A barren apartment, mostly furnished with just the essentials. A bed, a wardrobe, a large blue beanbag, a table, a few chairs around that table... Since she had basically been stranded inside the building hiding out from the chaos outside, it was understandable still just kept at the barest necessities.
Even so, Asako had gotten used to it. After all, it was at least quiet. She didn't have to deal with annoying old woman who scolded her every day for apparently making too much noise, or the probing neighbors asking why a young woman like her was living alone and kept coming back late at night.
So all-in-all, this was a better situation. Pretty damned annoying being stuck inside all day without much to do other than man the reception desk or surf the web, but considering that she had time to relax that she didn't have before, it was a welcome exchange.
Not to mention that she was given top notch medical treatment to heal her ragged body after that assassination attempt by her father.
But...
*How did I get into this situation?*
Asako leaned back in her chair, sweeping her eyes at the two other guests that had barged into her room earlier that morning. Well, one barged in and the other was pulled in after her.
Rin was plopped upside down on the bean bag, staring at a tablet and smiling. The younger girl had showed up early in the morning wearing a pink sweater and blue jeans before claiming her spot on that bean bag.
As for the other, the person pulled in after Rin, it was Alpha. The black-haired beauty wore a black and white hooded sweatshirt, patterned after a panda. It was an odd contrast seeing that previously harsh and aloof face relaxed and warm, especially hidden under that ridiculous panda hood, but it somehow suited her.
Like Rin, Alpha was watching something as well. But unlike Rin, she was using her phone.
Seeing that, Asako glanced down at her own phone.
Gotaku's UTube channel. A show run by Poppy Gloria... And a featured interview with John Smith, Myth Inc. CEO and the founder of Project MirAIs.
That program came to a close, Poppy Gloria giving her send offs and John leaving the stage. When that happened...
"Mister John was super cool!" Rin spun around on her bean bag, sitting back in a normal position and then beamed. "He answered all those questions really well!"
Alpha set her phone down and nodded. "Yes. Pa- Father did a good job for once. Though..." She frowned and said, "I'm somewhat concerned about the women will have been entranced by Father."
Asako set her phone down as well and said, "At least that guy was wearing his wedding ring for once. That won't give anyone false hope."
Bastard. It really took him this long to remember to wear something that important...
"Hm?" Alpha blinked and then narrowed her eyes, carefully observing Asako. "Don't tell me you're still pining after Father. Because if you are, I will have to do my job as a filial daughter and politely dissuade you."
The sweetness in Alpha's voice that had been there since her debut was gone, the frosty tone that Asako remembered from before returning. Even so, it was notably softer than that young woman who accepted her challenge to a race.
Asako snorted and said, "Don't worry, Daddy's Girl. I'm not a homewrecker."
"D-Daddy's Girl?" Alpha flushed and said, "T-That's... I-I'm not a...! B-But I guess..." She started to mumble, trailing off into incoherent words.
Really, Alpha was too easy now... But that really was dangerous. Someone that beautiful shouldn't be allowed to be that stupidly cute.
Asako coughed and purposefully changed the topic. "Besides, after all that I've been through recently, I'd rather have some peace and quiet."
And if she chased after that stupidly handsome bastard, Asako could already sense that her life would be in for a magnitude of stress and chaos even worse than she was already wrapped up in.
No. Asako knew where to draw the line. Besides, he was still eye candy, so it wasn't like she really lost anything out of giving him up.
"Oh!" Rin set her tablet down on the side and said, "That reminds me! What have you been doing recently, Aneue?"
Asako flinched and rubbed the back of her neck. "Could you stop calling me that? I don't mind you calling me by my first name or Nee-chan, but Aneue..."
It was too odd. Having someone sweet and naive like Rin calling her Aneue like her subordinates did, as well as the girls that managed her bars was a bit too much.
Rin tilted her head. "Hm? But... Aneue really gives off that feel though? You're like that tough delinquent girl in the manga I'm reading."
Asako froze. "That's... I am?"
No... That couldn't be true, right? She made sure to wear make up, dress nicely and even speak properly...
Could it be her mannerisms? Did she subconsciously make some movements that gave off that air?
No. Asako would have realized it. Then was it because of the few times she cursed John out?
No, it couldn't be that either. Surely that would have been taken more like a stressed receptionist or something.
Then did Rin find out about their past? Her past?
That couldn't be either. The younger girl... Asako's half-sister was the sweet kind of girl who would definitely have brought it up already.
Then... In the end...
Asako turned her attention back to Rin and said, "Is that really why you call me Aneue?"
"Mm..." Rin put a finger on her chin and said, "That's not the only reason. I just think you really feel like my older sister. But I'm already calling Miss Beta 'Eldest Sister' and Alpha nee-chan is 'Nee-chan'." She paused and then lowered her hand. "Do you want to be called Onee-san?"
Asako flinched and quickly said, "I-I'm not that old!"
"Hm?" Rin tilted her head. "What does being old have to do with being called Onee-san...?"
Asako coughed and said, "It's nothing. Aneue is fine."
It was still odd, but she could get used to it. Better than being called an Onee-san by Rin at least.
Dammit. She was still only 22. Being called that by a first year in high school already...!
"Pft." Alpha covered her face, hiding a smirk.
Asako noticed and crossed her arms. "Something funny, Daddy's Girl?"
Alpha lowered her hands and said, "Nothing much. Though, I'm amused that age is a touchy subject for you. Do you have that much trouble finding a date?"
Asako's eyebrow twitched and she said, "Well, how old are *you* Little Miss Perfect?"
Alpha leaned back and let out a smug smile. "Forever eighteen. When you're getting wrinkles, I'll still look just like this."
Asako scoffed. "Sure. Whatever you say."
Rin laughed and then hopped off the bean bag. After stretching a bit, she turned to the others and said, "Well, since we have a long time before either Nee-chan or I have to stream... Why don't we go exploring?"
Alpha blinked. "Exploring?"
"Right!" Rin nodded and said, "We're going to be working together a lot, so I think we should have a day out to get to know each other!"
Asako hummed. "I suppose I don't have anything better to do..."
John had messaged her that she should just focus on preparing for her debut and that they would be getting together to go over it sometime soon... but other than that, she didn't have anything to do.
"Great!" Rin walked over and pulled Asako out of her chair. "Then it's settled! I've always wanted to go shopping at the mall with my friends... but now I can go shopping with my big sisters, so that's even better!"
Asako let out a wry smile at Rin's declaration.
Big sister... She still needed to bring that up at some point. And she needed to talk with Rin's mother to confirm it.
Still, even if she did...
Alpha stood up, slipping her phone back into her pocket. "I... do want to buy more decorations for my room."
Asako shook her head, clearing her thoughts. After that, Alpha's words registered and Asako nodded. "That's right." She took a look around her barren room and said, "I should do some decorating too."
She just got her first pay check and signing bonus, so Asako's pockets were feeling pretty heavy at the moment. Still...
Asako frowned and said, "But shouldn't we check with Miss Beta first?"
Unlike Alpha, that woman's frosty exterior was the real thing. The black-haired beauty might be the eldest sister, but that crimson-haired beauty was the mature one who didn't tolerate any sort of nonsense.
Asako could still remember those cold eyes Beta had as the woman nonchalantly said Asako was only alive because John said so.
"Oh!" Rin smiled. "That's a good point! I'll ask if Eldest Sister wants to come shopping too!"
"That's not what I meant, but-"
Rin pulled out her phone and made a call. Barely a second after she did, it seemed like the other person picked up, and Rin said, "Eldest Sister?"
Asako sighed and walked over to her bed, picking up her wallet that she had tossed on the floor a while back. After brushing off the dust that had gathered on it, she slipped it into her left pocket and turned her attention back to Rin.
The younger girl smiled and said, "Eldest Sister said she'll come too!"
Alpha's eyes lit up and she said, "Really?" She let out a soft smile and said, "It's been a while since I've gone around with Beta to explore a marketplace. This should be fun!"
Rin put her phone away and then frowned. "Really, Nee-chan? But you and Eldest Sister seem super close. Did something happen?"
Alpha blushed. "That's... I *may* have caused some issues the last time we went out together..."
Asako walked over, grabbing her keys along the way, and said, "Issues?" After that, she gave Alpha a once over, remembering the way she acted when they first met, and then nodded in understanding. "Ah. *Issues*."
Alpha's blush deepened and she said, "I-It wasn't anything that bad! Just... A-Anyway, we should head out to wait for Beta." Saying that, she made a quick escape, heading for the door.
Rin nodded. "Right!" She grabbed Asako's hand and said, "Let's go, Aneue!" With that, she lightly tugged Asako along, smiling.
Seeing that, Asako couldn't help but smile back.
Aneue... No, Rin's older sister.
It was weird... but she did always want a younger sibling to spoil...
"Aneue?"
Asako shook her head. "Nothing, Sis." She walked forward, purposefully leading the way. "Let's go."
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