After Shen He briefly explained Saiki Kusuo's current state, the rest of the group stood in stunned silence, their worldviews refreshed in real time.
"Qi Mu can become any creature he wants?" Jeanne asked, inspecting Nanako Saiki from head to toe. "I can't detect any trace of male traits… That's a completely female body."
"Wouldn't that affect your power?" Shi interjected, brows furrowed. "What about physical durability? A female physique has a very different combat threshold and training orientation than a male one."
"Qi Mu... Nanako?" Violet blinked her large violet eyes, clearly still processing the surreal shift. Judging by the blank look on her face, her brain was buffering.
Nanako Saiki sighed softly. This was the first time she had encountered so many puzzled reactions outside her world, and it brought a strange familiarity.
"The transformation ability only alters my outward form," Nanako explained calmly. "My other superpowers—telepathy, psychokinesis, teleportation—remain unchanged regardless of my appearance. And this isn't even my primary body. Normally, switching back takes a second. Only today, due to suppression, I'd need two hours of cooldown if I return to my main form."
For Saiki, gender—and even species—held no essential significance. He had once turned into an insect to resolve a crisis. But habitually, Kusuo still preferred his original body. It was simpler.
"There's another question," Jeanne said, raising her hand like a curious student. Her voice wavered with embarrassment. "Mr. Qi Mu... you're still a high school student in your original world, right? If gender doesn't matter, and you transform freely… doesn't that make it easier to, um… like boys?"
"No. Absolutely not." Nanako Saiki responded in less than a second.
"Jeanne d'Arc, that's way too direct." Shen He sighed and gave Jeanne a light chop on the head with the side of his hand. "Besides, Qi Mu already likes someone—a gorgeous, perfect girl. Top-tier."
"Really?" Jeanne's eyes sparkled. "If there's a chance, please introduce us sometime!"
"..."
To avoid further embarrassment, Saiki Kusuo opted for silence.
"Well, if we keep standing here, we'll be short on time," Shen He said, changing the subject as he gently took Violet's hand. Then, together with Jeanne, Shi, and Nanako, they boarded a luxurious roadster that had been waiting outside.
New York was a sprawling metropolis, far too vast to explore in a single day.
But since his companions were beautiful girls with excellent appetites, Shen He had pre-determined the primary goal of today's excursion: food.
They headed straight to the largest underground gourmet street in New York.
Even in the early morning, the place was buzzing with life. And the moment Shen He and his quartet of gorgeous girls entered, all eyes turned to them. With their collective charisma and Shen He's million-dollar designer watch and tailored coat, their presence was magnetic.
In this city, wealth spoke louder than words.
For Violet, Shi, and Jeanne, this was their first time visiting such a dazzling street. Even Shi, normally disinterested in everything, couldn't help but glance around curiously.
Suddenly, Jeanne tugged on Shen He's sleeve, her voice excited.
"Over there…!"
"Hm? You see something you like?"
Shen He followed her gaze to a dessert café decked out in hyper-feminine decor. Its storefront was a massive pink teddy bear head, surrounded by rainbow-colored floral wreaths. Inside, visible through the windows, were plush dolls of all sizes—mostly cats—and pastel lighting that looked like a Christmas fairyland.
"It's adorable! Let's go there for breakfast, Master!" Jeanne said, enchanted by the design.
"Dessert for breakfast...?" Shen He hesitated.
"I have no objections," came Saiki Nanako's voice telepathically, clear in everyone's minds.
Her eyes had already locked onto the café's main draw—a glowing sign with animated text and a dancing pudding mascot.
"Mas!" Jeanne leaned into Shen He, clasping his arm between her hands. Her lavender eyes shimmered with sparkles. "Heroic Spirits don't need nutritional balance. Anything we eat is fine for breakfast!"
"…Fine, fine." Shen He glanced at Violet, who gave a slight nod. No objections there either.
After all, no one in this group had to worry about digestion or gaining weight. The priority was enjoying themselves.
"Welcome!" chirped a staff member in a bunny-themed onesie as they entered.
All the employees wore mascot outfits or frilly uniforms, matching the whimsical ambiance. Shen He and his group found a cozy corner table and settled in.
The plush-themed café had its charm—and even the tables and sofas were covered in stuffed toys. Shi casually looked around—then froze. Her eyes sharpened, and with the speed of a striking snake, she reached behind a pillow and pulled out—
"…a cat?"
"Guests, please be gentle with the cats!" the staff hurried over in a panic.
Apparently, the café wasn't just for plushies—it was a hybrid dessert and cat café. Several real cats were camouflaged among the toys.
"It's okay," Shen He waved off the staff with a smile.
In her hands, the kitten blinked up at Shi without fear. Then, to everyone's surprise, it licked her fingers.
The sensation was ticklish.
Shi gently placed the kitten on the cushion beside her, but it rolled over and curled up in her lap instead.
"Looks like the cats really like you," said the relieved waiter.
"…Like me?" Shi whispered, fingers brushing the cat's chin. It arched its back and presented its fluffy white belly.
Jeanne watched the exchange with visible envy. She leaned forward, wanting a turn.
Shen He observed the scene, smiling. It was rare to see Shi this soft and at ease.
"Master," Violet quietly moved closer, holding up the dessert menu and pointing at the image of a towering strawberry shortcake. "Can I try that?"
"Of course."
Shen He gently ran his fingers through Violet's golden hair. She relaxed visibly, her usual mechanical expression replaced by a hint of contentment.
He always encouraged Violet to speak up. Every time she took the initiative, it made his heart swell.
Nanako Saiki, still waiting for her coffee pudding, gave the faintest of smiles.
Yes, Shen He had planned this day to make his followers happy.
But the one who was truly the happiest… was Shen He himself.
---
At the same time, in a rented apartment several blocks away, a woman stared intently at her laptop screen. Street surveillance footage played in rapid succession.
Her eyes narrowed as she paused the video and zoomed in on a familiar face.
Gotcha.
She snapped the laptop shut and stood up abruptly.
"Natasha!" she called into the other room. "I'm heading out. Something just came up."
"Going out?" came a sultry voice as Natasha Romanoff emerged, wearing a robe and sipping coffee. "Want backup?"