The Hiraga Twins

by foxluvur64

Simply put: Twins AU. Saito has a twin sister who has an innate and understandable pessimistic view of the world with an impressive level of sarcasm. But aside from that, she was just another teenager with a normal high school life, just like her twin Saito. Or was she? The rest of the sum is inside. ADVANCE NOTICE: THIS IS NOT AN INCEST STORY! THANK YOU!

4. Chapter 4-Correct Reintroduction

Chapter Four: Correct Reintroduction

Previously on the Hiraga Twins…

Sitting on their side of the bed respectively, the girls stayed silent with only Saito soft snores and Atsuko's labored breathing keeping them company. As she allowed her rosy pools to slowly go over the twins' sleeping faces, Louise then placed her head in her hands, fists covering her eyes, before muttering in inaudible worry, Katie sending her a sympathetic glance.

"Jeez…just how much trouble are you two going to put me through?" The pinkette took in a shaky breath before continuing. "Ignoring what I said on facing off against Guiche and you almost getting beat up… your sister gaining injuries and opening her old wound with minor blood loss…then both of you collapsing unconscious out of fatigue, leaving me, your master, to take care of your injuries…your even making Miss Ortega help me take care of you two!" Looking up with tears in her eyes, Louise sent the sleeping twins a half-attempted glare. "You're my Familiars, right!? So, hurry up and wake up soon, or else I won't forgive either one of you!"

Katie, however, had a simple question running in her mind. With confusion evident in her lavender eyes, the younger girl gazed at the sleeping brunette, who was whimpering for some reason in that moment. The memory of Atsuko's perplexed expression at her hand after the fight had flashed in the young Noble's mind. While others had seen a puzzled glare, Katie saw something else.

'Why…why did you look so sad…Miss Atsuko?'

Atsuko P.O.V.

Pit, pat, pit, pat.

Rain. Rain was falling.

The sky had rainclouds scattered about, but not totally covered.

The sun could be seen setting…it was twilight…

Two bodies laid on the wet floor…

One breathing, but unconscious. Saito.

The other…just barely alive…with an exploiting wound. Her.

Brilliant red... crimson red…

Blood…so much was flowing…

The blood…was going into the water on the concrete…

Although I was carrying my broken right arm close to my body, I couldn't feel the pain— No… more like I wasn't allowing myself to feel it.

My breathing was slow and labored. I could see my breath as small puffs of steam. I sat on my knees, trembling, as my eyes focused on one body. Slowly, with unsteady strength, I crawled on my knees to get closer to that one figure, my breathing becoming more strenuous.

Once beside the fallen lady's side, I lift her head onto my lap with my one good arm.

I see her pale blue lips, once a rosy peach color, move, but her words were silent, evading me completely.

I tell her to be quiet, to save her strength. She simply smiled and raised one hand, caressing my cheek. Then with one last breath, she let her smile slip.

It wasn't the pain of my broken arm that made me scream…it was the immense agony of losing her…

"MOM!"

Present time

"MOM!"

With a fearful jolt I had sat up, legs doing the "trying-to-get-the-fuck-away-from-something" motion thing beneath the covers, my breathing ragged as I gasped unsteady breathes, longs of caramel bangs clung to my forehead and the sides of my face due to sweat. I was shaking profusely, my navy eyes widened with painful panic as I took in my surroundings.

From what I could tell, I wasn't in Louise's room anymore, but I was still on Academy grounds, according to the weathered stone walls and the view of one side of said academy's main building as seen through this room's window. If the darkening sky and illuminating moons were anything to go by, it was well past evening. The room had no lamp lighting the place up, except for what came from the two moons, so it was a tad bit hard to see that said area was slightly smaller and simplistic in the furniture aspects.

The bed I awoke on was notably smaller than Louise's with no over-the-top canopy and bedposts, a single desk in one corner opposite of the bed with an average sized bookshelf-slash-cabinet a couple of feet or so beside the desk. Set closer to the room's door was a somewhat large dresser with a medium sized mirror propped up on it. Oh, did I forget to mention that the window and the bed are next to each other? Which means that the nightstand and desk (plus chair) are little less than a meter away from each other. That also mean that all the other furniture is opposite of the bed— well, no, actually, now that my sight's gotten used to the dim moonlight illuminated room, I can see that the dresser is actually placed several feet in front of the bed.

At some point during the analysis of the room, my heart rate began to slow to normal in turn my breathing becoming calmer, as for my tremors, they weren't as bad. Sighing, I held my face in my hands, feeling how wet and clammy it really was. 'Again', I thought grumbling. 'This time as a damn dream…'

Shaking my head in an attempt to calm myself, I look up and noticed that my jacket was placed on the desk across from me, folded rather neatly. Keeping my sights on that particular clothing, I removed the bed covers from me, standing up. Taking a couple of limping steps to the desk, I now look down as I held my pinkish brown jacket. I began to examine the jacket's surface with a blank stare, my hands feeling the soft yet durable fabric along with the small added weight of my phone.

As I observed the fabric, for what might as well be nothing, a small yet precious memory of the day that Saito and I had received our jackets. A week before our birthday, our older "sister" had given our jackets respectively as early birthday and apology presents, since she wasn't going to be out working the day of our birthday. That day, she gave us an apologetic smile along with the jackets that we never thought we would treasure for so long.

My jaws and hands clenched as my lips became a thin line, navy eyes squinted slightly as tears threaten to fall. "Mom..."

As soon as I let that slip, the room's door had creaked open, causing me to flinch lightly but I didn't look up. I did look up, however, when the whinny and annoying voice of Louise, or the joking yet worried (and annoying) tone that Saito uses every now and then with me did not reach my ears; instead I heard a pleasantly surprised and relieved voice.

"Oh! You're awake, Miss Atsuko!"

General P.O.V

To Atsuko's later surprise, it was Katie who had entered the room. Closing the door behind herself, Katie stood in her uniform without her cloak and was carrying in her hands a tray of what might very well be that evening's dinner. The dinner consisted of a bowl of light beef stew, some salad, and a lightly buttered croissant with some fruit; a good meal. As Atsuko had yet to raise her head to face Katie, the older teen did not know that the younger brunette had begun to quietly observe the moonlit silhouette of Atsuko's lean profile as if with an unknown intrigue.

Katie quickly regained her composure. "You must be cold! Let me get your shirt." As if on que, a strong chill ran through Atsuko before sneezing sharply. Hurriedly, Katie set the tray on her desk next to the older caramel brunette before heading for her dresser and took what was on top, handing it to Atsuko. "Here, I had it washed since it got, you know, bloodied." The Hiraga was taken aback since she was not expecting anything really.

'Wait … that's my shirt…' Atsuko's thought process in that moment was slow, sluggish even, from her deep sleep and shattering memory-like dream. Looking down at herself, with jacket still in hand, Atsuko saw that she was, in fact, shirtless. Thankfully though, she wasn't without her bra or pants. Along with wearing her bra as a top, Atsuko noticed that she had plenty of bandages wrapped around her abdomen, freshly replaced it seems. '…so that's the reason that chill just now was so strong…' The Japanese teen looked back up at the Noble brunette, who held the black shirt with an expectant look, before taking hold of the shirt with one hand while setting her jacket down on the desk's chair with the other.

"…Thanks," Atsuko said, her voice a bit hoarse, as she looked down at the clothing before glancing up with her navy eyes. "…for everything."

Katie nodded as she releases the article of clothing, then leaned just a bit to her right as she turned to turn on the lantern that was settled near the middle of the desk. Meanwhile, Atsuko had been careful when putting on her shirt, due to the dull pain she was feeling movement, when Katie turned back to her. "Are you hungry? You must be, considering how long of a slumber you just awoke from. I could give you some of my dinner, if you'd like?"

The older teen was shaking her head 'no' when her stomach decided to make itself known with what was equivalent to a lion's growl. As the embarrassed blushed, the young mage chuckled. "Come on, let's eat."

Although Atsuko only wanted to eat the butter croissant from Katie's dinner tray, out of curtesy, the young Noble would not have it.

"At least eat half of the stew along with the croissant! …maybe some fruit and salad? And once you're done with your share, I'll eat the rest."

With Katie's insistence, Atsuko ate the minimum amount of the beef stew with the croissant, the fruits, and the salad, much to the Leone girl's satisfaction. Sometime later, Katie had finished her share of the meal and was about to leave the room to drop off the tray and dishes at the kitchen when Atsuko spoke up.

"Miss Katie? If you don't mid, could we visit my brother afterwards? I'd like to see how he's doing."

The young Mage was already at the door, tray in hand and cloak back on. Katie placed a finger on her chin and closed her eyes, tilting her head as if in thought. "Well, no one is in bed just yet, if anything, the other students have probably finished eating by now and are relaxing in either the student lounge, the library for light reading, or in their own rooms. As for your brother, he's been awake since this morning and I haven't had the time to check on him in terms of his recovered health, but I can do that tomorrow." She then hummed and opened her violet eyes, nodding. "Hmm…yeah, we can go see him."

"Thank you. Another thing," Atsuko, with her jacket on, had walked up to Katie, gesturing to take the tray to let the mage girl open the door. "When you said, "considering how long of a slumber", what do you mean? How long have we slept exactly?"

Katie hummed once again as she locked the door behind them the moment they stepped out in the hall. "Let's see…since your brother woke up this morning, that would mean he slept for roughly three day and nights." The young Mage then began to walk past Atsuko, glancing over her shoulder once as she continued. "As for you, Miss Atsuko, you slept for four whole days and three nights."

Atsuko nearly dropped the tray.

MAGICAL TIME SKIP

'Wasted,' the grim thought rumbled in her mind as she followed the freshman in front of her, looking for the dorm room that sheltered Louise, Saito, and Atsuko herself. 'Four days…and three nights…wasted… I could have used that time to search for a possible way home…'

"Damn it…"

"Hn? Did you say something, Miss Atsuko?"

"Huh" Atsuko looks up at the girl in front of her, realizing one: she had said that one out loud, and two: Katie had walked high enough on the stone spiral staircase that Atsuko would be able to see what the young Mage wore under her skirt if the older teen bent down a bit… if it weren't for the brown cloak.

'Wait,' the Hiraga girl's eyes widened as a large blush painted her cheeks. 'Did I just think that?!'

"Miss Atsuko?" Katie tilted her head in question, adorably. "Are you alright? Your face is really red."

'Wait! "Adorably"?!'

"Um, uh, n-nothing!" Atsuko quickly looked away, avoiding Katie's searching violet gaze. "I didn't say anything, Miss Katie!"

Katie hummed then continued up the steps as the older brunette fiercely glared at her very feet which followed the young Mage up the stone steps, berating herself in a questioning manner. 'What- what is happening to me? I should have no reason to think that way, right? Then what's going on and why? God, I'm being real stupid…'

Atsuko continued to question and mentally scold herself as she and the young Mage went up the steps, the twin did not realize that said Mage had sent a glance at the older teen over her shoulder, observing. Yet not a thought passed through her mind; except for one.

'I wonder what's gotten her all flustered…'

Soon enough the brunettes had found Louise's door, the two of them waited patiently after Katie had knocked. Atsuko began to get impatient and antsy when there was no response, so much so that she was in fact tempted to bang on the door. Fortunately, she heard someone call her from down the hall. "Atsuko!"

Looking to their right, where the end of the stairs was, the teens saw Louise and Saito walking towards them, Saito grinning like a happy puppy. Their Master, however, had a very strong scowl on, which thinned just enough for her to greet the freshman. "Good evening, Miss Ortega. Thank you for walking Atsuko back to my room. Would you like to come in for a bit before you go?"

"Oh, no, that's fine! I have to get up early tomorrow—"

As the Mages continued talking, Atsuko walked up to Saito and leaned against the same wall as he was, talking just low enough for only him to hear. "Saito, we need to talk."

As Saito's eyes were closed, he briefly opened one eye, glancing her way before closing. "Can't it wait 'til tomorrow? I'm hungry and really tired."

When the brunette twin didn't respond, Saito opened his eyes and looked at his sister, seeing her giving him an almost hollow, depressed look, not expecting she said next.

"I had that dream again, Sai-chan."

At first, Saito gave her a confused look before his eyes widen as he understood and remembered what Atsuko meant. 'Dream? What dream? Wait…oh- OH!' The little brother quickly sent a brisk nod to his older twin before interrupting the Noble girls' talking. "Um, Louise? My sis and I need to talk—"

"Then talk."

"Alone. In private. Outside." The young man then gave his Master a look, as if searching for understanding. "Please. It's something personal between us as family."

All the while, Katie was paying attention to the older brunette as the teen was simply staring mutely into nothing, as if considering something. The violet-eyed teen silently wondered what could be making Atsuko act so… 'So…melancholy…'

With the way the youngest Familiar was looking at his Master, Louise caved in reluctantly, huffing before crossing her arms under her cloak. "Alright fine. Just be sure both of you come back before the teachers call lights out. Got it?"

Saito grinned with appreciation. "Right. Thank you." He turned to his sister. "C'mon, Atsuko. We can go talk by the fountain in the courtyard."

Atsuko merely pushed herself off the wall and walked behind her twin, without a word said to either their Master Louise or to Katie.

This left the freshman worried and confused, whereas Louise was just plain old confused.

On the way to the fountain, Saito filled the silence with his tales of the day, from how he awoke to the pleasing hello of a maid named Siesta to the very tricking bi-polar attitude belonging to Louise the moment she woke up herself; then the enjoyable visit paid to him by Siesta, Kirche, and the silent reading, bespectacled blue-haired Noble name Tabitha later in that day to Louise punishing him for no apparent reason. He had then later found out that day in the class he had attended Louise with why she had the title of "The Zero", after which Saito teased the pinkette to the extent that she had stripped him of one meal per "Zero" he had said… he said "Zero" four times. Four meals. Saito already missed that day's lunch and dinner with tomorrow's breakfast and lunch to go.

But the boy was still stuck on the fact that Louise had nearly blew him up.

"I mean— who does that?!" Saito's arms were stretched out in front of him as his face portrayed his outrage. "To almost blast a guy to smithereens on the same day he wakes up from what would normally be considered a coma for no apparent reason! NO ONE DOES THAT!"

As they reached the courtyard's fountain, its water no longer running for the night, Atsuko finally bothered to look her brother's way, a brow raised at his very obvious obliviousness and idiocy. "I don't think she did that for "No apparent reason", as you've put it."

"Ah, finally! The Silent One speaks!" Saito quipped with sarcasm out of good humor.

Atsuko ignored him. "Think about what happened today from a girl's perspective: You have a male acquaintance still resting, recovering in your room. You then had to leave the guy there for most of the day due to classes, not expecting people to actually visit him." The twins then sit down on one of the fountain's benches. The brunette twin continues. "Then you return to your dorm room, not only finding people visiting him, but those same people happen to be three girls. Not only that, those very same three girls are surrounding the supposedly resting male acquaintance, who at that moment would have a near lecherous grin plastered on his face, in YOUR (as a girl) room. Three girls, one guy, and all four in another girl's room."

Atsuko glances at Saito, taking in his embarrassed face as his navy eyes were looking at anywhere but his older twin's face, knowing full well how apathetically hollow her own navy eyes were. "I know we're siblings and all, but I constantly wonder; How many times you were dropped as a baby to get you to grow up like this?" Saito's embarrassed pondering turned into an embarrassed frown then a scowl as he turned to growl at his sister but could not say a thing as Atsuko continued with such a cold tone. "Saito, we siblings may have been born into one of the lower branch families of the Hiraga clan, but would it kill you to at least pay attention to the mood and atmosphere in the room a little more? We both know that it would help from getting your ass whooped by girls."

The younger brother clicked his tongue, glancing away. He knew she was right but couldn't say so because of his pride. 'Stop. Leave this for another time. She wanted to talk about that dream.' He looked back at his sister, his tone no longer embarrassed as he no longer held a scowl. "You wanted to talk, Atsuko. So, talk."

The brunette twin looks at Saito with uneasy eyes before releasing breath with the same unease. Still not looking at him, Atsuko spoke at almost a whisper, slightly uneven. "Remember that dream I kept having for a while after… after b-Big Sister… died?" Atsuko's voice had dialed down to the point that Saito almost missed the last word. He caught it and nodded nonetheless. "The same dream that caused me to wake in the middle of the night, screaming and crying?" He nodded again. He knew where this was going. "Well… I had IT again."

Quietly, Saito processed what his twin had just said before asking steadily. "Did it have the same realistic feeling?" Atsuko nodded. "Yeah. Everything felt so real… I could feel that day's rain hitting my skin, the back-alley stench invading my sense of smell, and the taste of blood from the cut in my mouth!" the brunette's navy eyes became wide and glazed over as if she was seeing it herself, her voice slightly giving way to old panic. "I-I could even feel the same dull pain in my-my right arm… S-Saito… I could sti-still feel her slip away!" Unbeknownst to the young teen, tears were pouring from her eyes, falling onto and staining the concrete floor beneath their feet.

Saito knew better than to give his sister a look of pity. She's always disliked the sense of pity. Even as a child, Atsuko saw no real logic in pitying others much less herself as she understood that having self-pity and giving pity wouldn't help anyone. She understood that even more so after what had happened to their older sister.

So, all the dark-haired twin could do for the only sister he had left and cherished was to wrap his arm around his twin's shoulders and bring her face into the crook of his neck, letting her cry freely, hidden from any prying eyes. Pressing a brotherly kiss against the crown of her head, Saito pet Atsuko's head in a soothing motion, letting her know it'll be alright.

Weeping silence reigned over the twins, neither spoke a word and there was no need to. They understood that in this new world, the twins only had each other and that they'll always have one-another, no matter what one says about the other.

That was all that need to be known between the two.

After Atsuko had calmed some from her crying, the two returned to their Master's room with one twin ready to fall into his haystack and sleep, while the other twin simply wants to enjoy the silence of the night as her brother and her Master slept. That didn't happen for a while, however, due to how Saito began to whine and pester Louise about his hunger. It worked…for a bit. Louise had decided to make an exception that once and forgive him. Saito would have gotten out of the rest of the punishment scot free, if it weren't how not only did he say "Zero" three times more but also make a joking jibe at the pinkette's small (none existent) breasts. Even Atsuko, who was making a point of trying to not listen to their conversation, cringed at her younger brother's insolence.

The boy ended up being forced to sleep out in the hallway…

'Saito…you one dumbass idiot…'

And somehow, her silence at the entire ordeal also lead to the sister being tossed out as well. "Wait!" Atsuko banged once on the door with a closed fist. "Why'd ya toss me outside too?!"

With her shrilly voice muffled by the closed door, Louise shouted her reply in a haughty tone. "You didn't try to stop your brother from embarrassing himself after I had lifted the punishment!"

Atsuko snarled lightly at the closed door, hoping- wishing even- that that same door was ajar to openly snarl at the pinkette. But that just wasn't the case for the brunette. Turning, Atsuko went and sat alongside with Saito on the haystack that Louise was so kind to suggest taking. With eyes closed and head resting against the wall behind them, the brunette sighed. Not out of exhaustion (the brunette already far too much sleep to be tired now, despite the amount of crying she had just done earlier) but simply out of aggravation.

Opening her eyes just a bit, the eldest twin glanced at her brother, seeing that he sat with his arms hugging them close to his chest and his head buried within his limbs gap. At first, Atsuko wasn't sure if she was seeing things, but she thought she saw Saito's shoulders shake ever so slightly, she even thought that she heard her brother's teeth chattering. With her brows furrowed upward, Atsuko was about to ask when she suddenly felt how chilly the hallway's air truly was, even though both she and her brother wore their jackets, causing her to shiver herself a bit.

'Damn,' Atsuko began to rub her hands together, trying to ward off the cold. 'I didn't realize how cold it was starting to get.'

"Saito," the brunette mumbles out to her twin, her voice low and shivers just a bit. "How are you right now?"

"I think I'll freeze to death before I starve to death!" the dark-haired twin exclaimed before whimpering rather pathetically. "So cold…so hungry…Atsuko…" The older twin's face remained the same with her brows still furrowed upward, her navy pools reflecting the pity she felt for her brother and the small frustration she felt against herself, gently wrapping her left arm around his shoulders for comfort and warmth. Atsuko was about to shut her eyes for the night when she heard someone stop in front of the them and a voice called to the twins. "Mister Saito? Miss Atsuko?"

The voice, soft and gentle as it was, belonged to a maid with dark hair fashioned in a bob-cut and wide, dark doe-like eyes, who wore a black maid dress and a white apron over it. Her face held the expressions of surprise and curiosity, as if she wasn't expecting to see either of them in that moment of that night.

MAGICAL TIME SKIP

~Kitchen~

Already the twins had taken their seats at the table of the servants' kitchen with Saito eating (more like wolfing down) what appears to be that evening's dinner leftovers whereas Atsuko took to a simple cup of tea and a buttered croissant while the kitchen staff and Siesta standing around them and watching them with what appear to be proud smiles. A large, burly man of light tanning, hairy arms, squarely-cut beard and the bushiest brows Atsuko's ever seen before, was the kitchen's head chef, who to the brunette's surprise, apologized over a trivial matter, with his voice strong and followed by a booming laugh.

"I'm sorry they're leftovers, but eat as much as you want, Our Sword and Our Voice!"

Confused, the twins stopped their chewing and drinking respectively to look up at the chef, Saito voicing their question with a full mouth. "Our Sword and Our Voice?"

Atsuko had grimaced lightly at her twin's lack of etiquette. 'Eat or chew. Choose one or the other, Saito, not both at once! That's disgusting!'

The chef nodded, a large, almost fatherly grin adorned his face as proud as he can be. "That's right. You and your sister there are Peasants like us, but you two won the duel against that snobby Noble boy. Your sister here even gave that boy one hell of a tongue lashing! You twins are the pride of the Peasants, Our Sword and Our Voice!"

Saito looked up into empty space as he held his spoon and bread, having a slightly confused look as he tried to remember what happened. "Mm…When I held that sword, my body just moved on its own from past teachings, and it didn't hurt until after the fight. In terms of the pain, I have no idea what was going on."

The chief chef faced the rest of the staff. "Did ya hear that? A true master is like this- never boasting! This is where Our Sword is different from those stupid Nobles!" He then held his bearded chin, smiling. "I expected nothing less!"

The male staff members echoed the man in agreement. "Nothing less!"

The male twin looked down at his spoon with a light frown. "But do they always eat stuff this tasty? Damn…" He looks over to his sister before asking, "What about you, Atsuko? What do you think of all that happen in the fight?"

Atsuko, whose mind had wonder in that duration, came to mind with teacup in hand and saw that the rest of the staff were watching and waiting with baited breath. Looking down at the liquid in the cup, the brunette's own face showed a small perplexed frown as she thought back to the fight. "Well," she began, loud enough for the slightly crowded kitchen staff to hear. "To be fair, Saito, you already have gained a bit of knowledge in terms of Our people's swordplay, considering what the main and lower branches of our family do as a business, so that wasn't surprising when I saw you swing the first strike." The staff people around them gave Atsuko a confused look as she continued with her own chin held by her runic hand. "As to the little tidbit concerning the jetlag of your body's pain … I have no clue as to what caused that. However, in my case…" the older twin stopped as she brought her runic hand into view, her confused frown becoming more evident. "My body moved with much more purpose after I saw an old memory."

Saito's brows furrowed downward a bit while one of the male staff spoke up with what sounded like a red-neck country accent. "After you saw a' ol' mem'ry? What'cha mean?" Atsuko, without moving her head at all, glanced up from her cup of tea and took in the image of the young man, a valet, who asked the question. The young man seemed slightly taller than Saito with a light build and an almost olive complexion with a headful of dull lavender colored hair, complete with a small left-centered widows-peak, a braid to the left of his face, and a slightly wild mullet, along with a pair of neutral green eyes and a beauty mark at the bottom-right corner of his lips. He wore the Academy's valet uniform, which consisted of a white dress-shirt with a yellow sash tied around his neck under the shirt's collar, a dark brown vest thrown on with what appears to be a white apron tied around his waist where his shirt appears to be tucked into the waistband of his pair of dark brown pants, while wearing a pair of white calf-high socks and a pair of what look like brown loafers. "If ya don't mind me askin' that is?"

The caramel brunette twin remained quiet as her navy eyes returned to the honey-colored liquid in her cup, watching her barely visible reflection before answering with a somewhat cryptic reply. "No, I don't mind. But since it is a memory from long ago, you wouldn't know about it."

The young valet raised a single brow up in question before he got slapped upside his head by the head chef. "C'mon now, Jesse! There's no need to be digging up their pasts'!"

"OW! That smarts, ol'man Marteau!" the valet whined, rubbing the tender spot on his head. This routine between the two caused everyone in the kitchen to chuckle, Saito going along while Atsuko merely gave a small smile. Marteau then puffed his chest out in pride before crossing his burly arms as he spoke with a proud grin. "Anyways, when it comes to me, Marteau the Head Chef, anything will end up tasting exquisite! This is magic in and of itself."

Saito swallowed the food in his mouth before agreeing. "You're right! I've never had stew this tasty before!"

Atsuko nodded while smiling gently as she gestured to the cup of tea in her hands. "I'd have to agree! Even this tea tastes delicious, almost as if you had handpicked the herbs and mixed them yourself!"

The burly man gives a boisterous laughter as he then stood behind the twins, placing his arms on their respective shoulder. "A good man and a good lass! Saito, you really are a good man! And Atsuko, Our Voice, the praise you give to this old fool is very much appreciated!" Then looking only at Saito. "I like you, Our Sword! Please, let me kiss you!" Marteau then leaned in with his lips puckered to give the younger twin a kiss, which was held off by Saito as he politely shoved the older man's face away with quite the struggle. "I'll hold off from being called that, and the kiss!"

With Marteau now moved slightly away from Saito, his burly arms releasing the twins, and the dark-haired twin slightly huffing, the head chef once again held a proud expression on his face. "Such modesty. As expected!"

During the entirety of the humorous situation, Atsuko had merely chuckled before finishing the rest of her tea as the lavender-haired valet shook his head with a close-eyed smile, as if completely used to his boss's antics. The caramel brunette then stood up before walking up to Marteau, the man laughing at the antics he had displayed, his laughter coming to a halt as he noticed the elder twin before him. "Our Voice! Is something the matter?"

Atsuko shook her head before giving a gentle smile as she spoke loud and clear, holding eye contact with respect as she was taught. "Nothing is the matter, Mr. Marteau. Simply that I wish to reintroduce myself, and by extension Saito, correctly." Just as Marteau was about to say otherwise, the brunette continued. "Please, allow me to explain. Ever since we were children, Saito and I have been taught not only by our parents, but our older sister as well, that it is always important that one speaks loud and clear, holds eye contact, and regards the other with common courtesy and respect, no matter the social standing one might have. That includes introducing one's self, of which my dear little brother Saito seems to have forgotten in his much understandable course of hunger." At that, Atsuko had sent a glance back at the younger twin which caused the boy to chuckle nervously as he nodded in agreement, standing up and stood beside his sister.

"Atsuko is right. This is something we were taught as children and I foolishly forgotten of such teachings." Without realizing, both twins looked up at the chef with similar seriousness as they spoke in unison. "Please, allow us to introduce ourselves properly this time!" And so, Marteau allowed them to do so as an even prouder grin took over. "Very well!" The man then faces the rest of the kitchen staff members. "Everyone! Gather to hear their reintroductions!"

With the rest of the staff gathered behind the kitchen table with the young valet (presumed to be called Jesse) and the head chef standing off to the side, watching the twins. Both facing the staff, Atsuko introduced herself first, a gentle smile present. "I am Hiraga Atsuko, the oldest twin."

Then it was Saito's turn, a carefree grin visible. "And I am Hiraga Saito, the youngest twin."

Together, the twins respectively bowed as they spoke in unison. "It is nice to meet you all! Please guide Us as we continue to live here!"