I want a familiar toooo…

Like a dragon or something, that’d be sooo cool.

Or like a scorpion, or a snake, or a wolf—something kinda dark-sidish like that! I want one toooo!

『You’re noisy. Be quiet. I’m checking the manuscript right now. I can’t afford any typos or missing characters. This is for sale, you know. We can’t let down all our followers.』

So strong-willed.

You’re already the model of a writer.

『You think so? Hah hah hah, you’re making me blush. Still, I’m excited. To think that I—a Demonsgear—could find meaning in something so seemingly meaningless… I’m truly grateful.』

Heheh, it’s all good!

You’ve always helped me out too!

『Partner♥』

Starreader’s Staff-chan♥

“『Yaaay for besties!』”

And so, ever at full throttle, I was flopped on my bed, lazing around.

I’m super satisfied with my perfect Super Mysterious Beautiful Girl Time over at Chroma.

Ryuuko-chan, I’m throwing a tea party on the next new moon, just so you know! At your place.

…Hm? I think I feel a chill.

Maybe I overdid it with the AC since it’s summer.

『Hey, don’t go catching a cold, okay? Keep yourself in top shape until the Cultural Grand Festival.』

Of course I will!

I’m a mysterious beautiful girl who never neglects her health.

If I don’t have any plans, I make sure to go to bed early and wake up early, and I always eat a well-balanced diet.

Naturally, I limit snacks, and I never forget to do some light exercise to keep my waist toned and my skin healthy.

Even my legs—I massage them in the bath to keep them beautiful and sexy.

Perfect.

I am the ultimate and flawless mysterious beautiful girl.

『You sound like a super health-conscious idol or something…?』

Producer-san! I’m a mysterious beautiful girl, not an idol!

『Then stop calling me Producer.』

Ugh, always with the logic. What a pain of a Producer.

So, anyway, Producer-san—do you remember the thing I asked you to do today?

『Of course. Naturally, I’ve prepared it.』

The Starreader’s Staff-chan, who’d been finalizing the new issue within me, popped out as Unit Zero.

Then, as if it were the most normal thing in the world, he lay down beside me and tangled his legs with mine, smiling. Gorgeous face…

“Here, just what you wanted.”

“Mmh, thanks.”

Starreader’s Staff-chan handed me a memory chip from so close I could feel his breath.

This is the raw material for our next mysterious move.

“All I can put together is the base. The output and capabilities still don’t meet our expectations.”

“That’s why we need her power from here on out.”

When I said that in my Sorciera voice, Starreader’s Staff-chan smiled in satisfaction.

Now then, what’s on this memory chip is a weapon blueprint.

A mysterious beautiful girl isn’t complete with just a scythe—she needs sub-weapons too.

To deal with all kinds of situations coolly, weapons are a must.

And unlike familiars, they’re not that hard to prepare.

Plus, we can’t let top-quality weapon materials go to waste anymore.

That’s right—our angelic weapon project truly begins now.

“Alright, guess it’s time to go.”

I sat up and said so.

“Indeed. Then I’ll be returning to your body.”

Starreader’s Staff-chan said this, kissed my cheek, stroked my chin, and vanished.

…Lately, isn’t this kind of skinship happening a lot?

『I want to try it for the next manga, so I’m experimenting＾＾』

Oh, got it.

『More importantly, let’s hurry. I can’t stand having that thing still in the expansion domain.』

True.

I tried decorating the room with it, but it just didn’t vibe. Let’s get it sorted quickly.

『Then, let’s go to the weaponsmith.』

Yeah.

Let’s go to Miyume-chan’s place!

■

Miyume was troubled.

Alone in a room lit only by the display’s glow, she groaned.

It was already past midnight.

Unless it was her turn to cook breakfast, Miyume often stayed up late like this.

When the sun started to rise, she’d scramble to her bed-couch combo.

She pushed herself, even if just a minute or second more, to bring results.

Her goal was resurrection of the dead.

“…Onee-chan.”

That was an implanted memory.

Warm memories and gentle smiles, all constructed from data.

Still, she knew they weren’t fake.

(I still haven’t reached Onee-chan’s hand from that time…!)

Miyume still refused to accept the tragedy that came after the final battle.

Like her sister, she was incredibly stubborn.

“Alright! I’ll do my best—ssu!”

Slapping her cheeks, Miyume shouted with determination.

Shaking off her drowsiness, she reached again for the virtual console.

Just then—

“…Hm?”

A sudden sensation of something brushing her cheek.

When she looked back, the window was open and the curtain swaying.

“Huh? When did that happen?”

Tilting her head, Miyume stood up to close the window.

And then—

“—Good evening. What a lovely night.”

“…Eh?”

The sudden voice froze her.

She slowly turned toward the sound.

“S-S-S-Sorciera!?”

There she was—Sorciera, elegantly seated on the sofa Miyume usually used as her bed.

Somehow, the table in front of the sofa had been tidied up, with two teacups placed on top.

“So noisy. The stars are something to be enjoyed quietly.”

Sorciera said, picking up one of the teacups.

“You’re pushing too hard. Keep that up and you’ll end up like your sister.”

“…I know, ssu.”

Miyume tried to argue, but quickly realized it was pointless.

Right now, she understood Kanon’s feelings painfully well.

“Come on, sit beside me. The tea will go cold.”

“Well, since it’s already here, I’ll have some—ssu.”

She sat beside Sorciera, a bit hesitant.

Even though it was her room, her sofa, it felt super awkward.

(W-What’s her goal? According to Mizuhi-san, she’s not an enemy, but…)

No one yet knew Sorciera’s true identity.

A mysterious S-rank girl wielding powerful Demonsgear.

And to Miyume, she was also her savior.

Miyume took a sip of tea.

The crisp flavor and clean aftertaste were high-quality—even she, an amateur, could tell.

“…It’s delicious.”

“Fufu, I’m glad you like it.”

Sorciera smiled softly.

Seeing her like that, Miyume somehow felt strangely at ease.

She didn’t realize it herself, but Miyume viewed Sorciera as someone she could rely on.

People often relied on her, calling her a genius.

So, it was rare for her to have someone to lean on who surpassed her.

“…Thank you for back then.”

“What are you talking about? I don’t remember.”

“Is that so… But I’ll never forget.”

“…I see. Suit yourself.”

Sorciera smiled and stroked Miyume’s head.

Combing through her hair, gently and with care—she looked just like another older sister.

“—Onee-chan.”

Before she knew it, Miyume had said it out loud.

Then she quickly covered it up with a laugh.

“J-Just kidding! Haha, how was that joke?”

“It’s fine. I don’t mind.”

“Eh?”

Surprisingly, Sorciera was still smiling.

In fact, she opened her arms, as if welcoming her.

“The stars shine gently on everything. They’ll shine on you too. It’s okay to show your weakness sometimes.”

“…Really? Even someone like me?”

“Of course. I know how hard you’ve been working.”

Saying that, Sorciera gently embraced Miyume.

A sweet, mysterious scent tickled her nose.

It was a scent that could lull you into sleep.

At the same time, something tightly wound inside her loosened.

Before she knew it, Miyume had buried her face in Sorciera’s chest.

“…I’ll take you up on that—ssu.”

“I like honest girls.”

Sorciera said, gently cradling Miyume’s head and placing it on her lap.

Then she began stroking her lovingly.

(…Wait, am I getting a lap pillow from Sorciera right now!?)

What little reason she had left was screaming.

How was she supposed to explain this if someone saw?

Even a genius wouldn’t know the answer.

“What do you say—want to call me Onee-chan again?”

“No thanks. I only have one Onee-chan.”

“Fufu, I see.”

Sorciera’s tone sounded oddly pleased.

Just as she said, for Miyume, there was only one sister to follow.

However—

“For now, can we just stay like this a bit longer?”

“…Sure. As long as you’d like.”

Steam rose from the teacup as the quiet night breeze drifted in through the window.

A peaceful night filled the room.

And that aside—

(Oh crap… I can’t ask her to make the weapon♥ now…!)

『Partner, this is not the right vibe. Let’s come back another time.』

(Can I stay on her lap a little longer first? Also, the night breeze is cold! Shouldn’t’ve opened that window! )

『Sorciera acting like an older sister is so out of character. Management, please stop doing things that go against the character concept!』

(Are you a toxic fan? Wait, this Earl Grey is amazing. Starreader’s Staff-chan, you really can do anything. Teach me how to make it later, yeah?)

『Hah hah hah, of course! A mysterious beautiful girl must know how to brew a good cup of tea!』

Even a noisy night, it turns out, can be peaceful too.