"Nanashi's back!"
Yumiko's voice drew everyone's attention as Nanashi reappeared.
"You saw me disappear?" he asked.
"Yeah, you vanished in an instant," Yui said, gesturing animatedly.
"How long was I gone?" Nanashi asked, frowning.
"Two minutes and thirty-seven seconds," Yui replied precisely. She had been keeping track.
So… just over two minutes had passed.
Yukino approached, her gaze steady. "What happened?"
Nanashi shook his head. "Nothing."
He had experienced something—but how could he possibly explain it?
Interestingly, there had been no time freeze during this trip. The situation was similar to when Silver Wolf had traveled to Jarilo-VI.
Miyazono Kaoru… she was from the same world as him. Earth, most likely.
It was an unexpected discovery.
"Where are your cookies?" Marin asked, noticing his empty hand.
Nanashi smiled. "I gave them to someone who really loves sweets."
Then he turned to Yui with an apologetic look. "Sorry, Yui."
She simply shook her head, her smile kind. "It's okay. If you want more, I can always make some."
"…Thanks."
Later, during class—
Nanashi reopened the chat group and saw a new message from White Blood Cell.
White Blood Cell:All body functions have fully recovered!!
Nami:It must've been Nanashi.
Kisara Tendo:What exactly happened?
White Blood Cell:I'm not entirely sure. Just when everything was collapsing, a golden energy filled my body. All the cells healed, and the germs were annihilated by the light.
Emilia:It must have been Mr. Nanashi who saved Miss White Blood Cell host.
Nanashi:Yeah, that was me.
Shinobu:Wait… Nanashi, did you travel inside a living person? Miss White Blood Cell didn't even see you.
Nanashi:I was in a hospital room. I cured the person who was being resuscitated.
March 7th:Then I guess we don't have to worry too much about time distortion when traveling.
Nanashi:White Blood Cell, I not only healed her but also strengthened her body. Your cells should be much stronger now.
White Blood Cell:That explains it! I feel like I can take on every germ in existence.
Silver Wolf:Was it a human host?
Nanashi:Yes, and someone from my own world.
Aqua:What a coincidence!
Bronya:Platelet-chan, any changes on your end?
Platelet:Nope. Everything's normal.
Bronya:Then you must belong to different lifeforms.
Platelet:Aww… that's kind of disappointing.
A voice interrupted the classroom.
"Class is suspended for now."
Shizuka entered, a new student following behind—a girl with long, dark-purple hair.
"This is our new transfer student, Benio Adashino."
On the rooftop—
"Why are you here?" Nanashi asked plainly.
The girl standing across from him was none other than Benio Adashino, who had just transferred into their class.
"The head of the Onmyoji Bureau, Lord Tsuchimikado Arima, sent me to inform you," she said solemnly. "He and the Twelve Heavenly Generals will visit you in person within three days."
There was a strange complexity in her eyes.
After extensive investigation, they had found no trace of Kegare remaining in the world—except for one entity: Chinu.
This revelation had thrown the Onmyoji community into turmoil.
All Twelve Generals had rushed to the Bureau, demanding answers.
For Benio, it was especially personal. Her entire life had been dedicated to finding the Kegare responsible for her parents' deaths… to take revenge.
But now, all the Kegare is gone. Erased.
"Lord Nanashi," she asked boldly, "have you encountered a Basara named Kamui?"
Nanashi answered casually, "Kamui? Yeah, I saw him. I killed him."
"…."
Hearing the words herself, Benio stood still.
The object of her lifelong vengeance… gone.
So now what?
What purpose remained?
Nanashi glanced at her, said nothing more, and turned to leave the rooftop.
As he descended the stairs, he passed by a girl in black stockings.
Utaha Kasumigaoka glanced back at him, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. She had her suspicions about him, and now they were only growing.
When she reached the rooftop, she found Benio still standing there, lost in thought.
Her first wild guess?
A girl rejected after a failed confession.
Bittersweet love.
'I've got a new inspiration~'
After dinner.
"I'm going to rest now, Amin."
Fresh out of the shower, Kanae called out to the living room.
"Alright."
Nanashi was lying comfortably on the sofa, his head resting on Cocolia's soft thighs. While Cocolia was focused on the television, Nanashi was lost in the warmth of the moment.
Gazing up at her from below, his eyes traced her silhouette before landing on her face.
"Have you ever thought about going back to Jarilo-VI?" he asked.
"…"
Cocolia paused before answering softly, "A little. I miss Bronya."
If there was one person she still couldn't let go of, it was Bronya.
"Then let's go check on her. See how she's doing as the Great Guardian."
Nanashi had no shortage of Doomsday Points. A 1,000-point time jump was hardly a dent in his stash—practically spare change.
"Thank you, Nanashi," she said, smiling gently.
"What are you thanking me for?" Nanashi grinned teasingly. "What's our relationship again?"
Cocolia felt his hand move on her chest.
A playful smirk curved her lips as she reached down to undo her own restraints and leaned closer.
"!!!"
This wasn't just affection—it felt like he was being... pampered.
For the first time, Nanashi experienced something different.
Under Cocolia's deeply nurturing care—maternal, even—he discovered…
It actually felt pretty good.
Later, in the living room…
Bored, Nanashi ended up playing with Cocolia chest like a baby.
"Amin, I'm coming over!"
The front door burst open.
It was Eriri.
After kicking off her shoes in the entrance hall, she made her way into the living room—and spotted the two of them on the sofa.
"…"
Her eye twitched, and her voice was filled with irritation. "Why are you doing it in the open? Don't you have a room?"
Caught red-handed?
Instead of flinching, Cocolia seemed to gain even more competitive energy.
Nanashi kept his focus on the pink bud in his mouth and replied mumbly, "Kanae's asleep. Why are you here? Go to bed."
"Hmph! No way! I want to watch TV here!"
Eriri stormed over and plopped down right behind them on the sofa.
Nanashi glanced sideways at Cocolia, unsure what to do.
Cocolia didn't even look at him. Her priorities were clear—playing with his joystick as she continued patting his head like a baby.
"Hmm…"
Seeing that she didn't mind, Nanashi—whose moral flexibility was famously elastic—shrugged it off.
Eriri, however, couldn't focus on TV at all. Her big, watery eyes were locked on the two in front of her.
"AHH! Whatever!"
Eriri couldn't resist the atmosphere. She joined the two. She also held a Nanashi joystick while she undressed with other hand.
"Meow?"
Haru, curled up in the cozy cat bed that Yukino had crafted, stirred at the noise.
She peeked out with sleepy eyes, watching Nanashi and the two girls playing games on the sofa.
Cocolia's skills weren't quite at Nanashi's level. Her character kept getting knocked out.
"Meow?" (Isn't she mad he keeps beating her?)
But she didn't seem angry.
"Meow, meow." (Maybe her skills just suck. Or maybe that's how humans bond…)
With a lazy yawn, Haru curled back into the bed, turned over, and went back to sleep.
Nanashi noticed movement behind him and furrowed his brow.
Eriri's gameplay has gotten better…
He couldn't deny it—her grasp of the game was even deeper than his.
Truth be told, he had learned a lot from her. Eriri was one of his very first teachers.
He remained locked in digital combat with Cocolia.
"Ha!"
The final match neared its end.
Cocolia had nearly lost. Nanashi was about to claim victory when—
"Amin, I want a midnight snack!"
Eriri suddenly yelled—and yanked him away from the controller. She opened her mouth expectantly.
"…"
You little…
Though Eriri had lost to the CPU, she looked triumphant after her midnight snack.
She cast Nanashi a smug look, her twin ponytails bouncing as she skipped off, satisfied.
Nanashi and Cocolia glanced at each other and chuckled helplessly.
What was even going on anymore?
Well—whatever. Their "exercise" was already over for the night.
Cocolia, with a single press of a button, cleaned herself head to toe.
Nanashi scooped her up in his arms and headed to the bedroom.
No way were they sleeping on the sofa.
As they passed by Abe no Seimei and Chinu's room, Nanashi noticed two sets of eyes peeking through a crack in the door.
He glared.
Chinu openly stared back, clearly curious. Meanwhile, Abe no Seimei tried to cover her face—with fingers spread wide enough to still see through.
"Go to bed," Nanashi grumbled, walking past and shutting the door behind them.
"…"
Chinu turned to look at the embarrassed Abe no Seimei.
Abe no Seimei hesitated. "Can that really fit inside?"
Chinu grinned. "You could try asking Master."
She reached out and lightly touched Abe no Seimei's waist.
"Ah!"
A jolt like electricity surged through her body, and she collapsed to the floor.
Chinu raised her finger and examined it.
The strongest Onmyoji in a thousand years, brought down by just a single touch? Tsk. Pathetic.
The thrill of the moment made sleep impossible for Kanae.
When Nanashi entered the room, Kanae shifted over, making space for him.
Nanashi gently laid Cocolia in bed. Just as he was about to sleep, his phone buzzed—Saeko had tagged him in the chat group.
He opened it.
Saeko: "Nanashi, Nanashi-kun, do you have a moment?"
Nanashi: "What's going on?"
Saeko: "I just got word from Rika-san. The higher-ups are preparing to launch nuclear weapons to wipe out the zombies."
Momonga: "Nuclear bomb?!"
March 7th: "What's a nuclear bomb?"
Silver Wolf: "Wait, are you really from Star Rail? You don't even know that?"
March 7th: "Hey, I don't even remember who I used to be."
Silver Wolf: "…Fair enough."
Silver Wolf: "Nuclear weapons are an old, large-scale destructive technology. They release massive energy through nuclear fission or fusion, causing immense devastation."
Silver Wolf: "After detonation, the area is contaminated by deadly radiation. It becomes uninhabitable."
Silver Wolf: "Of course, radiation is easily dealt with by our company nowadays. Nuclear weapons are obsolete for us."
March 7th: "What about Saeko's world?"
Silver Wolf: "I'm not sure."
Saeko: "It's still the most powerful weapon in our world. And the target is our city."
Bronya: "Then Saeko is in grave danger!"
Saeko: "That's why I'm asking for your help, Nanashi-kun."
In a private chat channel—
Saeko: "Nanashi-kun, please… help us. I'll give you anything."
Nanashi: "Don't worry. I'm on my way."
Sensing the urgency, Nanashi immediately applied for a time-travel request.
[Ding! Nanashi has requested permission to travel to Saeko's world!]
[Crossover request approved!]
[Time-travel gateway opening!]
In an instant, the request was granted.
A golden light flashed, and Nanashi's bare body was instantly clothed in casual wear. A wormhole shimmered open in the room.
"Amin, are we heading to another world again?" Kanae asked, sitting up.
"Just going to help a friend."
Nanashi kissed Kanae and Cocolia lightly on the lips, then turned and stepped into the portal.