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"Mou~ That Natsuki-sensei, suddenly appearing last night—and directly in my bedroom too! What was she thinking?"

The next morning had arrived. Inside Saikai Academy, Asagi Aiba—still bothered by last night's incident—continued venting to Bokue Keikain beside her.

Saikai Academy—or more accurately, Saikai School—stood as Itogami Island's only public educational institution. Its status exceeded even that of Kuoh Academy, comparable to the Teitan School from a certain detective boy's universe.

Honestly, though Itogami Island was designated as a Demon Sanctuary with stricter security measures than other Japanese cities, its schools had surprisingly lax security protocols. As long as you looked the right age, even outsiders could enter the campus.

Like them, currently strolling through the high school section of Saikai Academy where Asagi attended.

"Hey, so when Natsuki-sensei suddenly showed up last night saying she needed you for something tonight, what was that all about?"

On the asphalt campus path, the blonde girl suddenly clasped her hands behind her back, pivoting on one foot in a half-turn, looking up at him with narrowed eyes.

Whoosh—

A breeze swept through at that moment, making the trees in the roadside greenery sway, causing the dazzling patches of sunlight filtering through the leaves to dance across the ground.

Bokue scratched his head.

"Even if you ask me like that, Asagi, I don't know. I just got back from the demon realm yesterday. I have no idea what she's so urgently looking for me about."

"Really don't know~?"

Asagi leaned in closer, pressing her interrogation.

"Really don't know..."

Bokue shrugged.

"Besides, didn't you say today's schedule was packed? Getting clothes from the drama club, then doing life drawing in the art room, and so on."

"Hmm, that's true. Most importantly, the school cafeteria's closed during summer vacation. Let's hurry to the drama club first."

After thinking it over and realizing there wasn't much point dwelling on it, Asagi readily agreed.

❁❁❁❁

Scene shift—they'd already arrived at the high school's art classroom.

"Alright, let's put the clothes here for now. Now let me see—"

After directing the youth to set down the large box of clothes from the drama club, Asagi bent down and began rummaging through it.

The box contained many outfits, though most seemed less like drama club costumes and more like anime club cosplay—everything from vampire coats to thug suits.

While the girl searched, Bokue took the opportunity to look around.

The art room wasn't particularly large—just regular classroom size. And since it was summer vacation, not only was this classroom empty, but they'd been the only two people in the entire school on their way here.

That worked out well—at least they wouldn't need to find a changing room. Just pull the curtains and done.

"OK, found it! Bokue, try this on first."

The girl's voice came again. When Bokue turned to look, he saw Asagi had pulled out a complete yukata embroidered with flowers and cranes... plus a model katana set beside it.

"Isn't this yukata way too flashy? Do I really have to wear this?"

Bokue's mouth twitched.

And maybe it was his imagination, but that katana's appearance made him feel it would go better with a blue coat than a yukata.

Power!

"Flashy? What's flashy about it? It looks great."

Asagi examined the yukata in her hands defensively.

"Besides, for life drawing, shouldn't the colors be vibrant? Otherwise, a dark yukata would just look like a black blob on paper. How would that look good? And... I'll be wearing one too, so we're even, right?"

Huh?

Before Bokue could form a question mark, he saw the blonde girl holding that yukata in one hand while bending down to pull another from the box—this one embroidered with butterflies and peonies, though noticeably smaller. Clearly the women's version.

"Alright, it's happily decided then. You wear yours, I'll change into mine."

"..."

Giving him no room to object, Asagi employed the most forceful tactic—stripping right in front of him and putting on the women's yukata.

At this point, Bokue had no choice but to obediently put on his as well.

After all, he'd promised to be her model.

Soon both had changed into their yukatas.

"Yosha, that's perfect! Now let's take a photo first. Come over to this window and open the curtains—the lighting will be better... hmm..."

Asagi started enthusiastically but suddenly hesitated mid-sentence, gazing at the yukata-clad youth while stroking her chin thoughtfully.

"What's wrong?" Bokue asked.

"Ah, nothing, just... feels like something's missing."

Asagi furrowed her brow in serious thought for a moment, then without opening the curtains, she rushed back to the costume box. After some rummaging, she pulled out a black haori and draped it over the youth's shoulders like a cape.

"...Mm, that's more like it."

After another satisfied examination, Asagi nodded, linking arms with Bokue as they moved to the art classroom window. She pulled open the curtains, faced outside, and raised her phone high on tiptoes.

In the camera frame, the yukata-clad pair stood arm in arm. The youth wore his haori with a sword at his waist, looking like a young samurai house head. The blonde girl beside him appeared as his childhood sweetheart who'd won his heart—her golden hair done up like a newlywed wife's, her beautiful face radiating happiness, as if time had reversed to the Edo period.

Click!

With a soft sound, the phone camera captured this moment.

"Huhu~ Perfect shot!"

Having taken the photo, Asagi happily lowered her arm, cradling her phone as she began editing.

"First remove the desks from the background... then blur the whole background to highlight the subjects... finally set it as wallpaper..."

While Asagi furiously worked on her phone, Bokue glanced casually out the window at the ground below.

He unexpectedly spotted two familiar figures.

❁❁❁❁

"Good morning, Kanon! As promised, we came together today~"

On the sunlit campus path, Nagisa Akatsuki—who'd come with Yukina Himeragi—waved with a bright smile.

Walking toward them was a white-haired girl about their age, giving off a quiet, gentle impression with a soft voice to match.

"Good morning, Nagisa. And this is..."

"Ah, this is my friend Yukina Himeragi."

After Nagisa's introduction, she turned to the Sword Shaman beside her with a smile.

"Oh right, let me introduce you too, Yukina. This is our school's so-called 'Middle School Saint,' Kanon Kanase. We'll all be classmates when school starts!"

"N-nice to meet you, Himeragi-san."

"Nice to meet you, Kanase-san."

The two cute girls quickly exchanged greetings.

Clap clap.

Nagisa clapped her hands in satisfaction.

"Great! Now that we all know each other, let's head out, Destination: the chapel on the back mountain. Go go go!"

As if they'd just come here to meet up, the three girls soon departed together.

Leaving Bokue standing at the window lost in thought.

Why had they come to school today too?

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