Joyful Shadow Exchange and Midnight Broth

The Joyful Shadow Exchange, which I held like flowers in both hands, was a Muksi Saengmyeongche that swapped identities with someone nearby. In other words, the moment Ryu Harin arrived in Gangwon-do, it was time for me to return to being Mayuri.

"Thank you for your help. Somehow, the debts I owe you keep piling up."

This made it about four times I'd helped Ryu Harin now. But thinking ahead, I had a feeling I'd end up saving her life a few more times.

"I, uh, can't tell you not to feel burdened anymore... But if you could, help out Yangmiro a bit. She's going to start preparing to switch jobs now."

In truth, I'd gained from this incident. Only Lisa and I knew Yangmiro's true identity. Put another way, I held Yangmiro's lifeline, so she was in no position to defy me. And getting her a job at the Special Task Force was basically planting a spy there. Looking to the future, this development wasn't bad for me at all.

"Got it. Since I owe you my life, I'll do whatever you ask."

"Blind obedience would actually burden me... So, what is this place?"

I looked around as I asked. A dim corridor. Shattered windows and lights. Tiles broken in spots on the floor, mysterious stains here and there. Wires dangled from the ceiling, swinging wildly in the gusting wind.

An abandoned hospital. The atmosphere was so ghostly I couldn't help but grimace.

"It seems to be the hospital where an anomaly occurred before. The Muksi Saengmyeongche was eradicated, so nothing happens anymore, but the hospital went bankrupt, leaving just this abandoned building."

The former owner couldn't afford demolition costs and had put it up for sale. Since it was an anomaly site, Foundation staff checked it occasionally, but with nothing happening lately, visits had tapered off, Ryu Harin explained.

"Then no one comes here. Shall we give it a try?"

I activated the Bond Effect.

Kiririk-kiririk-

Wheel sounds echoed from somewhere. Not car wheels, but more like a handcart ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠being pushed.

"Director, good day!"

The energetic greeting came from the dog-eared train attendants. They pulled a handcart piled high with stuff right up to me.

"Uh, uh, hello..."

"Shall we set up the station here?"

"You can do that?"

"Of course, anywhere!"

The attendants declared confidently. I could've just driven back, but since I was already out here, I figured I'd test the Cute Girl Train Bond Effect. Ryu Harin could bring the car later.

It had an insane cooldown—once a month—but that's why I wanted to check what it did now, so I could use it properly later.

Still, setting up in an obvious spot made me uneasy, so I'd asked Ryu Harin for a place no one visited, leading us here.

"Why don't we just remodel the whole building into a station! What do you say, Director?"

"This building has an owner... That'd cause big trouble..."

"Understood! We'll make it discreet then!"

With that, the attendants headed to the hospital's underground parking garage. In the deepest parking spot, the moment I stepped in, the garage vanished.

Instead, the surroundings turned into a station platform.

"Whoa, it's just like that Ha■ry Potter platform..."

Which one was it? Platform 9¾? Or 4/1? Something like that. Anyway, like that famous platform, it seemed to activate with a specific trigger to access the station.

The attendants worked fast, building the station in a flash. But it wasn't just the platform—more appeared than I'd imagined.

"What's this?"

"Street stalls! Stations always have them, right?"

"Fair enough... But who's running them?"

"Who knows? Someone who wants to will show up eventually."

That was our chat. Only then did I understand the Cute Girl Train Bond Effect. I'd thought it just made tracks for the train, but that wasn't the core.

"It's a base camp builder."

A outpost-building ability for anomaly zones. Pretty defensive, but with mobility added.

"That's an incredible power. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠With this, we could explore anomalies even safer," Ryu Harin said, clearly impressed.

The station complete, Ryu Harin left. She'd stay in Gangwon-do for cleanup.

Back to Mayuri, I headed to Seoul—dragged by my staff.

"It's been 28 hours since we separated from Detective, yup. So now Detective has to stick with Watson the detective assistant for 28 years."

The math's off. Sua gripped my left arm tight. Nao had my right.

Flowers in both hands? More like both hands full of mentholas. When did this trend start...?

"...Sua aside, why are you clinging, Nao?"

"Unni, I'm a severe separation-anxiety menthola, right?"

"You're owning it now?"

"Yup, I'll be a proud menthola."

Don't be proud. To me, it sounded like "I'll crash into walls without brakes."

"Unni was gone a whole day...? My hands were shaking. See?"

"Nao, wanna go to the hospital?"

"Nah? Just need unni."

She wouldn't let go of my right hand.

"Girls, I'm the agency director."

"Yup, we know."

"The highest rank here. Not public property for staff!"

"You are public property, though?"

Denied. What? Where'd my director authority go? Boiled away in the national pot?

...A few days like this won't kill me.

Nao was originally sweet and kind; she just turned menthola after the 'possession.' Time would fix it.

Sua wasn't even possessed but ended up like this from picking up 'Mary-san.' Still, time heals.

Ari and Lisa had grown, so Sua would eventually mature and stand independent too.

I was the universe's cutest girl Mayuri—not just looks, but a famously kind heart. Being staff gum for a few days? No biggie.

"Sua, you gonna stick forever?"

"Yup, eternally."

"Eternity's a bit much... At least let me pee alone...?"

"Yup, Watson the detective assistant respects Detective's privacy."

So she really only skipped the bathroom. That night, I became a dakimakura.

The staff at Ririri Detective Agency got paid. Exploiting them for free felt wrong, and eventually they'd all go independent, living their own lives. (At least that's what Mayuri believed.)

So we paid salaries formally. Though sometimes charged to my card, or Ari's.

It was prep for independence—learning social stuff like taxes early. Of course, Ari handed over her card and account ages ago.

Sua just said, "Watson the detective assistant can co-sign," and dumped it on me.

Lisa was similar. She saw her assets as mine anyway, and lacked financial sense. So her account was mine too.

This was her first time spending on herself.

4 AM. Lisa was in the kitchen.

"Sugar, salt, cooking oil, sesame oil..."

She checked pantry staples and bought ingredients again. Then cooked.

Realizing ideas she'd pondered. Strictly, it was culinary research.

Living with Mayuri, she'd deeply grasped her tastes. Matching dishes would surely delight her.

That's why she cooked.

"Lisa...? What're you doing up?"

She cooked at this hour to avoid others—still experimental, meant as a future surprise.

Of all people, caught by the one she least wanted. Bad luck? Or good?

"Did I wake you? Sorry, Mayuri-nim."

"Woke up needing the bathroom. Drank too much water before bed..."

No one else around. Nao was streaming, Ari crashed after watching her game, Sua let Mayuri go pee.

If not her fault, fine.

"Suddenly wanted to cook. Want some, Mayuri-nim?"

Lisa ladled soup from the pot for her.

"Pork bone soup...?"

"Yes, since you like it."

"Thing is, Lisa..."

Mayuri hesitated. Felt like it was for her, hard to refuse. But also hard to accept.

Eating the Carnival Chef's food drives you mad. Everyone without exception becomes a waiter or waitress, trapped serving there.

Was it the human flesh dishes? Or all food from her hands? Mayuri didn't know.

Nor did Lisa.

"Please refuse, Mayuri-nim."

She'd suggested it hoping for refusal from the start.

"Refuse?"

"Yes."

"You offer, then say refuse...?"

Mayuri stared, baffled.

I like her like this... But Lisa didn't know other Mayuris. Couldn't imagine a non-universe-cutest-girl Mayuri.

If this changed, it might not be Mayuri. Better keep her now. Don't eat my food.

"Human hearts are ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠so fickle."

Can't neatly divide like/dislike. Didn't want 'that' Mayuri, but a bit curious too.

If 'problems' arose, Lisa would take responsibility—and she didn't mind.

Beyond that, she wanted to serve delicious food someday. That's why she came to the human world. Why she's here.

"Lisa."

"Yes, Mayuri-nim."

"...I didn't say, but I can eat your cooking."

"Pardon...?"

"If issues arise, just use Memory Wipe."

Carnival Chef victims all got memory wipes and returned to normal. Though minor pickiness lingered.

So, risking that aftereffect, Mayuri could try Lisa's food.

"What do you want?"

"......"

Like someone dieting offered chicken. Unexpected temptation. Blooming desire. Scent of ruin.

Anyone would hesitate. But conclusion came quick.

Lisa set down the bowl.

"I don't want even a bit of your memory lost. And it's still research—not perfected yet."

She knew some things need patience. Serving unfinished food? Absurd.

Only perfect dishes for Mayuri's tongue.

Whether ruinous, collapsing her—or supreme delight as Mayuri.

More research needed.

"So please wait."

"Got it."

Mayuri nodded. Oh, still hadn't peed. Turning to go, she asked Lisa.

"If I eat your cooking, what then?"

Unlike mooch Ari or Sua loving detective life, Lisa's goal was clear. Achieve it, and independence?

"Haven't thought much. Open a small café?"

"Café? Not a restaurant? Cafés have insane failure rates..."

"Restaurant would burden you."

If all Muksi Saengmyeongche vanished, Mayuri'd close the agency. A small café then? Our director, self- and others-proclaimed universe's cutest girl, would draw crowds.

"Do café with me? No independence thoughts...?"

"None."

"Think a bit more...? Ideally toward independence..."

"I'll think again. But Mayuri-nim, if same conclusion?"

Mayuri sighed deeply.

"...Then no choice."