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As August gradually drew to a close, the day finally arrived—summer vacation's last day.
More accurately, less than a full day remained until school started. Classes began tomorrow morning, and right now it was already the final evening of summer break.
As the fiery sunset at the distant horizon where sea met sky sank into the ocean beyond the window, the apartment living room still carried lingering traces of dinner's aroma.
Bokue had just emerged from the kitchen when his phone buzzed lightly in his pocket.
Buzz buzz—
Hmm?
Though unsure who'd be calling at this hour, Bokue still pulled out his phone for a look.
The caller ID read: [Little Sister].
So Yura was calling.
Without hesitation, Bokue directly tapped answer and brought the phone to his ear.
"Hello? What's up, Yura?"
"...Brother, are you free right now?"
The young Onmyōji girl's familiar voice came through from the other end.
"I remember you're living at the Keystone Gate, right? If possible, could you bring me some daily necessities when you come to school tomorrow for the opening ceremony?"
"Hmm? What's wrong, won't the school let you out..."
Bokue instinctively asked this, but the moment words left his mouth he realized he'd said the wrong thing.
Though she was his sister, clearly Yura wasn't genuinely insisting he help buy things—she simply wanted him to come see her tomorrow.
So Bokue immediately backtracked.
"Got it. What do you need, Yura? I just finished dinner anyway. I'll head downstairs to buy it shortly."
"Okay, then I'll hang up first and text you a list."
Having received the young man's agreement, Yura's voice carried threads of delight before she hung up, satisfied.
A few seconds later, a list detailing various daily necessities arrived via text.
The list's contents weren't excessive but weren't minimal either—mostly things like shampoo, body wash, laundry detergent, towels, plus napkins and... sanitary pads.
Basically all items girls commonly used.
Bokue: "..."
Though he could directly create all these through matter reconstruction powers, what he could produce was limited to what he himself wanted.
Like how Yura had noted specific brands and scents for the body wash and shampoo—Bokue was helpless against such specifications.
For instance, lavender-scented laundry detergent. Bokue had never paid attention to what lavender specifically smelled like, so naturally couldn't reproduce it.
Bottom line—he could only obediently go buy everything at the supermarket.
Though speaking of which, hadn't he said she could just tell him over the phone? Yet she still insisted on texting a written list in black and white. Did she really not trust his memory that much?
After brief consideration, Bokue still replied with an OK, then turned to message Saeko Busujima.
[I'm heading down to buy some daily necessities for my sister Yura. Do you need me to bring anything, Senpai?]
Send.
Buzz buzz—
Almost the moment Bokue's side showed "delivered," the next second Saeko's reply came through.
Though not in text form—she'd directly sent several photos of her dorm room.
The photos showed the dorm bathroom shelves already filled with various shampoos, body washes, and laundry detergents. The sink beside them also held Saeko's own toothbrush and rinsing cup.
Even in other photos, you could see under the bed stuffed full of napkins, toilet paper, sanitary pads, etc.
In short, highlighting abundant stockpiling.
So meaning she didn't need him to bring anything...
Just as Bokue thought this, another message came from Saeko.
[Daily necessities aren't really lacking, but if possible, I'd like Kouhai to bring a bottle of lube. The school store doesn't sell that. Last time hurt a bit after you... Ahem,]
She'd even added six slashes at the end—in emoticon language meaning blushing embarrassment.
Lube? Hurt last time?
A loading symbol appeared above Bokue's head.
Oh shit... so she meant that kind of lube!
Taking a full three seconds to realize this lube wasn't that lube, Bokue mentally facepalmed before typing a line and hitting send.
[Got it. I'll bring it after school tomorrow then.]
[Okay//////]
Saeko's message quickly returned, carrying those six slashes representing shy blushing.
Hard to imagine that Senpai—usually elegant and proper, wildly bold in combat—also had such a girly side when texting.
Thinking this, Bokue copied Yura's list into his phone's notes app, then added Busujima-senpai's requested lube at the bottom line.
However, just as he'd finished everything and prepared to head downstairs to the Keystone Gate mall, the bedroom door suddenly opened.
A certain nekomata girl who'd been lounging in the bedroom since dinner emerged. Two cat tails swished behind her. She walked before Bokue and without thinking spread both arms to hug him.
"Ready, Bokue? Time's about right. We should head to Rias's side for a bath~"
Read as bathing, written as making kittens.
Since moving the old school building here, Bokue hadn't been idle these final ten-plus days of vacation. He'd not only connected the old school building's space with Saikai Academy's interior but also expanded the old school building's space itself threefold.
Especially the old school building's bathroom—now expanded into a Roman-style grand bath that could easily accommodate a large group bathing together.
So these past days, Bokue had basically been providing psychological counseling to all the girls daily, never stopping until dyeing the entire bath water white.
"Right now? Isn't it a bit early?"
Bokue glanced at the living room wall clock. Only about six-thirty in the evening.
He'd just finished dinner, so naturally Rias's side had too.
Starting directly now—wasn't he really afraid of pushing dinner back out?
"Plus, I still need to buy Yura's school supplies."
Speaking, Bokue showed Kuroka the list Yura had sent.
Mmm~
Kuroka glanced once and instinctively shrank her neck: "Going to the mall downstairs... then you go, Bokue. I'll just wait at home for you to come back."
Her personality somewhat resembled Bokue's—neither particularly liked crowded places. Especially places like summer malls. Outside sweltering, inside air-conditioned. A huge crowd of tourists entering the shopping center carrying body odor, everyone's sweat smells mixing through AC ducts before blowing back out. Just thinking about it made cats unable to handle it.
Kuroka was a clean kitty—wouldn't go to such dirty places.
"Alright, you stay home then, Kuroka. I'll be back after buying everything."
Gently rubbing Kuroka's head, just as Bokue prepared to leave—
Right then, the inner bedroom door also suddenly opened. Mio Naruse emerged as if having timed the young man's departure perfectly, smiling broadly.
"Ara? Bokue-kun is going shopping too? Perfect timing—I need to go as well~"
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