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With everything settled, the scene shifted to Bokue Keikain and Asagi Aiba leaving the apartment and heading downstairs.

"Hmph~ Really, who does that Sayaka Kirasaka think she is? Bossing people around the moment she meets them when you've done nothing to offend her..."

At the bus stop in front of the apartment building, Asagi stood in the shade provided by the overhead advertisement board, still fuming with indignation.

Despite experiencing her mother's serious illness and other hardships growing up—and even though her father had become an Itogami Island councilor, making them an official's family—she'd maintained a relatively pure and kind heart. She still felt strong emotions about things she couldn't stand.

Especially when it involved people close to her.

"Oh right, Bokue."

"Hmm?"

"Yesterday Natsuki-sensei... came to see us, right?"

A girl's thoughts could shift so quickly. One second Asagi was still upset about Sayaka Kirasaka, the next her mind had jumped to Natsuki Minamiya's sudden visit last night.

"I just remembered something. That meeting place Natsuki-sensei mentioned yesterday—I think I know it."

"Really?"

Bokue raised an eyebrow.

Asagi nodded, turning her gaze back to the road ahead while unconsciously leaning closer toward the youth.

"Everyone in the island's management company should know about it, since it's an event they organized. There's been a festival in the city center every day recently, complete with fireworks."

"The place Natsuki-sensei mentioned is one of the best spots for watching the fireworks."

"So I was thinking—"

Asagi paused, then suddenly turned to look up at the youth beside her.

"Do you think Natsuki-sensei wants to watch the fireworks with you?"

"...?"

The logical leap was so massive that even Bokue froze for a moment.

Natsuki Minamiya asking him to watch fireworks?

"That's impossible. We're not even that close."

Saying they weren't close was putting it mildly—they were complete strangers, really.

They'd only met a handful of times total. Once during the Lotharingian incident, then when Astarte needed charging.

All their encounters combined definitely wouldn't exceed one hand, and each time was strictly business—say what needed saying, then leave.

They definitely weren't close enough to watch fireworks together.

"Why are you suddenly asking this, Asagi?"

"Well... no real basis for it. Can't even call it intuition—just wild speculation."

Asagi shook her head.

"Doesn't matter anyway. Let's just assume Natsuki-sensei is inviting us to watch the fireworks. We'll go together then."

Bokue: "..."

Was it really an invitation for "us"? Hard to say.

Based on Natsuki's reaction when she appeared yesterday, she'd clearly only intended to find him alone. Running into that scene was pure accident.

"Then let's go together."

Bokue nodded gently.

Though Natsuki still hadn't explained what this was about, with his current strength, very little in this world could be considered dangerous to him.

So even bringing Asagi along shouldn't cause any problems.

"Hehe, good."

Getting his affirmative response, the blonde girl's expression brightened with joy, her lips curving as she hummed.

"Then we'll go home and shower first. Um... I mean a proper shower, since we still need to buy clothes this afternoon. Can't waste too much time."

"Buy clothes?"

Bokue's thoughts couldn't keep up with the sudden topic shift to clothes shopping.

Asagi pouted.

"Of course we need to buy clothes! Aren't we going to the fireworks festival tonight? Fireworks only happen during summer festivals. And if we're attending a summer festival, we need yukatas."

"We'll buy matching ones based on those we tried on in the art room today—a couple's set. Huhuhu~"

Thinking about wearing matching yukatas for photos to show off to a certain little girl, Asagi's eyes blazed with the flames of certain victory.

Meanwhile, a bus heading downtown was slowly approaching from the intersection ahead.

❁❁❁❁❁❁❁❁

Moments later, after the island bus passed through downtown, Bokue and Asagi finally returned to the luxury apartment building.

Taking the elevator directly to their floor, the blonde girl deeply inhaled the cool air provided by their home's 24-hour automatic circulation air conditioning the moment they entered.

"Phew~ Finally back. Spending all morning at school nearly killed me from the heat. Let's shower first."

Asagi changed into house slippers at the entrance and looked up at the youth behind her.

"Hey Bokue, want to shower too?"

"...Together?"

Bokue raised an eyebrow.

He hadn't sweated at all this morning. With his power level, forget thirty-seven-degree weather—he wouldn't sweat even bathing in lava.

"In your dreams."

Asagi rolled her eyes.

"Separately, of course. Don't forget we still need to go clothes shopping later. If I shower with you, who knows when we'd finish... Anyway, if you're not showering, just sit on the sofa for a bit. I'll be quick."

Right, very quick.

Just showering would be fast, but add makeup and who knew if this "quick" meant one hour or two.

With that thought, Bokue picked a comfortable position on the living room sofa and sat down.

Bzzt bzzt~

He'd barely settled when his phone vibrated in his pocket.

Pulling it out and checking the screen, it was a rather long text from Yukina Himeragi.

[Sorry Bokue-senpai, I forgot to explain about Sayaka. She's not actually a bad person, and she doesn't have specific hostility toward you. Due to domestic violence from her father since childhood, she's developed an extremely strong aversion to all men. In severe cases, she'll even hang up if the Lion King Organization's operator calling with mission details is male... So please don't take what happened at the apartment to heart.]

[Also, about my recommending you and Sayaka search for the missing Princess La Folia together—I'm actually hoping to use this opportunity to help Sayaka overcome her hostility toward men. Please lend me a hand, senpai.]

Bokue: "..."

Excuse me, but this so-called "hand"—was it the proper kind?

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