Somewhere in Tokyo, in the VIP room of a members-only café.

Behind a heavy door, we were gathered in a private room.

The reason we weren’t conducting the interview at the mansion was simple.

Hibiki’s apartment was currently filled with piles of cardboard for the move, leaving no room to even step.

“Hey, Saotome-chan. Since these are people from your former organization… are they, like, hardcore soldiers?”

Karen asked while swirling her teacup.

In her imagination, a muscular female soldier was saluting as she entered.

“No.”

Saotome shook her head quietly.

“In appearance… they’re like small animals. But I guarantee their skills are top-class.”

“Oh, small animals, huh?”

As Hibiki raised a skeptical eyebrow, the door to the room was knocked lightly.

“…Come in.”

Hibiki called and the heavy door slowly opened, allowing two small shadows to enter.

“…Excuse us.”

They were a petite pair, each probably under 150 cm tall.

Their faces were identical.

Large eyes, smooth short bob hair—like walking French dolls, adorable twins.

One wore a slightly oversized hoodie and stood with a slouch.

Dark circles under her eyes gave her a languid look, as if she could fall asleep any moment.

The other wore a frilly blouse and skirt, hiding behind the hoodie twin’s back, peeking timidly at us.

“…Yū.”

The hoodie twin—older sister Yū—introduced herself softly.

Her voice was low and flat.

“…I’m skilled in hacking, electronics and building security systems. Cleaning and exercise are impossible. I don’t want to move.”

“A-are you okay? Motivated?”

Karen asked worriedly.

Yū opened her sleepy eyes wide and said seriously,

“…I am. I’ll make a perfect firewall for my master. I’ll do the job perfectly. Leave it to me.”

Ah, so she’s a craftsman at heart.

Though downtrodden in appearance, her eyes held intelligence and dedication to her work.

“And the other one?”

Hibiki called to the girl hiding behind.

She trembled and shyly stepped out from her sister’s back.

“…Ah, um, I’m Ai…”

Her voice was sweet, like a little bell.

Blushing, she fidgeted with her fingers.

“…I’m confident in cleaning, laundry and sewing. I can’t cook, but… I’ll do my best…”

Karen leaned forward, squealing, “So cute~!”

In her excitement, her hand knocked the teacup, spilling tea and sugar cubes onto the table.

“Ah! Sorry!”

Before Karen could react, Ai moved.

She swiftly pulled a handkerchief from her pocket and, in a blur, soaked up the spilled tea, gathered the scattered sugar and wiped the table clean.

All in just three seconds.

The table looked untouched, as if nothing had happened.

“A-amazing! Like magic!”

“Hehe… thank you…”

Ai looked pleased but shyly averted her gaze.

Perfect domestic skills.

Hibiki and Karen both seemed ready to hire immediately.

However, I alone felt something off.

'…What is this feeling?'

I observed Ai carefully.

Slender frame, high-pitched voice, gestures like a girl.

But my instincts told me something different.

The scent? No.

It was the aura she emitted.

Women in this world, no matter how weak they seemed, carried the strength of a predator at their core.

Ai did not.

She was afraid.

Like a prey animal thrown into a pack of carnivores—instinctive fear and caution.

The same feeling I’d sensed since arriving in this world.

I stood and approached Ai.

“Eek…”

Ai let out a small scream and stepped back.

I was a large man.

By the world’s standards, a being to be protected, but apparently imposing.

I crouched to her eye level and asked quietly but clearly,

“Hey… you’re a boy, right?”

At that moment, the room froze.

Ai’s face drained of color and Yū glared at me sharply.

“Eh!?”

Hibiki and Karen shouted in disbelief.

“Wh-what!? She’s so cute!? A boy!?”

“Jō, there must be some mistake…”

Amid their shock, Saotome stepped forward calmly.

“…You are correct, Akutsu-sama.”

She confirmed it.

“Ai is male.”

“W-what do you mean, Saotome-chan!?”

Karen pressed and Saotome explained plainly.

“They are orphaned twins. In this world, a minor male without backing surviving alone is extremely dangerous, as you can imagine.”

Hibiki and Karen gasped.

That’s right. Males were rare in this world.

If anyone knew of a cute orphan boy, he could be abducted by malicious women or confined by authorities under the guise of ‘protection.’

“For them to live freely together, Ai had no choice but to present as female and blend into society.”

Older sister Yū stepped forward to protect her brother.

“…I protect Ai. But I alone couldn’t manage. That’s why we relied on Saotome-san.”

Yū’s voice held the strength of someone who had fought society to protect her brother.

Ai, trembling, kept his gaze lowered.

The secret was exposed. Perhaps he could no longer stay here.

Despair radiated from him.

'…I see. They’ve been through a lot.'

I felt not anger or confusion, but deep empathy and a sense of kinship.

If I had been a child in this world, I might have done the same.

“…Look up.”

I said to Ai.

He hesitated, then raised his eyes, tears glistening in them.

“C-can I really… stay here? Even though I’m a boy… and deceiving you?”

“Deceiving or not, it’s wisdom to survive. No one will blame you.”

I grinned and extended a large hand.

“And it’s perfect timing. I was feeling outnumbered by all the women in the house… glad to have another male around.”

Ai’s eyes widened.

Perhaps the first time in this world he was accepted as a boy.

Tears streaming, he grasped my hand with both of his small, slender, trembling hands.

“Y-yes! Please take care of me, Onii-chan… ah, I mean, Master!”

Ai’s face crumpled into a genuine, relieved smile.

Not a manufactured ‘cute girl’ expression, but that of a boy finally at ease.

Thus, two new residents joined our home.

The ever-sleepy skilled hacker older sister, Yū.

And the earnest cross-dressing domestic-helper younger brother, Ai.

Problematic, but reliable 'and one of the few males' companions—our new life began lively and full of promise.