Kotori Itsuka had been unbelievably busy these past few days.
In order to handle all the aftermath of Tohka’s sealing, she had practically been living aboard Fraxinus.
True, as the airship’s commander she didn’t have to do everything herself, but the detailed report on the sealing process and Tohka’s examination results still had to be submitted upward.
It hadn’t been easy to conceal the fact that Shidou had temporarily lost the 【Healing Flames】 and that Kotori herself had once gone berserk with spiritual power. Yet, after discussing it with Reine, the girl had succeeded in burying both matters.
If those annoying higher-ups found out, who knew what kind of trouble they’d stir up. They were nothing but a flock of quacking ducks who only knew how to point fingers after clocking in. Emotionally speaking, Kotori had no interest in dealing with people who wouldn’t even show their faces in meetings.
If they interfered, future capture operations might not proceed smoothly, and Shidou could even be put in danger. Kotori absolutely refused to let that happen.
The real report would only be submitted to that person after the meeting. Only then could work continue as usual.
As for the personal information the crew had prepared for Tohka, even with Reine’s help, Commander Kotori still had to review every single document herself. It was far easier than doing it all personally, but staying constantly focused to avoid any oversights was still a heavy burden on the girl.
Kotori wasn’t used to pulling all-nighters. She attended school normally during the day, kept up her friendships, and handled Fraxinus paperwork and approvals morning and night.
Normally Reine would help with these things, but right now Reine was in charge of teaching Tohka common sense, stabilizing her emotions, and planning her daily life. Kotori had already seen her friend’s busy figure several times before falling asleep. Adding even more work made Kotori feel guilty.
Her friend did claim she hadn’t slept in thirty years and was still extending that record…
But if possible, Kotori wanted her to get proper rest like a normal person. Sure, she had the lamentable strength to lift an entire sofa with one hand, but to anyone who didn’t know better, that exhausted, swaying figure looked like Kotori was abusing her subordinate…
Ask someone else for help? Everyone on the crew already had their own tasks. Kotori wasn’t the only one swamped. Of the two people capable of handling even more paperwork, one was her dear friend Reine, whom Kotori would feel too guilty burdening further. As for the other…
Honestly, Kannazuki was extremely competent, but Kotori had no desire to open Tohka’s family registry and find some melodramatic, blood-pressure-spiking backstory.
She’d waste even more time disciplining the guy and sending the forms back for redo. Never mind the lost time—Kotori didn’t want to learn any more about perverted societal thought processes during the prime of her youth.
Thankfully, everything was finally settled. Tohka had been enrolled in Shidou’s school. Next, she’d ask Tohka whether she wanted to stay on Fraxinus for now or temporarily live at the Itsuka residence. Building an entire spirit apartment complex nearby would take time anyway, and with only Tohka for now, living alone might make her feel isolated. If her mood dropped because of that, it wouldn’t be worth it.
Kotori hoped Tohka would choose to stay at their house. First, it would train Shidou’s tolerance for the opposite sex so he’d stop acting like a fasting herbivore all the time. She really didn’t want to overhear rumors like “That Itsuka guy might be gay” while passing by his school.
Second, it would help stabilize Tohka’s mental state. Tohka hadn’t seen Shidou for several days, and her affection levels had already started dropping. Sure, she could see him at school now, but people always want more—that much Kotori, a veteran bro-con, could guarantee.
At long last, this wave of work was over. Letting out a breath like a washed-up middle-aged man, Kotori returned home, removed the black ribbons that represented her “strong self,” tied on pure white ones, and switched on her stress-free, choco-fueled little-sister mode.
…If her spiritual power were still violent enough to affect her personality, Kotori would never have taken off the strong self. But after that one outburst, she hadn’t actively tried to regain much power, so it still wasn’t enough to overwhelm her. In other words, this little-sister time right now was the most relaxed and peaceful moment Kotori had enjoyed since Tohka first appeared.
She kicked off her shoes at the genkan, stepped onto the wooden floor, and without bothering with slippers, hopped inside on her slender feet wrapped in black stockings—straight into Shidou’s room.
“Fuwah~”
She messed up the neatly made bed, then rolled around hugging his pillow, tumbling left and right. Several days of staying out all night and barely even calling Shidou had pushed this girl to her limit. Black-ribbon mode might have endured it, but white-ribbon cute little-sister Kotori’s top priority right now was replenishing her daily dose of big-brother energy.
“…When is Onii-chan coming home…”
She swung her legs lazily without checking the time. In Tenguu City, middle school and high school dismissal times weren’t that different, but Kotori had stopped by Fraxinus to wrap things up and then teleported home. Speed-wise, she had arrived much faster than Shidou, who still had to think about the household budget on his way back.
But the girl wasn’t in a hurry. Her brother would come home eventually. The emotions that slowly settled while waiting would instantly flare up the moment she heard those familiar footsteps, bursting into intoxicating joy.
“…Normal… hm?”
The Itsuka house actually had decent soundproofing, but Kotori hadn’t locked the door when she came in—she hadn’t even closed it properly—so she could faintly hear a boy’s voice and recognize those familiar steps.
“Hyup——!”
She flung the pillow away, leapt off the bed, and dashed toward the front door with cheerful steps.
This wasn’t just an ordinary homecoming. It carried days of pent-up longing, anticipation for her brother’s home cooking, the warmth of his helpless hand ruffling her hair, and the satisfying kick and delightful scream she’d get tomorrow morning when waking him up in full family mode.
“Oh! Welcome home! Onii-chan!!!”
Normally, all she had to do was turn the corner and he’d be there.
The brilliant smile on Kotori’s face gradually froze.
The blue-haired boy was indeed standing there, but another figure stood beside him.
“Oh ho…”
That rose-colored single eye gleamed slightly. The dangerous spirit wore an expression that said she’d just spotted an adorable creature she wanted to squish.
Instinctively, the girl reached into her skirt pocket for her black ribbons, ready to switch modes.
But Kyoumi was faster. The instant Kotori’s fingers touched a strip of black, Kyoumi leaped forward, snatched both black ribbons away, and lifted the girl into the air with one arm.
“What’s this little cutie? Limited-edition home-version Kotori?”
She asked Shidou while holding the girl like a cat.