Chat group, become my wings!

"Amitābha..." Izumi murmured, her cheeks flushing bright red as she lowered her head and began to recite sutras under her breath. As a nun, being momentarily swayed by a man's looks felt utterly inappropriate. Even if she had already been promised to Kevin Cross, she still couldn't quite let go of her religious identity at least, not yet.

"You must be Izumi. You're just as adorable as I imagined," Uchiha Izumi said, her eyes softening as she looked at the shy girl. Izumi really did seem like a celestial bloom pure, untouched, and radiant. Even someone as hardened as Uchiha Izumi felt her spirit soothed by her presence.

"You... you're Sister Izumi," Izumi stammered, recognizing the ninja girl instantly, especially with that iconic forehead protector bearing a slashed-through symbol.

"Aww, such a sweet little thing," Kumoko said as she bounced over, eight gleaming eyes fixed curiously on Izumi.

Izumi was startled by Kumoko's sudden approach. Her face turned pale, and she stumbled several steps backward in fright.

"Hey, hey! That reaction really hurts, you know!" Kumoko cried. "After all our chats in the group! I even sent you some meat uh, never mind that..."

"Sp-Kumoko? I'm so sorry! I really am! I didn't mean to react that way. I just got nervous... I'm so sorry!" Izumi bowed repeatedly, apologizing in a panic.

"Well, since you're being so sincere, I guess I'll forgive you," Kumoko said with a sigh, though she quickly brightened. "Still, it's so nice to finally meet everyone in person! That said... I'm not entirely happy. You're all such beauties, and here I am, just a giant spider! I don't wanna be like this anymore..."

"You'll be able to transform into a human eventually, won't you?" Saeko Busujima said with a gentle laugh.

"Yeah, true! Once I evolve, I'll be an absolute bombshell. I bet I'll even rival your... uh... assets, Saeko!" Kumoko declared, giggling gleefully.

Brunhilde's gaze subtly drifted over Saeko's figure. Her otherwise composed and regal expression flickered with a hint of dissatisfaction. Even the more modestly dressed girls, like Izumi in her monk's robes, still gave off glimpses of graceful curves. Compared to them, Brunhilde couldn't help but feel a little... lacking.

The group of girls clustered together, chatting and laughing with growing ease. On the surface at least, things were amicable. Even Brunhilde made an effort to smile warmly. After all, she hoped to recruit members of the chat group for her own cause, so she couldn't afford to appear aloof. She temporarily set aside her Valkyrie pride and tried to blend in though it was clearly a stretch for her personality.

"Kevin," Saeko said suddenly, appearing at his side without him even noticing. She leaned in close, her tone affectionate, her smile sweet. There wasn't the slightest trace of hesitation in her manner. Among everyone, it was Saeko who had the strongest feelings for Kevin and her power had grown the most because of it. Not only had her swordsmanship reached the level of a true sword saint, but she'd also gained access to chakra through the chat group and begun infusing it into her combat techniques.

"Hey hey hey! Saeko, you're cheating! We're still getting to know each other, and you're already trying to score points!" Kumoko huffed, hopping over and brushing her body against Kevin's. "Kevin, you really are handsome. Even better than your pictures!"

Her voice caught the attention of the others, who gradually turned toward them, forming a circle. Kevin suddenly found himself at the center of everyone's attention.

Although the other girls had confirmed their feelings toward Kevin, none of them had crossed any real boundaries with him yet. They couldn't quite bring themselves to be as openly affectionate as Saeko especially not in public. Even Uchiha Izumi, who had every reason to be bold, wasn't one to cling.

Eventually, the room shifted into a lively party atmosphere, full of laughter, snacks, and drinks.

By the end of the night, nearly everyone was drunk save for Izumi. True to her vows, she abstained from alcohol, remaining the only one sober in the room. But in hindsight, she almost wished she hadn't.

Everyone else was completely out of it. Some passed out on the floor, while others clung to Kevin, mumbling incoherently and acting far too familiar.

Especially Saeko. She had burrowed into Kevin's chest, leaving Izumi so flustered she didn't dare to look.

Thankfully, the staff at the Butterfly Estate helped organize the group and get everyone settled.

That said, the Butterfly Estate did sound a bit... strange that night.

Brunhilde lay on her bed, her expression odd. She could hear... peculiar noises from outside.

Though she had faked drunkenness after all, as a Valkyrie with a semi-divine body, alcohol couldn't actually affect her she had originally planned to make her move that night and solidify her place in the group. But those strange sounds? They stopped her cold. Pride as a Valkyrie wouldn't let her walk in on that.

In the end, she pulled the covers over her head and decided to just sleep.

Elsewhere, Izumi had long drifted off. Innocent and pure-hearted, she had gone straight to bed, completely oblivious to the chaos.

Kumoko, meanwhile, had one drink and immediately spiraled into a drunken frenzy, rambling on and eventually curling up to sleep with a happy sigh.

As for the source of the noises…

Uchiha Izumi, eyes narrowed, watched as Butterfly Shinobu quietly crept into Kevin's room. Licking her lips thoughtfully, she followed.

Later still, Saeko arrived as well, drawn by the same sounds.

By morning, Kevin woke up to find himself in bed surrounded by three other people.

A new addition, a triple victory... all in one night. Not a bad start to the mission at all.