By the time Bokue departed Keystone Gate—delivering Kanon toward Saikai Academy—noon had progressed past twelve o'clock.
Morning classes had concluded completely across campus. Afternoon sessions wouldn't commence until 1:20 PM. Currently, lunch break prevailed.
Typically, energetic students selected playground activities during this interval. Academically-devoted individuals chose library reading sessions. Boarding students requiring rest retreated to dormitories for brief naps.
As for day students desiring rest... classroom desk surfaces provided their only reclining options.
Though ultimately, these represented minority populations. When Bokue arrived with Kanon at the middle school teaching building, scanning classroom interiors revealed only scattered individual occupants.
Coincidentally, Nagisa and Yukina belonged precisely to this final category.
"Ah, Onii-sama arrived! Plus he brought Kanon-chan along!"
The instant Bokue reached the classroom entrance, Nagisa—previously conversing with a certain sword-maiden—locked onto him immediately. Waving enthusiastically while vocally greeting, she simultaneously pulled Yukina forward at a run.
"Good afternoon~ Onii-sama, Kanon-chan~"
"..."
Though the girl merely delivered smiling greetings, her radiant—slightly excessive—smile obviously referenced unspoken implications.
Uninformed observers naturally couldn't comprehend her amusement source. However, for Kanon—acutely aware why she'd missed half today's classes—the situation triggered severe facial heating.
"Relax, Kanon-chan needn't worry~"
Nagisa rubbed her nose with slight smugness while humming.
"This morning, noticing your absence from Rias-neesan's gathering point, I immediately recognized Kanon-chan's likely inability attending morning sessions. Consequently, upon school arrival, I filed half-day absence requests with teachers on your behalf."
"Th-thank you..."
Kanon's small face flushed deeper crimson.
Except Nagisa possessed zero intentions releasing her prey. She advanced further—lowering her voice conspiratorially.
"So—last night with La Folia-neesan, Sayaka-neesan, plus Auntie Polyphonia together... how did it feel?"
"T-that... Nagisa-chan, please stop asking..."
Kanon's thin-skinned nature couldn't withstand increasingly explosive questioning. She could only whisper pleas for conversational redirection.
"Eh~ Kanon-chan embarrasses so easily."
Unable obtaining desired responses, Nagisa's mouth curved with minor disappointment.
"Unfortunate. I'd hoped learning Kanon-chan's experiential insights for reference purposes."
"Ref... reference??"
Kanon's face had achieved maximum crimson saturation. Following one sharp hiss sound, white steam wisps rose from her scalp.
How exactly does one reference such matters?? Plus—what purpose motivates seeking such references??
"Alright, alright—you two continue chatting."
Observing the girls' trajectory toward extended topical discussions, Bokue vocalized farewells before raising his head. His gaze tracked past both girls' heads toward Yukina—equally present within the classroom. He waved one hand, signaling departure with promises of future meetings.
Subsequently, his silhouette flashed—vanishing into atmospheric transparency.
"Ah, Onii-sama departed already..."
Perhaps unprepared for such decisive withdrawal timing, Nagisa froze momentarily before processing.
Then she executed one extraordinarily bold maneuver.
After surveying surroundings—confirming zero observers directing attention their way—Nagisa extended her index finger, gently poking Kanon's lower abdomen.
"Ah! Na-Nagisa-chan, what are you doing...?"
Kanon released startled vocalizations reflexively, instinctively covering her stomach. Her flushed features pouted with slight grievance.
Nagisa maintained her characteristic giggling expression.
"Nothing particular—just checking whether Kanon-chan attended school 'glug-glug' style today."
"Uh... 'glug-glug'? What does that mean?"
"Sounds~ Like bottles filled with water. When moving around, it goes glug-glug."
"Na-Nagisa-chan! Stop... stop saying that..."
❁❁❁❁
Simultaneously, within middle school dormitory facilities.
Whoosh~
Accompanying bathroom door opening, freshly-bathed Yura emerged carrying bodily moisture. Still-damp small feet contacted flooring—producing pat-pat sounds while leaving continuous wet footprint trails.
Since Saikai Academy dormitories constituted single-occupancy units without roommates, she'd exited the bathroom completely unclothed—youthful curves exposed freely to ambient atmosphere.
She draped body-drying towels across her neck while entering the bedroom, approaching bedside.
However, as the girl prepared retrieving morning-discarded sleepwear from bedding for re-wear before brief napping—golden magnetic field radiance suddenly flashed behind her. Bokue's voice emerged from rear positions.
"Yo, Yura! Haven't visited recently. Since I'm at school today anyway, figured I'd check on you... uh, just finished bathing?"
"..."
Yura turned toward the voice source. The young man's intimately-familiar features filled her vision.
His eyes contained zero lustful intent—purely curious inquiry. Like normally questioning a younger sister he'd raised since infancy about post-bath status.
The onmyouji girl remained silent.
After brief hesitation, she raised the damp towel still carrying faint maiden fragrance—balling it before launching directly at his face.
"Leave. Return after I've dressed properly."
"Oh..."
Bedroom rustling sounds persisted approximately ten seconds.
When Bokue re-entered, bedside Yura had changed into adorable pink bear-patterned sleepwear. Her smooth black bob haircut retained slight dampness.
"Not visiting for so long, then suddenly appearing today—what's the purpose...?"
Mid-sentence, Yura recognized problematic phrasing.
The syntax carried excessive resentment—completely resembling abandoned girlfriends complaining about negligent boyfriends.
Except as the saying goes—spoken words resemble spilled water. Having vocalized already, only stubborn completion remained possible.
"Checking on you, naturally. Plus bringing small gifts."
Bokue scratched his head.
Gifts?
Yura silently observed the young man's empty hands.
"Where...?"
"Here."
As if predicting this exact inquiry, one shikigami talisman appeared before her face precisely when Yura vocalized—practically simultaneous timing.
Simultaneously, Bokue seated himself bedside while explaining.
"This seals Norse mythology's Fenrir. Previously, certain circumstances led to coincidental encounter—so I captured him casually. Try testing compatibility, Yura. If usable, he's yours."
"Mm..."
Yura accepted the offering, inhaling gently before circulating spiritual power—attempting infusion for shikigami summoning.
Except... zero responses manifested.
"Appears incompatible for my usage."
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