What were her thoughts?
Miko Yotsuya, her emotions in turmoil, couldn't answer, her face full of hesitation.
After all, this was a lifelong commitment. Even though she felt in her heart that this might be the best solution, she still wavered.
Just as Miko Yotsuya hesitated, a lazy voice sounded in her ear:
"So as long as we join Mr Luo Shu's organisation, we'll be safe? That sounds pretty good to me."
Hana Yurikawa held a water cup, blinking as she spoke:
"But how exactly do you join the organisation? Is a verbal agreement enough?"
"You'll need to sign a contract. You can think of it like a company contract, except the enforcement mechanism isn't national law but the supernatural power of the mystic side. You could consider it divine in nature."
As Luo Shu spoke, he glanced towards Yukino Yukinoshita nearby.
Understanding immediately, she walked to a cabinet and retrieved a stack of prepared contracts.
These documents were stocked in both Luo Shu and Yukino Yukinoshita's offices, with some naturally kept in the reception area for convenience.
After all, Familia members could actively recruit newcomers for Luo Shu. It would be awkward to secure someone only to lack the contract paperwork.
Thus, three locations within the garrison kept prepared contracts for Familia use.
When Yukino Yukinoshita brought the contracts and pens to the table, Hana Yurikawa reached out to sign without a second thought.
Seeing this, Miko Yotsuya finally reacted and couldn't help exclaiming:
"Hana!"
Miko Yotsuya was genuinely worried her careless best friend might sign the contract without proper consideration and regret it for life.
Had she not considered the risks?
Oh, right, this girl always acted on instinct!
"What's wrong, Miko?" Hana Yurikawa looked over in confusion, making Miko's mouth twitch. Yet with Luo Shu present, she couldn't speak frankly.
At that moment, Luo Shu stood up with a smile:
"Yukino, it's about time we handled those files~~."
Then he nodded at Miko Yotsuya: "You two can take more time to consider this carefully."
Miko's cheeks flushed crimson at his words, and she lowered her head without daring to speak.
Meanwhile, Luo Shu had already moved towards the door, with Yukino Yukinoshita quickly following. Soon, both had left the room.
When only she and Hana Yurikawa remained, Miko immediately reached out angrily, pinching Hana's cheeks and pulling them sideways:
"You idiot!"
"How could you agree to something like this without thinking? What's going through your mind?"
"I just feel Mr Luo Shu wouldn't harm me."
Hana Yurikawa's speech was muffled by the cheek-pinching, yet carried an indescribable tone.
"Hana!"
Hearing this, Miko grew even more irritated—was she implying only I was being petty?
Wasn't her hesitation all because she was worried about Hana Yurikawa?
If it were just herself, she wouldn't hesitate to sign the contract. But Hana had only come to Akihabara because of her and gotten caught up in all this. How could she not be concerned?
"Miko, you always overthink things." Hana Yurikawa added bluntly with her usual simple-mindedness: "You should just go with your gut feeling."
"What am I even worrying about?" Miko Yotsuya couldn't help covering her face, though she was somewhat convinced by Hana's words.
It might be completely unscientific, but ever since they were kids, Hana's intuition had always been scarily accurate.
Of course, Miko preferred to describe it less flatteringly as 'animal instincts'.
Feeling mentally exhausted by this train of thought, Miko immediately asked:
"So you've decided to sign the contract then?"
"Luo Shu is a good person," Hana replied with complete seriousness.
Seeing this, Miko could only sigh:
"Fine, fine. I suppose we've been together since we were kids anyway."
She sighed again as she spoke, pulling out two copies of the contract from the stack before them. Placing one in front of each of them, she picked up a pen.
"If we regret this later, I'm going to punch you, you know."
"Hehehehe!"
Amid Hana's simple-minded giggles, the two of them signed their names on their respective contracts.
...
The office next to the reception room, near the elevators.
Luo Shu sat sprawled in Yukino Yukinoshita's seat, legs crossed, rocking the chair back and forth without any intention of handling the documents.
Beside him, Yukino Yukinoshita meticulously organised the files on the desk, stacking them neatly before feeding them into the nearby shredder.
Amid the grating sound of the shredder, Yukino turned slightly towards Luo Shu and said:
"Director, are you really that confident they'll agree?"
In response, Luo Shu merely raised his hand. "Before saying that, why don't you take a look at my right hand first?"
"See anything?"
Yukino Yukinoshita turned her head, curiosity prompting her to glance at Luo Shu's hand.
Instantly, the crimson ruby ring caught her eye.
Unconsciously, Yukino averted her gaze from the ring.
"'Demon Heart'... Director, don't tell me you've been planning to hypnotise them into signing the contract with this ring all along?"
"Would I really stoop that low?" Luo Shu shot Yukino an indignant glare. "I'm just giving them a chance to reconsider their choices."
"Hypnotising them into 'reconsidering' doesn't sound much better, does it?"
Yukino openly retorted in front of Luo Shu before shaking her head.
Though she said that, Yukino knew full well that Luo Shu hadn't actually done anything.
At most, this was just the Director indulging in some verbal bravado. If someone truly refused, he'd probably let them go.
For some reason, Yukino felt inexplicably certain of this.
Not long ago, she would have assumed the worst of Luo Shu's intentions.
Just then, Luo Shu turned to Yukino and asked:
"Speaking of which, is Haruno still working for you for free?"
Yukino paused briefly at the question before replying:
"Elder sister... carries too much psychological burden."
As for the source of that burden—their mother—Yukino didn't dare voice it.
Mrs. Yukinoshita's authority wasn't limited to Haruno; Yukino feared her just as much.
Hearing this, Luo Shu sighed dramatically. "So my plan to recruit both sisters is delayed yet again?"
"Haruno's really that patient?"
At his words, Yukino expressionlessly set aside the documents she was about to shred.
"Director, I'm a bit tired today. You can handle these files yourself."
Luo Shu immediately countered, "If it were Haruno, she'd keep working while asking whether I prefer the elder or younger sister."
Yukino shot him an exasperated look before picking the files back up and resuming shredding.
"Suddenly, I find myself hoping Miss Yotsuya and Miss Yurikawa refuse to sign the contract."
Luo Shu chuckled at that, but before he could respond, his eyebrows suddenly twitched, and his expression turned peculiar.
"Seems your hope was in vain."
"Those two have already signed the contract."
Yukino froze.
'That fast?'