Living Together with Mashu / Detective Fou!

"Senpai?"

"...."

Ian was silent.

Ian's reaction immediately made the already timid Mashu nervous.

"Is it... not a good idea?"

Looking at Mashu's eyes, filled with both anticipation and a hint of fear, Ian knew that directly rejecting her on the spot would probably cause her significant psychological distress.

He glanced at Olga Marie, who was still busy drafting the mutual protection plan for the Masters, thought for a moment, and then said,

"Mashu, let's see if the Director agrees first."

"Eh, okay."

Neither a refusal nor an agreement, Mashu waited anxiously.

Meanwhile, Ian had a different thought in mind.

Chaldea... probably wouldn't allow men and women to live together, would they?

After all, when he met Ophelia before, she had specifically told him to be careful and not let others find out.

Time slowly passed as they waited.

Olga Marie, whose eyes were practically spitting fire from the urgency, finally finished drafting a preliminary proposal.

"Done."

The young Director stood up and handed the printed list of the plan to Ian.

"Ian, please take a look."

Clearly.

Thanks to Ian's constructive ideas, Olga Marie suddenly had two fewer major headaches (referring to the problem of insufficient investigation personnel and the contradiction of needing to add extra personnel to take care of the Master candidates).

At this moment, she had a newfound, unquestioning trust in the man before her.

While Ian was reviewing the plan, Mashu, who had been waiting for a long time, mustered her courage and asked,

"Director, I have an idea!"

After saying that, Mashu felt that her tone was not polite enough, so she immediately apologized.

"I'm sorry, I think I got a little too excited."

"It's alright," Olga Marie smiled slightly.

"You brought me the person who could solve the problem, which is a great contribution in itself."

"So—"

Olga Marie gently patted Mashu's shoulder.

"Mashu, what is your idea? Tell me."

"..."

The Director's gesture gave Mashu great encouragement.

She glanced at Ian beside her and said,

"Director, I want to live with Senpai!"

Clatter.

The notebook in Olga Marie's hand fell to the ground.

"Mashu, what do you want to do?"

"Say that again?"

"I... I..."

Startled by the reaction, Mashu stammered for a long while before squeezing out a second sentence.

"I want to live with Senpai!"

"..."

This time, there was no mistaking it.

Olga Marie bent down, picked up her notebook, and her expression became somewhat indescribable.

"Mashu, are you serious?"

Mashu nodded.

"I am serious."

"..."

Olga Marie forced a somewhat awkward smile.

"Um, Mashu, please wait a moment, I need to talk to Ian for a few words."

After saying that, the young Director pulled Ian to the side of the office.

She spoke with a hint of reproach,

"Ian, what did you do to Mashu?"

"Director, I didn't do anything."

"How is that possible?" Olga Marie put her hands on her hips.

At this moment, she finally barely resembled the age she was supposed to be.

"She's even asking to move in with you, how could you have done nothing?"

"Let me tell you, Ian."

"Although I do appreciate you as a person, that doesn't mean I will tolerate everything you do."

"This so-called plan of yours for Masters to protect each other, isn't it just a way to trick Mashu into your room?"

"But Director—"

Ian looked at Mashu, who was still waiting on the side.

When the latter noticed that she was being looked at, she immediately lowered her head.

"This was Mashu's own suggestion."

"I've been just trying to help you solve the problem up until now, haven't I?"

"..."

Olga Marie couldn't refute Ian's words.

After all, from the moment he came in until this moment, he didn't seem to have come specifically to bring up such a thing.

"I say—"

The young Director looked at the man, a hint of concern in her eyes.

"Then you know about Mashu's situation?"

"Situation?"

Ian shook his head.

"I don't understand what you mean. Mashu is just Mashu."

"You...?" Olga Marie's eyes widened with a bit of shock.

"You became friends with Mashu without even knowing anything about her situation?"

"Director, with all due respect,"

Ian looked directly at the silver-haired girl before him.

"If we don't become friends first, how will there be a chance to understand each other's situation?"

"Besides—"

"If it's something she's truly willing to share with me, Mashu will naturally tell me."

"If she's not willing, why would I bother to dig deeper?"

"..."

Olga Marie's amber eyes suddenly became a little clearer.

As if she had figured something out, she smiled.

"You're right, my thinking was shallow."

"Then—"

The young Director turned her head back to Mashu and waved her hand.

"Mashu, you can move in."

"I give you permission."

Mashu's eyes brightened considerably upon hearing this news.

"Yes, I understand! Thank you, Director!"

Olga Marie turned back to look at the man before her.

"You shouldn't have any objections to this arrangement, right?"

"...No."

Even if he did, it was too late to say anything.

After all—

Ian looked at Mashu, who was jumping up and down with joy.

He couldn't bear to interrupt her happiness.

"Alright, I thought about it just now, and this matter still can't be rushed. Take the plan back and take a good look at my arrangements. If you have any ideas, contact me immediately."

Olga Marie quickly scribbled a string of numbers on a piece of paper, tore it off, and handed it to Ian.

"This is my number."

"Okay," Ian took the paper, "I understand."

"Then, Director, can we leave now?"

"Hmm."

Watching the two figures walk away in the corridor, a hint of joy appeared in Olga Marie's eyes.

"This is good too... at least there's someone willing to reach out proactively."

Coming out of the office, Mashu's desire to talk was high, and she chattered non-stop.

"Senpai!"

"The Director rarely gives her number to people! It seems she really values Senpai!"

"Is that so?"

Ian looked at the paper in his hand.

"I think she just hopes I can offer some more meaningful suggestions."

"No, no, no, she definitely thinks Senpai is amazing, that's why she did that!"

"Maybe."

"By the way, Mashu."

The man looked at the pink-haired girl beside him.

"When are you planning to move in?"

"Eh, that..."

Mashu's face flushed red, but she still said very firmly,

"Senpai, I want to move in now!"

"..."

"Does Senpai not like it?! Then later will be fine! Or maybe I don't have to move in at all!"

"Haha."

Ian reached out and ruffled Mashu's hair.

"Mashu, you really are easily startled."

"You can't be so flustered when doing things normally."

"I'm sorry!"

"There's nothing to be sorry about," Ian withdrew his hand. "Since you want to move in now, then let's do it now."

"There's nothing else we can do right now anyway."

"Senpai..." Mashu's cheeks became even more flushed.

"Yes~ Let's move now!"

Half an hour later.

The two walked down the path leading to Room 49—Ian's room.

"Um."

Ian looked at the suitcase he was pulling and the small box Mashu was carrying.

"Mashu, do you really have so few things?"

"I originally thought I'd have to make several trips."

"Because I don't usually like buying things," Mashu explained seriously, "and the rooms in Chaldea already come with a lot of daily necessities."

"So, when I packed up, this is all that was left."

"I see."

Ian nodded.

"But you're really good to Fou."

"I see quite a few things in here that belong to it, right?"

"Hmm~" Mashu smiled sweetly.

"Because Fou is my best friend, so I have to take good care of it!"

"...Right."

"But where did it go now?" Ian frowned slightly, "You've moved in now, I'm afraid it won't be able to find you later."

Mashu shook her head.

"Senpai doesn't need to worry."

"Fou is very smart, it always appears at the right times."

"For example—"

"Fufu? (Are you looking for me?)"

Before Mashu could finish speaking, Fou appeared in front of the two.

"You little rascal."

Ian looked at Fou, who had suddenly appeared, and was a little surprised.

"You're like a ghost!"

"Fufufufu? (Are you angry at Fou for disturbing your alone time?)"

"Nothing like that."

Ian looked at the small creature on the ground and patted his shoulder.

"Come on up, Mashu is moving into my room, if you don't come now, you won't have a place to go later."

"Fu? (What?)"

The confused Fou looked at Mashu beside Ian.

The latter nodded.

"Fou, Senpai isn't lying to you."

"I'm going to move in with him."

"..."

Fou didn't say anything more, but obediently jumped onto Ian's shoulder.

After walking for more than ten minutes, the group arrived at the door of Ian's room.

Swipe card.

The door opened.

Mashu looked at everything inside the room, looking a little surprised.

"Senpai, your room is so clean."

"I thought it would be very messy."

"Why would you think that?" Ian couldn't help but ask, "Have I usually given you the impression of being sloppy?"

"No, no!" Mashu quickly waved her hands in denial.

"It's just that I read in books that men generally don't really take care of their rooms, so I subconsciously thought Senpai was like that too."

"But those are just books, right?"

Ian dragged the suitcase to the wardrobe beside him.

"You can't understand the truth just by reading books."

Mashu nodded.

"Hmm... I understand."

"Alright," Ian stopped the topic at an appropriate time.

"Mashu, put your things down first."

"But it might be a bit crowded."

"It's okay!" Mashu clenched her fist, "I don't mind being crowded together with Senpai's things!"

"That's good then."

After saying that, Ian glanced at the clock on the wall.

"Mashu, it's getting late."

"I'll go take a shower first, then it'll be your turn, okay?"

"No problem!"

Ian didn't intend to hide anything in front of Mashu.

In her sight, he picked up a set of clothes and walked towards the bathroom.

Chaldea designed each Master's room as a single room.

It was large for one person;

But it seemed a bit small with two people.

Mashu outside could see the entire process of Ian entering the bathroom, and even vaguely see his figure inside.

Although she had mentally prepared herself to some extent before coming.

But when she truly encountered this moment where she could directly feel the opposite sex's charm, Mashu, who had zero experience, couldn't help but blush.

She covered her face, constantly muttering to herself,

"Can't look! Can't look! That's Senpai!"

But—

Could she really not look?

One glance shouldn't be discovered, right?

And such opportunities were rare...

That's right!

Just one glance!

Sitting on the floor, Mashu's resolve was gradually wavering.

Her fingers slowly separated, and the moment she could see outside, what came into view was Fou on the suitcase beside her.

"Fu—?" It blinked its eyes.

"Ah—!"

"Mashu, what's wrong?" Ian's worried voice came from the bathroom.

"Senpai, I'm fine."

"Oh... that's good then."

Startled by Fou suddenly appearing before her eyes, it took a while for Mashu to calm down.

She rarely grumbled,

"Fou, what are you doing?!"

"Don't suddenly appear in front of people like a ghost, it's scary!"

Fou wasn't angry at Mashu's reprimand.

It raised its little paw and pointed towards the bathroom Ian had just entered.

"Fufufu."

Based on her experience with Fou, Mashu quickly deduced its meaning.

"Are you asking me 'why don't I go in and take a shower with Senpai'?"

"Eh—?!"

Mashu waved her hands repeatedly.

"Fou, what are you talking about! Senpai is taking a shower, how can I go in?!"

Fou wasn't anxious because of Mashu's rebuttal.

It continued to wave its little paw, first pointing at Mashu's eyes, and then pointing at the bathroom again.

"Fufufu! Fufu... Fufufu!"

"Are you saying 'I've been watching all along, why not just be straightforward... and go in'?"

"Fu!" Fou nodded.

"Fou, you've misunderstood, right?"

Mashu immediately shifted her gaze away from the bathroom.

"I don't have such thoughts."

"Fufufu, Fu... Fufufu!"

"Are you saying 'but if you hesitate any longer, Senpai's body... might be snatched away by other women'?"

If the previous remarks could be considered Fou just stirring things up, this statement truly hit the core of what Mashu cared about.

"Fou, why would you say that?"

"Fufu~"

Fou jumped off the suitcase and went to the cabinet where Mashu had just put her clothes.

Looking like a ball of cotton, it bit onto a piece of clothing and dragged it out.

"Fufu, Fufufu."

"Are you saying 'this piece of clothing has the scent of other women'?"

Mashu froze.

She didn't expect Fou to point out such a thing like a famous detective at this time.

And she didn't know that this piece of clothing had indeed witnessed one of Ian's previous encounters.

But things didn't end there.

The phone on the table lit up at this moment.

Mashu had a bad feeling.

She walked over.

She picked up the phone.

It was a message.

But the content of the message made Mashu completely stunned.

It was a message from Ophelia.

Attached was a photo.

A brassiere lay quietly on the table—it was clearly placed there by the photographer.

And below was a sentence:

"You seemed to have said before that you liked this kind of thing, right?"