The last night before the weekend passed quietly.
The next morning, in Bokue's bedroom, he lay on his side and listened to the steady breathing of the cat-eared girl tucked against him.
He turned his head slightly and checked the time.
Nine a.m.
Normally, even after a long night, this was the point where people started waking up.
Kuroka showed zero intention of moving.
It wasn't that she'd pulled an all-nighter. It was simply that she had definitely… overindulged.
She'd started "snacking" before dinner, refused to stop during dinner, and still clung to Bokue afterward. Then she'd followed him to the old school building for the usual evening gathering with Rias and the others.
Even after the group dispersed, even after a bath, she'd still demanded "midnight dessert."
The result was predictable: she'd exhausted herself completely.
And since it was the weekend, there was no urgency anyway.
Bokue tightened his embrace gently, adjusted them into a more comfortable position, and closed his eyes again, intending to doze a little longer.
That was when Kuroka shifted.
She made a small noise—half asleep—and tried to wriggle closer.
"Bokue… you're awake…?"
"Mm." Bokue lowered his voice near her ear. "I'm up. Keep sleeping. You don't have anything scheduled today."
"Oh…"
Kuroka sounded barely conscious. She closed her eyes again.
Then she murmured something very specific, very insistent, and very dangerous for Bokue's schedule.
"Then… Bokue… come closer…"
Bokue paused.
He understood exactly what she meant.
The problem was: he had plans today—Nagisa, the check-up visit, and whatever "research facility" that would turn into.
Also, "come closer" did not take ten minutes.
He kissed Kuroka's earlobe lightly and whispered, "If I do that, you won't be able to sleep, right?"
"No problem~" Kuroka murmured, voice drowsy but determined. "That makes me comfy…"
She even grew a little restless, repeating herself like a sleepy chant.
"Bokue… don't worry… come closer, come closer…"
Bokue sighed, helpless. "Alright, alright. You're half asleep. Just sleep."
Then he offered the only bribe that could stop her.
"Today I'm escorting Nagisa for the check-up," he said softly. "When I'm back, I'll spoil you properly. As many times as you want. Deal?"
"Mm… fine…" Kuroka mumbled, finally calming. "Okay…"
Consolation complete.
Bokue kissed her cheek once more, gently untangled himself, and sat up.
"I'm getting up," he said. "Breakfast is on the table."
"Mm… zzz…"
Kuroka was already asleep again before she finished the sound.
❁❁❁❁
Ten minutes later—showered, fed, and with Kuroka's portion set aside—Bokue left his apartment.
The sky looked overcast. Rain later felt likely. Better to go early and come back early.
As he stepped into the corridor, his eyes drifted upward toward the top-floor penthouse where Naruse Mio and the others lived.
On the balcony, Maria was hanging bedsheets—frantic, focused, and clearly in a hurry.
Bedsheets? On a cloudy day?
Bokue raised an eyebrow.
A moment later, his silhouette vanished from where he stood.
And reappeared behind her on the balcony.
"Good morning, Maria."
"Eeeek—!!"
Maria nearly jumped out of her skin. She almost flung the damp sheets off the line in the process.
"G-g-good morning, Bokue-oniisan!"
"…Maria," Bokue said, pinching her cheek gently, "are you okay?"
"N-no problem at all!" she insisted too quickly, then laughed awkwardly and gestured at the sheets. "You just startled me. I'm using the weekend to wash everything. They hadn't been cleaned in a while."
Bokue glanced up at the sky again. "Will they even dry?"
"I'll hang them anyway," Maria said stubbornly. "If it rains, I'll bring them in. We have dryers."
"Fair."
Bokue crouched and helped—pulling out pillowcases and covers from the bucket and hanging them with ease. His height made it effortless, while Maria had clearly been tiptoeing and hopping.
When they finished, he waved once.
"I'm heading out. I have to escort Nagisa for her check-up."
"Mm-hm!" Maria nodded rapidly.
Bokue left.
Only when he was fully gone did Maria finally exhale, shoulders dropping in relief.
"Thank goodness… I washed everything without being found out…"
She paused.
Then her cheeks warmed faintly again as last night's dream resurfaced.
It had been a dream about Bokue-oniisan—and her mother—and something that had felt far too real for her comfort.
This morning, she'd woken up, checked the bed, and…
Well.
Hence the emergency laundry.
Yet the dream had been—embarrassingly—amazing.
If she didn't have to deal with the consequences, she wouldn't have minded it happening again.
While Maria's heart stirred with mixed shame and tiny anticipation, a voice from inside the penthouse called out, slightly frantic.
"Sheila-neesan, come here!"
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