"After we conquer Tatsumaki, we'll track down Wavygyaza, right, right?"
Mosquito Girl, Suiko, and Yuta soon sat as they had earlier, lined against the wall beneath the kitchen nook.
Hearing Mosquito Girl's enthusiastic question, Caspian looked to his right, where she had wrapped her arm around his again. Her carefree energetic attitude cheered him a little.
"Conquer…?" Caspian smiled, then grew serious. "I've decided to stop searching for her. My misuse of knowledge brought about too much trouble. That's clear to everyone here. I can't undo what's done, but I can spare at least two people from my selfishness."
"It isn't clear to me!" Mosquito Girl pulled back. "Why wouldn't you find her? She deserves this happiness too!"
"No. I've made up my mind."
"Stubborn idiot!" She let go of his arm and scooted toward Suiko, who, like Yuta and Fubuki, sat with closed eyes, enjoying the refreshing summertime breeze flowing inside from the open balcony.
Caspian sighed, a habit he couldn't shake today.
¤ ¤ ¤
Above Caspian's balcony, Tatsumaki held a crinkled piece of paper. On it were the names of six women. Below each of the names was a bullet point list detailing general pieces of information about each woman.
How glad she was that she'd been too lazy to toss the list. A fan list? No, this was clearly the work of Caspian's recyclable disciple that had been out investigating for his damnable master!
Why did things turn out this way? All along, he had what? Wanted to be with all of them at once? Have her share a man with her own sister?
The one man who could give her everything had planned this all along. Had their first meeting even been chance? How had she missed it? With his prophetic gifts, he could've orchestrated everything from the beginning. Was any of it real?
However, this line of thought became more difficult to believe as she listened to the group of five talk when she faked her departure.
That's right. She had left in a flurry so she could descend back down during the havoc she left behind. As for the note, she had kept it on her person.
Why?
Originally, when she seized the note, she believed it actually was a weird fan list that the S-Class Hero carried around. But the interaction was so strange that she kept it and had almost forgotten about it after she placed it in her nightstand's drawer.
Did learning that Caspian was Genos' master cause her to remember the note? No, it was on her date with Caspian at the festival. First, it was when he rounded the corner ahead of her and froze. Second, and more importantly, it was when she learned the woman's, Mosquito Girl's, name. She couldn't place where she knew the name from at that moment, but it ate away at the back of her mind until she arrived home that same night and, upon entering her room and seeing her nightstand, only then did she recall the list of names.
While it wasn't proof, it definitely raised her suspicions. But how could she just come in and start accusing him of some irrational suspicion? She should have confronted him after all, so she could watch him squirm knowing what she does now.
Tatsumaki continued to float above the balcony. The indecision of what to do started to feel unbearable. She had planned to storm back in and end things with him once and for all, but then the more she listened to all of them talk to each other, a complex confusion coursed through her. This complex confusion rose exponentially seconds later.
"Now that's surprising to hear. Though I have to ask why aren't you trying to gouge out my eyes while your sister is gone? I mean, not only did I admit my feelings for you, which from your perspective has to sound crazy, but I also am—or was—in a relationship with Tatsumaki, and I feel the same way about her as I do for you, and several others."
"I believed you were crazy from the start. As for my sister, that doesn't bother me.
Our relationship… there's always been a distance between us. I must be crazy too because the thought of sharing a man with her doesn't disgust me—"
Whatever words followed, Tatsumaki didn't register them as her mind pirouetted. How could my sister…
She couldn't linger any longer — her sister and the others had to know about the list. Caspian's deception had to be exposed.
Tatsumaki descended onto the balcony. In her troubled eyes, she viewed all five of them sitting with their backs to the wall. For some reason, Mosquito Girl, Suiko, and… who had to be Yuta based on the list's description, were scooted a distance away from him while Fubuki leaned up against him.
She said those words while snuggled up to him! Tatsumaki almost screamed but calmed herself and cleared her throat, causing five pairs of eyes to land on her.
"Sis!" Fubuki flung herself off of Caspian, a fearful expression on her face.
Tatsumaki's heart tightened when she saw that familiar look of fear on her sister's face.
"You have returned to be conquered, I see."
"Say that again you damn mosquito!"
"My oh my, she even knows the difference between a fly and a mosquito. She's a keeper."
She ignored the comment and tossed the crumpled note to Fubuki. "Look. He had his robot disciple investigate all of us." Her focus stayed fixed on her sister. She wouldn't spare him a glance. Not if she wanted to...
"Ooh! Let me see." Mosquito Girl flashed before the note, catching it out of the air.
Tatsumaki's pupils dilated.
A quick look around, and she noticed from Suiko and Yuta's widened eyes that they also weren't aware of this monster girl's physical prowess. However, Fubuki wore a different expression that she couldn't decipher.
"How thoughtful!" Mosquito Girl stood in front of Caspian, her back to Tatsumaki, and bent over. "This list just earned you my forgiveness toward your stubborn, idiotic behavior."
Thoughtful?!
Caspian remained silent.
Does she really have to bend over that far? Tatsumaki received an eyeful as Mosquito Girl's dark gray, pinstriped shorts had wedged themselves quite deep.
Suiko and Yuta overcame their shock and crowded beside Mosquito Girl. Even Fubuki, who avoided eye contact with Tatsumaki, rose to her feet, and in almost unison, the three of them mirrored Mosquito Girl and bent over.
"Who knew our little mosquito was so capable. It looks like we'll need to have a sparring match soon," said Suiko.
Yuta's high ponytail bounced as she nodded. "I am of the same opinion."
"Have you thought about joining the Blizzard Group?"
They're ignoring me… And how dare they present themselves to me like this! Even my own sister is flaunting her curves at me!
"Why doesn't this bother any of you?!" Tatsumaki's shout made the four women jump and whirl around to face her.
Mosquito Girl raised up the list. "This is old news. Aren't you aware of his prophetic abilities? It seems like you have a lot of learning to do, missy."
Before Tatsumaki could lash out, Suiko said, "That she does. We gave Caspian a chance to explain himself, and we've accepted his apology. What makes you so special that you won't grant him the chance?"
"I did not appreciate how you toyed with my body earlier without my consent, but all is forgiven, and I believe Caspian deserves a chance at a similar chance at forgiveness," said Yuta.
"You're all just as unbalanced as he is!" Tatsumaki's raised hand trembled as she accused them.
Fubuki stepped closer to her. "Sis, I th—"
"Don't 'sis' me! I heard what you said about sharing…" Tatsumaki exhaled. "I-We need to have a long-overdue heart-to-heart. But not now… because currently, I only feel confused when I look at you. I'm leaving."
Tatsumaki refused to speak another word and flew out of the apartment room.