The frilly white apron, once pristine, grew damp from the splattering battlefield, gradually becoming translucent. With a firm tug, it was yanked up to her waist—turning into nothing more than a handle for leverage.
The tightened fabric accentuated both speed and strength to their limits… until, under the relentless combat, it was torn apart—white fragments scattering across the floor like the remnants of a fierce war.
"Mmm~ marvelous! Another special addition to my collection!" Maria squealed, clutching her recording device—only to be caught before she could escape.
As Takumi pulled her back around, Maria realized—unlike Mio—she was technically clothed. It was just that her shoulder straps were covered by the apron, and the short skirt beneath barely existed, making it look like she was wearing nothing else.
"M-Maria… you…"
The defeated Mio Naruse could barely lift her head, staring at the scene in disbelief before finally collapsing completely.
Maria flinched under Takumi's gaze, waving her hands desperately. "W-Wait, Takumi-nii! At least—at least let me mentally prepare first! Or maybe start with Mio-sama instead—mmph!"
Her protest was silenced as Takumi covered her lips. "You're not getting away that easily. Go clean up—now, you succubus!"
He gave her a firm smack on the ass, making her jolt. Despite her bold personality, when it came to "field work," Maria was surprisingly timid—pure cowardice in the flesh, even less composed than Mio.
Takumi, of course, wasn't one to force anything. As long as things flowed naturally, that was enough.
Relieved that she was spared, Maria sighed in relief. Cleaning up, at least, was something she could handle.
The once chaotic room quickly became tidy and spotless under her efforts—shining under the soft light, almost reflective.
Takumi lifted the exhausted Mio and brought her to the table. The food Maria had made earlier had gone cold.
"Heat it up," he ordered casually, before glancing down at Mio nestled in his arms and gently pinching her cheek.
"Mmmh~"
Letting out a soft moan, Mio stirred, twisting her delicate waist as she slowly regained consciousness. Her flushed skin glowed faintly, almost feverish.
Trying to stand, her legs gave out entirely. She leaned helplessly into Takumi's chest, her body trembling with fatigue.
Stroking her long crimson hair like a pet, Takumi sighed. "All because of you two, I nearly forgot the important stuff."
"Important stuff?" both girls asked in unison, their tones unsteady for very different reasons.
Maria, cautiously reheating the food with a touch of magic, glanced over curiously. Mio, her soft voice breathy, looked up with glistening eyes.
Takumi didn't hide anything. He calmly explained what had happened during his meeting with Rias Gremory.
"So… the Gremory Family doesn't want me to exist either?" Mio's expression turned pale beneath her lingering blush, her fingers clutching his sleeve tightly.
A sense of abandonment welled up in her chest. She had fled her homeland, always harboring the wish to meet her kin someday. But now—even they rejected her.
Takumi tightened his arms around her, his voice steady and firm. "Didn't I say it before? You've got me. You're my little sister now. I'm not letting anyone take you away."
His reassuring tone, accompanied by the warmth of his embrace, finally broke her composure. Whether from exhaustion, pain, or overwhelming emotion, Mio buried her face into his shoulder and began to sob.
All the confusion, the loneliness, the loss—it poured out of her like rain.
"Master…" she whimpered, biting gently into his shoulder as if trying to hold on to reality.
"Ah—tch…"
The sharp pain made Takumi wince, but he didn't push her away.
Instead, he turned to Maria. "Maria, what are your plans now?"
The succubus straightened up, looking surprisingly serious. "Takumi-nii, I'll stay. My real mission is to protect Mio-sama. Until I get new orders, I'm not leaving!"
She patted her chest with confidence—though her blushing face betrayed how flustered she still was.
"M-Maria…" Mio whispered, moved despite herself.
But her gratitude was soon drowned out as Takumi lifted her up again, carrying her through the room, showing her every corner of her new home—reminding her of its warmth, its safety, its strength.
Once she finally calmed down, he laid her gently on the bed.
"Heh~ Takumi-nii, I'll take care of Mio-sama. You can rest easy." Maria smiled nervously as she shut the door—almost too quickly.
Takumi could only sigh.
"You're a succubus. Do you really need to act so modest?"
Looking down, he muttered under his breath, "Well… I guess she has a reason to be scared."
After all, compared to her, his stamina was monstrous. Still, he smirked faintly.
"She'll be fine. Probably."
Satisfied with that logic, Takumi returned to his room and drifted into sleep. The energy he'd burned with Mio had been immense, but in the timeless flow of the [Interdimensional Realm], there was no need to worry about the others.
It was one of the best sleeps he'd had in a long while—until a shriek shattered the morning calm around five or six a.m.
"Stop it!!!"
"Wha—huh!?"
Takumi bolted upright, blinking at the window.
That voice… that was Yuki! Wait… why was there a ladder outside his window!?
"L-Ladder!?"
Fully awake now, he jumped to his feet, threw on a shirt, and rushed to look outside—just in time to see Maria gleefully holding Yuki upside down by the leg.
"Hahaha! Got you, intruder!"
Maria dragged the flailing girl through the window and into the living room.
Takumi facepalmed.
"Why the hell is Yuki even here!? Oh wait—she did ask where I live yesterday…"
"But why did she bring a ladder!?"
"Did she seriously climb my window in the middle of the night!?"
Suppressing a groan, Takumi hurried downstairs—while in the other room, Mio Naruse was still fast asleep.
After all, last night's "battle" had left her far too weak to stand.
...
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