"What are you two doing?"
The quiet room jolted at Avrora's sudden voice.
"A-Avrora?!" Himeragi Yukina looked over in a panic to see Avrora glaring at them, clearly fuming.
Her expression made it obvious she'd just witnessed Shichen kiss Yukina's forehead.
Why did Sensei suddenly kiss me…
Just now, he didn't look "aroused"—his eyes held a fond, pampering look.
Thinking of that gaze warmed Yukina's chest for reasons she couldn't name.
"Avrora, why are you up so early?" Shichen casually released Yukina and glanced over.
"I've been up! Don't change the subject! What were you two doing just now?" Avrora demanded.
"Nothing."
"Don't lie! I saw you kiss Yukina's forehead!"
"Mm…" Yukina ducked her head, too embarrassed to meet her eyes.
"You saw wrong. She got dust in her eye. I was blowing it out."
"Shichen, you expect me to believe that? You think I'm a kid?" Avrora stamped her foot.
"You're a vampire, aren't you?"
"Ugh! If that's how it is… Yukina, weren't you just here to tell Shichen something? How'd you end up on his bed?" Avrora pivoted to interrogate her.
"I—" Yukina didn't know what to say, even though it hadn't been her fault. She felt guilty anyway.
"I knew it. You are a rival after all!"
"Eh? R-rival?" Yukina blinked. Why did that sound familiar?
"Hmph! I won't be polite next time!"
"Avrora, maybe it's a misunderstanding…"
"The facts are right in front of me. What's left to say?"
"Um… Sensei…" Yukina turned to Shichen for help.
"Heh~ Avrora, what brings you here?" Shichen smiled, changing the subject.
"Hmph."
Arms crossed, Avrora huffed, "I saw how long Yukina was in your room and figured you were up to something you shouldn't be—so I checked. And I was right."
"'Shouldn't be'… Avrora, I only—"
"No need to explain!"
Avrora cut Yukina off without mercy. "With the way this looks, I won't believe anything you say."
"I… Sensei…" Yukina looked at Shichen, aggrieved.
"You're still afraid of Avrora?" Shichen chuckled and shook his head.
"That's not the point… It's your fault!" Yukina puffed her cheeks in reproach.
"How is it my fault? Weren't you the one who came to my room out of nowhere?"
"I just came to tell you I'm going to track down Gardos today, so I won't be monitoring you. I wanted to ask you not to go wandering off…" Yukina finally explained why she'd come.
"Why not wander off?"
"Because you're too dangerous. What if you go 'harm' some other girl? I have to stop you."
"Is your misunderstanding of me really that deep?" Shichen's mouth twitched.
"Hmph~ After what you just did, I'm more convinced."
"I was teasing you."
"I don't believe it." Yukina pouted, then seemed to remember something and touched her forehead.
"You two… how long are you going to flirt in front of me?" Avrora, ignored, glowered and spoke through clenched teeth.
"Uh…"
The morning spat ended; Shichen got up and ate breakfast with everyone. Yukina joined, though Avrora's predatory stare made her a little uneasy.
"Tritos, where's Natsuki? Out early?" Shichen asked.
"Yes—Natsuki took Astarte on a job."
"I see," he nodded.
Looked like Gardos was still making trouble. Shichen, however, wasn't eager to deal with him yet. Natsuki finally had her hands full and was often gone on weekends… which meant he might have a chance to "eat up" Kaguya and the others. He'd been in this world over half a year; he was getting hungry.
He'd nearly "eaten" them back when he "checked their development," but fate hadn't cooperated. Now was the perfect time. Being ascetic this long couldn't be healthy—and the girls had been expectant for a while. Enatos and Prote knew he truly liked them; Tritos and the rest were different—without being "tasted," they didn't feel secure.
It wasn't just lust; he wanted them to feel at ease living here.
"Sensei, can you please stay home today?" Yukina finished first, stood, and asked. Schneewalzer was by the door—she could head out any time.
Seeing how eager she was, Shichen thought a moment, then shook his head. "No."
"Eh? Are you doing something today?" Yukina frowned.
"Not really."
"Then why not stay? Don't you love slacking off?"
"What's that supposed to mean? When do I slack off?"
"You're always in the office with the A/C on during P.E…"
"That's so you can play freely. If I'm around, you hold back."
"I almost believed you…"
"Yukina, you've been getting less respectful lately."
"That's on you."
"…Forget it. I won't be home today. I'll head out."
"Where?" Yukina asked, serious.
"Probably keep shopping with Asagi."
"Eh? Since when?" Avrora cut in.
"You wouldn't know. I'm not taking you today."
"Why not?"
"What would you even do?" Shichen shot back.
"I want to go out too! And didn't you say I should get to know the city?"
"You can do that any time."
"Ugh… You just want to go out with that Aiba girl alone."
"Sensei's going out with Asagi-senpai alone?" Yukina asked.
"Probably," Shichen said, calm.
"No way!" Avrora vetoed on the spot.
"It's not up to you."
"Then I'm coming. I'm not letting you two go alone. That Aiba girl has designs on you."
"It's not that dramatic… Yukina, when are you heading out?" Shichen asked.
"Actually… I've changed my mind. I'm not going today." Yukina sat back down.
"Oh? Why not?" he asked, smiling faintly.
"Because if you're not worried, I don't need to rush either. And if I spook him, that's bad. Better to go when I'm fully prepared," she said evenly.
"You don't care about Sensei's safety anymore? What if he finds a weapon that can take down a Primogenitor?" Avrora pressed.
"Sensei's not afraid… I'll keep monitoring him today," Yukina said.
"Mm?" Shichen smiled and kept eating.
After breakfast, he watched TV with the girls. Weekends were nice—you could do whatever at home.
Before long it was noon. Yukina couldn't hold back: "Sensei, isn't Asagi-senpai coming?"
"Probably after lunch."
"I see."
"Let's stop here. Tritos, want to help me make lunch?"
"Okay."
"Yukina, keep watching with Avrora and the others."
"Got it."
They cooked, they ate. Then more TV. With nothing else to do, Enatos and Prote took turns feeding him; Shichen enjoyed bites from the left and right, Avrora nestled in his arms, perfectly content.
Now and then a beam of light flickered past the floor-to-ceiling windows outside. Shichen knew exactly who was secretly watching.
Yukina didn't notice. She wasn't bothered by Sensei lazing around; she cared about one thing.
"Sensei, isn't Asagi-senpai coming?"
"Soon, I think."
"Mm…"
Afternoon flashed by. Near dusk, she asked again: "Is Asagi-senpai maybe planning to go out with you at night?"
"At night? To do what?"
"How would I know!"
By evening, Natsuki and Astarte had returned.
"Is Asagi-senpai really coming?" Yukina asked.
"Probably not."
"Eh?"
"I never said she'd definitely come. I was just talking."
"Sensei… you tricked me?" Yukina finally realized.
"I was just teasing Avrora at first; who knew you'd fall for it too."
"…You did it on purpose, didn't you?" Yukina said, face cool, chest heaving.
"Don't be mad—bad for your health," he said, patting her head.
"I am mad!" Yukina slapped his hand away and stood, heading for the door.
"Not staying for dinner?"
"I'm going home to bathe!"
"Right…"
You didn't even go out—why bathe?
Shichen shook his head and glanced toward the spot where someone was still secretly watching. Since she loved peeping so much, he might as well use the chance to… "discipline" her again.
He did miss that springy feel.
~~~
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