One blissful night elapsed. When Bokue regained consciousness, morning had already arrived.
Pale sunlight penetrated thin curtains, illuminating interior spaces. After half a night's stillness, the room's atmosphere carried slight stuffiness—drifting with faint musky fragrance.
According to the wall-mounted clock, eight o'clock AM had arrived.
Bokue turned his head, surveying both sides. Lady Venelana and Lady Sheila hadn't awakened yet. Last night's exhaustion kept them immersed within sweet dreams currently. Beneath thin bedding, their legs shifted minutely.
As if experiencing pleasant dreams still.
Bokue exhaled gently before embracing the certain black-haired cat-eared girl pressing against him.
Kuroka had arrived later last night—presumably discovering his extended absence, plus detecting zero party activities at the old school building, she'd deduced his beachfront villa location through process of elimination.
Consequently, she'd charged over mid-session—decisively joining activities.
This had continued until nearly three o'clock post-midnight.
Though currently eight AM meant Rias's group had likely departed for school already. Perhaps she'd sent messages...?
Contemplating this, Bokue carefully extended one hand—retrieving the phone he'd placed bedside before sleeping.
Except as he prepared illuminating the screen, the previously-dark display suddenly activated autonomously. One message notification appeared prominently, generating crisp, loud ding sounds from the device.
Oh no...
Bokue's heart sank.
Honestly, he typically disabled phone ringtones post-dinner, preventing midnight spam message disturbances. Except yesterday evening, receiving La Folia's meeting invitation during dinner had prevented timely muting.
Afterward, Polyphonia had monopolized two hours for shopping excursions. Upon return, that unexpected doorway kiss had caught him completely off-guard, followed by immediate beachfront villa relocation toward Lady Venelana.
He'd completely forgotten muting procedures.
Predictably, following the ringtone, Venelana and Sheila's previously-steady breathing patterns—positioned on both sides—halted fractionally. Meanwhile, Kuroka's cat ears twitched atop his torso.
Subsequently, all three women opened their eyes almost simultaneously—releasing incoherent murmurs.
"What sound...?"
"Morning already...?"
"Time's up, riding entertainment..."
Setting aside the final statement's peculiar content temporarily—that ringtone had definitively awakened the three sleeping women.
Venelana immediately extended both arms from beneath bedding upon waking, embracing toward the central young man. After securing her grip, she gradually opened still-drowsy eyes while yawning.
"Good morning, Bokue."
"Morning..."
Though Bokue vocalized greetings, his gaze remained fixed on the recently-sounded phone screen.
Specifically—reading the just-received message.
Another transmission from La Folia.
One simple line: [Kanon-chan seems physically unwell today—possibly caught a chill last night. However, we're out of medicine at home. I'm planning to descend with Sayaka-san toward the shopping center for medication purchases, plus completing several days' grocery shopping. This might require one or two hours. Bokue, could you help monitoring her?]
"Hm? Something wrong?"
Detecting the young man's abnormality, Venelana tilted her head slightly—reclining in side-lying posture with cheek against his shoulder—turning toward the phone screen within his grasp.
Bokue contemplated briefly. "La Folia messaged saying Kanon might have caught a cold. She's purchasing medicine—requesting I provide care meanwhile."
"Oh, I see. Then go ahead~"
Venelana's voice carried light, airy quality.
"Understood. I'll head over immediately."
Bokue raised one eyebrow.
"Except... do angels genuinely experience colds?"
Seems illogical. Having undergone angelic transformation should theoretically qualify as mythological entity status. Yet somehow vulnerable to cold and fever afflictions?
Even among humans, spiritually-cultivated onmyouji rarely suffered cold or fever maladies. Cancer, tumors—completely disconnected entirely.
"Well, devils certainly do."
Venelana nuzzled with her cheek while humming.
"Devil colds prove quite troublesome—identical to human symptoms, causing comprehensive bodily weakness. Plus, magic becomes unusable. Following this logic, angels probably experience colds too... or perhaps exactly as I mentioned yesterday."
"Which aspect?"
A small question mark materialized above Bokue's head.
"What I discussed yesterday~"
Venelana propped herself upward slightly, planting one kiss on the young man's lips.
"Regarding that queen's subsequent tactics... though I'm equally uncertain. Regardless, Bokue, you're heading over anyway. Witnessing directly will clarify everything, right?"
"True enough. I'm getting up then."
After exhaling gently, Bokue delivered one kiss each upon the three women's lips before setting Kuroka aside—sitting upright, dressing properly, preparing immediate departure.
Venelana reclined seductively across bedding, waving with smiling grace.
"Remember caring properly for the young lady. Auntie will continue napping briefly. Yawn~ After all, last night extended excessively late."
"Same here..."
Sheila rolled over, managing three words before eyes closed again—descending into deep slumber immediately.
Only Kuroka pursed her lips while sitting upright.
"Not me. If you're leaving, I'm returning to sleep properly."
❁❁❁❁
Two minutes later—having exited the beachfront villa—Bokue relocated directly toward La Folia's penthouse suite.
Pushing through the entrance door into the living area, the entire suite maintained perfect silence.
Obviously, exactly as La Folia's message indicated—she and Sayaka had departed downstairs for cold medicine purchases. Nobody remained home... hm?
Bokue suddenly registered something amiss.
Why would nobody remain home?
As if detecting abnormalities, Bokue crossed the living room toward the interior corridor—approaching Kanon's bedroom door.
Borrowing sunlight penetrating curtains into interior spaces, he pushed the door inward directly—entering the girl's private chamber.
When Bokue reached bedside, gazing downward, he discovered—within bedding, covering most facial features with blankets—a "silver-haired girl" gazing toward him with sky-blue eyes opened prettily. Slowly, she extended both arms from beneath covers toward him—as if requesting embraces.
"Onii-sama~"
"..."
At this moment, Bokue genuinely wanted asking one question.
Auntie, has anyone mentioned that despite looking identical to Kanon, your Japanese carries Kyoto accent undertones plus completely different vocal quality?
Though... whatever.
Abandoning such trivial detail fixation, Bokue stepped forward decisively—lifting the "Kanon Kanase" from bedding before employing her skillfully.
Mm, even the sensitive spots occupy identical positions.
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