How had things turned out like this? I only meant to stroll through the night festival with Raz-san after our chance encounter, yet here I was.
Cold sweat beaded on my forehead as I trembled under Zwei-san’s unrelenting glare. When she finally looked away after what felt like an eternity, I let out a heavy sigh of relief.
Though only a few minutes had actually passed, the sheer exhaustion made it feel as if I’d been pinned under her gaze for hours. Had I done something to offend her? I honestly couldn't tell.
Having diverted her attention from me, Zwei-san moved toward Acht and Eva and spoke in a quiet, level tone.
"Acht. Eval."
"Y-Yes, ma'am!" they replied in unison.
"Be careful from now on. Proper grooming and discipline are paramount."
"Yes, ma'am! ...Wait, what?"
After shouting their acknowledgement, Acht and Eva both wore expressions of pure bewilderment, as if they had just witnessed a miracle.
(If I truly cared for these two, I would be scolding them severely right now. But... forgive me, Acht, Eval. I simply cannot bear the thought of Kaito-sama seeing me as a 'scary woman.' I will continue their instruction at a later date, so please, forgive your calculating sister for now.)
Once she finished with them, Zwei-san’s eyes snapped back to me. The weight of her gaze returned instantly; I finally understood exactly how a frog feels when it's pinned by a snake.
As if to rescue me from this predicament, Raz-san fluttered her wings and flew over to stand between us.
Bless you, Raz-san! You really do know how to read the room! Please, get her to stop looking at me like she’s about to draw a sword—
"Zwei-oneechan, why don't you come walk around the festival with us?"
I take it back. I thought she was throwing me a lifeline, but she was just dealing a finishing blow. No, no, that’s not right at all, Raz-san! I don't know what I did, but the atmosphere here is incredibly hostile! Please, read the room!
Wait, no... it's fine. Zwei-san clearly dislikes me, and I’ve heard she’s an incredibly busy person. There was no way she would actually agree to—
"Very well. I have a few 'concerns' of my own, so I shall accompany you."
"!"
"Yay! Zwei-oneechan is coming too!"
Watching Zwei-san nod so easily, despair washed over the faces of Acht, Eva, and myself.
Why?! Why would you agree to that?! And what do you mean by 'concerns'?! That has to be about me, doesn't it? I’ve heard she’s fiercely protective of her family, so she must be planning to watch me like a hawk to make sure I don't do anything strange to them.
Even while speaking with Raz-san, Zwei-san never once averted her eyes from me, maintaining a stare of terrifying intensity.
(Kaito-sama’s complexion is definitely poor. And look at all that sweat... He must be unwell after all. Since Kaito-sama possesses a heart as pure as a saint's, he likely couldn't bring himself to refuse Razulia's invitation even though he's suffering. I am so worried... If the time comes, I must be the one to save him!)
The thought of walking through the festival while subjected to this murderous gaze was enough to make my head spin. Seriously, how did it come to this? I’d have to remember to ask Lilia-san for some stomach medicine later.
"B-Boss Zwei?! Um, aren't you incredibly busy, Big Sis?"
"T-That’s right! Eva and I will make sure Raz-nee behaves, so you don't have to push yourself!"
"I appreciate your concern. It is true that I will need to compress my schedule for tomorrow, but some things take priority over work."
"I-I see..."
"It is a point of shame for me, but I am not as dexterous as Ein. I have a bad habit of losing sight of my surroundings once I focus on a single task. For now, I shall put work out of my mind and focus entirely on this matter."
"A-Ah, right."
Focus on what?! My elimination?! Is she going to ignore her duties just to put all her effort into monitoring me?! This was getting worse by the second.
"Then, Miyama-sama. I expect this will be for a 'short period'... but I look forward to your cooperation."
"H-Hiai!"
She's planning to finish me off quickly?! There's no mistaking it. Zwei-san intends to remove me the moment I make even the slightest mistake! This was terrifying. It wasn't a festival anymore; it was a punishment game.
(I cannot allow Kaito-sama to overexert himself. If I judge that he is in pain, I will immediately call an end to this and rush him to the hospital... Hmm, his expression is filled with such anxiety. He must be deeply concerned about his health. I should reassure him that I am here to support him.)
Moving with a precise, measured gait, Zwei-san stepped right up to me and leaned in close. In a low voice intended only for my ears, she spoke.
"It is alright. I have no intention of taking my eyes off you for even a second. Since I will be stationed right behind you, please enjoy the festival with peace of mind."
"Yes, ma'am..."
She came over just to drive the point home!
She’s basically telling me she’ll be watching from the shadows to ensure she doesn't miss a single blunder, isn't she? I've lost count of how many times I've asked myself this, but... how did it turn out like this?
Dear Mother, Father—I was supposed to be enjoying the night festival, but somehow, this has turned into a high-stakes conduct check where a single mistake means 'Game Over.' Perhaps she's trying to vet the person hanging around her precious family. Still, Zwei-san... no matter how much you care for them, isn't she being a bit too overprotective?