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The night passed peacefully, unknown to anyone.
When Bokue Keikain opened his eyes again, it was already the next morning.
Warm sunlight filtered softly through the curtains, gently illuminating the room. Bokue lay on the bed, slowly blinking awake from a rather hazy sleep.
Long black hair, fair skin of the back, and familiar cat ears…
"Kuroka?"
"Mm…"
As if a radar had received a signal, the ears—which had been pointing straight ahead—perked up instantly, swiveling backward slightly.
The sheets stirred as a certain annoyed catgirl flipped around to face him directly.
"Yes, yes—it's your lovely big sis Kuroka, not your dear 'Madam.'"
"M-madam?"
Taking two seconds for his brain to finish restarting and fully rebooting, Bokue's eyes finally cleared as realization dawned upon him.
"Ah right, speaking of which… where did she go?"
"…She left ages ago!"
Kuroka pouted unhappily.
Seriously, even after waking up, still asking about Madam—Madam this, Madam that!
"Look at the time already. If she hadn't left, were you planning on switching roles and replaying yesterday morning's scenario?"
Hmm… Good point.
Bokue momentarily imagined that scenario: yesterday morning he'd been caught by Venelana while holding Rias by the door; if today Rias had walked in on him embracing Venelana by the door instead… No, no—stop right there.
"What time did she leave, roughly?"
"Sometime around five in the morning."
Recalling the events of the previous night, Kuroka felt her blood pressure rise dramatically. Irritated, she wrapped her arms around the young man's head and pulled him forcefully into her bosom.
"Seriously, Bokue, you've really got some nerve, pulling off something like that last night, hmm?"
"Wha' 'as I suppo' 'o do… (What was I supposed to do…)"
Mumbling unclearly with his face smothered by her soft curves, Bokue helplessly inhaled the sweet, tempting aroma of the soft catgirl.
Given the situation last night, was he really supposed to turn into some chivalrous gentleman, wrapping Venelana up tightly and tossing her straight back into her own room? That definitely wasn't his style.
Just as a certain book once stated—the freedom of the strong is defined by the limits of the weak.
Bokue's moral bottom line was simply not doing anything blatantly evil or against his own principles.
As for everything else? He preferred going with the flow, living carefree.
"Right, right. You couldn't help yourself—how convenient…" Kuroka continued complaining dryly before abruptly yawning. "Ahh~…"
These two troublemakers had kept her awake practically all night long. She'd originally intended to take advantage of their short vacation to sleep well and maintain her beauty—but the commotion last night had completely destroyed her plans, even arousing her own interest at some point.
And with Venelana right beside her, Kuroka hadn't even dared change back into her true form to perform senjutsu and relieve herself; after all, Venelana was far stronger than Rias. There was no way to guarantee that the magical fluctuations wouldn't awaken her, so she'd had no choice but to painfully endure until Venelana finally left near dawn. Only then had she safely reverted her form and cleansed herself with purification magic.
As a result, she'd barely slept all night and now felt utterly exhausted… Dammit.
"I don't care—you'd better properly compensate me after we return home."
Lowering her voice, Kuroka muttered indignantly.
"That little red-haired brat said yesterday we're leaving today. Once we're back home, no matter where you go, you have to carry me with you everywhere."
Carrying her everywhere… That actually sounded rather sweet at first glance.
But knowing Kuroka's nature, what she truly wanted definitely wasn't something as innocent as being carried around in his arms. No, what she likely desired was… how should one put it…
Basically, "Extra physical" attention.
"Didn't you complain your stomach was sore yesterday?" Bokue stared at her blankly.
"It's fine now."
Kuroka stubbornly pouted, defiant.
"Never underestimate a Nekoshou's body, nya. I've already recovered almost completely. No problem at all."
"So you immediately want to go at it again as soon as you've mostly recovered?"
"What's wrong with that? Worst case scenario, tomorrow I'll just lie around lifelessly all day at home~ It's not like big sis has school or anything anyway~"
The cat-eared girl confidently justified herself.
❁❁❁❁
Time skipped forward after breakfast.
Atop the rail platform located high above the Gremory family's castle, the special train connecting the two worlds had already begun warming up its engines. Bokue, along with Rias and the others, had finished packing and now stood waiting on the platform beside the train. Venelana was also present, accompanying them for their send-off.
The Underworld's seasons essentially mirrored those of the human world. As the human world entered early summer, temperatures in the Underworld similarly rose.
Yet today—despite the bright sunshine and average temperatures exceeding 27°C—Venelana, for reasons unknown, had chosen to don a formal, long-sleeved, high-necked gown.
"Alright then, Rias dear, you all should get going now. After you arrive back in the human world, remember you still need to pass customs from the Demon Special Zone (Itogami Island) into Tokyo, so be careful along the way…"
They say a mother's heart never rests until her child returns safely home—this sentiment held just as true for daughters traveling afar.
Venelana had been standing on the platform, holding Rias's hands and reminding her repeatedly for almost five full minutes now.
"Yes, yes, I know, Mother. Besides, Bokue is with us, so everything will be fine."
Rias nodded repeatedly.
Though she still smiled without impatience, there was inevitably a faint trace of helplessness within that smile.
"More importantly, Mother, aren't you hot wearing that outfit? That collar looks terribly uncomfortable…"
Rias pointed at the high neckline tightly covering her mother's fair neck, intending to help fold it down for her.
It was already nearly mid-May; wearing such a high collar in this weather was like having a scarf wrapped around your neck—surely it was stifling?
But before Rias's fingertips could reach the neckline, Venelana quickly stepped back half a pace, waving her hand awkwardly.
"It's alright, dear. I'm not that sensitive to heat. I just thought—since you're leaving today—I should dress a bit more formally for the occasion. I'll change into something lighter right after you all depart."
"Formal…? There's really no need for that, you know. It's not like we're never coming back."
Rias, confused, couldn't help but chuckle slightly.
"We'll be back again during summer vacation in just two months."
"Ah, that's true."
Venelana smiled gently and turned toward Bokue, who was quietly standing nearby with Kuroka comfortably nestled in his arms.
"When the time comes during summer vacation, Bokue-kun, please do come back together with Rias and the others."
"I… shouldn't have any issues with that."
Bokue considered briefly; currently, his main source of commissions was practically just Rias alone. If Rias decided to come back to the Underworld, there was nothing else he needed to prioritize.
"Then it's a promise."
Tilting her head slightly, Venelana's gentle expression grew even brighter and more tender.
Unconsciously, one of her delicate hands drifted down to rest gently upon her lower abdomen.
"Until summer vacation, then…"
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