"You're looking… better now…" Ren commented as Ereshkigal stepped out of the private room.
Archer had to agree. The effect was subtle, but his fellow Servant seemed brighter than she was before. The Goddess's presence was just a bit more commanding and there was a stability with the power that she now exudes.
That Coordinator actually knew what she was doing. It might've taken her much longer than expected, four hours compared to the one she spent on the others, but she got the job done in the end. She might actually be able to pull off an Ascension if they could get her the proper materials.
Easier said than done. Some of what was needed, he could make copies of, having seen them before. Others though, well even he didn't get a chance to see those during the countless years he spent serving Alaya. That was perhaps the only good point of the job. That he could get a chance to witness heroes and objects of legend and myth from all sorts of time periods and worlds. If only they didn't just become another landmark for his Inner World, another grave only seen by him and those he would have to kill.
"It was an interesting experience." Ereshkigal did a light twirl with her dress before switching back to her civilian clothes. "Just a quick adjustment of my Core. Didn't have to take off any of my clothes."
"Four hours ain't quick," Kyoko muttered, clearly impatient from the day's events. The only reason why she wasn't leaving was that there was a large selection of snacks and drinks that came from the well-stocked kitchen built into the office. A well-stocked kitchen that apparently any customer could take advantage of, and it certainly was judging by how the table was practically covered in foodstuffs. Even the other girls, and the one cat, were eating more than they should.
Archer didn't say anything about it because they might as well treat themselves for once. Especially with the days to come.
"Why don't you play with us then?" Yuma said, briefly interrupting the game that she, Ren, and Madoka had been playing on their phones. She was sitting on a chair with Amy resting on her lap. "The adds are spawning too quick. Tank and two healers ain't doing it, we need a good dps."
It was safe to assume that Yuma was the tank.
"Nah don't feel like it, and that's what you get for trying to carry two newbies that both picked healers," Kyoko said as she lay down on the couch and began throwing snacks into her mouth from that position. "Might as well get started, Archer. I want to get to the hotel sometime tonight."
"Let's go then," Mitama said happily as she gestured to the door to the private room. "I've got the table nice and ready for your body."
Archer crossed his arms and looked at her sternly. "I'm keeping my clothes on."
Archer didn't lie down. For the last few hours, he had simply sat on a chair as Mitama put her hands on his chest, close to where his Spiritual Core was. That entire time he kept his hands loose, ready to grip a blade and strike her down the moment she did something suspicious. No matter how skilled she was at manipulating souls, it would take time, especially for him who wasn't a normal Servant in the first place.
"Your stats are fairly low for a Servant," Mitama commented.
"How would you know?" Archer asked. Unless she had other Servants to compare it to.
"Just, that Goddess seems a lot stronger than you, yet she seems to have full respect for you."
"We have history."
Mitama looked up at him. "Long history I imagine."
"Hmph."
"I actually saw a bit of it, though I won't disclose it to you for the sake of Confidentiality."
Archer's hand tensed. He nearly Traced a blade at that moment to strike her down. "Saw?"
"I can't help it but sometimes I make a connection with my customer's soul," Mitama explained. "Feelings, images, sometimes entire memories, it tends to be quite varied. I usually don't say much since it's usually deeply personal to my customer, but in your case…" For once, the Coordinator cheerful facade went away and was instead replaced by something a bit more somber. "I saw glimpses of it. A world, your world, of endless blades."
The Coordinator was clearly treading a line. She knew that he could cut her down at any moment if she took it a step too far, but she still did it anyway. Was she a sadist? Curious? Or was she trying to find something that she lacked?
"I'm assuming that you won't go around telling people about it," Archer glared.
"I won't. I might tease but I respect a person's right to privacy. But yours is a world that I can't help but feel fascinated by. Stunned, awed, and sad to see. Unlike most Servants… it's just so incredibly human. Like a Magical Girl."
"Human?" Archer asked in disbelief. "Magical Girl? Me?"
"It is part of human nature to strive for something. To wish or reach for their ambitions with their own hand. It is because we have such strong human wants, that we would sacrifice everything for it. Aren't you quite similar to us?" Mitama asked.
"I'm not a human or Magical Girl," Archer replied. "Just a sword to be pointed at my enemies. That is what I have always been since the day I was born."
"And yet a blade is forged by human hands, it's steel showing the face of its wielder," Mitama replied. "And you've been spending a lot of time with Magical Girls recently."
Archer didn't deign to give an answer. There was a reason he didn't like dealing with Magical Girls in general.
"It's funny how Magical Girls have lost what they believe to be a vital part of their humanity because they allowed themselves to indulge in and fall prey to their desires," Mitama mused. "The Incubator takes advantage of that irony. Uses our own nature against us for its needs… but I don't think it realizes how unpredictable we can be. How capable we are at falling outside of its control. How human we still are."
"Your point being?" Archer asked.
"I'm just saying Mr. Archer," Mitama teased. "That even if you're against the Will of Humanity itself, that you don't have to just sit there and take it. There's always a way to strike back and a blade is well suited for that."
"And here I thought you were neutral," Archer commented. "And yet here you are trying to point me at someone else."
"I am neutral. It's just good service to see my customers reach their full potential. And it's certainly interesting to watch."
Archer raised an eye. "You are a very unpleasant individual."
Mitama smirked. "Don't have to be a good person to be a good Coordinator." She removed her hands from his chest. "Your adjustment has been finished. You should be feeling some minor improvements on your stats. There is little change in the Magical Energy being transferred from your Master because it was already quite efficient in the first place."
Archer stood up, stretched his neck a little, and rotated his arm. He did feel a bit better. "Everything else aside, your work is adequate. You'll be receiving your two million and Grief Seeds."
"And the other half?"
"Depends on the information you have to give us."
"Wonderful," Mitama clapped her hands together and smiled once more. "Now let's show you off to your Master. I'm sure she'll like the improvements I made to her Sword."
"Kyoko! Hurry!" Yuma shouted, scaring the cat that had been lounging on her lap. "We're going to die!"
"Yea, yea got it," Kyoko sighed as she tapped on her phone and did her best to kill all the monsters before they killed their team. Death was the best crowd control after all, both in games and in real life. Somehow they got through the stage, but her heart hadn't been really in it that entire time
"What happened?" Yuma asked as Amy jumped off her lap and began to explore the rest of the room. "You used to be better."
"What happened is I got forced into playing when I didn't feel like it," Kyoko grumbled.
"Thank you for helping us," Madoka replied. "And thanks for showing us that game, Yuma."
"It was… fun," Ren said.
"Whatever," Kyoko said. She put away her phone just as the door opened and Archer stepped out. The change wasn't quite as dramatic as Ereshkigal's had been, but it was there. "Looking good, old man."
"Had fun?" Archer asked.
"Yea." Kyoko sat up. "Let's pay the Coordinator and get home."
"Wait, there's still the last part of our transaction," Mitama said as she dug through the fridge. "The information you'll need." The Coordinator sat down on a chair with a cheesecake in one hand and a… bottle of ketchup in the other?
"What's the ketchup fo-" Kyoko froze as the Coordinator… poured ketchup on the cheesecake!? She immediately pointed at the Coordinator. "Are you insane!? What are you doing to good food!?"
She wasn't the only one freaking out either. Archer looked like he was about to have a panic attack watching the entire thing.
Kyoko was about to jump over and throttle Mitama for wasting when the Coordinator took out a fork and ate it. The cheesecake and ketchup. She actually ate it.
Kyoko lowered her hand. "Uh…"
"Is there something wrong?" Mitama asked.
"No… just uh, as long as you aren't wasting anything," Kyoko replied.
Kyoko!? How can you accept this? Archer began shouting in her head.
Well, she's eating it, isn't she?
She's making a mockery of all common decency and good taste!
Kyoko could only watch in morbid fascination as Mitama began to top the ketchup and cheesecake with a pickled plum.
I'm not very picky either, but this is taking it to a whole new level, Kyoko mused
Archer's face returned to his stoic expression even as he internally panicked within Kyoko's mind.
Oh, dear Alaya, is that Pickle juice on top of it all!?
Mitama looked up at Kyoko and Archer who were both still staring. "Would you like some?"
Kyoko watched as Archer immediately turned, stomped off to the corner of the room, and began to brood there instead. "Uh, we'll pass," she replied.
"Well, there's a kitchen that you can use whenever you feel like it," Mitama said. "Just leave me a share too."
No! Archer shouted. There's no telling what she'll do to anything I make. By my pride as a chef, I refuse to take part in such an atrocity!
Just get the information we need from her so we can just pay her and leave!
Mitama continued to eat as Archer walked up to her and only briefly stopped once he put an envelope full of money and two Grief Seeds on the table in front of her.
"The Magius have been recruiting in all the wards across the city," Mitama informed them without even having to check the envelope. If you want to join them then you simply have to go to a designated meeting point and meet with one of the White Feathers."
She set down her cake to pick up a cup of tea… and poured soy sauce in it. It was like she was enjoying watching the faces Archer was making as she continued to create more food based abominations. "The Witches are still funneling into the city in great numbers, so you are free to hunt in most places. There are issues of territory between the West and East, particularly the Daito ward. If you're going to investigate there it's best to get permission from a Kanagi Izumi first, she's the leader of that entire territory. Be polite, respect her rules, and she won't have any reason to deny you access since you're all a neutral party from outside this city."
Mitama took a sip of her cup. "As for the West, talk to Yachiyo Nanami. She won't have issues with you in her territory as long as you prove capable enough to handle the Witches of Kamihama and she might have some information for you that I lack. She'll also be able to help you schedule a meeting with Kanagi if you're in a hurry."
That's a familiar name, Kyoko commented.
I still have her number, Archer replied. We'll contact her soon. Ask if she has any information on Oriko.
"There's also Hinano Miyako. She used to be retired from leading her territory, though recently she's taken on that role again and has become much more active."
We really networked the first time we were here, Kyoko commented.
It'll make things easier for us this time, Archer commented.
"Nanami, Miyako, and Izumi," Madoka muttered to herself. "Got it. I'll see if I know anything about my friends."
"Your friends?" Mitama asked.
"Yes." Madoka nodded. "Homura, Sayaka, and Mami. Homura has long black hair that she wears in pigtails and red glasses on her face. Sayaka has short blue hair and is a very brave person. Mami has yellow hair in curls and is very cool and mature. Have you seen any of them?"
"Was Mami's last name Tomoe?" Mitama asked as she gestured to her chest. "Also big breasts?"
"Yes!" Madoka shouted, excited. "Have you seen her?"
"I did meet Mami briefly," Mitama replied. "She was a customer of mine though she didn't give me her first name. She also came for a quick adjustment and information a month ago, though I haven't seen her since."
"One month," Madoka whispered to herself in worry. "That's when she stopped contacting us. Have you seen Sayaka and Homura then?"
Mitama shook her head. "No. Though I will let them know you're in the city if you happen to stop by."
Madoka bowed her head. "Thank you."
"You're welcome," Mitama grinned. "Are you sure you don't want an adjustment? It's free, especially for a nice girl like you."
"No," Madoka refused, quickly and a bit scared at that. Which was understandable considering the time they spent with the Coordinator. It was honestly a surprise that Yuma of all people seemed to get along with her the most. "I'm fine. Please don't."
"You don't have to be so nervous around me," Mitama leaned closer which only caused Madoka to step back. "I won't do anything without your permission."
"Alright let's go before she sexually harasses the Pinkie," Kyoko announced to the group as she stood. They quickly made their farewells before making their way out the door.
"Thank you for business," Mitama said slyly as they left. "And I do look forward to your continued patronage."
"Let's agree to never go back there again," Kyoko said as she tossed off her shoes and fell onto the hotel bed that she and Yuma would be sharing.
"I… agree," Madoka said as she sat down on her bed. "I get… nervous around her for some reason."
"Meow." Amy jumped on the bed next to Madoka and began patting her with a paw, like she was comforting her.
"Probably your Goddess powers telling you she's bad news," Kyoko replied. "Archer always says to trust your instincts."
"I said that you should consider them at all times," Archer corrected. "Not that they're always correct, but they can serve as warning or guidance when all else fails."
"Mitama wasn't that bad," Yuma commented as she sat down next to Kyoko's head. "And she even told me about some Mystic Codes that might be in the underground of the city!"
"We'll take a look down there," Archer said. "But we'll have to be careful. Magical Artifacts tend to be in high demand. Someone will have already taken them, will already be looking for them, or there's something that prevents them from being acquired in the first place. The last ones are always the worst."
"I think… I want to meet up with Nanami tomorrow," Madoka commented. "See if she saw any of my friends and have her get me a meeting with Izumi. That way I can explore more freely."
"Good first step," Archer replied. "And something we can help you with. We've met Nanami in the past and I've already scheduled a meeting with her tomorrow to discuss anything that she might have seen. We can all go together."
"Don't expect her to know much about Oriko," Kyoko sighed. The fact of the matter was that they had no idea where Oriko was, only that she was in the city. They were just going to have to blindly look through the area and ask around with anyone that might've known someone of her description. "Think she has something to do with the Magius?"
"Maybe, maybe not," Archer mused. "We'll have to look into them too, see if they're connected in any way. If they are…"
"Then our jobs just got that much harder," Kyoko replied.
"Are you sure this is the right place?" Kyoko asked as they stood in front of what looked like a boarding house. Why would Yachiyo have them meet here?
"This is the address," Archer replied as he looked at his phone.
"It's a nice place," Madoka commented with Amy in her arms.
The front door suddenly opened and a familiar blonde girl stepped outside.
"Bout time ya guys got here!" Felicia said excitedly.
"What are you doing here?" Kyoko asked.
"Yachiyo's been letting me stay at her place in exchange for me working for her," Felicia said proudly.
Archer raised an eye. "A live at home Mercenary?"
"Yep!" Felicia looked at Madoka. "Who's the pink haired chick with the kitty? Almost thought Iroha changed her hair style."
"I'm Madoka Kaname," Madoka bowed her head. "It's nice to meet you."
"Acts like her too! I'm Felicia."
"Felicia who's at the-" Iroha poked her head out the door, her eyes grew wide once she saw them. "Oh it's you guys! Come in."
"You're here too?" Yuma asked as Kyoko's group stepped inside.
"This boarding house belongs to Yachiyo after she inherited it from her grandmother." Iroha explained as she led them inside. "She's been nice enough to let Felicia and I stay here." She then respectfully bowed her head to Madoka. "Hello. My name is Iroha Tamaki."
Madoka bowed her head. "I'm Madoka Kaname. It's nice to meet you too."
"You have a really cute cat," Iroha commented
"Thanks. Her name's Amy!" Madoka replied happily.
"I always wanted a cat, but my dad was allergic."
"Aw that's too bad. I'll let you play with Amy as much as you want! She's a really sweet kitty."
"I'd like that. Thank you."
"You're welcome!"
Kyoko glanced between the two pinkies. "You sure you two aren't siblings or something? Adopted or long-lost distant relatives at the very least?"
"I don't think my family knows any Kaname's," Iroha said.
"Mine don't know any Tamaki's either," Madoka replied before turning back to Iroha. "I'm sure Tatsuya would be happy to have another sister like you though."
"Is he your brother?" Iroha asked.
"My little brother!" Madoka said happily. "He's three. Much younger than me. What about you? Any siblings."
"My little sister Ui. She's four years younger than me… she's gone missing though."
Madoka gasped. "I'm so sorry."
"Thank you," Iroha gave them a sad smile, the trademark expression that she always had. "That's why I'm here in Kamihama. To look for her."
"Don't worry Iroha. I'll help you out," Felicia said as she smacked Iroha on her back.
Iroha simply turned and gave a sad smile to her. "Thanks."
"You could've told me our guests had come early." Yachiyo appeared at the stairs and walked down to the living room. "We can talk here. Do you need anything to drink?"
"Just water will be fine," Archer said as everyone gathered and sat on the floor around a large glass table. "Strange place to have a meeting."
"I initially wanted to have it at a neutral location, preferably a cafe," Yachiyo commented as she placed several cups in front of them. "But when Iroha learned you were back in Kamihama she wanted to have the meeting here."
"You guys helped us out so much already," Iroha replied, a bit shyly. "It just seemed right to invite our friends into our home."
"We're no-" Kyoko glanced at Madoka who looked happy at what Iroha had just called her. "Fine we are." She sighed. "This ain't a pleasure trip though."
"I assumed so," Yachiyo said as she sat down.
"Yea! Who do we have to beat up now!" Felicia said.
"Have you ever encountered or seen a Magical Girl dressed mainly in white?" Archer asked. "Her name is Oriko and we assume that her power is precognition."
"No," Yachiyo replied. "I haven't heard of anyone like that. What did she do?"
"She attacked us at our home with another Magical Girl named Kirika and an unknown Servant."
"A Servant like you?" Yachiyo asked.
"Their Servant mostly uses guns. And has a power that is either instant teleportation or some sort of time manipulation."
Yachiyo raised an eye. "Time Manipulation?"
"It's not an unseen power among Servants and apparently there is a Magical Girl out there with that sort of power."
"You were outmatched then," Yachiyo observed.
"Briefly," Archer conceded. "We were forced to run and our home was destroyed. For some reason Oriko is determined to go after us."
"We can't let that happen again," Kyoko growled. "So, we're going to be the ones to find her this time."
"And what are you going to do when you do find her?" Yachiyo asked.
"Kill her of course," Kyoko replied as a matter of fact.
"Kill?" Iroha said, worried. "Isn't that a bit too much? Did you at least try to talk with her first?"
"No." Kyoko replied.
"I know she attacked you, but maybe you should talk to her first," Madoka suggested. "Maybe you can work things out."
"I'm not going to," Kyoko replied impatiently.
"Why not?" Madoka insisted.
"Because she's already trying to kill us. Isn't that enough?" Kyoko's leg began to shake in frustration. She really wasn't in the mood for this..
"That other Magical Girl wanted to hurt us, but we let her go in the end," Madoka reminded her.
And that was a moment of pure idiocy no matter how much it relieved Madoka. Just thinking about it was getting Kyoko's blood to boil again. She was getting soft. "That's different."
"How?" Madoka asked.
"Because she didn't actually do anything to me." Kyoko really wanted this conversation to end now.
"Was it really that bad, what she did?" Iroha asked. Together the two Pinkies voices were starting to bounce off each other in Kyoko's brain. "Do you have to kill her? Can't you work something out?"
"Let's see you work out something with someone that killed your sister," Kyoko snapped. "How would you feel about that?"
All that frustration, those damned Pinkies trying to lecture her about morality, it was just too much for her to sit there and let simmer.
Kyoko let out a deep breath and turned away to vent her frustration, even as she ignored the looks she was being given. Tried to find comfort in Yuma who had grabbed onto her arm. "And I'll be damned if I let her do it again."
Not again. Not again. Yuma was still here. Archer was still here. It wouldn't happen again.
Iroha was horrified, knowing what it was like to lose a little sister, though in her case she at least had some hope. Madoka on the other hand looked at her in shock and then concern.
"I'm sorry," Madoka apologized.
It took a few seconds before Kyoko had finally calmed enough to respond. "It's fine."
"Why did she do it?" Iroha asked. "H-how?"
"She baited Archer. Split us up so that Momo was alone. Then convinced her to Contract before sending back ho-… to her death." Kyoko replied as she clenched her hands. "I don't know why she did that, why she's after Archer now. But she needs to die. I need to kill her."
Really? Or have you just given up?
"It's why we came here the first time," Archer admitted. "To get information for the Incubator so that it would give us her whereabouts in exchange. The deal was rescinded… then Oriko attacked us. Needless to say we have plenty of reason and motive to get rid of her now."
"I'll help ya," Felicia said suddenly.
Iroha turned to the girl in shock. "Felicia!?"
"Witches killed my parents so I'm gonna to kill all of them. Oriko killed Kyoko's sister so she's going to kill her," Felicia explained her logic. "If I see her. I'll attack her too. And if you find her then lemme know and I'll help out."
"For free?" Archer asked.
"Tsuruno's been telling me to repay me debts. Still owe you for helping me out," Felicia replied. "Just cook me something. Then we're good."
Kyoko looked at Felicia, slightly approving of the girl's words. "If we find her, I'll let you take the first swing. Just make sure that I'm the one shoving my spear into her Soul Gem."
"Felicia, we're busy enough as it is with the Uwasa and the Magius," Yachiyo argued.
"I know. Imma just keep an eye out and help real quick when they do find her," Felica replied.
"Actually, your investigation into the Magius might help us.," Archer replied. "The Magius are aware of Servants and control Shadows Servants."
"And Oriko has somehow acquired a Servant herself," Yachiyo mused. "There might be a connection there."
"Indeed. Seeing as we have very few leads on Oriko herself, investigating the Magius is probably our best course of action," Archer admitted.
"You want us to start working together with them," Kyoko realized.
"At least until more information comes to light," Archer replied. "We can exchange information at the very least."
Kyoko nodded before turning to Yachiyo. "What do you think then? You help us, we help you. It works out."
"Yea," Felicia was the first to agree. "That sounds great. We could totally work together."
Yachiyo seemed to think about it for a brief moment before nodding. "You've already proven yourselves capable. I see no reason to object."
Iroha was the last and she looked the most uncertain. "Are… you sure that this is what your little sister would want from you?"
"What do you know?" Kyoko bit back. "At least you still have a chance to find ours."
Iroha winced but didn't seem to back down either. "I'm just saying that maybe there's another way. I know you have to stop her, but do you really have to kill her?"
"We can't risk her going after us again," Archer replied. "It's the smartest course of action."
"Yuma?" Iroha asked.
"I'll do whatever they want," Yuma replied casually. "And whatever it takes to keep them safe. If Oriko needs to die, she dies."
Iroha turned to the other pink haired girl at the table. "Madoka?"
"I don't think Kyoko should kill her either," Madoka admitted. "But I can understand her wanting to stop Oriko from hurting anyone else she cares about. I won't stop her from looking for her. And I still have to look for my friends."
"Your friends?" Iroha asked. "Are they missing too?"
Madoka nodded. "Yes. Homura, Sayaka, and Mami."
Iroha and Yachiyo's eyes widened.
"Mami?" Yachiyo asked.
"Yes," Madoka looked at Yachiyo, excited. "Have you seen her?"
"We… met her a while back," Iroha admitted.
"She wanted to exterminate Iroha after she saw her Doppel and confused it for a Witch," Yachiyo replied plainly. "Would've been a fight if it wasn't for the Shadow Servants coming in, fighting all of us, and then eventually chasing her off."
"Yea sounds like Mams. Murder boner for any Witches," Kyoko shook her head. "Stubborn too, she would've killed Iroha if she thought she could."
"Mami wouldn't," Madoka stammered. "She wouldn't kill someone like that."
Kyoko raised an eye. "You don't know much about your Mentor, do you?"
"Do you?" Yachiyo asked. "You seem quite familiar with her."
"We… have history," Kyoko replied carefully. "She's a goody two shoes, kill all familiars, save all the civilians and all that, but when it comes to anything to do with Witches or anyone that hurts the Incubator she ain't afraid to go for the head. Or pretty much whatever she can turn Swiss Cheese with her guns."
"She's fond of the Incubator?" Yachiyo asked.
"Treats it like an old pet. Doesn't accept that it's a soulless bastard no matter how many times I tell her," Kyoko shook her head. "Even Madoka agrees with me on that."
"Mokyu!" The baby Incubator decided that that was the right time to reintroduce itself by jumping on the table.
Madoka looked at it with wide eyes. "I thought you said Kyubey couldn't get into this city?"
"It can't," Kyoko replied. "This one is… different. I think."
"Kyubi has been helping me look for Ui," Iroha explained as she carried it over to her lap and petted it. "It can't make a Contract like Kyubey can."
"Mokyuu!"
"It's harmless," Archer assured Madoka. "Probably."
"Have you seen Homura or Sayaka then?" Madoka asked.
It didn't take long for Madoka to tell them the reason she had come here and describe her friends. It didn't take long for the girls living in this house to tell her that they hadn't seen them either.
"I'm sure you'll find them," Iroha reassured Madoka.
"I will," Madoka replied. "I'm just worried about them. I haven't heard from them in so long."
"You're free to explore this area at least… and I'll see to setting you up for a meeting with Izumi," Yachiyo replied. "I've been meaning to talk to her anyway… but relations between the East and West have always been strained. It might be some time before she contacts me back… if she contacts me back."
"I still appreciate you helping me out," Madoka said. "I'm going to be in Kamihama and there's a lot of other places I have to investigate."
"You're staying here then? Where?" Iroha asked Madoka before turning to Kyoko. "And you guys too? The dorms at the school are full now."
"Its fine, skipping school for now. Oriko's too important to waste time on that," Kyoko replied. "And we're staying at a hotel. Madoka's sharing a room with us."
"That's going to be expensive," Yachiyo commented.
"Not like we have much of a choice. Unless you happen to know a place that we can stay."
Iroha immediately turned her head toward Yachiyo and Yachiyo returned Iroha's look in turn. They stared at each other for a brief moment before Yachiyo sighed in resignation and turned back to Archer.
"There's still plenty of room in this house," Yachiyo said.