"It's getting late, Nicole will worry if I don't head back now, nya~"
Nekomata glanced at the time, letting out a small, audible sigh before speaking to them.
They had all finished dinner, and since a Bangboo was assisting with chores, cleanup wasn't a concern.
"I only came to give the clothes back, but I ended up bothering you all anyway. I should head out."
The moment Ellen said that, Belle's eyes widened as something hit her.
"Oh, right, Ellen, you've been here for a while and didn't call your family. Won't your parents worry?"
"No… they won't."
Belle's first thought was that no parent should be that careless, letting their child wander home late without concern.
But before she could say anything, Ellen continued, "Since I was really young, my parents died in a Hollow disaster, so I'm usually alone at home."
"I-I'm sorry…"
'Oh my god, I'm such an idiot!'
"It's fine, I'm used to it anyway."
'Oh my god, I'm such an idiot!!'
"After all, I was always alone before high school; you could say I was isolated."
Ellen offered a low, self-mocking chuckle.
'Oh my god, I'm such an idiot!!!'
Noticing Belle was on the verge of collapsing from her intense moral guilt, Wise quickly intervened.
"Hmm, but Ellen doesn't feel lonely now, right?" Wise said, trying to break the awkward atmosphere.
"Lonely? No, not anymore."
Ellen thought about her friends and smiled before she even noticed it. Seeing that smile, Belle felt her guilt lighten a little.
Once Ellen was gone, Anby turned to find Nekomata still standing there and finally asked, "Nekomata, didn't you say Nicole would worry? Why aren't you rushing home?"
"Nya?"
Nekomata tilted her head in confusion, as if silently saying, 'You're really asking me this?'
"I was waiting for you to come with me! Nya!"
"I see, then there's no need to wait. I've decided to stay over tonight," Anby said calmly, making a slow shooing motion with her hand.
"Nya?!"
Nekomata's confused expression quickly shifted into disbelief. Anby held up her phone, showing a message that confirmed she had already told Nicole and received approval.
Seeing this, Nekomata felt a surge of agitation. Thinking back on Anby's past tricks toward Wise, it was obvious she planned to make him her personal servant tonight.
Suddenly, a vivid image formed in Nekomata's mind.
Wise, entirely dominated by Anby, while shoving her away with contempt.
'Wait, why am I even imagining this? I don't even live at Wise's house... still, I can't let this happen!'
Nekomata shook her head, dispelling the thoughts, and decided to act.
"Nya! Damn it! In that case, then I'm going to—"
Before she could finish, Anby interrupted.
"You can't."
"But why? Anby, you've obviously been—"
"Did you bring a change of clothes?" Anby asked, interrupting her for the second time.
"Nya?"
Anby then grabbed a bag filled with her personal belongings, completely ignoring Nekomata's bewildered gaze.
"W-Why would you bring something like this to someone else's house!?" she asked, pointing at the bag.
"Hmm, I saw a movie that said you should bring these kinds of things. Also, there was this special candy from a store… I think it was called b—"
"Stop!"
Sensing the conversation was heading in a dangerous direction, Wise quickly interrupted Anby.
"What kind of movie was that? Why does it sound so wrong?" he asked, with a helpless look.
"Hmm? It was just a normal Old Civilization Romance Documentary."
'Normal? No way that's normal!' he thought, holding himself back from shouting.
"By the way, Nekomata, you still haven't asked my brother or me what we think."
Belle's words snapped Nekomata back to reality. Without hesitation, she rushed to Wise's side and wrapped herself around his leg.
"Please, let me stay! I'll do anything you want, whether it's touching my ears, my chin, or even my tail, nya!"
"Nekomata, you really only think about yourself, don't you?"
Anby watched the cat's shameless antics, commenting indifferently from the side.
However, if they didn't permit her to remain, it would probably incite a serious 'harem war.' Therefore, the only course of action was to ask Belle to provide Nekomata with some clothes.
Meanwhile, at the Cunning Hares, Nicole looked at her phone and frowned.
"What's happening? Both of them are staying at Wise's place tonight? Is it some kind of pajama party? And why didn't they invite me?"
Nicole didn't waste time overthinking it. As long as her employees weren't in danger or risking a commission, she always gave them complete respect and freedom.
Agreeing to Nekomata's request was easy.
"Yay! I can stay here tonight too, meow~" Nekomata skipped around, full of excitement.
"Tsk."
Anby clicked her tongue in annoyance.
"Hmm? Anby, did you just say something?" Nekomata gave the silver-haired girl a sharp look.
"No, you misheard."
'Looking at you, I definitely didn't mishear!' Nekomata thought, clearly not believing Anby's words.
"Nekomata and Anby seem to get along really well, don't they, Brother?" Belle said with a smile, standing beside Wise.
"Yes, they do."
Wise couldn't help but think that it was good they got along. If the girls truly disliked each other, he'd be completely drained.
"Oh, Brother, you're all sweaty and haven't taken a shower yet! Go take a quick one now."
At Belle's urging, Wise headed up to the second floor. Anby's eyes gleamed faintly at the sight, though her thoughts remained unreadable.
Nekomata didn't notice any of this, completely absorbed in playing with the Bangboos, forgetting her real purpose for staying.
"I'm going to the restroom."
Shortly after Wise left, Anby seized her chance to leave the first-floor room as well. Belle and Nekomata didn't suspect a thing.
Completely at ease, they had no idea that Anby, once out of the room, quietly made her way up to the second floor.
"Click!"
"Hmm?"
Hearing the bathroom door open, Wise, who was lying in the bathtub, opened his eyes in confusion. He saw a sight that made him profoundly surprised.
Anby stepped into the bathroom, completely naked, a faint blush dusting her cheeks. He couldn't believe how bold she was.
As the silver-haired girl approached, Wise said, "Anby, you..."
"Don't worry, they didn't notice a thing," she whispered.
Wise simply nodded, accepting the situation, and watched her enter the water with him.
"Aren't you tired of continuing this?" he asked, letting his eyes trace the curve of her body.
"No," Anby replied.
She leaned into him, wrapped him in a tight embrace, and pressed her lips against Wise's.
He, of course, did not shy away, and it did not last long before the two started another baby-making session.
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