"What do you mean?"
"Simple—Natsuki, try using your space-control arts," Shichen said with a smile.
Rather than explain, it was better to show the result; more convincing that way.
Minamiya Natsuki knit her fine brows at him. She didn't get what he meant, but humored him anyway.
With a thought, her petite body vanished into thin air.
"What exactly are you try—" Natsuki didn't finish. She froze, tilting her head up to stare at Shichen's face.
She was sitting in his arms.
She had clearly meant to jump to a spot behind him.
"What is this?" she asked, too surprised to mind where she was.
"This space is under my dominion now," Shichen said cheerfully, holding her slight frame.
It was the first time he'd held her like this; the two brief, face-to-face hugs they'd shared before were nothing like this.
"What nonsense are you talking about?" Natsuki still didn't follow.
"Silly Natsuki. I mean I've taken complete control of this space, so where you teleport is up to me—if you can teleport at all."
"Impossible!" Natsuki's eyes widened.
How could anyone do that?
To rule a pocket of space was basically godlike—and there were no gods in this world.
"Natsuki, isn't the proof right in front of you?" Shichen said with a grin.
"..."
"If you don't believe it, try again."
Natsuki said nothing and attempted to move through space—only to find she couldn't. She couldn't even sense spatial ripples.
"Believe me now?" Shichen asked, left arm around her as he lifted his right hand to tip her chin.
She rolled her eyes and slapped his hand away. "Put me down."
"No can do. It's not every day I get to hold you—why let go so soon?"
"Don't push your luck." Natsuki's gaze turned dangerous.
"Heh. I'm not afraid of you right now. Without your space magic, you're powerless."
Natsuki glared, annoyed.
Without her spatial ability, she really was out of tricks—about as harmless as she looked.
Feeling mischievous, Shichen couldn't help giving her soft cheeks a little squeeze. Her skin was fine and smooth, cool to the touch—hard to resist.
"Don't overdo it," Natsuki said, expression flat.
"What's the harm? It's bonding."
"Off." She smacked his hand away and tried to rise.
"Heh~"
He didn't intend to tease her too far and let her go.
Raising Natsuki's tolerance a little at a time was the right approach—testing too much at once would only make future affection harder.
Plenty of time; take it step by step.
"What are you two looking at?" Natsuki sat back in her seat and glanced at Avrora and Kaguya, who had been staring.
"Nothing!"
Both of them ducked their heads and shoveled rice.
"Hmph." Natsuki shot Shichen a calm glare and started eating as if nothing had happened.
"Nothing you want to ask?" Shichen said.
"Ask what?" Natsuki kept her eyes on her food.
"Not curious about this ability of mine?"
"What's there to be curious about."
"Is that so." Shichen chuckled and let it go—her ears were already red.
This puppet body really was something; it even reflected her mood.
"What are you laughing at? Eat. The food's getting cold," Natsuki scolded without looking up.
"Okay~"
After dinner, Shichen cleared the dishes and started preparing rooms for Avrora and Kaguya.
There hadn't been enough rooms—Nina was still using one—but expanding the interior and adding a few more was easy.
Avrora and Kaguya didn't need appliances anyway.
"Do you two want to share a room or sleep separately?" he asked the pair, who'd stayed quiet in the unfamiliar setting.
They traded a glance. Avrora asked, "C-could we… sleep with you?"
"Oh? You want to sleep with me?" Shichen teased.
"N-no!" Avrora denied, flushing.
"Heh~ With Natsuki here, there's to be no adults-only business in the house."
"Adults-only?" Avrora blinked—then caught on.
"Y-you want to do adults-only things to me? Th-that's not allowed!"
"Weren't you the one who wanted to share a bed?" Shichen tugged at the corner of his mouth.
"I never said that!"
"Anyway, together or separate? Either is fine."
"Um… Kaguya, share with me?"
"Mm." Kaguya nodded, unbothered.
"Shichen, then I'll sleep with Kaguya."
"Alright. I'll go buy you some furniture."
"I—I want to come with you!"
"Come with me? Sure. Kaguya?"
"I'll stay home."
"Works for me."
Shichen took Avrora out to buy furniture and household items. She clung to him the whole time, taking in everything with curious eyes.
Since she kept clutching his clothes, he simply took her hand.
Her hand was delicate, cool, and soft—hard to let go of.
Avrora didn't pull away; she just pressed closer.
Kaguya and Avrora were about the same build, so he bought duplicate sets of pajamas and such, just in different colors.
Avrora had wanted to pick for herself, but when she remembered that all of Kaguya's things had been chosen by Shichen, she let him decide.
By the time they finished, it was late. He didn't bother arranging delivery—having the Gate of Babylon made everything easy.
In this world, there was no need to hide the supernatural.
Shichen was going to jump straight home, but Avrora wanted to walk.
It was late and quiet. There were plenty of demons on Itogami Island, but few silhouettes on the streets; limits or not, Shichen wasn't worried about trouble.
Avrora hugged his arm, taking in the city around them.
"Still a bit uneasy?" Shichen asked, looking down at her.
"A little… but with you here, I'm not afraid," Avrora said earnestly.
"Yeah? Trust me that much?" He ruffled her hair; under the night sky, her flame-bright hair really glowed.
"Mm. Because you and I are the same—kin. With a companion, I'm not scared."
"Not afraid I'll devour you?" he teased.
"Um… y-you already kissed me. You can't hurt me anymore."
"And who made that rule?"
"That's just how it is!"
"Oh? How long does that rule last?" Shichen stopped and faced her.
"Last?" Avrora blinked.
"I can't protect you forever for a single kiss. That's a bad deal for me."
"W-what do you want, then?"
"Once a day?"
"Eh?" Avrora's mouth fell open.
"Call it a protection fee."
"D-do you really want to kiss me that much?"
"Pretty much."
"B-but we already kissed today…" A rosy flush spread over her cheeks like a ripe apple.
"It's fine—I'll borrow tomorrow's in advance," Shichen said, drawing her into his arms and lowering his head.
"Mmph!" Before Avrora could react, he kissed her.
She stared wide-eyed at his face, felt the pressure of his lips, then closed her eyes and hugged him back.
They got home a bit late. Natsuki and Kaguya were in the living room.
"Why are you back so late?" Natsuki asked casually.
"Avrora wanted to see the city, so we walked," Shichen said.
"Mm." Natsuki glanced at Avrora and saw nothing amiss.
"You're not jealous, are you?" Shichen asked with a smile.
"Jealous of what? Go set up their furniture. It's late."
"Got it. Kaguya, give me a hand."
"Yes."
Avrora and Kaguya had no preferences about layout, so Shichen arranged both rooms the way he liked.
They were a bit plain for now; he figured he'd add some girlish touches later.