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Twenty minutes later, in the "Customs" hall connecting Itogami Island to the Underworld, Bokue Keikain and his group of four—having finished breakfast at Asagi's place—sat in the public seating area watching the bustling crowd.
Many were humans, but even more were demons coming from the Underworld.
Asagi sat beside Bokue, with Kuroka on his other side. She crossed her legs, propped her cheek on her hand, and sighed helplessly.
"This place is always so lively no matter when you come."
"Indeed~"
Liala agreed with a smile.
"When I came yesterday afternoon, the hall had just as many people—maybe even more."
"That's why~"
Just as the blonde finished, Kuroka casually chimed in with her complaint:
"Now you understand why I teleported directly over, right? Taking that train back and forth through here every time—it's as noisy as a marketplace, absolutely deafening."
"But you still have to come here now anyway..."
Bokue didn't quite follow her logic.
They were here to pick up Rias and the others. In other words, whether Kuroka had teleported ahead or not, they'd still end up at customs.
The only difference was arriving early meant waiting here, while coming with Rias meant going through the normal process.
"But at least I got to see you sooner, Bokue~"
The kind of killer line that would be etched on any pure-hearted youth's tombstone just casually slipped from Kuroka's lips.
"Besides, I originally planned to come early and have a quickie with you, Bokue—make up for not seeing each other these past days. But who knew there'd be strangers around..."
"That's my house—you're the stranger!"
Asagi was furious.
This was absolutely intolerable—appearing in her home without permission and calling her a stranger? What next, would she be called unwelcome?
You're the one who's unwelcome!
Bokue couldn't help his side-eye.
"Kuroka, is your 'quickie' one hour or two? By that time, Rias and the others would've already arrived. Should we make them wait here at customs?"
"They wouldn't~"
Kuroka was completely unconcerned.
"Rias and the others aren't idiots. They wouldn't just stupidly wait here forever. They already discussed their action plan before coming—if no one's here, they'd just go do what needs doing..."
"That won't do."
Before she could finish, a familiar voice came from nearby.
The next second, the previously bustling crowd ahead inexplicably stopped, then parted like the sea split by a divine sword, rapidly pushing to both sides.
A girl group that looked like a idol troupe emerged, led by a blazing crimson like hellfire.
Rias—whom they hadn't seen for days—approached with Akeno, Koneko, Mio Naruse, Asia, and a whole crowd behind her. She stood before Bokue still sitting on the public bench, fair arms crossed over her chest. Her gaze swept meaningfully over Asagi and Liala beside him. Without showing surprise, she just looked down and said flatly:
"No wonder you haven't even returned to the Underworld these days. Seems you've been quite busy on Itogami Island? But that's fine—you'll be even busier next, Bokue. There's lots to do... uh..."
Before she could finish, as Bokue stood from his seat, Rias's previously steady tone suddenly rose slightly.
Before the red-haired girl could react, Bokue had already pulled her into an embrace.
"It's fine, I know. But once we settle on Itogami Island, we can be together every day."
"Wait... I know that too, but don't be so sudden... this is the customs hall, lots of people are watching..."
The sudden intimate contact made Rias—who'd been forcing composure a second ago—suddenly flustered. Her fair cheeks quickly colored with a light blush, and her speech became somewhat stuttering.
Worse, her friend's characteristically leisurely teasing came from behind:
"Ara ara~ I thought President could hold firm a bit longer. Didn't expect one hug from Bokue to win her over."
"What do you mean 'win over'..."
Rias's pretty face turned even redder.
Her cheeks burning as if on fire, the red-haired girl could no longer hold back and patted the youth's chest as if pleading:
"Alright, alright, save the hugging for when we get back. We have lots to do today."
"I know. So what's first?"
"Uh... eh? Kuroka didn't tell you?"
"Just the general idea, not the details."
"Huh?"
Though still in the youth's embrace, Rias twisted to look at a certain black-haired cat-eared girl.
"You came to find Bokue ages ago. Why didn't you just tell him?"
"Forgot."
Kuroka lifted her face, utterly shameless despite being in the wrong.
"It's just something that takes three sentences to summarize anyway. Isn't it the same if you tell him after arriving, Rias?"
"How can you forget that..."
Rias had no choice but to repeat:
"First, we need to resolve Itogami Island's ownership issue. Second, merge Kuoh Academy and Saikai Academy. And finally, build the new house... The latter two can only proceed after solving the first."
"Ownership issue, huh... Got it. Leave that to me."
Bokue took on the task without hesitation.
As the acting head of the Keikain family—a thousand-year-old Onmyoji clan—they had extensive experience negotiating with the powerful.
Mainly because over these thousand years, the Onmyoji families and the imperial family, including today's Japanese cabinet, had something like a symbiotic father-son relationship.
If the Onmyoji family was extremely powerful in that generation, the head could pound the table before the Emperor.
—Listen here, Emperor, do you think gold and silver will fly into my treasury by themselves? Or would you prefer your useless samurai to protect you?
But conversely, if the Onmyoji family was weaker that generation, the head could only show as much loyalty as possible in exchange for funds to keep the family running stably.
This was why the Japanese government had worked hard to establish their own jujutsu school.
After all, most who entered were still immature kids—a little brainwashing made them somewhat easier to control than those hard-headed Onmyoji.
Especially since the latter usually needed to be coaxed with real money, and some couldn't be appeased no matter how much you paid...
But that was beside the point.
At least for Bokue, even notifying the Japanese Emperor and those cabinet geezers was already being quite "benevolent."
"Then I'll leave negotiating with the Japanese cabinet to you, Bokue."
Rias pursed her lips, smiling with flushed cheeks.
"Akeno and I will go to Tokyo first. We have some things to handle at the old school building. Come join us after you're done. If it's just us... it might be a bit troublesome."
"Troublesome? What needs handling?"
A giant question mark appeared over Bokue's head.
Rias hummed softly: "Since we're moving, lots of things need to be taken first. Then there's that sealed storage room I mentioned before..."
"Oh—"
Bokue remembered now—there was indeed such a place in the old school building.
A room sealed with talismans.
"Got it. I'll find you after I'm done here..."
Before he could finish, a teleportation magic circle suddenly appeared overhead. A small girl's figure rushed out, diving straight into the youth's embrace.
"Where? Where? Nagisa wants to come too!"
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