My own place

Chisato’s POV

It’s been a week since we returned from our mission. The wound on my stomach is much better now, though I swear the stitches have come undone more times in the past few days than when I was actually fighting the Costa Rican mafia.

Takina really hasn’t stopped scolding me about it…

Still, the mission was a success—and better yet, the payment was incredible! Which is why today, I’m finally moving into my new apartment.

Thanks to our work, I was able to make all the modifications I needed, and now it’s 100% ready to be lived in.

That’s why I invited everyone over for my open house. I’ve got everything ready for us to have a good time tonight. Things have been calm these last few days, but we never know how long that will last—especially for me.

So I’d rather make the most of these moments and celebrate with everyone.

I hear a knock on the front door and check the security camera from my phone—everyone from LycoReco is outside.

Takina, Kurumi, Mizuki, Mika-sensei.

I rush upstairs to welcome them.

"Hi everyone! Thanks for coming!" I say as I open the door wide.

"Hey, Chisato." Kurumi is the first to greet me.

The others follow, offering warm smiles and cheerful hellos.

Takina, as always, greets me with the kindest smile.

"Come in, everyone! Welcome to the open house of the great Chisato!"

I twirl dramatically and throw my arms in the air.

The apartment around us is partially furnished, a bit messy, scattered with personal items that give the impression someone truly lives here.

"Hey Chisato, this place is kinda a dump, isn’t it?" Mizuki says.

"Aren’t you ashamed to go around saying that in someone else’s house, old hag?" I glare at her.

"Chisato, are you seriously living like this? What’s even secure about this place?" Takina speaks up with a touch of concern.

"Hehe, that’s the impression it gives, right? Follow me!"

We head down a hallway toward what seems to be the main bedroom.

There’s clothes scattered on the bed, and a few miscellaneous objects on the nightstand—including a photo of LycoReco in Japan.

I open the closet and press a hidden button.

A secret door opens at the back.

"Alright everyone, get ready to be amazed—and watch your step on the way down," I say as I step aside and let them go in first.

Takina is the last one to approach.

As she’s about to descend the stairs, I reach out my hand to help her down.

She seems a little confused at first, but eventually takes my hand.

There are many things I like in this world, and many things I’d like to become.

Most of those dreams involve complicated plans and a fair bit of violence.

But in moments like this—when I can simply be there for the people I care about, and when something as simple as offering a hand can help them breathe just a little easier—
I think the feeling of saving the world isn’t so different from being someone reliable for the one you love.

Love?

I can feel my face heat up—thankfully, Takina’s no longer facing me to see it.

I shake off the thought and head downstairs to join my friends.

The new apartment has two levels.

Technically, I’m renting two apartments in the same building—one to use as my official address, and another as my real home.

I had to make some modifications, but money can get you anything.

The lower apartment is much more spacious.

It has common areas and three rooms—one of which is still empty.

"What do you plan to do with that room?" Mika-sensei asks, returning from the hallway and pointing back toward the empty one.

"Looks like it’s the biggest room. Why not make it your bedroom?"

Back when we were in Japan, and Takina first came to LycoReco, she had nothing.

Just what the DA gave her—no personal belongings, no extras.

At first, I thought she just didn’t have interests outside of work.

But the more time we spent together, the more I realized that Takina did have interests—
and a personality beyond being a Lycoris.

Maybe it was foolish of me to do this without even talking to her first.

And maybe that room will never become what I imagined it to be.

But in my mind, this place was never just for me.

I fully intend to share it with Takina.

To give her the biggest room, so she can fill it with all the things that make her happy.

Her own safe space—a place to smile even on her worst days.

"That room has the most important purpose," I tell Mika.

"It’s where I’ll keep what I treasure most."

I glance across the room and see Takina playing games with Kurumi at the kitchen counter.

I can’t help but smile.

"Oh, I see," Mika says with a smile, heading off to join the others.

The scene in front of me fills me with warmth.

My friends are in my home—laughing, enjoying themselves.

I just wish the walls could absorb every moment, and whisper them back to me at night so I can relive how perfect it felt to have everyone here.