By the time Bokue finished accompanying Polyphonia through their shopping excursion and returned home, nine o'clock had already arrived.
Atop Keystone Gate, the dim twilight had deepened considerably beyond their earlier departure's atmospheric conditions.
At the entrance doorway, Polyphonia was exchanging final evening farewells with Bokue.
"Well~ I'll head inside for rest now. Thank you, Bokue, for accompanying me tonight. This compensated somewhat for missing daytime sightseeing opportunities around Itogami Island."
"That's nothing significant."
Bokue stood at the threshold while simultaneously turning his head—peering through the doorway with slight confusion.
"Speaking of which, where are Kanon and La Folia? Did they go out after dinner too?"
Earlier, when Polyphonia had opened the door, he'd found the situation peculiar. Given this luxury penthouse's design, the entrance provided direct visual access to the interior living room. However, he'd detected zero traces of La Folia or Kanon Kanase's presence within.
That included Sayaka Kirasaka as well.
Though Sayaka's absence was relatively normal. According to recent lifestyle patterns, this timing meant she'd still be at Yukina's residence—watching television together, chatting. She typically returned only near bedtime.
Except La Folia and Kanon had both vanished simultaneously... Had they gone out?
"I don't believe so?"
Polyphonia appeared equally confused.
"When I departed, they were both home. During dinner, nobody mentioned evening outing plans. Perhaps they're in their rooms."
"I see..."
Bokue nodded gently.
"Then good night, Auntie. I'll head back—"
He'd intended saying he'd return now, simultaneously retreating half a step backward.
Except at that precise moment, Polyphonia extended her hand—grasping his. She lifted her gaze, meeting the young man's slightly startled eyes with gentle smile.
"Why such haste?"
Statement concluded. She suddenly stepped forward, guiding Bokue's hand to her side while simultaneously advancing another step—actively pressing her body into his embrace. Then, standing on tiptoes, both arms cupped the young man's face. Her lips met his directly—one decisive motion achieving complete contact.
??
Completely unprepared for Polyphonia's sudden bold initiative, even Bokue's composure faltered—breath catching momentarily.
Though lasting merely an instant. Like a dragonfly touching water's surface, Polyphonia withdrew immediately upon contact.
She retreated half a step swiftly, covering her lips—which had just overlapped with the young man's—while her face flushed lightly. She blinked with apparent surprise.
"Oh my... forgive me. I'd intended kissing your cheek, except you're too tall. Standing on tiptoes made me unsteady—I accidentally..."
Such reasoning actually exists?
Before the young man could formulate criticism, Polyphonia had already retreated behind the doorway's interior.
Despite her utmost efforts maintaining composure, the blush saturating her cheeks betrayed her genuine emotional state.
"Any-anyway, good night! Bokue-kun, you should return for bathing and rest early too. See you tomorrow!"
Statement concluded—she shut the door decisively.
Whoosh~
Beyond the door's barrier, within the entrance corridor, Polyphonia pressed her back against the wall. Both hands covered her chest while she inhaled deeply multiple times.
She didn't dare proceeding directly into the living room.
Though La Folia and Kanon currently weren't occupying living room spaces, this timing suggested bedroom locations most likely. Remaining here while stabilizing emotions meant even if the girls suddenly emerged from bedrooms, distance would provide sufficient buffering—enough for achieving seventy or eighty percent emotional recalibration at maximum speed.
Whereas positioning herself directly in the living room meant bedroom doors opening would provide immediate visual contact.
Combined with her current flushed-cheek appearance—impossible claiming nothing had transpired.
Regardless, better remaining here temporarily for recovery.
However, while Polyphonia struggled within the entrance area—desperately calming her heart's frantic pounding following her bold initiative—simultaneously, within the interior bedroom separated by one living room's distance, faint spatial ripples spread through atmospheric layers.
Accompanying angelic holy radiance's brief flash, La Folia and Kanon—who'd been fully-equipped, tracking Bokue and Polyphonia throughout the evening—materialized within bedroom confines.
"Phew... finally returned! Quick, quick—Mom should've arrived home by now. We need changing back immediately..."
La Folia urged while frantically removing her disguise elements, shaking loose the long hair that had been concealed beneath caps—disheveled from extended confinement—smoothing and straightening before changing back into casual home clothing.
"Alright, I'll meet Mom first. Kanon, take your time changing—no rush."
She moved toward the door.
Except at that moment, the angel girl behind her—still gradually removing disguise elements—called out timely intervention.
"Um..."
"Hm? What is it?"
The princess halted her departing footsteps, turning her head with curiosity.
Kanon hesitated. "Just... La Folia-neesan, you genuinely believe Onii-sama and Lady Polyphonia's situation is acceptable?"
"Mm? I personally don't mind."
La Folia touched her mouth corner with serious contemplation.
"After all, within our Valkyrie Nation, there's a saying: 'When daughters and mothers share the battlefield together—that is glory.' Plus another phrase: 'Love is war!'"
"So personally, I see absolutely zero problems!"
Concluding, La Folia even formed victorious scissors gestures toward the fellow silver-haired girl behind her before decisively opening the door—exiting.
Leaving behind Kanon, who remained standing in place with continued confusion.
'This... these two phrases shouldn't be connected that way, right?'
❁❁❁❁
Simultaneously, elsewhere.
After departing La Folia's residence, Bokue proceeded directly to the beachfront villa as arranged.
Upon ascending to the second floor and reaching Venelana's door, he discovered the entrance slightly ajar—ambiguously suggestive pale purple illumination emanating from interior spaces.
'When did he install color-adjustable lighting in the beachfront villa?'
While Bokue hesitated, the half-open door was suddenly pulled wider from within. A certain beautiful woman's smile-laden voice emerged.
"Bokue, you've finally arrived."
"Mm..."
Bokue responded reflexively.
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