District 20, the Uesugi Residence.
Mephisto's tail feathers swept past the crystal chandelier, and a black feather drifted lightly onto the coffee table that Yasuhisa Nashiro had just finished wiping clean.
"Ryu will be back soon. You two, hurry up!"
Mephisto landed in the enormous bird's nest that Uesugi Ryu had specially purchased for him. Lying back comfortably, he leisurely directed the Yasuhisa sisters as they carried out the cleaning.
Mephisto had grown too large. He used to curl up on the sofa to sleep, but now even a single sofa was not enough for one crow to occupy. As a result, Uesugi Ryu had specially customized a massive bird's nest for him.
"Got it, 'Mephisto-sama'!"
Yasuhisa Kurona said through gritted teeth. She was dressed in a short maid outfit while wiping the glass.
Cleaning itself was not an issue. Yasuhisa Kurona understood that she and Nashiro had not been of much help previously, at most serving as extra presence. The Clown's speed had been far too fast. Without the vial of blood provided by Uesugi Ryu, they might not even have been able to react in time.
At this moment, Yasuhisa Kurona also vaguely realized how much "mutual benefit" there had been in Uesugi Ryu's earlier claim. If he truly wanted bodyguards, there would have been no need to go through the trouble of saving the two of them. With his capabilities, such measures were unnecessary.
"Uesugi-san really does care about us," both Yasuhisa Kurona and Yasuhisa Nashiro thought simultaneously.
However, cleaning was one thing. That talkative, irritating dead crow Mephisto was another!
Mephisto blinked, watching the busy Yasuhisa sisters with a playful expression.
"Don't look so displeased. Who could you two even protect as bodyguards? I think being maids suits you better."
"You can't even wipe the glass properly. I think Kuro, you need to go to a housekeeping company for further training."
Yasuhisa Kurona's fair fingers tightened slightly, crumpling the cloth in her hand. The leg she had placed on the barstool trembled faintly. Reflected in the window was the taut line of muscles beneath the ruffled hem of her maid outfit.
Seeing the tail feather on the coffee table, Yasuhisa Nashiro, who was vacuuming the floor, suddenly revealed a sweet smile and spoke gently to Mephisto.
"If your tail sweeps across the table one more time..."
"I wouldn't mind helping you with feather care, using the brand-new meat grinder from the kitchen."
Hearing this, Mephisto flew into a rage. Flapping his wings, he shouted, "Outrageous insubordination!"
At that moment, the sound of the electronic lock opening came from the entrance.
Mephisto immediately abandoned any thoughts of revenge against the Yasuhisa sisters and swiftly flew toward the doorway.
Mado Akira's slender high heels paused just as they crossed the threshold. A massive raven flew directly toward her, nearly filling the already narrow entryway with its presence.
"Welcome home~"
The crow flapped to the entrance and said ingratiatingly to Mado Akira, "Dear hostess, we meet again."
Uesugi Ryu closed the door and could not help but laugh at Mephisto's shameless demeanor.
The humming sound of the vacuum cleaner echoed as Mephisto folded his enormous wings. The scene inside Uesugi Ryu's home came into Mado Akira's view.
The black lace of Yasuhisa Nashiro's skirt was caught in the vacuum cleaner's roller, and the bow on Yasuhisa Kurona's head was tilted at a comical angle. The twin sisters, dressed in maid outfits, were clumsily performing household chores.
A faint smile appeared at the corner of Mado Akira's lips as she turned to quietly observe Uesugi Ryu behind her.
"Special-Class Investigator Uesugi's home is certainly lively."
With a glance inside, Uesugi Ryu immediately understood that Mephisto was the one causing all this mischief. Cleaning was fine, but why the maid outfits?
At that moment, Mephisto was still inwardly admiring his own brilliant decision. He raised his head proudly and closed his eyes.
"My foolish master, competition breeds progress. When it comes to female creatures, I understand them perfectly!"
Yasuhisa Kurona looked at Mephisto's smug and fawning expression and sneered inwardly. A perfect idea for revenge formed in her mind.
The twins, dressed in maid outfits, turned simultaneously and bowed, saying sweetly in unison,
"Goshujin-sama (Master), welcome home! X2"
Uesugi Ryu's expression instantly froze, and the temperature in the entryway seemed to drop to freezing.
Mado Akira had not cared much about the matter at first. After all, she had met the Yasuhisa sisters before when they secretly protected her. Uesugi Ryu had done this for her safety.
However, seeing the faint smile on Yasuhisa Kurona's face, Mado Akira inexplicably felt as though she was being provoked.
Uesugi Ryu's face darkened. He coughed lightly and quickly corrected the twins' form of address.
"In the future, just call me Uesugi-sama or Special-Class Investigator Uesugi. Who told you to address me like that?"
Hearing this, Yasuhisa Kurona calmly placed the cloth in her hand aside. At the same time, Yasuhisa Nashiro immediately understood her sister's intention. The two of them simultaneously extended their slender index fingers and pointed without hesitation at Mephisto, who was standing in the corner and secretly laughing, shouting in unison,
"It was Mephisto-sama who taught us to address you that way!"
Mephisto immediately stopped smiling.
A trace of panic flashed across his face as he flapped his wings and loudly explained, "I warn you two not to speak nonsense. This is absolutely slander. It has nothing to do with me!"
"This is retaliation. I've been nothing but loyal!"
Mado Akira watched everything expressionlessly.
Uesugi Ryu sighed softly, his face full of helplessness, and waved his hand to signal Mephisto to get lost.
Mephisto glared fiercely at Yasuhisa Kurona and Yasuhisa Nashiro. "Retaliating against me, are you? My Sharingan isn't just for show. Just you wait!"
With the commotion over, he lost all interest in continuing to flatter them and quickly retreated to his bird's nest.
Everything returned to calm as the Yasuhisa sisters resumed their work.
Mado Akira suddenly rose onto her toes and leaned close to Uesugi Ryu's ear. The fresh scent of her mint perfume, mixed with her golden hair, brushed lightly against his throat.
"So, this is what you like... twin maids?"
Mado Akira murmured softly, her tone carrying an elusive nuance.
A ticklish sensation spread from his neck, and Uesugi Ryu, filled with a strong survival instinct, immediately shook his head in denial.
Mado Akira raised an eyebrow but said nothing further.
She slipped off her delicate deep-purple high heels. Her small feet, wrapped in black stockings, stepped lightly onto the floor that Yasuhisa Nashiro had just cleaned.
Dressed in a long white coat, the hem swayed gently with her movements.
Just as Uesugi Ryu secretly breathed a sigh of relief, thinking the minor disturbance had passed, Mado Akira's cool and emotionless voice sounded again.
"These past few days, have they been living here?"
Uesugi Ryu walked slowly into the living room. The space was quite large. Thinking about it, the Yasuhisa sisters had been staying here for over a week, recently following Mephisto to investigate the whereabouts of Kanou Akihiro.
Hearing the question, Uesugi Ryu inwardly sensed trouble. He had forgotten to mention this matter to Mado Akira. Now that he had been caught on the spot, he could only brace himself and explain.
"Well... their current identities are indeed somewhat special, so it's not convenient for them to stay in a hotel."
Upon hearing this, Mado Akira's eyes narrowed slightly as she turned to stare intently at Uesugi Ryu.
"So, you've been living together with them for quite some time, correct?"
Seeing her expression, Uesugi Ryu's lips curled into a smile as he teased playfully.
"What's wrong? Are you jealous?"
"Then how about you move in as well?"
After hearing these words, a barely noticeable hint of fluster crossed Mado Akira's face. The pink gloss on her lips reflected a soft glow under the light.
She parted her lips slightly and said in a calm tone, "So this was your plan all along. Quite ingenious."
With that, Mado Akira removed her white coat and hung it on the nearby coat rack.