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Sunlight filtered gently through the trees. A quiet stream flowed through the mountain valley.

On a sun-warmed rock—still glistening from the spray of the passing water—a young Hero girl leaned in with quiet dominance, pressing her lips firmly against the boy beneath her.

Yuki Nonaka bit her lower lip, breath shallow and warm. "Hey... there's something I want you to answer honestly."

"Sure. What is it?"

"First, take your hand off my butt."

"Huh?" Bokue Keikain blinked, clearly not following.

Yuki gave him a flat look and repeated: "Before you answer, take your hand off my butt. I want you to answer with your hand over your heart."

"Is there... really a difference?" He didn't quite see the connection between honesty and ass-grabbing, but he still obediently did as she asked.

And just as expected—

"I meant your own heart, Bokue."

"Right. My bad."

He shifted his hand from her rear to his own chest, letting out a resigned sigh.

"Okay. What's the question?"

Yuki gave a small nod, her eyes steady. "It's about this joint training between the Hero Village and your Keikain Clan. I overheard the adults the other night... they said that if the alliance goes well, there might be talks about large-scale intermarriage between the clans."

"Intermarriage?" Bokue echoed.

"Like—arranged marriages between our clans."

"Ahh, I get it now."

Yuki pressed on: "So I want to ask you... if that really happens and our clans agree to it..."

She paused for a moment—perhaps to gather her courage. "Has your family already picked a fiancée for you?"

"A fiancée? I don't think so." Bokue gave it some thought before shaking his head.

Because of the curse left behind by the Nine-Tailed Fox four hundred years ago, the main Keikain bloodline had steadily weakened over the generations.

To prevent the family from dying out completely, every new head was selected from talented branch members and trained within the main family. The Acting Head and future clan leader were chosen through internal trials, not bloodline inheritance.

As a result, there was almost no such thing as childhood betrothals in the Keikain Clan. Unlike other noble families, where succession usually passed directly to the heir, the Keikain future was always up in the air until the clan tournament concluded.

In fact, Bokue had only been appointed as Acting Head earlier that same summer. His appointment hadn't even been publicly announced yet, let alone followed by talks of marriage.

"I see."

Hearing this, Yuki's expression softened, a quiet smile of relief appearing on her face.

"Then... if our clans do decide on marriage alliances... would you be willing to marry me?"

"Marry—?"

Bokue had no idea—but if it meant spending time with Yuki every day, it didn't sound bad at all.

"Oh, and also—Kurumi's too."

"Huh?"

Kurumi? Why was Kurumi being offered up all of a sudden?

This was business, right? And business was supposed to be about negotiation—give and take. But this felt more like she was throwing in bonuses before even hearing his offer. Who opens with their biggest card?

Was this how you played poker? Leading with a Royal Flush?

"So, please... tell me what you really think." Her cheeks flushed red as she leaned forward, closing the final inch of distance between them. Whatever space had remained—physically or emotionally—vanished in that moment.

But then—

From somewhere up the slope, a voice rang out in the distance, echoing through the trees.

"Yuki-neesan! Bokue-nii! Where are you?? Say something if you hear me—something's happened in the village!"

The voice was unmistakable.

Kurumi.

Their secret hideout sat at the bottom of a narrow valley in the rear mountain. From the sound of her voice, Kurumi was probably scrambling around on the slope above, searching desperately for them.

And... did she just say something happened to the village?

Bokue turned to answer—but just then, he heard it.

The soft rustling of something moving swiftly through the underbrush behind them.

!

Yuki reacted instantly, rolling off of him with trained precision and sitting upright, already fixing her clothes.

Rustle—CRACK!

As if on cue, the bushes behind them parted, revealing a ponytailed blue-haired girl panting from the sprint—Kurumi Nonaka.

"Kurumi..."

Yuki turned to her sister, completely calm—as if she hadn't just been talking about letting Bokue grab her butt.

"How did you know we were here?"

"Eh?" Kurumi blinked, then tilted her head thoughtfully.

"You came here with Bokue-nii to train last time, remember? I didn't know if you'd use the same spot again, but I figured I'd try—and yep, here you are. But..."

Her gaze flicked to their empty hands.

"Didn't you say you two came here to train with swords? Where are your swords?"

"Oh~ I see."

Yuki didn't bother answering the question. Instead, she smoothly changed the subject: "Kurumi, you said something happened in the village. What's going on?"

"Ah—right, that's more important!" Kurumi slapped her forehead. "Someone pulled the demon sword Brynhildr out of the shrine—it was Seito! He got possessed by the evil spirit sealed inside it and now he's charging straight toward the village! The adults are holding him off and evacuating the kids, and Takashi went to alert the Keikain side. I came to find you two!"

"I see..." Bokue took it in with a nod. "Got it. Where's the evacuation site? I'll escort you both there first. Once you're safe, I'll head out to help."

"No—you can't!" Kurumi flinched, instinctively reaching out to stop him.

"Seito's one of the strongest in the village even without the sword. Now that he's possessed and armed with Brynhildr, even you might not—"

Before she could finish, Bokue placed a firm hand on her head. He rose to his feet, eyes steady, a soft smile on his lips.

"I'm the Acting Head of the Keikain Clan. And as Acting Head—running away's not an option."

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