It was the same kind of far-off, hazy sensation Maki felt the very first day she had allowed herself to fall asleep in peace.
She slowly opened her eyes within that distant fog.
Everything was an abyss of shadows.
The only thing visible was Mai, staring back at her with piercing clarity.
It was the same for Mai.
Within that dark expanse, Maki was the only existence that held definition.
The two of them stared at each other in silence, their lips sealed.
They simply held hands.
Then, they slowly let go.
It was more like their strength had simply ebbed away until their fingers slipped apart, but the separation was undeniable. They had released each other.
Mai's eyes widened as the realization struck her.
The karmic bond was snapping.
The metaphysical singularity—the jujutsu principle that dictated they were a single being in the eyes of the world. It was a concept they understood intellectually, but only now did they feel the visceral weight of it through their bodies.
They were tearing away from one another, one becoming two.
Because they finally recognized the thread that had bound them together only as it broke, a staggering sense of loss surged through them.
Maki watched this process and slowly reached out her arms.
She pulled Mai close, wrapping her in a tight embrace.
It was warm. It was soft.
There was a maternal affection in the gesture far deeper than anything they had ever received from their biological mother.
Perhaps it was due to their matured physiques, but it was more than just physical. It was a difference of the heart.
Ah.
Only after being pulled into that embrace did Mai let go of her lingering tension.
If they were the same person, they could never truly hug themselves. But they were different beings now.
Because they were independent souls, they could finally offer each other comfort.
Maki realized the same thing as she held her sister.
The very reason Mai felt so vivid and distinct was because they were no longer the same person.
Clinging to each other, they closed their eyes—and opened them again.
Blinding sunlight poured into the room.
Ibuki-douji sat between them, while the two Koyanskayas stood on either side of the bed. All three Servants gazed down at the sisters in a profound silence.
The twins couldn't find the words to speak either.
Amidst that strangely awkward quiet, Ibuki-douji spoke up.
"It's finished. And it went well."
Maki and Mai's summer vacation had officially begun.
It didn't technically matter to me, since I didn't attend a normal school, but summer break is a special time regardless.
Even if I haven't stepped foot in a classroom this life...
It's impossible to forget the significance of a vacation. From elementary school to college, the sweetness of a break at each stage of life is unique.
Besides, the magecraft ritual I performed on Maki and Mai was a success.
A day like this shouldn't just pass by uneventfully.
"Let's go on a trip."
Fortunately, it seemed Koyanskaya of Light, my Assassin-class secretary, was thinking the exact same thing.
A trip? The mere thought was exhilarating.
"Come to think of it, has it already been several years since we all traveled together?" I asked.
"Yes. Ever since there was no longer a constant need to hunt Cursed Spirits or rogue Curse Users, we've stayed relatively stationary," she replied.
"Then should we go?"
"I'd love to. It would be the perfect way to commemorate our... integration."
Assassin's eyes narrowed into a soft curve.
Within her predatory smile, a blatant, naked desire flickered. I was just as excited as she was, my shoulders practically bouncing with anticipation.
"Let's do it. Let's go."
Now that the decision was made, I declared our departure and immediately began looking for destinations. Packing and logistics could come later; the first priority was the 'where.'
A group trip was different from an impulsive solo journey; I couldn't just wander anywhere. The Servants didn't seem surprised; they were used to my sudden whims.
"Master. You're serious about the trip?"
"Where are you planning to take us?"
Maki and Mai, however, appeared flustered when they entered the room. They weren't accustomed to this kind of spontaneity.
"I'm thinking of staying within the country for now. Since it's so hot, heading somewhere cool for a summer retreat seems best."
"Somewhere not hot? Hokkaido?" Maki approached tentatively as she asked.
Watching her move, I couldn't help but be impressed by her growth. She was reaching the point where she could hold her own alongside the likes of Raiko, Ibuki, and Koyanskaya in terms of sheer presence—and her... developing proportions. I stared for a moment longer than I should have before quickly diverting my eyes back to the monitor.
Now wasn't the time for that.
"Hokkaido isn't bad. Not bad at all, but..."
When you think of cool regions in Japan, Hokkaido is the first choice. It's a perfect escape from the humidity of the current season.
'Wait, no.'
Thinking about it, we didn't actually need to hide from the heat. We had magecraft for that. I could use Mystic Codes to optimize our environment to the perfect temperature regardless of where we were.
Cool if it's hot, warm if it's cold. Since we weren't bound by the climate, we could go wherever we actually wanted.
"How about Okinawa?"
Okinawa just popped into my head. Maybe because of its role in the original Jujutsu Kaisen story?
"Okinawa?"
"Yeah. We can ward off the heat with Mystic Codes, and it seems like the best place to just enjoy ourselves. Do you guys not like the idea?"
"No. I'm fine with it."
"Me too. If that's where you want to go, we're in."
The sisters nodded. Since there were no objections, Okinawa it was.
Accommodations, sights—I researched various locations and then dumped the actual booking work onto Assassin. She was the secretary, after all.
I didn't invite Toji this time. This was meant to be a family trip, and frankly, I had a few impure motives for the trip that didn't include him. We could do a more casual outing with him later.
"The reservations are complete. I've scheduled us for a full week; will that be sufficient?"
"Thanks. Good work."
"Not at all. Since this trip includes our special first night together, it was only right that I handled the arrangements personally."
Assassin smiled, looking truly genuinely excited. Thanks to her efficiency, the packing went smoothly and we kept to the schedule.
It was the same for the other Servants. Normally, to save on resources, I'd have only one manifest in physical form while the others remained in Spirit Form, but that would ruin the vacation atmosphere. The point of a trip is to walk around and experience things directly.
So, even if it cost a bit more, I booked tickets for everyone and boarded the flight to Okinawa. It was a short distance, so we flew Economy rather than Business. Since there were nine of us, we split across two rows.
"It's been a long time since I've been on a plane. Years, right?"
"Yes. After things stabilized, we rarely needed to travel far. Even when we did, we usually took the Shinkansen."
"Are you referring to the trip we took with the Zenin family?"
The two Koyanskayas chatted in the seats behind me. Shuten, Ibuki, and Ushi-gozen occasionally chimed in. Maki and Mai were to my right, while Raiko—who had won the coin toss—sat on my left.
"Master. I'm so looking forward to Okinawa. It's a place I've only ever heard of, so I'm curious what the landscape looks like."
Raiko casually linked her arm with mine. The sheer tactile sensation of her immense bust pressing against my arm was nothing short of miraculous. The visual impact alone was staggering. Every time I touched her, every time I looked at her, it felt new. I felt as if I would never have enough time to ever get used to it or grow bored.
"I think this is my second time? I dropped by briefly when I was with Toji once, but we couldn't actually do any sightseeing."
"Oh? Is that so?"
"Yeah. We were there to hunt down a Curse User who specialized in Cursed Corpses."
Bringing up old stories filled me with a sense of nostalgia. Those were the days, I thought. The sisters, who had been watching us with curious eyes, perked up. They were always interested in these kinds of stories.
—Attention, passengers.—
The announcement interrupted our chatter. Time really flies.
We braced ourselves and eventually disembarked, heading for the airport bus. Today's schedule was simple: get to the hotel and rest. I hadn't planned more than one or two sightseeing activities per day. We had plenty of time, and packing the schedule only makes everyone exhausted. Vacation is for leisure.
We headed straight for the hotel. Since Assassin had handled the booking, its facilities, cleanliness, and location were impeccable. After checking in, we went to our rooms to unpack.
Nine people total. Usually, putting three to a room would make the most sense, but we had booked four. This was entirely due to Assassin's determination to have a room alone with me.
The final layout was: Maki and Mai in one; Shuten and Ushi-gozen in another; Raiko, Ibuki, and Foreigner (Koyanskaya of Darkness) in the third. That left two of us for the last room—Assassin and myself.
"It's been a while since just the two of us shared a room."
"Didn't we share a room last night?" I asked.
"Master. In times like these, you're supposed to just agree. At home, everyone is there, so it's hard to say we're truly 'alone.'"
I nodded as Assassin shot me a playful, reproaching glare. She wasn't wrong.
"Does the hotel feel that different?"
"It creates a sense of separation. It makes the feeling of being alone together much more distinct."
"Ah—hotels do have that vibe."
The unfamiliarity of the space helped emphasize the isolation from our daily lives. Once we finished unpacking, I collapsed onto the sofa. The view out the window was spectacular, the room was spacious, and everything we needed was right there. It was comfortable.
"There. Now you can rest until dinner time, right?"
Assassin asked as she sat down beside me. She leaned into me, her weight a pleasant, soft pressure. The sweet scent of her skin and the softness of her body were intoxicating. Her hair tickled my cheek. If it had been the old me, I would have panicked, but now...
I was relatively composed. My heart still raced, and I was still excited, but I could at least hide it. Barely.
"Yeah. Since we checked in early, I think I'll take a nap until dinner."
"Oh? Are you that tired?"
"Not exactly tired, but there's no reason to push myself if I don't have to."
"Hmm... is that so?"
The corners of Assassin's mouth curled into a suspicious smirk as she stood up.
"Wait. What are you up to?"
"Let's just say it's a little event to soothe my weary Master. Please wait just a moment."
Laughing, she grabbed her bag and disappeared behind the heavy window curtains. I heard the rustling of fabric and saw the silhouette of her moving behind the drapes. It was clear she was changing clothes.
What kind of 'event' was this?
'What is she wearing?'
I swallowed hard, my eyes glued to the curtain. My heart thrummed with anticipation. After a few agonizing moments, the curtain finally pulled back.
"Whoa."
The exclamation escaped my lips the moment I saw her. I was familiar with the look from the illustrations I'd seen in the past, but seeing it in reality was a completely different experience.
'She's wearing the bunny suit here?'
It was the final ascension outfit from the game—a striking combination of a leotard and a bunny suit that demanded attention. Her volume was far more impressive than any game art could portray, and the curves of her body were highlighted with lethal precision.
"Well? Do you like it?" Assassin asked as she approached.
Of course I did. It suited her perfectly. I simply nodded, unable to find the words.
"I'm glad. It seems your fatigue has vanished already."
"You definitely surprised me."
"I prepared this specifically to commemorate our special day."
She giggled and placed her hands on my shoulders. Her heavy breasts swayed inches from my face. Surrounded by that sweet fragrance and her overwhelming presence, she whispered into my ear.
"Master. Before dinner... how would you like a little bunny as an appetizer?"