“Here.” Caspian, who sat across from Genos in his living room, handed him a piece of paper.

  Genos took the slip of paper, quickly analyzing its tents. “What is this?”

  Ah, I’m so embarrassed.

  Caspian had inteo address the matter st night when Genos arrived, his backpack slung over his shoulder and carrying all his belongings. However, he couldn’t muster the ce and waited until m instead.

  “As part of your training, I need you to track down these individuals.”

  Genos narrowed his eyes and gnced between the paper and Caspian.

  Did he buy it?

  “I reize several of these names. Who are these women to you?”

  Caspian bowed his head. “My future wives…”

  I actually said that ge out loud!

  “…”

  Uo curl into a ball and turn off his brain, he could only look up, anxiously awaiting Genos’ rea.

  “Master!” Genos shot up from the ground with his fists ched. “I uand now.”

  “You do…?”

  “Of course, I had mistakenly believed you to have a fetish toward mosquitoes, when iy you’re just a pervert. Don’t worry! I shall find and assess if these women are worthy of you.”

  SLAM!

  Genos had rushed out of the apartment before Caspian could even raise his hand in protest.

  “Mosquito fetish… I really wish I could read his thoughts. Regardless, I’d say that weer than I expected.”

  Caspian stood, phone in hand, and tapped in a set of coordinates into the GPS.

  “Let’s hope I’m not too early.”

  ¤ ¤ ¤

  “Alright. Here’s your five takoyaki! e back soon!”

  Mosquito Girl waved farewell to another set of ers.

  She had never pictured her life turning out like this, w as a staff member of a takoyaki shop. It didn’t help that people tinuously ented on her unusual appearance.

  If it weren’t for that man, she could only imagine how powerful she might’ve bee. But no, he had the o not only kiss her but also smack her butt. She o bee even strohan before in order to make him pay.

  Her rage tio rise the more she thought about the man, to the point she was shaking.

  “Mosquito Girl you e this up? I’m sed with orders.” Armoril called from the back of the shop.

  “No! ’t you see I’m busy thinking?!”

  “Hey now.”

  “Nnah!” A sharp pain shot through her lower back, leaving her momentarily speechless.

  Rubbing her back, she turned around. “Ow. What the heck! Don’t just stab me out of the blue!”

  Armoril turoward the seated Dr. Genus and said, “Doctor, hurry up and regee a blood saosquito Girl here. She gets hangry way too fast when that man on her mind.”

  “I wasn’t thinking about anyone!”

  “I’ve decided on an alternate solution.” Dr. Genus spoke up.

  Mosquito Girl felt uneasy. “What? I need my blood sa order to grow stronger.”

  Dr. Genus looked back at her. “Don’t worry. This solution will allow you to grow stronger without the o feed on living creatures.”

  Though skepticism tightened her chest, she swallowed her doubts with a relut nod.

  Ding

  The er bell rang.

  Armoril returo cooking. “Mosquito Girl, er.”

  “I know...” Mosquitrumbled.

  Armoril had beeing under her skin more and more tely. How dare he keep bringing up that man? She couldn’t shake the feeling he did it on purpose, just to annoy her. And then there was Dr. Genus, who seemed to speak of him with nothing but praise. Was she the only sane o in this group?

  Ding

  I’m ing!

  This er was asking for it.

  “Wele to The House of Tako—”

  “Man, this pce wasn’t easy to find. W-City has far too many high rises for its own good.”

  Mosquito Girl raised her trembling hand. “Y-you. You!”

  “Yes. it’s me. So, you remember?”

  How could she fet this bald bastard?

  Mosquito Girl had trouble voig her thoughts.

  He leaned forward. “You look really cute in that apron.”

  Mosquito Girl’s mind bnked, crimse erasing all reason. “Cute?!” With a guttural cry, she unched herself at him, fingers g for his neck.

  “Woah.” Armoril appeared from behind arained her. “That’s no way to treat uests.”

  Mosquito Girl struggled. “Let me go! I’ll treat this e dome myself!”

  “Ah, Caspian, I was w when you would show up. e inside.”

  Dr. Genus had arrived beside her and weled Caspian into the shop.

  After a moment, the four of them sat around the takoyaki table.

  Mosquitred at Caspian. I don’t care how strong you are. Once we’re alone, I’ll give it to you!

  ¤ ¤ ¤

  Dr. Genus had been waiting with muticipation for Caspian’s arrival.

  A ce to i with this anomaly. Perhaps he could gleam something useful for his new line of research.

  The st time Caspian spoke to him, he mentiohings he shouldn’t have known — his resear physical regeion leading to infiopus tentacle growth, his awareness of Subjeo. 66, Zombieman, and even a warning about the Hero Association spying on him.

  Dr. Genus still couldn't grasp hoian gained suowledge. No matter. With a backer like Caspian, he could focus on his research without . However, oential issue remaihe individual seated beside him.

  “Mosquito Girl, the tea should be ready. Would you mind p us a cup?”

  She stood begrudgingly, her gaze lingering on Caspian before turning away. Her muttering, deliberately loud, trailed behind her. “Would I mind p him a cup? I should just dump it on that bal—”

  “I wasn’t sure if you’d have the House of Takoyaki up and runni,” said Caspian as he ate one of the takoyaki. “Wow. These are great!”

  Dr. Genus studied the carefree man. What is this strange feeling I get from him? It is as if his mind and body do not align. Absurd.

  Mosquito Girl returray in hand, giving the first cup to Armoril. “Here’s your tea.”

  “Thanks.”

  “And for yenus.”

  “Thank you…”

  When Dr. Genus caught sight of Mosquito Girl’s crazed expression, a wave of internal panic set in.

  “Whoops!” she chirped, tipping the near-boiliraight onto Caspian’s head.

  Cold sweat beaded enus’ forehead. You crazy prototype! What are y to do?!

  Yet Caspian remained unfazed, casually wiping his face as he asked, “How’s that projeing along?”

  “Humph!” Mosquito Girl stomped out of the room.

  “Not ing along quiough, I suppose. I apologize for her behavior. She is not yet aced to this new way of life.”

  “It’s alright. I deserved it.”

  Dr. Genus stood, relieved that Caspian had a soft spot for Mosquito Girl. “This shop actually has a basement. I show you how the project is progressing, along with some other things that might i you.”

  “Sounds good. By the way, what time does your shop close each day?”

  ¤ ¤ ¤

  Mosquito Girl paced bad forth outside of the shop.

  How should she face him? When she looked at him now, her heartbeat rose in anger. It was a straype of anger she hadn’t entered before.

  Passerby tio give her strange looks.

  “Mommy! Why is that dy dressed up a fly?” A young boy asked.

  The mother quickly pulled her son away. “Don’t get close to her. She might be some kind of degee cospyer.”

  “I’m not a fly!” Mosquito Girl hopped in fury.

  “Hmm, you didn’t deny the degee part.”

  The voice of her greatest foe echoed from behind, and she spun around to find Caspian fshing her a cheeky grin.

  Much to her annoyance, her heart rate quied at the sight of him. Worse yet, warmth crept into her cheeks. He'll pay for infuriating me like this.

  Mosquito Girl crossed her arms. “What do you want? Did you e all the way here to assault me again?”

  Caspian stepped closer. “ly.”

  Quit angering me so! My heart is going crazy.

  Armoril’s face appeared in the shop’s main window. “Mosquito Girl, we’re closing early today. Have fun on your date,” he said, then quickly slid the window shut.

  “Date?!”