinked, giving Lacus a surprised look before replying:
"That might not be appropriate..."
"Meer is still working hard as your stand-in..."
"Then let her bear with it a little longer~"
Hearing this, Luo Shu chuckled as he stepped closer to the two of them:
"Fine, let's go back together."
Then, he couldn't resist teasing:
"Let's just hope Miss Kisara doesn't give us too much of a cold shoulder~"