Nothing kills momentum quite like awkward silence.
After the onmyouji girl channeled her complete spiritual reserves into the talisman without receiving even the slightest response, Yura narrowed her eyes—gazing upward toward the young man seated beside her.
"Onii-sama, this talisman of yours..."
"I can personally guarantee this is absolutely authentic!"
Assuming the girl doubted the talisman's legitimacy, Bokue immediately raised both hands in sworn testimony.
Though he maintained fundamentally dismissive attitudes toward other Keikain family members, Yura alone received genuine younger-sister treatment.
"...I know."
Yura observed him silently for several moments before releasing three flat syllables carrying faint Kyoto accent undertones.
Obviously, Bokue wouldn't deliberately deceive her regarding such matters for amusement purposes. That would prove excessively boring and classless.
"I'm simply confirming—Onii-sama, you haven't forgotten onmyouji requirements for shikigami usage, correct?"
Requirements? What requirements?
Question marks materialized abundantly above Bokue's head.
Though over ten years had elapsed since his last shikigami employment, childhood memories from studying onmyoudo techniques at the Keikain main estate suggested shikigami simply required maximum spiritual power infusion into talismans before forward projection.
Approximately... like Pokémon trainers throwing Poké Balls.
"Sigh~ Unbelievable. You genuinely forgot."
Detecting subtle expression shifts across a certain individual's features, the onmyouji girl released gentle exhalation before raising one index finger.
"First: onmyouji cannot utilize shikigami whose power exceeds their capabilities excessively. Second: when shikigami strength surpasses the onmyouji's level, risks of losing control plus rampage scenarios emerge..."
"Mm... mm..."
Bokue nodded with expressions simultaneously suggesting of course I knew that while radiating bewildered confusion.
Translation: Wait, that's actually a thing?
Yura: "..."
Fair enough. She couldn't maintain expectations in this domain toward someone who'd relied exclusively on overwhelming brute force since childhood.
After all, his spiritual power intensity had completely surpassed the previous generation's family head by age six. Consequently, throughout his entire existence, situations involving "shikigami strength exceeding onmyouji capacity" had never manifested.
For Bokue, only inverse scenarios existed—personal power perpetually overwhelming shikigami capabilities.
"Yes, such rules exist."
The onmyouji girl released gentle sighs.
"Otherwise, why would my Hagun remain under enforced sealing status constantly?"
"..."
That logic... actually makes sense?
Fenrir's demonstrated power within the demon realm had definitively transcended Maou-class classifications.
Meanwhile, Yura's capabilities... perhaps achieving extreme burst-mode victory against those fallen angels who'd kidnapped Asia previously.
Calculating proportional discrepancies revealed substantial gaps indeed.
"Alright, my oversight."
Bokue retrieved the shikigami talisman from the onmyouji girl's extended hand. Pinching it between fingertips, faint magnetic force radiance emerged before casual forward tossing toward floor surfaces.
Ding—
The instant the talisman contacted flooring, dazzling golden brilliance expanded outward—using the talisman itself as epicenter.
Several seconds later, following luminescence dissipation, what appeared before them: one ultra-miniature Fenrir version.
How to describe this... it retained Fenrir's external appearance without modifications. Except body dimensions had transformed from "ambulatory mountain range" proportions into approximately adult-Husky-sized canine.
The summoned Fenrir neither barked nor fled. It simply surveyed surroundings comprehensively, observed Bokue and Yura seated on bedding, then autonomously paced toward vacant floor space. Forelimbs crossed before preparing comfortable recline.
Except the following second found Bokue's hand grasping its scruff—flipping positions while using his palm's tiger-mouth region securing both forelimb armpits, orienting the creature's front face toward himself for detailed examination.
"...Onii-sama, what are you doing?"
The bedside onmyouji girl observed her brother's "vulgar" conduct with narrowed eyes while delivering critical commentary.
"Nothing particular."
Bokue shook his head, leaning forward to replace Fenrir on floor surfaces.
He'd harbored mild curiosity whether Loki's paternal address toward this canine stemmed from male anatomy. Detailed investigation revealed zero such appendages.
Naturally... the alternative anatomy equally absent.
Fundamentally fantasy creatures possessed no gender classifications whatsoever.
"Regardless, Onii-sama, please retrieve this dog."
Yura's mouth curved dismissively.
Bokue's vocal tone elevated with confused inquiry.
"What's wrong? Dislike dogs?"
"This isn't about preferences..."
The onmyouji girl turned her head slightly aside.
"First: school dormitories prohibit pet ownership. Second: even gifted, this shikigami remains unusable for me. Keeping it here constitutes pure burden. Worse, potential theft might trigger unnecessary complications."
"Uh... understood."
Since Yura had explicitly communicated unwillingness toward Fenrir ownership, Bokue could only respect her decision.
Following the shikigami's retrieval, atmospheric silence descended across the room momentarily.
However, at that juncture, Bokue inadvertently noticed the bedroom's wall-mounted calendar displaying written annotations.
Today marked September twenty-fifth. Starting two days prior on the twenty-third, extending backward through the twenty-first—three consecutive dates bore identical notation: "Didn't Come."
Didn't come? What didn't come?
Curiosity prompted Bokue's instinctive gesture—pointing toward the calendar before inquiring without deliberation.
"Hey Yura, what does 'didn't come' mean on your calendar?"
"..."
Zero responses manifested.
Bokue rotated his head toward the adjacent girl.
"Yura?"
"..."
Continued silence persisted. Facing her brother's directed gaze, the onmyouji girl moistened her lips gently. Across her pale features, two crimson blush traces gradually surfaced with bashful intensity.
"Nothing important. These are private girls' matters. Onii-sama needn't inquire so thoroughly."
"...Your period?"
Comprehension struck Bokue immediately upon hearing this explanation.
Yura inhaled deeply through clenched teeth.
"Alright. I'm preparing afternoon naps now. Onii-sama, you may leave."
Ooh~ getting embarrassed now.
Bokue raised one hand, gently pinching the onmyouji girl's slightly-heated cheeks.
"Fine, I'll head out then... Oh right, Yura, want relocating to Keystone Gate? That eliminates daily school dormitory residence."
"No."
Yura shook her head without hesitation.
Identical question. Identical response.
No helping that.
Bokue scratched his cheek.
"Alright then. I'm departing now."
Statement concluded. The young man's silhouette dissolved into atmospheric transparency.
Meanwhile, Yura remained alone within the room—gazing toward the wall-mounted calendar. She reflexively caressed her lower abdomen beneath sleepwear—still perfectly flat. Consciousness returned to one month prior, during summer vacation's particular morning.
Unfortunately, three days late—it still arrived... If it had never come, perhaps today I could've proposed naturally... about that morning incident during summer vacation.
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