Three days of vacation passed in the blink of an eye, like a breeze that comes and goes before you can grasp it.
Each day was spent with activities that brought them closer together—soaking in the hot spring baths in the morning while breathing in the fresh air, strolling around Asakusa with hands intertwined, sampling various local delicacies they had never tried before, and laughing together in their room like a young couple tasting the sweetness of love for the first time.
And every night, when the moon replaced the sun, they spent their hours with abandon in that luxurious room. Exploring one another, giving and receiving pleasure, and growing ever more intimate—all of it became an inseparable part of this brief getaway.
Naoki discovered that Tenka was not only beautiful and powerful, but also a perfect partner in bed. She was always responsive, always enthusiastic, and never shy about asking for what she wanted or giving in return.
Before they knew it, the last day arrived.
That morning, after their final breakfast in the room, Naoki and Tenka packed their things. Suitcases were neatly filled, souvenirs for friends were arranged, and the memories of three days were carried home within their hearts.
At the entrance of the Asakusa Private Hot Spring Club, Urataro was already waiting in his tidy suit with his professional smile. Several other staff members lined up behind him, bowing respectfully.
"Tenka-sama, Naoki-sama." Urataro bowed deeply. "Thank you very much for staying at our humble establishment. We hope our service did not disappoint."
Tenka smiled warmly. "On the contrary, Urataro-san. This place was wonderful. The service was impeccable, the food was delicious, and the hot spring baths... truly rejuvenating. Naoki-kun and I enjoyed our time here very much."
"We are deeply honored to hear that." Urataro smiled sincerely. "We hope to welcome you both again another time. Perhaps when spring arrives—the cherry blossom scenery here is truly beautiful."
"Of course, we'll consider it." Tenka glanced at Naoki. "What do you think, Naoki-kun? Would you like to come back?"
Naoki nodded. "Definitely. This place was wonderful."
Though his face remained professional, Urataro's eyes couldn't quite conceal a sense of appreciation and quiet awe as his gaze briefly drifted toward Naoki.
*(This young man... His stamina is truly terrifying. As a head butler who has worked here for thirty years, I have seen many couples. But this one...)*
He recalled tidying their room each morning. The number of used condoms he had found in the wastebasket was simply beyond rational comprehension.
First day: four boxes emptied.
Second day: four more boxes.
Third day: the final four boxes.
Twelve boxes in three days.
*(Are that young man's kidneys made of iron? Or perhaps steel? Even in my youth, I never came close to half that number.)*
What Urataro didn't know was that Naoki, having consumed a Peach Blossom and awakened his exclusive Peach Blossom Blessing, had a physical condition that had reached the absolute peak of ordinary human potential.
His stamina, strength, and endurance far surpassed the average person.
On top of that, with the freedom and festivity of a vacation, it was only natural that Naoki and Tenka made the most of their time together.
Naoki caught that peculiar look. His brow furrowed slightly.
*(What is this old man thinking?)*
But he didn't dwell on it. It was probably just Urataro's habit of observing guests.
*BEEP— BEEP— BEEP—*
Just as they were about to get into the car—with Tenka driving on the way back—both their phones rang simultaneously with emergency notifications.
Not just theirs. Urataro and everyone around them received the same notification. The sound of alarms rang out everywhere, followed by expressions of panic spreading across people's faces.
Naoki read the notification quickly.
[EMERGENCY WARNING: Mato Disaster detected in the surrounding area. Mysterious portals have appeared at multiple locations. Shuuki monsters confirmed to be emerging from the portals. Evacuate immediately to the nearest shelter. Do not attempt to fight. Repeat: DO NOT ATTEMPT TO FIGHT. Evacuate immediately.]
A Mato Disaster.
The phenomenon of mysterious portals known as Gates appearing randomly across various regions of Japan. The primary danger of this disaster was the emergence of ferocious monsters called Shuuki from the portals to attack humans. These creatures were immune to conventional weapons. They could only be fought by Peach Blossom users.
"Naoki-kun. I have to go. Wait here for me."
As a Unit Chief, Tenka could not ignore a Mato Disaster occurring in her vicinity. It was her duty and her responsibility.
"Alright. Be careful."
Even though Naoki knew that ordinary Shuuki posed no real threat to Tenka, he still showed his concern.
"Mm. This won't take long. Maybe 30 minutes, an hour at most."
Tenka activated «Ame-no-Mitori».
*BUZZ!*
A dark violet portal opened before her, accompanied by dozens of white bird feathers drifting down. She stepped through, and the portal closed, leaving Naoki alone.
Urataro hurried over with a worried expression.
"Naoki-sama, we must get to the shelter right away. Our establishment has a safe underground bunker. Please follow me."
Naoki shook his head gently with a faint smile.
"No, Urataro-san. Go on without me. I'll stay here."
"What?" Urataro looked alarmed. "But Naoki-sama, that's dangerous! Shuuki could appear anywhere around here at any moment. Naoki-sama must—"
"Don't worry." Naoki's voice was calm and reassuring. "Everything will be fine. I have... my own way of protecting myself. Please go—help the other guests who might be panicking. I'll be alright."
Urataro hesitated, but seeing the resolve in Naoki's eyes, he finally relented. "Very well... But if anything happens, please contact us immediately. Our shelter is quite spacious."
"Of course."
After Urataro left to help the other staff evacuate the guests, Naoki opened the car door and settled into the driver's seat. He adjusted his position, then closed his eyes.
When he opened them again, his pupils had changed.
Slowly, his pupils shifted into the shape of an inverted cross in a dark golden hue—the sign that «Pandemonium» had been activated. A dim light radiated from his body, and behind him, the Diagram of the Qliphoth Tree manifested for a brief moment before vanishing.
The Sathariel Slot, containing «Promise», shone with a bright light.
With this Peach Blossom Blessing borrowed from Ōkawamura Nei, Naoki gained the ability of clairvoyance—a form of remote sensing that allowed him to see up to 20 kilometers away.
He focused on the location of the Mato Disaster that he sensed.
And what he saw was...
Chaos.
That was the only word to describe what unfolded in his mind's eye.
People ran in every direction, screaming, shoving, trampling one another. No one cared about anyone else. If someone fell, they were crushed underfoot by the people behind them, who only cared about saving themselves.
A small girl stood frozen in the middle of the fleeing crowd, people rushing past on all sides. Tears streamed down her face as she screamed for her mother, but her voice was swallowed by the roar of the chaos.
No one stopped.
No one cared.
She barely reached the knees of the adults around her—easy to trample, easy to ignore.
An elderly woman with a cane had fallen, struggling to crawl, but her leg was stepped on by a man who ran past without even glancing back. The woman cried out in pain, but no one came to help her.
And in the midst of it all, the Shuuki struck.
They poured out from the gaping Gates that had torn open at several points.
They needed no reason to slaughter.
One Shuuki seized a middle-aged man. Its claws drove into the man's abdomen, lifting him into the air. He screamed as blood gushed freely, and then his body was hurled into a wall with a sickening crash.
Another attacked a mother shielding her infant. She tried to run, but her legs were paralyzed with terror. The Shuuki swung its claws—and her head was separated from her body. She remained standing for a few seconds before crumpling to the ground. Her baby cried beside her mother's corpse, too young to understand what had happened.
Blood everywhere. The stench of iron and burning flesh filled the air. Screams, weeping, desperate pleas for mercy—all of it blurred together into a symphony of death.
Naoki watched all of it through «Promise». His chest was tight, but he could not look away. This was the reality of this world—the cruelty of Mato spilling over into the human realm.
Then, a dark violet portal opened in the midst of the carnage.
Tenka appeared like a goddess of death unto the monsters. With a single movement of her hand, she unleashed an invisible slash that split a cluster of Shuuki into pieces of flesh in an instant.
When one Shuuki tried to attack Tenka from behind, the monster's fist stopped several meters from her body, as if it had struck an invisible wall.
Naoki smiled inside the car.
*(So Tenka has already mastered Reality Slash and Infinity?)*
*(That's not surprising. After all, «Ame-no-Mitori» is her own Peach Blossom Blessing. Once she understood its mechanics, it was only a matter of time before she could learn those techniques.)*
Reality Slash—the ability to cut through space itself, rather than the objects within it. No defense could withstand an attack that targeted the very space an object occupied.
Infinity—the ability to create an unbridgeable distance between herself and her enemies. No matter how fast or powerful their attacks, they would never be able to touch her.
A deadly combination for a spatial manipulation user.
And Tenka had just executed it flawlessly.
In less than five minutes, the area was clear.
Naoki continued watching through «Promise», observing Tenka as she interacted with the authorities who arrived after the battle had ended.
Tenka presented her Anti-Demon Corps identification, which immediately prompted the officers to bow with deference. A brief interview, an initial report, and clearance to leave.
Less than half an hour after Tenka had departed, the dark violet portal opened beside the car.
Tenka stepped out, her expression carrying a trace of sadness, though she still wore a smile.
"I'm back."
"Welcome back." Naoki stepped out of the car and walked to her side. "Good work out there. You were incredible."
Tenka blinked. "Oh right, you have «Promise»."
Naoki laughed softly, then reached for her hand. "You must be tired. Let me drive. Give me the keys."
"Eh? Naoki-kun can drive?"
"Just trust me."
Tenka handed over the keys with some hesitation, but she trusted him.
They switched places—Naoki in the driver's seat, Tenka beside him.
Naoki started the engine, and the car pulled slowly away from the Asakusa Private Hot Spring Club. In the rearview mirror, he could see Urataro, who had just returned from the shelter, waving from a distance.
Naoki returned the wave, then turned his eyes back to the road.
The vacation was over. Now they were returning to reality—to life as a member of the Anti-Demon Corps, and to school, with graduation drawing ever closer.
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