One of the loveliest human beings I have ever met bows. "Welcome home." My heart explodes a little.

Can a heart even explode a 'little'? I think it can, it definitely can, it has too! Because I'm definitely feeling it right now.

What stands before me is a red haired maid, her expression is empty, but her blue eyes tell a tale, a beautiful tale of love!

And then I remember she has a twin... This world has blessed me, I might as well be Priscilla Barielle, because the world certainly works on my favor.

You know, sometimes I think that maybe my protagonist aspirations are just delusions... I'm glad reality insists on proving me wrong, because why else would I meet this cute maid!?

Shiki waves towards the maid. "Hey Hisui, I'm glad to be back." Oh, so she's Hisui? I feel like there's something important about her, something I have to remember...

Oh yeah, she's the one who's afraid of being touched by men... Who hurt this beautiful specimen!? Who must I kill!? Right now my body is filled with righteous fury!

Shiki points at me. "And this guy is a stray I dragged in." He sighs. "Actually, it's more like he dragged himself here."

The maid bows towards me. "It is a pleasure to meet you honored guest." Cute! She's doing her job!

Though she is giving me a weird look, probably because I'm carrying some bags... They are a surprise tool that will helps us later.

I smile. "It's a pleasure meeting you too! My name is Yuta by the way~. What's yours?" I already know of course, but I want her to say it.

Her expression doesn't change at all. "My name is Hisui, may I ask your intentions honored guest?"

I respond immediately. "Marriage." There's no need to hide it! Actually, I can't hide it! I ignore Rika who's standing in my shadow of course.

She knows to behave, specially since Sensei is close to us. Ah, I left Arcueid and Sensei stay on my apartment alone, hopefully they don't destroy it.

Honestly I had to do it for Sensei, she's a wanted criminal, so she can't just pay for a hotel.

Shiki slaps the upper part of my head. "Damn it, not with Hisui..." But she's so cute! How are you not in love with her!?

There's a very slight blush on Hisui's cheek, but I imagine most people would not see it. "I see, so are you after Lord Shiki's hand, or Lady Akiha's?" Lord!?

I use my best smug smirk, something I learned from Sensei. "I'm after yours, you see, I fell for you at first sight." I'm not even lying!

She shakes her hand. "I'm not interested honoured guest, though I'm flattered." You don't sound flattered at all!

She continues. "Now may I ask for your serious intentions? I doubt you actually came here seeking my hand in marriage."

I scratch my head. "Yeah, I'm just here to annoy Shiki a little, don't worry I will leave soon enough..."

I continue. "By the way, I'm the one who dragged Shiki around, so I wanted to do something to apologize..." It's time for my master plan.

I can see Shiki's sharpening his focus, we are about to throw some bait in the ocean, to see if anything bites it.

She raises an eyebrow. "Something to apologize? There's no need to worry, I'm sure Lady Akiha will forgive you dear guest." I doubt it!

I shake my head. "I'm not apologizing just to Akiha, I would also like to apologize to the workers of the mansion..."

I raise my hand up. "Which is why I brought gifts. Three of them! Feel free to pick your favorite, and be happy that you get first pick."

I bought three items, a cat plushie, a pretty expensive box of chocolates and most importantly... a white ribbon!

That way we can check if the members of the household will have any special reactions to it or not.

Of course our plan could end if someone picked the ribbon before we questioned everyone, but nothing is perfect... Also who the fuck would pick a ribbon.

There's also the possibility of the promise girl genuinely not remembering, in that case she would show no reaction.

But it's fine, this plan doesn't need high chances of success. It's just an excuse I used so I could give women gifts.

The gifts are very expensive, I bought them all from recognizable brands and all, but I don't mind it as long as they like it.

I may not look like it, but I'm not exactly struggling for money. My parents are pretty rich, they can even afford an apartment for me to live alone, and that apartment isn't small either.

Hisui doesn't react at all. "I see, worry not, you are forgiven... But I cannot accept your gift it would be highly unprofessional."

Shiki pushes his glasses up. "Hisui, at least take a look at them first..." Amazing, this guy has no shame in his ribbon quest.

Hisui shakes her head. "Their contents don't matter at all." They do! They are a important part of our plan!

Suddenly her eyes widen a little, she also leaves out a cute gasp. "Not that I'm trying to embarrass you honored guest." Cute, she doesn't want to offend me.

I smile. "I get you, don't worry about it. But are you sure? Among this mystery bags there are chocolates!" No reaction. "A white ribbon!" Also no reaction.

I can hear him sighing. "A ribbon huh? That's some pretty niche fashion, for some reason it reminds me of a tree, right Hisui?" Subtle.

She shakes her head. "It doesn't remind of a tree at all... But elder sister does wear a ribbon at all times." For real!?

I give Shiki an incredulous look, the bastard doesn't even react to it. No, maybe I'm overreacting, just because she wears a ribbon doesn't mean she's the girl of the promise.

Shiki looks down. "Did she really forget...?" Dude, don't mutter that in front of her... Also, I'm beginning to think it was her sister.

Well, it's time to present the last gift to Hisui. "I see, so you desire neither food or fashion." She nods, so I take off my trump card from the bag. "Then how about this!" I'm now holding the cat plushie.

Hisui's face has the smallest blush I have ever seen on a woman, and even though her face does not shift in expressions, her eyes screams that she wants it.

How cute, I knew from the moment I saw her that she's the type of woman that fakes being cold, but it's actually a cinnamon roll.

She looks to everything except the plushie. "I-I still don't want it dear guest." I changed from honored to dear!? "Like I said, it would be unprofessional."

I smile. "Geez, you really care about that huh? Even though it's clear you want it." Her blush becomes just a bit more visible.

I continue. "Hisui, if you're looking for an easy excuse then here's one... It would be rude to reject something from a guest, right?"

I extend my hand towards her while I hold the plushie with it. "Besides, even if that's not enough. Then just take it as a gift from a friend." Who will also be your future husband!

She hesitantly nods. I slowly hand the plushie over to her, while being careful so that I don't make any contact with her.

Hisui is hugging the plushie close to her chest. "Yes, I have no options, but to accept this." I'm glad I have finally met a kuudere, this world truly is beautiful.

Shiki chuckles. "Well, congrats Yuta, you have gained Hisui's eternal loyalty." It's that easy!? Maids are something else...

Hisui looks over to us. "Still, I must say that Lady Akiha will be a little late to arrive, so please go inside and wait."

Shiki raises an eyebrow. "That's weird, normally she gets home before me." And we also went shopping, so she should have gotten home already.

Wait, is she trying to get revenge for what Shiki did? That would be kind of based... What an amazing sense of spite.

Hisui nods. "Indeed, but she got into a fight today and broke a girl's nose, so she's being held up." Wow! I certainly didn't expect that from a rich sophisticated lady!

Shiki's face is twisted in shock. "S-she did what!? That's not like Akiha at all..." I'm guessing she had lots of pent up rage left over.

Hisui sighs. "I'm aware Lord Shiki, but Lady Akiha is has been quite angry since yesterday..."

She looks at me and hug the plushie tighter. "I wish you no offense dear guest, but I do not believe you have chosen a good time to be here."

Sheesh, if she's this angry you might be right. Still I did say I was going to act like a smokescreen of disappointment and failure, so I guess it's fine...?

I wave her off. "It's fine, worst case scenario I can take a punch." Though I'm guessing she punches hard... Hopefully she doesn't have Shiki's instinct problem.

It would be super awkward if a red faced horny Akiha tried to attack Rika. Though I'm all for seeing a horny sophisticated lady, Ojou-Sama's are awesome after all.

Hisui slowly nods. "I cannot stop you, just be prepared. It would be a shame if you died." She's willing to murder me!?

She then looks at Shiki. "That said, what would like to be put on your grave Lord Shiki? I'll make sure to remember your last words."

Shiki makes a confused expression. "Sorry Hisui, but what do you mean by that? As far as I'm aware I won't be dying anytime soon."

Hisui sighs. "I wish that was the case, but you shall soon meet your end... Our dear guest can at least escape, but you have no place to go, you shall face Lady Akiha's wrath directly..."

Shiki looks terrified. "Ah, so this is my final day huh? Oh well, I lived a good, average sized life." Living only seventeen years isn't average!

I pat his shoulder. "You won't die today Shiki, you need to attend my future marriage... Marriages."

He nods. "Yeah, you're right. I already missed the first one after all." My 'marriage' with Rika doesn't count.

Hisui raises an eyebrow. "Marriage?" She looks at me. "You are married? You wish to marry? I'm confused dear guest."

I smile. "Basically I'm building a harem, I got 'married' when I was a kid. I also have a date set up with another woman."

I continue. "Oh, I'm also in the processor of seducing my mentor, and my teacher... There's also a Senpai I'm interested in."

Hisui takes a step back and gives Shiki and incredulous look, my brother from another mother can only sigh. "As you can see Hisui, Yuta here is dangerous."

He continues. "The worst part is that all of those women seem to have some genuine affection for him."

He's tone makes it sound like he is warning her about a serial killer. "Be careful, every moment you spend with him could lead to your seduction."

Hisui is shocked into silence, slowly she raises her plushie to her face, taking a deep look at the cat.

She then mutters with a slight blush. "A playboy..." She glares at me, it's the most obvious her emotions have been so far. "I am not seeking a relationship right now."

I nod. "That's fine, but if you change your mind I'll be here." I'll be doing my god damn best to change her mind.

She looks down. "I will admit that you are traditionally handsome." Oh!? "And that I enjoyed your gift." Oh!? Yet again!? "But I will never change my mind."

She continues. "I do not wish to enter a relationship... I cannot enter a relationship, understood?"

I smile. "Of course, but hopefully we can still be friends? I meant it when I called you one before."

I won't try to push the romance angle too much right now, it's clear that she's completely against it.

Shiki thought that there was no way Hisui was the cheerful girl he used to play with, but Shiki isn't exactly good at reading people either.

But now I'm making a theory. This girl refuses to be touched by men, she's afraid of it in fact, she gets confrontational when the idea of a relationship is brought up...

She barely shows any emotion, like prey desperately trying to hide from a predator... Those are all pretty common things that, well, victims of sexual assault do.

It would certainly explain why she would stop being the cheerful girl Shiki used to know, it's also... incredibly sad. But hey, at least she seems to be living a normal life, with a job and everything.

Hisui slowly nods. "I would be okay with being your friend dear guest." And she can at least still befriend people.

If my theory is right, and I could be wrong, then she is slowly recovering... Or maybe she has been slowly recovering for years.

I definitely need to share this theory with Shiki later, but for now I just give Hisui a excited thumbs. "Then welcome to the Yuta club! Also there's no need to call me dear guest anymore!"

I continue. "Just call me Yuta... Well, I know you're working right now so you may feel that it's unprofessional to do that, but feel free to call me by my name if you don't."

There's a sliver of a smile on her face. "Very well Yuta." She then bows. "And thank you for the present, I don't deserve it, but I appreciate it."

I want to say something about how she doesn't need to thank me, that it was an apology, but in a situation like this it's better to just accept her thanks.

I smile. "Your welcome Hisui! Make sure to think of me when you hold that bad boy... Or about someone else too! Like a British king." For some reason that came to my head.

Hisui nods. "For some reason I agree with that connection... Oh well, Saber here will sleep right next to me." Why did you name it that!? That has nothing to do with either me or British kings!

Shiki pushes his glasses up. "B-by the way Hisui, did you think that ribbon was kind of cool?"

Oh, so you aren't giving up that easily? Admirable I suppose... Or idiotic, one of the two.

She shrugs. "It looked cute, I bet my sister would enioy it a lot more." This Kohaku girl is definitely the ribbon girl...

Shiki squints his eyes and then mutters silently. "There's no way Kohaku is the ribbon girl... Hisui must really have forgotten." What's wrong with you!? Did you hit your head in the way here!?

Hisui ignores him and motions to us. "Now please follow me, I'll take you two to inside the mansion."

She continues. "Though I must return here afterwards to wait for Lady Akiha, worry not, my sister shall keep you two company."

Shiki looks down in fear. "The world won't explode, it definitely, absolutely won't explode."

I give the confused Hisui a smile. "Okay lead the way Hisui, oh, please ignore the conspiracy theorist over there."

Right now Shiki and I are waiting in the living room, I sigh. "So Hisui is definitely not the ribbon girl, it's probably the maid that's about to come in."

Shiki shakes his head. "There's no way Kohaku is the ribbon girl... I mean, I mentioned the ribbon to her before, and she just said it was strange Hisui forgot."

He sighs. "And today I confirmed it, that promise that meant so much to me? It didn't mean much to her."

He continues. "Oh well, I figured that would be the case, I will just unceremoniously give her back the ribbon, that's the least I can do."

I'm still not convinced, but it is strange this Kohaku girl didn't say anything. Unless the promise also meant a lot to her, and she wanted you to remember without her help.

Before I can question Shiki further a door opens, a woman who looks eerily similar to Hisui enters.

There are a few differences however, her hairstyle is different, she uses a ribbon, her eyes are yellow, and...

Her smile is almost comically big, but for some reason it's sending shivers down my spine.

It's like she knows an inside joke she refuses to tell anyone... Normally I would never notice something like this so quickly, but...

The most important person in the world used to have a smile just like that. When I met Rika she would always smile the way this girl smiles.

The girl is carrying tea, she puts it in the table and then gives Shiki a star struck look. "So it wasn't a girlfriend after all!? You have a boyfriend Shiki!?" I see you don't say 'lord'.

Shiki sighs. "And here we go... Why did I agree to this again?" Because you were emotionally vulnerable? Sorry, I didn't mean any harm!

I grin. "Eh... I'm a bit beyond Shiki's pay grade." I then wink in her direction. "My name is Yuta by the way, the guy who kidnapped Shiki yesterday."

She gives me a smile. "Ah! Danger! There's a kidnapper here! I definitely shouldn't tell him my name is Kohaku!"

I make a pained face. "Damn it? How am I supposed to kidnap her if I don't even know her name? Maybe it happens to be Kohaku?"

She steps back. "Ah! He figured it out...! Oh well, I guess I'm using the bombs! The bombs aren't ready yet..."

Shiki gives her a haunted look. "The bombs are a joke, right Kohaku!?" Of course they are a joke.

She shakes her head. "Nope!" They aren't!? "I was watching a YouTube video about how to make them, you guys interrupted me though."

She frowns. "So how do you two plan on paying me back!? I had to stop bomb making to start tea making, that has to be the biggest downgrade someone can ever experience."

I chuckle. "I don't think you really need to make bombs, considering you are apparently one."

I continue. "But just in case, I did bring gifts..

Ah, Hisui already snagged one, so if you like cats then you should give up beforehand."

She makes a defeated expression. "I love cats though... Actually I love tigers, did you two know they can sometimes begin hunting humans specifically?"

Shiki takes a tip of his tea, to try calming himself down, he fails. "Why would we ever know something like that!?" I knew!

He continues, his soul having left his body. "How did we jump from kidnapping, to bomb making, and now to serial killer tigers!? What did you two eat growing up!?"

Kohaku frowns. "Normal food of course! Don't be mean just because you can't keep up Shiki!"

I nod. "Yeah Shiki, don't be rude just because you have no love for kidnapping, bombs or tigers... It's specially rude when you consider that both of us have been victims of the first one."

Kohaku quickly nods. "Yeah! I mean that red haired woman took you in your infancy Shiki..." Her eyes then widen, she shifts her look to me. "You're the second one!"

I chuckle. "Yeah, as you can see, I've learned a lot from my sensei, so nowadays I can easily kidnap Shiki."

Kohaku gasps. "The master passed her skills to her apprentice!? Amazing, truly." You have no idea how right you are.

Shiki sighs. "Can we not talk so casually about me and my friend being kidnapped as children?" Eh, it's fine, it's old news at this point.

Kohaku gives me a thumbs up. "Okay then! Now give me free stuff! If it's free I will take anything, even illegal stuff!"

I take out the box of chocolates and the ribbon from the bags. "It's your choice, fashion or food?"

I can see her eyes clearly being stuck on the white ribbon, I'm guessing that confirms it... You are an amazing guy Shiki.

Her smile is more brittle then ever. "I'll take the chocolate thank you! Lady Akiha should slow down on the sweets anyways."

Shiki pushes his glasses up. "Please don't ever say that in front of her, or Akiha will kill you." You really didn't notice anything!? Sensei was right about you! If it wasn't for the kindness of a certain hospital groomer lady you would die as a virgin!

Before Kohaku can take the chocolate, I pull it back. "Okay, you're getting the ribbon. Also I activate my trap card."

Kohaku raises an eyebrow. "Oh? I don't get to pick anymore? Don't tell me you are trying to contribute towards Lady Akiha eventual diabetes induced death."

I ignore the look of confusion that Shiki is sending me, instead I give Kohaku a serious look.

I definitely know she wants the ribbon, she's strangely similar to Rika, so I can read her as easily as a real book.

I shake my head. "No, I don't want to kill Akiha. Kohaku, a few years ago you made a promise with Shiki, right?"

Shiki gets up immediately. "Yuta, I already told you that there's no way...!" Geez, don't raise your voice with her right here.

Kohaku isn't smiling anymore. "Oh? Did I really make a promise with Shiki? A person would remember that, don't you think so?" She's definitely taunting my bro.

But I can clearly see that she wants this ribbon, even though it's not even the original one from the promise.

How weird, I wonder what this ribbon means to her? But it doesn't matter in the end. That's because she's flaring my Rika protecting instincts.

I hand her the white ribbon. "I see, but I don't care. You're taking this ribbon right here and now."

I continue. "I'm a guy with pretty good intuition, so I can tell you want it. Even if you reject it, I will give it back to you, no matter how many it times it takes."

I smile. "Yeah, I'm a invasive species, stealing away Shiki's promise that he totally didn't make with you." Does this count as NTR when he has no romantic intent? I don't want to NTR my bro...

She sighs. "This... Is kinda unfair." She takes the ribbon. "You better keep your word." Why are you now suddenly giving me the Rika look!?

Shiki sighs. "I guess it makes sense Kohaku wants it, it's from a pretty good brand after all. And she does wear them."

You think this is about fashion!? You really have not realized she is the ribbon girl!? Sorry pal, but from now on, stick to demon hunting.

AN: Kohaku is the type of girl to say poggers in the middle of a normal conversation.