NOVEL NEXT Chapter 108: Why Are You Here?
The door clicked open. Kentaro and the others stared, thinking it was just some random friend of Shaula's who decided to invite themselves in. But it wasn't. The long black hair swayed loose, not tied in her usual sharp ponytail, and her dark red eyes narrowed the moment they landed on Shaula.
"Really? Even with three girls, you still need more?" She said, her voice filled with disappointment.
"Tenka!" Serica cried, rushing over and hugging her like she'd seen a ghost. She pointed a trembling finger straight at Shaula.
"YOU SHOULD'VE SEEN IT! RANDOM PINK-HAIRED LADY BROKE IN AND WAS LIVING HERE, EATING, SLEEPING, SHOWERING, SHE EVEN TRIED TO SEDUCE KENTARO!" She wailed like a heroine mourning her stolen prince.
Kentaro's eyes darted to Tenka, whose eyebrow twitched as she smiled a thin, terrifying grin that screamed 'I'm going to kill you.'
"Sooo… You decided to break in here, huh?" Tenka's voice dripped with menace, the aura around her thick enough to crush the air.
Shaula's face twisted into pure fear. She didn't know Tenka personally, but she learned enough in that moment that if she didn't tread carefully, she might not walk out alive.
So she did what anyone with half a brain cell would do.
Instantly, she smashed her forehead to the floor.
"FORGIVE ME, ONI-SAN, I'VE COMMITTED SUCH A BLUNDER!!!" She howled like a prisoner begging for mercy.
"Oni-san…?" Serica muttered, blinking like she'd snapped out of her crying fit.
Kentaro scratched the back of his head, forcing a chuckle.
"I guess that works as an apology, don't you think, Tenka? She did say she'd clean up this mess."
The word mess was all it took. Tenka's gaze shifted past him, and her eyes widened. The apartment was in ruins: bras and panties scattered across furniture, crumbs and wrappers carpeting the floor.
"W–w–what the hell have you done?!" She shouted.
"Don't worry, like I said, she'd promised that she'll clean it up," Kentaro repeated quickly, trying to calm the storm that was brewing quickly.
But Tenka wasn't having it. She marched forward, grabbed Shaula by the scruff of her neck, and lifted her like a scolded child before thrusting her toward the chaos.
"ARE YOU SERIOUS?! HOW COULD YOU MAKE SUCH A MESS IN SOMEONE ELSE'S HOUSE, A HOUSE YOU BROKE INTO?!"
Shaula looked seconds away from tears, trembling as Tenka paraded her through her crimes.
"And WHO OWNS THE WHITE SET?!" Tenka demanded.
"Herrr...." They all said in a deadpan voice.
All fingers pointed at Shaula, who switched from sobbing to giving a sheepish grin as she scratched her head and stuck out her tongue.
"Sorry, took a shower… I can't wear anything after," she said shamelessly.
Tenka's face turned bright red, equal parts rage and embarrassment. From her angle, it was clear Shaula wasn't even wearing a bra. "YOU TRAMP!" Tenka roared, her voice shaking the building.
"AHHHHH! I'M SORRY!!!" Shaula cried as if her soul were leaving her body.
After Tenka's verbal beatdown, Shaula got to work. She picked up the bras, panties, and clothes from her little "fashion show," mumbling under her breath, "I swear, is this how you treat houseguests? Where's my cake, or a hug or like maybe some extra food or something like that…"
Yura started on dinner, Serica and Aria went to organise Aria's few outfits, and Kentaro surprisingly took over the vacuum. Shaula froze at the sound, glanced over, and saw him cleaning beside her. He really should've left her to do it alone, but there he was, helping. Her lips curved into a small smile.
"…He really is the nice guy she said he was," she whispered, though her smile quickly vanished as she spotted Tenka sitting on the couch, still glaring at her like a hawk.
Shaula braced herself and crossed the room, stopping on the other side of the coffee table.
Tenka's eyes locked onto hers instantly.
"Soooo, Oni-san, since I'm free thanks to Kentaro, how about I whip you up the best green tea a grown-up like you's ever tasted?" Shaula said nervously.
Tenka didn't move. Didn't blink. Just stared.
"…Oni-san?" Shaula tilted her head, forcing a smile.
Tenka shifted, finally speaking as the vacuum clicked off.
"Tell me. Why here? Out of all the apartments, why did you choose this one?" Her voice was low, suspicious. "There must be an alternative motive with you being here..."
Shaula froze. Her fingers fidgeted as if she'd been caught in a lie. "…You know… Luck of the draw," she muttered with a dry laugh.
"Don't bullshit me. I can smell it from here," Tenka pressed, sharper this time.
Shaula stiffened, exhaling like she was about to confess something serious. Her eyes darted away as she rubbed her hands. "Well… If you don't tell anyone else…"
Tenka narrowed her eyes. "Go on."
Shaula leaned in, voice dropping to a whisper, like she was finally admitting some dangerous truth.
"Honestly? …Your shower water pressure's better. I tried the neighbour's, it sucked."
The room went dead silent.
Tenka froze, blinking twice.
"…."
"…Sure, whatever", she muttered, finally looking away.
Shaula smiled softly.
"Don't worry, I won't stay long. Maybe just for tonight. I don't want to trouble you guys any more than I already have."
Tenka stared at that smile. Logically, it made sense; she herself knew that for some reason, Kentaro's shower was leagues better than the ones back on Halcyon, but something about that excuse still felt… Off. Suspicious, even.
But she was too tired to dig further. With a sigh, she folded her arms.
"Whatever. Just clean up after yourself. If Kentaro says you can stay, then I guess I can't judge."
"Oki, Oni-san~" Shaula chirped.
But before she could turn away, Tenka's brow furrowed.
"Why do you keep calling me 'big sister'? We're the same age, aren't we? At least from what I can tell," she asked. And she wasn't wrong, Shaula looked about Kentaro and Tenka's age. Yet from the moment they'd met, she'd been saying it.
Shaula shrugged, playful as ever.
"Honestly? The second I saw you, I thought, 'yup, big sis vibes.' You just give off that aura." She tapped her lip with a finger and tilted her head innocently.
"Tsch. Okay, whatever…" Tenka scoffed, looking away, but the faint redness in her cheeks betrayed her annoyance.
Shaula's smirk grew the moment she noticed where Tenka's gaze wandered, to Kentaro, who was helping Yura with dinner. That smirk sharpened into pure mischief.
She casually stepped into Tenka's line of sight, her grin practically shouting I'm about to mess with you.
"Ohhh, Kentaro~" Shaula sang in a sweet, teasing tone.
Kentaro glanced over, confused.
"Yeah?"
Tenka's eyes widened for a split second. That smirk… What is she planning?
Shaula covered her mouth, stifling a giggle, then leaned forward.
"Tenka has a crush on you~" She sang.
"…."
"YOU BITCH!" Tenka exploded, snatching the nearest pillow and hurling it.
Shaula giggled gleefully as she ducked. But Kentaro, completely unprepared, turned his head just in time to get smacked square in the face.
Whump!
"WOAH!" he yelped through the pillow as he stumbled backwards.
Before he hit the ground, a soft cushion caught him. No, two cushions. Yura had rushed forward, her chest cushioning his fall as she steadied him by the shoulders.
"Kentaro…" She whispered, flustered.
With one hand, he yanked the pillow off his face, cheeks flushed.
"Y–yeah? Sorry, Yura, for falling on you!"
Yura quickly shook her head, her face red.
"N-no, it's fine… It wasn't your fault. But…"
Her eyes flicked downward. Kentaro followed her gaze and froze. His other hand was firmly cupping her chest. Worse, he'd squeezed. Yura shivered slightly from the pressure.
Kentaro's entire body locked up, then jolted like lightning.
"AHHHH, SORRY, YURA!" he cried, leaping back so fast he slammed his lower back into the counter.
Yura, crimson-faced, shook her head again.
"It's fine… Just an accident, right?"
"YEP. TOTAL accident." Kentaro blurted, nodding so hard his hair bounced.
Yura gave a shy smile before turning back to the stove.
Kentaro let out a shaky sigh of relief, only to see Tenka chasing Shaula around the table like a madwoman, Shaula cackling with a devilish laugh.
"HAHAHA! I found your weak spot, Oni-san!" Shaula taunted between laughs.
"I'LL KILL YOU!" Tenka's face burned red as she vaulted onto the coffee table and launched herself at Shaula.
Kentaro could've yelled at them for stirring chaos, for causing him to accidentally fondle Yura, but he didn't. Especially not with Serica and Aria walking out of the bedroom at that exact moment.
"Yay! You guys are playfighting! Can we join?!" Serica cheered, diving in without hesitation.
Aria, meanwhile, only giggled at the sight of Tenka trying to strangle Shaula, who was blocking her neck with ease and laughing the whole time.
Standing next to Kentaro, Aria smiled warmly.
"We really are like a family, huh?"
Kentaro chuckled at the madness, shaking his head.
"Yeah… Even with a random pink-haired girl mixed in."