The chime heralded the end of the class.
Stand up, Bow--- Usually the class representative was in charge of this routine.
But today, the assistant class representative of class 1-B did all of it.
Because the class representative, Nonaka Yuki was absent.
Knowing the reason for it, Naruse Mio looked at the front most seat in her window row.
Yuki's seat that has been vacant since this morning. Then Mio looked at Basara's back sitting in his own seat. He, like Mio, was looking at Yuki's seat.
"-----"
Mio quietly averted her eyes from Basara's back.
---Mio and the others had fought against Yuki and the others three days ago, on Friday last week.
After the fight had ended, Yuki obeyed the man called Shiba and left with the other two.
To take responsibility for betraying her comrades in her desire to protect Basara.
Therefore she wasn't at school today. And she most likely would never come again.
…After all.
Yesterday, Mio and the others had paid a visit to Yuki's mansion. They knew she wouldn't be there. Nevertheless, they couldn't sit tight and their legs brought them there on reflex.
However--- They witnessed something unbelievable there. People were carrying Yuki's stuff out of her room. Moreover, they weren't moving guys, but waste collectors.
They quickly asked the men and the manager of the mansion about the circumstances and they were told that Yuki had cancelled the contract for the room and asked for the disposal of her remaining stuff.
When the gang returned home absent-minded, there was a single mail for Basara.
It was from Yuki. But inside it wasn't a letter, but the key to the Toujou house. When the girls asked him about it, he told them that he had handed Yuki a spare key before the fight. And it was returned now.
The three of them realized then that Yuki would never come back here.
In the not so distant future, the school would surely be informed of her dropping out.
Seeing how quickly she moved out of the mansion, it was possible that she already got all the paperwork for it done and that they, the students, just weren't informed about it yet.
…Nonaka.
Yuki chose to do all that by her own accord.
But, if Mio had never met Basara, if he had never decided to protect Mio--- then Yuki wouldn't have had to betray her comrades.
And if Basara and Yuki reunited before he met Mio, then Mio might have faced Basara as an enemy as well, not just Yuki.
That was the only difference between Mio and Yuki. Thinking about that, Mio cast her eyes down at her seat.
"…Are you okay, Naruse-san?"
Suddenly, a considerate voice called out to her. On a look, there stood two female classmates on her right next to her seat: Aikawa Shiho and Sakaki Chika. Therefore,
"Eh…m, what do you mean?"
"You have been aloof the whole time today… Even now, you were spacing out."
Aikawa gave Mio, who quickly tried to smooth it over, a wry smile. And Sakaki asked.
"Does it have to with Toujou-kun and Nonaka-san?"
"W- Why…?"
"Toujou-kun is in the same state and Nonaka-san is absent today."
"Uh…"
There had been a commotion about Yuki clinging to Basara on his first day here and since then, the others considered the three to be in an eternal triangle.
"From you three, one is absent and the other two have a gloomy look, you know. Of course we will think that something has happened."
"That's… not it, really."
Mio hemmed and hawed on their pointer.
"Really~?" "Suspicious…"
Aikawa's and Sakaki's bantering gave her a doubtful look.
However, it wasn't harassment to find out about their relationship out of curiosity.
They surely wanted to cheer up the depressing looking Mio.
---Mio treated everyone at school the same.
But since her life was targeted by the current Devil Lord faction, she had made it a principle not to make any friends in particular, so they wouldn't get dragged into anything.
Nevertheless, she enjoyed talking or spending time with people her age and couldn't reject someone, who took the initiative to befriend her.
Thus she usually ate lunch together with Aikawa and Sakaki and often was together with them during non-classroom lessons like physical education.
Those two were the only ones Mio would call friends after getting into high school. Then,
"Well… if anything does worry you, you can talk to us anytime."
"Yeah, as trivial as it may be. You can always call me without reservation."
Saying so, Aikawa Shiho and Sakaki Chika grinned.
"I mean--- We're friends!"
In the end, he finished classes vacantly today.
Basara had left the school together with Mio, but they didn't go straight home, but rather dropped by a certain place.
The place, where they had fought Takashi, Kurumi--- and Yuki: The forecourt of the station.
It was nearly evening. Not many people passed through there. However, in about 2-3 hours, working hours would end and the place would become lively with people going home.
"It was only ten days ago…"
He had met up with Yuki here and together they went into the city to shop. The unfamiliar place made him lose his bearing, but Mio and Maria joined them midway and they had a great time together.
"---Basara?"
When Basara looked absentminded in front of her, Mio worriedly pulled on his sleeve from beside.
Instead of replying to her, he mumbled quietly.
"…I wanted to protect her."
Only that. But Mio next to him swallowed her saliva. Then she removed her hand from his sleeve and took his hand. Basara squeezed back and started to walk on slowly before long.
On their way home, neither Basara, nor Mio spoke a word. Shortly thereafter--- they reached their house.
"We're home…"
When they entered while announcing their return, a delicious smell greeted them at the front door. Maria was most likely preparing dinner. Mio went up to the second floor to get changed, whereas Basara headed for the living room.
After he opened the door and went inside, his feet took him straight into the kitchen. While he opened the fridge and took the milk out,
"Smells good… What're you cooking today?"
he asked casually, to which
"…A special beef stew."
a calm voice different from Maria's replied. In response to this gentle voice,
"----?"
Basara turned around in confusion. Because he knew whom this voice belonged to.
There was no doubt. And the girl he expected stood there.
"Yuki…"
While he widened his eyes in surprise, Toujou Basara spoke out her name dumbfounded.
The name of his childhood friend, whom he resigned himself to never see again.
"Why are you---" "I came to take responsibility."
He asked beyond his belief, whereas Yuki said without delay.
"No, but…"
For that very reason, Yuki was taken back to the "Village" by Shiba. And it should've been the conclusion of the battle. In fact, she had quickly moved out of her mansion. Then,
"The 'Village' changed Naruse Mio back to a Surveillance Target. Due to that, an observer was needed again."
He comprehended that.
But Yuki, reasons aside, defied the "Village's" order and betrayed her comrades. Not that she would get executed, but imprisonment was more than reasonable.
Or at least, it was unlikely that she was allowed to leave the "Village". Despite that, Yuki was right here now--- On top of that, with Basara and Mio, the reason for her betrayal. So Basara was bewildered. "Basara… The incident is treated like it never happened to begin with. Therefore---"
"……Ah."
Toujou Basara finally understood it. Takashi and the others had come here because Mio had become a Termination Target. As a result, "Byakko" went out of control during the battle and jeopardized the surroundings. The best way to cover up that fact was to undo the decision to turn Mio into a Termination Target, which started all this.
Also--- If that battle was treated as non-existent, then everything that occurred there was dealt with as non-existent, not just the rampage from "Byakko". Including Yuki's betrayal.
Matters were right back to the time when Mio was a Surveillance Target.
To one week ago, where Yuki was observing Mio. To the day, where they were all together. However,
"Are you saying the 'Village', the elders turned a blind eye…?"
Basara was dumbfounded over the "Village's" kind decision, whereas Yuki shook her head.
"I don't know… At first, I should've been imprisoned for betraying the 'Village'. But yesterday, everything was suddenly dealt with as if it never happened."
"Why so suddenly…"
Yuki said to Basara, who still couldn't believe it, with a calm voice.
"Kurumi told me--- that Jin-san called the elders."
"---My dad?"
Basara was surprised to hear Jin's name out of the blue. Ever since opposing the decision regarding Basara five years ago, Jin hated the "Village" and elders' guts.
It would be one thing if they contacted him, but Jin would never ever get in contact with them on his own accord.
Then why? ---That was only obvious.
Basara remembered what Jin told him after it became apparent that they would fight Yuki and the others.
"I'll take responsibility. It doesn't matter that the opponent has 'Byakko'--- Go beat him up."
Right. Jin had certainly said that. Basara had thought for sure that it meant that Jin himself would fight with them if the situation called for it. But that wasn't the case.
Then the idea to treat everything like it never happened came from Jin.
Basara didn't know how he made the elders agree to it. It was possible that he threatened them in some kind of way, too.
Either way--- Toujou Jin helped Basara from afar, with a method only possible to (for) him. As Basara realized this,
"……."
a shiver ran through every fibre of his body.
"…Basara?"
The girl in front of him looked up to him puzzled.
She was his precious childhood friend, whom he wished to protect. The only Hero in this world that would take their side. So Basara couldn't hold himself back anymore.
He high-handedly pulled Yuki closer and embraced her. Yuki winced; surprised in his arms for a moment, but Basara paid it no mind and squeezed her tighter. To get a good feel of Nonaka Yuki's existence.
It was a wild hug based simply on emotion. But Yuki showed no signs of feeling pain. On the contrary, she hugged Basara back. ---And then, the two of them embraced each other for a while.
As he had finally confirmed Yuki as real, Basara let go of her and inadvertently gulped.
Because Yuki's face with closed eyes was right in front of him.
"Basara…"
It was a total surprise attack. Yuki's lips reached out for Basara's unguarded lips.
"---COUGH"
Before their lips touched, a cough suddenly came from right beside them.
When he looked startled in that direction, there stood Mio, now dressed in casual clothes.
"It's a reunion after we thought you would never see her again, so I kindly kept silent for a while, but what are you getting carried away for and entering a kiss scene?"
"N- No, well…!"
Mio said so with twitching cheeks, so Basara quickly tried to separate from Yuki.
However, he couldn't. Because Yuki had entwined her arms around his back.
Then she tightly clung to Basara as to show off to Mio.
"Naruse-san… Sorry, but Basara and me are busy right now. Can you come back later?"
"Are you stupid!? Don't be so imprudent in someone else's house!"
Besides, said Mio.
"How did you even get inside when you returned your spare key? Moreover, you're using the kitchen as you please… I'll call the cops for trespassing."
"Yeah--- How did you get inside, Yuki?" "I was let in." "By whom?"
When Mio asked without a moment's delay, the door opened with a clatter and the culprit entered the living room.
"Excuse my delay, Yuki-san… Oh my, Basara, Mio-sama, when did you get here?"
"Maria!? Don't tell me you let her in!?"
"Eh? Huh? Should I have not done that…?"
Maria was stunned by Mio's anger.
"Basara-san was quite depressed about Yuki-san's disappearance… So I thought he would be happy. To surprise you, I even hid her shoes and we waited for your return."
"No one asked you to…!"
"But--- You have been concerned about her the whole time too, Mio-sama."
"Th- That's…"
When Mio turned red unconsciously, Yuki asked Maria while blinking in surprise.
"Really?"
"Yes. She was as worried about you as with Basara-san."
"…..Oho."
"Ah, what's with that smirk! It was only a bit of sympathy because I felt sorry for you! But now I know that you're alright. Get out of here at once!"
"Calm down, Mio-sama. She once saved you when you were in a pinch, so do not be so cold. She was even so kind to even cook for us."
"Cook… Speaking of, what were you doing then?"
"I was borrowing Basara-san's computer for a bit."
Saying so, Maria moved to the back of the living room. Then she turned on the TV and conjured something up out of nothing.
"What's with that CD…?"
"This? Ufufuh. It is my greatest treasure. I want to grant Yuki-san the favour of watching it as my gratitude for saving Mio-sama. Since we are all here, let us watch it together."
After putting the CD into the player on the side of the TV, Maria cheerfully picked up the remote and changed the channel. And--- in the next moment.
"Ahh, Yahn, Hah… Mm, Broth- Brother… Mm, Fuah!"
Along with a moaning voice, the screen was filled out with Mio as she showed an enchanted expression while Basara sucked on her big breasts that were covered in maple syrup.
Maria was in a good mood, whereas the others became inadvertently speechless.
"Please take a look at Mio-sama's lewd face and lascivious breasts! You definitely need a blue-ray format for this! Viva la HD! Long live Super Hi-Vision!"
"….KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA---!"
Mio raised a scream so loud that it counted as neighborhood nuisance, snatched the remote from Maria at Godspeed and quickly pressed the stop button.
"Ah, Mio-sama, what are you doing? We were not even at the good part yet."
"What the poke is wrong with your head!? Actually, when did you record this!"
"From the very beginning, of course! The first subjugation is an indispensable family event that needs to be recorded, even more so than the sport or arts festival. Do you think I would miss out on recording such an important memory?"
"That only applies to you succubus!!"
"No way… Then what about your first sex?"
"There's no way I'll let you record that!!!"
Mio wrung Maria's neck while she shouted.
"….Basara, 'dat scene?"
Yuki, who had been silent so far, looked at him with a glazed look. Moreover, her accent appeared.
"Well, that…"
There was no way he could tell her that they did that to increase their strength before the battle with Yuki and the others.
"………"
When Basara was at a loss for an answer, Yuki squinted her eyes and suddenly started to undress.
"H- Hey…!"
As she heard Basara's panicked voice,
"Hey!? What're you doing, Nonaka!"
Mio came rushing over while still strangling Maria. Then hell broke loose.
"Get stuffed, Naruse-san. I'll have Basara do the same to me."
"Then I will get the camera."
"Give it a rest already, Maria, or I'll kill you a hundred times!"
"Gimme a sec, Basara. I'll take everything off."
"I told you not to strip!"
"Basara, where's the maple syrup?"
"No, Yuki-san, you have such white skin, so chocolate sauce would be better."
With such an exchange from the three girls in front of him, Basara chose to---
"So… You couldn't cope with it and ran away? You're such a wuss, Basacchi."
"…..Don't be stupid."
Basara replied totally exhausted to Takigawa's criticism.
They were at a hamburger shop close to the state road.
When Basara had ridden his bicycle aimlessly in a strategic retreat, he happened to encounter Takigawa by chance.
As he had to speak him anyway, the two of them went to this shop.
That said, Basara had only ordered a drink. Yuki's beef stew was waiting for him at home. He was already guilty of fleeing the place, so when he ate out on top of that, his life would be in danger.
Takigawa on the other hand was munching on the fries he had ordered.
"I feel ya, bro… As if Naruse Mio and her succubus weren't enough already, you also have to live together with Nonaka from now on."
Right. To his surprise, Yuki would live together with them from now on. She had mentioned it during her quarrel with Mio, but apparently she didn't just say it in the heat of the moment.
Seemingly Jin also suggested that Yuki should live together with Basara and the girls during his negotiations with the elders, and the elders agreed as it was more convenient for Yuki to observe Mio from the same house as she knew about her identity anyway.
The Toujou household still had an empty room, so there was no problem with physical space. If anything, the problem would be Basara's inner peace, which faded when he imagined Yuki and Mio quarreling like earlier.
No, the latter one was surely more pressing.
"Well, enough about me… What about you? Everything alright? I think you told me that a troublesome fellow showed up besides the new observer."
"Mh? Well, for now it is…"
Takigawa said with a shrug of his shoulders.
"She got what she came for and saw something quite interesting, so she went back to report."
"Something interesting--- our battle?"
On the day of the battle, Takigawa had called to tell him that he with company would observe their battle. And if Mio were to be in danger, they would interfere, killing Yuki and the others if necessary.
Takigawa answered Basara's question with "Yeah".
"Remember how Naruse Mio was about to eat a full-power blow from the spirit lance during the fight? Well, in the end she was fine, even if the upper part of the building was blown away."
"Don't tell me… you had your hands in that?"
"No. It was her own strength."
"It was? But I don't think she could---"
Midway in his sentence, Basara suddenly realized something.
She could. There was just one way for her to ward off a full-power attack from "Byakko". Then,
"---Yep. You guys haven't noticed, but Naruse herself hasn't either…. At that time, she activated the inherited power from Wilbert for just a moment."
Takigawa said in a matter of fact tone.
"Actually, the fellow, who watched the battle together with me, put up a barrier in front of Naruse to protect her back then. Although there was your general barrier in place, she managed to do so with her power anyway. But Naruse's graviton field barrier repelled both my fellow's barrier and the attack from the spirit lance. So she analyzed it calmly instead of getting flustered. It looks like Naruse is awakening Wilbert's power bit by bit."
"And that's the interesting something, huh…"
Basara said groaning, whereas Takigawa shook his head with "No".
"Naruse's awakening was still within her prediction. Another matter piqued her interest."
At this point, he lowered his voice.
"Basacchi--- You used that banishing skill once, right? She witnessed that, too, how you erased not only the already activated magic, but also the channel to the spirit. Around now, she's informing her master in the Demon Realm about Naruse and you."
"……..I see."
Takigawa had warned him beforehand that they would be watching--- Yet, he used "Banishing Shift" on an emotional whim and alarmed the present devil from the current Devil Lord faction.
Realizing his mistake, Basara bit his lips. Then suddenly,
"? Wait a sec, Takigawa… Who is she reporting to again?"
He had felt something out of place in Takigawa's words. The vast power from Wilbert that Mio inherited was sought after by the boss of the current Devil Lord faction--- The new Devil Lord that succeeded Wilbert. Or so it should be.
Despite that, Takigawa used the restricting words "her master".
What was the meaning of that? ---A bad feeling befell him.
"Tell me, Takigawa… Who was that troublesome fellow that watched the battle together with you?"
In response to Basara's question,
"Her name is Zest… She's a retainer from Zolgear, the one that killed Naruse's parents."
After that, Takigawa Yahiro spoke about the unavoidable future in a quiet tone.
"Be careful--- Zolgear hasn't given up. He'll come to take Naruse."
The chime heralded the end of the class.
Stand up, Bow--- Usually the class representative was in charge of this routine.
But today, the assistant class representative of class 1-B did all of it.
Because the class representative, Nonaka Yuki was absent.
Knowing the reason for it, Naruse Mio looked at the front most seat in her window row.
Yuki's seat that has been vacant since this morning. Then Mio looked at Basara's back sitting in his own seat. He, like Mio, was looking at Yuki's seat.
"-----"
Mio quietly averted her eyes from Basara's back.
---Mio and the others had fought against Yuki and the others three days ago, on Friday last week.
After the fight had ended, Yuki obeyed the man called Shiba and left with the other two.
To take responsibility for betraying her comrades in her desire to protect Basara.
Therefore she wasn't at school today. And she most likely would never come again.
…After all.
Yesterday, Mio and the others had paid a visit to Yuki's mansion. They knew she wouldn't be there. Nevertheless, they couldn't sit tight and their legs brought them there on reflex.
However--- They witnessed something unbelievable there. People were carrying Yuki's stuff out of her room. Moreover, they weren't moving guys, but waste collectors.
They quickly asked the men and the manager of the mansion about the circumstances and they were told that Yuki had cancelled the contract for the room and asked for the disposal of her remaining stuff.
When the gang returned home absent-minded, there was a single mail for Basara.
It was from Yuki. But inside it wasn't a letter, but the key to the Toujou house. When the girls asked him about it, he told them that he had handed Yuki a spare key before the fight. And it was returned now.
The three of them realized then that Yuki would never come back here.
In the not so distant future, the school would surely be informed of her dropping out.
Seeing how quickly she moved out of the mansion, it was possible that she already got all the paperwork for it done and that they, the students, just weren't informed about it yet.
…Nonaka.
Yuki chose to do all that by her own accord.
But, if Mio had never met Basara, if he had never decided to protect Mio--- then Yuki wouldn't have had to betray her comrades.
And if Basara and Yuki reunited before he met Mio, then Mio might have faced Basara as an enemy as well, not just Yuki.
That was the only difference between Mio and Yuki. Thinking about that, Mio cast her eyes down at her seat.
"…Are you okay, Naruse-san?"
Suddenly, a considerate voice called out to her. On a look, there stood two female classmates on her right next to her seat: Aikawa Shiho and Sakaki Chika. Therefore,
"Eh…m, what do you mean?"
"You have been aloof the whole time today… Even now, you were spacing out."
Aikawa gave Mio, who quickly tried to smooth it over, a wry smile. And Sakaki asked.
"Does it have to with Toujou-kun and Nonaka-san?"
"W- Why…?"
"Toujou-kun is in the same state and Nonaka-san is absent today."
"Uh…"
There had been a commotion about Yuki clinging to Basara on his first day here and since then, the others considered the three to be in an eternal triangle.
"From you three, one is absent and the other two have a gloomy look, you know. Of course we will think that something has happened."
"That's… not it, really."
Mio hemmed and hawed on their pointer.
"Really~?" "Suspicious…"
Aikawa's and Sakaki's bantering gave her a doubtful look.
However, it wasn't harassment to find out about their relationship out of curiosity.
They surely wanted to cheer up the depressing looking Mio.
---Mio treated everyone at school the same.
But since her life was targeted by the current Devil Lord faction, she had made it a principle not to make any friends in particular, so they wouldn't get dragged into anything.
Nevertheless, she enjoyed talking or spending time with people her age and couldn't reject someone, who took the initiative to befriend her.
Thus she usually ate lunch together with Aikawa and Sakaki and often was together with them during non-classroom lessons like physical education.
Those two were the only ones Mio would call friends after getting into high school. Then,
"Well… if anything does worry you, you can talk to us anytime."
"Yeah, as trivial as it may be. You can always call me without reservation."
Saying so, Aikawa Shiho and Sakaki Chika grinned.
"I mean--- We're friends!"
In the end, he finished classes vacantly today.
Basara had left the school together with Mio, but they didn't go straight home, but rather dropped by a certain place.
The place, where they had fought Takashi, Kurumi--- and Yuki: The forecourt of the station.
It was nearly evening. Not many people passed through there. However, in about 2-3 hours, working hours would end and the place would become lively with people going home.
"It was only ten days ago…"
He had met up with Yuki here and together they went into the city to shop. The unfamiliar place made him lose his bearing, but Mio and Maria joined them midway and they had a great time together.
"---Basara?"
When Basara looked absentminded in front of her, Mio worriedly pulled on his sleeve from beside.
Instead of replying to her, he mumbled quietly.
"…I wanted to protect her."
Only that. But Mio next to him swallowed her saliva. Then she removed her hand from his sleeve and took his hand. Basara squeezed back and started to walk on slowly before long.
On their way home, neither Basara, nor Mio spoke a word. Shortly thereafter--- they reached their house.
"We're home…"
When they entered while announcing their return, a delicious smell greeted them at the front door. Maria was most likely preparing dinner. Mio went up to the second floor to get changed, whereas Basara headed for the living room.
After he opened the door and went inside, his feet took him straight into the kitchen. While he opened the fridge and took the milk out,
"Smells good… What're you cooking today?"
he asked casually, to which
"…A special beef stew."
a calm voice different from Maria's replied. In response to this gentle voice,
"----?"
Basara turned around in confusion. Because he knew whom this voice belonged to.
There was no doubt. And the girl he expected stood there.
"Yuki…"
While he widened his eyes in surprise, Toujou Basara spoke out her name dumbfounded.
The name of his childhood friend, whom he resigned himself to never see again.
"Why are you---" "I came to take responsibility."
He asked beyond his belief, whereas Yuki said without delay.
"No, but…"
For that very reason, Yuki was taken back to the "Village" by Shiba. And it should've been the conclusion of the battle. In fact, she had quickly moved out of her mansion. Then,
"The 'Village' changed Naruse Mio back to a Surveillance Target. Due to that, an observer was needed again."
He comprehended that.
But Yuki, reasons aside, defied the "Village's" order and betrayed her comrades. Not that she would get executed, but imprisonment was more than reasonable.
Or at least, it was unlikely that she was allowed to leave the "Village". Despite that, Yuki was right here now--- On top of that, with Basara and Mio, the reason for her betrayal. So Basara was bewildered. "Basara… The incident is treated like it never happened to begin with. Therefore---"
"……Ah."
Toujou Basara finally understood it. Takashi and the others had come here because Mio had become a Termination Target. As a result, "Byakko" went out of control during the battle and jeopardized the surroundings. The best way to cover up that fact was to undo the decision to turn Mio into a Termination Target, which started all this.
Also--- If that battle was treated as non-existent, then everything that occurred there was dealt with as non-existent, not just the rampage from "Byakko". Including Yuki's betrayal.
Matters were right back to the time when Mio was a Surveillance Target.
To one week ago, where Yuki was observing Mio. To the day, where they were all together. However,
"Are you saying the 'Village', the elders turned a blind eye…?"
Basara was dumbfounded over the "Village's" kind decision, whereas Yuki shook her head.
"I don't know… At first, I should've been imprisoned for betraying the 'Village'. But yesterday, everything was suddenly dealt with as if it never happened."
"Why so suddenly…"
Yuki said to Basara, who still couldn't believe it, with a calm voice.
"Kurumi told me--- that Jin-san called the elders."
"---My dad?"
Basara was surprised to hear Jin's name out of the blue. Ever since opposing the decision regarding Basara five years ago, Jin hated the "Village" and elders' guts.
It would be one thing if they contacted him, but Jin would never ever get in contact with them on his own accord.
Then why? ---That was only obvious.
Basara remembered what Jin told him after it became apparent that they would fight Yuki and the others.
"I'll take responsibility. It doesn't matter that the opponent has 'Byakko'--- Go beat him up."
Right. Jin had certainly said that. Basara had thought for sure that it meant that Jin himself would fight with them if the situation called for it. But that wasn't the case.
Then the idea to treat everything like it never happened came from Jin.
Basara didn't know how he made the elders agree to it. It was possible that he threatened them in some kind of way, too.
Either way--- Toujou Jin helped Basara from afar, with a method only possible to (for) him. As Basara realized this,
"……."
a shiver ran through every fibre of his body.
"…Basara?"
The girl in front of him looked up to him puzzled.
She was his precious childhood friend, whom he wished to protect. The only Hero in this world that would take their side. So Basara couldn't hold himself back anymore.
He high-handedly pulled Yuki closer and embraced her. Yuki winced; surprised in his arms for a moment, but Basara paid it no mind and squeezed her tighter. To get a good feel of Nonaka Yuki's existence.
It was a wild hug based simply on emotion. But Yuki showed no signs of feeling pain. On the contrary, she hugged Basara back. ---And then, the two of them embraced each other for a while.
As he had finally confirmed Yuki as real, Basara let go of her and inadvertently gulped.
Because Yuki's face with closed eyes was right in front of him.
"Basara…"
It was a total surprise attack. Yuki's lips reached out for Basara's unguarded lips.
"---COUGH"
Before their lips touched, a cough suddenly came from right beside them.
When he looked startled in that direction, there stood Mio, now dressed in casual clothes.
"It's a reunion after we thought you would never see her again, so I kindly kept silent for a while, but what are you getting carried away for and entering a kiss scene?"
"N- No, well…!"
Mio said so with twitching cheeks, so Basara quickly tried to separate from Yuki.
However, he couldn't. Because Yuki had entwined her arms around his back.
Then she tightly clung to Basara as to show off to Mio.
"Naruse-san… Sorry, but Basara and me are busy right now. Can you come back later?"
"Are you stupid!? Don't be so imprudent in someone else's house!"
Besides, said Mio.
"How did you even get inside when you returned your spare key? Moreover, you're using the kitchen as you please… I'll call the cops for trespassing."
"Yeah--- How did you get inside, Yuki?" "I was let in." "By whom?"
When Mio asked without a moment's delay, the door opened with a clatter and the culprit entered the living room.
"Excuse my delay, Yuki-san… Oh my, Basara, Mio-sama, when did you get here?"
"Maria!? Don't tell me you let her in!?"
"Eh? Huh? Should I have not done that…?"
Maria was stunned by Mio's anger.
"Basara-san was quite depressed about Yuki-san's disappearance… So I thought he would be happy. To surprise you, I even hid her shoes and we waited for your return."
"No one asked you to…!"
"But--- You have been concerned about her the whole time too, Mio-sama."
"Th- That's…"
When Mio turned red unconsciously, Yuki asked Maria while blinking in surprise.
"Really?"
"Yes. She was as worried about you as with Basara-san."
"…..Oho."
"Ah, what's with that smirk! It was only a bit of sympathy because I felt sorry for you! But now I know that you're alright. Get out of here at once!"
"Calm down, Mio-sama. She once saved you when you were in a pinch, so do not be so cold. She was even so kind to even cook for us."
"Cook… Speaking of, what were you doing then?"
"I was borrowing Basara-san's computer for a bit."
Saying so, Maria moved to the back of the living room. Then she turned on the TV and conjured something up out of nothing.
"What's with that CD…?"
"This? Ufufuh. It is my greatest treasure. I want to grant Yuki-san the favour of watching it as my gratitude for saving Mio-sama. Since we are all here, let us watch it together."
After putting the CD into the player on the side of the TV, Maria cheerfully picked up the remote and changed the channel. And--- in the next moment.
"Ahh, Yahn, Hah… Mm, Broth- Brother… Mm, Fuah!"
Along with a moaning voice, the screen was filled out with Mio as she showed an enchanted expression while Basara sucked on her big breasts that were covered in maple syrup.
Maria was in a good mood, whereas the others became inadvertently speechless.
"Please take a look at Mio-sama's lewd face and lascivious breasts! You definitely need a blue-ray format for this! Viva la HD! Long live Super Hi-Vision!"
"….KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA---!"
Mio raised a scream so loud that it counted as neighborhood nuisance, snatched the remote from Maria at Godspeed and quickly pressed the stop button.
"Ah, Mio-sama, what are you doing? We were not even at the good part yet."
"What the poke is wrong with your head!? Actually, when did you record this!"
"From the very beginning, of course! The first subjugation is an indispensable family event that needs to be recorded, even more so than the sport or arts festival. Do you think I would miss out on recording such an important memory?"
"That only applies to you succubus!!"
"No way… Then what about your first sex?"
"There's no way I'll let you record that!!!"
Mio wrung Maria's neck while she shouted.
"….Basara, 'dat scene?"
Yuki, who had been silent so far, looked at him with a glazed look. Moreover, her accent appeared.
"Well, that…"
There was no way he could tell her that they did that to increase their strength before the battle with Yuki and the others.
"………"
When Basara was at a loss for an answer, Yuki squinted her eyes and suddenly started to undress.
"H- Hey…!"
As she heard Basara's panicked voice,
"Hey!? What're you doing, Nonaka!"
Mio came rushing over while still strangling Maria. Then hell broke loose.
"Get stuffed, Naruse-san. I'll have Basara do the same to me."
"Then I will get the camera."
"Give it a rest already, Maria, or I'll kill you a hundred times!"
"Gimme a sec, Basara. I'll take everything off."
"I told you not to strip!"
"Basara, where's the maple syrup?"
"No, Yuki-san, you have such white skin, so chocolate sauce would be better."
With such an exchange from the three girls in front of him, Basara chose to---
"So… You couldn't cope with it and ran away? You're such a wuss, Basacchi."
"…..Don't be stupid."
Basara replied totally exhausted to Takigawa's criticism.
They were at a hamburger shop close to the state road.
When Basara had ridden his bicycle aimlessly in a strategic retreat, he happened to encounter Takigawa by chance.
As he had to speak him anyway, the two of them went to this shop.
That said, Basara had only ordered a drink. Yuki's beef stew was waiting for him at home. He was already guilty of fleeing the place, so when he ate out on top of that, his life would be in danger.
Takigawa on the other hand was munching on the fries he had ordered.
"I feel ya, bro… As if Naruse Mio and her succubus weren't enough already, you also have to live together with Nonaka from now on."
Right. To his surprise, Yuki would live together with them from now on. She had mentioned it during her quarrel with Mio, but apparently she didn't just say it in the heat of the moment.
Seemingly Jin also suggested that Yuki should live together with Basara and the girls during his negotiations with the elders, and the elders agreed as it was more convenient for Yuki to observe Mio from the same house as she knew about her identity anyway.
The Toujou household still had an empty room, so there was no problem with physical space. If anything, the problem would be Basara's inner peace, which faded when he imagined Yuki and Mio quarreling like earlier.
No, the latter one was surely more pressing.
"Well, enough about me… What about you? Everything alright? I think you told me that a troublesome fellow showed up besides the new observer."
"Mh? Well, for now it is…"
Takigawa said with a shrug of his shoulders.
"She got what she came for and saw something quite interesting, so she went back to report."
"Something interesting--- our battle?"
On the day of the battle, Takigawa had called to tell him that he with company would observe their battle. And if Mio were to be in danger, they would interfere, killing Yuki and the others if necessary.
Takigawa answered Basara's question with "Yeah".
"Remember how Naruse Mio was about to eat a full-power blow from the spirit lance during the fight? Well, in the end she was fine, even if the upper part of the building was blown away."
"Don't tell me… you had your hands in that?"
"No. It was her own strength."
"It was? But I don't think she could---"
Midway in his sentence, Basara suddenly realized something.
She could. There was just one way for her to ward off a full-power attack from "Byakko". Then,
"---Yep. You guys haven't noticed, but Naruse herself hasn't either…. At that time, she activated the inherited power from Wilbert for just a moment."
Takigawa said in a matter of fact tone.
"Actually, the fellow, who watched the battle together with me, put up a barrier in front of Naruse to protect her back then. Although there was your general barrier in place, she managed to do so with her power anyway. But Naruse's graviton field barrier repelled both my fellow's barrier and the attack from the spirit lance. So she analyzed it calmly instead of getting flustered. It looks like Naruse is awakening Wilbert's power bit by bit."
"And that's the interesting something, huh…"
Basara said groaning, whereas Takigawa shook his head with "No".
"Naruse's awakening was still within her prediction. Another matter piqued her interest."
At this point, he lowered his voice.
"Basacchi--- You used that banishing skill once, right? She witnessed that, too, how you erased not only the already activated magic, but also the channel to the spirit. Around now, she's informing her master in the Demon Realm about Naruse and you."
"……..I see."
Takigawa had warned him beforehand that they would be watching--- Yet, he used "Banishing Shift" on an emotional whim and alarmed the present devil from the current Devil Lord faction.
Realizing his mistake, Basara bit his lips. Then suddenly,
"? Wait a sec, Takigawa… Who is she reporting to again?"
He had felt something out of place in Takigawa's words. The vast power from Wilbert that Mio inherited was sought after by the boss of the current Devil Lord faction--- The new Devil Lord that succeeded Wilbert. Or so it should be.
Despite that, Takigawa used the restricting words "her master".
What was the meaning of that? ---A bad feeling befell him.
"Tell me, Takigawa… Who was that troublesome fellow that watched the battle together with you?"
In response to Basara's question,
"Her name is Zest… She's a retainer from Zolgear, the one that killed Naruse's parents."
After that, Takigawa Yahiro spoke about the unavoidable future in a quiet tone.
"Be careful--- Zolgear hasn't given up. He'll come to take Naruse."
