"As expected of a young man. Your body's in peak condition, so your fever broke after only three days."
Touko Aozaki sat by the bed, looking at the thermometer marked with Shirou's temperature.
"It took me a whole week to recover. I'm honestly jealous.
Shirou, your bad cold is almost completely gone.
Still, just to be safe, you should stay in bed and rest properly today."
"Uh…"
Shirou looked slightly confused.
He had always been the one taking care of others. Being the one cared for was rare.
So spending the past few days lying in bed, completely unable to move while Touko Aozaki looked after his daily needs, had been a very unfamiliar experience for him.
He was grateful for how carefully Touko Aozaki had cared for him over the past three days, but in the end, she was the one who had given him the cold in the first place…
If she had not suddenly attacked him back then and shoved her tongue in… Shirou never would have caught that bizarre virus, one strange enough to bring down even Magi.
"What's wrong? Still bothered that a cold managed to beat you? Don't take it so hard, Shirou.
This is the newest cold virus of the year. Your body doesn't have antibodies for it, so getting sick was unavoidable.
Viruses are like Magecraft. Ancient things aren't the only ones that can be powerful. Otherwise, what would be the point of my research?"
Touko Aozaki went on at length, just as she always did.
Shiki and Fujino had already come to the office to visit Shirou yesterday and the day before.
When Fujino left, she said today was the first day back at school, so she would not be able to come. As for Shiki, something seemed to have come up at home, so she would not be coming either.
Today, the only people at the agency were Shirou and Touko.
Shirou had no interest in listening to Touko's endless chatter about modern Magecraft. Compared to that, there was something far more confusing on his mind.
"Touko-nee-san, can I ask you something?"
"Of course." The orange-haired Magus nodded.
After putting on her glasses, she switched into her gentle mode. Maybe because Shirou was still a patient, she was even kinder than usual today.
"Um… Touko-nee-san, I really don't want to discuss this kind of thing with a woman, but where are my clothes? And why am I completely naked?"
"What a stupid question."
Touko Aozaki took off her glasses and set them on the desk, then glanced at the boy lying naked on the bed and answered.
"When a man and a woman are alone in the same room, there's only one thing left to do, isn't there?"
"......Spare me."
Shirou sighed.
He had only just recovered from a severe cold. Even though he had recovered, he was still so weak he could barely move. Binding me with Runes while I'm this helpless is way too underhanded, isn't it?
No, that's not the point!
I'm Aoko's boyfriend!
This isn't funny. If Aoko finds out, I'm dead!
Aoko and I are still only at the stage where I'm allowed to use my hands while we kiss!
And I already have Alice as my officially recognized lover… Isn't that enough? How did I end up in this kind of relationship with my girlfriend's older sister too…
If those two find out, they'll chase me to the ends of the earth. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!
Shirou struggled desperately, but Touko Aozaki had already bound him to the bed with Runes while he was fast asleep.
"Don't worry. I know you're too weak to move right now, so I'll take charge. All you have to do is lie there, Shirou."
As she spoke, she began unbuttoning her white shirt, looking very pleased with herself.
"W-Wait, Touko-nee-san! If Aoko and Alice find out, we're both dead!"
Touko Aozaki undid her high ponytail.
With her vivid red hair falling loose, the doll-maker gave off a mature, intoxicating allure.
"Hmm… Then we'll just die together when the time comes. Dying with Shirou doesn't sound so bad."
"Don't say stupid things! I'm not like you. I can't revive myself forever!"
"Once I switch to a new body, I'll be able to experience being a virgin all over again. You're so lucky, Shirou… That's every man's dream, right?"
"By then, I'll already be buried in the graveyard at White Inuzuka!!!"
Touko ignored Shirou's resistance.
"Mm…?"
Shirou's eyes widened, and he held his breath.
He had thought that as long as he refused to cooperate, Touko would not be able to do anything to him, but…
"I was a little worried at first, but it looks like there's no problem… Shirou and I really do feel the same way about each other."
Seeing that, Touko Aozaki smiled bewitchingly.
"…♡"
...
...
The chirping of birds woke Shirou.
What came into view was the now-familiar ceiling of the agency.
It was a fine morning. Shirou tried moving his shoulders, arms, and legs, and they no longer felt as heavy as they had when he woke up yesterday.
His severe cold had finally cleared up completely.
His head was clear now too, and Shirou vividly remembered everything that had happened over the past few days while he had been bedridden.
"..."
His face slowly went pale.
Last night, did that really…
No. It had to be a nightmare, right?
While I was stuck in bed with a severe illness, Touko took advantage of me, attacked me, and had her way with me completely.
At first, I was entirely passive, but before long I stopped thinking, stopped resisting, and even held Touko tightly myself…
Once the two of us got into it, we happily reached the peak of pleasure together…
There's no way something like that actually happened… Hahahaha, what an awful dream.
Just then, a scent Shirou disliked, but had already grown able to tolerate, drifted into his nose.
He turned his head and saw a woman, naked except for a shirt draped over her, standing there as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
In an instant, Shirou felt as if he had fallen from heaven straight into hell. …It wasn't a dream.
The red-haired doll-maker sat elegantly with her pale legs crossed, a slim mint cigarette held between her fingers.
A closer look revealed scratch marks on her back, along with handprints on the skin further down…
"…Gulp."
Shirou swallowed, and the scenes from last night came back into sharp focus.
Touko Aozaki noticed his gaze and turned her head.
The moment their eyes met, Touko narrowed her eyes and gave him a seductive smile.
"Morning, Shirou."
"…"
"What's wrong? Would you rather I call you 'darling'?"
"Spare me." Shirou pressed a hand to his forehead.
He climbed out of bed and quickly got dressed.
"Are you going back?"
Touko Aozaki looked at Shirou curiously as she asked.
"No. There must be a lot of work piled up over the past few days… You've been taking care of me the whole time, Touko-nee-san.
Now that I'm better, I should work properly and repay you."
Shirou walked over to the desk and sat down in Touko Aozaki's chair.
He began sorting through the files on the Ogawa Apartment Complex and the follow-up work.
Souren Araya had been defeated, but he had prepared other pawns as well… If they were not dealt with, they might threaten Shiki's safety.
"Oh, how reliable… I'll leave it to you, Shirou," Touko said with a smile.
"Could you put some clothes on?" Shirou forced himself to ask.
"I'll put them on if a client comes by, of course. But there's no need to wear anything in front of Shirou anymore, is there… We're already that kind of relationship."
As she said that, Touko stretched, and her large, firm, snow-white breasts swayed seductively in the morning sunlight.
Knowing she was deliberately teasing him, Shirou decided to ignore her.
A calm silence settled over the room, and ten minutes passed like that.
"We have guests, Shirou. Help me get dressed."
"Huh?"
"I changed your clothes for three days. Now it's your turn to repay me."
"Don't be ridiculous," Shirou said with a frown.
She was probably lying about guests just to trick me into helping her get dressed. Garan no Dou might not even get a single client in an average month.
Shirou once again resolved to ignore anything Touko said to him.
"I wonder if Shirou-kun has recovered."
Footsteps came from the entrance to the office, along with the voices of Fujino Asagami and Shiki Ryougi.
"!"
Shirou shot up from his chair, rushed over to Touko Aozaki, and frantically helped her get dressed.
Two minutes later, Fujino walked into the office first, carrying a fruit basket.
"Good morning, Shirou-kun… Wait, you can already get up!?"
Fujino looked in surprise at Shirou, who was sitting behind the desk.
"Ah, yeah, I'm fine now. Sorry for worrying you, Fujino."
Shirou stammered through his reply.
"Shirou, I came to see you… Fujino insisted I come with her. Hm?"
The moment Shiki Ryougi stepped into the office, she frowned.
She tilted her head back slightly and sniffed, then looked toward Shirou and Touko Aozaki, who was sitting on the sofa.
"Hm… I see. So that's what happened."
The short-haired black-haired girl gave him a meaningful smirk.
Shirou knew Shiki was as sharp and sensitive as a cat, so he immediately asked, uneasy.
"Wh-what is it, Shiki? Why are you suddenly making that face…"
Shiki shook her head. "Nothing. I was just thinking Shirou recovered awfully fast. Looks like Touko took very good care of you."
Fujino looked envious and murmured in agreement, "That sounds so nice… I wanted to take care of Shirou-kun while he was sick too. Maybe I would have heard him act spoiled with me."
Shirou quickly argued back. "N-No way! Touko's care was a complete mess!
When giving me medicine, she poured boiling water straight into it, and she left the ice towel on my forehead all day without changing it…
I only recovered so quickly because I couldn't stand it anymore!"
Fujino covered her mouth and laughed, while Shiki merely raised an unconvinced eyebrow.
"Really? I think Touko 'took care' of you very thoroughly… in every sense."
"..."
There was no doubt now. Shiki had noticed the immoral relationship between him and Touko.
"Shiki, come here for a second."
"Huh?"
"Come here!"
Shirou roughly grabbed Shiki by the arm and, ignoring Fujino's suspicious look, dragged her into the kitchen next door.
"What?"
Shiki frowned and rubbed the arm he had grabbed red.
"Shiki, is there anything you want?" Shirou asked anxiously.
"Huh?"
"A gift or something. There must be something you want, right?"
At this point, even if it meant bribing her, Shirou needed Shiki to keep quiet about his relationship with Touko.
The black-haired girl watched Shirou in confusion for a moment. Once she realized he was serious, she answered without hesitation.
"A sword… I want a sword."
"Got it. I'll make a Kanesada that belongs only to you, Shiki."
"Mm. It's a promise."
Shiki smiled happily, like an elementary school boy who had just been given a PlayStation.
"......"
When they came out of the kitchen, Shiki looked delighted, while Shirou noticed Fujino Asagami casting a resentful look his way.
…Perhaps this was what people called karma.
He had solved one crisis with a material gift, and in the same breath, created a brand-new misunderstanding.
...
...
"Sorry! I'm late!"
Just as Shirou was trying to placate an impatient Shiki Ryougi, a voice called out from behind them.
The two turned around and saw a lovely, striking young woman running toward them.
Even through her modest traditional clothing, her exceptionally full figure was easy to see.
Her pure, delicate beauty complemented the vivid yukata, and her thick, long hair was so smooth it seemed to flow like a river of stars.
Shirou smiled and said, "You look beautiful, Fujino."
Praised by the boy, the girl shyly looked away, a faint blush coloring the tips of her ears.
"That's not true."
Shiki, standing beside them, urged them forward. "Come on, let's hurry… The fireworks show is about to start."
"You look beautiful too, Shiki."
"Hmph. Too late."
To hide her embarrassment, the black-haired girl quickened her pace.
Today was the last Sunday of August, and also the final day of the three-day festival.
The day of the fireworks show.
Yesterday morning, Shirou had received his first phone call from Shiki herself.
"There's a fireworks show this weekend. Take me out."
Her tone had been so fierce it sounded like a threatening call from a kidnapper, but Shirou happily agreed.
After asking for a day off from the President, who had become his regular drinking buddy, Shirou checked with Shiki, then invited Fujino as well. That evening, the three of them went out together to visit the fireworks show.
The road was already packed with people, with all kinds of stalls lining both sides.
"My mother told me this festival is apparently hosted by the Ryougi family."
"I don't know, so don't ask me."
Fujino and Shiki chatted on and off as they walked, while Shirou, acting as their escort, followed behind them with his arms crossed.
Just then, a sharp whoosh rang out overhead.
All three of them looked up at the same time as colorful fireworks scattered across the night sky.
"It's so beautiful…"
Fujino gazed longingly at the blooming fireworks, while Shiki watched in silence.
Summer is over… Shirou let out a wistful sigh.
"Fujino, want some apple candy?"
"I do."
Shirou looked toward the black-haired girl. "What about Shiki?"
Shiki Ryougi said nothing. She simply took his hand and led him toward the stall.
"Ah, that's not fair… I want to hold hands with Shirou-kun too!"
***
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