"Is that so? If it pays well..."
Having just finished a part-time job, Tōka Takanashi accepted the flyer and skimmed through it briefly.
Though she personally had no interest in this job that was most likely at a maid café, seeing how pretty the girl handing out flyers was piqued her curiosity enough to take a look.
However, after reading the flyer, Tōka Takanashi felt things were a bit... unusual.
"The flyer says I need to provide you with basic accommodation, guarantee three proper meals a day, plus an afternoon tea... and in return, you'll make me a Magical Girl."
Tōka shook the flyer in her hand, expressionlessly addressing Serafall:
"That's the gist of it, right?"
"Yes, those are essentially the terms."
Serafall nodded repeatedly, her face wearing what seemed like a customer service smile:
"So, what do you think? Quite a good deal, isn't it? It's a rare opportunity to receive personal magic guidance from this Magical Girl herself~"
Tōka looked at Serafall, who was puffing out her chest proudly and brimming with confidence, and suddenly felt like she was seeing her shut-in, chuunibyou little sister.
This personality, this behaviour... in Tōka's eyes, it was textbook chuunibyou.
"Though I'm not sure how you ended up in this situation, based on what's written here, I can only assume you're not actually hiring but looking for someone to take you in?"
"Take me in?" Serafall looked at Tōka in surprise. "That's rather rude phrasing."
She lifted her chin confidently and declared:
"For a Magical Girl, endless wealth and comfortable, secure housing are trivial things obtainable with just a flick of the fingers and a few spells~"
Tōka let out a cold laugh at this, waving the flyer dismissively:
"Oh, really? Can you actually use your magic right now? Go on, show me."
"Well..."
Serafall looked troubled as she replied:
"I can use magic, but in this barrier that suppresses power, I'd have to amplify my output beyond the barrier's limits."
"That would be a huge demerit for someone secretly infiltrating this world."
"If I really used magic here, I'd probably get 'subjugated' by the evil villains, wouldn't I?"
"You call them villains yet use 'subjugate'? Aren't you basically admitting you're the bad guy here?"
Tōka deadpanned before calmly flipping through the flyer again:
"So, to summarise – your magic is temporarily unusable for some reason, but you need shelter and basic meals, hence you approached me. Is that it?"
"Correct."
Serafall nodded, placing her hands on her hips:
"I could ask Mr Luo Shu for help, but I'd prefer to investigate this world undisturbed."
"And if I requested official accommodation, I'd probably be under surveillance, which would be rather inconvenient..."
"So, if possible, could I stay at your place? Just for a month?"
"A month's stay... and this Luo Shu – is he an acquaintance of yours in Tokyo? Sounds like a foreign male name..."
"But asking for help means being monitored... Oh, is the other party actually your parent or guardian?"
Tōka Takanashi looked at the girl before her, whose mere expression of distress made her appear exceptionally adorable, and found herself unable to refuse.
If she'd sought help from a boy, with that face, she'd undoubtedly get assistance 100% of the time, right?
Of course, there was also a high chance she'd encounter something very unpleasant for a girl...
After some thought, Tōka still felt she couldn't just abandon the girl before her.
This older chuunibyou with zero basic life skills was just too much like her little sister. Leaving her to her own devices gave Tōka the same sinking feeling as watching her own sister go astray.
"If it's just basic accommodation and three meals a day, I can provide that."
"But while I'm providing for you, you'll need to look for work. Also, you'll have to pay back every penny of living expenses once you start earning!"
Her words might have sounded harsh, but Tōka's eyes were remarkably gentle.
Seeing this, Serafall broke into a delighted smile:
"Miss really is such a nice person~"
"Oh, you noticed?" Tōka responded rather flatly.
Just a 'nice person' card. If she were a guy, she might have overthought getting this from a beauty, but alas, she was thoroughly female.
Then Serafall blinked her large, sparkling eyes and said with a smile:
"My eyes can see people's desires, you know."
"Compared to the murky desires in others' eyes, Miss's desires are wonderfully pure~"
"Golden and shining, yes, just like mine - an innocent heart that cherishes little sisters~"
Hearing this, Tōka sighed helplessly:
"Sigh~"
"Alright, alright, I get it. I do have a younger sister, but let's hold off on the chuunibyou-style compliments for now."
"Are you hungry? Should I make you something to eat first?"
"Of course, the best I can do is pork cutlet rice. I've got a part-time job at 7 pm, so there's not much time for cooking."
"Pork cutlet rice? That sounds delicious. Let's have that then."
"But before we go..."
With a casual wave, to Tōka's astonishment, Serafall retrieved the flyer, pressed her thumbprint onto it, then grabbed Tōka's hand to do the same:
"And so, the contract is complete~"
"Rejoice! From this day forth, you are Serafall Leviathan's personal disciple~"
"Oh, right, what was your name again?"
"Completely hopeless chuunibyou..."
Tōka sighed before answering:
"Tōka. My name is Tōka Takanashi."
"By the way, my sister's name is Rikka. Considering you might meet later, you'll probably get along famously."
"Still, since I need to work soon and taking you home now would be inconvenient, why don't you come help at my workplace later?"
"Though I'll have to explain the situation to Miss Mira properly... Honestly, just running an errand to buy something for Rikka, why did I end up in this mess?"
"Eh? Part-time job? I'm actually a little looking forward to it..." Serafall said with a smile before tilting her head. "But come to think of it, is Tōka-chan really that short on money?"
"Who isn't short on money these days?" Tōka Takanashi placed one hand on her hip and glanced at Serafall. "Unless you're telling me you, a street wanderer, still have spare funds to pay me for lodging?"
"Unfortunately not~ I don't have any currency from this world on me."
Serafall beamed cheerfully.
"However, I do know a place nearby that would provide me with a substantial sum of money~"
Hearing this, Tōka Takanashi immediately became wary and asked:
"It's not some shady place like a park, is it?"
"Are parks considered shady places in this world?"
Serafall looked puzzled for a moment before continuing:
"But the place I'm talking about isn't a park~ It's Luo Shu's department, called the Hidden Management Department, right? And it's near Akihabara, so we should be able to get some funding there?"
"Luo Shu... Luo Shu?" Tōka Takanashi frowned suspiciously. "Why does that name sound so familiar? Have I heard it somewhere before?"
Before Tōka could recall anything, Serafall grabbed her hand and made a gesture to depart:
"Alright then, Tōka-chan! Let's go find Luo Shu and demand some activity funds!"
"Wait... hold on, stop dragging me like this..."
Amid Tōka's protests, the two made their way through the streets of Akihabara, heading towards the Hidden Management Department.