"Oh big sister! I can't decide on what to get Yukinari!" Miharu remarks as she rigorously scans the shelves of a gift shop within a Seiren mall.
"You shouldn't worry so much Miharu" Maharu answers. "He'll like it no matter what you get him."
"In that case" Miharu responds lifting up a large, wrapped basket filled with Seiren treats consisting of gummies, chocolate-covered nuts, and fruit-filled gelatins, "I think I'll get this for him!"
"If you're getting him that, it would be best that you get two" Maharu was quick to suggest noting Miharu admiring the large basket hungrily.
"You're right big sister. He might be extra hungry!" Miharu agreed readily seizing another wrapped basket of treats. "He'll love these!"
"I'm sure you, err, he will" Maharu chuckled quietly to herself. "Come, now that you've got those, we should get something for everyone else."
"Big sister, what do you think Kirie will like? And Lisa? And Koyomi and Tomoka? And what about Ebi? And I shouldn't forget about Fukuyama!"
"Relax, I'm sure there's something they'll like in this place" Maharu assures ushering Miharu forward along the aisle formed between two large shelves stocked with treats and trinkets. "If not, we can try another shop."
"Wow! Do you think Kirie could use one of these?" Miharu exclaims excitedly watching a small wooden bird dipping in and out of a small glass of water. "And what about this for Lisa?" she continues as she focuses on a dream catcher hanging from one of the shelves. "And a board game for Tomoka and I to play with! Koyomi would look so cute wearing this!" she says lifting up a necklace. "But what can I get Ebi? I don't remember getting her anything last time. And Fukuyama... Uhmmm" Miharu stops briefly, her face shaped by thought. "I got him panties last time. Maybe this time he'll like a bra? But that's silly! He can't wear one so maybe-"
"I can take a good guess as to what kind of stuff that guy likes" Maharu interrupts apprehensively. "Now let's hurry it up, we don't want to keep them all waiting now do we?" Maharu asks taking Miharu by the shoulders and aiding her in finishing up her shopping at the mall.
-TRANSITION-
On the morning following the day at the beach, Yukinari found himself staring at a young man in the mirror. A young man with a thin coat of facial hair. "Oh man, it's really growing in" he thought running his hand back and forth across his chin. "It's kind of itchy" he says scratching at it.
"Certainly doesn't feel ticklish" Kirie, standing behind him, examines running her own hand across his face and watching him in the mirror. "But if I ever have an itch on my face, I'll seek you out!" Kirie jokes rubbing her cheek against Yukinari's.
"Don't count on it" Yukinari responds holding up a new razor blade taken from a set of razors his father had left behind before leaving on business.
"You know how to do this right?" Kirie asks watching Yukinari hesitate.
"Sure I do... I just need to apply some shaving cream and then I start shaving" Yukinari says grabbing the can of shaving cream. "Simple enough."
"You should wash your face before putting on the shaving cream. It says so on the can."
"I-I knew that" Yukinari claimed just as he was about to dispense some shaving cream onto his palm.
"I'll be in the kitchen getting breakfast ready okay?" Kirie says exiting the bathroom.
"Sure" Yukinari, bent over the sink, returns as he starts to soak his face with water. With Kirie now out of the bathroom, Yukinari begins to spread the shaving cream all over his face. "This is what I wanted. Miharu to get to come back and for things to return to how they once were... For the most part" he contemplates noting his relationship with Kirie. "Ow" he grunts to himself jerking the blade away from his face. Minutes later, Yukinari joins the rest of the housemembers at the breakfast table where he took a seat next to Kirie who sat opposite Koyomi and Tomoka, Ebi seated atop a stack of books atop her chair.
"Yukinari? Are you alright?" Kirie asks noticing the small red spots on Yukinari's face.
"I got the hair off of my face right?" Yukinari defends.
"Holy smokes! You're bleeding!" Tomoka squeaked turning her eyes up from the bowl in front of her. As both a young girl and a girl from Seiren, she was unfamiliar with the topic of facial hair. "Shaving must really hurt!"
"Funnily enough, dragging sharp blades across your skin doesn't hurt, it's just a bother. I better get used to it though. The hair's going to come back eventually" he surrenders. "Dad's got quite a bit of facial hair so I'm guessing same's going to happen to me."
"Here, wipe your face" Kirie advises as she hands a moist napkin to Yukinari.
"Why?" Yukinari asks taking the napkin and wiping his cheek. "Is there something on my fac- aaah!" Yukinari shouted in pain as he yanked the napkin away from his face. "What is this!?"
"It's rubbing alcohol. It's to disinfect your face" Kirie said giggling.
"Oh... Good one Kirie" he jokes dabbing at his face and grimacing at the stinging sensation. "...So girls" Yukinari begins turning to the two STA agents and to a lesser extent Ebi in the middle of breakfast. "I want Miharu's return to be extra special and I want you girls to make her feel very welcome. And I'd like some suggestions: how might we do that?"
"Well if you ask me" Koyomi answered dabbing at her lips with a napkin, "I think Miharu would like nothing more than to find a tableful of food, a friendly atmosphere, and her friends around it. But the food especially!" she answers making Yukinari and Kirie laugh nostalgically.
"That's exactly what Tomo was thinking! So? Shall Tomo cook something up?" Tomoka suggested rubbing her palms together.
"Aren't you a little too young?" Kirie questioned. "Do you even know how to cook?"
"Tomo's not too young! Just you watch! Tomo can cook just as good as you!" Tomoka boasted pointing a defiant finger across the table at Kirie.
"Doubt it" Kirie retorts straightening up in her seat.
"Okay then, how about we both cook for Miharu and we'll see which she likes more!?" Tomoka challenges.
"Fine" Kirie agrees with confidence. "You're on!"
"Do you guys think that Miharu would make the best judge of taste?" Yukinari questioned.
"If Miharu can eat it, she will like it" Koyomi said amused. Shortly after breakfast was done, everyone helped to clear the table.
"Alright Tomoka, I want you to behave yourself. I don't want to come back and find out you've been teasing Ebi" Kirie warned standing beside Yukinari just as they were about to set off to school.
"Tomo won't!" Tomoka declares folding her arms offended.
"I'll keep an eye on them both" Koyomi offers.
"Nya nya" Ebi said softly as Kirie hugged her goodbye. Soon, Yukinari and Kirie were on their way to school hand-in-hand.
"So Kirie, I've been meaning to ask you: your parents haven't become suspicious about us have they?"
"Mom definitely knows we're dating" Kirie says fully expecting Yukinari to already know that.
"I don't mean that Kirie... I mean..."
"Oh! Oh... I think mom's figured it out" Kirie answers to Yukinari's nervousness.
"Uh-oh! She's not angry?" Yukinari asks as they both cross a street. "She doesn't mind you sleeping over and..."
"My mother is 32. She had me when she was about my age, maybe younger so she'd think twice before criticizing. In any case, it's not like we didn't do things responsibly. That's most important. And no, she doesn't mind me sleeping over. Mom's pretty laid back."
"That's a relief... But what about your father?"
"My father is often so busy with work that it would probably take a long time before he finds out. Dad's constantly away on business trips and such so much so that mom often jokes he was married to work before he married her. Which is good because he'd come after you with a baseball bat if he found out" Kirie admits with seemingly little worry.
"Doesn't that concern you!?" Yukinari poses urgently. "What if your mom tells your dad!?"
"My mom often tells me that I got my temper from my dad" Kirie answers but not Yukinari's question in particular.
"Kirie!" Yukinari exclaims dreading a grown man with Kirie's temper coming after him with a baseball bat.
"You worry too much! Father will understand. My mother and I will make him understand" Kirie assures. "We often do. And he's not exactly in any better position to criticize either if you think about it."
"I, I guess you're right Kirie" Yukinari finishes with a sigh just as they arrive at the open gates of Mizuno High. At school, Yukinari and Kirie were both the subject of their classmates' envy. The news of their getting together had been floating around school for a while now. Some students had seen Yukinari and Kirie kiss on a recent baseball game broadcast and other more nosy students, Fukuyama mostly, had caught sights of Yukinari and Kirie making out during times they both believed they had some privacy.
"Well well, what do we have here?" Fukuyama drawled wearing a wide grin across his face, his head poking around a set of lockers long after gym class had ended. "You two seem to be having fun" he said finding Yukinari and Kirie in each other's embrace.
"What the hell are you doing here!?" Kirie shouted.
"Not even a minute and you're already barking" Fukuyama observed, arms crossed. "Considering this is the boys locker room, I should be the one asking you that question."
"Like you've never snuck into the girls locker rooms" Kirie countered. "And what did you mean by barking? The hell are you trying to say!?"
"Jeez, need I spell it out?" Fukuyama asked. "And here I thought Punynari finally laying you might have cooled that attitude of yours."
"Fukuyama, watch it" Yukinari warned. Kirie on the other hand gave no warning. Red in the face, the brunette grabs Fukuyama by his conceited, snow-white uniform and by some great act of forced contortionism stuffs him into a nearby open locker.
"Kirie! Let me out of here!" Fukuyama demanded beating on the locker door. "The basketball team will be coming back from practice any minute now! Let me out!"
"The nerve of that bastard!" Kirie growls through clenched teeth. Grabbing hold of Yukinari's hand, she storms out just as large, sweaty basketball players reeking of sweat and testosterone started pouring in. Kirie leads the way to what they both hoped would be a secluded place, somewhere where they both could go uninterrupted. During lunch, they tried the shade under the far-side of the stadium bleachers. The stadium was empty thus Kirie believed it to be perfect. "Maybe now we can have some privacy" she declares hanging her hands from Yukinari's shoulders.
"You! Mr. Sasaki! You are guilty of negligence of duties!" a shout came from nearby. "Shameful! Absolutely shameful! You're supposed to be cleaning chewing gum!" exclaimed Mamoru Machida, a bespectacled student in what looked like a wrestler's mask. Holding a broom he had been using to clean the bleachers in one hand, this boy pointed an accusatory finger with his other hand at Yukinari. "Explain yourself!"
"Oh no, it's that guy..." Kirie muttered quietly to Yukinari. "Go away!" Kirie exclaims annoyed.
"Yukinari should be cleaning chewing gum!" Mamoru tosses back. "I don't see any cleaning!"
"Yukinari's been hard at work all week! And it's not like there's much left anyways. Can't we get any privacy!?" Kirie asked. Not waiting for an answer, she once again seized Yukinari's hand and lead the way anywhere away from the cleanliness-obsessed Mamo Ranger.
"You're not going anywhere!" Mamoru declares intercepting Kirie's path, his arms spread wide. It was a bad idea. With her great strength, Kirie shoves him aside effortlessly as she marched on and away pulling Yukinari along behind her. "You're not getting away with this!" Mamoru shouts collapsed on the ground as Kirie and Yukinari speed away. All throughout, Yukinari couldn't help but appreciate how amorous Kirie could be at times.
"There goes lunch period" the brunette moaned as lunch ended. Kirie had always valued the time she spent together with Yukinari and though they had eaten lunch together, the rest of lunch period she felt had been squandered.
"Kirie, we live next to each other" Yukinari observed humorously. "Lighten up" he encouraged admiring Kirie's preoccupation, his hand caressing her hip to reassure her.
"Jeez.. You're right" Kirie surrenders. After school was over, Kirie found herself in the middle of detention in a room partially filled with other students, more than halfway through her detention. "Ugh, this is taking forever" Kirie grumbled quietly to herself. Sitting in detention room, her left index finger tapped her desk at high speed as she stared at the clock on the wall impatiently and its mockingly slow minute hand.
"Why am I here!?" Fukuyama blurts out seated next to Kirie.
"For peeping on the basketball team" Kirie mocks.
"You shoved me in there!" Fukuyama counters annoyed.
"And you poked your nose where you shouldn't have" Kirie accused. "What Yukinari and I do is none of your business."
"Then perhaps you should consider not broadcasting" Fukuyama criticized.
"Quiet down over there!" commanded the school faculty member overseeing detention from a corner of the room.
"Sorry" Kirie apologized quickly and the faculty member withdrew his head back behind a newspaper.
"So Kirie" Fukuyama whispers, "if you and Yukinari are going out now, what happened to Miharu? Haven't seen her in a while."
"Long story" Kirie simply answers watching the minute hand on the clock, her head resting on her desk. "She went back to Seiren but she's coming back today" Kirie reveals.
"And so now she's single" Fukuyama said rubbing his chin, lecherous machinations in his head springing into life.
"Don't get any ideas Fukuyama" Kirie threatened.
"Kirie, no ideas here, I'm actually thankful" the blonde perv said. "Thankful for you and Punynari I mean."
"Say what?" the puzzled brunette said.
"Now that you and Punynari are dating, my sweet little Lisa is safe and sound" Fukuyama said.
"Yukinari's not like you Fukuyama" Kirie snapped. "He's not the type to try to take advantage of a girl. Lisa was always safe and sound."
"Sure. So were you leader when you two did it?" Fukuyama questioned, his lecherous grin irritating Kirie for answers.
"N-no!" Kirie answered. "Sh-shut it! It's none of your business!"
"So it was Punynari? I always knew he had it in him" Fukuyama said with pride. "Glad my little sister was spared. Now I can only wonder how he melted that icy exterior of yours to get to your soft, pink center."
"Your nonsense knows no bounds" Kirie chastised blushing. "Now just shut up!" she growls.
"Okay" the detention overseer suddenly announces, "that's two hours. Today's detention has concluded" he says glancing at his wristwatch. "You can all go home now but those whose detentions are not completed will still have to show up tomorrow, same time and place."
"That would include myself" Kirie thought with a sigh. "This was time I could have put to better use. Better use than tolerating Fukuyama's nonsense" she continued resentfully. "Still, punching that bastard Shinichi for bullying Yukinari was worth it" she thought feeling triumphant. "At least now it's over and I can go home." She proceeds out the door only to stop herself moments after walking out. "Wait a minute!" she thought urgently recalling the slip of her tongue minutes before. She glances at the number of students walking out but none of them were Fukuyama. "Fukuyama!" she shouted rushing back into the detention room. Inside, she finds the detention overseer gathering his things.
"What is the meaning of this Kojima!?" he demands appearing shaken as if he had been stealthily snuck up on from behind.
"I'm sorry, where did Fukuyama head off to?"
"Who? Whom are you referring to?" the overseer inquired further having been too busy from gathering his things to pay enough attention.
"The tall blonde guy" Kirie answered.
"He, he jumped out. The window actually" one of the students still in the room answers incredulously.
"He what!?" Kirie gasped and she looked out one of the open windows to find Fukuyama speeding toward the front gates of the school. "Damn him!" she growls almost jumping out the window herself but stopping at the last moment, the height seeming much too dangerously high. She gives chase running out of the room, through a hallway, down two sets of stairs, out through the front exit and finally out through the front gates. "Me and my big mouth!" she cursed as she ran straight home. "I just hope Miharu hasn't returned yet. That damn Fukuyama! If he ruins Miharu's first day back from Seiren, I'm going to kill him!" she thought as she arrived at the front of Yukinari's house moments later. She seizes the handle and opens the front door. Inside, she finds a relatively calm atmosphere, Yukinari seated in front of the television looking somewhat apprehensive, a basket partially filled with treats on the coffee table. "Yukinari, I'm home" Kirie announces setting her bag down.
"Hello Kirie" Yukinari greets. "How was your day?"
"Fine" Kirie quickly answers. "Did anything happen while I was away? Fukuyama didn't show up did he?"
"Fukuyama? No" Yukinari answered surprised that Kirie would bring him up. "But Miharu has returned!" Yukinari revealed struggling to sound upbeat before deflating again. "She, she didn't come alone though..."
"What? What do you mean?"
"See for yourself Kirie" Yukinari stiffly answers indicating the kitchen. At the table she found Koyomi and Tomoka seated and Ebi standing at the side of a girl with long, bright pink hair, she too seated at the table and conversing with the aforementioned STA agents. It did not take long for Kirie to recognize who she was.
"Miharu!" Kirie exclaims excitedly. The girl with pink hair turned her head confirming that she was Miharu.
"Kirie!" Miharu exclaimed similarly and she stood up from her chair. Both closed the short distance between them and hugged. "I've missed you so much!" Miharu said loudly.
"Miharu! It's so good to have you back! It's been too long!" Kirie returns nostalgically as both held each other at arm's length.
"Oh Kirie, it feels so good to be back!" Miharu said beaming at Kirie, Koyomi, and Tomoka.
"When did you get back?"
"Umm" Miharu pondered the question, a finger on her chin. "About an hour ago. Oh! That reminds me! There's someone who I want to introduce to you!"
"The name's Seiichirou. I believe we've met before" said Seiichirou, the boy with fiery red hair sitting at the table.
"Seiichirou!?" Kirie voices taken by surprise.
"You two have met before!? That's wonderful!" Miharu said with glee, oblivious to the tension that had sprung up. "And Kirie, I've got you this!" Miharu resumes presenting Kirie with a long coat and a matching hat resembling a ushanka. "It's for winter! I think it looks so cute!"
"Why thank you Miharu" Kirie says gratefully and hugs Miharu in gratitude. "But it's the middle of summer silly! Oh Miharu" she said with a chuckle.
"And I also got matching coats and hats for Koyomi and Tomoka but Ebi is a little girl now so-" Miharu went on.
"Seiichirou, hope you don't mind me asking but what exactly are you doing here?" Kirie with little warning challenges Seiichirou.
"Kirie, a little more diplomacy" Yukinari thought.
"I'm just here looking after Miharu" Seiichirou explained. Standing behind Miharu, he places his hands on his little sister's shoulders and continues. "A big brother should look after his little sister after all."
"Yup!" Miharu agreed brightly.
"Well.. Sounds reasonable" Kirie said, hands on her hips.
"Yes but don't mind me" Seiichirou said. "Just go on as though I weren't here."
"Kinda hard to do" Kirie notified.
"Would you prefer I go?"
"..Yes, actually. Nothing personal, this is just awkward" Kirie said as politely as she could.
"I'm not going anywhere without Miharu" Seiichirou said getting up. "But I'll be stepping outside for a moment. Miharu."
"Yes big brother?" Miharu responds happily as Seiichirou rests a hand on her shoulder.
"If you need anything, I'll be nearby" Seiichirou says.
"Yes big brother!" Miharu answers.
"If you'll excuse me" he then says proceeding out the front door.
"..Very well then" Kirie responds. "C'mon Miharu, I want Yukinari to see me in my new coat" she said leading Miharu along with Koyomi and Tomoka toward the living room.
"I wanna see you in it too" Miharu said.
"So? What went on before I got here?" Kirie asked Yukinari in a sort of whisper once everyone but Seiichirou had gathered in the living room.
"Miharu showed up at the front door about an hour ago, like she said" Yukinari whispers back as Miharu spoke eagerly about the coats and hats she had gotten for Koyomi and Tomoka and where she might be able to get a matching coat and hat for Ebi. "And according to her, she was being escorted by Seiichirou who was standing right beside her. Of course I let Miharu in and since I'm trying to get on this guy's good side, I welcomed him in too. I offered him something to drink or eat. He refused politely and has said very little since then. Miharu's done most of the talking" Yukinari elaborated.
"Is that so?" Kirie responds. Just then, she notices Ebi had made her way outside and walked up to Seiichirou.
"Hello there. Who might you be?" Seiichirou greeted crouching down to Ebi's level and shaking Ebi's little hand with the greatest of care.
"Nya nya" Ebi greeted back.
"That doesn't sound like a name" Seiichirou responds. "What shall I call you?"
"Her name is Ebi" Miharu announced approaching her brother, Koyomi and Tomoka following behind her. Yukinari and Kirie stood at the front door.
"Oh, nice to meet you Ebi" Seiichirou said patting Ebi's head.
"Nya nya" Ebi responds.
"Whose is she?" Seiichirou asks.
"Bit of a long story" Koyomi said.
"So big brother" Miharu begins, "I was thinking we could show you around. I want to tell you all about the things we used to do here on Earth."
"We?" Yukinari ponders. Seiichirou mulls over the idea for a moment.
"Okay little sister, sounds like a plan" Seiichirou agrees. As the protective older brother that he was, he found it not to be a bad idea.
"You'll see big brother! The shopping district is so much fun!" Miharu exclaimed excited.
"Koyomi, Tomoka, care to tag along?" Seiichirou asked.
"Definitely! Koyo too!" Tomoka declares eagerly.
"Well, okay" Koyomi agrees. "Miharu has come back so it'll be like old times!"
"This is kind of exciting isn't it girls? An exploration of Earth with fellow Seirenians!" Seiichirou says.
"Tomo can hardly wait! She's got plenty of places she wants to go to!" Tomoka announces.
"Okay, enough talk. You girls get yourselves ready" Seiichirou commands. The girls comply.
"How long have you been here on Earth Seiichirou?" Yukinari asked in response to Seiichirou's use of the word 'explore'.
"Not long enough."
"How long is that?" Yukinari continues, an eyebrow raised.
"About a month... A month and a half" Seiichirou answered simply but Yukinari wasn't sure whether to believe him or not.
"So if it's an outing for Seirenians, I guess that means us 'Earthlings' are counted out?" Kirie queried.
"Ehh, next time" Seiichirou answers awkwardly. "Let's go girls" Seiichirou commands as Miharu, Koyomi, and Tomoka join him and they proceed out.
"I'm sorry Kirie, Yukinari" Koyomi apologizes.
"Tomo's sorry too" Tomoka felt the need to point out.
"It's not a big deal. Like Seiichirou said: next time" Kirie replies.
"We'll be back later. Don't come check up on us" Seiichirou advises as he walks off.
"Aren't they coming along big brother?" Miharu asked as all four stepped out onto the sidewalk.
"No. This is an outing meant only for Seiren residents. Considering how few of us are on this planet, we need to stick together!" Seiichirou implored.
"Uhmm, okay" Miharu agreed as Koyomi and Tomoka exchanged glances.
"Now Miharu" Seiichirou resumes placing a firm grip on Miharu's shoulders from behind, "you said you'd show me around and tell me of all the things you used to do here on Earth. Please, lead the way."
"Oh. Okay!" Miharu agrees as she leads the other three to the shopping district.
Back in Yukinari's house, Yukinari and Kirie find themselves alone sitting together on one of the living room couches.
"That was weird" Kirie said.
"Yeah, no kidding" Yukinari answers, his arms spread atop his couch's backrest.
"Whatever" Kirie says as she gets more comfortable right next to Yukinari. "Just us two then?"
"Yeah" Yukinari confirms.
"I'm okay with that" Kirie says caressing the hair on the back of Yukinari's head.
"Same here" Yukinari confirms and with little delay they both start to kiss. After Yukinari started to massage Kirie's thigh, before either could get any further, Ebi makes herself known to the two. She sits herself down on the other couch oblivious to Yukinari and Kirie and starts to color away at a coloring book.
"Uhh, Kirie" Yukinari interrupts, "we're not alone."
"Oh!" Kirie jumps in surprise. "I, I thought she went with them."
"Apparently not."
"So I guess it's up to me to take care of her now?" Kirie remarked.
"I don't mind helping" Yukinari offers.
"Alright... Ebi, you hungry?" Kirie asks getting up and approaching Ebi. Ebi nods as she continues to color. "Looks like my time with Yukinari will have to wait again..." Kirie thinks to herself disappointed. "First Fukuyama, then that whatever ranger and then detention..." she resented further.
"I'm impressed Kirie. You know you'll make a great mom one day" Yukinari teased.
"Oh shut up" Kirie retaliates blushing. "We can't expect Tomoka to look after her now can we?.. Tomoka's still a kid... Alright Ebi, seeing as how-Fukuyama!" Kirie exclaims suddenly.
"Kirie? What was that?" Yukinari asks, Kirie's exclamation taking him by surprise. "What was that about Fukuyama?"
"I forgot all about it, dammit!" Kirie cursed as she realizes she had forgotten all about the rich boy pervert. "Fukuyama knows that Miharu has returned!"
"He does!? How!?"
"I messed up" Kirie admits. "I accidentally told him. I was careless!"
"But why are you so worried? So what if he knows? She's with Seiichirou so-"
"But we need to make sure" Kirie insisted getting Ebi ready for their own outing. "Knowing Fukuyama, he'll come up with something, anything to get his grubby hands on Miharu" Kirie accused as she fitted shoes on Ebi. "You're coming along right?"
"Sure Kirie, if you feel it necessary" Yukinari said.
"I'm sorry Ebi, we'll get you something to eat at the shopping district... That's where they were headed right?"
"I thought I heard Miharu mention it" Yukinari recalls as he too prepared himself.
-TRANSITION-
"Big brother, I want to introduce you to one of the very first people I met when I came here to Earth" Miharu said as she, her older brother, and Koyomi and Tomoka walked through crowds in Mizuno's shopping district. "He's the banana man! He sells bananas!" Miharu explained as she approached the banana vendor.
"Well hello there Miharu! Here to get some more bananas? Of course you are" the banana man, a pudgy middle-aged vendor, greeted with a warm chuckle. "You're my number one customer you know!"
"Hello Mister Banana Man! I'm just here showing my big brother around this shopping district."
"Is that so? Hello there! My name is Mister Yoshichi and I own a fruit and vegetable shop. I welcome you, my number one customer's big brother, to this shopping district with a free sample" the vendor said offering a free banana. "Bananas are very good for you. High in potassium!"
"Why... thank you" Seiichirou thanked taking the banana graciously.
"And one for you Miharu! And of course, I can't forget your friends. That's three more bananas coming right up" the vendor says turning away.
"Tomo wants an apple too!"
"Tomoka" Koyomi disciplined.
"Let's see what we have here. Let me get you some quality bananas; shouldn't be too hard, I only sell quality here" the vendor boasted rubbing his palms as he scanned his supply. "Here you are" the vendor said picking out and handing over three more.
"Thank you very much Mister Yoshichi" Seiichirou quickly thanked. "These bananas are lovely" Seiichirou added accepting the vendor's gifts. "Well we better get going, we've got a lot to see. Nice meeting you Mister Yoshichi. Thanks again for the bananas! Goodbye!" Seiichirou said as he walked away briskly.
"Goodbye" Miharu said as she followed along, Koyomi and Tomoka also waving goodbye and departing.
"'The Golden Pan' is a great restaurant! If you're new here, be sure to give it a visit!" the vendor shouted over the crowd into which Miharu's party had disappeared into. "Strange fellow" the vendor thought before returning to the maintenance of his open-air shop.
"Miharu."
"Big brother" Miharu answered.
"How long have you known that man?" Seiichirou questions as he examines the bananas in his possession.
"Ever since I first came here" Miharu answered readily. "He's a very nice man."
"He does seem like an okay guy" Seiichirou acknowledges as he hands a banana to Miharu and the two others to Koyomi and Tomoka. "But he's an exception Miharu. If someone offers you free food, don't accept it and get away from that person!" Seiichirou implored Miharu as he peeled his banana and took a bite.
"But what if it looks good?" Miharu asks naively, a banana peel in her hand.
"No Miharu. I forbid it! Don't talk to strangers and don't accept any of their offerings" Seiichirou said firmly to Miharu's disappointment. Seiichirou hated seeing his younger sister disappointed so he continues. "...Listen Miharu, if you're ever hungry, you let me know. Your big brother will get you something to eat" Seiichirou declares placing a hand on Miharu's shoulder to reassure her.
"..Okay big brother!" Miharu said uplifted. Seiichirou squeezes Miharu's shoulder softly and smiles.
"Now let's get back to business. Where to next Miharu?"
"Let's see... Oh! There's a shop Yukinari and I went to once before. It was so much fun trying out the clothes there!"
"Alright Miharu, you're the leader. Lead the way" Seiichirou commands and Miharu takes the lead once more. Unbeknownst to neither of the Kanakas nor the STA agents, there was a black limo quietly following them around the shopping district from a distance. Fukuyama rode inside this very limo, his eyes focused through a set of binoculars.
"So... Miharu has returned..." Fukuyama says tasting every word leaving his mouth. "And she's with Koyomi.. Both just waiting for me to make them mine! All mine!" Fukuyama drools. "But that man" Fukuyama says focusing on Seiichirou. "That bastard dared to lay a disgusting man's hand on me! Who the hell is he supposed to be and what is he doing with them!?" Fukuyama, after leaving detention had proceeded immediately to the Yukinari residence in hopes of seducing Miharu out of Yukinari's house. He was stopped short when he found not only Yukinari whom he thought he might be able to outmaneuver but also Seiichirou, another one who had gotten the best of him before. Standing outside Yukinari's house, he stealthily dodged an incoming Kirie and instead called on the service of one of his staff at the Fukuyama estate.
"He bears a striking resemblance to the girl named Miharu" a maid with shoulder-length blue hair, red lipstick, and sitting to Fukuyama's right pointed out.
"Yes... now that you mention that, he does. Perhaps they are brother-sister?" Fukuyama suggested. "Miharu's never mentioned anything about a brother to me."
"So what course of action will you like to take Master?" Lilica Stacy, Fukuyama's maid asked.
"I'll handle Miharu and Koyomi, gladly" Fukuyama instructs. "You make sure that the guy with her does not interfere."
"Understood Master" Lilica obeyed and the black limo ventured closer without arousing the suspicion of anyone in Seiichirou's party. Instead, Miharu was busy excitedly pushing her older brother into a shop.
"Big brother, Yukinari and I once came here when I wanted to be a tiger in the sack. The clothing here is really cute!"
"M-Miharu! What the hell is this place!?" Seiichirou gasped shocked. From the ceiling hung female mannequins wearing provocative lingerie, some too thin and scant to leave much to the imagination. "Where the hell are we!?" Seiichirou repeats still shocked.
"Big brother? What's wrong?"
"Oooh! Look at this Koyo" Tomoka squeaked pulling on a thong. "It's like a fuzzy rubber band!"
"Kyaah! Put that away Tomoka!" Koyomi exclaims red-faced.
"This is some funny underwear" Tomoka comments as she examined the thong in her hands.
"And look at this one!" Miharu says grabbing a bra with a pink bow in between the bra cups. "Isn't it cute? But you haven't seen anything until you've seen the garter belts and stockings they have here. And the skirts are some of the highest I've ever seen anywhere!" Unable to take anymore, Seiichirou snatches the pieces of undergarment in Tomoka and Miharu's hands and lifts the two girls up and over his shoulders. "Big brother, what's goin-"
"Rrrraaaarrrgghhh!" With all his strength, Seiichirou charges out of the shop with a roar, Koyomi keeping up. Outside, he lets Miharu and Tomoka down.
"Miharu, did you say that Sasaki brought you here!? That bastard, I'll kill him!" Seiichirou snarled.
"No big brother, I read about lingerie in a book" Miharu reveals pulling out a book from her shoulder bag and handing it to her brother. "It's called 'The 999 Walls Between the Idiots and Me' by Kazuharu Fukuyama" Miharu said, the name of the author causing Seiichirou to scowl and Koyomi to flinch.
"What... is this!?" Seiichirou's anger boiled underneath as he flipped the pages of the book.
"It's a book about love and many other things I don't understand" Miharu declares with glee.
"Miharu... how did you get this? Who gave you this?"
"The author himself" Miharu claimed proudly. "Oh! And there he is now" Miharu said as she pointed at Fukuyama standing behind Seiichirou.
"What?" Seiichirou said looking behind him, Fukuyama evading his line of sight by staying on Seiichirou's six o'clock. "Miharu, there's no one the- scoundrel!" Seiichirou roared as he turned back around to find Fukuyama running off at full speed, Miharu carried off in his vile clutches.
"Fukuyama, where are we going?" Miharu asks.
"To paradise my sweet little pink gumball" Fukuyama answers with a smile.
"You... bastard!" Seiichirou shouted once more tearing the book in his hands across the spine barehanded. Immediately, Seiichirou gives chase but just as he starts, he is tripped, his leg seized by someone's hand and swung causing him to fall. Turning around immediately, he finds Lilica standing over him.
"Good afternoon" Lilica greets. "My name is Lilica Stacy. And you are?"
"What the hell is your problem!?" Seiichirou demands looking up but does not wait for an answer. He gets up quickly and resumes the chase only to have his path intercepted by Lilica, her speed taking him by complete surprise.
"Get out of my way!" Seiichirou commands loudly.
"I'm sorry but I cannot allow you to interfere with Master's plans. Your chase will have to end as quickly as it has started" Lilica informed calmly.
"Master?"
"That's right. That man you were planning on chasing is my Master" Lilica said taking a defensive stance. "And I cannot permit you interfering."
"So you're involved with that man?" Seiichirou concludes offended. "You're involved in Miharu's kidnapping!?" he asks with voice rising. He is met with silence, Lilica standing her ground. "...Very well... I've never struck a woman before and I never planned to but it looks like I'll have to make an exception" Seiichirou voiced defiantly. Without warning, he charges full-speed toward Lilica hoping to simply knock her over and out of his way. He knew that he had little time to waste and thus, he charged with all his might aiming a tackle at Lilica. Just as he's about to make contact, Lilica sidesteps and kicks his ankle causing him to trip again, his momentum working against him.
"Give up. You stand no chance against me" Lilica warned looking down at Seiichirou. Seiichirou stands quickly and swings a right fist, Lilica dodging it with great agility. Seiichirou swings his left, Lilica jerking her head back just beyond Seiichirou's reach. Taking advantage of the attack's recoil, Lilica knees Seiichirou in the gut causing the wind to explode out of him.
"Gaaahh!" Seiichirou coughed as he grasped at his abdomen and fell to one knee, Koyomi and Tomoka watching helplessly.
"Stop this at once!" Koyomi shouted but her cry went unheeded.
"I am defending myself against my attacker" Lilica says as she watched Seiichirou struggle back to both feet.
"Bullshit!... You're kidnapping Miharu!... I will not allow that!" Seiichirou shouted with determination as he regained his wind.
"You're a strong one, I can tell" Lilica complimented.
"Don't screw with me!" Seiichirou shouts charging back in as he again attempted to force Lilica out of his way. Seiichirou throws a punch, Lilica catches it with her left making Seiichirou's hand feel as though it had punched a wall. Holding firmly onto Seiichirou's fist, Lilica responds with one of her own. Her right fist curves up into an uppercut burrowing underneath Seiichirou's sternum. "Ghaaaff. Kaff kaff" Seiichirou coughed again.
"But you're an amateur" Lilica evaluates looking down at a staggered Seiichirou. Down at Lilica's feet, Seiichirou, seeing Lilica's legs in front of him, charges hoping to knock her off balance. Without warning, he charges aiming at the lower ends of Lilica's legs. Lilica foresees this and plants one foot atop his head midcharge and turns his own momentum against him again. She kicks the back of his head jumping above his tackle and he falls forward, his balance lost. "Such a sloppy tackle" Lilica insulted, Seiichirou flat down on the ground. Their fight was far from over but the confrontation was clearly Lilica's to win. As Koyomi and Tomoka watched on, Koyomi's cell phone rang.
"Koyo! Your phone!" Tomoka informs a shocked Koyomi.
"Oh! Sorry!... He-hello?" Koyomi answered.
"Hello Koyomi?" Kirie asks scanning the crowds going about their business at the shopping district. Yukinari stood by Kirie, up on his shoulders sat Ebi holding a small bag with the logo of a local restaurant chain. "Koyomi, where are you? Are you with the others?"
"Oh Kirie, it's terrible!" Koyomi said into the phone urgently. "Fukuyama has taken Miharu!"
"That's what I was afraid of!" Kirie exclaims. "That damned Fukuyama! Where are you now?"
Koyomi looked around immediately hoping to find some landmark but ultimately settled for the shop they had just exited.
"We-we're in front of Mami's Secret, the clothing store!"
"Mami's Secret? Where's that?" Kirie asked aloud.
"Mami's Secret?" Yukinari reacts recalling his date with Miharu months ago. "Kirie, I know where that is. Follow me!"
Back at the scene before the lingerie store, Seiichirou continued his resistance. "Hold still!" he shouted as he tossed a high kick which Lilica evaded and retaliated with a swipe at Seiichirou's face. "Ggaaaahhh!"
"What's going on over there?" Kirie asked hearing the commotion over the phone as she followed Yukinari.
"Oh Koyomi!" Fukuyama's voice chirped from behind Koyomi.
"Please hurry Kirie!" Koyomi screamed into the phone before the connection was killed.
"Koyomi? Hello?" Kirie said holding up her cell phone up to her ear. "Yukinari, we've got to hurry!"
"Gotcha!" Yukinari confirms as he picks up the pace. Back in front of Mami's Secret, Seiichirou's struggle against Lilica continued and Fukuyama's chase had just begun.
"Noo! Get away from me!" Koyomi screamed in distress as she ran from Fukuyama.
"Koyomi! Were you in Mami's Secret looking for lingerie!?" Fukuyama calls excitedly. "You shouldn't worry about that, I can get you all the lingerie my heart desires!"
"Nnooooo!" Koyomi screamed.
"Get back here you stupid pervert!" Tomoka shouted as she tried to keep up. "Curse Tomo's short legs!" she shouted as she fell behind.
"Koyomi! Tomoka!" Seiichirou shouted as Koyomi and Tomoka disappeared from view, his body worn out, bruised, and tired from his fight against Lilica. "No! No!" he exclaimed in frustration. "I can't fail them! I mustn't fail them! Damn it!" he let out punching the ground.
"Young man, what is your name?" Lilica suddenly demanded taking Seiichirou by surprise.
"Damn you!" Seiichirou spat. "I have nothing to say to you!" he shouts charging again with a straight punch. His attack is deflected when Lilica slaps his incoming fist out of the way and again she knocks him back down onto the ground.
"The girl, she is your sister?"
"Yes! She is!" Seiichirou reveals getting back up. "And you're taking her! You monster!"
"Did you know she once worked with me as a maid at the Fukuyama estate?"
"Bullshit!"
"No, it's true. And she was treated very well by our staff" Lilica reveals.
"Shut your damned mouth!" Seiichirou screams enraged, his ears unable to process what he believed to be nonsense.
"Your sister, she's a very naive girl. Take good care of her" Lilica says knowing Seiichirou would not take it too well.
"What the fuck is your problem!?" Seiichirou shouted angrily at the audacity of the maid he was struggling to overcome. Not only was she helping to kidnap his younger sister, she was mocking him too. He charges again fruitlessly, his determination to rescue Miharu driving him blind with rage. "Get out of my way!" Part of Seiichirou knew trying the same thing again would end with the same result but at this point, he was not driven by reason but by desperation. He realized the maid who was standing in his way fought on a higher level but his sister's well-being was on the line: that trumped everything. Lilica dodges making Seiichirou brace himself for a counter. A kick, a punch, or an elbow? A knee perhaps or headbutt? Neither came. Instead, Seiichirou continues running so fast that he stumbles, his legs unable to keep up with his speed. He slows to a stop surprised by the fact that Lilica was simply standing there, her hands at her side.
"Go get her. Your sister."
"What kind of fool do you take me for!? What are you planning!?" Seiichirou demands now feeling confused atop of feeling angered, exhausted, and pained from the aches, scrapes, and bruises covering his body.
"Just go" Lilica insisted, the sincerity in her voice coming through. Seiichirou did not hesitate, his will to fight drained. He ran in the direction that Fukuyama had gone in hopes of finding him and beating him until he got his sister back. "Not bad" Lilica thinks to herself as she begins to tear at her own maid uniform. "Well actually, pretty bad." She slaps herself across the face several times and even punches herself in the face bruising it in the process, her teeth cutting the inside of her mouth and giving them a slight red hue. Looking around her, Lilica realizes several people looking her way, people who had been watching the struggle and subsequent self-harm. Without a word, Lilica walks on ignoring their stares.
-TRANSITION-
"Not much longer Kirie" Yukinari said as he lead Kirie towards Mami's Secret, a clothing and lingerie shop.
"Hold it Yukinari" Kirie says stopping. Yukinari turns her way to find her looking at a long and luxurious limousine stopped at a red light. "I've found Miharu" she says pointing at the backseat of the limo.
"Really?" Yukinari asks as he follows the direction in which Kirie was pointing. Through one of the windows he sees Miharu seated quietly.
"Yukinari, get Miharu out, I'll stall the driver" Kirie instructs.
"Got it" Yukinari agrees and proceeds to the rear side of the limo. As he does so, Kirie takes a stand at the front of the limo.
"Hey lady, get out of the way!" the uniformed driver shouts sticking his head out the driver's side window, cars behind him starting to honk their horns.
"Hey there! Where are you headed?" Kirie answers back. "It's not the Fukuyama Estate is it?" she asks taking the driver by surprise.
"None of your business lady, just get out of the way."
"Just a second" she answers as she watched Yukinari open the door next to Miharu's seat.
"Hello Yukinari! Hello Ebi! Are you guys going with me too?" Miharu greets innocently.
"Hello Miharu" Yukinari returns. "I'm afraid not Miharu, this ride's done" Yukinari declares as he pulls Miharu out.
"Really? But Fukuyama told me to wait in here... That's a shame" Miharu comments and Yukinari closes the limo door.
"Hey, what are you doing!?" the limo driver demands angrily the moment he realizes his passenger was being pulled out. "You little bastard" the driver growls as he makes a move to exit his vehicle.
"Oh no you don't" Kirie says forcing the driver's side door closed with her foot.
"The hell is your problem!?" the limo driver demands as he tries to open the door.
"My problem is you're helping kidnap a friend of ours" Kirie said leaning in menacingly. "So if you know what's good for you, you'll be heading back alone."
"Is that a threat?" the limo driver challenged.
"Step on out and I'll show you" Kirie finished cracking her knuckles and maintaining her foot on the limo door. The limo driver at first seemed as though he were about to step out but at the last second appears to have changed his mind.
"..Screw this, I don't get paid enough for that" the limo driver grumbles to himself and takes off. Kirie rejoins the others on the sidewalk.
"Well done Kirie" Yukinari praised.
"I figured he wouldn't step out" Kirie said.
"Hello Kirie!" Miharu greets brightly.
"Hello Miharu" Kirie answers as she pulled out her cell phone and dialed Koyomi a second time. "...She's not picking up" Kirie observes, her cell phone up to her ear. "Damn that Fukuyama. I knew this would happen" Kirie says with great irritation.
"Relax Kirie, we'll find her" Yukinari says as they approach Mami's Secret. "Actually, there she is now!" Yukinari declares looking off in the distance where he sees Koyomi running toward them. "Koyomiii!" Yukinari calls out. Koyomi sees them and urgently makes a beeline their way. As Koyomi approaches, Fukuyama appears as he chases after her.
"Yukinariii! Help!" Koyomi cries reaching him successfully and putting him in between Fukuyama and herself.
"Jeez Koyomi... how can you... be so fast?.." Fukuyama says catching his breath. "Punynari... get out of the way!"
"Are you seriously asking that Fukuyama?" Yukinari asks perfectly accustomed to the audacious rich boy.
"Yukinari, let me take care of him" Kirie offers stepping forward and cracking her knuckles.
"Aaaahh!" Fukuyama shouts intimidated. "Wait wait wait Kirie! Please, I was only joking! I swear!"
"Is that so?" Kirie asks as she stepped toward Fukuyama menacingly. "If it was a joke then I guess I can forgive you..."
"Really?" Fukuyama asks surprised.
"Really?" Yukinari and Koyomi repeat just as surprised.
"Really" Kirie confirms. "Question is, can 'he' forgive you?" Kirie ponders as she looked behind Fukuyama.
"What?" Fukuyama turns his head to find Seiichirou walking slowly toward him, his injured face twisted in a vengeful rage, Tomoka following behind him. "Aaaahh!"
"...You... scum!" Seiichirou exclaims. "I've finally found you..." he says, his hands tightened into fists. Tomoka leaves Seiichirou's side and joins up with Koyomi who's still standing behind Yukinari. "And now I'm going to enjoy pounding you into the cold, hard pavement" Seiichirou breathes as he cracks his knuckles.
"Wait wait wait!" Fukuyama says terrified but to no avail. Seiichirou grabs him by his white uniform and pulls him into range.
"Miharu, Koyomi, where do you want it?" Seiichirou asks, his right fist ready.
"Where do I want what?" Miharu asks.
"Whatever! Just make him go away!" Koyomi wailed.
"That pretty-boy face of his it is!" Seiichirou decides.
"Aaaahh!" Fukuyama panics. Without hesitating, Seiichirou sends a powerful punch flying toward Fukuyama but it is stopped dead by someone standing directly behind him.
"What the hell?"
"I'm sorry but I cannot allow you to do that" the person holding Seiichirou's attack says simply.
"Lilica!" Fukuyama says relieved to see her standing exactly on Seiichirou's six. "Get this punk's hands off of me!" Fukuyama ordered. Without delay, Lilica follows the order: she pounds Seiichirou straight into the ribs causing Seiichirou to wince, his grasp on Fukuyama's uniform releasing. She then takes Seiichirou's releasing arm, his left, and twists it behind him painfully.
"Big brother!" Miharu let out.
"Oww! Let me go!" Seiichirou demands in pain.
"Very well" Lilica agrees and she kicks him in the back forcing him away from Fukuyama.
"What is your deal lady?" Seiichirou asks turning toward Lilica. Lilica ignores him and turns to Fukuyama.
"Master, are you okay?" Lilica questions standing between Fukuyama and Seiichirou.
"Yes, I'm okay" Fukuyama confirms tending to his uniform. "...Lilica, your uniform. And your face. You're injured! You're bleeding!"
"My fight with this man was not an easy one" Lilica explains stunning Seiichirou in the process. "He was... a skilled fighter... and he landed quite a few powerful blows-" Lilica sways in her spot before falling into Fukuyama's arms seemingly hurt and exhausted.
"Lilica! Are you okay!?" Fukuyama asks concerned.
"I'm sorry Master, I'm exhausted and mildly concuss... The fight has taken much out of me" Lilica says weakly, dry blood on her face.
"You bastard!" Fukuyama snarls angrily at Seiichirou. "What have you done!?"
"But I never-" Seiichirou began to object.
"Master! We must get away from him! Please! He's a savage!" Lilica pleaded.
"If you feel it best Lilica, we shall withdraw" Fukuyama answers compassionately. He aids Lilica in walking off after noticing she was walking with a limp. As they walk off, their backs to the others, Seiichirou shouts.
"Stay away from Miharu! Stay away from Koyomi!" Seiichirou demands but is ignored, Fukuyama and Lilica continue walking.
"Let us fetch a ride home" Fukuyama tells Lilica.
"Yes, let's" Lilica agrees.
"Hey! Are you listening!?" Seiichirou approaches the two but as he does so, Lilica brandishes a needle dart right behind Fukuyama's back and just as quickly she jabs the back of her master's neck. Fukuyama collapses into Lilica's arms in a rapid slumber. As he sleeps, Lilica lets him down easy. She pulls out a cell phone from her person and places a call.
"This is Lilica. Get me transporation over at my location" she speaks into the phone and then suddenly closes it not bothering to wait for an answer. "Young man" she says turning to a Seiichirou who was currently speechless. "Young man!" Lilica repeats more forcefully the second time.
"Wh-what?" Seiichirou answers shaken out of his stupor.
"I'm sorry I've caused you such trouble" Lilica says. "But rest assured it was not my intention to let Master get too far..." Seiichirou only stares back looking more confused than ever. "Let me start from a little further back" Lilica offers noticing the complete bewilderment on Seiichirou's face. "Don't worry, I'll keep it brief: Master and I have been tracking you from the instant you left the Sasaki residence. When you and the girls in your party split from Yukinari and Kirie and had created some distance between yourself and the Sasaki residence, Master decided to strike. He ordered me to make sure you did not interfere as he set about abducting your sister. You know better than anyone else I followed his orders to the letter, at least initially. After I had had enough of our bout, I let you go."
"Why did you do it?" Seiichirou asks trying not to get too angry.
"It's my job to follow his orders" Lilica explains.
"So your morals are for sale?" Seiichirou challenges.
"That doesn't mean I always agree with his decisions however" Lilica answers.
"You should aim to disagree with that man more often then" Seiichirou responds.
"And you should work on your martial arts" Lilica criticizes.
"He likes to punch and kick with no particular adherence to a school of thought or style" Kirie contributes.
"If it works, it works" Seiichirou responds.
"Of course. You remind me of so many of the soldiers I served with during my war years" Lilica recalls. "That foolish eagerness to play the hero and protect friends and loved ones. Brings back some wonderful memories of people I held very dear."
"Nothing foolish about protecting a sibling" Seiichirou declares. Lilica nods gently.
"Of course. Our meeting was an interesting one" Lilica said as a black vehicle pulled up near her on the street.
"Interesting? That was irritating" Seiichirou said irked.
"My apologies" Lilica said honestly. "I must get going. Farewell" she says as she walks off toward her ride.
"Wait!" Seiichirou calls out making Lilica stop and turn his way.
"Yes?"
"You tell that man that if he ever goes after my sister again, he'll have to deal with me!" Seiichirou declares firmly.
"Will do" Lilica answers simply. "It'll probably happen again. Master isn't one to give up so easily..."
"I'm plenty stubborn too" Seiichirou responds.
"...Indeed... Goodbye..." With that, Lilica enters the car waiting for her and it takes off disappearing around a turn at an intersection, Seiichirou watching as it goes. Seiichirou stands there quietly for a moment before Miharu approaches.
"Big brother, are you okay?" Miharu asks standing next to her older brother who was lost in thought.
"Yes" Seiichirou answered quickly. "Miharu, are you okay? Did that damned man do anything to you?" Seiichirou asks examining Miharu for injuries.
"No big brother" Miharu answers. "But you look hurt big brother."
"I'm fine. I've had worse" Seiichirou responded. "So Miharu, is it true? Did you once work with that lady? Lilica?"
"Oh yes! I worked with her once before as a maid at the Fukuyama residence!"
"Did she treat you well? That man didn't try anything funny did he?"
"No, Miss Lilica was extremely kind to me" Miharu recalls to Seiichirou's relief.
"...So Lilica was telling the truth" Seiichirou thought. "Did she do that to herself also?" he continued thinking of the damage to Lilica's uniform and the injuries on her face. "..She's as crazy as that damn pervert!" he condemned quietly to himself.
"Big brother, I'm hungry. Can we get something to eat now?" Miharu asks.
"Oh, oh! Yes, of course" Seiichirou answers getting back to the task at hand. "Girls, Sasaki, how about we get something to eat? My treat... Except you Sasaki" Seiichirou adds causing an amused Yukinari to chuckle. He wasn't surprised in the least.
"Tomo's starving!"
"Dinner sounds lovely" Koyomi said glad Fukuyama was gone. "Thank you so much!"
"It 'is' getting close to dinner time" Kirie said noting the evening sky.
"So where are we going?" Seiichirou asks. "How about this 'Golden Bowl' place that Mister Yoshichi suggested before?"
"Big brother, it's called 'The Golden Pan' and it's delicious!" Miharu giggled. The others around Miharu laughed also though it was mostly because Miharu often had that exact opinion of almost any type of food. "Let's go big brother! I can't wait!"
"Lead the way then Miharu" Seiichirou said taking great joy in seeing Miharu happy.
"Okay. I know exactly where it is! Everyone follow me!" Miharu exclaims excited and everyone followed.
In the lead was Miharu, Seiichirou right behind her, Tomoka and Koyomi leading a skipping Ebi by the hand, and Yukinari and Kirie in the rear.
"Yukinari" Kirie said with a worried look, "when should we tell her?"
"What?"
"You know. About us" Kirie said.
"Oh. In due time Kirie. For now, let's just get something to eat" Yukinari said feeling the strain of an empty stomach. Kirie, feeling similarly, was quick to agree.
It was not long before the group arrived at a large red building. The Golden Pan. Upon entry, they were greeted with a relaxing atmosphere, were promptly seated around a large round table and soon bestowed with an impressive culinary display.
"So big brother? What did you think about today?" Miharu asks, a plateful of food before her.
"Very tiring and irksome" Seiichirou evaluated.
"Really? I'm sorry" Miharu apologized.
"It's not your fault Miharu. That rich pervert almost ruined it. Seeing you happy now makes it all worthwhile" Seiichirou answers caressing Miharu's head. Miharu smiles.
"I thought it was plenty stressful. I agree with ya, that Fukuyama is a pain" Kirie said after taking a sip from her drink. "Still, this place is nice and I can finally relax here" she said with Ebi sitting beside her nibbling on an appetizer.
"And the food is delicious!" Miharu sung biting into a roasted chicken leg.
"I thought you'd like it" Yukinari said humorously soliciting some laughter around the table.
"So big brother, can we do this again tomorrow?"
"Sure, if that's what you want" Seiichirou said happily. "You girls can join us too right?" he asked Tomoka and Koyomi.
"Sure thing!" Tomoka agrees.
"I just hope the crazed pervert doesn't attack again" Koyomi said warily.
"Koyomi, I don't think that guy will be such a problem in the future. You just leave him to me" Seiichirou said confidently. From Seiichirou's point of view, a number of interesting and alarming things had happened that day. The odd but friendly banana man, the lewd book authored by Fukuyama, the scandalous clothing shop, the malicious abduction, and the battle-hardened maid Lilica. He could long tell Miharu was fond of Earth but also felt Miharu needed him now more than ever to protect her from any and all Earthly threats be they crazed perverts or combat maids.
Author commentary: Thanks for reading and for the reviews! They're all very inspirational!
