Lucia was particularly sensitive to the word “accident.”
After their father suffered an accident, their family had completely collapsed.
Their mother’s not-so-sturdy shoulders had to bear the burden of the family.
Juggling multiple jobs, she became too busy to care about her children’s feelings, constantly exhausted from running around day and night, and sometimes even vented her work-related frustrations on them…
However, it wasn’t until Squill graduated and entered the workforce, taking over the family responsibilities from their mother, that their lives began to improve somewhat.
After all, in Central City, being a Mutant was a relatively high-income profession.
In any case, the misfortune of this family originated from an “accident.”
That’s why Lucia was so tense. She had finally graduated and found a job, able to help relieve the pressure on their Old Home. If her older brother were to collapse now, the guilt would surely crush her.
“Actually… being an older sister… doesn’t sound too bad,” Lucia voiced her thoughts.
She wasn’t completely at ease yet, but at least the problem wasn’t as severe as she had imagined.
Though it was still her brother with a squid head attached to a female body, which looked incredibly strange no matter how you looked at it.
Especially since the figure was quite good, it seemed unnaturally pieced together like a random patchwork. But, an older sister… huh?
For some reason, once she accepted this setting, Lucia felt a sense of relief.
As if her brother was always meant to be this way.
“Lucia…”
Clara had something she wanted to say, but ultimately kept it to herself.
Perhaps it wasn’t a bad idea to let Mostima pretend to be a gender-swapped version of herself due to an accident? It could serve as a preemptive warning for Lucia.
Later, when she revealed her true identity, her little sister wouldn’t panic over her turning into an older sister.
Of course, the best scenario would be not needing to reveal anything at all and naturally changing back.
“Bro, are you still living over there?”
Lucia was asking about that Cheap Rental Apartment.
“Of course, where else would I live?”
“But… you’re half-female now. What if someone has ill intentions toward you—”
“Ill intentions toward me? Look at this face. Would anyone really target me just because I’m female—”
Pulling at the corner of her mouth, and even being laughed at by Fran who covered her mouth, her awkward hands had nowhere to go, eventually resting on her forehead with a sigh. “Squill” said this self-deprecatingly, but Clara whispered from behind, “Hmm, that’s true…”
Feeling slightly more relaxed, she even joked, “Ha~ If only the head would change too. Looking like this, you probably can’t get married~”
Lucia even nodded in agreement with this statement, finally calming down.
“You little rascal, why can’t you wish for something good for me?”
“Anyway, in your current state, you probably can’t find a wife, right? In that case, it’s better to find a decent, honest person to marry.”
As Lucia said this, she seemed to think of something, pinching her chin and muttering to herself:
“Come to think of it, Miss Mostima doesn’t seem to have a concept of gender? She’s quite kind. Should I introduce her to my big brother… I mean, big sister next time?”
Lucia’s love for gossip and her habit of mentally pairing people up was indeed serious. Before, she had even thought about introducing her big brother to Clara to form a so-called “Squid Friends” pair.
However, “Squill” was shaken by these words.
Right now, it was Mostima playing the role of Squill. How could she introduce herself to herself?
Seeing that “Squill’s” outer profile was on the verge of collapsing, Fran quickly stepped forward, placed her hands on Lucia’s shoulders, turned her aside, and changed the subject.
“Alright, alright~ Since everything’s clear now, there’s no need to keep discussing it.”
Fran sat on the sofa and clapped her hands, saying:
“It’s getting late. Mr. Squill still has to work tomorrow, right? Although I don’t know which Evil Organization you’re working for now, I hope we don’t run into each other at work~”
She was essentially shooing him away.
But at this moment, Lucia said:
“President, I… I want to move in with my sister.”
“Move where?” Clara asked, pulling at the corner of her mouth and turning her head.
“The apartment in the suburbs.”
Clara knew that was her own Cheap Rental Apartment.
Of course, “Squill” firmly refused such a thing.
“My apartment is too small; it can’t fit two people. The dormitory conditions here are so good; there’s no need to come with me.”
“And the security over there isn’t good either—”
Not to mention it was an imposter, even Clara herself wouldn’t let her little sister live with her.
The entire Cheap Rental Apartment had no partitions, only one bed, and not even a proper living room. How could she let her sister live in such a place?
Even if they were siblings, there were still boundaries between men and women…
“We could rent a bigger apartment,” Lucia suggested again.
“Squill” patted her head.
“I’ll also be traveling to Earth frequently for work and won’t be staying in Central City all the time. Renting another place would be a waste of money, wouldn’t it? Don’t worry about me. Stay here and be good.”
“Bro, I understand.”
With that said, Lucia set aside her little willfulness, but still asked:
“You said you’d take me around Central City. Do you… have time soon?”
“Mhm, of course, no problem. I’ll contact you then.”
“Squill” walked to the entrance, then turned back, staring at Lucia with those big eyes, and instructed:
“Don’t tell Mom and Dad about my situation. I don’t want them to worry, understand?”
“I know.”
Lucia nodded. Only then did “Squill” feel relieved and leave the dormitory. Under her watchful gaze, he entered the elevator.
Crisis averted… for now.
After all, it was a half-truth, half-lie.
Clara breathed a sigh of relief, only to meet Lucia’s gaze as she turned around. Being seen as a gender-swapped monster by Lucia was actually pretty terrible too.
“Senior Clara, why are you sweating so much on your forehead?”
“…It’s nothing. The heater is just set a bit too high.”
Trying not to appear guilty, Clara tentatively asked:
“Lucia, if your brother really can’t change back, are you really planning to have her get married?”
A sense of crisis arose in Clara. If Lucia ever found out the truth, would she have to live a life of being constantly urged to marry by her little sister every day?
Lucia blinked at Clara, then nodded heavily.
“Of course! She can’t stay single forever, right? My brother is already thirty-five, an older unmarried youth. Finding a partner would be best.”
She really was worrying about her big brother’s life events.
Clara rubbed the goosebumps on her arm.
Marry a man?
‘I marry my own brother…?’
She herself was startled by this thought.
But Lucia patted her chest and continued:
“Of course, if she really can’t get married, then I’ll take care of her! Consider it family supporting each other!”
Clara gained a new understanding of her little sister and also re-recognized her somewhat frightening side.
“Ahem, this is what you call ‘can be a brother, can be a wife’!”
Ive never heard that phrase, but I’m sure its being used wrong