"Eh?!"
Shichen jumped in surprise and pushed Yatogami Tohka away.
A sharp female voice echoed inside his body—no ordinary man could stay calm after that.
"Shichen?" Tohka still hadn't come to her senses; she stared at him in a dreamy, puzzled daze.
"Wake up." Ignoring the voice within, Shichen grabbed Tohka's cheeks and tugged them outward.
"Mmph—ow! Ow! Ow!" Tohka's eyes cleared instantly.
She slapped his hands away and scolded, "What are you doing!"
"What do you think? What were you just doing?" Shichen asked with a teasing smile.
"What was I doing…!" The moment she recalled her actions, her cheeks flushed scarlet.
Her gaze drifted to Shichen's lips, reliving the sensation from seconds ago.
A little fluttery, a little excited, a little shy.
It felt even sweeter than their daytime date.
"Heh ~ Where did you learn that? Why would you do something like that?" Shichen teased.
"I…" Head lowered in embarrassment, she mumbled, "I don't know… I just suddenly couldn't help it."
"Really? Do you know what it's called?"
"C‑called what?" Tohka looked up at him.
"It's called a kiss."
"Kiss…" She raised a hand in a daze, brushing her lips as if the feeling still lingered.
"That's not something you do lightly," Shichen said.
"What?"
"Only a man and woman who are very close can do that!"
"Very close? Th‑then do we count?"
"We're close, but not that close."
"Really…" She felt a pang of disappointment. "S‑sorry…"
"Huh? Why are you apologizing?"
"Because we aren't supposed to do that, right?" Tohka retorted.
"But sooner or later we will be able to."
"Eh? Why?"
"What—don't you want us to get even closer?"
"Of course I do!" she blurted.
"Then it's fine."
"But right now…"
"Just treat it as borrowing from the future. I don't mind," Shichen said, acting indifferent.
"Shichen…"
"But remember—this is something you can only do with one man, for your whole life," he lectured solemnly.
It sounded like he was tricking a gullible child, but his possessiveness was that strong.
"I know that already!" Tohka shot back.
"You 'know,' yet you didn't even know what a kiss was?" Shichen raised an eyebrow.
"Ugh… I just… felt it in my heart."
"Impressive."
"Hehe ~"
"Feeling proud now? All right, silly girl, check your body—how do you feel? Getting used to it?"
"Hmph ~ I'm not silly!" She pouted, then focused on her body.
"Eh?" she exclaimed.
"My Spirit Power… it's almost gone!"
"Told you I wasn't lying."
"Shichen, you're amazing! Now I never have to worry again!" Tohka hugged him excitedly.
He laughed and hugged her back. After the first embrace, the second comes naturally—another reason she threw herself at him without hesitation.
"Just keep believing in me. I'll grant any wish you have."
"Mhm! I believe you!" Tohka nodded vigorously in his arms.
"By the way, any discomfort?"
"None. Aside from not being able to control Spirit Power, everything's fine."
"Really? Then can your Astral Dress still appear?"
"I'll try."
Tohka stepped back and tested it. A purple glow flashed only at her waist; the cool knight‑like armor‑gown didn't show, just a lotus‑shaped frill.
"Mm… this is all I can manage." She wasn't disappointed—in fact, she looked thrilled.
"Hm… that doesn't feel safe," Shichen muttered, stroking his chin.
"It's fine; this is enough," she said breezily.
"Can't you be more cautious? The AST won't hold back… Forget it—no one'll hurt you while I'm here."
"Hehe, you're the best, Shichen."
"Your Sandalphon still works?"
"Mhm, it's still here."
A silver great‑sword appeared in her hand; in the moonlight its blade gleamed dazzlingly.
"Then we're set," Shichen nodded.
"Mhm‑mhm! Thank you, Shichen." She stored Sandalphon and hugged him again.
"Why do you keep hugging me?"
"Because I feel like it~"
"All right, all right—since we're such good friends."
"Such good friends… then… can I kiss you again?" Tohka looked up, eyes sparkling.
"…What did you say?" Shichen wondered if he'd misheard.
"Um… I want to kiss you again," she said shyly, cheeks glowing.
"…Why?"
"It feels wonderful."
"That's not a valid reason."
"But I'm only allowed to kiss you, right? I want to feel it again…"
"Still not enough."
"Then… another advance?" Her eyes lit up.
"That I can allow," Shichen nodded gravely.
"Then…"
Tohka leaned in, eyes slowly closing, anticipation on her delicate face.
Her lovely face, those cherry‑colored lips… Shichen lowered his head to meet hers.
Just then the sharp voice rang out inside him again.
"What are you trying to do to Tohka this time?!"
Shichen: "…"
The voice was identical to the girl before him—less playful, more severe.
He instantly guessed. He hadn't expected her to run right into his body!
He'd only absorbed a little Spirit Power—was that reason enough?
It made no sense!
Weren't the two of them one?
No—it wasn't strange; he should've realized earlier.
While absorbing Tohka's Spirit Power he'd sensed a power similar to his own—his ability.
No wonder she'd said he carried a familiar aura; it wasn't some fragment resonance.
Tohka had his ability. What had he done in the future to change the past?
He couldn't imagine; this world had drifted far from what he knew.
But at least they were both still here.
Shichen ignored the voice, for Tohka was already kissing him.
He held her tight but didn't deepen it—just pressed his lips to hers quietly.
With others nearby tonight, it wasn't time to teach her anything more advanced; there would be plenty of time later.
The presence inside him fell silent.
Time felt both long and short; finally, short of breath, Tohka released him.
Big eyes blinking, cheeks flushed and alluring—shy yet staring boldly.
"Happy now?" Shichen smiled.
"Mmm…" She nodded.
"Then off to sleep. It's late."
"I… I'm not going back!" Tohka flopped onto the bed, pulling the quilt over herself.
"Wait, you're sleeping here?"
"Mmm… it's the same," came the muffled reply.
"It's very different!"
"B‑but I want to sleep with you."
"You… Fine. Just tonight. Tomorrow your own room."
"Okay!" She peeked from under the quilt, beaming.
"Sleep." Shichen lay beside her.
"Can I hold you while I sleep?" she asked suddenly.
"Huh? Don't push it."
"But… I feel safe holding you."
"All right, just this once."
"Hehe ~" She hugged his arm happily.
Feeling her softness, Shichen was pleased too.
"Good night, Shichen."
"Mhm, good night."
Watching her close her eyes, he smiled indulgently.
He planned to deal with the presence inside him after she slept, but she nodded off quickly.
Shaking his head, he closed his eyes and addressed the other presence.
"Why are you inside me?"
"How should I know?" she replied frostily.
"So hostile?"
"You dared do that to Tohka!" The voice seethed.
"Get it straight—it was she who did it to me," Shichen retorted.
"Shameless!"
"Let's drop that." He changed the topic. "What's your relationship with Tohka?"
"Why should I tell you?"
"…Then what's your name?"
Silence.
"No name, like Tohka?"
"Hmph!"
"Want me to give you one?"
Unfazed, he continued, "You're in Tohka's body, essentially one with her—probably her little sister, so…"
"Older sister!"
"Heh, fine—older sister. How about 'Tenka'?"
Yatogami Tenka: …
~~~
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