“I finally made it back!”

I, Kohou Mina, having completed my two-week mission with the Ichigaya music band, couldn’t contain my excitement as I approached my home station. Dragging my large suitcase, I hurried home.

At first, I was anxious about the dual assignment with the music band, but it ended up being a lot of fun with all the new experiences.

I wanted to share everything with my special someone right away.

And after being apart for two weeks, I was in desperate need of some affection.

I couldn’t wait to be in Yuu-kun’s arms and feel like a cat.

It’s a weekday evening, just around the time school ends.

“Meow! Yuu-kun, I’m home!”

I flung my suitcase into the entrance, grabbed just the bag of souvenirs, and dashed into my beloved’s house.

This kind of behavior was a privilege of being childhood friends.

“Oh, it’s you, little girl. Back already? And as usual, barging in without even ringing the doorbell. So rude.”

There stood the infuriating woman, fresh from the bath, wearing only her shorts and a towel around her neck.

Seeing the unexpected sight, the bag of souvenirs slipped from my hand and hit the living room floor.

“Why are you here in such attire in Yuu-kun’s house… Could it be that you…?”

I was caught off guard…

Did this woman take advantage of my absence to unleash her dark desires on Yuu-kun?

This isn’t a matter of teacher and student, it’s a clear case of ‘evil’.

Without hesitation, I reached for my phone to press the emergency call button.

But my finger collided with the hand holding my phone.

“Don’t be rash.”

Looking up at the older woman, I saw my phone now in her hand.

When did she…?

Her teleportation shouldn’t work directly on objects.

So how…?

“Give it back, you criminal!”

“What? I took a shower after sweating from exercising, and I’m half-naked in my own home. What’s criminal about that?”

This woman is hopeless…

Her desperation to find a partner has driven her crazy.

It’s not your house, being half-naked in a student’s house is the issue!

Maybe I should call a hospital before the police?

“Huh? Mina, you’re back. Welcome ho- Mmph!”

“Yuu-kun, don’t look!”

As I was yelling in the living room, Yuu-kun came back from school.

I quickly pulled him into my chest to shield him from the filth.

“What are you doing, little girl? Such indecency in front of a teacher! Let go of Yuu-sama!”

“Shut up! Unlike last time when you took care of Yuu-kun, this time you’re caught red-handed. Prepare yourself, you old hag!”

“Mmph!”

“Yuu-sama seems to be in pain! Are you using him as a hostage? I feel sorry, but it seems the time has come to deal with you.”

Despite her words, she wore a gleeful, cruel smile.

“Bring it on!”

I covered Yuu-kun’s ears and prepared to unleash my sonic roar, Torafushi.

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

“What are you two doing in my house? Are you idiots?”

““Sorry…””

After a tiring day with student council duties, I came home to this mess: Mina clinging to me like a stuffed toy, and Hayami-san rampaging half-naked. It was a scene straight out of hell.

“But Yuu-kun! This old hag barged into your house while you were gone and even used your bath!”

Mina accused Hayami-san passionately.

“Hm? That’s not a problem, Mina. Because-”

“Yuu-sama and I are now living together under one roof.”

Hayami-san interrupted the explanation I was about to give.

“…Huh?”

Mina responded with a dumbfounded expression, to which Hayami-san proudly added.

“Can’t keep up? Little girl, I’m living with Yuu-sama. As his partner.”

No, Hayami-san.

Give a proper explanation!

While the term ‘partner’ means ‘one who accompanies,’ and it’s technically correct for my partner Hayami-san to use it, it has caused Mina to freeze up like a statue.

“Pa-partner… No way… You used the recent law change allowing soul-armed individuals to marry at 16 to trick Yuu-kun into signing a marriage certificate…”

As expected, Mina misunderstood the term ‘partner.’

She assumes Hayami-san tricked me…

And that law from the special tactical forces meeting was indeed implemented.

The parts about mandatory marriage by a certain age were removed, and forced marriage was made illegal, protecting the rights of soul-armed individuals.

But more importantly, I need to clear up Mina’s misunderstanding.

“No, Mina. It’s just that due to work, Hayami-san and I need to live together now.”

“What? Military orders?”

“Yes.”

After the recent dangerous incident, the military higher-ups decided it was best to keep Hayami-san close.

“But Yuu-kun, you could use your usual major power to refuse such orders!”

“No, it’s just…”

The enemy now knows Hayami-san is the Achilles’ heel of my long-range remote saturation bombing operation. Keeping her close is a plan I agree with.

I’m worried about her safety and can’t afford to lose her, or I’d go back to a life of crawling in the dirt worldwide.

I must avoid that at all costs.

“Why are you so hesitant, Yuu-kun! Could it be… this woman is threatening you?”

Mina shot a cold glare at Hayami-san, who seemed to always be the cause in Mina’s mind.

I want to caution Mina’s biased view, but it’s hard to explain without revealing information about special tactical forces.

“No, it’s just necessary for work.”

“Exactly, little girl. From now on, I will take care of everything for Yuu-sama, like a baby, including meals and even bathroom needs. You, who were just born nearby, are no longer needed.”

My weak response only provoked Hayami-san to further antagonize Mina.

And no, I don’t need help with bathroom needs.

“I’ve managed Yuu-kun’s house all these years he’s been forcibly conscripted! I know everything about his house!”

“That’s creepy… Yuu-sama, we should immediately call specialists to check for bugs or other devices this little girl might have planted.”

With these two arguing, it seems my peaceful single life isn’t coming back anytime soon. I looked up at the sky.