In the morning, Shichen opened his eyes and was just about to stretch when he realized something soft was holding him down.
Glancing left and right, he found himself facing the adorable sleeping faces of Yatogami Tohka and Nishikigi Chisato. Both girls breathed evenly, eyes closed. Their skin looked fair and lustrous, their cheeks so springy and smooth they seemed to glow.
Shichen pressed his lips together, tilted his head to both sides, and planted a light kiss on each girl's cheek.
"Mm …"
Tohka murmured but did not wake. Chisato, however, slowly opened her eyes.
Realizing what had happened, she met Shichen's gaze, then smiled and whispered:
"Shichen-nii, ambushing me first thing in the morning~"
"Aren't you the one who always wants me to?" he parried shamelessly.
"I'd much rather you did it openly…" Chisato pouted, tapping her lips. "And kissed here too."
Still fluttering her lashes, Chisato leaned closer and shut her eyes.
Confronted with that exquisite face and cherry‑pink lips, Shichen didn't hesitate—he moved in and pecked her lips.
Chisato's eyes opened; she dropped all restraint and pressed in, tangling with him on her own initiative.
Shichen did not refuse. Heads tilted, eyelids fluttering, the two carried on their strange duel of lips and tongues.
After a long while they parted. Chisato, savoring the taste, touched her lips with two fingers.
Smiling, cheeks rosy, her big eyes sparkled with life.
"So early … and you didn't even brush your teeth," Shichen joked.
"Hmph—are you saying I'm gross?"
"Impossible. You taste sweet and fragrant," he answered perversely.
"Mmm … then does Shichen-nii want more?"
"Pretty sure you do."
"He‑he‑he~"
Chisato giggled, leaned back in, and kissed him again.
The bed was crowded with others, but everyone else slept on. The pair carried on, trading faint smooch‑smooch sounds as if the world were empty.
…
It was Friday.
Kasumigaoka Utaha went off to school; she had taken the previous day off and honestly wanted to skip again today.
Ever since learning magic, school no longer interested her—especially with grades like hers, which made classes feel pointless.
Shichen convinced her with a single line:
"Life is long. If you don't enjoy your student years now, won't it be boring later?"
Utaha thought about it, picked up her bag, and left.
Shichen turned back to the magic he was developing, expecting to finish it today or tomorrow.
The day before, Tohka acted as temporary shopkeeper while Yoshino played video games; Tohka even wore Shichen's shop‑manager uniform.
Once the two of them had settled into life here, Shichen planned to send them to school. Their identities were already arranged; it seemed a waste otherwise, since neither girl had ever attended properly.
Chisato and Inoue Takina also lacked regular schooling, though DA had trained them academically. Still, Shichen wanted their opinions—girls this age really ought to experience school. Plus, they could watch out for Utaha.
Tohka would be fine: she had just tried school life, loved it despite mediocre marks, and—with her personality—would surely be popular. If she joined Utaha's school, however, she might steal the spotlight from both Utaha and that blonde twintails girl.
Yoshino would be easy: with Kanna beside her, she would probably want to go. Given their looks, third grade in elementary school suited them. Shichen had always intended to send Kanna; having Yoshino only made it easier.
For them, school itself wasn't critical, but staying completely detached from society wasn't good either. Most importantly, Shichen had tasted both the fun and the pain of school—how could the others miss out? A family should share blessings and hardships.
By dusk Shichen succeeded in creating Teleportation Magic and taught it first to Chisato. She mastered it before nightfall—just as Utaha came home.
"Utaha, why are you back so late?" Shichen asked, seeing how exhausted she looked.
"Don't get me started." Utaha dropped her bag and flopped onto a chair.
"What happened?" he asked, massaging her shoulders.
"It's all on you!" she glared back. "If you hadn't made me take that day off, that annoying girl wouldn't have hounded me all afternoon."
"Annoying girl?"
"The blonde twin‑tails I told you about."
"…Are you sure you don't know her?" Utaha asked suspiciously.
"I've never even met her," Shichen shrugged.
"Then why does she keep asking about you? She clearly knows who you are!"
"No idea… So that favor yesterday—getting my absence excused—you asked her?"
"Who else?"
"You say she's a pain, yet you have her contact info." He smirked.
"She's been after me for two months. What could I do?"
"Then why not bring her over?"
"I don't know—some voice inside said not to."
"Er …"
"What, want to meet her?" Utaha's eyes glinted dangerously.
"Of course not. I'm just curious why she knows me." Shichen resumed kneading her shoulders.
"Hmph—let's leave her hanging a while longer. Don't know why, but it's kind of fun."
"Utaha, you're back! We've been waiting ages," Chisato suddenly popped up in front of her—without the slightest warning.
Utaha blinked, then her eyes lit up. She spun toward Shichen: "You finished the spell?"
"Mm‑hmm."
"Teach me!"
"Hold on. Eat and shower first—everyone's been waiting."
"Then let's eat right now!"
Utaha leapt up, dragging Shichen and Chisato off to the kitchen.
After dinner and a shower, Utaha, hair still damp, came looking for her lesson. The remodeled bathroom meant the others were still bathing, so Shichen couldn't join them yet.
Utaha's talent edged out Chisato's; by the time Tohru and the others finished bathing she had learned the spell. She immediately began flashing around the house—until her mana ran dry.
Shichen replenished her, and she kept going, clearly loving the magic. Using up Shichen's mana left her none the worse for wear, and tomorrow was Saturday—no classes, no worries.
Nobody else paid her antics much mind, but Shichen noticed Takina watching Utaha's flickering form with open longing.
Saturday, Shichen handled school enrollment. Tohka, Yoshino, and Kanna all agreed, while Chisato and Takina had zero interest. With Tohru's magic, the paperwork was absurdly easy; they could start Monday.
Sunday, the uniforms arrived.
Tohka would attend Utaha's school but one grade lower—first year of high school. In her own world she'd been a second‑year, but she'd never really studied, so it didn't matter.
Yoshino and Kanna looked about eight or nine, so Shichen placed them in third grade. It was already July—the first term nearly over.
…
"How do I look?"
Early Monday, before any customers arrived, Kanna shouldered the red randoseru Shichen had bought and showed it off. Yoshino's was blue. Their elementary had no uniform, only a hat—Kanna wasn't wearing hers.
"You're adorable," Shichen beamed, heart melting at the tiny figure.
"Shichen-nii, w‑what about me?" Yoshino asked shyly.
"Too cute!" he gave her a thumbs‑up.
"Mmm …"
"Onii-chan, you've got good taste~," Yoshinon teased.
"I'm just telling the truth."
"Oh my~ Onii-chan, you—"
Ding‑a‑ling!
The door chime cut Yoshino off.
Shichen looked over. A petite girl with striking violet hair stepped inside.
The moment he saw her face, he froze—captivated by the little stars glittering in her purple eyes.
~~~
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