Morning light poured over the messy bed like spilled tea. Two petite women lay there—well, one truly petite adult and one eternally under-endowed young woman. (Rafi: Could you please stop bringing that up!)

Clothes lay scattered under the bed like fallen leaves, a clear sign an epic scuffle had raged here not long ago.

The glare finally roused the petite one. The fake-snoozer still floated in a sweet dream, drool at her lip shining like dew.

Nina pushed herself up; ache rippled through her body like a pulled stitch, and she dropped back down.

“Bastard. You went way too far!”

She swallowed the ache below and stood anyway, then shuffled to the sofa and sat.

Pain lingered, but comfort welled after the strain like warm tidewater. She almost sighed out loud, but she held it in—wake that jerk, and she’d suffer more.

Last night’s “war” wasn’t all for nothing. At least she learned the jerk’s name—Rafi. She was in the Underworld, and that jerk had saved her.

Thinking of Rafi made Nina’s teeth itch. That woman had pinched the tender flesh of her calf, hard, wickedly hard! No wonder she hurt all over this morning.

“Ugh! Why couldn’t a gentle big-sis type have saved Nina? Why did it have to be this pervy, eternally petite weirdo who’s hundreds of years older!”

She muttered under her breath, then eyed the still-sleeping Rafi again. She didn’t dare wake her, so she sat and kneaded the air as if it were Rafi, fists working like kneading dough.

— That’s for teasing Nina last night! For grabbing Nina’s cheeks! For pinching Nina’s little soft bits! Repent! Let the great Nina-magic seal you in eternal sleep!

With chuunibyou theatrics worthy of Ling, Nina carved patterns in the air with tiny hands, face solemn as if she were truly casting her signature spell.

…Hmm?! ⊙∀⊙!

She froze mid-ritual; a brighter idea sparked like flint.

Think it, do it.

She rummaged around, drawers creaking like cicadas, and found what she wanted near the mirror—a signing pen.

She popped the cap; a strange scent slipped into her nose, soft as dusk. She leaned closer—yes, the smell bloomed from the pen.

“Wait… this pen’s odd. Where’s the tip?”

She fiddled, then twisted the base. The tip slid out like a shy fang.

Nina blinked, surprised. She rarely saw pens that needed a twist to breathe.

“Such a strange design. And… why is it red?”

Whatever—red’s fine if it writes.

She glanced at Rafi, still asleep, and drifted closer, grand plan unfurling like a silk scroll.

— Prank interlude —

Click.

She capped the pen again. Rafi’s face now bore a turtle doodle, and Nina swelled with pride at her “makeup” skills.

“Mm…”

Rafi woke on cue. First sight: Nina’s odd grin, a gecko of unease crawling under her skin.

“Why are you smiling… like that?”

Despite her size, Nina trusted her blend of voice and movement.

“Nina~ knows~ nothing~ ehehe.” She tapped her own head.

Still weird, but Rafi chalked it up to nerves frayed these days.

She checked Nina over. Luckily, that waiter had left the medical supplies she needed. With a touch of her magic, the brat’s savage wounds had scabbed. Without care, they’d leave ugly scars, so she’d handle that later.

Rafi checked her watch—past ten. No time to wash up.

First stop: buy her furniture, then head home.

Plan set, Rafi scooped clothes off the floor like trawling nets, threw herself together, grabbed Nina’s hand, and stepped out.

“Hi. Checking out.”

She slid the keycard to the clerk and finished the checkout under a smile that meant everything and nothing.

Rafi led Nina down the street. Word of her return to the Underworld had spread like smoke; faces turned, smiles blooming unbidden.

Hmph! Seems Lord Rafi’s name still rings here. Even after ages away, they still remember. See? They smile from the heart, thinking of my great deeds. So those people yesterday who didn’t know me? Lies, all lies.

Thinking so, Rafi straightened, spine drawn like a bow, looking taller among the crowd.

Unbeknownst to her, the culprit clung to her hand, lips bitten, laughter dammed at the brink.

In an hour or two, Rafi bought her furniture and Nina’s clothes. She hired a few Daemons to haul everything home, then headed back with Nina.

Click.

The key turned in the lock, and the door opened like a sigh.

Inside, Rafi stepped before Nina and opened her arms. The face still wearing a turtle doodle softened into a gentle smile.

“Welcome home~”