Chapter 101 – Ufufu… Inviting Friends to One’s Own Room Like This Is Rather Lovely, Isn’t It

"""EEEEEEEHHHHHH?!"""

Steshia and Herta's startled shrieks rang out in perfect unison, echoing through the brand-new living room.

At the sheer volume of the two of them, Milea buried her face in her hand with a long, heavy sigh -- oh, honestly...

"Th-that was surprising...! I never imagined you two had that kind of relationship!"

Steshia's eyes went wide, making no attempt to hide her feelings, while Herta wore an expression that looked like surprise curdling straight into exasperation.

"Hold on, I was fully prepared to be amazed by how nice and spacious this room is first, and now that's completely blown out of the water..."

Watching the two of them in such disarray seemed to put Letaria in an excellent mood, and she let out a triumphant "Ohohoho!"

"Fufufu, your surprise is only natural! But it is the truth. I am now Letaria Adeniam, and also Letaria Ichinose, and also Letaria Adeniam Ichinose, all at once!"

Beside her, as Letaria puffed out her chest with pride, Milea could only shake her head, seemingly too exasperated for words.

"I had absolutely no idea you were Dr. Ichinose's actual little sister...!"

At Steshia's all-too-genuine exclamation of admiration, Herta immediately cut in from beside her.

"Idiot, that's not it, Steshia. It's not that kind of sisters."

"...Eh? What do you mean?"

Steshia clearly had no idea, tilting her head in genuine confusion at Herta. Taking pity on her, Milea set down her teacup and gently added an explanation.

"So, um -- I registered her with the Bureau as my little sister, through the family registry. This girl had... well, a lot of complicated circumstances, so."

"Wow! You can actually do that kind of paperwork...? Big corporate technical jobs are amazing."

Steshia nodded repeatedly, impressed, and then her eyes lit up as though she'd just thought of something.

"So then, if I became Dr. Ichinose's little sister too, I could live in a nice room like this as well--"

"Owowowow! Joking, I'm joking, Herta!"

Herta pinched Steshia's cheek without a shred of mercy the moment she started saying something too convenient.

"Honestly, Steshia... you really do have an easy-going head on your shoulders."

Herta looked utterly exasperated, while Steshia rubbed her cheek with tears welling in her eyes. Watching the two of them go at each other without any restraint, Letaria couldn't help but laugh.

"Fufu, the two of you really are close as well. Watching you, it is almost like real sisters."

"Ehh, you think so~?"

"That's not true at all!"

At Letaria's words, Steshia tilted her head happily, while Herta shot back an immediate denial with a face that looked ready to gag. Once again, the two of them produced a perfectly synchronized, perfectly opposite reaction.

"But this really is a nice room. It's so much bigger and nicer than my cramped, cheap apartment..."

Steshia looked around the room once more, eyes wandering from corner to corner.

"The rent must be pretty steep too. My place is nine hundred credits a month, so... given the location and the facilities here, this has got to be at least two thousand credits, cheap as that would even be?"

Herta elbowed Steshia with a sharp "Hey!" for bringing up something as crude as money right in the middle of a housewarming.

"Ah... about that, actually."

Milea spoke up, running a hand through her hair somewhat awkwardly.

"This is an official residence the Bureau specifically arranged out of consideration for her safety and status, so... Letaria personally doesn't pay any rent for it."

"Huh."

Steshia went completely still, frozen in place.

"Th-that's way too unfair~!! No fair, Doctor, that's an abuse of authority!"

Milea gave a wry smile and let her words trail off vaguely at Steshia's protest from the sofa.

"Well... if you make it up to captain rank in the corps, you should qualify to move into housing at this level too, I'd imagine..."

"There, you heard her? Better work harder and get yourself promoted, Miss Vice-Captain-Candidate."

At Herta's perfectly timed jab, Steshia made a strangled noise of frustration, unable to argue back.

"Ugh, and you living rent-free at your parents' place is unfair too, Herta!"

Watching the two of them bicker so lively, Letaria laughed aloud.

"Ufufu... inviting friends to one's own room like this is rather lovely, isn't it."

For a moment, gazing down at the warm herbal tea in her hands, Letaria found herself thinking back to her old home, far away.

Back in that vast ducal mansion, she had spent all her time shut away in her room. A future where she invited friends her own age into that room, laughing together over nothing in particular like this -- she could never even have imagined it back then.

Cast out into this distant sea of stars, she was, now, never alone.

Savoring the warmth spreading quietly through her chest, Letaria brought another delicious bite of the extravagant Fetana berry cake to her lips, surrounded by the friends she treasured.