Perspective shift—back inside the apartment.
Five full seconds elapsed after the entrance door sealed completely before Yukina's posture gradually relaxed. Her head turned incrementally, movements stiff and mechanical, addressing the still-silent Nagisa beside the sofa with tentative vocalization.
"Um... your mother seems to have genuinely departed this time..."
"Mm, I'm aware."
Nagisa offered minimal acknowledgment without physical reaction.
Then her face tilted upward. A long exhale escaped—relief releasing accumulated tension. She pivoted, settling beside Bokue on the sofa cushions with casual familiarity.
"Well then, that successfully managed Mom's visit."
Eh?
What does she mean by "managed Mom's visit"?
The sword-maiden stared blankly at her friend—who'd been radiating genuine anger merely two minutes prior. Brief cognitive processing generated a mental loading bar above Yukina's head.
So the current situation is... she's no longer angry?
"Well~ How should I explain this..."
Detecting shifts in Yukina's expression, Nagisa scratched her cheek with slight embarrassment while elaborating.
"Earlier probably frightened both you and Onii-sama considerably. But truthfully, I wasn't genuinely that angry. Mm... approximately eighty percent was performance."
Performance?
Meaning the anger wasn't real?
Yukina's confusion intensified exponentially.
If genuine anger didn't motivate the display, what necessity drove creating that charade to... uh, expel your mother?
"Naturally, while only twenty percent represented authentic irritation, that portion manifested after initial reactions settled. Initially, I was legitimately quite angry."
Nagisa continued her explanation.
"After all, Mom hadn't returned home for two entire months. Then immediately upon arrival, she starts embracing and nuzzling against Onii-sama... basically everything you witnessed. Fundamentally, Mom's personality resembles a cat—perpetually unpredictable and chaotic."
Fair assessment, honestly.
Someone with stable personality parameters wouldn't shout "Let Mom examine you properly!" before launching herself at her daughter's boyfriend without hesitation. Let alone abandoning said daughter alone for two months without single home visits.
"Plus, the primary issue—Mom's return timing coincided with Onii-sama and me on the sofa, with Onii-sama in a state of... partial undress..."
Crimson suffused Nagisa's cheeks as she referenced that detail.
"Mom hadn't processed the situation initially, but extended exposure would've guaranteed discovery. Given her personality, she'd have relentlessly teased me about it. So expediating her laboratory return seemed strategically optimal."
Indeed, very cat-like behavior.
Yukina's internal commentary solidified that assessment.
She'd previously encountered online forum discussions explaining how cats automatically withdraw when experiencing discomfort. Combining that behavioral pattern with the enormous-breasted glasses-woman's immediate pressure-evasion tactics—fabricating excuses before executing tactical retreat—the comparison achieved one-to-one perfect replication.
"Speaking of which, your mother mentioned something about bringing you to her research facility for medical examinations when scheduling permits."
Bokue's arm encircled the Primogenitor girl's slender waist with practiced ease.
"Have you determined timing preferences, Nagisa?"
"That's... not particularly urgent."
Nagisa contemplated briefly before shaking her head.
"Mom serves as department director. Her office remains perpetually unoccupied except by herself. I can visit anytime—she's always available. Let me consider... next weekend should work adequately."
"Eh? Today wouldn't suffice?"
Yukina's surprise was audible.
From her perspective, today presented ideal circumstances. Fresh return from the demon realm, plus Sunday scheduling.
Why delay an entire week?
"Today would technically work~"
Nagisa's explanation accompanied by narrowed eyes while nuzzling affectionately against Bokue's shoulder. Then one eye reopened, directing a sly eyebrow arch toward the still-standing Yukina.
"However, having just returned from the demon realm... I'm not particularly motivated for activity~"
"..."
Translation: feeling lazy.
"What examination procedures does the checkup entail?"
Bokue's curiosity was genuine.
"Your mother's phrasing suggested regular intervals requiring laboratory visits for comprehensive evaluations?"
"Mm, correct."
Nagisa nodded without hesitation, openly disclosing details.
"Actually, both Onii-sama and Yukina-chan already understand the core issue—this concerns Avrora-chan residing within my body."
Avrora Florestina—former Fourth Primogenitor's watcher. During the Blazing Banquet incident, she'd sacrificed her life, sealing the Fourth Primogenitor's complete power within Nagisa's physical vessel. Her own mortality meant current existence as soul-state consciousness sleeping within Nagisa's body.
To date, she'd manifested only once—during early summer vacation when Nagisa first consumed blood, establishing the Blood Companion contract with Bokue.
"Mom has maintained employment at MAR Medical Research Institute specifically to facilitate research into separating me and Avrora-chan into independent entities. This requires extensive data collection. Consequently, I undergo regular examinations at Mom's laboratory. Each session typically requires... approximately half a day."
Nagisa tilted her head, recalling procedural durations.
Bokue made a soft hissing sound after processing this information. "Speaking of which, regarding that particular issue..."
He proceeded to explain his successful extraction and resurrection of Ddraig and Albion's souls from their Sacred Gear containment.
"So barring unforeseen complications, I should possess capability to separate your and Avrora's souls, then construct an independent body for Avrora's resurrection."
The explanation remained succinct and direct.
Nagisa cupped her chin thoughtfully. "That sounds genuinely promising. We'll proceed during my next laboratory checkup with Mom."
"Hm? I can perform the procedure immediately."
Bokue's confusion was evident.
While medical research facilities certainly possessed superior equipment arrays, his methodology required zero external apparatus—purely manual soul manipulation techniques.
"Not that~"
Nagisa reversed positions, straddling his thighs while small hands grasped his cheeks, tugging gently.
"Mom has dedicated these past years worrying about Avrora-chan and me. When we finally achieve complete resolution, I want Mom present to witness everything firsthand."
"Moreover~" Her tone shifted, acquiring peculiar undertones. "Judging from today's performance, Mom seems quite fond of Onii-sama."
The conversational trajectory pivoted sharply. Nagisa maintained her straddling position, upper body leaning forward until her lips brushed his ear—breath carrying humid warmth.
"Doesn't Onii-sama want to... claim Mom as well? Mm?"
????
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