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Chris
Early January
The choice to move in with someone was a purely pragmatic one. At least that was what Chris kept telling herself.
She wasn’t unaccustomed to moving. It had happened often while she had traveled with her parents, jumping from war-torn country to another—from crisis to crisis. It remained a lingering aspect of her life after she had lost her parents. While she had been a… prisoner.
And then Finé had bought her, and moving was still a thing with her too. At least until the centuries-old woman had decided to buy her giant ugly mansion in the middle of bum-fuck nowhere.
At the time Chris had been young; she had no say, and simply moved where the adults said they were moving. This time, freshly eighteen, she had to make the decision of where to move herself.
It was a pain in the damn ass.
It wasn’t like Chris wanted to move. Moving everything, especially her large, heavy, and precious family shrine, would be an unavoidable nightmare. Plus, she liked her first apartment. It was just small enough that cleaning wasn’t a hassle, but also spacious enough to accommodate any of the spontaneous hangouts that the others might have wanted to spring on her. They were all so damn lucky she had a big enough apartment.
The best part had been the commute. It had been so close to Lydian that she hadn’t needed to take a train or anything; all she had to do was walk fifteen minutes south and she was right at the school gates.
Unfortunately, Chris was going to graduate from her comfortable high school life soon, and her new university was on the other side of the damn city.
University dormitories were an option, but the newly independent girl preferred having her own unit. It’d be better for her sanity whenever the kids decided to spring their random get-togethers at her place even while she was in college. Because they were definitely going to do it. It was practically tradition at this point. A tradition that was a pain in the butt for Chris, but who was she to deny them of convenience and fun?
If get-togethers were going to happen at her place anyway, there was no way Chris would host them in a cramped space where they had to worry about curfew and school rules.
She could just put up with the additional commute time, but she liked having the extra time in the morning to speak to her parents. She wasn’t the type to get lonely. It was just… nice to have people around. Even if it was in spirit only.
Then one day, while Chris was running through ten different apartment buildings through her head in the car with Maria on her rare day off from secret agent work—or whatever the woman did while they were all in school and Tsubasa was doing idol things—the older woman suddenly announced that she needed to quickly stop by her apartment.
Chris had been in the area before. Maria lived in a convenient neighborhood, located only a few minutes away from necessities like a supermarket and so many small restaurants that she could get takeout easily whenever she was tired after work. There was even a department store that Chris had once gone to, back when she was looking for school supplies. But there was something nagging at the back of her mind—a missing piece of a puzzle that Chris hadn’t known she was trying to solve.
After sitting in the car for a bit, with only the dull hum of the car’s engine as her companion, Chris realized why the neighborhood seemed so familiar.
“You live pretty close to my university,” she remarked once Maria was back in the driver’s seat.
“The one you’ll be attending in a few months?”
“Yeah.”
Maria hummed thoughtfully. “I never realized.”
“Yeah. Weird coincidence.” Chris looked out the window. Maria lived in a pretty nice area. “Hey, do you know if there are any open units?”
The driver’s hands froze from the emergency brake to the auto shifter. “I’m not sure. But…”
“But?”
The older woman bit her lip, as if she was literally trying to swallow back the thoughts sitting at the tip of her tongue. “No, never mind.”
“Come on, out with it. What were you going to say?”
Maria sighed. “My apartment has an extra room.”
“Isn’t that for the Terror Duo whenever they want to stay over with you?”
“Are you really going to keep calling Kirika and Shirabe that? They’re not that rowdy.” Maria sighed. “It’s a full sized bedroom regardless. I was considering renovating it into a room for… whoever wanted to move in with me.”
Chris’ eyes widened. Was Maria really suggesting what she thought she was suggesting?
“You know we can all get our own apartments with how much the old man splurges on us, right?” Chris asked instead.
“Yes, you’re right. But…” Maria turned her head to the side, looking out the window. “I think I’ve enjoyed enough time living on my own.”
“Don’t tell me you’re lonely?”
Maria crossed her arms under her chest, scrunching her shoulders up to her rapidly reddening ears as she turned her entire body away from Chris. “Of-Of course not! I’m a grown woman! It’s not like I need to live with anyone or anything! It just… gets cumbersome to make food for only one person!”
Chris raised an eyebrow. “Only one person? You always drive over to give me and Senpai lunchboxes. Pretty sure we count as more than one person. And I know the only reason you don’t do the same for the Terror Duo is because Shirabe would just make food for you.”
Now Maria was really looking like a tomato. “A-Anyway! I only suggested my apartment out of convenience! I’m aware that the paperwork to move to a new location can be a bit of a hassle. It’ll be less work if we just add you to my lease.”
Chris was pretty sure adding an existing person onto a lease was more annoying, depending on how long the current lease was signed for. But the paperwork was never an issue; S.O.N.G. always handled that. Chris had never even met the landlord for her current apartment.
But maybe it was less about annoyances and more about what could be gained. When Chris came home, she’d always greet her parents. With Kirika and Shirabe learning to live on their own, who did Maria have?
She’d have Senpai, if they both weren’t so constipated with their feelings.
The traitorous part of her brain reminded her that it wouldn’t be so bad to have either of them to come home to as well. Someone to actually answer her when she came home, instead of a melancholy silence. Or even for Chris to greet them when they came home…
“Chris?”
When Chris felt her own cheeks begin to burn, it was her turn to snap her head away from her companion. Fucking hell, I can’t believe the idea’s growing on me.
“…I have a giant shrine,” Chris mumbled. In the confines of Maria’s car, she was sure the older woman heard her.
Maria replied without missing a beat. “For your parents. I’m aware.”
“It’s gotta move with me.”
“Of course. I wouldn’t have assumed you’d leave it behind.”
“It’s heavy as shit.”
Maria smiled. “It’ll be a good workout for me, then.”
Chris pushed the possibilities aside and resisted the urge to stare at Maria’s arms. Thank god Maria was wearing a sweater. “It’s bulky and big as shit.”
“That’s not a problem. There’s space in the living room.”
Chris stared at her. “You don’t mind if it’s out there like that?”
Maria lifted a single perfect eyebrow. “Of course not. Unless you’d prefer it in your bedroom?”
“No, having it in the living room would be better. It’s just…” Chris pursed her lips. God, was Maria really okay with this? “You gonna help me move all of my other stuff?”
“Of course. Whatever you need me for,” Maria said, as if they were discussing grocery shopping and not Chris moving in with her.
Finally, Chris made up her mind. She turned her head just enough to glare at Maria from the corner of her eye.
“You don’t plan to give the dummy and her sunshine a key to your apartment, right?”
“Why on earth would I do that? Only Tsubasa has the spare.”
“Oh thank god— since when?!”
When they informed Genjuro, the giant man simply laughed, clapped both of them on the back so hard that they choked, and said to leave it to him.
“You girls don’t need to worry about the boring stuff.” A mischievous look twinkled in his eyes. “Have either of you told my niece?”
“We haven’t mentioned this to anyone yet, least of all Tsubasa,” Maria said, frowning in confusion. “She’s been busy rehearsing for her comeback live, after all.”
“You should let her know. Maybe she’ll hop on the bandwagon and move in with you two too.”
“E-EH?!" Maria sputtered. "Wh-Why would Tsubasa…?”
“HAH?! The hell does Senpai need to move in for? You guys have more giant estates than I have toes!” Chris yelled.
It was amazing how in sync Maria and Chris were whenever it came to reacting to random crap about their mutual crush on the same emotionally-constipated idol.
Chris didn’t immediately move. The plan was to wait until the end of the school term, since her commute to Lydian was better from her current apartment anyway. But Maria did give her a key to her unit, and Chris found herself visiting fairly frequently.
It was just to familiarize herself with her future home! She wasn’t there for any other reason. It wasn’t like she particularly enjoyed visiting her future housemate or anything.
Her future housemate who was almost never in her own damn house.
“How busy can one woman be?” Chris complained into the silent apartment. “Even secret agents have to sleep, right?”
Then again, if she’s doing anything similar to Senpai’s ninja manager, then I guess she really is that busy.
She leaned back against Maria’s plush couch, the airy cushions resisting her weight. It barely felt used, like Maria had only purchased the couch a month ago.
Chris ran a finger over the leather; not a single imperfection marred the smooth leathery surface. The upholstery was practically pristine, lacking the stains and tears in Chris’ own fabric couch. The only reason why Chris felt any indentations at all were probably because of Kirika and Shirabe, whenever they came to visit Maria on her days off.
Actually, didn't those to mention once that Maria was kind of peculiar about keeping things clean? If she's so strict about it that her own couch still feels brand new, it's not wonder that the Terror Duo are so careful on my couch.
The seconds ticked by, and Chris started to understand why Maria had been a little too eager to suggest Chris move in with her.
With a small “Hup!” Chris got to her feet and looked around the decently sized unit.
Everything in Maria’s apartment was modestly furnished and decorated. From what Chris could see, the living room and kitchen areas included just the essentials: the cognac leather couch that Chris was lounging on, a glass coffee table, a small circular dining table with four chairs, and exactly two paintings on the wall—presents from herself and Tsubasa, if Chris recalled. She did recognize a few small knicknacks that people had gifted Maria decorating her bookshelf, otherwise filled to the brim with books and folders. At least Maria had a TV, probably for Kirika and Shirabe's sake.
With how sparse Maria kept her home, Chris didn’t have to worry about throwing out too much of her existing furniture. There was even a giant empty space against the wall with just enough room for her family shrine—almost as if it had been left conspicuously empty on purpose.
Geez, she’s less like a mom and more like an overbearing uncle. The old man rubbing off on her or something?
But if there was one thing Chris was going to negotiate a change for, it was the fridge. Maria’s current refrigerator wasn’t necessarily small, but it wasn’t going to be large enough to accommodate for an additional roommate and unexpected guests that weren’t Kirika and Shirabe.
Plus, Chris’ fridge had an icemaker. And she was not going back to a life without one.
For now, she opened Maria’s fridge and pulled out the bento box that the older woman had left for her, knowing that Chris would stop by while she was out. Chris brought it over to the dining table and set it down beside her tablet.
Huh, is this beef stroganoff? Seems different from how that dummy’s sunshine usually makes it.
Shrugging, Chris stabbed her fork into the egg noodles and shoved it into her mouth. The strong taste of the mushroom sauce overloaded her tongue, then her brain. She barely noticed some of the sauce trickling down the corner of her mouth.
It’s… kind of over salted. Still, Chris chewed through the egg noodles and swallowed. Not bad though.
It beat eating take-out. Especially while she needed to choose a paint color for the walls of her future bedroom.
Maria’s cooking wasn’t on Shirabe’s level, but there was something about it that reminded Chris of how Hibiki always reacted whenever Miku cooked for her—a happiness that only a warm, home cooked meal made from love could nurture.
Tsubasa
Mid January
Japan’s most popular idol had a lot on her mind. Between the corpse they had unearthed from Antarctica and the remnants of the Illuminati who had tried to steal said corpse, Tsubasa couldn’t concentrate at all.
It was only after she convinced Maria to appear as a guest singer that she felt she could finally focus on her songs. Tsubasa wasn’t even worried that they only had three days to suddenly accommodate for an additional singer—she was certain that her ever-reliable manager could handle the logistics. Coordinating with Maria was no issue either. She was certain that three days of intense practice would be enough to produce a perfect joint performance.
It had always been easy to stand on the stage beside Maria. When she had Maria by her side, Tsubasa truly believed her blade felt sharper than ever.
Just as Tsubasa was sure that she could focus solely on her upcoming concert, Maria casually mentioned a piece of information that Tsubasa hadn’t expected to hear while they were taking their lunch break.
She put her chopsticks down onto her bento box—another lunch that Maria had kindly prepared for her. “Yukine is moving in with you?”
“She was looking for new apartments close to the university she’ll be attending in April.” Maria picked up one very, very thin slice of tomato, glared at it like it had personally offended her, and forced it into her mouth.
“And you live close to her new university.”
Maria swallowed the innocent food. “What a strange coincidence, don’t you think?”
Tsubasa hummed. “Perhaps it is fate. You both seem particularly close.”
Her stomach churned, like her insides had turned into the ocean and Ōwatatsumi himself was stirring up a storm within her. Was she… anxious? But why? She should be happy for the two of them. It was good for them to bond. So why did Tsubasa feel so… fragile?
She subjugated her own irrational foolishness and added, “This is a lucrative arrangement, wouldn’t you say?”
Tsubasa did not understand why Maria was staring at her as if she had just suggested they switch the concert venue to the planet of Venus.
“Is something wrong?”
Finally, after another minute of heavy silence, the pink-haired woman sighed so hard that Tsubasa worried she had just ejected her soul out of her body.
“You really are not a cute sword…” Maria grumbled.
Of course not. Swords weren’t supposed to be cute.
But for some reason, Maria’s frustration stuck with her for the rest of the day. And for the days after.
Until Noble Red made their move, and Tsubasa’s life came crashing down one tragedy after another.
March
The Kazanari Estate was a residence, but it rarely felt like a home. It was far too large for two people, though oftentimes it felt more like Tsubasa was the only one in the manor. Not when her father hardly gave her the time of day.
The Kazanari heiress only had lonely and cold memories of living there. They were normal to her, but it wasn’t any less uncomfortable. It was almost a liberation for her nine year old self to move out of such an isolating mansion.
Tsubasa had only felt some semblance of comfort a few months ago—after defeating Phara and coming to better terms with her estranged father. For all of his faults, he had made better attempts to speak to her, not as a cold employer but an awkward father to his equally awkward daughter.
But now he was gone, and Tsubasa was now truly alone in this vast and empty manor.
The estate was dead silent. That wasn’t uncommon, especially for a property of this size. But even when Tsubasa traversed through the dimly lit hallways to her father’s office, the master of the house did not greet her. She found not a single soul besides her own.
The Kazanari Estate was a residence, not a home. And it never will be one now. After all, no one would ever greet her again in this place.
Conscious of her trembling hands, Tsubasa stuck them into her skirt pockets to calm them.
Her fingers brushed past a key. A spare key.
It was not a key to her own residence.
Standing in front of the apartment front door, Tsubasa reminded herself that this was not the first time she had come unannounced to Maria’s apartment. Her frequent visits were the reason why she had this spare key in the first place.
Knowing Maria’s nighttime routine, the older woman should be getting ready for bed right now. If she was in her room, there was a chance that she wouldn’t hear Tsubasa knock.
And so Tsubasa unlocked the front door with the spare key given to her, took off her shoes at the entrance, and prepared to announce her arrival…
“Hey, you’re back early. I thought you said you were going to stay over at the Terror Duo's place for the night since you felt bad for scaring them with your prickly butt problems.”
…only for a completely different and unexpected voice to greet her instead.
The apartment lights were off, but the one sitting on the couch in the living room was illuminated by the bright light of the television screen. It was the first time Tsubasa had ever seen the electronic device turned on by someone who wasn’t Kirika or Shirabe.
“Yukine?”
The white-haired girl spat out her drink. “S-Senpai?! Ah FUCK. I can’t believe I’m the first person to stain this couch!”
“You aren’t. I’ve had to clean it before,” Tsubasa said, going to the kitchen to grab a towel.
“Oh seriously? Well that’s…” Purple eyes narrowed at her. “Did you spill something on the couch before?”
“It was tea.”
“Oh thank fuck.”
Because Maria had fallen asleep on her shoulder, Tsubasa had lost her wits, and…
Well, Chris didn’t need to know that.
Tsubasa came back with the towel and helped Chris clean up the spill. “What are you doing in Maria’s apartment, Yukine?”
“I’m going to be living here in two weeks.” She put her cup onto the coffee table. “What are you doing here?”
Tsubasa’s chest tightened. She rubbed the leather harder with the towel. “I don’t see a reason why you would come here prior to your move. Especially if all you are doing is lounging around. You can do that in your current apartment.”
“You’re avoiding the question.”
She forgot how stubborn Chris could be. No wonder she and Maria started to get along.
“There is no significant reason.”
Tsubasa walked back to the kitchen, ignoring Chris’ lingering gaze. She cleaned the towel in silence, then made her decision.
“If Maria is not here, I will take my leave.”
“Hold up.”
Chris brushed past her. Tsubasa heard the refrigerator door open and close. Something small and sharp pressed against her side.
It was a bento box.
Chris pressed the box against her. “Did you eat?”
No. “You do not need to concern yourself over me.”
“So no.” Chris sighed. “Guess Maria was on the mark about this at least.”
Tsubasa narrowed her eyes. “What does Maria—?”
With one swift movement, Chris grabbed Tsubasa’s wrist, dragged her over to Maria’s small dining table, and sat her down with the bento box on the table in front of her. By the time Tsubasa realized that Chris had done so, the younger girl had already taken the seat opposite her.
Chris pointed at the box. “Eat. You’ll feel better.”
“There is nothing wrong with me.”
“Yeah and I’m flatchested. Are we done bullshitting yet?” Chris glared at her. “I know prison food isn’t the best. Even if you’re from a hotshot family, I doubt they gave you any five-star meals while they had you in custody over this past week. Eat. Maria told me to grab chopsticks and shove the food into your mouth myself if I have to.”
“There is no need.” To prove her point, Tsubasa grabbed a pair of chopsticks and opened the box lid. She stabbed the utensil into the rice and ate a bite of teriyaki chicken.
It was cold. Chris hadn’t bothered to microwave it after taking it out of the refrigerator. But it tasted like home.
Suddenly, the chicken and rice tasted saltier than it should have.
Chris’ eyes widened at something on Tsubasa’s face. “Ah. Shit. Well. Fuck. Damn it Maria, why didn’t you think this far?”
What?
Chris grabbed a napkin and slid it across the table. She snapped her head to the side, turning her face away. “H-Here. For your eyes.”
Confused, Tsubasa grabbed the napkin and…
Oh. Her cheeks were wet. Her eyes stung with fresh tears. So that was where the additional salt was coming from.
She mirrored Chris and looked away. Her fist clenched around the napkin; she used the back of her sleeve to hastily wipe her face instead.
How pathetic. She was supposed to be a protector, a sentinel. And here she was, intruding in a home when its owner wasn’t even present, showing such a disgraceful side to her kohai. Was there no end to her failures?
“Hey.”
Chris’ voice cut through the shadows closing in around her. Tsubasa looked up, and to her surprise Chris was right beside her.
“Wanna watch one of the movies the old man recommended?”
Tsubasa blinked. Of everything Chris could have said, she had not expected that.
“I brought some of the ones he gave to me too. But personally I think the ones he gave Maria are cooler. She has the entire Mission Impossible series, including the ones with Hayley Atwell.”
Tsubasa shook her head. She stood up, knocking over the chair behind her in her haste. “I should… I should go. This isn’t the time to let down my guard. Not with Noble Red still out there. Not with Shem-Ha still possessing Kohinata—”
“What, you gonna go train now?” Chris lifted an eyebrow in disbelief. It wasn’t a scolding look like Maria would give, but it was incredulous in her own way.
Tsubasa clenched her fists by her sides. “Yes. I will not allow any openings in our next and final confrontation against Noble Red. I will not allow myself to make the same mistakes that led to…!”
Against her will, a shuddering breath hitched from her throat. Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes. Tsubasa clenched her fists tighter, willing herself to harden her heart.
Hadn’t she cried enough?
She heard Chris release a heavy sigh. “Maria really is the one who should be here. Those little sisters of hers really picked a great night to hog her.”
A warm hand grabbed one of her fists. It was smaller than Tsubasa’s, and a lot smaller than Maria’s. But it was there nonetheless.
“Alright, fine.” Chris huffed. “You want to train? Then we’re doing it the old man’s way. Maria’s got a decent selection. All of our fighting styles end up in overlapping movie genres anyway.”
Again, it was Chris who initiated physical contact tonight. And once again, Tsubasa let her. She didn’t have the strength to close herself away.
Or rather, she didn’t want to.
It had taken Tsubasa years to open up to anyone. Kanade had been the first. But when she died, Tsubasa had hardened her heart to protect herself. She would not—could not—break again.
Then Hibiki had gently reached out her hand, reminding Tsubasa of how warm companionship felt. After her, Tsubasa allowed herself to indulge in happiness bit by bit. But she was still the senior of the group; she had to maintain the image of a sharp blade—a warrior the others could look up to.
There had been one woman who had broken through her walls. Recently as well, quite literally with a harsh wakeup slap. Someone who learned to embrace her own weaknesses, showing everyone that being weak was not something to be ashamed of.
Maria had taken it upon herself to be Tsubasa’s voice of reason. It had been comforting, almost liberating, to finally let someone in.
And now here was another stubborn girl, taking her hand despite Tsubasa’s initial protests. The same girl who had once refused every hand offered to her.
Chris had come so far.
Chris tugged Tsubasa to the couch. After sitting her down, Chris went back to the kitchen and shoved Tsubasa’s barely-touched bento box into her face.
“ …Maria does not like it when we eat on the couch,” Tsubasa said.
Chris rolled her eyes. “You said the stains are easy to clean up. Besides, you’re the cleanest eater out of all of us. You probably wouldn’t drop a grain of rice even if you were blackout drunk.”
Leaving her on the couch, Chris went over to Maria’s bookshelf and dug around the stacks of DVDs. “Guess we can start with the first one. Can’t remember if any of these have samurais or ninjas in them…”
That was right. Just like Maria, Chris had tried to reach out to her numerous times in the past as well. Awkward and rough attempts, but attempts nonetheless.
This time was no different. But Tsubasa recognized a level of patience and tact that hadn’t been there before. Chris had been spending more time with Maria recently…
Tsubasa didn’t understand why the thought made her feel a little lonely.
After putting the DVD into the player, Chris plopped down onto the couch next to Tsubasa. “You gonna keep staring at me or are you going to finish your food so Maria doesn’t come back and scold you?”
Tsubasa sighed. “Alright. If only to avoid Maria’s wrath…”
Sitting on the couch together, a respectful gap between them, Tsubasa resumed eating the dinner Maria had left her and enjoyed the movie with Chris in silence.
She wondered if this was what a home should feel like.
Tsubasa tried returning to the Kazanari Estate the next night. She lasted exactly ten minutes before she walked out, got on her bike, and rode to Maria’s apartment. This time Maria was there, but Chris was absent.
“Tsubasa.” Maria stepped aside, letting her into the apartment. “I heard about what happened yesterday. From Chris.”
“What did Yukine say?”
“That you diligently finished your dinner on my couch without dropping a single grain of rice.”
That night, Maria let her sleep in her bed. In the quiet of the night, they spoke of what happened at the Kazanari patriarch’s estate. Tsubasa’s fingers trailed across Maria’s cheeks as the apologies spilled from her lips nonstop.
The scars had mostly faded, but she could still feel a bit of unevenness from the older woman’s skin. She wanted to apologize for the other injuries she had inflicted as well, but Maria only shook her head with a slight blush on her cheeks.
“It’s alright,” Maria insisted, holding Tsubasa in a warm and comforting embrace. “All that matters is that you’re home now.”
Eventually, Tsubasa fell asleep in Maria’s arms.
It was the best sleep she had in months.
The night after was the same. But on the third night, it was Chris who answered the door with Maria in the kitchen making dinner.
“We’re having curry!” Maria called from the kitchen.
Chris gave her a wry smile. “You heard her. You gonna stand out there gaping like a fish all night, Senpai?”
This repeated night after night. On rare occasions, Tsubasa would enter the apartment with her spare key and find neither Chris nor Maria waiting for her. But their presence lingered even in their absence, and Tsubasa found herself falling asleep on Maria’s couch anyway.
Neither Maria nor Chris ever asked why Tsubasa would have rather stayed in Maria’s tiny apartment than return to her estate. Perhaps they both already knew the answer.
After defeating Shem-Ha and March came to a close, nights alone stopped happening altogether. In fact, it almost seemed as if Chris was making a conscious effort to stay at Maria’s apartment while the older woman was busy with work. Although, unsurprisingly, Chris vehemently denied it.
“When are you moving in?” Tsubasa asked one night as the two of them sat in the dark and watched Kingsman: The Secret Service.
Chris groaned. “Three days. Everything’s packed, and the old man’s gonna help transport it all, but I’m not looking forward to all the unpacking.”
“It should get done quickly between you and Maria.”
“Yeah, if Miss Secret Agent actually gets the day off. Sounds like she’s had a lot on her plate lately.”
Tsubasa frowned. She had noticed that Maria had been absent more often these last few days. It was most likely related to dealing with the aftermath of Shem-Ha’s machinations. She only hoped the United Nations wasn’t working her too hard.
But that meant Chris now had no one to help her with her move. That wouldn’t do.
Tsubasa reached into her pocket and pulled out her phone. She dialed a number she had memorized a long time ago.
“Ogawa-san, I have a request.”
Maria
April
Maria did not think this very often, but being an adult sucked.
She didn’t hate her job. In fact, she enjoyed the missions she was assigned to under S.O.N.G. Even the slower ones had their merits—as long as she was helping someone or something in some capacity, Maria saw no reason to complain about her work.
Unless it coincided with important days, such as helping her soon-to-be roommate move across the city.
This last mission technically wasn’t supposed to. The U.S. officials insisted that her mission would end on time. Apparently they did not care about timezone differences.
It had taken Maria every ounce of willpower not to storm up to the captain’s quarters and take over flying herself to return to Japan faster. Instead, she stayed in her seat like a good passenger for the entire duration of the flight. It was only after she landed at the airport did she start sprinting. She had every intention of renting a car and driving back to her apartment as fast as possible, speed limits be damned, but to her surprise she found Shinji waiting for her with the door to the driver’s seat open for her.
Bless this man.
Maria arrived back at her apartment in record time. Putting aside how many traffic laws she probably broke on the way—most probably unnoticed thanks to Shinji’s ninja skills—Maria quickly unlocked her front door and stepped into her apartment.
She processed five bits of information at once.
One, her refrigerator looked different. Ah, that was Chris’, wasn’t it?
Two, everything from Chris’ old unit that she wanted moved had already been transported to the apartment. Genjuro was truly efficient.
Three, Chris was already mostly unpacked. It was most likely thanks to the help she had. Namely, the blue-haired idol holding a power drill in one hand next to a half-assembled bookshelf.
Four, Chris was standing next to her with her hands on her hips. The strap of one of her red bras was looped around her wrist. She looked like she wanted to slap Tsubasa with it.
And five, Kill Bill was playing on the TV.
“Oh, hello Maria,” Tsubasa greeted. “How was your flight?”
“F…Fine?” Maria answered slowly. “Tsubasa, what are you doing here? I thought you were going to discuss with Ogawa-san about your next step to pick up your idol career? Instead, he picked me up from the airport and you’re…”
Being domestic with Chris in her apartment.
Pointing the power drill at Chris’ bookshelf like it was a toy gun.
Looking far too cute.
“This is more important,” Tsubasa replied.
Chris slapped her face with her palm. “She builds my bedframe and suddenly she thinks she’s the master of all power tools.”
“You nearly drilled into the wall when you were using the drill.”
“I got the part that’s supposed to be fixed to the wall mixed up, alright?!”
Maria frantically looked around her apartment. She didn’t find any noticeable holes upon a quick glance, so that was good.
What she did notice was a pile of clothes on the ground, leading into the room that Maria had reserved for Chris.
Maria was scared to ask, but she did anyway. “What happened to your clothes?”
Chris grimaced. “Senpai tried to unpack those first. She gave up after ten seconds.”
A blush covered Tsubasa’s cheeks. “I was not sure if you wanted me to touch your undergarments!”
“You touch Maria’s all the time!”
“As Maria always handles mine, it is only fair that I return the favor,” Tsubasa replied in all seriousness, with a completely straight face.
Something within Maria’s brain cracked.
Chris slapped her hands over her burning red face. “Oh my god I didn’t need to know that! Keep that shit at home— Ah fuck, this is the home. And now it’s my home!”
In the background, the Kill Bill siren blared immediately after Vernita opened her front door, and the Bride punched her straight in the face.
Home was somewhere to return to. It was warmth and comfort, somewhere she could feel safe and secure.
None of those feelings had been familiar to Maria for the longest time.
Home used to be nonexistent for Maria. The longest she had ever stayed anywhere was the White Orphanage with the F.I.S., but she wouldn’t call that a home. It was just somewhere with circumstances she had to live with.
Then, home became a stable roof over her head that she could call her own. She now had a bed. She had her own shower that she didn’t have to share with thirty other children. She didn’t have to worry about the water shutting off on its own. She had her own kitchen and a refrigerator to store groceries and food she could buy with her own money.
She thought her refrigerator was good enough. She thought such an existence was good enough.
But it wasn’t. Despite her newfound freedom and the kindness of all those around her, she still couldn’t settle on a home of her own.
“Don’t tell me you’re lonely?”
As pathetic as it sounded, Chris was right. In her entire twenty-two years of life, Maria never went long without someone by her side. Most of the time the circumstances had been forced on her, but she hadn’t disliked the company—it was certainly better than the alternative.
Maybe that was why she hadn’t minded whenever Tsubasa came over to her apartment unannounced, hurting and in need of comfort even if she didn’t know how to seek it.
It was why the suggestion for Chris to move in with her spilled out of her mouth before she could stop herself. And it was why she didn’t mind when Chris moved in with her own furniture, including her much nicer refrigerator.
It had its own icemaker. That was nice.
Maria placed the box labeled “Kitchen” onto her counter. “I’m going to start unpacking the box of utensils!”
“Thanks!” Chris answered from the bedroom. “You can throw out any of the ones that you already have. Or any that seem too used.”
There were a few ladles and spatulas that had seen better days, so Maria kept those in the box. But she took out the silverware, plates, and bowls without a second thought. There was going to be another person living with her, after all.
And maybe even a third.
The living room was too quiet. When Maria looked up, she couldn’t find Tsubasa anywhere at all. It wasn’t until she walked around her counter and looked down at her couch did she find the idol laid across its entire length, breathing softly and fast asleep.
Maria heard footsteps behind her. “Hey, have you seen another box of—?”
Maria turned around with a finger to her lips. Wordlessly, she gestured down at the sleeping idol.
Chris sighed in exasperation. “Geez, she insists on helping and then decides to take a nap? I told her to take it easy.”
Maria leaned over the couch. She ran the back of her fingers across Tsubasa’s bangs. “She hasn’t been sleeping well. Not with everything that has happened.”
“Yeah.” Chris watched Maria and Tsubasa with a soft look in her eyes. “Let’s hope she can rest a little easier now.”
“She’s been doing better.” Maria smiled up at her. “You’ve been making sure of that, haven’t you?”
“W-Well, it’s not like you have time to always be there for her,” Chris stuttered. “You’re busy too. If you have to look after Senpai too, then you’re going to be the one who needs help.”
Maria blinked. Her heart skipped a beat, and she smiled once more. “Thank you, Chris.”
It was strange. She had always been the one to look after the others. She was the oldest; it was her responsibility to take care of the younger girls. She didn’t have the luxury for others to worry about her.
But Tsubasa had made an effort to watch her back, both in London and in Japan, and every other time they had a mission overseas. And Chris had taken it upon herself to do the same in her own persistent way.
Chris rolled her eyes. “Yeah, yeah. Anyway, you got an extra blanket? Wouldn’t want her catching a cold.”
Maria stood up, still smiling at Chris and Tsubasa. “I’ll show you where I keep them.”
With the new change, home finally felt like a home. Only it wasn’t just her home anymore.
After they had unpacked all of Chris’ belongings and told everyone else that the move was complete, Kirika and Hibiki insisted on holding a housewarming party.
“It’s not a new apartment!” Chris protested.
“It is technically new for you,” Maria remarked.
“I’m trying to save you the hassle of hosting these idiots!”
But Maria didn’t mind. She preferred it lively in her home. And in the end, Chris didn’t mind either. With a huff, she told the younger girls to do what they wanted.
As always, Shirabe prepared a feast. She utilized everything in Maria’s kitchen, including all of the extra utensils and plates from Chris’ old apartment. After everyone had eaten, they moved on to playing games on Chris’ PS7, putting Maria’s TV to good use.
After the party, Maria offered to drive the younger girls back to their apartments. In return, Tsubasa stayed behind to help Chris clean up.
It took a little under an hour to drive Hibiki and Miku back to their apartment, and then to Kirika and Shirabe’s. Thankfully there was little traffic on the drive back, but it was still another hour of driving.
When Maria returned home, she found a sleeping Chris with her head lying on Tsubasa’s lap, the both of them cozy on her couch.
Tsubasa held a finger up to her lips.
Maria blinked. “What alchemy did you cast to get her to do that?”
Tsubasa’s lips pulled up into a wry smile. “It was Tachibana and Akatsuki, I’m afraid. Yukine is quite competitive when it comes to playing games with them.”
“We should probably move her to her bed. Or…”
“Or?”
Maria smiled. “Do you mind staying the night?”
Tsubasa’s eyes widened. She looked down at Chris, then back up at Maria, with an uncharacteristically soft expression.
“It would be my pleasure.”
Life settled down. At least as much as it could for women like them.
It didn’t take long for Chris to settle into her new living arrangements. As someone who was used to living alone, she was no stranger to chores and making sure things remained tidy and clean. The best part was Chris made sure to always eat at the dining table. At least Maria didn’t have to worry about her messy eating habits affecting her couch.
And Maria made sure never to disrupt Chris’ own habits.
“Hey Mom, Dad.” Chris took a deep breath. “You guys settled into our new home? It’s pretty nice, isn’t it? If it feels a little smaller, that’s because I’m not living alone anymore. Yeah, I’m sharing an apartment now. With… Maria. Yeah, that Maria. Ex-terrorist like me, except she had the balls to declare war on the entire world. Part-time idol and full-time secret agent Maria with the weird hair.”
“H-Hey!” Maria cried indignantly from her bathroom as she finished brushing her long, pink so-called “weird” hair.
Maria often spoke to Mom at her grave, so she had expected the conversations Chris would often have with her parents. Although, hearing Chris speak about her to them would take some getting used to.
As well as getting used to the comments from the other person who had become a new constant in her home.
At the dining table, Tsubasa sipped her cup of tea. “I think her hair looks great.”
“Yeah, that’s because your hair’s almost as weird as hers.” Chris turned back to the shrine. “By the way, that’s the other roommate. Yep, my senpai: Japan’s most popular idol herself.”
Tsubasa frowned. “I… don’t officially live here.”
Which was the only reason why Tsubasa didn’t have a bed of her own. Instead, Maria forced her to sleep on the other side of her bed in her room. She had a double bed; it was big enough for the two of them.
And no, there weren’t any untoward activities, no matter what Chris assumed.
Chris rolled her eyes. “You’ve stayed over so many times that your clothes practically cohabit with Maria’s clothes in her closet. Plus, we do your laundry. You basically live here.”
Tsubasa choked on her tea. “I did not ask for either you or Maria to do my laundry for me!”
“No, but I’m sick of finding your underwear in front of Maria’s door! I walk by your room, you know!” To the shrine, Chris whispered, “Don’t worry, she does the dishes. We taught her how to use the dishwasher.”
“She also does a remarkable job cleaning the floors and wiping the counter and tables,” Maria added, stepping out of her room.
Tsubasa pouted. “You two speak as if I am a woman who cannot clean of my own accord.”
“Senpai’s got a lot of talents, but cleaning for herself isn’t one of them,” Chris told her parents.
While Tsubasa sputtered with a tomato-red face, Maria turned to Chris with a concerned frown. “We’re not bothering you, are we?”
Chris shook her head. “Nah. I think my parents appreciate the company. They’d love you two.”
Confusion overtook Tsubasa’s previous embarrassment. She and Maria shared a look.
“How so?” Maria asked.
Chris turned away, cheeks burning with a bright pink blush. “You two've done what they’ve always wanted to do: save the world with your songs. You’re literally carrying out their dreams. They… They would’ve enjoyed getting to know you both.”
Warmth swelled in Maria’s chest. Beside her, she saw Tsubasa beam with pride as well.
“It is an honorable dream. And we are glad they passed it down to you,” Tsubasa said.
Now Chris was the one looking like a tomato. Coughing into her fist, Chris abruptly stood and grabbed her school bag.
“A-Alright, I gotta get to class!” Chris glared at Maria and Tsubasa. “Don’t you two have work to get to, you working adults?”
Tsubasa stood up as well and put on the bike jacket hanging on the back of her chair. “Would you like a ride, Yukine? My meeting with Ogawa-san is close by.”
“Since you’re offering.”
Tsubasa stopped in the living room, looking back at her. “Maria?”
Maria smiled. “Don’t mind me. My first meeting isn’t until a little later.”
At the genkan, Chris put on her shoes and waved behind her—first at Maria, then at her parents. “Alright, see you guys later!”
Tsubasa followed with a silent wave back. First to Maria, then, after some consideration, she did the same in the direction of Chris’ family shrine.
And then they were both gone.
For a moment Maria stood in the apartment. Although there was no one but her, she didn’t feel alone. It wasn’t only the possibility that Chris’ parents were watching her, just as they watched over her daughter. It was the lingering presence of the two who had just left as well.
It was warm and comforting. It felt… like home.
Maria looked around her apartment. At the shrine dedicated to the deceased Yukines. At the TV that was currently turned off, but would surely be turned on again when Chris came back from university classes. At the couch that was finally worn in. At the blankets lying around, used by whoever accidentally fell asleep on the couch that day. At the random bags and nicknacks that didn’t belong to her, but to Chris and Tsubasa.
This was her home. But it was also Chris’, as well as Tsubasa’s—official or not. The details didn’t matter.
It was somewhere they could all come home to.