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"Mmm~ I'm stuffed!"
Two hours later, with all the ingredients on the rack completely devoured, Tokoyogi Yuuma collapsed back into the booth sofa, holding her stomach with a satisfied smile.
But just as she finished speaking, Bokue's voice came from across the table, mixed with the sizzling of grilling meat.
"Giving up already? There's still two plates here."
"Huh?"
Looking up, she saw two large plates of lamb and beef rolls still sitting beside the young man.
Though the restaurant had frozen and arranged the meat into hollow rolls for aesthetic presentation, laid out horizontally in rows, once unrolled and stacked up, there really wasn't that much.
But for Yuuma—who'd been groaning "I really can't eat anymore" for the past ten minutes—she couldn't handle another bite of grilled meat. Even the chilled watermelon meant to cleanse the palate wouldn't fit.
She was stuffed to her throat—one more bite and she'd literally throw up.
"This... you and Asagi can handle it. I'm really done."
The short-haired girl thought for a moment, her mouth twitching slightly, before waving her hands in surrender.
So Bokue could only turn to his girlfriend beside him.
"How about you, Asagi? Still got room?"
"Forget it, I'm done too..."
Asagi gave up without even thinking.
Bokue let out a soft "huh" at her quick surrender.
"Already full? But I remember you can usually—"
Thunk.
Before he could finish, a muffled sound came from under the table.
Asagi had kicked him in the leg.
Sure, she could eat a lot, but did she have no dignity as a beautiful girl? Especially saying this in front of her former rival?
He had a death wish.
"Fine, leave it to me."
Bokue shrugged and changed tack, accepting this "arduous" task.
Fifteen minutes later, with all remaining food eliminated, the young man clapped his hands together.
"Done. Full. So what now?"
"Now..."
Asagi hesitated, glancing subtly at the short-haired girl across the table.
Honestly, she hoped this three-person movie would end here.
After all, her original plan was a romantic candlelit dinner with Bokue tonight, but Yuuma had already disrupted that.
If she'd be considerate enough to leave early, losing just one dinner would be acceptable damage.
But currently, that seemed to remain just wishful thinking—
"You two go have fun."
Yuuma, who'd been lying on the sofa, suddenly sat up, fixing her hair that had gotten messed up from her poor posture, and smiled.
"I said I landed in the afternoon, but actually didn't leave the airport until evening. My luggage should already be at the hotel, so I should go check on it. I won't intrude on your couple time~"
Eh?
Asagi froze slightly, surprised her wishful thinking had suddenly become reality. She couldn't help feeling pleasantly surprised.
But she still politely showed a hint of regret.
"Oh, that's too bad. But you're staying on Itogami Island for a few days, right? Let's all hang out again tomorrow or the day after when you're free?"
"Sure sure, it's a deal."
Yuuma rose from the sofa, giving them an OK sign.
"See you later then, Asagi, Bokue."
"Yeah, see you."
At the table, only after watching through the curtain as the short-haired girl left the restaurant did Asagi let out a soft sigh of relief. Her body went limp as she leaned against Bokue, resting her head on his shoulder.
"Phew~ Okay, now she's gone. What should we do?"
"What else? Up to you."
Bokue naturally wrapped his arm around the girl's waist, pulling her into his embrace.
"Movie? Shopping? Want to buy something?"
"...None of those."
Asagi thought seriously but shook her head.
Though she'd been forced to stay home as a child due to her mother's condition, staying home had now become her daily routine. Compared to the bustling downtown, she much preferred curling up in her less-than-twenty-square-meter bedroom.
It made her feel safer, more relaxed.
"Then let's head back~"
Bokue said casually.
No movie, no shopping, nothing to buy—that only left going home.
"Mm..."
Checking her phone for the time, Asagi's face reddened slightly.
It was only just past eight. Going back now meant getting home by 8:30 at most. Starting from 8:30... never mind, she just hoped this guy would take it easy today.
At least not push out all the grilled meat she'd just eaten.
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Meanwhile, in a luxury hotel in downtown Itogami Island—
With a flash of blue shadow in the air, Tokoyogi Yuuma—who'd just parted from Bokue's group—appeared in the suite.
The suite lights were on. Under the bright lighting, two voluptuous figures sat cuddled together on the living room sofa.
They were two young women who looked like sisters except for their hair color and clothing—wearing tall pointed hats and cloaks, looking like witches straight out of classical fantasy literature.
Seeing the girl return, they spoke with anticipation.
"Ara, finally back. How did contact with the Fourth Progenitor go?"
"Sorry, not yet. Tonight's plan changed slightly—I met with an old friend first for a small reunion."
Seemingly unsurprised by their presence in her room, Yuuma stretched and shook out her clothes.
"Can you smell it? I just came from a BBQ place."
"What... abandoning your mission for grilled meat? The Library only approved this because you said you could borrow the Fourth Progenitor's power...!"
"I know, I haven't forgotten the mission."
Pressing down with her hands to calm the witch sisters, Yuuma smiled slightly.
"There's just something I haven't mentioned yet. About that friend I met today—he's currently responsible for watching over the Fourth Progenitor."
"So rather than directly borrowing power from a Progenitor I've never met, I now have a much more reliable plan."
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