Chapter 579: Righteous Mischief, Yuko's Homesickness
Riven was clearly still riding the high of her own perceived cleverness, entirely forgetting that the crisp red apple in her hand was originally meant to be diced into a fresh fruit salad for everyone to share.
Ren's heavy sigh just moments prior wasn't born of anger, but rather a fond resignation; he felt that Riven had been acting a little muddled again lately, her head lost in the clouds.
When she stepped out into the living room, Lucifer arched an elegant brow, her crimson eyes filled with mild doubt. "Riven, why did you come out carrying a whole apple?"
Riven offered a bright, earnest smile, proceeding to explain her highly 'intelligent' decision to simply eat the fruit directly rather than wait for the meal.
Lucifer immediately reached out, pulling the former exile closer. She gazed at Riven with an overflowing, almost maternal affection. Beside them, Pandemonica paused her coffee-stirring and let out a soft sigh of her own.
How could this girl be so adorably, hopelessly clueless?
Riven blinked, her brow furrowing in genuine confusion. "What's wrong? Why are you all looking at me like that?"
Lucifer offered a helpless, elegant smile. "That apple was clearly meant to be prepared into a salad for the table, yet you simply took it out and started eating it. Why do you look as though you've accomplished something amazing?"
The realization finally dawned on Riven. She scratched the back of her head, a faint flush of embarrassment dusting her cheeks, before she nonchalantly brushed it off. "It's fine. Just consider it eating a little extra."
Lucifer sighed, her tone softening. "That was quite a clever excuse, but it would be much better if you applied this cleverness beforehand next time. Still... it's fine, Riven. You really are cuter this way."
Riven shifted her weight, looking somewhat awkward. "Justice and the others have been saying I'm cute too... It's honestly the first time anyone has ever called me that."
"You are indeed very cute," Lucifer agreed smoothly. "But what exactly have you been posting on your social media recently? It is completely bizarre."
Riven thought for a moment before her eyes lit up in understanding. "Oh! That! Online, they call it a 'check-in log'. It's like... if you practice calligraphy today, you make a post to document it."
Lucifer nodded slowly, digesting the concept. "I suppose that carries some meaning. So, what you have been posting is your daily check-in log for your consistent physical training?"
Riven shook her head adamantly. "Of course not. It's my daily log for practicing chopping vegetables."
Lucifer's polite smile faltered for a fraction of a second. She reached out, patting Riven's sturdy shoulder. "Riven, I must say, you truly are determined to embody the word 'cute' to the very bitter end."
Riven looked deeply puzzled. Justice had said the exact same thing to her, and she still thought her posts were perfectly normal. Suddenly, a thought crossed her mind. "Lucifer, do you happen to know what Justice has been doing lately? There's this constant, rhythmic clicking sound coming from her room."
Pandemonica was taken aback by the sudden shift in topic. She pondered the nature of the clicking sound for a moment, her eyes narrowing slightly. "It couldn't be a firearm, could it...?"
Lucifer's pupils constricted in a flash of alarm, but she quickly regained her composure, waving a dismissive hand. "Impossible. Absolutely impossible. If she wanted a gun, she would have just asked Fusui for one directly. Besides, do you really think someone like Justice needs a gun?"
Pandemonica nodded in agreement. Lucifer tapped her chin thoughtfully. "It seems Justice purchased a sewing machine recently... That must be the sound you're hearing. Her hobbies truly cover an absurdly wide range."
Meanwhile, in her room, Justice held up a nearly perfectly tailored maid outfit, inspecting the dark fabric and white frills with a wide, satisfied grin. "Lucifer gets the maid outfit... Now, what should Riven get?" She tapped her chin, her mind racing with awesome ideas. "That girl is pretty cute... just like a little white rabbit. So... Ha! A bunny girl suit!"
Downstairs, both Riven and Lucifer shivered violently at the exact same moment, a sudden, icy chill washing over them as if they had been targeted by some unseen malice. Lucifer looked at Riven, her crimson eyes wide with disbelief. "Did you feel that too?"
Lucifer sighed, rubbing her arms. "It looks like we need to be extra careful these next few days... By the way, has Yuko scrubbed her face entirely off yet?! It's been ages, and we haven't heard a single word from her!"
Riven pulled out her phone, tapping the screen. "Yuko just messaged. She said she finished her skincare routine and is currently eating takeout..."
"Huh?! How come I didn't know about this?!"
Riven was, naturally, a member of their private group chat. Her innocent, earnest demeanor made her incredibly popular among the girls. After exchanging a few quick texts with Yuko, Riven looked up, her expression perfectly serious. "She said she doesn't want to talk to you. She claims you sent her pictures of premium grilled meat just to tease her, so she has decided to ignore you for a few days."
Lucifer let out a quiet scoff. The Dimensional Witch truly was a childish woman sometimes.
In another world entirely, Ichihara Yuko had indeed been applying her luxurious face creams and serums with a much heavier hand these days. As for why she hadn't left her shop to return to them, the reason was frustratingly simple: the high school boy who minded her shop hadn't gone on his summer vacation yet.
Ichihara Yuko lounged in her ornate chair, picking at a mediocre takeout meal while glaring at the television screen in front of her. "That damn Lucifer," she muttered with deep annoyance. "Actually eating grilled meat and sending me pictures of it! It's infuriating! Maru! Bring the wine!"
"Coming, coming!"
Right now, Ichihara Yuko only harbored one overwhelming thought: she missed home. Even after returning to her own shop for so long, that lingering ache hadn't faded in the slightest. She could acutely feel that she no longer belonged in this empty, quiet place; her sense of belonging had been anchored elsewhere.
She felt exactly like a child stranded at a strict boarding school, desperately missing home, yet agonizingly aware that summer vacation was still weeks away. All she could do was wait for the winter and summer holidays to arrive, relying on daily chats with her 'family' to stave off the isolation.
Yuko let out a long, dramatic sigh, the smoke from her kiseru pipe curling into the dim air. "Honestly... even if the world rejects me, it doesn't have to be this thorough... This constant feeling of unease..." She pouted, her elegant features twisting into a scowl. "But Ren, that massive jerk, hasn't initiated a single chat with me! He is absolutely dead when I get back!"
Maru tilted her head, her twin tails bobbing. "Who is Ren?"
Yuko's lips curved into a soft, complex smile. "Ren... Ren is... um... he's the head of the family."
"Yuko, are you thinking about Ren?" Maru asked innocently.
"Are you thinking? Are you thinking?" Moro chimed in, echoing the sentiment perfectly.
Looking at the two energetic girls, a sudden, fierce flush of red painted Yuko's pale cheeks. She waved her hand frantically, her usual composure shattering. "Impossible! Absolutely impossible! Do you know who I am? I'll usurp his position sooner or later!"
She couldn't help but laugh inwardly at the vivid fantasy of Ren serving her tea, pouring her bathwater, massaging her shoulders, and rubbing her legs. Yet, deep down, she knew it was a complete pipe dream. She was absolutely no match for Ren. Within the shop, his strength was absolute, and outside... well, she was a refined lady, thank you very much. Besides, bound by their contract, no matter how playfully she schemed, she was destined to lose.
"But Yuko talks about him every single day!" Maru pointed out, utterly baffled.
"Hush!" Yuko snapped playfully, trying to hide her embarrassment. "Has that guy finished school yet?"
"No, no!"
Yuko sighed, leaning heavily against her armrest. She truly, deeply wished for the holidays to arrive sooner. She was tired of this endless waiting. She had had more than enough of the cold, lonely feeling of living in this massive, empty shop all by herself.
"Ah... it's snowing..."
Yuko suddenly noticed the delicate white snowflakes drifting past the dark windowpane. She completely abandoned the lukewarm takeout in her hand, her crimson eyes locked onto the falling snow outside, entirely lost in her own quiet thoughts.
"Yuko is smiling!"
"Smiling, smiling!"
"Pour the wine!"
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