"Hahaha! I guess Rikimaru-chan really overdid it this time."

"You really did, nee-sama."

So… somehow, I was kidnapped. The person behind that was none other than Rikimaru, Strength's Candidate. And right now her twin sister and Justice's Candidate, Seigi, is scolding her.

But I guess I should probably explain this from the start.

I had just finished eating lunch with Rinne again. As usual, she had left first, leaving me on my own. I thought it would just be a chance for some alone time, but I was quickly proven wrong.

[Threat level 3 approaching.]

"Huh?"

I wondered what the Arcana had warned me about. After all, there was no one but me there. Even as I looked around, I couldn't find anyone.

"There's our chance! Go get him, Flor-chan!"

"On it!"

I heard these strange voices and turned to look at them. But, before I could see anything, I felt pain on my face and then my memory was cut off.

By the time I came to, I was tied to a chair in some place I didn't recognize. It really looked like a cliché kidnapping scenario you might see in a movie or something. Complete with a single lamp illuminating me, while everything else was in complete darkness.

"H-hum, hello?"

I didn't really expect an answer, but one did come. Looking back at it, it's almost like they were waiting for the right time.

"I see you've woken up, Mr. Lovers."

"Don't worry now. You'll be fine, as long as someone pays."

2 girls dressed in gangster outfits that looked more like a Halloween cosplay showed up.

The girl dressed as a boss was Rikimaru herself. But, since her body was really slim, Rikimaru didn't really look threatening. Since her shirt was open, I could even say she looked more sexy than threatening.

But that wasn't the case for the other girl. I would only find out she's called Flor a while after. And she was just huge, she's probably like 2 meters tall or something, and her muscles were bulging. She was dressed in a bodyguard outfit, and she looked thousands of times more threatening than Rikimaru.

I mean seriously, she was so big and her muscles were so well defined that the only reason I knew she was a girl was because I saw a cute flower hairpin on her silver hair. Though to be fair, maybe I shouldn't be so quick to assume, since… you know… Ruki. Sometimes I still forget he's a guy.

Anyway, none of that mattered, I thought I should try to see what they wanted from me.

"What do you mean pay?"

"Oh, Rikimaru-chan doesn't want money. Rikimaru-chan wants a fight."

"A fight?"

Also, is she calling herself in the 3rd person because she thinks it's cute?

In any case, I had a bad feeling about this. A while back, when Marios attacked me, Rikimaru felt my Infinite Lovers and came looking for me. She ultimately saved me from Marios, but I'm guessing now she wants what she was looking for.

I'd rather not fight. There's no reason for me to fight her, and I'd rather not figure out if Infinite Lovers can beat Strength's power. I tried to see if there was any way to avoid a fight.

"H-hum, Rikimaru, I'm not really that strong, you know. I'm just a human, I don't even know how I got an Arcana. So I don't think I can give you the fight that you want."

"It's not Rikimaru, it's Rikimaru-chan! We're already friends, so Rikimaru-chan will allow Yuuto to call Rikimaru-chan by name."

Are we friends? We only talked once before. But I guess it's better than being enemies.

"A-alright. Rikimaru-chan, could you please let me go?"

"Hmm… Rikimaru-chan could untie Yuuto, but Rikimaru-chan also doesn't want Yuuto running away… and Yuuto being tied helps sell the kidnapping thing, and if you try to escape we could use that as an excuse to fight. So sorry, can't do it."

What kind of logic is that?! Well, at least it doesn't seem like Rikimaru plans to hurt me. Or maybe it's best to say she won't hurt me if I don't start a fight.

I tried thinking of ways to escape. Needless to say, fighting my way out was out of the question. Transite seemed like my best bet, but I didn't know where I was, so it wasn't all that good of an option.

But, as I was thinking, Rikimaru started talking again.

"Hm? Is Yuuto thinking about why you're here? Well then, let Rikimaru-chan explain her genius plan!"

I wasn't thinking about that, but I thought I should listen to her. Maybe it would help shed some light into all this.

"Well, the truth is Rikimaru-chan can't take full credit for this plan. You see, Seigi-chan got a new Card a while back, and she's interested in a match against Yuuto's Knight. Seigi-chan has been busy thinking of a way to get Yuuto to agree to that, but Rikimaru-chan had a genius idea. If Yuuto's kidnapped, then we can have his Knight fight Seigi-chan's Card, and if Yuuto tries to escape then Rikimaru-chan can also get in on the fun. A perfect plan, amirite? So Rikimaru-chan had my Card, Flor-chan, come along to help."

"Boss Rikimaru-chan is really smart. I'd never have thought of that. We already messaged your friends, so they should be arriving soon."

That's when I finally got to know Flor, the acquaintance Miyabi mentioned a while back. I finally understood what she meant back then.

Anyway, I still have trouble believing I was kidnapped for such a stupid reason. Also, at the time, I thought that there was no way the person who wanted to fight Reina, my Knight, was who I thought it was.

But, at the time, there was something else that caught my attention.

"You messaged them?"

"Yeah. We took Yuuto's phone, so it was really easy to do it. Wanna look?"

Rikimaru got my phone from somewhere and then started to mess with it. There was a chat group for us Lovers, and that's what Rikimaru showed me. Wait, how did she get past my pin?!

What I saw was a photo of Rikimaru and me. Below it was written "Got your man, come here if you want him back" to which obviously the girls replied with confusion. But it seems Rikimaru managed to convince them after a while, and Miyabi and Reina said they were on their way.

But what seemed strangest to me was the photo. Rikimaru was sitting on my lap, and we were both in our underwear. This looks more like a couple's risqué photo than a kidnapping photo!

"I get that you took off my clothes to take out any hidden weapons and stuff, but why are you also half-naked?!"

"Oh, that's because Rikimaru-chan had this idea in the middle of changing. Surely Yuuto's already done so much lewd stuff this much doesn't really mean anything."

It was around that time that I decided to just give up. There was no way I'd talk some sense into Rikimaru. At best, I thought I'd be able to avoid a fight. Maybe once Miyabi and Reina came there'd be more I could do.

After a few minutes, we started hearing noises from above. Guess we were in a basement? The noises started getting closer, until we heard a voice.

"Nee-sama, are you in there?"

"Geh! It's Seigi-chan. Stay quiet!"

"I can hear you, nee-sama! Also, Swordia is feeling Yuuto in there with you. Open this door before I break it down."

Swordia's name suddenly being mentioned caught my attention. Meanwhile, Rikimaru seemed more worried about something else.

"W-what do you mean Yuuto, Seigi-chan? You don't think your big sister is the type of girl to bring a man to the basement to do that kind of stuff, right?"

By the time Rikimaru finished talking, Seigi slashed down the door. She turned on the rest of the lights as well, so now I could see we were actually in a basement.

Along with Seigi, Swordia entered the room. And not just her. Miyabi and Reina came in right behind them.

"Explain yourself, nee-sama!"

And that's how Seigi saved me from her sister. While they were discussing with each other, Miyabi and Reina untied me.

"Is onii-chan hurt?"

"No, I'm fine."

"Didn't you see that photo, Reina? I'm sure Yuuto was 'kyuu kyuu' enjoying himself."

Hey, I won't stand for false accusations. I was unconscious back then!

Once Seigi finished scolding Rikimaru and Flor, they both lowered their heads and apologized to me. Or maybe it's best to say Seigi forced them to lower their heads.

""We're really sorry about everything.""

"A-ah, it's fine. I'm not really hurt, so just raise your head."

I heard from Miyabi and Reina that they met with Seigi and Swordia on their way here. Coincidentally, they had gone looking for me and Reina in order to ask for a match between Swordia and Reina. It was just supposed to be a friendly match, and not really a fight, so they figured we'd probably just accept it.

But then Reina and Miyabi told Swordia and Seigi about my kidnapping, and even showed the photo Rikimaru sent. Apparently, Seigi got so mad that actual smoke started coming off her head. So Seigi brought Reina and Miyabi here.

Since it all ended up fine anyway, I just wanted to put this behind me and move on. But Seigi didn't seem satisfied with that.

"That's not enough. If nee-sama isn't punished, she'll just do it again. If Yuuto can't think of anything, I'll punish nee-sama myself."

"Anything but that! Please, Yuuto, I'll do anything!"

What is this look of pure despair? Rikimaru even dropped the whole 3rd person thing. I have no idea what Seigi's punishment would be, but I'm guessing I also don't want to find out.

… But this seems like a good chance, let's nip the problem on the bud.

"Then, Rikimaru-chan's punishment will be… you have to drop the idea of fighting me. No matter what, we won't fight each other. If we have to settle some differences, then we do it through peaceful means. Oh, and I'll go back to calling you just Rikimaru."

"No way! Yuuto doesn't want to be my friend?!"

"I-it's not that. I don't mind being friends, but I'm not used to using honorifics, so I'd rather just call you by your name. And if we're friends, there's no reason for us to fight, is there? So, doesn't it make sense?"

"Hmm… I guess so. Alright, then Rikimaru-chan accepts her punishment."

I was pretty happy with this result. Rikimaru wouldn't go after me now, and in a way she even became a friend.

As for Swordia's challenge, Reina explained to her that she had gotten sick recently, so she couldn't fight to her full potential yet, but they agreed to go for a friendly match before the Devil King War ended.

Everything seemed perfectly fine as far as I was concerned, but Seigi didn't seem to like it.

"I think this is too light of a punishment. I was expecting Yuuto to ask to have his way with nee-sama."

"You'd throw your cute sister to the lions like that?!"

"If it pleases nee-sama, I can also think of something else."

"Please be gentle with me, Yuuto."

I feel like I'm watching a comedy routine now. I don't really feel like I have the energy to deal with this.

"How about we leave it at this for now? Then, if Rikimaru tries something else, Seigi chooses her punishment. How does that sound?"

"… I suppose that works."

Rikimaru breathed a sigh of relief. Seigi told Swordia to keep an eye on her while she escorted us out.

By the way, it seems Rikimaru brought me to the house she, Seigi and their Cards are using as a base. Even though it was no mansion, even this "simple" house was a lot more than I ever thought I'd step foot on.

Once we were all outside, Seigi apologized again on behalf of Rikimaru.

"I'm really sorry for the trouble nee-sama caused. I'll make sure it doesn't happen again."

"Really, it's fine. Let's just let this be over."

Even I'm starting to get scared of Seigi's punishments, and I'm not even the one who's going to be punished.

We said goodbye to Seigi and then headed back. I've no idea how to get back home from here, so I'll be relying on Miyabi and Reina.


Rinne had just come back home after a particularly tiring day.

Right after she finished eating with Yuuto, she heard some strange noises, so she went back to check it. What she saw was Yuuto knocked out by Flor, and Rikimaru about to take him.

"Boss Rikimaru-chan, someone's here."

"Oh, I think I know her. Don't mind us, we're not actually going to hurt him."

Following Lost's orders, Rinne should try to save Yuuto. After all, she had no reason to believe Rikimaru's words, much less after seeing him clearly knocked out.

But Rinne could already see this was going to be a lot of trouble, and it's not like Rinne has any fighting abilities anyway, so she just settled for healing Yuuto (since Flor almost broke his neck with her punch) and decided to leave the rest for Lovers' Cards.

Of course, she kept an eye on things just to make sure it wouldn't spiral out of control, not too much at least. Once she saw Reina and Miyabi going to rescue Yuuto, Rinne considered her job finished and decided to go home.

Just to be clear, the place Rinne calls home right now isn't the Shimokadzuma house. Rather, it's a place Lost got for her and Hisoka. Rinne didn't know the details of how he got this place, but she could imagine.

It was a simple 1-room apartment in an abandoned building. The rest of the apartments were in even worse conditions than this one. Rinne and Hisoka could just barely live together with how small it was, but it was enough for the both of them. Lost didn't live there with them, in fact, Rinne hadn't seen him for a while now.

"I'm home, Hisoka-chan."

"O-oh, welcome back, Rin-chan."

Hisoka greeted Rinne once she entered. The room was so small they could see each other even with moving a step.

Hisoka's appearance wasn't exactly presentable. She was still in her sleeping clothes, consisting only of a shirt and panties. She still even had bed hair, even though it was almost night time again.

"Here's the lunch Yuuto brought for you today."

"O-ooh!"

As soon as Rinne gave Hisoka the lunch, Hisoka started devouring it. But that's because she really hadn't eaten anything else since the previous lunch Yuuto had given them.

Before Yuuto started doing that, Rinne was troubled every day with finding something for them to eat. Rinne knew that, if Yuuto learned of their situation, he'd help out more, but that's exactly why she doesn't want him to know.

Of course, due to how long had passed, the food was already cold. But it might as well be a luxury dish in their situation, even more so for a growing girl like Hisoka.

While Hisoka ate, Rinne took off her Ginsei Academy uniform. It was still fairly clean, so she didn't have to wash it yet. She also placed the previous lunchboxes Yuuto gave them somewhere that was easy for her to see so she could give them back.

Rinne would like to at least wash them before giving them back, but she couldn't do that without running water. Rinne and Hisoka's current situation was bad, the only reason they were able to stay alive was because of Hisoka's superb resource management skills.

"Delicious!"

Hisoka finished her food. Rinne only watched on with a smile.

"Let's take a bath now, Hisoka-chan."

"Okay."

They both got naked and entered the bath together. The only water they had was what they had stocked, so bathing together was just another way of saving on that. It was another one of Hisoka's ideas, though part of the reason for this was also because she enjoyed bathing with Rinne.

Of course, they also used that same water for whatever else they could. Their situation requires them to do at least that much. Again, if not for Hisoka, Rinne was sure she wouldn't know how to handle things.

"So… how was Rin-chan's day today?"

"Oh, nothing special. … Yuuto did get kidnapped though."

"Huh?! I-is he fine?"

"Yeah… I think so at least."

Rinne only mumbled the last part. She knew Hisoka wasn't just worried about him because he gave her food, Hisoka does actually have a good heart. And Rinne didn't believe this would be much trouble for Yuuto, or so she told herself at least.

"And how about you, Hisoka-chan? Did you try going out today?"

"I-I managed to peek outside the window for a full second."

That was more than Rinne was expecting. Rinne didn't want Hisoka holed up in the room all day, but she understood why she did it and didn't know how to help, so for now the best she could do was be supportive of these small steps she took.

Once they finished their bath and started drying up, Rinne noticed a certain problem. They were running out of clothes. Rinne was going to have to do some washing this weekend.

But for tonight, all they had left to do was sleep, so a pair of panties for each and something to serve as a blanket would suffice. After putting their underwear on, they both laid down to get some sleep.

"Good night, Rin-chan."

"Sweet dreams, Hisoka-chan."

Rinne didn't take long to fall asleep, after all, she was tired. Hisoka didn't have such an easy time, but, after renewing her determination to try to get better tomorrow, she eventually fell asleep.