Zongman: I sign in at the second dimension

Shikina and Nan Zui chimed in as well.

"I'm Shikina!"

"Hmph, my name is Nan Zui—just call me 'Nan'!" Nan Zui declared with an impish pout, hands on her hips.

Tatsuki replied slowly, "Alright, I've got your names down: Kotori, Shikina, Nan Zui."

Katou Megumi smiled and added, "Mm-hmm, I've memorized them too—Kotori, Shikina, Nan Zui."

"Come on, it's getting dark; you all should head back soon, Kotori," Tatsuki said, glancing up at the darkening sky.

Hearing this, Megumi and the others also looked upward. Sure enough, the sky was nearly nightfall. Shortly afterward, the trio led by Kotori took charge of the way back, with Tatsuki and Megumi following close behind.

After about fifteen minutes of walking, Kotori halted and turned to Tatsuki and Megumi. "Thank you for walking us home, Tatsuki, Megumi—my place is just ahead. How about we come in for a bit?" she offered.

At these words, Shikina and Nan Zui also glanced at Tatsuki and Megumi. Facing the invitation from the three, Megumi shook her head and said, "Maybe next time, Kotori—I still have to go back and make dinner. What about you, Tatsuki?" Megumi looked expectantly at him.

Seeing Megumi's gaze, Tatsuki replied, "I'm with Megumi—let's postpone it, Kotori, Shikina, Nan. Besides, it's already evening; it wouldn't be safe for Megumi to go alone."

"Is that so… alright then. Goodbye, Tatsuki–big bro, Megumi–big sis. We'd better get going so Mio won't worry about us, Shikina, Nan!" Kotori called as she turned and dashed toward the house ahead.

"Bye-bye, Tatsuki, Megumi!" echoed both Shikina and Nan.

Hearing this, the three sprinted off. Tatsuki said softly, "Hurry up now—don't let your family worry," with a gentle tone.

"Okay, bye!" Megumi waved as she stayed behind for a moment, smiling at their farewell.

Seeing that Kotori's group had entered the house, Megumi then said lightly, "Let's get going, Tatsuki."

Nodding, Tatsuki replied, "Right, Megumi, I'll walk you home. It isn't safe for a girl to be out alone."

"That'd be great, Tatsuki-kun!" Megumi laughed.

"Alright, let's go," Tatsuki said with a warm smile. "Yes, yes!" they agreed, and together they set off toward home.

Flashy transition

Back at home, Kotori's trio opened the door and called cheerfully inside, "Mio-nee, we're home!" (repeated three times)

Barely had the words left their lips when the sound of footsteps on wooden boards echoed. Suddenly, a stunning woman with perfect silver-blue long hair sprang forward. Landing gracefully in front of Kotori's group, she grabbed Kotori's shoulder in alarm and asked, "Kotori, are you alright? You're coming back so late—did you get hurt?"

Before long, the silver-blue-haired woman began gently shaking Kotori. Alarmed, Kotori cried out, "Mio-nee, we're fine! Stop shaking me!"

The woman exclaimed, "Oh, oh, oh—if you're safe, then that's all that matters!"

Hearing Kotori being called "Mio-nee," Nan Zui piped up from nearby, "Mio-nee, if it weren't for Tatsuki and Megumi passing by, we might've been stranded here forever!"

Shikina agreed, "Exactly! Thank goodness for Tatsuki-kun and Megumi—otherwise, tonight's dinner money would have been lost too!"

"Mio-nee, Tatsuki? Megumi? Looks like you encountered some bad guys!" Mio gritted her teeth.

"They're not too bad—just…" Kotori began, but before she could finish, the door swung open again.

A poised woman with long pink hair burst in, panic in her voice: "Mio, we still haven't found Kotori… Huh? You're back?"

"Yes, we're safe, Rei-nee," Shikina replied as she recognized the visitor as Rei (also known as Zero Two).

"Alright, alright—if you're safe, that's all I care about. From now on, let Rei do the grocery shopping! It's too dangerous for you to go out," Rei said firmly, hands on her hips. "Okay, Mio-nee," the trio chorused.

After that, Kotori's group handed Rei the money, changed into slippers, and headed upstairs. They grabbed their clothes and began freshening up.

Meanwhile, Rei, having changed her own shoes into slippers, walked into the living room, poured herself a glass of water, and downed it in one gulp. "Whew, I'm exhausted!" she exclaimed.

Then, Rei strolled into the living room with Zero Two, crossing her arms as she asked, "Where did you search for them, Zero Two? Kotori, Shikina, Nan?"

Zero Two, lounging on the sofa, replied slowly, "I went to their school, the mall, even their favorite snack spot—but couldn't find them…"

"Ah, as long as they're safe, that's what matters. Now, call Tenka, Tenkou, Yekuya, Yuzuru, Manyouri, and Linglong. Let them know Kotori's group is back and come help me cook dinner!" Rei said, her voice edged with frustration. "Alright, alright…" Zero Two feebly raised an arm and shook it.

"Seriously, I'm at my wit's end with you!" Rei groaned, rubbing her forehead.

Soon, Rei went into the kitchen to start preparing dinner. If Tatsuki were here, he'd definitely know exactly who Rei was referring to by name!

Flashy transition again

After ensuring Kotori's group was safely home, Tatsuki escorted Megumi back.

Approaching Megumi's house, Tatsuki slowed down. Noticing his halt, Megumi turned and asked, "Tatsuki-kun, are you heading back?"

Tatsuki nodded, "I just dropped you off—now I must head home. My parents are surely waiting for me for dinner."

"Alright then, see you tomorrow, Tatsuki-kun!" Megumi waved at the doorstep.

"Yeah, see you tomorrow, Megumi," Tatsuki replied as he hoisted his backpack and began his walk home.