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With Sayaka's sudden intrusion, there was clearly no time to clean up the living room.
After all, that large puddle was right there on the floor. Though the open kitchen provided some cover, if they started cleaning and moving around, one glimpse from a certain War Dancer girl would expose everything immediately.
While she might be too pure to recognize what it was, some risks weren't worth taking blindly.
Scene shift—
The apartment entrance.
"Well then, we're heading out."
Bokue Keikain stood with hands in pockets. Though he spoke words of farewell, his posture looked like he was just popping down to the convenience store for a couple bags of chips.
Meanwhile, Sayaka Kirasaka stood beside him with her Bow on her back, her expression somewhat grave, looking every bit like she was facing a formidable enemy.
"Mm, come back soon, Big Brother, Sayaka~"
Nagisa maintained her innocent smile, a faint blush still lingering on her cheeks as she waved goodbye to the youth.
Yukina showed concern: "Are you really okay with this, Sayaka? If not, maybe I should go with you instead, considering you..."
"N-no need to worry! I'll be fine!"
Sayaka shook her head, her face tense.
"Leave finding Princess La Folia to this guy and me. I'll definitely protect you and Miss Nagisa, Yukina! Of course... I'll protect myself too. I absolutely won't give this guy any opportunity!"
Sure, sure, whatever you say.
Bokue listened to all this with complete inner calm.
His temperament was actually quite good. Though a certain War Dancer girl had been throwing various disparaging and wary comments at him since they'd met, it ultimately stemmed from her family background and her protective feelings toward Yukina.
Simply put, it was understandable. Bokue was usually quite tolerant of such situations.
Though he wasn't sure if it was his imagination, but her pre-departure declarations sounded like those heroines in doujins who start off boldly declaring they'll never submit, then by the end... well, those who know, know.
"Alright, let's go."
With time running short, Bokue shrugged and turned toward the elevator first.
"Ugh..."
Sayaka had wanted to say more, but seeing the youth already leaving, she could only wave hurriedly.
"See you later then, Yukina, and Miss Nagisa. Be careful when you're home alone. Try not to go out at night, and if you must, go together. Discuss anything that comes up."
Completely motherly tone.
"Mm-hmm, see you later, Sayaka~"
"See you."
Soon both entered the elevator. As the safety doors slowly closed, the apartment hallway with only two households fell completely silent.
Nagisa casually glanced at the Sword Shaman beside her.
"Yukina's quite naughty, isn't she? Yesterday when Sayaka mentioned going on this mission with Big Brother, you agreed. But today when they're about to leave, you suddenly offered to replace Big Brother. Is this the legendary 'playing hard to get'?"
"It's not quite like that..."
A drop of sweat rolled down Yukina's forehead.
"I agreed yesterday considering Sayaka's androphobia. If possible, I'd like to use Bokue-senpai's help to cure Sayaka's psychological condition, or at least alleviate it."
"I just wasn't sure if this approach would put too much pressure on Sayaka, so I wanted to confirm before they left."
Mm-hmm~
The Sword Shaman's reasoning was sound, and Nagisa nodded repeatedly. After listening, a little lightbulb appeared above her head.
She raised her index finger, wagging it gently.
"So in other words, Yukina's plan is actually for Big Brother to use this opportunity to completely conquer Sayaka. That way, even when Sayaka visits later, we can still do whatever we want without concern, right? No wait, that's still too conservative... I feel like we could even give Sayaka a big surprise too, huhuhu~"
Yukina: "..."
Why did this script feel so familiar?
❁❁❁❁❁❁❁❁
Scene shift—
At the bus stop below the apartment building. Sayaka Kirasaka had just finished a phone call and quietly sighed in relief.
Bokue stood two meters away from her. He'd heard her entire phone conversation. Though the distance meant he could only hear Sayaka's side, it wasn't hard to guess she'd been calling a taxi.
"I thought the Lion King Organization would at least provide you with a car. Didn't expect you'd have to call a taxi yourself."
"How could we have something like that?"
Sayaka huffed stiffly.
"Besides, I'm only seventeen. Can't even get a license. Even with a car, I couldn't drive it. What kind of stupid question is that? Are you an idiot??"
"Isn't the Lion King Organization an official agency? You don't even have that privilege?"
Bokue looked at her curiously.
He'd never asked Yukina this question—at barely over five feet tall, driving would indeed be difficult for her.
But in comparison, Sayaka had a supermodel figure—curves in all the right places, slim waist, long legs, and a respectable bust. Especially her height at nearly five-foot-seven, quite tall for an Asian girl.
Though still a year underage, purely in terms of driving ability, there'd be no problem at all.
"Privilege? Of course the young master from a traditional noble family would think that way. Unfortunately, we at the Lion King Organization don't have such corrupt benefits..."
Sayaka shot the youth a knowing glance, about to add more insults when she noticed him looking back at her. She immediately bristled.
"Hey, what are you looking at?! Don't stare at me with those perverted eyes—I'll get pregnant!"
"Seems your biology teacher must have been perpetually ill. How could anyone get pregnant just from being looked at..."
Bokue couldn't be bothered arguing with her, shaking his head as he looked away.
"Though the Keikain family doesn't actually have such privileges. Usually, Onmyoji don't need to drive—we have special flying shikigami for transportation. Just fly wherever you want to go... So when's your taxi arriving?"
"Not yet."
"How much longer?"
"At least an hour."
"Good lord..."
Bokue held his forehead.
Well, that made sense.
Japan's population was aging severely. Many positions were now filled by elderly workers, including taxi drivers.
So don't be surprised to find your driver could be your grandfather's age—that was normal.
But once people aged, no matter how well they maintained themselves, their condition deteriorated. Plus many elderly couldn't use navigation systems. Confused minds plus no GPS meant "successfully finding the passenger counts as victory."
As for how long it took, don't even ask.
But it was already almost ten o'clock...
Bokue checked his phone's time display and felt helpless.
Getting downstairs at ten meant eleven before getting in the car. They'd reach the harbor after noon at best—and that was the ideal scenario.
"Forget it. Just tell me where your chartered boat is."
"Where else? Obviously at Itogami Island's external harbor..."
Sayaka answered reflexively.
But the next second she realized something was wrong—she sensed a young male presence rapidly approaching.
"Eh? Wait, what are you—eek!"
"This saves time."
Bokue grabbed the War Dancer girl's wrist. Before his words finished, both he and she had vanished from the spot.
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